A.   Developer News

·   911EP, Inc. has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against four companies over the use of its LED technology in emergency lighting products such as the light bars used on police vehicles.  The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Texas against Whelen Engineering Company, Inc., Federal Signal Corporation, Code 3, Inc. and Tomar Electronics, Inc. [ Press release ]

·   Agilent's market strategy is discussed in a feature article at Compound Semiconductor magazine.  The article identifies the camera cell phone as Agilent's core strength and notes that the company is targeting the consumer electronics sector, including camera-phone flashes, illuminators for personal hand-held projectors, and backlights for large LCD televisions, to create opportunities for its daughter company Lumileds. [ Feature article ]

·   Agilent launched its test and measurement certification program in Beijing, China.  The program will become part of Agilent Technologies University, which aims to improve standards among testing and measurement professionals.  Participants can receive certification that covers wireless communication; radio frequency and microwave; optical and photonics; general electronics and digital; network equipment; and test automation.  After completing the training and passing the thorough examination, program participants are awarded associate, expert, or master proficiency levels of certification.  [ News item at CompoundSemi News ]

·   Agilent will increase the number of employees in its China locations by 36% (from 1,100 to 1,500) by the end of 2005, according to an announcement made at the China Development Forum.  The company has facilities in 16 cities in China and is investing in operations in Beijing and Shanghai.  China is Agilent’s second-largest market, after the U.S., according to company officials. [ News item at LIGHTimes ]

·   Aixtron 's merger with Genus was completed after Genus' shareholders approved the merger with a majority of about 61% of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting.  The merger was first announced in July 2004.  Genus is a supplier of atomic layer deposition technology to the semiconductor and hard disk drive industries.  [ Press release ]

·   Alfred University 's School of Engineering received a $10 million endowment from Kyocera Corporation (Japan) for its program in advanced ceramics, biomaterials and photonics.  The research initiative funded by the gift will complement ongoing collaborations between the university and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at the University at Albany--SUNY.  Alfred University participates as a member of the CNSE and other joint nanotechnology enabled collaborations in a number of areas, including solid state lighting.  The university intends to rename the school the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering in honor of the founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation. [ Press release ]

·   The Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) has published recommendations for defining and measuring LED life for lighting.  The publication, "ASSIST Recommends: LED Life for General Lighting," proposes a definition for the life of LED products for lighting based on light output depreciation and appropriate light levels for different types of lighting applications.  The group recommends 70% lumen maintenance (i.e., a 30% reduction in light output over time) as the useful life for general lighting applications and 50% lumen maintenance for decorative lighting applications.  The document's purpose is to help manufacturers present information to end users in a consistent manner.  ASSIST is a LED industry group organized by RPI's LRC. [ Press release, publication ]

·   Arrowhead Research has exclusively licensed new technology in dip pen nanolithography (DPN) from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), with the intent of commercialization.  Arrowhead also acquired a 12-month option to exclusively license additional patent applications from Caltech covering nanotube-based scanning probes, lipid membrane fabrication, nanotube-based memory devices, and nanotube strain sensors.  The technology could potentially be used for mechanically tunable LEDs.  [ Press release ]

·   AXT appointed Philip C. S. Yin as chief executive officer, replacing interim CEO Donald L. Tatzin.  Yin most recently served as AIXTRON 's North American general manager.  AXT also reduced the workforce at its Beijing manufacturing facility by about 15% (100 positions), for an anticipated annual payroll and related expense savings of about $300,000.  [Press release 1, 2 ]

·   Carmanah has signed an agreement for Australian distribution of its LED lighting technologies with Orion Solar Solutions of Worongary, Queensland.  Orion will represent all of Carmanah's solar-powered LED lights for the marine, aviation, transit and road markets in Australia. [ Press release ]

·   Carmanah has received orders for solar-powered LED runway lighting.  Two contracts totaling Cdn$391,000 are for runways undergoing resurfacing and pavement upgrades, one at Nassau International Airport (Bahamas) and one for a U.S. defense customer.  Carmanah also received a $765K order to supply more than 1,500 solar-powered LED airfield lights for the U.S. Marine Corps.  This new order is for the company's Model A601 and A702 airfield lights, which will be used for runway edge, threshold, taxiway edge, helipad edge, and obstruction lighting at the USMC's second largest air base in the Middle East.  [Press release 1, 2 ]

·   Carmanah received orders for solar LED lighting for transit systems in the U.K. and the U.S.  The company will provide the City of Edinburgh Council with its i-SHELTER™ solar LED bus shelter lighting systems, for a contract totaling $200,597, and will supply four U.S. transportation authorities and municipalities on the west coast with i-SHELTER™ solar LED shelter lighting systems and i-STOP™ solar LED transit stops, a $279,000 order.  [Press release 1, 2 ]

·   Catalyst Semiconductor and Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions have signed a non-exclusive agreement to jointly promote each others' products in the systems solutions they offer to their global solid-state illumination customers.  Catalyst Semiconductor designs and manufactures a family of dedicated circuits for LED backlights, LCD displays and automotive/aircraft interior lighting.  TAOS,  formerly the Texas Instruments optoelectronic business unit, designs and markets a broad range of light sensor product families including color sensors, light-to-frequency converters and ambient light sensors.  [ Press release ]

·   Color Kinetics will partner with industry veteran David Cunningham to develop advanced, intelligent solid-state lighting solutions for high-performance entertainment, theatrical and architectural applications.  The solutions will be marketed worldwide by Color Kinetics.  Cunningham is credited with designing some of the entertainment industry's most commercially successful lighting products, including ETC's Source Four™ fixture and Sensor™ dimmer lines.  [ Press release ]

·   Color Kinetics was awarded its third patent relating to intelligent pool and spa lights.  U.S. patent 6,869,204, "Light fixtures for illumination of liquids," relates in part to mechanical advancements, such as those that enable a thin, surface-mounted light. [ Press release ] 

·   Color Kinetics has licensed its intellectual property to James Thomas Engineering in connection with the marketing of James Thomas' Pixel Range line of LED-based products in North America.  The Pixel Range includes high intensity solid-state color changing fixtures for architectural and entertainment applications.  [ Press release ]

·   Color Kinetics was granted a summary judgment by a U.S. District Court regarding three of the claims made in a lawsuit brought by Super Vision.  The judgment means no trial will be held regarding Super Vision's claims of interference with prospective business relationships, trade disparagement and defamation.  Arguments regarding further summary judgment motions, for claims pertaining to patent validity, enforceability and infringement, are expected to be heard by the court in May 2005.  Super Vision had filed the suit in March 2002.  [ Press release ]

·   Color Kinetics co-founder and CEO George Mueller was named full-time founder chairman, while Bill Sims, now the company's president and COO, will become president and CEO.  Both remain members of the company's Board of Directors.  The executive transition will be effective July 1, 2005. [ Press release ]

·   Color Kinetics was awarded two new patents. U.S. Patent 6,888,322, "Systems and methods for color changing device and enclosure," covers a color changing enclosure where illumination is provided by multicolor LED-based sources.  The color changing device could form part of a neon replacement system, tile light, consumer product, computer, peripheral or accessory, for example. U.S. Patent 6,883,929, "Indication systems and methods," covers power generation for LED-based light sources based on a thermoelectric process called the Seebeck Effect, which allows a temperature differential to generate electricity.  For example, the invention could be used to convey the temperature of a stove top through the color of light emitted by a multicolor LED-based source.  [ Press release ]

·   Color Kinetics has designed Cree's high brightness XLamp™ 7090 LED series into a number of architectural and entertainment lighting products.  [ Press release ]

·   Cotco was one of nine companies to receive a “Digital Signage Innovator (DSI) Award,” the first formal recognition of innovation and excellence in the digital signage industry.  The DSI Awards recognize installations in a range of industries, including corporate, retail and transportation.  Cotco received the award in the Corporate Installations category for its interactive touch-screen application. [ item at ECN Asia ]

·   Cree 's CEO and president, Charles M. Swoboda, has been named to the additional role of chairman of the board, succeeding F. Neal Hunter, who recently resigned.  Hunter was a founder of the company and served as CEO from 1994 to 2001.  [ Press release ]

·   Cree has signed two agreements for distribution of its XLamp LEDs.  Vossloh-Schwabe Optoelectronic (Germany) will distribute the products in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and the Benelux countries, while Forge Europa (UK) will distribute them in the United Kingdom, other European countries and Russia.  [Press release 1, 2 ]

·   Crystal IS will move to a 10,500-square-foot facility in Green Island, N.Y., not far from its current 6,000-square-foot operations in a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute incubator building in Watervliet, N.Y.  The move is expected to take place in June 2005. [ Press release ]

·   Diehl Luftfahrt Elektronik (Germany) will provide LED-based main cabin lighting for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  Production of the airplane will begin in 2006, with its first flight in 2007 and certification, delivery and entry into service in 2008.  [Boeing Press release ]

·   Furukawa (Japan) will begin making 2-inch GaN substrates at the end of this year, according to a report at Nikkei.net.  The company is planning to produce 5000 to 6000 units per month by 2008, or about $77 million per year, and will target next-generation DVD applications.  [ News brief at CompoundSemiconductor.net ]

·   Goldeneye has been granted U.S. patent 6,869,206, "Illumination systems utilizing highly reflective LEDs and light recycling to enhance brightness," for a technique that will enable the use of LEDs in large area projection displays.  The patent describes a LED array placed within a highly reflective cavity so that the LEDs absorb very little of the emitted light, improving the source's output. [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   i-Vision was featured in an article in icWales.  The company, which has supplied LED lighting systems for a GMTV television show, expects to double their turnover in the next 18 months to two years, partly by increasing exports to central and eastern Europe.  [ Article in icWales ]

·   II-VI Inc, SemiSouth Laboratories and Mississippi State University will jointly establish a SiC semiconductor substrate manufacturing facility in Starkville, Miss.  The effort will focus on II-VI's production capabilities in SiC substrates and SemiSouth's advanced SiC epitaxial material growth technology.  II-VI Inc. also announced that it made an investment in SemiSouth.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. [ Press release ]

