LpR Article | Innovation | Nov 24, 2016

On-Chip Beam Forming Optics Paves the Way for New Luminaire Designs

An LED luminaire’s optical system usually consists of primary and secondary optics. This concept always causes a trade-off between light quality, system size, efficiency and light distribution. New concepts to make secondary optics obsolete have already been researched. Paul Drosihn, Head of Modular Products, and Samir Mezouari, Optics & Lighting Design Specialist at Plessey Semiconductors present the first of its kind chip scale beam forming technology, StellarTM. They explain how it works and how it helps to overcome the limitations of traditional optical solutions for LED lighting. Read more »

LpR Article | Sep 06, 2016

LEDs Reveal Paintings Hidden in Paintings

Artists are often early adopters of new technologies and new solutions and methods that bring art to a new level. For fine arts artist, light and their material are the two major elements to play with. It’s no wonder that LED lighting has become an important element for them. The artist, Clint Eccher, and Arno Grabher-Meyer from LED professional show how LED lighting is used to transform static paintings into some of the most advanced paintings in the world, in dynamic, “living” pieces that transform their appearance with LED light. Clint Eccher's work, how it is done, and the role of LED technology will be explained. Read more »

Health + Environment | LpR Article | Sep 06, 2016

Botanical Light Pollution - Red is the New Blue

In the beginning, the industry argued that LED lighting could help reduce light pollution. Meanwhile, various organizations claim the opposite effect is true and often sight light color as an issue. The opinions of different groups are frequently quite the contrary to those of other groups. Ian Ashdown, FIES Chief Scientist at byHeart Consultants & Lighting Analysts, demonstrates and discusses the negative effects of light pollution through LED lights and how different light sources affect vegetation. Read more »

LpR Article | Sep 05, 2016

Lighting Fabrics - A New Approach for Flexible Light Sources

Different groups from the lighting business have been dreaming of truly flexible light sources for a long time. OLEDs are being promoted as the solution of the future but there are other solutions already on the market. Managing Director R&D at Carpetlight GmbH, Mr. Till Sadlowski, takes a look at the common history of light and fabrics, the evolution of flexible circuity and the latest development in form free scalable light sources. 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 | Sep 05, 2016

Easing Lighting System Design with Online Tools

The technical intricacies of an LED lighting system design can be quite complicated. The interdependencies of design parameters such as light source flux, efficacy, lumen maintenance, drive current, series/parallel light source layout, compatible optics, compatible drivers, thermal dissipation and others make the calculation of system performance a laborious process if performed manually. One simple change in one parameter could potentially force the lighting designer to consult the datasheet for every other component considered in the design in order to calculate the impact on the system as a whole. Patrick Durand, Worldwide Technical Director, Future Lighting Solutions demonstrates the capabilities of modern online tools to solve these problems giving a typical application example based on the Future Lighting System Creator (LSC). Read more »

LpR Article | Sep 05, 2016

How to Design with LEDs: Concurrent Engineering Yields Fully Optimized Lighting Systems

LEDs are often viewed as a replacement for other light sources. The right starting point for designing an appropriate replacement is crucial to the result. Brian S. Jasenak, Optical and Process Engineer at Kopp Glass, describes a concurrent engineering approach that optimizes the optics and other system components, and may help to reduce the number of LEDs needed as well as the overall cost of the LED lighting fixture. Read more »

LpR Article | Research | Aug 11, 2016

Quality and Health Aspects of LED Lamps for the European Residential Lighting Market

Because of shortfalls in regards to consumer information about high quality, energy efficient, substitute products for incandescent lamps, there has been a significant amount of irritation on the side of the consumer. As part of the Intelligent Energy Europe Program of the European Union, Prof. Dr. Georges Zissis from the Paul Sabatier - University Toulouse and his team investigated 370 LED lamps. All relevant parameters of 95 different lamp types from store shelves in 12 European countries were measured and evaluated regarding quality and health issues. Read more »

