Technology

White OLEDs made brighter than incandescent bulbs

sarafan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:27:46 +0000

Recently, a University of Michigan researcher has described that a solid-state, white-light source is said to be brighter on a per-watt basis than incandescent bulbs

According to engineering professor Stephen Forrest, White organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are already producing more light per watt than incandescent bulbs, but it is trapped inside the device. By fabricating a tandem system of grids and micro lenses on a white OLED, the device can achieve a brightness of over 70 lumens per watt, compared with 15 lumens for incandescent bulbs--almost as much as fluorescent tube lights (90 lumens).

"We have achieved 78 lumens using our grid and lens structures--almost as much as fluorescents," said Forrest. "And when you consider that a lot of the fluorescent tubes light is lost, since it comes out it all directions around the tube, our white OLEDs will be perceived in many applications as brighter than fluorescents." Forrest claims his breakthrough will enable white OLEDs to eventually replace both incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes with light-panels that can be shaped differently for specific applications. The market for white OLED light panels could be enormous since lighting accounts for 22 percent of all U.S. electricity consumption. The Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute at the University of Michigan, which cooperated in the development of Forrest's invention, is focusing on "green" alternatives to coal-generated electricity.

White OLEDs generate light using electron-hole recombination in layers of organic semiconductors--carbon-based dyes that are already widely available. By fabricating the organic semiconductors on inexpensive plastic or metal-foil substrates, white OLEDs promise to lower the manufacturing costs of lighting by using low-temperature, roll-to-roll manufacturing techniques instead of expensive silicon substrates. Unfortunately, up to 60 percent of the light generated by white OLEDs is trapped inside the semiconducting layers--reflected back from the glass lid of the device. Instead, Forrest uses a layer of grids etched in silicon dioxide that refracts the trapped light through the glass lid into a layer of dome-shaped micro-lenses that direct the trapped light out of the device.

Forrest plans to work with Universal Display Corp. to create even brighter white OLEDs and to lower the manufacturing costs for grids and lenses. "Universal Display uses a more efficient process than we had--they are already getting 120 lumens from their white OLEDs," said Forrest. "If they choose to add our grids and lenses, then their white OLEDs will much much brighter than fluorescents."

EMTEQ introduced the industry’s first LED 400cd anti-collision exterior light

sarafan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:40:22 +0000

Recently, EMTEQ, a leading provider of interior and exterior LED and aircraft systems integration and certification, has been granted FAA STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) ST03595AT for the industry’s first 400cd anti-collision exterior light. Flight Components AG, an EMTEQ Company, located in Switzerland, in conjunction with EMTEQ’s Wisconsin headquarters, is the primary designer of the light. EMTEQ’s launch customer, Lynden Air Cargo, is installing the 400cd light on L-382 aircraft, making this light an excellent option for retrofit replacement on C-130 and many other similar-sized military as well as most Part 25 civilian aircraft.

EMTEQ’s Director, Sam Matar, Global Aftermarket Business Development explains, “We’ve designed the light so that internal components should remain unchanged regardless of the installation. The adapter plate interface may be different from model to model, but once certified on a particular aircraft, the installation is greatly simplified.”

Other benefits to EMTEQ’s newest anti-collision light compared to non-LED lights, in addition to its intelligent design include, use of COB (chip-on-board) technology for significantly more compact packaging, longer life with reduced replacement and maintenance costs, lighter weight for reduced fuel costs and so on.

EMTEQ’s other exterior lighting products include tail and navigation lights; anti-collision and combination light assemblies. All are designed and manufactured to respective Joint Aviation or Federal Aviation Requirements (JAR/FAR); meet RTCA-DO-160 and Mil-STD-810 standards and many have TSO/ETSO approval as well. Many custom design applications are in development.

