Breakthrough in LED-Technology: Optogan launches its 500W COB Module

The new X10 platform offers a modular approach for luminaire designs from 1,100lm to 55,000lm.

Optogan’s Chip-on-Board module (COB), so called X10, is based on the vision of scaleability and lean processing for luminaire manufacturing. Due to various possible sizes and forms of the elements, applications are found in LED retrofits, downlights, industrial and street lighting up to flood and stage lights.

The X10 is a COB-block, consisting of 50 segments, it can easily be divided into LED elements of smaller sizes and power, and each of these can be used in separate light fittings. The smallest segment of Optogan′s “single X10” consists of a 1cm2 ceramic board and consumes 10W (1A, 10V), with efficacy levels already exceeding 100lm/W. The ceramic base and product material selection is based on long life performance by design.

The new technology fulfills smart binning and lean in-house production capabilities. The COB was designed for direct mounting on heat sinks offering a smaller footprint than conventional solutions. Additionally an X10 system specific accessory, a universal connector providing both electrical and mechanical interfaces for assembly and optics is also available.

The multinational engineering team achieved the requested target to develop a unified COB module portfolio for simplified application, handling, increased performance and lifetime at a universal level.

“X10 represents Optogan’s new flagship, offering modular solutions, economical and simple to use, for that additional degree of freedom in lighting design. Coupled with state of the art module efficiency exceeding 100lm/W, the X10 provides our clients the maximum possible variety in steps of 10W reaching up to 500W. The positive feedback from our key customers confirms, that our latest development is covering the missing white spot in LED landscape”, says Markus Zeiler General Manager Global Sales & Marketing at Optogan GmbH in Germany.

First international introduction is taking place at Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany. Pre-series production is currently under ramp-up.

Philips Announces OLED Lighting Roadmap for Decorative and Performance Lighting

Recently, Philips has come out a new roadmap for their OLED lighting products which are divide into two families – one for decorative lighting and one for performance lighting.

According to the company, the decorative panels are normally reflective in the off state, and it will offer transparent ones as soon as next year. Color tunable and transparent panels will arrive in 2018. And Philips predicts that by then it’ll be able to offer 1×1 meter panels.

The downside of the decorative panels is the efficiency: In 2015 these panels will offer only 15 lm/W (that’s only marginally better than an incandescent lamp). By 2018, those large flexible panels will offer 35 lm/W – which is still very low (Fluorescent lamps today offer 70-100 lm/W).

The second product family is the performance panels. These aren’t reflective, and will remain rigid even in 2018. But Philips plans to reach 130 lm/W by 2018, an intensity of over 5,000 cd/m2 and a CRI of over 95.

Many analysts project that OLED lighting will take off in 2014-2015, and it seems that at least from the technology point of view, Philips will be ready.

Toyoda Gosei Filed Lawsuits with Formosa Epitaxy for Patent Infringement

Recently, Japanese LED product supplier Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. has filed a lawsuit with the Taoyuan District Court in northern Taiwan, accusing its Taiwanese counterpart Formosa Epitaxy Inc. of infringing on two patents asserted by the Japanese firm related to GaN-based LED chip production.

According to Hsu Hung-sheng, a lawyer for the Japanese firm, said his client has sought damages from Formosa Epitaxy and requested the court issue an injunction to bar the Taiwanese defendant from manufacturing and selling the disputed LED products.

Additionally, not long ago, Toyoda Gosei filed another lawsuit with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California Feb. 21, alleging that Formosa Epitaxy infringed on eight LED chip patents asserted by the Japanese firm.

For Formosa Epitaxy , the company announced that it has not received any notices from the courts in Taoyuan and California, it was unable to evaluate the impact on its operations from the litigation.

However, Formosa Epitaxy said it remains confident of its technology and will use the litigation as an opportunity to make a formal contact with Toyoda Gosei to safeguard its own rights.

Taiwan Lextar Received Shenzhen CSOT’s Orders for LED Backlights for LED-backlit TVs

Taiwan Lextar Electronics has won a contract order from Shenzhen-headquartered panel maker CSOT, for LED backlights used in LED-backlit LCD TVs.

Lextar stressed that it has worked hard to diversify customers for a while, in order to reduce business overdependence on its parent company for sustainable development.

In the meanwhile, the company has also built business links with several Korean and Chinese panel makers, as well as a few consumer electronic device brands abroad.

In addition, the company stated that it will continue to explore segments for lightings and backlights this year to boost shipment of its LED products. And it will also work hard on technology upgrades and patent acquisition, moving forward on its plan of becoming a globally competitive maker of this kind.