·   InnovaLight has moved its operations to St. Paul, Minn., from Austin, Texas.  The company's core technology is focused on developing next-generation lighting based on novel luminescent silicon nanocrystals, and is based on work by Dr. Uwe Kortshagen of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Brian Korgel of the University of Texas, and others.  InnovaLight was founded in 2002 and is funded by venture capital firms such as Apax Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Sevin Rosen Funds, STARTech and Triton Ventures.  The company also has received federal research grants from the DOE, DOD and NSF.  [ Press release ]

·   Intematix announced production availability of the first members of its fully patent-backed phosphor family.  The White Lightning Y450™ and the White Lightning Y460™ deliver YAG-equivalent performance and color benefiting many applications requiring bright, vibrant light.  These include backlighting, camera flash, automotive lighting, large area signage and architectural lighting.  Intematix has licensed its white LED phosphor technology to Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (Taiwan); ITSWELL Co. (Cheongwon Chungbuk, Korea); and LumiMicro (Suwon Gyunggi-do, Korea).  Intematix's approach to creating white LEDs while avoiding intellectual property issues is discussed in a commentary in CompoundSemi News by editor Jo Ann McDonald.  [Press release 1, 2, 3, 4; commentary ]

·   ITRI's Opto-Electronics & Systems Laboratories (OESL) has developed a LED that can operate at 110 V AC without a converter.  According to OESL, the AC LED's light output per watt is more than 50% greater than that of an ordinary LED.  The patent-pending AC-LED has been demonstrated in blue and green and is suitable for many industrial and consumer lighting applications. [ Press release ]

·   Kumho HT Autonix Corp. will expand its business this year by focusing on advanced LED technology instead of conventional bulbs, company Chairman Oh Hong-sik said, adding that he believes his company's products can compete with those of other major bulb producers such as Osram or Philips.  Kumho supplies 90% of the small bulbs for turn signals, dashboards and interiors used by Korean automakers such as Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and GM Daewoo.  The company was established in 1988 as a joint venture between South Korea's Kumho Electronics Inc. and Japan's Harison Toshiba Lighting Corp. [ News item in Joong Ang Daily ] 

·   Lamina Ceramics added Kaga Electronics to its international distribution network.  Kaga, a Tokyo-based electronics manufacturer and distributor, will sell Lamina’s LED light engines as well as develop and sell products equipped with them.  [ Press release ]

·   Several recent LED-related patent applications were listed in LEDs Magazine.  The applications cover a driver circuit for LED vehicle lamp (assignee is Osram Sylvania) [ application ]; a universal light emitting illumination device and method (assignee is Technology Assessment Group Inc.) [ application ]; a light emission control circuit uniformly and non-uniformly controlling a plurality of light-emitting elements [ application ]; and a LED lamp (assignee is Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.) [ application ].  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute announced a new partnership with Boeing to develop innovative and efficient lighting solutions for use aboard commercial aircraft.  The LRC and Boeing will collaborate on projects to evaluate current aircraft interior lighting designs and to specify new lighting concepts and requirements.  Many of the research projects to be conducted through this partnership will focus on lighting solutions for Boeing and its partners/suppliers for the new 787 Dreamliner jet, a super-efficient airplane now in development.  [ Press release ]

·   Lumileds and Future Electronics formed Lumileds Future Electronics, a joint effort to ease development and manufacture of Luxeon-based lighting solutions.  Lumileds Future Electronics intends to enable lighting system manufacturers and designers to easily and quickly engineer, prototype and manufacture solid-state lighting solutions.  Services available through Lumileds Future Electronics and affiliated system integrators and component suppliers include Luxeon assembly, board integration, illumination systems, standard and custom optics, heat management solutions, optimized power solutions, and technical, design and manufacturing support. [ Press release ]

·   Microvision has filed for patent protection relating to a novel display system architecture that would use an array of low-cost LEDs to enable very high resolution displays with extremely wide fields of view.  Potential applications include wearable displays that can simulate the "immersive" viewing experience of a movie theater or a very large high resolution television.  The invention would use an array of conventional, inexpensive LEDs and a simple optical system, an improvement over the cumbersome wide field of view near-eye display systems currently available. [ Press release ]

·   The Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology awarded grants totaling $600,000 to seven faculty research teams, including one for research by Vladimir Bulovic and his team on a new quantum-dot-based light-emitting device for flat-panel displays.  In addition to financial support, the center's network of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and academic and legal experts helps recipients commercialize their innovations.  [ Press release ]

·   N-Hitech (South Korea) exported more than 20 billion won in display parts to Japanese companies last year, according to a feature article in the Korea Times.  N-Hitech makes back light units (BLU) for LCDs, LEDs and lead-free controller boards, and supplies components to companies such as Fuji Xerox and Samsung.  The company's annual sales increased last year by 72%, to 26.8 billion won, from 15.6 billion won in 2003, and it expects to more than double its sales to 58 billion won this year and to 100 billion won in 2006.  The company is developing LED lamps for buildings and automobiles.  [ News item in the Korea Times ]

·   The IP legal battle between Nichia and Shuji Nakamura was discussed in an article titled "Nichia marches on, Nakamura licks wounds and pays lawyers," in the March 2005 issue of Compound Semiconductor Magazine.  Editor Michael Hatcher looks back at the blue-LED case and assesses the reaction of the two protagonists.  [ Article in Compound Semiconductor Magazine ]

·   Nichia expects its LED sales to increase 30% by 2008, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper.  The company's new four-year plan calls for investing about ¥30 billion ($277 million) in plant and equipment and ¥17 billion in research and development, according to the report.  By 2008, 25% of Nichia's LED sales are expected to be from its current primary application, backlighting of screens in cell phones and other small devices, while large display applications will increase to 18% of sales and automotive applications will total 15%.  The company plans to increase its number of employees from 3700 to 5000 by 2008.  [ News item at CompoundSemiconductor.net ]

·   Nichia was to begin selling LEDs for use in personal computers and car navigation systems in March, according to Nikkei.net.  Demand for PC and automotive use LEDs is projected at 150 billion yen and 600 billion yen, respectively.  [ News item at LIGHTimes ]

·   Nichia settled its patent infringement lawsuit with Sharper Image and entered into a business arrangement with the retailer.  Nichia filed a lawsuit in April 2004 alleging that some of the products sold by Sharper Image, such as flashlamps and booklights, infringed U.S. Patent 5,998,925 for a nitride-based emitter and a fluorescent yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor.  According to the suit, Sharper Image had purchased devices used in its consumer products from an unnamed third-party Asian LED manufacturer that had not signed a licensing deal with Nichia.  Sharper Image denied the claims.  Details of the new agreement were not released.  [ Press release, News item at CompoundSemiconductor.com ]

·   OptiLED announced a partnership with Philips-Construlita, a division of Philips Lighting in Mexico.  The partnership means OptiLED LED lights will be sold in 55 major stores in Mexico and supplied to hundreds of other lighting distributors, and Philips-Construlita will incorporate OptiLED lamps in its new Terrane product line of in-ground and submersible fixtures.  Philips-Construlita is the largest network of retail lighting stores and exclusive dealers in Mexico.  [ Press release ]

·   Osram will provide its high-brightness Golden Dragon™ LED technology for several of Color Kinetics' intelligent, white, solid-state lighting systems.  Color Kinetics will use the Osram products in systems that feature Color Kinetics' proprietary control and dimming technologies. [ Press release ]

·   Osram filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Citizen Electronics Co. (Japan), claiming Citizen has imported and sold white LEDs that use Osram's patented conversion technology.  Citizen manufactures white LEDs using technology licensed from Nichia, and Nichia and Osram have signed a cross-licensing agreement, allowing the companies access to each other’s technology.  The agreement does not, however, cover third-party access.  The suit was filed in Dusseldorf Regional Court.  [ Press release, Article at CompoundSemiconductor.net ]

·   Permlight and ElectraLED have reached a settlement in the patent infringement lawsuit filed in February 2005, asserting infringement of Permlight's U.S. Patent Nos. 6,712,486 and 6,846,093.  ElectraLED received a license under Permlight's patented LED thermal management technology.  Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.  [ Press release ]

·   Permlight filed a patent infringement lawsuit against GELcore, asserting that GELcore LEDs infringe Permlight's patents, including U.S. Patent No. 6,712,486, "Mounting Arrangement for Light Emitting Diodes"; U.S. Patent No. 6,578,986, "Modular Mounting Arrangement and Method for Light Emitting Diodes"; and U.S. Patent No. 6,846,093, "Modular Mounting Arrangement and Method for Light Emitting Diodes." The patents are related to Permlight's RL, SL, DL, DL2, DL3, DSL, PaletteLight, PaletteLight MINI, Twister and EL Blanco White LED product families.  The complaint requests damages and an injunction against infringement.  [ Press release ]

·   Permlight's El Blanco white LED products were used in a sign that won “Best Illuminated Sign for 2005” at the European Sign Industry Awards.  The sign, for the Intercontinental Hotel Vienna, was fabricated by Ashleigh Signs.  The El Blanco system (900-WHT-12) used on the Intercontinental Hotel used Cree’s XLamp LEDs.  [ Press release ]

·   Koninklijke Philips Electronics (The Netherlands) has applied for an international patent for a mercury-free, low-voltage disinfecting lamp that uses UV LEDs emitting over the 250 to 280 nm wavelength band.  The application, WO 2005/031881 (“LED disinfecting lamp”), covers a LED created from a mixture of semiconductor compounds such as InN, InGaN, AlN or AlGaN and with a conduction band of about 4.7 eV and an emission wavelength of 265 nm.  [ Patent highlights at Optics.org ]

·   Philips has licensed use of its Parousiameter technology to Radiant Imaging.  The Parousiameter is an instrument that measures the appearance of surfaces and characterizes textures, gloss and flip-flop effects as a quality factor for product appearance, and can also be used for characterizing LEDs and other self-luminescent devices.  The output, called the Parousiagram, can help companies to create consistency between surfaces of product elements that are manufactured at different locations.  The high-resolution measurement is 1000 times faster compared to a photogoniometer.  [ Press release ]

