... This week, Alan Thompson, the senior technical editor of LIGHTimes, reveals his insights and observations from his attendance at the 2008 Strategies in Light Conference, which took place at the Santa Clara Convention Center on February 11-13. Living up to its billing, the 2008 Strategies in Light Conference... Jump down to the full story
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February 21, 2008...A former Columbia University professor with a 50-year engineering career, Gertrude Neumark Rothschild, has accused 34 companies including Sony, Motorola, and Samsung of infringing her patents for LEDs and laser diodes. On February 20, 2008 she filed the complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington.
In filing the complaint, Rothschild is hoping to block U.S. imports of widely available products that she says infringe the patent, including video players using Sony's Blu-ray format, Motorola's Razr mobile phones and Hitachi camcorders.
Albert Jacobs of Dreier LLP in New York told Bloomberg in a recent article that Rothschild made a “seminal breakthrough” that goes into blue and ultraviolet (short wavelength) LEDs, which use less electricity than red LEDs. They are used for handset backlighting, computers, traffic lights and instrument panels. He also alleges that the fundamental technology of her patent goes into short wavelength laser diodes such as those in Blu-ray disc readers and recorders.
"We are bringing this action for her to gain scientific recognition for her achievements and for her to gain commercial recognition for her invention," Jacobs said in a telephone interview.
He indicated that in previous patent complaints filed elsewhere, some big LED makers including Toyoda Gossei, Osram Opto Semiconductors, and Nichia have already settled with Rothschild over alleged infringement of the same patents. (Ref: Coverage) Lawsuits against Cree, and Philips Lumileds are still pending, Jacobs said.
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Dialight to provide LED shelter lighting for U.S. Marine Corps; Optomizes LED Beacons for Wind Farm Installations LIGHTimes Senior Technical Editor, Alan Thompson
February 21, 2008...Dialight of Farmingdale, New Jersey USA reports that it has received a major order for its recently developed, high-intensity LED lights for military shelters. These lights have reportedly already been approved for use by the U.S. Marine Corps. They complying with MIL-STD-461E, RE102 and CE102 for EMI/RFI shielding, and they can also be used for vehicle interior and shipboard lighting, as well as for general illumination requiring high light output.
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BLU Maker to Delve Into Automotive LED Market
February 21, 2008...Backlight unit maker, Forward Electronics hopes to delve into the car-use LED lighting market, a Digitimes article indicated. Forward Electronics, a Tatung Group subsidiary, is reportedly going to invest NT$42.9 million (US$1.35 million) to acquire 9 percent of Laster Tech, an LED player that focuses on the automotive market. The deal has already been approved by the company’s board of directors, the article indicated. Digitimes cited Wang Siang-Shou, Forward’s spokesperson who said that company hopes to combine its packaging business with downstream LED application providers, and Laster Tech has been one of Forward's potential customers. So far Forward's LED business department has mostly focuses on AC LED products for specialized applications in department stores. The company said that it expects its LED revenue to reach NT$80 million in the latter half of 2008.
Mitsubishi Chemical to Acquire Near UV LED Business of Mitsubishi Cable
February 19, 2008...Mitsubishi Chemical of Tokyo, Japan reported that it will acquire the near-ultraviolet-LED business of Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd. in March for 1.5 billion yen (about US$ 13.9 million), according to a Nikkei Netarticle. Mitsubishi Cable says that its near UV LEDs provide clearer and more natural light. For this reason, the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. expects growing demand for the LEDs in applications such as LCD panels and lighting. According to the article, Mitsubishi Chemical will acquire the facilities and the technology to produce the near-ultraviolet LED chips, and Mitsubishi Cable operations in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, will be moved to Mitsubishi Chemical facilities in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Everlight Release 90 lm/W 1- and 3-Watt XcelLEDs LIGHTimes Senior Technical Editor, Alan Thompson
February 19, 2008...Evelight Electronics Co Ltd., an LED company based in Taipei, Taiwan with a wholly owned subsidiary Everlight Americas, Inc. located in Carrolton, Texas USA, has released its 90 lm/W XcelLED. According to the company, the 1- and 3-Watt versions provide efficient, bright, and long-lasting light. Everlight boasts that the EHP-AX08/P01 (1-Watt) and EHP-AX08/P03 (3-Watt) families are among the highest-flux emitters on the market. The LEDs are reportedly ideal for backlighting (CFFL replacement in LCD TVs and screens), automotive (interior and exterior signaling), architectural, aerospace, and emergency lighting.
