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LED Backlit Notebook Penetration to Boom in 2009, DisplaySearch Says |
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White LEDs to Increase in Market Share and LED Fixtures to Begin Lighting Market Penetration, Strategies Unlimited Predicts
SSLDesign News Staff
March 5, 2009...Strategies Unlimited (SU) released a new report entitled "LED Lighting Fixtures --Market Analysis and Forecast".
The company says that the report offers a detailed assessment of the market drivers and challenges faced by the LED lighting fixture industry in penetrating the general illumination market and it provides application analyses and forecasts for nine lighting market segments through 2012.
In a previously released report SU says the 2007 HB LED market reached $4.6 billion. SU points out that through 2007, LED lighting applications included niche markets such as exit signs, architectural lighting, accent and decorative lighting, and entertainment lighting, many of which used red, green, and blue LEDs. However SU notes that white LED fixtures have begun to capture a strong market position in selected applications such as consumer portable lighting (e.g. flashlights, headlamps) and solar landscape lighting. More recently, the company points out that they have begun to be used on a limited basis in applications such as retail display lighting, commercial and industrial lighting, and outdoor area lighting. Company News Release
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DOE Calls on DOE and Federal Laboratories for Round 6 of SSL Core Technologies Program
LiGHTimes Staff
March 5, 2009...The United States Department of Energy (DOE) released a research call to DOE and federal laboratories for its on-going Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Core Technologies program.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, are reportedly seeking applications from all DOE National Laboratories, National Science Research Centers, Department of Defense Laboratories ,or any other Federal Laboratory for applied research in the SSL Core Technology Research program area.
The DOE defines "Core Technology" research as applied research needed to advance SSL technologies which provides problem-solving knowledge and data needed to overcome barriers identified in the “Program Areas of Interest” section of the Research Call. Round 6 Research Call for SSL Core Technologies,
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Sharp Expands its LED Portfolio
LiGHTimes Staff
March 5, 2009...Sharp Corporation of Tokyo, Japan reports that it is adding small white and RGB LED chips to its LED portfolio. The company says that it has also released its new LED Lighting Module "Zenigata". Sharp says that the module consists of 21 different types of white light LEDs and 11 different types of monochrome and RGB LEDs.
The company noted in a recent Tech On article that of the new white LEDs have a 13 percent greater lumen output.
In an interview for the article in Tech On, Toyonori Uemura, manager of the Products Planning Department, LED Division, Electronic Components and Devices Group of Sharp Corp said about one of the white LED models, "Above all others, the new LED can improve the color reproductivity of LCD panels." Uemura added that one specific white LED model combines a blue LED chip and green and red phosphor materials.
Company News Release,
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SemiLEDs Settles With Nichia
March 5, 2009...SemiLEDs, the LED chip-maker of Boise, Idaho USA, reports that it has settled a lawsuit with Japanese LED giant, Nichia. Company spokesmen for SemiLEDs were unable to make any comment due to the legal constraints of the settlement.
The settlement appears to be tied to Nichia's recent settlement with Seoul Semiconductor. Nichia and Seoul Semiconductor recently ended a range of ongoing patent lawsuits. One of the settled disputes was a lawsuit over Nichia's Korean patent No. 491,482. The lawsuit alleged that Seoul Semiconductor's Z-Power LED P9 series infringed up on Nichia's patent. Seoul Semiconductor then revealed that its Z-Power LED P9 series use Mvp LED chips
from SemiLEDs. (Ref: Coverage).
SemiLEDs released a statement in October 2008, that it successfully defended its customers (mainly Seoul Semiconductors) in Korean patent litigation.
SemiLEDs made the announcement that it and Nichia have withdrawn their patent litigation as a result of a settlement between the parties. SemiLEDs News Release
Asus Releases LED Backlit Notebooks with Self-Adjusting Brightness
LiGHTimes Staff
March 5, 2009...The computures combine a very sleek design utilizing LED backlighting. The computers also come with environmental light sensors which it uses to adjust the brightness or dimmness of the displays. The company boasts that its AI Light sensor technology intelligently detects the surrounding environmental lighting conditions and then automatically adjusts the brightness or dimness of the LED backlit display to provide a comfortable computing experience even in adverse lighting conditions. The notebooks feature contoured LED chassis that eliminate the boxy look of many laptops. Company News Release
Nanoco Tech Goes Public with Reverse Takeover
LiGHTimes Staff
March 3, 2009...Evolutec Group plc has announced the proposed the acquisition of Nanoco Tech Public Limited Company, a nanotechnology company based in Manchester in a reverse takeover. Nanoco notes that once the acquisition is approved by shareholders, the enlarged group will be known as Nanoco Group plc. According to Nanoco, it will have a market capitalization of approximately £38.6 million.
Nanoco is a nanotechnology company involved in the development and manufacture of fluorescent semi-conducting materials called quantum dots. Quantom dots are used as the light converter (phosphor) which coats packaged LEDs. Nanoco points out that solar energy and next generation displays may also benefit from its quantum dot technology. Nanoco News Release,
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Future Lighting Solutions Helps Develop LED Train Lights
LiGHTimes Staff
March 3, 2009...Future Lighting Solutions, a Luxeon LED solution provider of Montreal, Canada, reported that it assisted in designing the LED light fixtures which were unveiled last month on the Hong Kong MTR (Mass Transit Railway). According to the company each new fixture is comprised of 32 high-powered LEDs designed to reduce energy consumption on the city’s trains, extend bulb life to lower replacement costs, and provide more natural lighting than conventional fluorescent tubing for commuter comfort. Future Lighting Solutions (FLS) says that it has partnered with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for the project, which began in early 2007. FLS says it has also been working with industrial lighting specialist JM Technologies Limited, as well as supplying the LEDs. Future Lighting Solutions News Release, LIGHTimes SecondPage members login for more. Guests can view membership details.
