Technologies & Research

Technologies | Light Conversion | LEDs | Quantum Dots | May 15, 2017

Industry Breakthrough: Narrow Emission QD's Improve Warm White LED Performance and Improve Color Rendering

In an interview with LED professional at the Lightfair International in Philadelphia, Dr. Jy Bhardwaj, CTO at Lumileds, explained the advantages of the Quantum Dots technology. Lumileds will launch the first QD LED within the next few months. Read more »

Technologies | Displays | Drones | Apr 27, 2017

DOCOMO Develops World's First Spherical Drone Display

NTT DOCOMO, INC., in a continuing quest to create innovative new business, has developed a spherical drone display - an unmanned aerial vehicle that displays LED images on an omnidirectional spherical screen while in flight - which DOCOMO believes to be a world first. Read more »

Technologies | Optics | Waveguides | Apr 18, 2017

Method to Control Light Propagation in Waveguides

A team of Columbia Engineering researchers, led by Applied Physics Assistant Professor Nanfang Yu, has invented a method to control light propagating in confined pathways, or waveguides, with high efficiency by using nano-antennas. To demonstrate this technique, they built photonic integrated devices that not only had record-small footprints but were also able to maintain optimal performance over an unprecedented broad wavelength range. Read more »

Technologies | LEDs | Light Generation | Apr 18, 2017

New Cree NX Technology Platform Redefines LED Performance for Next Generation Lighting Systems

Cree announces a major LED breakthrough with the revolutionary NX technology platform that will power the next generation of Cree’s lighting-class LEDs. The NX technology platform enables the new Extreme Density (XD) LED family that delivers up to four times higher lumen density than Cree’s previous generation of high power LEDs. This new technology platform makes possible innovative new designs, eliminating current constraints for a wide spectrum of lighting applications such as color-mixing, directional lighting and industrial lighting. Read more »

Resources | LpR Article | Technologies | Thermal Management | Mar 13, 2017

Looking for the Best Thermal Solution for CSP Module Designs

Chip Scale Package (CSP) LED technology is not new but while it has been used for a while in TV backlighting applications, it is relatively new to lighting applications. In many respect CSPs are a new world for lighting module manufacturers as they are smaller, usually don’t have any ESD protection, have different light distribution, and, last but not least, have a smaller heat dissipation area. The latter asks for re-thinking the traditional thermal design for modules. Dr. Giles Humpston, Applications Engineer at Cambridge Nanotherm, explains in detail why CSP LEDs present a significant thermal challenge for module designers and outlines some fundamentals in calculating the thermal flow required to keep CSP LEDs cool. Read more »

A Standardized Open Platform Is Key to the Future of Smart Lighting System Design

The LED industry’s pace of evolution is more prevalent now than it has ever been. The shift from traditional standalone LED bulb lighting to fully connected digital LED systems is upon us and is transforming the industry for the better. For years, LED manufacturers have focused on driving cost down rather than focusing on improving quality, but with the advent of connected lighting, smart lighting and human-centric lighting, the focus has shifted back onto quality. Dr. Kyeongik Min, Principal Engineer in the LED business team at Samsung Electronics, explores how the LED industry can accelerate the transition from standalone lighting to fully connected lighting through a deeper understanding of current market trends. Read more »

Nanowire | Technologies | LEDs | Light Generation | Feb 14, 2017

Nanorod LEDs with Two Functions Could Make Multifunctional Displays

Cellphones and other devices could soon be controlled with touchless gestures and charge themselves using ambient light, thanks to new LED arrays that can both emit and detect light. Made of tiny nanorods arrayed in a thin film, the LEDs could enable new interactive functions and multitasking devices. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Dow Electronic Materials in Marlborough, Massachusetts, report the advance in the Feb. 10 issue of the journal Science. Read more »