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Avnet to Market, Sell, Distribute, and offer Design Services for Luminus Devices’ PhlatLight LIGHTimes Senior Technical Editor, Alan Thompson
February 19, 2008...Luminus Devices, the maker of PhlatLight based in Billerica, Massachusetts USA, reports that Avnet, a distributor of electronics components, will distribute PhlatLight to Luminus’ general illumination customers throughout North and South America. PhlatLight LEDs are touted as being larger and brighter than conventional high brightness LEDs, and the company says that they have been proven as a replacement for CCFL in projection televisions and projectors. Luminus notes that its PhlatLight technology is currently used in products from renowned consumer electronics companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
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BluGlass Takes Steps Toward Low Cost Blue LED Production LIGHTimes Staff
February 19, 2008...While still not quite ready with its first LEDs, BluGlass reports that it has taken the first steps in producing LEDs. The company based in Sydney, Australia, says it has successfully produced gallium nitride quantum wells at relatively low temperatures with its prototype RPCVD commercial reactor. BluGlass contends that the ability of its patented RPCVD process to grow nitrides at low temperatures has created new opportunities for hybrid technologies with significant commercial prospects in areas such as oxide-nitride mixed structures, photovoltaics (solar technology) and silicon.
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DOE Announces Round 4 Selections for SSL Core Technology and Product Development Funding Opportunities SSLDesign News Staff
February 14, 2008...The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced 13 selections for round 4 of the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Core Technology Research and Product Development Funding Opportunity. NETL said that these selections are anticipated to significantly contribute to the goal of the SSL program. LIGHTimes readers may recall that the goal of the SSL program is to develop advanced solid-state lighting technologies that, compared to conventional lighting technologies, are much more energy efficient, longer lasting, and cost competitive by targeting a product system efficiency of 50 percent with lighting that accurately reproduces sunlight spectrum by 2025.
The NETL made five selections in response to Core Technology Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-PS26-07NT43130, and two selections in response to National Laboratory Call DE-PS26-07NT43170. These selections are expected to fill key technology gaps and provide enabling knowledge or data to significantly advance i SSL technology. According to NETL, the total value of selections for SSL Core Technology Research is $10.8 million; the performers of cooperative agreements will provide 20 percent as cost-share.
The NETL made six selections for Product Development FOA DE-PS26-07NT43131. These selections are aimed at improving commercially viable materials, devices, or systems. Technical activities are focused on a targeted market application with fully defined price, efficacy, and other performance parameters necessary for success of the proposed product. The value of the product development selections totals $17.1 million and the performers will provide an average of 32 percent as cost-share.
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National Inventors Hall of Fame Honors Maker of First Visible LED SSLDesign News Staff
February 14, 2008...The National Inventors Hall of Fame has announced honorees for 2008. While many of our readers may know that Shuji Nakamura did breakthrough work on developing the blue LED while working at Nichia. Few have heard of the of the inventor of the first visible LED, Nick Holonyak (1928 - ). His work also led to the red diode lasers in CD and DVD players. So it is fitting that he has been selected by the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
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Everlight Electronics and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Investigate Possibility of Partnership Spin Out LIGHTimes Staff
February 14, 2008...Everlight Electronics of Taiwan and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) are reportedly looking into establishing a joint venture LED company, according to a Digitimesarticle. Digitmes cited unnamed sources who said that the companies are expected to invite additional partners in the future. The partnership would reportedly extend their presence in the white LED packaging and backlight unit (BLU) market segments. Jun-Yi Wu CPT company spokesperson, pointed out that CPT already has business ties with Everlight. Wu said CPT has not ruled out the possibility of investing in the LED field. However, he said the company has not yet decided to he make its move. The article indicated that the initial capital of the new company is said to be around NT$1 billion (US$31.4 million).