·   The Photonics Cluster (UK) has created a "Solid State Lighting and Novel Light Devices" Special Interest Group (SIG), to include a voluntary steering committee of eight representative individuals or organizations in the field.  Issues highlighted for discussion include LED packaging; technology transfer to wider sectors; thermal management; LED classification; system integration issues; LED measurement and lifetime; driving technologies; LED markets and exploitation; training and skills; and the development of conferences, newsletters, forums and workshops.  Volunteers for steering committee posts may contact Photonics Cluster (info@photonicscluster-uk.org) for consideration.  [ News item in LEDs Magazine ]

·   Dr. Jong Ram Lee of Pohang University of Science and Technology (Korea), in cooperation with Seoul Optodevice, has developed a very bright, vertically configured blue LED, which Seoul Optodevice will soon release as a 10-W lamp.  The electrode structure of the group's previous blue LED was horizontal, and brightness and lifetime were diminished when it was activated at high power.  The new LED has a light power 3.5 times greater than the previous device. [ News item from Donga Daily News at ATIP.org ]

·   Rohm (Japan) plans to sell ZnO-based blue LEDs as early as 2007, according to a report in the Japanese online newspaper Nikkei.net.  The ZnO-based LEDs reportedly will be 10 times brighter than current GaN-based blue LEDs, at one-tenth the cost.  Rohm will spend about $10 million to develop the technology over the next three years in collaboration with the Institute of Materials Research at Tohoku University.  [ News item at CompoundSemiconductor.net ]

·   SAIC has been awarded a DARPA contract to deliver 800 high-performance solid state flashlight prototypes.  The flashlights will be supplied to deployed U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq for in-the-field experimental evaluation and feedback.  SAIC and SureFire, LLC, a manufacturer of tactical flashlights, have been collaborating for several years to develop new technologies that enhance flashlight performance.  The prototypes will use LEDs from Lumileds.  In addition to the main white-light dimmable output, the flashlights also will be capable of emitting red, green, blue and infrared light.  [ Press release ]

·   Soitec announced that it has generated a single-crystal, thin-film GaN-on-insulator substrate, which it says is the world's first.  The breakthrough is an important step forward in enabling the development of high-performance blue and white LEDs, as well as for improving current and future device performance in radio-frequency and discrete power applications.  The development was made using Soitec's proprietary Smart Cut™ layer-transfer and wafer-bonding technology.  The Soitec team worked in collaboration with Soitec's Picogiga division at the Smart Cut Enabling Application Laboratory, a joint technology development program between the Soitec Group and French research consortium CEA-Leti.  Production quantities of GaN-on-insulator wafers will not be available, however, until bulk GaN substrates become more affordable and widely used: Picogiga says commercialization is not expected until 2006 or 2007.  [ Press release, News item at CompoundSemiconductor.net ]

·   Stanley Electric Company (Japan) plans to produce white LED automotive headlights by 2007, according to Nikkei Net.  The company expects to produce enough headlights to outfit 5,000 vehicles a month.  [ News item in LIGHTimes ]

·   Super Vision founder and CEO Brett Kingstone has published a book, The Real War Against America (ISBN 0-9755199-2-1, Specialty Publishing), describing his company's intellectual property battle with Chinese competitors.  Kingstone says Chinese competitors offered a Super Vision employee more than $1 million to steal technology and advanced manufacturing equipment, and hired people to intimidate Super Vision employees and convince them to steal even more from the company.  [ Press release ]

·   Super Vision has signed two more licensees to its Variable Color Lighting System patent and its Laidman technology portfolio.  The two licensees are James Thomas Engineering, Inc. of Knoxville, Tenn., and Worcester, UK, and Xilver, B.V. of Gronsveld, The Netherlands. [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   TIR Systems has been granted its first patent for general lighting applications, U.S. Patent 6,871,983, "Solid state continuous sealed clean room light fixture." The patent covers the use of TIR proprietary LED-based lighting technology for grid ceilings used in general illumination.  The company expects the technology will provide a springboard from which to enter the general lighting market.  TIR has more than 40 other patent applications pending.  [ Press release ]

·   TIR Systems ' president and CEO Leonard Hordyk was interviewed on Canada's Business Report, a daily radio news program.  Hordyk described TIR's LEXEL™ universal platform for solid state lighting, noting that commercialization of the product will occur within the next 12 to 18 months.  [ Press release ]

·   TIR Systems was granted U.S. Patent 6,882,111, "Strip Lighting System Incorporating Light Emitting Devices." The patent covers the enabling technology and overall system architecture of TIR's LightMark™ product for the corporate identity market and its ColorTrace™ product for the architectural lighting market.  [ Press release ]

·   Toshiba has developed a fluorescent substance for white LEDs that can be used in conjunction with blue LEDs to create a white light that is close to natural sunlight, according to a report from Asia Pulse and LIGHTimes.  Products containing the new material, which emits 1.7 times the brightness of conventional white LEDs, could be available in two to three years, according to the reports.  Toshiba is considering whether to sell the new material to LED manufacturers or develop its own white LED lighting products. [ News item at LIGHTimes, Article in Asia Pulse (No URL available)]

·   Toyoda Gosei and TridonicAtco, the lighting components and control gear division of the Zumtobel Group (Austria), have formed a joint venture to advance the development of high-power white LEDs.  The joint venture will make high-power LED packages and components for the general lighting market, with a focus on color temperature, tolerance, homogeneous white light and color rendering.  The devices will be intended for worldwide applications, especially the European automotive and communications markets.  The 50:50 joint venture was established with €2.6 million ($3.5 million), with further capital investments to be made.  The joint-venture company will be based in Jennersdorf, Austria, and will open in May 2005 and begin production before the end of the year.  [ Press release ] 

·   Visteon announced what it says is the industry's first road-worthy application of LED front lighting in GM's Cadillac STS SAE 100 Technology Integration Vehicle.  Visteon developed optics and a new method of light source placement to direct the white light into a beam pattern that meets federal requirements for automotive front lighting.  [ Press release ]

·   Other developer news includes:

Ø       A.C. Lighting supplied 169 Chroma-Q™ Color Blocks to the BBC for the prime time programs Comic Relief Does Fame Academy 2005 and Red Nose Night Live 05. [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

Ø       Barco and its partners Innovative Designs and XL Video created a LED backdrop for U2’s Vertigo tour. [ News item at LEDs Magazine ] 

Ø       Coemar DeSisti (Australia) supplied LED lighting products for the remodel of Sydney's TCN9 studios "A Current Affair" set.  More than 300 Covelight 100 mm RGB color-changing LED strips were installed running from three DC-8 controllers.  [News item in Broadcast Engineering News (No URL available)]

Ø       Color Kinetics lighting systems were used at the new Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  A three-acre, man-made lake changes color as part of a multimedia light-and-water show featuring 4,000 individually controlled, submersed Color Kinetics® C-Splash 2 systems, in what the company says is the largest intelligent solid-state lighting installation of its kind.  [ Press release ]

Ø       Color Kinetics and Barco supplied LEDs for the Crown Fountain, two 50-foot-high glass-block towers facing each other across a shallow 232-foot-long reflecting pool, in Chicago's Millennium Park.  On three sides, the towers glow from within thanks to color-changing LED lighting fixtures supplied by Color Kinetics, while the fourth sides feature Barco LED display screens that face each other across the reflecting pool.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

Ø       Daktronics will manufacture and install what it says will be one of the world’s most sophisticated scoring and display systems at the New Charlotte Arena, a new multi-purpose arena under construction in Charlotte, N.C. [ Press release ]

Ø       Daktronics will replace the existing scoring and video display system at the University of Iowa's historic Kinnick Stadium with a custom-designed integrated system.  The $2.1 million project is scheduled for completion for the start of the 2005 football season.  [ Press release ]

Ø       Daktronics was contracted to provide the $7 million second phase of an integrated display system for the Kuwait Stock Exchange in Kuwait City, Kuwait.  The first phase of the system, worth approximately $1.5 million, was substantially complete in December 2004. [ Press release ]

Ø       i-Vision installed a permanent LED lighting scheme for the new Miele Experience Centre in the UK.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

Ø       Lagotronics' LED strip lights were used in a musical show in the Netherlands.  The stage decoration for the musical “Love Me Just A Little Bit More” featured nine multi-usage cubes, lit by LagoLED®DMX-i PowerLED Strips from Lagotronics.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

Ø       The Lancaster Safety Coalition is providing LED lighting to illuminate a 100-year-old bronze lion sculpture in Reservoir Park in Lancaster County, Pa.  [ News item in Lancaster Online ]

Ø       A Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision screen, called the world's largest outdoor high definition display,  was installed at the Atlanta Braves' Turner Field.  The 5,600-square-foot screen, which was to be recognized by Guinness World Records, is 71 feet tall and 79 feet wide, weighs 50 tons and has more than five million LED lights. [Atlanta Braves Press release ]

Ø       Osram's MultiLEDs were used for exterior and interior lighting in the GM Holden Torana TT36 concept car.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

Ø       Saco has provided custom LED spotlights and an illuminated stage border for U2's Vertigo tour.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

B.   New Products

·   Agilent and Lumileds introduced the first three products in the new Envisium mid-power LED family.  The Envisium Power PLCC-4 (plastic leaded chip carrier) surface-mount LEDs are intended for automotive exterior lighting and other applications such as building mood lighting and highlighting, garden lighting, and illuminated signs and signals.  The devices are available in red, red-orange and amber and produce up to 1580 mcd luminous intensity and 4300 mlm total flux at 50 mA.  The Envisium line is intended to fill the need for mid-power illumination capabilities between the current Agilent PLCC-4 products, operating at up to 200 mW, and Lumileds' Luxeon LED light sources that operate at 1 W and higher. [ Press release ]

