LEDs have been around for years, but recent advances have led to new applications for the solid-state lighting devices. Brighter and longer lasting than standard bulbs, LEDs have become the new standard for traffic signals.

Recently, Dow Corning Electronics' LED materials group announced it has launched an "Optimized Manufacturing Process" program, partnering with capital equipment providers to develop integrated LED overmolding processes designed to help LED makers reduce their overall production costs.

It’s reported that San Rafael Bridge is taking on a slightly different glow these days, thanks to the installation of energy-saving LED lights.The new lights going in on the Richmond-San Rafael and Carquinez bridges are part of a pilot project to determine if they are tough enough to use on all state-run bridges in the region.

Recently, Edison Opto, a Taiwan based high power LED packaging manufacture, has introduced Edixeon® ARC series, a production-ready, 100lm packaged light source to its high power LED Edixeon® family. Up to date, traditional light sources have typical luminous efficacy ranging from 10~20lm/W for incandescent bulb, 20~40 lm/W for mercury lamp, 40~80lm/W for fluorescent, 80~100lm/W for metal halide lamp, and 100~180lm/W for high/low pressure sodium lamp.

Recently, an Oppenheimer & Co. analyst upgraded Cree Inc., saying its LED are at last being adopted as a mainstream lighting product. The high cost of energy and efforts to curb greenhouse gases are prompting customers to consider energy-saving solutions, Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner wrote in a note late Thursday, in upgrading the company to "Outperform" from "Perform."

What is an AMOLED display? It’s known that the term AMOLED stands for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode/ Device/ Display. An Organic Light Emitting Diode(OLED), also Light Emitting Polymer (LEP) and Organic Electro Luminescence (OEL), is any Light Emitting Diode (LED) whose emissive electroluminescent layer is composed of a film of organic compounds. The layer usually contains a polymer substance that allows suitable organic compounds to be deposited. They are deposited in rows and columns onto a flat carrier by a simple printing process.

It’s reported that LED makers in mainland China are looking to expand market share by underlining more practical applications for the growing line. Many of them are stoking product development to increase LED’s appeal to consumers, while some are designing new LED products aimed at replacing conventional lighting technologies.

Light emitting diodes, commonly known as LEDs, have been in existence since the 1960's. Early versions could be found in flashlights, Christmas lighting, as well as toys and electronics. The technology continues to evolve, and as it does LEDs are becoming a replacement option in many different situations.

It’s reported that some people will take artificial lighting as a sun-substitute for health reasons, which makes the d°light Huggable light-emitting pillow seem like a practical gadget. You could even use it as a night light. Unfortunately, some people have tried it and aren't impressed, especially by the price.

It’s reported that Philips is offering lighting designers, architects and creatives from all disciplines a unique OLED technology "starter kit", so that they can discover for themselves why OLEDs are going to be the lighting sensation of the coming years. This kit includes an information pack and DVD explaining the technology behind OLEDs and outlining possible future applications.

It’s reported that LG Display Co Ltd has begun mass production of 17.1-inch LCD panels for notebook PCs with RGB LED backlight technology. The RGB LED backlight technology uses LED lamps that emit three primary colors of red, green and blue. The color reproduction rate of the LCD with RGB LED backlight reaches up to 105%, offering 40% more colors and 30% better contrast ratio than conventional CCFL models.

Recently, Eastman Kodak Company has introduced the world's first consumer-available wireless picture frame featuring innovative Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, a Kodak invention that produces exceptionally sharp and vivid image quality. OLED technology generates greater color depth and saturation than other displays, on panels that are substantially thinner, resulting in a sleek, low-profile design.

It’s reported that Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, and Premier Farnell plc, a leading multi-channel, high-service distributor, announce the signing of a global distribution agreement to distribute performance-leading Cree LEDs.

Recently, RS Components, a European distributor of electronic, electrical and industrial components, has begun a trial installation of Dialight LEDs in its Corby, UK, head office. Dialight has supplied more than 100 LED lamps to RS Components to reduce bulb maintenance, save energy and provide better quality light. Over 100 Dialight HL16 retro-fit Halo LED units are replacing MR16 halogen down-lighters in the main corridor that leads to all the meeting rooms.

Yeeu Chang Enterprise Co., Ltd., was established in 1990 in Taipei County, northern Taiwan, has been a dedicated supplier of auto lights and accessories, and has operated a manufacturing plant in China’s central province of Zhejiang for nearly two decades.