Osram Introduces FineWhite LED Modules Comprised of Extremely Homogeneous LEDs within the Module SSLDesign News Staff
February 14, 2008...Osram GmbH of München, Germany has introduces the new FineWHITE LED Modules "W3F". The company contends that it has now created a new generation of white LED modules which have the highest color homogeneity within one module to ensure best standard white light quality. As an LED lighting designer, illumination of white surfaces such as wallwashing with multiple LEDs previously would make many light points. However, Osram says its new FineWhite LED modules make the LED lights homogeneous even in sensitive applications where single LED light points are visible next to each other or for back lighting with slim setup and diffuse covers. Osram boasts that the new LED modules offer 50 to 100 percent more lumen output than the previous generation, "W2", despite the same power input. Osram further contends that the LEDs in its light modules are have the same standards of homogeneity as standard fluorescent tubes. Osram GmbH News Release
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Strategies in Light 2008 -- Highlights LIGHTimes Senior Technical Editor, Alan Thompson
February 19, 2008...This week, Alan Thompson, the senior technical editor of LIGHTimes, reveals his insights and observations from his attendance at the 2008 Strategies in Light Conference, which took place at the Santa Clara Convention Center on February 11-13.
Living up to its billing, the 2008 Strategies in Light Conference put on by Strategies Unlimited was bigger and even better than its predecessors. It was moved to the Santa Clara Convention Center this year. Attendance exceeded 600 for the conference and well over a 1,000 when exhibition attendees were included. The Monday workshops also enjoyed record participation. The number of people from the downstream segments of our industry, such as luminaire manufacturers and application companies, continued to increase, fostering increased communication between LED producers and users. There were also quite a few analysts and venture capitalists present, reflecting many novel ideas for startups in this space.
As usual, Bob Steele of Strategies Unlimited both organized the program and was the lead speaker, addressing the market for high brightness LEDs. Bob’s good news is that the low, single digit growth rates of the past two years will increase to more than 10 percent this year and next. This growth will be driven by high power LEDs. The formerly dominant mobile application area will decrease as a percentage of the total market, even with increasing volumes, since average selling prices (ASPs) continue to decline steadily. Signs and displays will become the largest single category, driven chiefly by increasing adoption of LEDs in flat panel backlights for laptops and smaller TVs. Other categories such as illumination/lighting are growing faster but are currently much smaller in size.
Several of the ensuing speakers stressed the desirable properties of LEDs and how they can drive green and energy saving needs for power utilities, municipalities, and buildings. Other speakers addressed applications such as automotive, aircraft, and retail where LEDs provide distinct advantages over current practice. We heard from speakers who covered how to deal with LED problems, particularly for luminaire design. One topic that garnered a lot of attention was the formation of SSLITA,the Solid State Lighting Industry Trade Association, in cooperation with the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association (OIDA). This seems like an idea whose time has come given the recent proliferation of government and commercial programs encouraging SSL adoption. There is an obvious need to educate the public about SSL in order to avoid the type of problems CFLs ran into (and still have to some extent).
Talking with attendees and looking at the exhibits gave me further insight into the market for Edison socket type retrofit products. A couple of years ago this seemed to be a small niche but recent advances in LED efficacy and packaging design have moved the bar up considerably. Companies such as LED Lighting Fixtures, Lighting Sciences Group, IMS, Lemnis, and others have real products on the market that include lumen maintenance and color temperature control. Prices are still very high compared to CFLs and incandescents, but by appealing to early adopters who want green products, they may be able to leverage the volumes to effect significant price reductions in the near future.
Strategies Unlimited is to be commended on planning and executing such a useful event. As always, even though the talks and workshops were stimulating, it is the personal discussions and interactions that help all of us attain insights and encouragement in our pursuit of this fascinating market. It is an event not to be missed!
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