·   Agilent Technologies announced the "industry's smallest CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) color sensor," measuring 5 x 5 x 1 mm.  The color sensor can detect the presence of a certain color and identify its exact coordinate across the full color spectrum.  The sensor can be used in controlling the color point of red, green and blue LED backlighting in LCD displays. [ Press release ]

·   Allaeys LED Instruments (Belgium) introduced its Beamer and Putter LED light fittings using Seoul Semiconductor's 3-W RGB power LED.  The small, 33-mm diameter fittings allow lighting designers to create colored features in small areas of buildings.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   BivarOpto introduced a Right Angle SMT LED indicator capable of replacing traditional PCB through-hole LED assembly displays.  The device measures 2.4 x 3.2 mm, features InGaN performance characteristics, and is packaged with a lens centerline 1.4 mm from PCB surfaces for optimal light emission.  It features peak wavelengths of 470 to 660 nm and is suitable for front and rear fault or status indicators in mobile and handheld devices, test equipment, medical diagnostic equipment and more.  [ Press release ]

·   CAO Group released the LuxemLamp™, an MR-16 high-intensity LED lamp designed to replace incandescent bulbs.  The device combines InGaAlP and SiC/GaN LEDs with a standard MR-16 bi-pin base.  The bulb has a power draw of 0.8 W to 4 W, an operating life of 50,000 hours, is available in 12 V or AC models and in five sunlight-visible colors and two viewing angles.  CAO also released Pixel and Piranha Luxem™CHANNEL channel lettering illumination systems, and LuxemLED™ backlighting illumination system.  Luxem™CHANNEL is available in white, red, yellow, green, and blue in both Pixel and Piranha style.  The Pixel style contains three modules per foot, two pixels per module, and five LEDs (3500 mcd each) per pixel with voltage consumption of less than 2.6 W per foot.  The Piranha style contains three modules per foot containing two LEDs (980 to 1300 mcd each), consuming less than 1.6 W per foot.  The LuxemLED™ backlighting illumination system can display high-bright white and full spectrum RBG colors with color mixing capabilities and maximum power consumption of 2.2 W per foot.  [Press release 1, 2, 3 ]

·   Color Kinetics introduced eight new products in its OEM line, including additional Digital Light Engines, new power/data modules, and proprietary chips that the company is making available to third parties for the first time.  The new Series 200 product line is based on the Chromacore® and Chromasic™ technology platforms, and includes Chromasic 1, a custom-designed microchip that integrates power, communications, and control; CA Translator V1, a microchip designed to convert standard data inputs to Chromasic data; DLE C-201, an individually controllable node comprising tri-color LEDs and driven by Chromasic; and PDM-201, a power/data module that facilitates power and data delivery to intelligent solid-state lighting systems.  The Series 100 product line is based on the Chromacore technology platform, and includes DLE L-102, a linear module incorporating 12 high-brightness LEDs; DLE R-102, a rectangular module incorporating 24 high-brightness, surface-mount LEDs; DLE C-103, a circular module incorporating 24 high-brightness, surface-mount LEDs; and PDM-101, a power/data module that facilitates power and data delivery to intelligent solid-state lighting systems.  [ Press release ]

·   Cotco TPG green series LEDs combine InGaN materials with a SiC substrate in a geometrically enhanced epi-down chip structure design to maximize light extraction efficiency.  The vertically structured LED chips are about 115 microns high, require a low forward voltage, and provide luminous intensities of up to 46,100 mcd.  The 522 nm devices are available in 5 mm round and elliptical packages and with four viewing angles.  [ Press release at Thomasnet.com, product information ]

·   Cotco 's new 465 nm TBL Blue Series LEDs emit up to 12,000 mcd.  The InGaN/SiC-based devices are vertically structured, about 115 microns in height, and incorporate a current distribution layer that requires single wire bond.  Units come in 5-mm round and elliptical packages with 15, 30, 60 x 35, and 110 x 50° viewing angles.  Applications include decorative lighting, full color video screens, mobile appliance lighting, and automotive illumination. [ Press release ]

·   Cyberlux introduced its Aeon line of LED-based interior lighting, which includes a device that produces up to 55 lm/W.  The products are designed for installation in closets, cabinet interiors and under cabinets to illuminate kitchen and bathroom counters.  The Aeon emits a warm white (3500 K) light, while the Aeon Plus and Aeon Pro are available in two warm colors, 3000 and 5000 K.  The Aeon Plus includes a variety of configuration possibilities; the Aeon Pro includes three light rod lengths and a solid steel fixture option.  [ Press release, data sheet 1, 2, 3 ]

·   Dominant Semiconductors introduced its SpiceLEDs, which are compatible with the industry-standard 0805 (M-Spice) and 0603 (S-Spice) package outline with 0.6 mm height.  The LEDs have a 160° viewing angle and enhanced thermal dissipation capability via copper lead-frame, allowing operation from -40°C to 100°C.  The SpiceLEDs are available in green (525 nm and 570 nm), blue (470 nm), red (625 nm and 632 nm), orange (605 nm), and yellow (587 nm) with typical luminous intensities of 35.5 to 180 mcd at forward current of 20 mA.  [ News item at EETimes Asia (registration required) ]

·   Edison Opto announced its Edi-Power series of ultra HB-LEDs, available in 5-W to 40-W sizes with monochrome or RGB output.  The 1200-lm output of the 40-W Edi-Power is suitable for general illumination, and its small size makes it compatible with many lighting applications.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   Evident introduced a line of quantum dots integrated into a series of common resins and polymer matrix materials.  EviComposites™ are made of EviDot™ quantum dots engineered into a series of forms designed to be easy to use, to speed the development of new materials and new products by making quantum dot nanomaterials more applicable to common manufacturing processes. [ Press release ]

·   Exceed Perseverance Electronic Ind. Co. introduced high-power, ultra-bright LEDs with a luminous intensity of 30 cd at 350 mA.  The 20-mm RL-C20A1-HW-60 LEDs are rated at 3.8 V, offer a viewing angle of 60°, can withstand reverse current up to 0.1 A, and are available in different colors.  [ News item at Global Sources ]

·   GELcore introduced a new high-power white LED with high color rendering, low lamp-to-lamp variability and precise color temperature choice.  Constructed using near-UV chips and multiple proprietary phosphors, the High-Power White LED from GELcore provides lighting fixture companies and OEMs with expanded color temperature options (3000K, 3500K, 4100K, 5000K or 6500K), a wide range of color-rendering indices (70 up to 95 CRI), and LED package scalability (1-W, 4-W, 8-W and more).  Targeted applications include display-case lighting in retail and museum settings, wall-washing in environments such as aircraft interiors or task lighting in medical applications.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   Harvatek introduced two new HarvaLED LEDs for backlighting and illumination applications.  The HarvaLED HT-PX76 and HT-PX78 series includes 1-, 2.5- and 3.5-W devices that produce 30 to 100 lm.  The HT-P176TW and HT-P178TW are 1-W, white LED devices that deliver a typical output of 30 lm at 0.35 A.  HT-P276TW and HT-P278TW are 2.5-W LEDs that deliver 60 lm at 0.70 A.  HT-P376TW and HT-P378TW are 3.5-W LEDs that deliver 100 lm at 1.05 A.  Both HT-PX76 and HT-PX78 surface-mountable packages feature an integrated thermal management design.  HT-PX78 is 3.30 mm thick, while HT-PX76 includes a lens that collimates the light output.  Both packages are fully surface-mountable and comply with industry lead-free initiatives.  [ Press release ]

·   Hella taillights for the new Volkswagen Golf Plus use LEDs which produce both red and amber light.  The lights feature Osram's MultiLEDs with individually controllable red and amber chips.  The LED lights are constructed in two concentric rings.  When powered off, the tail, brake and signal lights appear as transparent circles, with 20 red-amber MultiLEDs in the outer ring and 16 red power TopLEDs in the center.  For the taillights, all 36 LEDs on each side light up in red.  When the driver applies the brake, two sets of 16 LEDs in the two inner circles light up with increased intensity along with a third LED-based stop lamp in the roof-edge spoiler.  When the driver switches on the direction indicator, the 20 LEDs in the outer lamp rings emit amber light.  If the taillights are on when the turn signal is activated, the MultiLEDs emit both red and amber.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   Hella will introduce a headlamp prototype that uses a white LED system for high beam, low beam, vehicle sidemarkers and daytime running lights (DRLs).  Hella's LED headlamp prototype achieves about 1,000 lumens luminous flux in the low beam, and matches the light output of a xenon headlamp.  The system is expected to be in production by 2008.  The design includes seven hexagonal plastic lenses arranged in a honeycomb pattern, with a shovel-shaped free-form reflector positioned next to these that allows four segments of the honeycomb to produce the low beam.  For the high beam, the other three segments of the honeycomb are also used.  [ Press release ]

·   Kyma Technologies has expanded its GaN substrate product line to include both conductive and semi-insulating (SI) GaN substrates, ranging in size and shape from 10 mm x 10 mm squares to 3-in. diameter rounds, all with dislocation densities below 10 7 cm-2 (some as low as mid 10 5 cm-2) and with improved surfaces.  The company is also developing 4-in. diameter SI GaN for use in microelectronic device applications.  High quality surfaces are now available, with typical surface roughness RMS values of less than 0.5 nm.  Both single and double side polished substrates are available.  [ Press release ]

·   Lamina Ceramics launched an advanced multi-color line of bright, high-output LED light engines.  The BL-4000 light engine is a disk-like array containing 4 to 6 individual LEDs, depending on color, and is about as bright as a 20-W light bulb.  The product was honored for technical innovation and was judged the Best New LED Product at Lightfair International 2005.  Applications include indoor and outdoor architectural lighting, desk and other lamps, higher-output flashlights, LCD backlighting, signaling, and automotive and airplane uses, as well as applications in emerging markets such as DLP (digital light processing) and LCD televisions and multimedia projectors.  [ Press release ]

·   Numerous companies introduced new LED drivers, including:

