German LED semiconductor manufacturer Osram and Sharp based in Osaka, Japan have entered a cross-licensing agreement comprising of optoelectronic semiconductor components and lighting products including components from both companies.It extends from LED chips and laser diode chips through modules to luminaires.

Larson Electronics has announced the release of a powerful new LED lamp capable of acting as a direct replacement for incandescent bulbs used in standard light sockets. The LED17W-PAR38-WP 17 Watt LED Style Bulb produces more light than 150 incandescent lamps and provides added versatility in the form of multiple color options

With air pollution becoming an increasing issue, air quality is important now more than ever especially at home. Air purifies are common in household but are often bulky and obtrusive.Turkish design Nariman Bashiri has designed a portable air purifier called the Airion which is small enough to fit into one palm

The LED specialists behind Visible Lighting have celebrated the completion of Los Angeles’ LED street light replacement project.

To efficiently light high-traffic outdoor areas, Hubbell Lighting announced today two new high-performance pedestrian post top LED luminaires—Spaulding Lighting’s Peachtree and Vandalia.

Primoceler, a microfabrication company specializing in laser micro welding and scribing of transparent materials, has developed the first sapphire-to-sapphire welding process.

A recent article by U.S. IT website CNET outlined “Seven problems with current OLED televisions”. Although, OLED TV has better performance and good potential, in the short-term it still faces seven issues including high prices, low yields, and no technology standards. Below is are seven reasons highlighted by CNET article “Seven problems with current OLED televisions” as to why consumers should think twice before purchasing an OLED TV in 2013:

Researchers in Okinawa Japan have developed a communication system which uses LED lights as a medium for underwater communication. The device works by first taking sound and converting it into a light signal. The LED light will then transmit the signal to the other person’s receiver where it is reverted back to sound.

Larson Electronics has announced the release of an explosion proof LED blasting gun light designed to handle the extreme conditions of industrial blasting operations. The BLG-LED-7W Hazardous Location LED Blasting Gun Light mounts to any standard blasting gun and provides high power illumination combined with extreme durability.

PAR floodlights capable of dimming to less than 5 percent.

Venture firm LAMPServe in Naha Okinawa Japan is a company researching LED visual light communication technology. In September the company plans to conduct a worldwide outdoor lighting demonstration experiment and if successful will present the lighting in areas that lack communication infrastructure like Africa, Asia, and emerging market countries.

Intematix Corporation announced that a sample set of lighting modules using its remote phosphors have reached 6,000 hours of life testing with 100% of initial lumens maintained as measured by TÜV SÜD, an independent testing laboratory.  Testing time of 6,000 hours is the minimum typically required to qualify for ENERGY STAR and DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) standards for LED lighting.

Secondary optic manufacturer Ledlink felt the effects of increased LED lighting demands when their originally predicted capital expenditure of US $7 million for 2013 instead reached that of US $8 million. Ledlink chairman Tang Delong stated that after the 2Q13 production launch of their newly acquired factory in Yangzhou, the next goal was to increase self manufacturing for mold production with an estimated investment of about US $15 million in order to increase the volume of machines. Starting from November this year, one month’s operation quantity will increase from 100 sets to 150 sets.

Despite of downpours and strong gusts caused by severe tropical storm Trami that hit Taiwan on Aug. 21, 2013, optical inspection giant KLA-Tencor Corporation outlined its 2013 product plans and business strategy at a press conference in Taipei that day. KLA-Tencor that usually keeps a low profile responded to questions concerning competitor Hermes Microvision Inc. (HMI), a large Taiwanese E-beam inspection equipment manufacturer. KLA-Tencor emphasized, while E-beams have higher resolution than optics, its inspection speed is too slow, and pointed out optical inspection is still the mainstream inspection method on the market. The company also announced it will be establishing equipment training centers in Taiwan, which reflects the aim of KLA-Tencor’s trip to the country to firmly establish its presence.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors, is broadening its optoelectronics portfolio with the introduction of a new high-power, high-speed 940 nm infrared (IR) emitter for gesture remote control applications. Offering high radiant power of 40 mW at 100 mA, the VSLB9530S is offered in a clear molded, leaded TELUX package with an oval lens designed to support an angle of half intensity of ± 18° in the vertical direction and ± 36° in the horizontal direction.

By Switching to LED lighting, the United States could save billions in energy costs by reduce energy consumption by 50%.

GE Lighting has entered a joint-development agreement with Cooledge Lighting Inc. to develop a customized GE Lightech™ LED driver as a key component in Cooledge's first full range of LED light sheet solutions for fixture companies, which debut this week at the LightFair International trade show in Philadelphia.

