It’s reported that PhotonStar LED Ltd, a UK-based designer and manufacturer of solid state lighting (SSL) luminaires, has increased the efficiency of its next-generation CeilingStar5 downlighter to 70 luminaire lumens per circuit watt, and has set new standards in the efficiency of commercial downlighters by achieving more than 56 lumens per circuit watt for the next generation of its CeilingStar5 SuperBright when driven at 700mA.

It’s reported that Sharp is introducing 6 new downlights and 5 new oblong/square energy-efficient LED fixtures for factories, offices, and commercial spaces to the Japanese market.  

Recently, component distributors are retooling their operations to help rewire buildings to take advantage of its energy-saving capabilities because of advances in LED technology push it into the commercial realm, Electronic component distributor Avnet Inc. has committed new resources to the emerging "illumination market" with the creation of an engineering team that helps businesses rewire their offices and operations for LED lighting.

It’s reported that Harvatek Inc., a Taiwan supplier of SMT chip LEDs, scored net profits of NT$0.9 per share for the first half of this year to be the No.2 supplier of this kind on the island, with increasing sales of its LED applications for notebook PCs.

Recently, Cree Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, announces a new standard for lighting-class LEDs with the introduction of the XLamp(r) XP-E and XP-C LEDs. The XLamp XP-E and XP-C LEDs are available to order with standard lead times.

Edison Opto, a Taiwan based high power LED packaging manufacture, has introduced its popular product, 20Watt EdiPower. The device is measured at 14.5mm x 14.5mm x 0.7mm, with luminous flux of 1,000 lumens for cool white LED (CCT:5,000~10,000K), and 780 lumens for neutral white LED (CCT:3,800~5,000K), and 620 lumens for warm white LED (CCT:2,670~3,800K) at a drive current of 1,400mA.

Recently, China Display Technologies Inc. has formed a technical team to work in conjunction with the Guangdong Flat Panel Industry Association, a semi-governmental institution involved in drafting the standards for the high power LED lighting industry in China.

Recently, the Executive Yuan, Taiwan’s Cabinet, announced it would replace all the island’s incandescent-type traffic lights with LED lamps in three years, and replace all the incandescent lamps currently serving throughout the island with energy-saving lamps in four years. Taiwan government’s energy-conservation policy will give a big boost to the island’s energy-saving lamp industry, in which many manufacturers have planned to begin volume production or sheer shipment some time this quarter.

It’s reported that Sturtevant - Energy-saving lighting that could help cities in Alaska to Australia save on the cost of electricity in street lights is creating global growth opportunities for Ruud Lighting Inc.

Recently, the Cabinet in Taiwan decided to designate LED as one bellwether industries to actively develop in the near future based on a promising future for green sectors. The government is planning to encourage households to replace existing public lighting with LED lamps to save electricity.

Recently, Sharp Corp., Japan's biggest maker of liquid-crystal displays, will begin selling lights made based on light-emitting diode technology to establish a new earnings pillar on top of flat panel and solar cell businesses.Sharp follows companies including Toshiba Corp. and Citizen Holdings Co. in entering the market for LEDs, which consume less energy and last longer than incandescent and fluorescent lights, are seen as promising next-generation lights as costs for power generation and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions rise.

Recently, Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc., a renewable energy and energy conservation company, has acquired the exclusive rights to patents that allow it to expand its existing product offering into the extended-life and security LED lighting markets.

It’s reported that Toshiba has unveiled a new 1.6 million LED display in New York's Times Square supporting high definition resolution. The Toshiba Vision Times Square will take pride of place at the top of One Times Square Building, and carry its message to the crowded streets 285 feet below.

Recently, LED International Holdings Ltd. said it is buying New Shenzhen, a Chinese LED products maker, for HK$5.5 million cash and shares. That is that it will pay HK$3.0 million cash over three years and issue 16 million new shares.

It’s reported that China Display Technologies, Inc., a leading China-based optoelectronics manufacturer specializing in small-medium and large-sized LED and CCFL backlight units for LCD displays, announced it has formed a technical team to work in conjunction with the Guangdong Flat Panel Industry Association, a semi-governmental institution actively involved in drafting the standards for the High Power LED lighting industry in China.

It’s reported that Sony tried to wow visitors with its new flat screens and sound systems at a demo show in London, but star of the show was undoubtedly the 11in OLED TV.Showing just standard definition content, the 3cm thick screen gave fantastic realistic colours and a definition that many HD equipment would be envious of. It boasts a contrast ratio of (at least) 1,000,000:1.