Recently, Enfis, which is an innovator of intelligent LED lighting systems and technologies, announced that Dan Polito has joined the company as president of its North American business unit. The appointment highlights the increasing opportunities for smart LED technology across the Atlantic.

Recently, CREE, a market leader in LED lighting, has again won the top prize for recessed down lights in the 2008 Lighting for Tomorrow solid-state lighting (SSL) competition. The complete Cree LED lighting family has now been recognized for superior efficacy and design by this contest, organized by the American Lighting Association, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Consortium of Energy Efficiency.

It’s reported that Neo-Neon, a decorative LED lighting company based in China, announced that it will be making some of its LEDs at its LED plant in Quangdong, China.

Recently, Luminus Devices and Everlight have each announced that their LEDs are powering new types of projectors. Luminus LEDs used in Samsung, LG projectors, Everlight starts shipping LEDs for micro projectors.

Neo-Neon is a traditional lighting and decorative lighting company with a three-decade long history in the lighting industry. It houses an approximate of 4,700 customers worldwide with presence extended to LED sector for 6-7 years. Neo-Neon currently produces about 600-700mn light bulbs per month with one-fifth of them as LED-powered. It also performs OEM production for leading brands.

After launching low wattage LED / outdoor power supplies from 20~96W, MEAN WELL debuted another new 150W high IP rated AC/DC product for the growing demands of larger scale LED lighting related applications. With wide range input 90~280VAC, the CLG-150 series also possesses active PFC function complying with EN61000-3-2 (harmonic current) class C for >50% of output rated loading that fulfills the requirement of typical lighting applications. The most important feature for CLG-150 is the user adjustable output voltage and current level.

Recently, Eizo Nanao Corp announced the "Eizo FlexScan EV2411W-H" 24.1-inch LCD monitor that uses white LEDs as its backlight source. This is the first time that Nanao has released a white LED-backlit LCD monitor. The monitor will go on sale from Oct 16, 2008. There is no suggested retail price, but the monitor will be sold on the company's "Eizo Direct" direct marketing website at a price of ¥84,800.

In the past few years, LEDs have made huge advances in energy efficiency. Industry sources and outside experts say LEDs are now the most energy-efficient lighting source available. They use far less energy than other bulbs, last a lot longer, and cost less to use over their lifetime.

Recently, ON Semiconductor has released the NCP5890, a lighting management device that integrates LCD backlighting, fun light controls and ambient light sensing in a 3mm x 3mm x 0.55mm µQFN-16 package. It targets compact smart phone and portable media player applications.

It’s reported that Brooklyn Park and Xcel Energy Co. started an energy saving experiment this week by installing LED bulbs in nine streetlights.

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market two models of solar-powered LED street lights that combine Sharp’s proprietary solar (photovoltaic) modules and high-intensity, long-life white LEDs (light emitting diodes). The LN-LW3A1 Solar-Powered LED Street Light delivers brightness at the industry’s highest level (instrument-measured luminous flux: 1,800 lumens) rivaling the light output from a regular 32-W fluorescent security light (which uses six compact fluorescent tubes) that is becoming the dominant product for this application.

Ohio East Manufacturing, Randolph, Ohio, has announced it is offering a LED lighting system that is completely sealed against the elements. The system uses sealed “plug-in” connections designed to prevent moisture infiltration and subsequent corrosion from compromising the functionality of the trailer's lighting system, the company says. This moisture-barrier lighting system is now standard equipment on all East aluminum flatbed, dump and transfer trailers.

 Addressing the burgeoning market for energy-saving, environmentally friendly light-emitting diode (LED) technology, Freescale Semiconductor is now sampling the first LED backlight product in its power management IC portfolio. 

Crews with Daktronics and Pittsburg State University have burned the midnight oil for the last several days to ensure that the new "Jungle-tron" at Carnie Smith Stadium was ready for use Saturday during Pitt State’s home opener with Missouri Southern.“It was probably pretty typical for a project of this size,” said Daktronics project manager Tom Manier on Saturday.

Recently, The UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has announced funding for twelve innovative research projects to accelerate the development of more energy-efficient lighting, lasers and displays. The R&D projects are intended to help British manufacturers to stay ahead of international competition - and contribute to the UK's climate change goals.