On October 1, 2008, Korea Intellectual Property Tribunal ("KIPT") ruled that a patent, related to LED element, (Patent # KP 491482, hereinafter "'482 patent") owned by Nichia Corporation ("Nichia) is invalid based on lack of inventiveness.

Everlight, a leading manufacturer of LEDs and other Opto Semiconductors, has appointed Stephan Greiner as new Vice President Global Sales. Greiner will be responsible for the worldwide Sales Strategies. He brings 13 years of experience in Semiconductor sales. His last position was Senior Director Sales Europe and Emerging Markets (LAMEA) at Osram Opto Semiconductors. 

It’s reported that the OLED lighting market will reach almost US $4.5 billion by 2013 and grow to $5.9 billion by 2015. According to related analysis, in the past year the prospects for OLED lighting have made great leaps forward due to improvements in OLED performance and manufacturing.

It’s reported that DDP, a provider of engineered LED solutions, has developed a 120 VAC line voltage lamp that reduces power consumption and maintenance costs. Designated the 120MBLS-X-CX, the wide-angle LED operates to maximum of 130VAC, while drawing less than 8 mA--85% lower than the power consumption of a standard 120MB incandescent light bulb.

Recently, Albeo Technologies released its Constellation series LED High Bay luminaire for industrial, commercial, warehouse and retail spaces. Albeo is the first LED light fixture manufacturer to make an LED fixture that combines the reliability of LED lighting with the fixture performance requirements for high-bay applications. Qualified customers can also try the fixtures in their facility under Albeo's new 60-day trial program.

It’s reported that LED luminaire manufacturers can now use key components from Osram without having to pay license fees to Philips because Osram has acquired special rights from Philips.

Recently, StockerYale, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of structured light lasers, LED modules and specialty optical fibers for industrial OEMs, medical and defense markets, opened a state-of-the-art facility in Cork, Ireland.

It’s reported that the energy saving trend has led Aixtron's sales to record heights in Q4/2007. Now the manufacturer of LED production equipment sees a "digestion phase" during which the semiconductor market will absorb the production capacity built up over the past quarters. The breakthrough of LED in general lighting applications will not come before the years 2012/2013, predicts Aixtron investor relations manager Guido Pickert.

Recently, the city’s planning department gave a briefing on LED billboards at a City Council study session, but the five aldermen in attendance expressed a concern over creating unneeded regulation.The LED billboards electronically change messages as often as every six to eight seconds. Although the signs change messages, they don’t use animation or flashing lights, Matt Flynn, a senior planner. He said one billboard company has contacted him about putting up the signs in Davenport.

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.

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."

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It’s reported that LEDs 2008 is to be headlined by key industry players include Philips Lumileds Lighting, Cree Inc, Osram Opto Semiconductors, Toyoda Gosei, Nichia, the US EPA and Audi.

It’s reported that Aviza Technology, the semiconductor equipment vendor with a renewed focus on the compounds sector, has scored a major win with a substantial order for its etch and CVD tools.