Philips new LED light positioning system for retail applications has caught the market attention this week, with some media noting it can be a contender for Apple’s iBeacon system. Samsung has launched new LED packages for smartphone applications, which will also be applied in its Galaxy S5. Veeco revenue plunges 36% in 2013 compared to a year earlier. Breakthroughs in Mn 4+ red phosphor technology will also be creating new trends in the LED industry. For more please see below:

In the sapphire substrate industry, GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) has reaped benefits from its multi-year partnership with Apple, but other sapphire substrate manufacturers have seen revenues drop. Veeco’s latest financial reports showed losses in 4Q13, reflecting a dire need to change business strategies, while Rubicon’s yearnings were below financial analyst estimations. With smartphone applications on the rise, manufacturers that enter the smartphone market early will be the biggest benefactors. 

LiteOn Technology announced on the 19th that the merger date with Leotek Electronics will be pushed back from April 7th to June 29th due to business requirements.

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has ordered a light bulb manufacturer and its owners to pay more than US$21 million for misleading consumers by exaggerating the performance of their Light Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs.

CSEM announces the launch of LASSIE-FP7, a research project funded by the European Commission to develop a unique integrated solid-state module that will constitute a breakthrough in professional and architectural lighting. Solid-state lighting (SSL) represents a new revolution in the lighting domain, comparable to the invention of the incandescent bulb in the 19th century. As is unanimously recognized, SSL devices such as semi-conductor-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the light sources of the future.

GAAP Results ($M except per share data)             Q4 ‘13         Q4 ‘13         Revenues     $106.8    ...

Urban Barns Foods Inc. is pleased to announce that it has expanded its collaboration with McGill University researcher Dr. Mark Lefsrud, of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, to further develop an indoor plant growth system aimed at expanding locally grown food. With industrial support from Urban Barns, McGill University was recently awarded an NSERC Collaborative Research & Development (CRD) grant in the amount of $240,000 in order to continue the development of this important project.

Looking for the easiest way to upgrade to LED from fluorescent? Here is why the Philips Instant Fit T8 LED lamps are the ideal solution.

 Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) is expanding its outdoor lighting portfolio with the new XSP Series Area LED luminaire and the XSPW™ Wall Pack LED luminaire, which cut energy consumption by 65 percent* and nearly eliminate maintenance costs to easily replace the millions of outdated HID luminaires currently installed in North America. 

The first generation Range Rover Sport has been given a facelift - or a tail-lift - thanks to a revolutionary and robust new custom taillight. Specialist UK-based automotive light manufacturer Glohh has announced the launch of its innovative GL-3 Taillight, specifically designed for the popular first generation model of the Range Rover Sport.

Radiant Zemax, a leading provider of light and color test and measurement systems announces it will showcase its portfolio of testing solutions for LEDs, lighting, and luminaires in Booth #F77, Hall 9, at Light + Building. The exhibition is the world’s biggest trade fair for lighting and building services technology, taking place March 30 – April 4, 2014 in the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Center in Frankfurt, Germany.

Affected by the global economic downturn, there has been rising number of city bankruptcies. In turn, city management are increasingly valuing sustainable development. Outdoor lighting construction and maintenance costs have gradually increased over the years in city public lighting expenditures. City managers are creating suitable living environment that uses low investment and maintenance costs and can be met on a limited budget. 

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) of Taiwan announced recently a total of eight cross straight business cooperation conferences will be held this year, including automotive, LED, panel, and telecommunications. The conferences will begin in 2Q14, according to Economic Daily News.

On Feb.,11, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)  issued a Final Written Decision in inter partes review (“IPR”) proceeding IPR2012-000005. The USPTO held that all claims of United States Patent No. 6,653,215 (the “’215 Patent”) are not patentable, and ordered them cancelled. The USPTO also denied Emcore Corporation’s Motion to Amend Claims. A copy of the Final Written Decision is attached below.

Leyard anounced the company will be temporary suspended from the stockmarket starting Feb. 20 due to restructuring.

Rubicon Technology, a leading provider of sapphire substrates and products to the LED, semiconductor, and optical industries, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2013.

Philips, the world’s leader in lighting is proud to support the announcement of the Di (ESMA) on its indoor lighting standard, because moving to the digital technologies in lighting will positively impact people’s lives. Named last week as one of the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies by Forbes Magazines, Philips believes that adopting more energy efficient lighting solutions such as LED technology will not only help save the environment, it will also allow people to create inspiring environments that can improve lives.

Bridgelux, announced semiconductor industry veteran Dr. Cem Basceri has joined its Executive Staff. Basceri will serve as CTO and oversee the technology and product development programs at Bridgelux.

In-cab LED lighting is now standard across Volvo Trucks’ North American vehicle lineup. Optional LED headlamps, designed for better visibility and longer life, are now available for the Volvo VNL and VNX. Both the LED interior lighting and LED headlamps are available for order. The solid-state LED interior lights and headlamps consume one-eighth the energy required of standard incandescent lighting and are designed for a significantly longer life.

Gloria Chen, Administrator Manager, Fairchild Semiconductor speaks about the company’s decision of using the trademark Xian Tong (Fairy Child) in China in this blog entry.

NXP Semiconductors N.V.  announced today that it has repurchased 5 million shares of its common stock under its stock repurchase plan announced on February 5, 2014. The shares were repurchased directly from affiliates and from funds managed or advised by KKR in a private transaction at a price per share based on the market closing price.

An energy-efficient upgrade with LED high bay lighting helps a large, Midwestern university sports practice facility reduce maintenance needs and costs.

Quantum Materials Corporation and Los Alamos National Laboratory's (LANL) today announce Quantum Materials optioning Thick-Shell 'Giant' Quantum Dot patented technology with the potential of 10 to 100-fold improvement in solid-state brightness over conventional nanocrystal quantum dots (QD). High brightness leads to efficient use of materials and increased performance in electronic displays and solid state (LED) lighting

Heraeus Precious Metals, world leader in industrial precious and specialty metals, is pleased to announce the continuing performance growth and reliability of Celcion™.

CRS Electronics Inc. , a developer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, today announced while the industry grapples with conforming to new and more stringent energy star standards which take effect in September 2014, Lumenova(TM) has already achieved Energy Star certification throughout most of their portfolio.

Taiwanese manufacturer Lextar benefited from  backlight client Chinese Lunar New Year preorders in January, with consolidated revenue of NT $1.22 billion (US $40.3 million), monthly growth of 11 percent. February however only has a utilization rate of around 70 percent due to preorders and fewer working days. Utilization rates are  anticipated to rebound in March, driven by the upcoming peak season for backlight and lighting. Order visibility will remain at one month.

Major Japanese LED manufacturer Nichia has always been aggressive in deploying patent strategies and lawsuits. Since the company’s core YAG phosphor patent term will expire in 2017, the company has been deploying patent strategies in new materials, especially in Mn 4+ red phosphor powder to maintain a stronghold in LED patents.

Technologically, resin bond diamond wire produced by Tanlong Photoelectric (Tanlong) is not ready for cutting sapphire, commented the company during a meeting with investors on Feb. 17, 2014. Sapphire cutting is mainly done by electroplated diamond wire.

Just one day after Samsung released its new LED product portfolio for smartphone applications, the company will be packing one of these products into its new smartphone Galaxy S5, according to a CNET report.

Taiwanese manufacturers could soon see an increase in flip-chip shipments as Samsung begins to purchase LED flip-chips from Taiwanese manufacturers.