Macroblock, as a LED driver IC manufacturer will continue to showcase its technology breakthroughs realized in the new products for LED display and LED lighting fields at Macroblock booth A5.532 at Electronica 2008 from 11th to 14th November in Munich, Germany.

It’s reported that the event, its 34th cycle, unfolds at the brand new TWTC NANGANG Exhibition Hall from October 7 to 11. Asia’s largest electronics sourcing show is sponsored by TAITRA and the Taiwan Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (TEEMA) and features nearly a thousand exhibitors who are using 2,000 booths spread over 12 distinct theme zones.

It’s reported that Taiwan’s government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has teamed up with scores of LED makers to form an R&D alliance, in a bid to integrate industry resources to develop applications for AC LED technology.

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. 

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.

It’s reported that AU Optronics Corp., the largest TFT-LCD panel manufacturer in Taiwan, has decided to restart an active matrix-organic light-emit diode (AM-OLED) research project in the fourth quarter after two years of suspension. B.D. Liu, vice president of AUO Technology Center, pointed out that his company plans to restart AM-OLED display development in the fourth quarter to meet the market demand.

It’s reported that the sales of Taiwan's LED makers rose 16.1 percent in the first half of this year from the same period a year earlier. This is helped by the Beijing Olympics and higher energy prices that are encouraging the use of lower-cost lighting.

Recently, Delta Electronics, Inc., a long-time industry leader in DLP® optics, light engine and projector development for a wide variety of applications, announced it has completed the development of a groundbreaking full HD LED projector for the consumer market.

It’s reported that Lite-On Technology Corp., a world leading supplier of mobile keypads, is venturing into the LEDchip market by investing US$10 million in SemiLEDs Corp., a U.S. producer of high-power LED chips.

According to Edward Po, general manager of Philips Taiwan Ltd.-Lighting Division, Philips Lighting will likely subcontract LED lighting manufacturing to Taiwan when it begins volume production of the products.

Recently, Dongbu HiTek announced the joint development of an LED driver chip for Back Light Unit (BLU) applications in laptop computers. Developed in collaboration with ADDtek, a Taiwanese fabless company specializing in analog and mixed-signal chip solutions, the new LED driver designed by Taiwan-Based ADDtek uses Dongbu HiTek’s specialized BCDMOS (Bipolar CMOS DMOS) process at the 0.35-Micron Node.

It’s reported that Chuang Hsiang Technology Co., Ltd. makes traditional automotive side mirrors more functional and attractive by adding LED signal lights on them. Chuang Hsiang Technology Co., Ltd. is a very innovative company, after it gained a solid foothold in the LED mirror business, the firm has also innovated the LED door handles to revolutionize the market.

Recently, Obducat, the Sweden-based supplier of NanoImprint Lithography (NIL) and Electron Beam Lithography systems, has received an order from Luxtaltek Corporation, a Tawian-based LED maker.

It’s reported that Epistar Corp. will increase production of LED because of orders from China following the Beijing Olympics.

It’s reported that Delta Electronics Inc. plans to invest in the LED industry by the end of the year.LEDs are semiconductors used to illuminate liquid- crystal televisions, street lights and music players. Delta, based in Taipei, is the world's largest maker of power systems for computers and games machines.Delta will start manufacturing the LEDs to secure supply of the components.

ARC Solid-State Lighting, provider of LED driver and controller, announces a new LED lighting controller-MINI Controller CA3001, the control capacity of 3-channels RGB full color is extremely favorable for Lighting Embellishing of Shop Widows and Products Showcases to create amazing lighting effects and romantic atmospheres easily.  Having both control and driving capacities but it is truly simple to install.

Recently, Aixtron announced an order from Formosa Epitaxy Inc. for further six CRIUS Close Coupled Showerhead MOCVD systems received in the first quarter of 2008. This order for our CRIUS CCS tools confirms the exceptional capabilities in the design and operation of these systems.Formosa Epitaxy Inc., one of Taiwan’s leading manufacturers of ultra high brightness LEDs, will use the systems for volume production of GaN-based UHB LEDs.

It's reported that Taiwan industry watchers estimated the on-going Beijing Olympic Games to give a big boost to the LED lighting industry from the huge number of LED lamps in conjunction with the energy-conservation tone lighting up magnificent games monuments, public utilities, main roads, and traffic lights in the Chinese capital city.

Recently, at Rubicon Technology’s 2Q08 earnings conference call with industry analysts, the company's president and CEO discussed the future of the LED market. 

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 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.

Cree expects LED lighting production costs to drop fast, coming close to the levels of fluorescent lamps by 2012. XLamp MC-E has been widely adopted by clients for commercial lighting, flash lights, street lamps and others.

According to company sources, the Taiwan-based Genesis Photonics Inc., a upstream supplier of epitaxial wafers for LED, scored EPS of NT$1.67 in the second quarter of 2008, with a gross profit rate of 45%, as No. 1 supplier of this kind on the island.

It’s reported that Everlight has harnessed its expertise in LED manufacturing and combined it with its own leading technology in PCB population, mechanical design, optical design, and thermal management to create a highly efficient and aesthetically pleasing indoor lighting fixture.

According to market sources, Taiwan LED packaging companyLedtech Electronics has received LED light bar orders for 200 Taiwan convenience stores. Throughout the convenience store chain, over the next 3-4 years, a total of 2,880 refrigerator lighting units will be replace to LED light bars. Ledtech won the first round of orders, while rivals including Coretronic, Zenitron and Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (AOT) are competing to enter the supply stream.

Semisilicon Technology Corp. announce two 3 wires full color LED driver IC, One is 3 wires RGBW LED PWM driver IC，Part number is「DJ5111」.The other is 3 wires RGB LED constant current driver IC，Part number is「DJ5091」.

Intematix Corp., a leading innovator in materials, phosphors, LED lighting components and integration services, today announced a broad expansion of its product offerings with the introduction of a complete line of patented "chip on ceramic" LEDs and LED arrays.

LED packaging company Ligitek Electronics is building a new facility at Shulin Datong Technology Park with a total investment of over NT$1 billion (US$32.5 million), and the company expects the new facility to help increase its monthly capacity of SMD LEDs by three times, while doubling its solar module capacity.

The LED sector in Taiwan generally had weaker-than-expected sales in April despite players' optimism that orders would be picking up in the second quarter.LED packagers Unity Opto Technology and Harvatek saw their April sales drop sequentially.Unity said shipments of applications for LED backlighting dipped in April amid clients' inventory adjustments. The company's April revenues declined 4.6% sequentially to NT$292 million (US$9.58 million), which nevertheless represents a 24% on-year increase.