Ø       Advanced Analogic Technologies introduced the AAT2805, a multi-function, high efficiency, dual charge pump that supports both white LED backlight and camera flash applications for portable systems that run on lithium-ion/polymer batteries. [ Press release ]

Ø       California Micro Devices introduced the PhotonIC™ CM4600 LED driver, which features seven outputs driving 25 mA each to support the backlight requirements of the primary and secondary displays, three outputs driving 25 mA each to support RGB "funlights," and one output capable of driving up to 250 mA for the white LED camera flash. [ Press release ]

Ø       Dialog Semiconductor launched a universal LED controller which provides complete programmability of up to 18 LEDs for the control of lightshows, backlights and signal LEDs in cellular handsets, handheld games and other portable devices requiring varying light sequences. [ News item at EETimes Asia (registration required)]

Ø       Linear Technology announced the LTC3453, a synchronous buck-boost DC/DC converter optimized for driving high current white LEDs at up to 500 mA from a single Li-Ion battery input.  The regulator operates automatically in either a synchronous buck, synchronous boost, or buck-boost mode, depending on input voltage and LED maximum forward voltage.  [ Press release ]

Ø       Linear Technology Corporation announced the LTC3215, a fractional charge pump, high current white LED driver that delivers up to 700 mA of LED current.  Its high efficiency multi-mode architecture automatically switches between 1x, 1.5x or 2x boost modes by monitoring the voltage across the LED current source and switching modes only when ILED dropout is detected.  [ Press release, product information ]

Ø       National Semiconductor introduced three new charge-pump-based white LED drivers for mobile phone display backlighting.  The LM27953, LM2796 and LM27961 white LED drivers feature a tiny chip-scale 18-pin micro SMD package that the company says provides the smallest footprint in the industry. [ Press release ]

Ø       National Semiconductor introduced a "no-programming-required" Boomer® audio-synchronized LED driver for small portable devices.  The LM4970 gives designers the option of using I2C-compatible pattern control or choosing automatic audio-synchronized pattern generation.  [ Press release ]

Ø       RichTek Technology announced four new white LED driver ICs that are suitable for mobile handset backlights: RT9284, a boost white LED driver IC that can drive up to four white LEDs simultaneously; RT9362, a charge-pump LED driver IC that supports four white LEDs in series; RT9273, a step-up dc/dc converter designed for dual panel mobile phones; and RT9300, a low-voltage white LED driver IC for handset keypad backlights, which supports currents up to 4.3 V.  [ News item at EETimes Asia (registration required)]

Ø       Sipex introduced two products: the SP6686, a current regulated buck/boost charge pump delivering 400mA, for camera flash applications in cell phones; and the SP6687, a high-efficiency charge pump that independently controls up to four white LEDs, suitable for backlighting color displays in portable devices.  [Press release 1, 2 ]

Ø       STMicroelectronics introduced single-chip LED driver ICs for industrial lighting, signage and transport applications.  The Power Logic STPxxC596 and STPxxCL596 integrate the functions needed to drive LEDs at a constant current, set by an external resistor.  [ Press release ]

Ø       Supertex introduced the HV9921/22 family of three-pin constant-current ICs suited to driving low-current LED strings in signage and general lighting applications.  The buck-controller chips can be powered from a 20 V DC to 250 V DC source derived from a universal mains source with front end rectifier.  [ Press release ]

Ø       Texas Instruments announced two 16-channel, constant-current sink LED drivers for large form-factor color displays.  The TLC5940 features channel-to-channel and chip-to-chip accuracy, improving overall display quality.  The more cost-sensitive TLC5923 driver offers similar features without grayscale PWM functionality.  [ Press release ]

Ø       Toshiba America Electronic Components announced two new products.  The TB62737FUG is a white-LED driver IC that incorporates an over-voltage protection function and achieves high power-efficiency of 87% for longer rechargeable battery life.  It is suitable for backlighting for color LCD panels in mobile devices such as cell phones.  The TCA62735FLG is a new charge pump DC/DC converter IC that can drive up to four white LEDs with uniform brightness, to backlight LCD panels and illuminate keypads in portable devices such as cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players and digital cameras.  [Press release 1, 2 ]

·   Lighthouse Technologies introduced the P12-Enhanced Resolution (ER) indoor/outdoor LED panel, which uses advanced digital processing to enhance resolution to include more detailed information on a smaller screen.  The P12-ER has a 12.5 mm dot pitch resolution, allowing more images, graphics and text to be displayed on 25 mm panels.  The P12-ER is the first LED panel to combine the benefits of Lighthouse's M4 color uniformity, 14-bit grayscale, and resolution-enhancing technology, and is intended for advertising and stadium applications that require mid-size screens with high resolution for longer viewing distances.  [ Press release ]

·   Lumileds increased the light output performance of its Luxeon I emitters for all InGaN colors (white, blue, cyan, green and royal blue).  Typical performance of Luxeon I white emitters improved from 31 lm to 45 lm.  Other colors improved similarly, without increases to the package or chip size.  Prices for the improved Luxeon I LEDs remain unchanged.  [ Press release ]

·   Lumileds introduced new color-matched white Luxeon Lamps that use advanced binning algorithms applied during manufacturing to ensure color uniformity within each fixture as well as from luminaire to luminaire.  Each lamp consists of multiple white Luxeon delivering correlated color temperatures of 3200K (warm white), 4100K (commercial white) or 5500K (cool white).  The matched Luxeon are mounted in multiple configurations offering light output levels of 500 to 1200 lm and CRI similar to or better than conventional solutions.  [ Press release ]

·   Lumileds announced new Luxeon III LEDs that emit 110 lm (amber), 140 lm (red) and 190 lm (red-orange), triple the performance of previous Luxeon products.  The devices are especially important for rear automotive lighting applications, since a single LED will be able to power stop lamps, rear combination lamps and rear fog lamps.  Other applications include aviation, manufacturing and "architainment." The new LEDs will save space and reduce the per-lumen cost of LED-based lighting. [Press release 1, 2 ]

·   Marktech Optoelectronics announced the availability of Cotco's LP6-TPP1-01 6-Lead, RGB LED.  This high-power RGB LED features a 120° viewing angle in a 6.0 x 5.0 mm surface-mount package designed for accent and color-changing lighting applications.  The device uses AlGaInP and InGaN technologies and emits up to 1800 mcd (red and green) and 450 mcd (blue) at 50 mA.  A thermal resistance of 130° C/W allows an operating temperature range of -40° to +100° C.  Each red, green, and blue chip can be individually controlled.  [ Press release at ThomasNet.com ]

·   MaxLite , in collaboration with Toshiba, has developed a series of LED lightbulbs that feature a constant color temperature of 2700 K and that can be installed in standard 120 V sockets.  The R20, candle and globe bulbs each contain four white LEDs co-developed with, and manufactured by, Toshiba's Japanese manufacturing partner.  The bulbs have internal ac-to-dc conversion and a power consumption of 2.2 W.  [ News item in LEDs Magazine ]

·   NEC introduced a 21.3-inch LCD display with LED backlighting for professional color processing use.  The ultra-extended graphics array (UXGA), amorphous silicon thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) module, part number NL160120BC27-10, is suitable for digital photo editing, digital pre-press operation and various computer design work.  The display features an ultra-wide color gamut while maintaining brightness of 230 cd/m2; an ultra-wide viewing angle of 170 degrees; high-grade grey scale performance; and color correction, since the luminance of each color LED is individually controllable.  [ Press release ]

·   Nichia has developed a white light source with a luminance of near 10,000,000 cd/m2, using GaN semiconductor laser diodes.  This luminance is almost equivalent to that of high-end halogen lamp products and conventional high-intensity discharge lamps, and an order of magnitude greater than that of a white LED.  A white light beam of 50 lm can be emitted from a 1.25-mm-diameter head.  An optical lens directs lights emitted from a semiconductor laser diode into the end of an optical fiber, which then discharges white light from the other end, which is coated with fluorescent materials.  The light source, which generates heat during operation, can be located at a distance away from the head, so the head needs little cooling.  Nichia plans to start sample shipments in the second half of 2005 as a replacement for halogen lamps and HID lamps.  [ Article in Nikkei BP Asia ]

·   OnScreen Technologies launched the RediAd™ product line of bright LED signs for retail point-of-purchase advertising.  The first product, called "The Living Window," displays a bright three- to six-line text message through a 15 to 30-square-foot, lightweight, see-through sign that can be placed in any window without blocking the view in or out.  Wireless control allows amber alert or other emergency messaging to be shown when necessary.  Potential applications include auto dealerships, grocery stores, movie theaters, malls, and restaurants.  [ Press release ]

·   OptiLED introduced a new product in the company's Modular Optical Array (MOA) Series, the MOA H-7.  The LED system comprises seven individual hexagonal, interlinked High Intensity Vorticular Array (HIVE) modules, each of which consists of three high-powered LEDs, one in each primary color (RGB).  The product features weatherproof and submersible housing; a DMX512 interface; rotation on three axes; and a line voltage power supply and power consumption of 25 watts per system.  The device is suitable for indoor, outdoor, or underwater applications, including interior accents, flood lighting, landscape effects, and theatrical and stage productions.  [ Press release ]

·   Osram launched a compact, high-power Ostar LED that offers more than 120 lm in a small, 30 mm by 10 mm footprint.  The device is available in red (120 lm), green (160 lm), blue (36 lm), and a RGB version that offers 120 lm when tuned in white.  Each Ostar LED contains four high-power, thin-film InGaAlP or InGaN chips and can be used in both general and mobile illumination applications.  The device can be mounted to lighting fixtures without any soldering, and it offers a surface-mount electrical connector.  The LED itself can be mounted to a heat sink with a thermal paste for optimum heat dissipation.  Applications include colored and white (RGB) architectural lighting, fiber optics illumination, portable RGB light sources, medical lighting, aircraft illumination, automotive exterior lighting applications and portable projection units. [ News item at Three-Fives.com ]

