Articles & Interviews

LpR Article | Research | Jun 07, 2016
Flexible OLEDs for Lighting Applications by the Holst Centre
Flexible OLEDs for Lighting Applications by the Holst Centre While OLEDs already have successfully found their way into display applications, the breakthrough in lighting applications is still pending. The reasons are diverse, but cost is one major point. Another reason is the current edge of inorganic LEDs giving reasonable design opportunities in many standard applications. However, there are applications where OLEDs could score, especially the flexible OLEDs. But even these OLEDs need to become cheaper to be applied widely. The Holst Centre and partners aim to develop generic technologies for large area flexible OLEDs which can be processed with roll-to-roll (R2R) technology. Process Engineer Tansim Baig gives an example and an overview of the current status of the development. Read more »
LpR Article | Jun 07, 2016
Boost-Buck LED Driver Topology for Low Input and Output Ripple for Low EMI by Linear Technology
Boost-Buck LED Driver Topology for Low Input and Output Ripple for Low EMI by Linear Technology Many automotive LED driver circuits require constant-current DC/DC converter topologies that can both step-up and step-down the input-to-output voltage. Out of the commonly used step-up and step-down topologies, those that produce low EMI are the most desirable. Keith Szolusha, applications engineering section leader with Linear Technology, proposes a new boost-buck (boost-then-buck-mode) floating output LED driver to satisfy these requirements. Read more »
LpR Article | Jun 06, 2016
Predictive Simulation to Virtually Test Product Design and Reduce Time to Market by Trinseo
Predictive Simulation to Virtually Test Product Design and Reduce Time to Market by Trinseo With technical progress and new regulations, shorter product cycles are a continuous challenge for OEMs. Modelling is one measure to cut time to market efficiently without compromising product quality. Trinseo Technical Service & Development specialists Kersten Terry and Berend Hoek explain the process of computer-based simulation, specifically applied to injection molded plastic parts. Through case studies, they showcase how Trinseo’s Application Engineering Development resource facilitates more effective LED-lighting development relative to part design, tool design and material selection by modelling “real world“ performance. Read more »
LpR Article | Jun 06, 2016
The Role of Special Optics in Human Centric Lighting and Architecture by Suleyman Turgut and Luminit LLC
The Role of Special Optics in Human Centric Lighting and Architecture by Suleyman Turgut and Luminit LLC While Human Centric Lighting is relatively new and a topic of some debate, few can argue over the benefits of creating more natural lighting conditions in offices, retail spaces and other architectural settings. Anthony Ang, Optical Engineer, Suleyman Turgut, Director of Sales, and Mary Ann Giorgio, Marketing Communications Specialist at Luminit LLC show how special or “tertiary” optics, such as diffuser and direction film, can play a crucial role in Human Centric Lighting or lighting that takes into account the emotional and biological needs of humans. Read more »
LpR Article | Trends | Jun 06, 2016
Embedded Lighting - Developing New Lighting Applications for Modern Architectural Projects by Philips Lighting
Embedded Lighting - Developing New Lighting Applications for Modern Architectural Projects by Philips Lighting When the era of LED lighting started, everybody talked about the new age of lighting with new opportunities. While many lighting concepts are still pure replacements of the conventional light sources, with the maturation of this technology, more and more new concepts are realized, and the future perspectives are even more exciting. Brad Koerner, Venture Manager - Philips Luminous Patterns at Philips Lighting, shows examples, explains why such new concepts are desirable, and discusses which technologies support the introduction of new lighting applications. Read more »
LpR Article | Research | Jun 03, 2016
Luminescent Glasses and Glass Ceramics for White Light Emitting Diodes by the Fraunhofer Institute and the South Westphalia University of Applied Science
Luminescent Glasses and Glass Ceramics for White Light Emitting Diodes by the Fraunhofer Institute and the South Westphalia University of Applied Science Luminescent glasses or glass ceramics represent an interesting alternative to LED phosphor due to their high thermal and chemical stability. A series of rare-earth doped glasses are investigated for their potential application as photon converters for solid-state lighting applications. Franziska Steudel, Sebastian Loos, Bernd Ahrens, and Stefan Schweizer from the Fraunhofer Institute and the South Westphalia University of Applied Science respectively, show that the color coordinate of double-doped glass can be varied over a broad spectral range by changing the rare-earth doping ratio accordingly. In addition, double-doping allows for a change in the color coordinate by using different excitation wavelengths. Read more »
LpR Article | Jun 03, 2016
More Efficient Plant Growth with Quantum Dots by Nanoco Lighting