Lightscape Launches Billboard Media Network
LiGHTimes Staff
February 26, 2009...Lightscape Technologies Inc., a maker of digital billboards based in China, reports that is selling advertising on what it calls its media properties in Greater China. Lightscape has engaged the services of LIME, a media conglomerate in China to help it sell advertising. Lightscape says that six out of it first LED-based video billboards are expected to begin operation in March in five locations: Shenzhen Century Plaza Hotel, Shenzhen, China; Shandong Hotel, Jinan, China; Convention Plaza, Wanchai, Hong Kong; World Trade Centre, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (2 billboards); New location, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (To be launched in the next few weeks). LIGHTimes SecondPage members login for more. Guests can view membership details.
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EPA pushes forward on LED light engines for Energy Star despite procedural deceptions
Tom Griffiths - Publisher
March 10, 2009...The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing with its moves to hold on to illegitimate "political turf" in the lighting arena with its latest limited comment period for its "Residential Light Fixtures Revision 4.3 Draft Final". Readers will recall that the EPA added LED light engines as a "technical amendment" to its Energy Star Residential Light Fixture program last summer, without any legitimate stakeholder input process nor any coordination with its Energy Star partner, the US Department of Energy, who actually holds the congressional mandate to promote and manage next generation lighting technologies. In what one might assume to be a response Solid State Lighting Design's request to receive copies of the "4.3 Draft Final" which was issued March 4, the documents are now publicly available for review and comment at the Energy Star RLF specifications page. We'll allow the possibility that the lag was just the standard one between the specification dissemination and getting it posted on the website, but the record has not been one of openness and proper processes at any point in this SSL drama. A note was also received apologizing for an apparent "glitch" in the email system that went unnoticed prior to Solid State Lighting Design's inquiry, along with assurance that the cause of the "glitch" would be investigated to assure it does not happen again. The comment period for this "draft final" has been cited as less than 30-days, and at no time has the EPA adhered to its own policies regarding 270-day minimum required comment periods for new regulations or specifications.
Continuing to what all appearances is a "ramrod" effort to legitimize its initial secretive efforts, the EPA has proceeded to revise the initial versions of RLF revision 4.2, which it released as "final and of immediate effectivity" in June, 2008. After substantial industry pressure was brought to bear, including at least one complaint filed with the Office of the Inspector General for "waste, fraud and abuse" due to the secretive and closed process by which the EPA created and subsequently defended this "technical amendment". Readers are encouraged to review the comments found further down on the referenced specifications page with particular emphasis on key stakeholder comments including those from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, and Pacific Gas and Electric, which call for suspension of the LED light engine inclusive portions of these technical amendments until the redundant and ill-conceived specification issues can be worked out in partnership with the Department of Energy whose comprehensive and open-process Energy Star Specification for Solid State Lighting includes luminaire and light-engine level specifications. (Recall that CEE is the national organization of energy efficiency program administrators, whose members are responsible for ratepayer-funded efficiency programs in 32 states and 4 Canadian provinces. CEE member programs are the primary vehicle for delivering energy efficiency to more than 50% of the U.S. population and more than 67% of Canadians. In 2007, CEE members’ budgets represented over 90 percent of the total $3.7 billion in state- and province-authorized program budgets. This figure was expected to grow to near $4 billion for 2008). As PG&E flatly stated, "If, working together, we are still unable to resolve these issues [of redundancy and relevance, in conjunction with the DOE] and end up with a revised specification that will meet the needs of our customers, PG&E will not be able to include products qualified under the proposed RLF 4.2 specification in our SSL incentive programs."
In reply to our question on why the EPA Energy Star lighting team has not simply put this "technical amendment" on hold until they sit down with the DOE and come to a cohesive set of specifications, Alex Baker, Lighting Program Manager, Energy Star for the EPA wrote, "EPA is holding a third comment period to continue capturing partner and stakeholder input with regard to ENERGY STAR labeling of residential light fixtures. The draft final specification, V4.3, has been drafted in response to comments and concerns expressed by partner utilities and manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders, during two previous rounds of comments (ending August and November 2008). With the recent change in the Administration, we're confident that inter-Agency coordination issues will be resolved once new appointments are filled." While we don't see anything in the specification drafts that address the main concern expressed by CEE and PG&E (arguably the largest stakeholders there are), at least it sounds like the EPA might be willing to sit down with the DOE at some point.
The current cover letter states that "Comments on the proposals for CCT limits and minimum light output should be submitted to RLF@icfi.com no later than Friday, March 27, 2009." In the "email glitch" note received on Friday, the program manager stated that "If additional time is required [due to the glitch], please feel free to submit written comments during the week following March 27th." [Update as of March 10: EPA just sent out a note that a partner requested the comment period be extended to April 10, which EPA has agreed to.] Regardless of what EPA may deem as the scope of the comments, lighting professionals, luminaire manufacturers and all those involved in the supply and support of the LED lighting technology are "stakeholders" in this process and are encouraged to respond to the EPA with your comments highlighting any continuing technical deficiencies wherever they occur in the specification, including the provisions for non-industry-standard testing criteria with certification by labs that may not have any specialized LED luminaire experience, and insisting that they come to the table with the DOE and industry to unify these specifications rather than continuing with the pretense of this being a useful or necessary revision that only EPA can accomplish.
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