·   Osram Sylvania announced the DRAGON family of hi-flux LED modules.  The DRAGONtape® and DRAGONpuck® LED modules will be available in three color temperatures for white light: 4700K, 5400K and 6500K.  Each provides a color rendering index (CRI) greater than 80.  The DRAGONtape LED system uses six Golden DRAGON™ LEDs connected in series and spaced one inch apart.  All six LEDs can be utilized, or the module can be cut and sub-divided into units of one to five LEDs.  One DRAGONpuck module consists of three Golden DRAGON hi-flux LEDs mounted on a metal substrate circuit board and an optical lens, and comes pre-wired with polarized wires for easy installation.  Their white light has a luminous intensity of up to 285 candelas.  [ News item at LEDs Magazine ]

·   Para Light introduced a line of enhanced-power LED light bar modules comprising 64 individual 150-mA E-power LEDs, with a total flux of 200 to 400 lm.  The modules are available in amber, red, green, cyan and blue, as well as an RGB (red, green, blue) version with color-changing capability, and are available with a lens for a focused array of light output.  They are suitable for small enclosed areas, spotlight projectors, and architectural applications.  The new modules are available as a component part or can be assembled into an end product to meet specific customer requirements.  [ Press release at ThomasNet.com ]

·   Para Light introduced the LLEA-0001 series of in-ground lighting modules featuring enhanced-power LEDs.  The modules each include 20 150-mA E-power LEDs with an integrated heat-sink design and a total flux of 100 lm.  The series includes 32 different models, available in amber, red, green, blue, blue-green and RGB, and with 10-, 20-, 30-, 60- and 100-degree viewing angles.  The modules are waterproof, lightweight, and suitable for applications such as landscaping, architectural and swimming pool lighting.  [ Press release at ThomasNet.com ]

·   Shenzhen Lanke Electronics introduced high-power LEDs with a luminous flux of more than 5 lm (red, yellow or blue), 15 lm (green) or 25 lm (white).  The devices are rated at 0.3 A to 0.35 A and voltage of 2 V to 3 V (red and yellow) or 3 V to 4 V (white, blue and green).  The LEDs integrate copper or aluminum base plates for heat dissipation and offer viewing angles of 15°, 30°, 60°, 90° or 120°.  The devices are suitable for use in traffic lights, flashlights, automotive lights, signals, and illuminations.  [ Article in Global Sources ]

·   SolarOne Solutions introduced a new solar electric overhead white LED light for pathway and park lighting.  The SoLed™ LX01 uses SolarOne’s SoLed™ - mc2 solid state intelligent lighting management system and high brightness, “target-able” white LEDs, offering reliable all-temperature operation.  The device was developed in collaboration with industrial designer Amelia Amon, custom solar panel manufacturer Atlantis Energy Systems and solar cell manufacturer SunPower Corporation.  [ Press release ]

·   TIR Systems introduced its universal platform for solid state lighting, LEXEL™, and demonstrated several light fixtures that provide 1000 lm, equivalent to a 75-W incandescent lamp.  According to the company, LEXEL™ is a fully integrated, seamless SSL source that provides precise color temperature control and dimming using a closed-circuit feedback system and can be used cost effectively for general lighting purposes.  [ Press release ]

·   Toshiba Electronics Europe launched a series of miniature, high current, surface mount LEDs with high levels of luminous intensity.  The TLxH1106 InGaAlP HB-LEDs are available in red, orange, yellow and green, have maximum forward current ratings of 70 mA, and can operate at temperatures from -40 to +100C.  Currents of 50 mA are possible to temperatures as high as +85C.  When operating with a typical forward current of 50mA at +25C, typical forward voltages are rated at 2.1V, and the green, yellow and orange LEDs have respective luminous intensities of 250, 500 and 620 mcd.  Three versions of the red LEDs are available, with luminous intensities of 250, 300 and 600 mcd.  The devices are suitable for indication and backlighting in automotive systems, message boards, gaming equipment, and more.  [ News item at ElectronicsTalk.com ]

·   Toshiba introduced the Technorainbow bendable 6-mm LED video screen, which can curve both convex and concave.  [ Press release ]

·   Toshiba announced two bright white LEDs for general lighting, ornamental lighting and LCD backlighting.  The TL10W02-D produces 60 lm at about 2 W (500mA), achieved by improved mounting technology for the LED chip and use of a low thermal resistance package with improved heat release characteristics.  The company will ship samples in July and start mass-production in October at an initial volume of 1 million units per month.  The company also announced the 30-lm TL10W01-D, which will start sample shipments in June and go into mass-production in July, at a volume of 1 million units per month.  [ Press release ]

·   UniCAD has released a new version of its CAD package, UniMCO Version 4.0, specifically for designing LED, OLED, RCLED, VCSEL, and optical coating devices.  The package includes an extensive built-in material database providing optical properties for over 250 materials, including material models with temperature or composition effects; a built-in structure library including the most commonly used microcavity structures; automatic light input (EL0) extraction from experimental data of a test structure, which gives more accurate simulation results for light out; device layer thickness optimization by calculating optical field distribution; optimization of emitting zone location by calculating extracted light output spectrum; optical field distribution as a function of both wave length (or incident angle) and device depth; and more.  [ News item at Optics.org ]

·   Vishay Intertechnology released exceptionally bright TLMx100x AllnGaP ultra-miniature SMD LEDs in red (628 nm), orange (605 nm), and yellow (588 nm).  The new devices measure 1.6 mm by 0.8 mm by 0.6 mm, the smallest size yet for this type of device, and feature luminous intensity of up to 7.5 mcd.  The viewing angle is 160°.  The devices are rated for maximum DC forward current of 15 mA, reverse voltage of 12 V, and ESD withstand voltage up to 1 kV.  Applications include backlight keypads, indicator and backlighting for audio and video equipment, and more. [ Press release ]

·   Young Electronics Group introduced a line of white LEDs based on non-YAG phosphor technology which therefore “do not infringe on the patents of the market leader Nichia.”  Young's partner has combined a proprietary non-YAG phosphor with the brightest blue chip available to produce more than 11cd in a 5-mm LED and 140 lm in a 5-W LED.  The non-YAG phosphor is compounded with powder epoxy for a tablet-like compounded phosphor.  The LEDs are intended for indoor architectural lighting, decorative lighting, flashlights, photoflash, traffic signaling and other general applications.  [ News item at ElectronicsTalk.com ]

C.   Novel or Interesting LED Applications/Uses

·   Clarity Lighting has installed three light walls in the Executive Briefing Centre at Microsoft UK in Reading.  The Microdex walls, which measure 3.2 x 2.7 m, 4.8 x 2.7 m, and 4.1 x 2.7 m, use 1-W Luxeon linear RGB multiLEDS.  The walls are intended to allow Microsoft to take advantage of the positive mood enhancing properties evoked by colored lighting, and to enhance the ambience and aesthetics of the new, contemporary-styled briefing facility.  The walls are located behind the reception desk and in two boardrooms. [ Press release ]

·   LED lighting from Color Kinetics and Main Light Industries will be used in a number of concert tours this summer.  Main Light's Soft-LED™, an intelligent LED-based drapery that combines Color Kinetics' solid-state lighting technology and control systems with Main Light's expertise in stage lighting, is lightweight and easy to install, and reduces the cost typically associated with large-scale video and lighting backdrops.  Concerts by Green Day, Elton John, Maroon 5, Kylie Minogue, and Destiny's Child will feature the lighting systems.  [ Press release ]

·   Fraen (Italy) has supplied a LED-based lighting system to illuminate Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" in the Louvre Museum, Paris, in a way that replicates daylight without the harmful effects of UV light and IR radiation.  The installation uses various colors of Luxeon I and Luxeon III LEDs from Lumileds to achieve a precise color rendering, and takes advantage of LEDs' ability to tightly focus light on only the rectangular area to be illuminated.  The illumination scheme will allow visitors to see the painting clearly even though it is protected by thick glass in a new, environmentally controlled installation.  [ Press release ]

·   Infineon Technologies (Germany) has applied for a patent for a jacket that uses LEDs to increase nighttime road safety for cyclists and others.  The international application, "Signalling device and item of clothing provided therewith," (WO 2005/034663) describes a jacket with angle measuring sensors that determine the angle of the wearer's arms relative to the torso.  Arm movements to indicate a left or right turn automatically activate a series of LEDs placed around the jacket's cuff, alerting surrounding traffic to the forthcoming maneuver.  The clothing includes a rechargeable energy source or battery pack.  [ Patent highlights at Optics.org ] 

·   The Keystone Group has developed FlareAlert™, a battery-operated, LED-based safety flare visible for miles from both the ground and the air.  The device uses 12 high-output LEDs, and is now available in red, with blue, green, yellow and white versions to be available later this year.  Because FlareAlert is not combustible, it will not scorch the pavement, burn brush or leave behind debris, and, with no toxic chemicals, FlareAlert cannot contaminate groundwater, all of which are problems with traditional incendiary flares.  [ Press release ]

·   A Lighting Research Center field study determined that retail displays using LED lighting attract shoppers as well as save energy.  LRC researchers installed custom, slim-profile LED fixtures in the windows of three stores owned by a popular clothing retailer found in Los Angeles-area shopping malls.  The researchers tested different window display and lighting scenarios over an eight-week period and surveyed more than 700 shoppers about the attractiveness, visibility, and eye-catching ability of the windows.  The shoppers preferred the colored LED window with a 30 percent reduction in power over the typical high-energy lighting design.  The survey results also showed that 74 percent of shoppers found the new lighting design to be eye-catching; 84 percent agreed that the LED display windows were visually appealing; and 91 percent confirmed that the reduced accent lighting did not diminish the visibility of the window mannequins and merchandise.  The study was sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  [ Article in LRC newsletter]

·   Permlight and Osram introduced a new LED-based system for stopping movie piracy.  Permlight's Enbryten Piracy line uses Osram's recently introduced thin film infrared power LED technology to transmit an invisible signal into movie audiences to wash out any silicon CCD-based digital camcorders.  The system uses a randomly generated pulsing algorithm that powers up to 100 Osram Infrared Dragon LEDs using the new thin film technology.  The Enbryten Piracy system does not affect infrared-based video surveillance or hearing impaired audio systems. [ Press release ]