More Efficient Plant Growth with Quantum Dots by Nanoco Lighting Using LEDs for plant growth lights is nothing new, nor is the use of QDs in LED lighting. While it is already proven that LED systems have big advantages over conventional plant lighting technologies, it is not common knowledge that Cd-free QDs are ideal candidates for optimizing the light spectrum for plant growth systems. Dale Needham, Business Development Director-Lighting at Nanoco Lighting, explains the opportunities and advantages based on Nanoco’s proprietary and patentprotected CFQD® cadmium-free quantum dot LED grow lighting systems. Read more »
LpR Article | Technologies | Jun 03, 2016
Cost and Performance Optimization of Thermal Management Solution for High Power LEDs by Cambridge Nanotherm
Cost and Performance Optimization of Thermal Management Solution for High Power LEDs by Cambridge Nanotherm The LED industry has a challenge. General lighting requires very bright LEDs that can replace incandescent and halogen lights. Manufacturers need efficacy, cost and manufacturability to be “just right” but most leading solutions, especially in thermal management, are short of the mark. Giles Humpston, applications engineer, Cambridge Nanotherm, discusses ways to combine performance with reasonable costs and good manufacturability. Read more »
LpR Article | Jun 03, 2016
Potting Processes as a Part of LED-Based Lighting Module Manufacturing Methods by ViscoTec Pumpen and Dosiertechnik GmbH
Potting Processes as a Part of LED-Based Lighting Module Manufacturing Methods by ViscoTec Pumpen and Dosiertechnik GmbH Many manufacturing processes need very accurate dosing. One such dosing process concerns the potting of LED-modules. Numerous parameters affect the potting quality. Willi Huber from the Business Unit Adhesives & Chemicals at ViscoTec Pumpen- u. Dosiertechnik GmbH explains casting equipment, critical parameters and appropriate potting methods. Read more »
Tech-Talks Bregenz | Jun 02, 2016
Tech-Talks BREGENZ - Dr. Biing-Jye Lee, Chairman of Epistar
Tech-Talks BREGENZ - Dr. Biing-Jye Lee, Chairman of Epistar Dr. Biing-Jye Lee, Chairman of Epistar, had a discussion with Siegfried Luger and Arno Grabher-Meyer from LED professional about the latest trends and the future of LED, Laser and Solid-State lighting technologies. He also gave them his view on how the markets and technologies will evolve. In addition, Dr. Lee shared some of the highlights from this year’s Light + Building as well as his view of current issues such as smart lighting, connectivity and new applications. Read more »
LpR Article | May 24, 2016
Power over Ethernet Lighting for Commercial Buildings by Molex
Power over Ethernet Lighting for Commercial Buildings by Molex Today, information technology (IT) and lighting are separate worlds. It is necessary to create a bridge between these worlds, not only from a technical standpoint but also from the perspective of understanding what is important to each industry. Giovanni Frezza, Group Product Manager at Molex, discusses how LEDs and PoE may pave the way with new power standards: LEDs far outperform the lumens output of older lighting technologies. Today, the PoE standard for LED is 30 W. An UPOE standard for 60 W is in the works, and an expansion called BP is in progress for up to 95 W. Read more »
LpR Article | Research | May 24, 2016
Thin-Film Light Management System for Intelligent Large-Area LED Luminaires by the Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Thin-Film Light Management System for Intelligent Large-Area LED Luminaires by the Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA The recent advances in Solid State Lighting have triggered the development of smart lighting solutions. However, the point-like nature of LEDs imposes the use of inefficient and/or bulky light scattering sheets or costly, short-pitch LED arrays to achieve acceptable spatial luminance uniformity. Ph.D. Oscar Fernandez, Senior R&D Engineer at the Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA (CSEM) shows a new approach in the form of an innovative thin form-factor light management (LM) system comprising a highly engineered combination of thin-film diffractive nano-optical and refractive micro-optical elements. Read more »
LpR Article | May 24, 2016
The Value of Dark Skies - About Environmentally Friendly Lighting by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
The Value of Dark Skies - About Environmentally Friendly Lighting by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) For many years no one worried about light pollution: on the contrary, the brighter the better. Then it became evident that darkness also has its value. J. Scott Feierabend, executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), presents and explains in detail, the latest findings and suggestions published in the “New IDA LED Lighting Practical Guide” and “New IDA Standards on Blue Light at Night”. He also discusses how to illuminate public areas while avoiding excess light pollution. Read more »
LpR Article | Technologies | May 24, 2016
Create Colorful and Bright LED Light with an LED Matrix Dimmer by Linear Technology