Thermal Management of an LED Light Source for Microscopes

Thermal management is a challenge for every LED and LASER solution. Microscope lighting solutions have some very critical requirements, especially if they concern medical applications. ESCATEC in Heerbrugg, Switzerland has a lot of experience in that field and covers all relevant technical disciplines. Wolfgang Plank, head of the MOEMS Future Laboratory and cleanroom, and Gerd Harder, Key Account Manager, give insights on the design process, thermal simulation and production of an LED light source for Leica Microsystems’ Ophthalmic Microscope Proveo 8. Read more »

LuxLive and SILE Sharpen Focus on End-Users

On November 23rd and 24th, as in previous years, LuxLive was held in the Excel Center close to London’s City Airport. This year, for the second time since the merger of Revo Media and Pennwell, LuxLive and Strategies in Light Europe were co-located. Arno Grabher-Meyer, Editor-in-Chief at LED professional, summarizes his impressions of the event, picking out the more technical oriented lectures held in the different "arenas". Read more »

Technologies | OLEDs | Light Generation | Jan 24, 2017

CTI Project Results Promise a Bright Future for OLEDs

Developing a low-cost, efficient method of increasing the attractiveness of OLEDs for lighting poses a significant challenge. Thanks to a CTI project, CSEM and Sefar AG have succeeded in designing a promising state-of-the-art way of achieving this aim. This technology opens up new opportunities for applications in residential, architectural, professional lighting segments, as well as consumer electronics. Read more »

Resources | LpR Article | Technologies | Optics | Nov 28, 2016

Structured Glass Light Guides for Efficient Lighting

Glass injection molding technology (GIMT) for precision glass optics is a relatively new manufacturing technology. This expertise allows for producing efficient glass optics for LED lighting applications with special properties like undercut geometry or mounting flanges. A lot of progress has been made since it was introduced. Christian Passlick, Optical Engineer at Auer Lighting, shows how this improved technology supports making state-of-the-art light mixing structures for RGB/RGBW LED systems. Read more »

Comparing New Dielectric Materials for Chip-on-Board LED Packages

Thermal management is still one of the most challenging issues in solid state lighting. With the increased application of COB LED technology, the portion of the dielectric material on the overall thermal resistance has become an important topic. Different solutions and new materials have been proposed over the last few years. Hui Zhang, Max Wagner, and Prof. Tran Quoc Khanh from the Laboratory of Lighting Technology at the Technische Universität Darmstadt compared different materials and present the results of their extensive research. Read more »

Technologies | LECs | Light Generation | Nov 28, 2016

LECs - The Light of the Future Thanks Nanostructures

In future they are to light up the inside of handbags or make evening joggers stand out in the dark: Light-emitting electrochemical cells, LECs, offer many advantages compared to familiar LEDs, but there's still something lacking – the right light. Until now only yellow light LECs are suitable for realistic use. But at least one other light colour is needed for more neutral light. Researchers in the Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE) of the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) have now been able to selectively change the colour for the first time and at the same time increase the performance of the LECs. Read more »

Technologies | OLEDs | Flexible OLEDs | Sep 09, 2016

Researchers Propose Graphene Anode for Flexible OLEDs

In their research article, Tae-Hee Han, Min-Ho Park, Sung-Joo Kwon, Sang-Hoon Bae, Hong-Kyu Seo, Himchan Cho, Jong-Hyun Ahn and Tae-Woo Lee from the Pohang University of Science and Technology and the Yonsei University in Korea respectively investigated the use of praphene anodes for ultra-flexible OLED devices. The original article, "Approaching Ultimate Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diodes Using a Graphene Anode", is published in NPG Asia Materials (2016) 8, e303; doi:10.1038/am.2016.108 online on September 9, 2016. Read more »

Lp Article | Technologies | Sep 06, 2016

LightSpeed Experience Center

On August 26th, 2016 the editors of LED professional Review were invited by EBV Elektronik to visit their newly established “LightSpeed Experience Center” in Poing near Munich. It’s a very special meeting center, where you can view advanced and future technologies in the optoelectronics world. You could call it a tech incubator and think tank that enables innovation and creativity to combine. Read more »