·   Renault's Zoé concept car features glass roof panels inlaid with LEDs that reproduce a starry sky at night.  The headlamps feature high performance LEDs which produce a sparkle effect, and the rear light clusters include transparent, LED-lit rings that the company says contribute to the overall futuristic feel.  The car is described as "a diminutive upper-range urban vehicle which places the accent on genuine motoring pleasure."  [ Press release ]

·   Japanese lighting manufacturer Ryoukou has created an artificial cherry tree lit by 7,600 white LEDs.  The Attachment Tree weighs half a ton, stands 6 meters tall, has a branch span of 5 meters, and costs $33,500.  Power routes up through the artificial trunk and fans out through the branches.  A $25,400 version combines white and pink LEDs.  [ News item at Engadget.com ]

·   LED lighting was featured in a winning entry in a design contest for a student lounge at Swarthmore College.  Student Joey Roth proposed LED lighting for mailboxes both to alert students to new mail and to create a “visually striking wall of randomly illuminated boxes, reminiscent of an apartment building at night.” The design was chosen in part because of its innovative use of lighting.  [ News item in the Phoenix student newspaper, design information ]

·   Other overview articles emphasizing applications include:

Ø       LEDs Magazine published an article titled "Implementing LED flash in camera phones," covering the thermal, optical, mechanical and electrical criteria to be considered in designing LEDs for this application.  The article was written by Yeoh Boon Keng, Ko Choon Guan, and Shereen Lim of Agilent Technologies. [ Feature article ]  

Ø       ThisisMoney.co.uk published an article titled "Hello to the thinking house," which mentions LED lighting as a high-tech feature of the "home of the future."  [ Article ]

Ø       LEDs Magazine published an article titled "Escaping the bulb culture: the future of LEDs in architectural illumination," discussing the new paradigms for lighting that are enabled by LEDs.  The article features Sheila Kennedy of Kennedy & Violich Architecture Ltd.  [ Feature article ]

Ø       Outdoor LED screens, such as those made by Lighthouse Technologies, are poised to replace neon lights in Hong Kong shopping districts, according to an article in the South China Morning Post.  [Feature article in the South China Morning Post (No URL available)]

Ø       The use of LEDs in automotive application was discussed in an article titled "To Reshape Headlamps, First Get Rid of the Bulbs" by Ian Austen, in the New York Times automotive section.  [ Feature article ]

Ø       An overview article, "LEDs Illuminate New Paths for Power Management," was published in Power Electronics Technology magazine.

Ø       An overview article emphasizing trends in large-format LED displays, "Improved displays take their place in everyday life," was published in Sound and Video Contractor Online.  [ Feature article ]

Ø       The costs and benefits of LEDs for automotive applications are discussed in the feature article, "Automotive LED take-up hinges on cost reduction," by Eric Mounier of Yole Développement, in Compound Semiconductor magazine.  [ Feature article ]

D.   Market Information

·   ABI Research has published a new study, "LEDs and Laser Diodes," which analyzes major LED and laser diode markets, technologies, and players, and reviews external factors that may affect the growth of the LED industry.  According to the study, by 2010 the global LED market may consist of two segments: a highly commoditized market in simple, inexpensive LEDs for mass-produced goods, and another sector dealing in high-end, high-tech innovations.  The lower "general lighting" end of the market is already characterized by price-cutting, low margins, and intellectual property disputes that are disruptive to supply chains, says ABI Research vice president Edward Rerisi.  Markets that will see the most growth through the end of the decade include stage lighting, automotive headlights and large TVs, according to the study.  [ Press release, report information ]

·   China may overtake Taiwan in design and manufacturing capability for LEDs within five years, according to Sam Ling of Power Opto.  Competition from Chinese LED packaging companies, which receive government support, may cause decreased revenues in Taiwan, where prices are already declining.  China’s LED shipments grew 20% last year to 24 billion units and this year are expected to grow another 25% to 30 million units, according to a Topology Research report.  [ News item in EETimes Asia, News item in DigiTimes (subscription required) ]

·   Electronic Business Online published a feature article titled "LED market lights up: Bright chips, although costly, are finding new markets." The article, by Russ Arensman, mentions growth at Cree, Lumileds, and Color Kinetics, highlights market information from Strategies Unlimited and iSuppli, and identifies LED backlighting for LCD televisions as an emerging market for HB-LEDs.  [ Feature article ]

·   The Industrial and Economics Knowledge Center (IEK) of Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) predicts that Taiwan’s LED production value will grow only 16% on year to about NT$46.96 billion in 2005, compared to 23% growth last year, according to DigiTimes.  The production value of Taiwan’s LED industry grew at an annual rate of 40-42% from 2001-2003, when the industry began producing GaN LEDs, but complications with the production of white LEDs, such as intellectual property issues, have slowed growth.  increased capacity has also resulted in an oversupply of standard blue LEDs, especially considering that South Korea’s blue-LED production has increased from 120 million units in mid-2003 to 300 million in mid-2004.  Taiwan vendors are responding by placing more effort in the production of high-luminance LED chips, which are used for applications such as traffic lights, car-use, handset-use LCD-panel backlights and camera-phone flashlights, according to the article.  [ News item at DigiTimes (registration required) ]

·   John Adinolfi of Leotek reported on the large municipal market for LEDs in applications other than traffic signals, according to an article at LIGHTimes.  Adinolfi told attendees at the recent Strategies in Light conference that for every 1,000 people in the U.S., there are 140 non-highway, road low-light lamps, totaling an estimated $14.8 billion for the 50 W LED market alone.  For street name signs, the retrofit market is $144 million and the new install market is about $2 billion, he said. [ News item at LIGHTimes ]

·   LED backlighting of LCD televisions was the topic of the cover story, "LED Backlights Boost LCD TV Color," in the March 2005 issue of Nikkei Electronics Asia.  Sony may see the new technology as its "next Trinitron," while Toyoda Gosei and Showa Denko are hoping to compete with Lumileds in this market, according to the article.  Color mixing, color performance, competition and direct-LED designs are discussed.  [ Article in Nikkei Electronics Asia ]

·   Competition between Samsung Electronics and LG for mobile-phone market share has resulted in increased business for Taiwanese LED suppliers, according to an article in Taiwan Economic News.  Orders have strained the supplies of DPI-type diodes at Formosa Epitaxy and ITO-type diodes at Epistar as well as production capacities at diode packaging houses such as Lite-On Technology and Everlight, according to the article.  [News item in Taiwan Economic News (No URL available) ]

·   Laser Focus World reported on the Strategies in Light conference held in February, in the article “Light-Emitting Diodes: LED markets grow, particularly in Asia.”  The article highlights market growth in Asia, and discusses the solid-state lighting initiative in China.  [ Article in Laser Focus World ]

·   Strategies Unlimited predicts the total market for GaN devices to more than double to reach $7.2 billion by 2009, driven by GaN-based laser diodes and electronic devices which are now in the early stages of market growth.  The company has published a fourth edition of its report, "Gallium Nitride 2005 -- Technology Status, Applications, and Market Forecasts," updating the status of worldwide technology developments and markets for gallium nitride optoelectronic and electronic devices.  As of early 2005, 232 companies were participating in GaN production or development, and 394 universities and research centers were involved in GaN R&D.  These worldwide figures represent an increase of 26% and 35%, respectively, since the publication of Strategies Unlimited's June 2003 GaN report. [ Press release, report information ]

·   Taiwanese LED suppliers saw increased revenues in March and April, according to an article in Taiwan Economic News.  Unity Opto executives attributed much of the increase to their alliance with Agilent.  Harvatek, which recently licensed Osram's white-LED technology, and Everlight, South Epitaxy and Epistar also have reported increased orders and revenue.  [News item in Taiwan Economic News (No URL available)]

E.   Overview Articles

·   A feature article at ABC News Online describes the benefits of LEDs for illumination.  The article, "Scientist unveils bright idea to fight global warming," highlights work by Colin Humphreys of Cambridge University.  [ Feature article at ABC News Online ]

·   An Associated Press feature article on LEDs for illumination was published in dozens of newspapers.  Technology writer Peter Svensson, reporting on the LightFair show in New York, interviewed key players from LRC, Lumileds, Lamina and Cree and mentioned developments at Nichia, Osram, General Electric and iLight Technologies.  [ Feature article ]

·   A feature article in the Baltimore Sun, "LEDs might light up our lives," discusses LEDs as replacements for incandescent light bulbs.  The overview article quotes Fred Schubert of RPI and Jeff Tsao of Sandia National Laboratories.  [ Feature article in the Baltimore Sun (registration required)]

·   The use of LEDs for television studio lighting was recommended in an article, “Cool ways to light TV studios,” on the Australian broadcast news site, BEN.com.au.  The article, by David Kirk, discusses the costs and benefits of different types of lighting systems and says LED lighting combines the flexibility of the incandescent lamp with the coolness and efficiency of a fluorescent.  [ Feature article at BEN.com.au ]

·   The move toward replacing conventional lighting with solid-state lighting is "picking up steam" as LEDs improve in brightness and decrease in price, according to an article in Design News.  The article, by Terry Costlow, discusses trends in areas including architectural and entertainment lighting and automotive applications.  [ Feature article in Design News ]

·   The use of LEDs in televisions is discussed in the feature article "Let there be light: Is it time to rethink the simple lightbulb?" in Electronic Business Online.  [ Feature article at Electronic Business Online ]

·   Electronics Weekly published an overview of LEDs for automotive headlights, titled "Full beam ahead for LED headlights." The article discusses mounting, beam angle, thermal management and color issues.  [ Feature article ]

·   Electronics Weekly published an overview article titled "LED packaging gets clever." The article covers developments in surface-mount packages, anti-static protection and thermal management at Lumileds, Osram, Vishay, Rohm, Agilent, BivarOpto and Custom Interconnect.  [ Feature article ]