About the EMTEQ Family of Companies

Incorporated in 1996, EMTEQ specializes in integrated interior and exterior LED lighting products, design engineering and avionics installation kits for aircraft navigation, communication and entertainment systems for the for the commercial, corporate and military aviation markets, including helicopters. Headquartered in New Berlin, Wisconsin, EMTEQ has locations throughout the United States and globally, including ACS-NAI in Winnipeg, Canada; Swiss exterior lighting company, Flight Components, AG; Florida’s FAA certification and installation group and Taubaté Brazil design and engineering facility. EMTEQ also is aligned with strategic partner Cable Technology of Montana, Inc. located in Great Falls, MT, who designs, develops, manufactures and sells high quality wire and cable related assemblies. EMTEQ employs over 430 people with expected revenues of approximately $75,000,000 in 2008.

Honeywell Provides LED Technology for Wingtip Navigation Lighting on Airbus A320 Family of Planes

sarafan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:12:09 +0000

Yesterday, Honeywell announced that it has signed a contract with Airbus valued in excess of $80 million to upgrade the navigation wingtip lighting on the A320 to Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology that lasts more than 40 times longer than current halogen technology, resulting in significantly lowered maintenance costs for airline operators.

Honeywell's lighting technology upgrade will be incorporated into the Airbus production line in March 2009 for all forward-fit A320 aircraft. This 30-year contract covers approximately 5,000 forward-fit production and fielded aircraft in the A320 family including A318, A319, A320, A321. The technology upgrade covers the forward navigation lights located inside the wingtip that provide recognition lighting in the air and situational awareness lighting on the ground.

Honeywell's solid-state lighting has a much longer life -- up to 20,000 hours before replacement -- than existing halogen lights that have an end of life of about 500 hours. This improved reliability results in substantial savings for operators in fewer lamp changes, lower spares inventory and lower labor costs. Honeywell has pioneered technology advances in the field of LEDs many of which are now being applied in consumer electronics applications such as large screen TVs, computers, and other display systems around the world. Honeywell's LED technology has been used for commercial and military planes for more than a decade.

"Honeywell's LED technology upgrade for wingtip lighting offers significant cost-savings for operators -- up to $30,000 per aircraft," said Jeff Johnston, Vice President of Platform Components. "The longer life of the LED, plus the ease of installation, keeps the aircraft out of the maintenance shop and in the air, where it belongs."

Honeywell's upgraded lighting technology will be available for retrofit for existing airline operators on A320 aircraft beginning in April 2009. The drop-in replacement for the existing lighting does not require any aircraft modification. For more than 70 years, Honeywell has designed and manufactured lighting products and complete vision systems for virtually every configuration of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

Toshiba to provide white LED approaching 100 lm for lighting applications

sarafan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:52:46 +0000

Recently, Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC) has announced the TL12W02-D, a high power, high brightness white LED for commercial, residential and industrial lighting applications that can provide a typical flux of 90 lm when driven at only 250mA.

It’s reported that the 90 lm white LED has a low thermal resistance package that provides improved heat release characteristics, and the forward voltage is rated at 6.8V (typical) at 250mA. Its surface-mount package measures 10.5mm x 5.0mm x 2.1mm (including leads). The Toshiba family of white LED products features low power consumption, wide operating temperature range of -40°C to 100°C, compact size and long operating life, which meet the requirements for a broad range of commercial, residential and industrial applications.

Sony and other Japanese companies to team up in OLED panels

sarafan — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:03:32 +0000

Recently, Sony Corp and other Japanese companies said they will team up to jointly develop key technologies to make large-sized organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for use in TVs.

OLED panels, seen as promising next-generation flat displays, use organic, or carbon-containing, compounds that emit light when electricity is applied. Unlike liquid crystal displays, OLED panels do not need backlighting, making them slimmer and more energy efficient. But makers need to clear hurdles such as cutting production costs and maximizing screen size in order to begin mass-producing OLEDs.