Finelite Doubles Industry Standard With 10-Year Product Warranty for Recessed LED Luminaires

First-of-its-class product line delivers exceptional savings backed by optimal performance

Finelite Inc., a leader in high performance commercial building lighting systems, unveiled a new, industry-leading 10-year warranty for its High Performance Recessed LED (HPR-LED) luminaire collection. At twice the industry standard for lifetime operating hours, this warranty also doubles the standard coverage terms for optimal performance over the extended lifetime of the luminaire.

“This customer-friendly 10-year warranty demonstrates our absolute confidence in the robust luminaire design of HPR-LED, and our commitment to make lighting design a key driver for energy efficient buildings,” said Terry Clark, Finelite chairman and chief technology officer. “This is yet another assurance that our quality indoor LED luminaires are solidly backed by service levels Finelite customers have come to expect.”

The HPR-LED collection, introduced last fall, is a distinct new ambient luminaire for all conditioned spaces and is a critical part of Finelite’s commitment to a Net-Zero Energy future. It integrates Finelite’s mid-power LED approach to deliver exceptional energy efficiency and lumen maintenance over the product lifetime. With an independently verified L90 lifetime (90% lumen maintenance) of 100,000 hours, the warranty covers the luminaire, LED light engine, driver, replacement parts and shipping. If the luminaire delivers less than 90% light output during the 10-year warranty period, Finelite will supply the replacement parts. Finelite even makes the replacement process easy, as all HPR-LED luminaires are 100% serviceable from below.

With up to a 50% reduction in energy consumption, these energy-efficient lighting systems play an important part in increasing the sustainability of any building.

PhotonStar filmed for brand new Channel 4 series, Home of the Future, which starts February 12th, 7.00pm on Channel 4

PhotonStar’s Biodynamic Lighting, Architectural LED luminaire and EcoStar LED luminaire products were filmed for brand new Channel 4 series, Home of the Future, which starts February 12th, 7.00pm on Channel 4.

What happens if you ask a normal family to boldly go where no-one has gone before – to live in the future? This five-part Channel 4 series, co-funded by one of the UK’s leading energy companies E.ON, and produced by Twofour, transforms the lives of a family, filling their home from top-to-bottom with futuristic technology and gadgets.

As well as having cutting-edge technology and gadgets to play with, the Perera family in Sheffield will be challenged by scenarios likely to come in the next twenty to fifty years.

Overseen by expert Chris Sanderson, the Pereras will discover how we may work, rest and play – as well as eat, travel, stay healthy and power our homes.

The series looks at the effects of working from home and living in multi-generational households and asks: what will we eat when cheap food is gone and mass-produced meat is unsustainable? And the family face being shamed by their bin if they don’t recycle enough and being temporarily banned from short car journeys (electric and hydrogen-powered, naturally).

But the future is not all bad news as the Pereras discover mind-controlled games, domestic power stations that slash their bills, robots they can control from the other side of the world, waterless washing machines, cars, lawnmowers and vacuums that drive themselves and the joys of growing your own fish supper.

The first episode of Home of the Future airs on February 12th, 7.00pm on Channel 4.

SmartWatt Energy Supports Barbagallo’s Express Mart for LED Gas Station Canopy Lighting Retrofit

SmartWatt Energy has supported Barbagallo’s Express Mart, a convenience store and gas station in East Syracuse, NY for its LED gas station canopy lighting retrofit through the National Grid Small Business Program.

SmartWatt Energy conducted a complimentary energy analysis of all outdoor lighting, then proposed a plan to replace Barbagallo’s existing exterior gas station canopy lighting with LED lighting.

Barbagallo can save more than $2,000 per year after the LED retrofit. And it has also received a $4,854 rebate and interest-free financing for two years from National Grid through the program.

According to National Grid, the LED lighting retrofit will pay for itself in about 33 months. This energy savings project has removed pollutants from the air and is estimated to have the same effect on the environment as removing 20,537 pounds of greenhouse gases or planting 330 trees according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculations.

SmartWatt Energy is the sole Administrator and Implementation Contractor for National Grid’s Small Business Program in Central and Northern New York. The National Grid Small Business Program helps businesses, with an average peak demand of 100 kW or less per month, upgrade to energy-efficient lighting. Through this program, National Grid will pay up to 70% of the installation costs and finance the remaining amount interest-free for up to 2 years.