·   Japan's traditional focus on teamwork over individual talent may be changing, partly as a result of lawsuits such as the one brought by Shuji Nakamura against his former employer, Nichia, according to an article from the New York Times.  About 10 other inventors have also sued their employers, companies such as Toshiba, Canon, Hitachi,  Ajinomoto and Mitsubishi Electric.  Many companies have introduced performance-based pay systems, but they have not been considered successful.  The performance-based systems seemed to lower morale among employees, who, thinking that missing a target would hurt their careers, tended not to set high goals in the first place, according to the article.  IP issues brought up by the Nakamura case are also addressed in "Getting your invention reward system right," by attorney Yutaka Miyoshi, in the Japan IP Focus 2005 supplement to Managing Intellectual Property magazine.  [ Article from the New York Times at the International Herald Tribune, Feature article in Managing Intellectual Property ] 

·   Reports from the 16th annual Lightfair International in New York City were published in LIGHTimes and LEDs Magazine.  The show was attended by more than 20,000 people and "LEDs were all the buzz," according to LIGHTimes.  A number of LED-related products received New Product Showcase Awards at the event, including the BL-4000 RGB+ from Lamina Ceramics, the Millennio streetlight from Hess America, the Long-Throw Projecting Light Engine and the SpectraMix product from Dialight, the Squadro LED from Xenon Light, the iW MR from Color Kinetics, and the ecoXT MR16 from e3LED.  LEDs Magazine also published followup articles on white LEDs, light engines and high-power LED suppliers.  [ News item at LIGHTimes; news items at LEDs Magazine 1, 2, 3, Lightfair New Product Showcase list ]

·   My-tronic issued an extensive press release, titled "LEDs' Real Advantages," that details the state of solid state lighting technology.  Aimed at consumers, the release addresses issues of cost, lifetime, color, and more. [ Press release ]

·   The benefits of migration-enhanced MOCVD in AlGaN device fabrication are discussed in an article in Compound Semiconductor magazine by Remis Gaska of Sensor Electronic Technology.  Reduced screw dislocation density and faster deposition than conventional MOCVD are two of the benefits of the technique, which can produce relatively efficient deep-ultraviolet LEDs and improved transistor performance, according to the article. [ Feature article at CompoundSemiconductor.net ]

·   ZDNet.com published an overview article on LEDs as backlights in LCD televisions, titled "Display tech aims for a brighter future." The article quotes market analyst Jed Dorsheimer of Adams Harkness, who expects it will be three to four years before LEDs are used in popular television sizes, such as 42-inch sets, in the sub-$2,000 range.  The new Sony Qualia 005 LCD-based television, for example, uses more than 400 Lumileds chips and now costs about $15,000.  [ Feature article at ZDNet.com ]

·   Other overviews include:

Ø       Sapphire substrates are discussed in a brief feature article, "The Role of Sapphire in LEDs," in Lighting Dimensions Magazine.  The article, by David Reid of Honeywell, also mentions trends in LED applications.  [ Feature article ]

Ø       LEDs Magazine published a feature article, "Robust design adds life to LED fixtures," discussing lifetime and reliability issues and featuring Chris Ewington of James Thomas Engineering.  [ Feature article ]

Ø       LEDs Magazine published a series of informative feature articles titled "Fact or Fiction – the truth about LEDs." The series includes an article on metrics by Kevin Dowling of Color Kinetics; an article LED heat production, by Tim Whitaker; and more.  [ Feature article in LEDs Magazine, 1, 2 ]

Ø       An overview article, "LEDs Illuminate New Paths for Power Management," was published in Power Electronics Technology magazine. [ Feature article ]

F.   Research Results

·   Lighting Research Center researchers have developed a method based on scattered photon extraction (SPE) to get significantly more light from white LEDs without requiring more energy.  A research group led by Nadarajah Narendran developed a method to extract photons that are normally diverted back toward the LED by moving the phosphor away from the semiconductor and shaping the LED lens geometry.  These changes allow the photons that would typically be absorbed inside the LED to escape as visible light.  Prototypes of the new SPE LED technology achieved a luminous efficacy of more than 80 lm/W.  Research results were published in the journal physica status solidi (a) as "Extracting phosphor-scattered photons to improve white LED efficiency" by N. Narendran, Y. Gu, J. P. Freyssinier-Nova, and Y. Zhu.  [ Press release, abstract ]

·   The Materials Research Society published proceedings from its 2004 Fall Meeting, including proceedings of Symposium B, "Progress in Compound Semiconductor Materials IV—Electronic and Optoelectronic Applications," edited by Gail J. Brown, Robert M. Biefeld, Claire Gmachl, M. Omar Manasreh, and Karl Unterrainer.  [ publication information ]

·   University of Tokyo researchers have developed a LED made of strained GaSb quantum dots embedded in silicon that emits infrared light with an external quantum efficiency of up to 0.3%.  Susumu Fukatsu and colleagues made the device via molecular beam epitaxy.  It generated strong luminescence at a wavelength of about 1.2 microns (1000 meV) at a temperature of 11 K when driven by 3.7 mA at a bias voltage of 4 V.  Experiments with a pulsed drive voltage indicate the LED also can be modulated to transmit data.  The research was reported as "A Si-based quantum-dot light-emitting diode" in the March 7, 2005, issue of Applied Physics Letters.  [ News item at Optics.org, abstract ]

G.   Selected Events of Interest

·   The 2005 MRS Fall Meeting will include symposia on "Progress in Semiconductor Materials V-Novel Materials and Electronic and Optoelectronic Applications" and "GaN, AlN, InN, and Related Materials."  Topics of interest in the semiconductor materials session include quantum dots, nanostructures, and patterned structures and devices; advances in epitaxial growth of compound semiconductors; semiconductor heterostructures; detectors and emitters; developments in lasers and LEDs; ZnO growth, materials, and device issues, e.g., doping, defects, and heterostructures; and more.  Topics of interest in the nitride session include advances in epitaxial growth; bulk-growth techniques and large-area GaN and AlN substrates; growth and characterization of high-composition InGaN and InN; characterization and properties of point and extended defects; advances in p-type doping; and more.  Abstract submission deadline is June 21.  The meeting is set for Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, 2005, in Boston.  [ Call for papers 1, 2; conference information ]

H.   Government Funding News and Opportunities

·   The Indian government has allotted Rs. 50 lakhs towards setting up a nanotechnology research center at Anna University, to include a focus on white LED systems.  The nanotechnology lab will be a national facility and will be part of the university's existing Crystal Growth Center.  The government contribution is considered seed money and the Crystal Growth Center has applied to the government and several international organizations to co-fund the project.  The Crystal Growth Center plans to introduce an M.Phil course in crystal science in the upcoming academic year.  [ News item at The Hindu ]

·   LEDs Magazine published an overview of China's national initiative for solid-state lighting, based on a presentation at the Strategies in Light conference by Ling Wu, director of the China Solid-State Lighting Program Office.  The program has already received 140 RMB ($17 million) from central government, and 15 research institutions and more than 50 enterprises are involved.  Major investment in SSL is expected when China's 11th 5-year plan is unveiled in July 2005.  China's solid-state lighting roadmap was described at the China SSL Forum in Xiamen, April 12 to 15, 2005. [ Feature article in LEDs Magazine ]  [See also related information above ]

·   A report on the second China International Forum on Solid-State Lighting, held in Xiamen in April 2005, was published in LEDs Magazine.  Bob Steele of Strategies Unlimited reported that China is clearly emerging as a major market as well as a major supplier of solid-state lighting.  The LED industry in China now generates more than $1 billion in revenue and employs more than 40,000 people, and the country is focusing on improving its technology and establishing a strong industrial base.  China's national and local solid-state lighting programs are discussed.  [ News item in LEDs Magazine ]

·   DOE published a report on the solid-state lighting workshop held Feb. 3 and 4, 2005, in San Diego.  The report, prepared by Navigant Consulting, includes an outline of the structure of the DOE SSL Research and Development Portfolio, as presented at the workshop; summaries of workshop presentations; summaries of the breakout session discussions; results of the updates and prioritization of the SSL R&D agenda; and upcoming activities for the SSL R&D program.  [ Workshop report ]

·   EPA solicited proposals for funding for “Market-Based Approaches to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Energy Efficiency in Homes and Buildings.”  The funding will support projects that advance national, regional and local energy efficiency programming, including  (1) improving energy performance in the residential market through increased use of high-efficiency products, (2) increasing supply or market share for high efficiency products through retail, e-tail and other sales outlets, (3) delivering improved energy performance to existing commercial buildings through technology or practice, and (4) promoting improved energy performance in the commercial new construction market.  About $450,000 in FY 2005 funding is expected to be available for two to three awards having a three-year project period.  Eligible are states, territories, Indian Tribes and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions.  Proposals were due May 27, 2005.  [ RFIP ]  

·   The Korean government's solid-state lighting program is featured in an article in Compound Semiconductor, "Oil-free Korea prioritizes solid-state lighting project." The article, by Richard Stevenson, notes that a region known as "LED Valley" will receive investments of $100 million between 2005 and 2008 toward high-brightness LED development.  The government-backed organization KOPTI, located in Gwangju, in south-west Korea, has access to funding of $20 million annually and employs 70 PhD-educated staff, a number that will more than double by 2008.  The national government meets 73.1% of KOPTI's costs, with Gwangju city (16.5%) and industry (10.4%) making up the remainder, according to the article.  [ Feature article in Compound Semiconductor ]

·   LED Specialists was awarded a contract by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the development of solid-state light engines for outdoor lighting applications, to enable outdoor lighting manufacturers to adapt their conventional fixture product lines to SSL technology more quickly and economically.  [ Article at Lighting.com ]

·   The Higher Education Funding Council granted about £16m to the University of Bath (UK) to support continued research in a number of areas, including investigation of "new forms of LED lighting." The amount represents a 20% increase in research funding.  [BBC News item ]