Sony and other firms, including a joint venture between Toshiba Corp and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, will participate in a joint development project initiated by the Japanese government. Details of the project, which aims to establish basic technologies for making energy-saving, high-definition OLED displays with screen sizes of 40-inch and larger, will be announced soon, participating companies said. Other participants in the project include Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd and Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd.

Sony in November started selling the world's first OLED TVs with an 11-inch screen, while South Korea's Samsung SDI Co Ltd (006400.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said last month that it would boost production of active-matrix OLED displays to six times the current level by mid-2009. The Nikkei business daily said the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will pitch in 3.5 billion yen ($33 million) to help with the project, which would run from this year through 2012. Shares in Sony were up 1.8 percent at 4,430 yen in early afternoon trade, outperforming the Tokyo stock market's electrical machinery index , which fell 0.3 percent.

Luminus Devices has 21 patents issued, with 120 additional applications pending

sarafan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:12:38 +0000

Recently, Luminus Devices, Inc., the developer and manufacturer of PhlatLight (Photonic Lattice) LEDs that are used in display and lighting applications, announced it has received its 21st United States patent for its PhlatLight technology. This rapidly growing patent portfolio highlights Luminus Devices' technology leadership in the LED industry. And with 120 additional patents pending in the United States and foreign countries, Luminus will continue its leadership in solid state lighting innovation.

Alexei Erchak, co-founder and chief technology officer for Luminus Devices, Said, "Luminus Devices introduced the revolutionary concept of creating large format LED chips, and we have continued research and development in all aspects of PhlatLight LED technology, resulting in brightness and efficacy of PhlatLight LEDs that has doubled in the last two years," he added "Our R&D efforts support the evolution of a diverse range of products based on our patented PhlatLight technology allowing us to enter into a wider variety of new markets where high intensity illumination is needed."

Luminus' patent portfolio covers a wide range of patented technology including large area LED devices, high power wavelength converting LED devices and LED packaging technology. The continual addition of patents further demonstrates Luminus’ commitment to innovate and patent leading edge technologies.

Luminus Devices is recognized as the technology leader in the advancement of display and illumination applications. PhlatLight technology has enabled display applications that were previously out of reach for conventional light emitting diodes. PhlatLight LEDs are replacing mercury-arc lamps used in projection and CCFL used in LCD TVs. In addition to replacing traditional light sources for consumer electronics, the company is also branching out into a wide range of applications in entertainment and stage lighting, architectural lighting, medical and dental, avionics, machine vision and many other lighting applications that require high brightness light sources.

About Luminus Devices

Luminus Devices, Inc. develops and manufactures high performance solid state light sources for a variety of illumination applications, including high definition TVs, video projectors, avionics displays, and lighting systems. Its patented PhlatLight (Photonic Lattice) LED products are the brightest and most versatile solid state light sources available today and are enabling innovative products and applications never before possible. Luminus Devices鈥?headquarters and primary manufacturing facilities are located in Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Capital Vending Inc. introduces LED light strips for vending machines

sarafan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:10:45 +0000

Recently, Capital Vending, Inc. in Laurel, Md. has developed energy saving LED light strips designed specifically for vending machines. These light strips are designed with a connector that attaches to the existing harness in the machine, eliminating the need for a ballast. On-location installation typically takes just a few minutes. These LED strips are protected in clear acrylic tubing which helps protect the LED’s and allows them to be shipped individually without damage.

These LED light strips can give a competitive advantage when bidding on contracts if the location has energy concerns, as these lights are extremely energy efficient. LED lights have a typical life of 100,000 hours, allowing them to last for over 10 years on average. They create minimal heat and do not give off any UV radiation, which could negatively affect your food products. LEDs are not affected by temperature and will come on quickly at full brightness. These lights are durable, containing no filaments that can be damaged due to shock or vibration.