Create Colorful and Bright LED Light with an LED Matrix Dimmer by Linear Technology RGB LEDs are quite common and used in many applications today. More advanced multi-color solutions like RGBW, RGBA or RGBWA offer huge advantages over RGB solutions, but several aspects are more complicated. Keith Szolusha, applications engineering section leader for power products at Linear Technology explains the advantages of RGBW systems, how they work, how to set up such systems, and how to drive them correctly using Linear Technology’s LT3965 8-switch LED matrix dimmer in combination with the LT3952 boost-buck LED driver as an example. Read more »
LpR Article | May 24, 2016
Safety Concept for LED Street Lighting by Phoenix Contact
Safety Concept for LED Street Lighting by Phoenix Contact Street and building lighting has profited greatly from the advantages of LED technology. While modern LED lampposts have dielectric strengths of up to 6 kV, surge currents and voltages occurring in the grid can be significantly higher. Andreas Schamber, Product Manager for surge protection at Phoenix Contact, presents and discusses a comprehensive power surge protection concept to prevent blackouts during power surges and to protect investments in LED lighting based on the company’s product portfolio. Read more »
Technology | May 20, 2016
LED Lighting: All Eyes on Flicker by Tridonic
LED Lighting: All Eyes on Flicker by Tridonic Flicker was a familiar problem with early fluorescent lamps. However, increasingly powerful electronic control gear has largely offset these interferences over time, banishing them from current perception. Since LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have become established in all areas of lighting, including general lighting, flicker has reemerged. LED Drivers play a key role in producing light that is as flicker-free as possible. Read more »
LpR Article | Technologies | May 19, 2016
3-Pad LED Flip Chip COB by Flip Chip Opto
3-Pad LED Flip Chip COB by Flip Chip Opto Wafer level packaging and flip chip design are the most recent trends in LED manufacturing and packaging. These LED types are perfectly suited for producing COB modules. This combination already promises better thermal performance than standard SMD package based products. However, there is still room for improvements. Pao Chen, Director of Research and Development at Flip Chip Opto shows how a 3-pad flip chip LED further reduces thermal resistance, allows higher power and can help to reduce costs. Read more »
Commentary | May 19, 2016
LFI 2016 Touts LED Lighting and Digital Control Technology Transformation by Dr. Nisa Khan
LFI 2016 Touts LED Lighting and Digital Control Technology Transformation by Dr. Nisa Khan The 27th Annual LightFair International (LFI) conference was dominated by LED lighting coupled with internet-based control via wireless networks that continues to proliferate in today’s world. The world is increasingly becoming drenched with Internet of Things (IoT) discussions, demonstrations and for some, a certain level of implementation. Electric lighting transformed our society for over 100 years, boosting our mood and association with the environment, culture, productivity, and economic conditions. Such enormity pales in comparison to an unprecedented revolution that LFI describes as “Light and Technology in a New Language!” Read more »
LpR Article | Research | May 17, 2016
Human-Focused Outdoor Illumination: Trade-Off Between Pleasing Color and Circadian Action, by the Vilnius University
Human-Focused Outdoor Illumination: Trade-Off Between Pleasing Color and Circadian Action, by the Vilnius University A smart RGBA solid-state light engine with tunable correlated color temperature (CCT) and high-fidelity color rendition was applied for the validation of the Kruithof hypothesis in several outdoor environments. Subjects were asked to find the most “pleasing” illumination conditions by performing a CCT adjustment. Maintaining constant illuminance, the mean selected CCT was found to increase from about 3000±200 K at 5 lx to about 3500±250 K at 50 lx almost independently of the content of the viewed scene. Dr. Pranciškus Vitta, Head of Lighting and Electronics System Lab at the Vilnius University shows that this increase is statistically significant and provides qualitative validation of the Kruithof hypothesis in outdoor environments, but with the intervals of CCT for “pleasing” illumination, it is substantially broader and shifted to higher values. Read more »
LpR Article | May 11, 2016
230 VAC Driven LED Modules with Strongly Reduced Flicker, by euroLighting
230 VAC Driven LED Modules with Strongly Reduced Flicker, by euroLighting One of the continuing trends in LED lighting is toward AC driven LED modules. Big progress has been made regarding dimmability and reduction of flicker. However, there are still differences in the various concepts that lead to very different results. Wolfgang Endrich, founder and managing director of euroLighting presents a recently improved new concept to significantly reduce flicker. Read more »
LpR Article | May 09, 2016
White Hybrid Light-Emitting Diodes: A Plausible Solution for Commercialization and Health Issues, by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)