ETi Solid State Lighting Inc. announced the addition of two 4’ integral linear LED tubes to the DesignLights Consortium® Qualified Product List (DLC QPL). ETi’s 4’ integral linear LED tubes offer a brighter, more efficient option to replace standard fluorescent tubes.

Due to the banishment of low efficiency illuminants, modern LED-lighting solutions are enjoying an increase in popularity and the lighting market is gradually adapting to these changes.

At One Angel Square, Manchester, stands the landmark building that houses the Co-operative Group’s new headquarters. Striking in its architecture, it is an expression of the Co-op’s values and commitment to the environment: it is a statement for sustainability. The UK manufacturer has provided over 11,000 luminaries throughout the office and communal areas in the headquarters.

The lighting specialists at LED Strip Lights co. have shared their views on the news that the glow from LEDs may be able to provide robots with an artificial skin that could enable them to sense touch. If successful, the concept could be used for inkless fingerprint scanners, biological imaging and to enhance the performance of micro-electro mechanical systems.

CAST Lighting, a premier manufacturer of low voltage outdoor lighting systems, announced today the release of a new line of advanced LED landscape lights – The CAST Impressionist Series™. This series introduces unique patent-pending approaches to adjusting light levels and beam spreads in the field, and includes full-featured robust LED circuitry resulting in greater design flexibility, cost savings and system longevity.

With China’s energy efficiency subsidy coming to a close, demand for LED backlight at the end of 2Q and beginning of 3Q slowed. The upcoming National Day holiday orders also had effect on 3Q LED backlight delivery performance. China is expected to promote another energy subsidy that will be stricter towards efficiency performance in the near future, with the possibility of drastically raising the EEI (Energy Efficiency Index) from 1.7 and 1.9. LED manufacturers have also aggressively begun placement strategies for high efficiency direct lit TVs.

With information pouring in about the launch of new iPhone and iPad products this September, the whole world is watching to see if Apple will be able to perform as well as they did 3Q. It is rumored that the new iPhone will come with dual-LED flash which will increase the phone’s flash power. With the iPad mini, the new generation will use a 0.6t double die packaging but the number of LEDs used in backlighting will remain the same making the new device lighter and thinner.

According to reports by American website 9to5Mac, the new iPhone5S will be equipped with a dual-LED flash module. French website NEW leaked pictures of the phone's rear shell which shows a slot large enough to hold two LEDs.

Tong Hsin Electronics Industry’s (THEI) will be raising the bar for competitors by increasing ceramic substrate laser drilling speed and adding packaging services as LED chip piece volumes used on substrates grow exponentially, said the company President Heinz Ru during a recent investor conference. The changes occurred in response to strong demands for LED ceramic substrates in the lighting market despite of impacts from Cree’s low-priced LED bulbs during the first half of 2013. Ru forecasted shipments for ceramic substrates applied in high-powered LEDs will continue to grow in 3Q13. 

With LED lighting market on the rise, international lighting giant Philips Lumileds is officially entering the mid-power LED market in 2013. In response to mid-power LED market demands, the company has added Luxeon 3535 packaging component series to their lighting packages. At the same time, the company is also actively entering low-power market and promoting Luxeon 4014 LED package components. It is estimated Lumileds will continue to release new low-power LED products in the second half of 2013. The trend of big international lighting manufacturers entering the low-mid power LED indicates intensified competition in the LED lighting market.

Cree, Inc. announces commercial availability of the 750-lumen LMR2 LED Module—delivering lighting manufacturers an integrated platform to help speed time to market and lower initial cost for LED lighting in residential markets. The breakthrough LMR2 LED module combines light source, driver, optics and primary thermal management in a single, compact system, simplifying retrofit and new installation. The new LMR2 LED module shares the same form factor of the commercial LMR2 yet is optimized for the performance, dimming and cost requirements of the resident...

Recently, Elmos announced a non-contact photoelectric sensor chip E527.16 able to recognize simple gestures such as approaching or swiping movements at a distance of up to approx. 25 cm. The chip is based on the HALIOS working principle. HALIOS systems are unaffected by extreme effects of light, variable light conditions, or temperature fluctuations. No mechanical components are required. It is s a full-featured gesture recognition solution, and can be used for all types of lighting applications. The corresponding E527.16 reference design illustrates the opportuni...

Carmanah Technologies and its partner Sabik Oy recently announced that they have obtained the contract to supply solar LED marine lanterns for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). The one-year contract is worth over 1.2 million Canadian dollars and also includes an optional one-year extension. According to the contract, Carmanah and Sabik shall supply the M650 solar LED marine lantern for the 1.5 and 2 nautical miles applications, the M704-5 solar LED marine lantern for three nautical miles applications and the M708 for four nautical miles applications. &ldq...