At this time, connectors are available for machines made by Automatic Products, Crane, National Vendors, GPL, Rowe, Selectivend, McGregor/Savamco, and All State Manufacturing Condiment Stands. A generic strip with a standard wall plug is available for miscellaneous vendors or machines that did not have a lighting system when they were manufactured. A static cling or weather resistant decal is provided with the LED strips. This helps let your customers know you are helping to conserve electricity.

Neng Tyi to ship LED cooling module in 2008

sarafan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:43:55 +0000

Recently, Taiwan heat sink maker Neng Tyi Precision has successfully developed a solution for LED lighting heat diffusion, with the modules expected to start shipping in the second half of 2008.

Cooling modules for PC applications accounts for 75% of the Neng Tyi's revenues. The other 25% of its sales comes from cooling solutions for game console applications, mainly for use in the Sony PS3. If Neng Tyi begins operating in the LED market, about 50% of its business will be outside of PC applications.

GE expands into outdoor LED lighting, with the LED StreetDreams post-top fixture and outdoor area light

sarafan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:42:33 +0000

Recently, GE Lighting Systems has debuted the first two of many upcoming outdoor LED lighting systems: the LED StreetDreams post-top fixture and an outdoor area light.

The company sees the addition of these systems as a major expansion of its product portfolio, although it’s not giving up on traditional systems, says Paul Morse, president, GE Lighting Systems, a part of GE Consumer & Industrial. "Our strategy is always to give customers more choices," says Morse. "We're still innovating and delivering for customers who value traditional systems. LED technology simply provides a path to meet growing market demand for greater energy efficiency and lower lifetime costs."

Post-top fixture

The new LED StreetDreams post-top fixtures were recently displayed at the 76th Annual Conference of Mayors in Miami, FL. In late June, more than 250 mayors from cities all over the US were able to take a sneak peek at the new lighting system, installed in the median along Pan American Drive leading up to Miami City Hall. GE provided six of its LED StreetDreams luminaires for the event.

LED StreetDreams post-top fixtures will be introduced to the broader market in 2009.

Outdoor LED area light

The outdoor LED area light, the second GE fixture, will be available later this year after significant application analysis and real world testing has been completed.

The product itself was introduced at LightFair 2008. GE Lighting Systems says that the area light provides up to 60% energy savings, longer life and significantly improved light-level uniformity compared with traditional HID lamp sources and optical systems, such as a standard 400 W quartz metal halide system.

High performance LED systems from Lumination LLC, also a GE Consumer & Industrial business, enable the GE LED outdoor area light to deliver system and application efficiency with up to four times the recommended service interval of standard HID systems. This means there is a 50,000-hour planned service interval for the GE outdoor LED area light compared with a 20,000-hour rated life and 14,000-hour recommended re-lamp interval at 70% of rated life for a standard 400 W quartz metal halide system. The GE outdoor LED area light improves visibility and quality of light versus standard HID systems by providing a comparatively higher color temperature (5500K), a 70+ color-rendering index and a low-glare optical design. The low profile design of the GE outdoor LED area light offers an aesthetically desirable appearance while incorporating clean lines and a reduced effective projected area.

GE Lighting Systems says that the optics create a more uniform light level for the on-site activities that require light, while reducing off-site glare and light pollution.

Brighter White LED, longer life

sarafan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:20:05 +0000

Recently, Malaysia-based SMT LED manufacturerDominant Semiconductors Sdn Bhd is offering a brighter white LED in the DomiLED product range (DDW-PJG).

With an operating current of only 20mA, this product is able to achieve maximum brightness, 1800mcd (typical) and fulfil the stringent requirements of the automotive industry, claims Dominant. In terms of design and dimension, the package is similar to other DomiLED members —3.2mm x 2.8mm x 18mm. Dominant says this product is a very efficient package due to its low thermal resistance. With silicon encapsulation, this product guarantees along life span.

The new device is highly suitable for various lighting applications where space is a premium such as interior automotive lighting (dashboard), backlighting (button, switches, LCD display) and illuminated advertising.