White Hybrid Light-Emitting Diodes: A Plausible Solution for Commercialization and Health Issues, by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) One of the challenges in terms of commercialization of white LEDs is the need for cheap, inorganic phosphors. In this context, hybrid LEDs have recently emerged as a new approach based on downconverting organic coatings. The authors, Pedro B. Coto from the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Marlene Pröschel and Uwe Sonnewald from the Department of Biology, and Lukas Niklaus, Michael D. Weber and Rubén D. Costa from the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), describe this technology and cover recent breakthroughs and their prospects. Read more »
LpR Article | Apr 21, 2016
Advanced Bluetooth 4.0+ Based Smart Lighting Technology
Advanced Bluetooth 4.0+ Based Smart Lighting Technology Smart lighting and lighting controls are not restricted by hardware or traditional lighting control protocols anymore. Today, system modifications and firmware updates can all be done over-the-air. Wireless technologies enable lighting controls in places where it was not an option before. Besides Bluetooth, Zigbee and WiFi there are proprietary technologies in use. Saara Guastella M.Sc. in Lighting Engineering and Lighting Controls, is Product Marketing Manager at Casambi. In the following article she introduces Casambi’s technology based on Bluetooth Low Energy, and describes, explains and compares it with other established communication technologies for smart lighting. Read more »
Commentary | Apr 19, 2016
Zhaga Meets Smart Lighting by Dee Denteneer
Zhaga Meets Smart Lighting by Dee Denteneer At first glance, the standardization of LED lighting components seems to be quite remote from the rise of smart, connected lighting and the Internet of Things (IoT). But the projected growth in penetration of smart lighting can only be realized through developments in high-volume electronics and standardization. Such standardization is intended to remove arbitrary variations in components, making design and implementation easier for manufacturers of smart LED luminaires, and enabling a supplier ecosystem. This is where Zhaga comes in. Read more »
Tech-Talks Bregenz | Apr 14, 2016
Tech-Talks BREGENZ - Karl Jónsson, IoT Architect, Tridonic
Tech-Talks BREGENZ - Karl Jónsson, IoT Architect, Tridonic Karl Jónsson, IoT Architect at Tridonic presented some interesting facts, figures, and ideas about IoT and the future of lighting in his speeches about “The Internet of Things and Lighting” at Zumtobel’s International Year of Light Event in 2015 and again at the Light + Building 2016 preview. LED professional got the chance to talk with him about his visions for IoT and Tridonic’s latest developments in that domain. Read more »
Reader Opinion | Mar 19, 2016
Discussion: The Value of Dark Skies - About Environmentally Friendly Lighting
Discussion: The Value of Dark Skies - About Environmentally Friendly Lighting For many years no one worried about light pollution: on the contrary, the brighter the better. Then it became evident that darkness also has its value. J. Scott Feierabend, executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), presents and explains in detail, the latest ndings and suggestions published in the “New IDA LED Lighting Practical Guide” and “New IDA Standards on Blue Light at Night”. He also discusses how to illuminate public areas while avoiding excess light pollution. Read more »
Discussions | Mar 19, 2016
Discussion: Lighting Flicker of LED Lighting Systems
Discussion: Lighting Flicker of LED Lighting Systems Flicker is the modulation of a lamp’s light output caused by fluctuations of the mains voltage supply. Recent research has shown that fluctuations of short wavelength emissions are perceived to a higher extent and light flicker may have a huge influence on the well-being of end users. Prof. Georges Zissis, Head of Light & Matter Research Group at the LAPLACE Université de Toulouse presents and discusses the influence of driver topologies, research results, metrics and standards. Read more »
Leading Article | Interview | Mar 09, 2016
Lumileds Sets New Standards for Mid Power Range LEDs
Lumileds Sets New Standards for Mid Power Range LEDs Rahul Bammi, Lumileds Vice President Marketing and Product Management and Matt Everett, Lumileds Senior Director Mid Power Products discussed their new Mid Power March product launches with Siegfried Luger, publisher of LED professional. This article covers the features of these new product lines. Read more »
Tech-Talks Bregenz | Feb 15, 2016
Tech-Talks BREGENZ - Wolfgang Nemitz, Scientist Joanneum Research
Tech-Talks BREGENZ - Wolfgang Nemitz, Scientist Joanneum Research Wolfgang Nemitz, scientist at the Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft, won the LED professional Scientific Paper Award at the LpS 2015 in Bregenz with his paper entitled “Iterative Optical and Thermal Simulation Method for Proper Simulation of PC LEDs” (published in the LpS 2016 Proceedings / p. 122 and LpR 52 / p. 48). Siegfried Luger and Arno Grabher-Meyer took this opportunity to discuss his research, the practical value of the findings and general solid-state lighting issues with him. Read more »
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