Elemental LED Launches Reignbow LED Color Selector

The Reignbow LED Color Selector is a dual-slide dimmer and color picker. The slider on the left allows the user to dim RGB led lights; the dimmer on the right allows the user to choose one color of light to display.

San Francisco based led company Elemental LED, has launched its new Reignbow led Color Selector, to expand the uses for color-changing LED lights.

The Reignbow fits into any standard light switch wall outlet. It is different from other led color controllers in that instead of allowing the user to choose a color-changing pattern for RGB  lights, it allows the user to select one static color at a time.

The Reignbow is perfect for customers who want colorful led lighting, instead of color-changing led lighting. The color picker moves through all colors in the spectrum, and the PWM dimmer allows for simultaneous 0-100% dimming.

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Colour-blind Drivers Sees New Hope with Japan Developing LED Traffic Lights

Japanese Kyushu Sangyo University’s professor Taro Ochiai has developed LED traffic lights which can be seen by colour-blind drivers.

Prof Ochiai starts to study LED application in 2003, when they first began to be used in traffic lights in preference to regular light bulbs. Sources has shown that colour-blindness affects around 8 per cent of males and 0.5 per cent of females, with most people with the condition experiencing problems differentiating between red and green. As a result , Colour-blind drivers reported that the LED signals were more difficult for them to discern based only on brightness as the visual indicator.

To solve this problem, Prof Ochiai has worked with lighting manufacturer Koito Electric Industries Ltd., to incorporate blue LEDs with four times the brightness of the other diodes in the shape of a cross through the red lamp.

According to the study, drivers with perfect vision will hardly notice the pink X that is set within the red signal, particularly from a distance, but red-green colour-blind divers are able to easily distinguish the contrasting blue X against a background that they perceive as being yellow. Research shows that the mark is clear even from a distance.

Prof Ochiai’s new traffic light will help colour-blind drivers free from discern Obstacle. And it has recognized the 2011 Good Design Award for public facilities and equipment.

Currently, Japan is testing new traffic lights in the southern city of Fukuoka. A second month-long test is to be started in Tokyo before the end of February. Local authorities and the police are monitoring the progress of the tests and, as the manufacturing process is very close to how conventional traffic lights are made, the professor believes the improved versions could start to be installed in the near future.

City of Tulsa Installs High Quality, Energy Efficient LED Street Lighting in Historic Brady District

February.8, 2012 – 11:59 — jasminezhuang

Amerlux and Bridgelux Enable New Street Lighting Solutions
Tulsa, Oklahoma, known for most of the 20th Century as the Oil Capital of the World, is now leading the way with new energy efficient alternatives. Thanks to a highly successful collaboration between the City of Tulsa, U.S.-based luminaire manufacturer, Amerlux, and U.S.-based lightsource manufacturer, Bridgelux, modern, energy-efficient LED lighting are part of the restoration of Tulsa’s historic Brady district.? About 200 Amerlux outdoor luminaires based on Bridgelux LED arrays are planned to illuminate the walkways around the new Driller Stadium and park. Sixty-four were installed in 2011 with the remaining street lights slated for installation this year. The new LED lighting is anticipated, in the long run, to save the City of Tulsa thousands of dollars in reduced energy and maintenance costs, compared to the conventional High Intensity Discharge (HID) streetlights used in other areas of the city.
“The collaboration between the City and its lighting manufacturer and supplier delivered a flexible, energy- and cost-efficient solution that significantly improved the quality and longevity of Tulsa’s outdoor lighting,” said Paul Strizek, planning and contracts manager for the City of Tulsa. “Together we delivered on the City’s commitment to reduce our energy use, increase sustainability and offer our citizens a better quality of light.”
Featuring industry-leading Bridgelux ES LED arrays, the Amerlux D142 and D154 Series decorative downlight allows for a variety of optical configurations, enabling the systems to be optimized for a customer’s unique needs such as application requirements and light output. This helps to ensure that light levels and light quality meet the application requirements for a particular environment. Moreover, the Amerlux D142 and D154 downlights deliver large lumen packages of up to 7600 and 5000 lumens respectively, making it an ideal replacement for HID luminaires.
LED street lighting is an optimal solution for municipalities across the country, delivering immediate savings from lower energy costs and reduced maintenance costs. Further, high quality LED lighting increases the visibility and visual attraction of storefronts, restaurants and other hospitality and commercial environments, as demonstrated in the white paper published by LED Roadway Lighting1.
1”Incorporating Spectrum Effects for Brightness Perception and Visual Detection at Mesopic Light Levels;” Samuel M. Berman, PhD and Jack Josefowicz, PhD.