Recently, Lamina Lighting, a seven-year-old LED lighting company, said that it is selling its assets to Lighting Science Group Corporation (LSG), which makes customized LED lighting fixtures.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will begin test production of next-generation displays for TVs next year with plans for commercial output as early as 2011. Competition is heating up among the world's electronics makers, including Japanese rival Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea, in OLED, or organic light-emitting diode, displays.

Recently, Future Lighting Solutions announced the availability of the new Linear Optic 210 from Polymer Optics Limited designed specifically for linear arrays of LUXEON Rebel LEDs. A single optic is easily affixed to a linear array of LEDs already assembled on a PCB board, resulting in fast, low-cost assembly that reduces the footprint required for the LED lighting system in a luminaire.

Recently, the Sentry Equipment Corp. in Oconomowoc, Wis., was considering how to light its new factory, the company's president, Michael Farrell decided to try LEDs. At last he chose to light the building's exterior and most of its interior with LEDs, a light source that many bulb manufacturers are now convinced will supplant incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs.

According to analysts at the Darnell Group market research firm in Corona, Calif, LED will rapidly accelerate over the next few years in general illumination applications.

Recently, Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of liquid crystal displays, and Samsung SDI, a plasma display panel maker, announced they will set up a joint venture to develop an organic electroluminescent display panel.

According to counters Jeff Shepard, president of Darnell Group, the impending displacement of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps by LED backlights in the laptop computer market is only one of the most visible indicators, and analyzed over 50 application sub-segments in detail to arrive at our growth trajectories. Growth in these applications will drive down the cost of LEDs is quite faster. And growth is accelerating in numerous market segments including video signs and billboards, automotive lighting, and others.

It's reported Seoul Semiconductor has recommended a new Top-View LEDs with high CRI, high efficacy and high reliability. Generally, the Warm White part (CAWT722-S) has a CRI of 96 and achieves 68 lm/W, while the Pure White (CWT722-S) has a CRI of 92 and produces 70 lm/W. moreover, it is important to note that these figures are for a drive current of 60 mA and a power consumption of 0.192 W. The light output of the pure white and warm white devices is only 13.9 and 13.1. lm, respectively.

According to the expert's analysis, OLED lighting is more than twice as efficient as regular incandescent light bulbs by using a new process that involves tiny micro lenses, cranking out 70 lumens of light per watt of power, compared with the 30 lumens per watt of GE's latest OLEDs. While these fantastic new lighting sources won't light up every house for a few more years, they'll be a whole lot better than current compact florescent bulbs.

It's reported Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. said that they will mass produce next-generation organic displays, spending roughly $140 million to cash in on the growing market for the ultra-thin screens On July 22.

It's reported Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Arima Optoelectronics has stressed that its finances and operations remain healthy despite heavy losses in 1Q.The company saw its June sales drop 59% on year to NT$104 million, with a net loss of NT$82 million for the month. It posted net losses of NT$124 million for the first quarter of 2008. It attributed the poor results to the spinning off its laser diode business last August, and fierce pricing amid weak demand.

It's reported Osram is claiming a record for luminous flux and efficacy from an LED driven at 350 mA. It says that its development engineers have achieved new records for the brightness and efficiency of white LEDs in the laboratory. Under standard conditions with an operating current of 350 mA, brightness peaked at a value of 155 lm, and efficacy at 136 lm/W. White prototype LEDs with 1 mm2 chips were used. The light produced had a color temperature of 5000 K, with color (x,y) coordinates at (0.349, 0.393).

It's reported that Asif Anwar, Director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Technologies Service, will be presenting his paper, "LED Device and Material Market Trends," at the 5th China International Forum on Solid State Lighting conference on July 24 - 26, in Shenzhen, China. He will outline the market prospects for LEDs and highlight future substrate market trends that will have an impact on LED markets.

During the industry's traditional peak season in the second quarter, LED demand did not surge, however, LED makers are expected to see improved gross margins in the second quarter as compared to the slow season in the first quarter.It’s said that affected by weak demand for LEDs used in backlight units for small- to medium-size LCD panels, Unity Opto Technology saw its revenues in the second quarter drop 11% sequentially, but its gross margins are expected to increase to around 16-17%, up from 10% in the first quarter.