LpR Article | Technologies | Sep 05, 2016

Technologies for Engineering an LED Light Closest to Sunlight

TRI-R is a next-generation LED light source made possible by Toshiba Materials technology and commercialization together with TOL STUDIO. Using natural light that recreates the solar spectrum, TRI-R suppresses glare, prevents the loss of object color, and gives fresher, clearer expression to textures and details. Based on professional research examining the relationship light has with humans and the environment, this is illumination technology that provides the world surrounding us with the true and real value of light. Masahiko Yamakawa, Senior Specialist of Toshiba Materials Co.LTD., presents how this technology was developed and applied in some projects. Read more »

LpR Article | Technologies | Medical | Aug 11, 2016

High-End White Light Sources Fiber Optics Technology for Medical Applications

Often technologies that are too expensive for the mass market at the beginning are already adopted in medical applications. When reaching a certain level of maturity, costs usually become more reasonable and adaptations for the consumer market begins. Holger Laabs, Oliver Mehl and Henning Rehn from Osram GmbH present a light source technology and its prerequisites for fiber optics that could become one of these technologies. Read more »

LpR Article | Technologies | Aug 11, 2016

Concepts to Overcome Lifetime Issues of LED Drivers

Lighting technology has changed significantly in recent years after a century of little to modest advancements. LED luminaires offer advancement in lower power consumption and expected life. Maggie Nadjmi, EE Product Manager at SL Power Electronics, explains why this new technology will probably not meet the life and reliability expectations if no attention is paid to the drivers and power supplies used to power LEDs. She discusses the main components affecting lifetime and how to eliminate them or design a product to still achieve the desired lifetime. Read more »

Technologies | Thermal Management | Jul 14, 2016

Engineered “Sand” May Help Cool Electronic Devices and LEDs

Giorgia Tech Research reports that Baratunde Cola, associated professor at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, would like to put sand into your computer and other electronic devices. Not beach sand, but silicon dioxide nanoparticles coated with a high dielectric constant polymer to inexpensively provide improved cooling for increasingly power-hungry electronic devices. Read more »

Technologies | LEDs | Light Generation | Quality | Jul 11, 2016

The Right Light for Fashion Retail, Fresh Food and Restaurants - More than just CCT and CRI

Lumileds recently introduced their Luxeon Stylist Series to support fashion, retail, fresh food sales and restaurants. Lumileds calls their proprietary technology for CoB LEDs CrispWhite Technology, CrispColor Technology™, FreshFocus Technology™ and AtmoSphere Technology™ depending on the focus. In preparation for the product release, Rick Hamburger, Senior Director of Product Management, Eric Senders, Product Line Director CoB, Luis Acena, Senior Manager, Luxeon Stylist Series, Kevin Lucido, Senior Director of Global Marketing Communications discussed the technology and features of the new product series with Arno Grabher-Meyer from LED professional. Read more »

LpR Article | Technologies | Jul 01, 2016

How Silicones are Evolving to Meet the Growing Needs of the LED Lighting Industry by Dow Corning

There are different materials for optics in lighting applications. The lighting application engineers François de Buyl, Martijn Beukema and Kevin van Tiggelen from Dow Corning are convinced that silicone’s unique qualities help to expand options in the design and molding of LED packaging components, as well as components for lamp and luminaire applications. Read more »

LpR Article | Technologies | Jun 29, 2016

Optical Lithography Method for Advanced Light Extraction in LEDs

Objective material selection for various target applications is key for successful product development. Efficient light extraction features are crucial for highly efficient LEDs. Thomas Uhrmann and Harun Solak, et.al* from EV Group and Eulitha AG will demonstrate a novel lithography method, PHABLE™, that enables the printing of sub-μm patterns in a non-contact, proximity process. Read more »