LpR Article | Aug 11, 2016

LED Lamps Recycling Technology for a Circular Economy

While having a long propagated lifetime, LED lighting products, especially lamps, have a foreseeable end of life. And since they contain many valuable elements they practically beg to be recycled. However, like other highly integrated electronics products recycling is not a simple task. Andrea Gassmann, Jörg Zimmermann, Roland Gauß, Rudolf Stauber and Oliver Gutfleisch from the Fraunhofer Project Group Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS and the Technische Universität Darmstadt Institute for Materials Science respectively, present and discuss a method that could open the way to successful recirculation of precious components and materials. 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 | Quality | Aug 11, 2016

TM-30 or the Quest for New Metrics to Measure Light Color Quality

As the lighting industry’s need for an unambiguous measure of lighting color quality becomes more urgent, the TM-30 test method put forward by the Illumination Engineering Society of America (IES) is one approach that could offer a solution. Arno Grabher-Meyer, Editor in Chief at LED professional gives a quick status overview. 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 »

LpR Article | Research | Aug 09, 2016

Flicker Beyond Perception Limits - A Summary of Lesser Known Research Results

Since the introduction of fluorescent lamps, the lighting industry knows about flicker issues. However, many aspects are still unclear. Especially effects beyond the flicker fusion threshold are mostly ignored, and sometimes even denied. Dr. Walter Werner, CEO of Werner Consulting, gives a summary of research results indicating that further research is needed and that for high quality lighting very likely a much higher PWM modulation frequency is required. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Additive Manufacture of Optics Goes Digital by LUXeXceL B.V.

With a new technology for additive manufacturing, optics fabrication has gone digital, making more product innovation and variety affordable by eliminating the expense of molds and tooling, enabling just-in-time manufacturing and bringing a new freedom for optics and lighting designers. Marco de Visser, Business Development Manager at LUXeXceL B.V. gives an update on this technology and its new opportunities. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Aspects of Light Quality in Solid State Lighting by OSRAM Opto Semiconductors

For ages the quality of light has been one of the biggest topics for luminaire manufacturers. But since the introduction of LEDs in general lighting the definition of light quality has got a new dimension. Pros and cons of LED lighting quality are often very controversial. Alexander Wilm, Application Engineering Manager of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, presents facts about LED lighting quality that provide a sound basis for discussions. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Mesopic Photometry - An Accurate System of Road Lighting Evaluation by Surya Roshni Ltd.

For a long time, photopic vision was the basis for all light measurement tasks, but today this approach is challenged. According to several research results, it seems that mesopic vision should be used as a basis to evaluate street lighting applications or other low level lighting applications. Prija Jain from the Executive Design and Development (Photometry & Optics) department of Surya Roshni Ltd. in India gives us an overview on the recent status of the discussion, explains it and shows the resulting consequences. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Simulations of a Retrofit LED Light Bulb by the University of Turku

Mika Maaspuro and Aulis Tuominen from the University of Turku investigated the energy efficiency of a LED driver mounted inside a retrofit light. The heat generation of the LEDs and the driver of the light bulb have been simulated and measured. A thermal model for the light bulb has been created and simulated using a Finite-Element-Method (FEM) software. Parameters of the model have been adjusted to match the temperature measurements which have been done with IR-camera and thermocouples. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Simulations of a Retrofit LED Light Bulb by the University of Turku

Mika Maaspuro and Aulis Tuominen from the University of Turku investigated the energy efficiency of a LED driver mounted inside a retrofit light. The heat generation of the LEDs and the driver of the light bulb have been simulated and measured. A thermal model for the light bulb has been created and simulated using a Finite-Element-Method (FEM) software. Parameters of the model have been adjusted to match the temperature measurements which have been done with IR-camera and thermocouples. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

LED Market and Development Trends from the Point of View of a Full-Range Trader in Lighting by Everlight

In an interview with LED professional, Ms. Beate Jungwirth, Director of Marketing & Communications and PR at Everlight and Dr. Christopher Keusch, Senior Sales Manager at Everlight, talk about the market and development trends in the area of LEDs. The experts also discuss Everlight’s focus at the LED professional Symposium +Expo 2012 which takes place in Bregenz, Austria from September 25th to 27th. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

LED Market and Development Trends from the Point of View of a Full-Range Trader in Lighting by Everlight

In an interview with LED professional, Ms. Beate Jungwirth, Director of Marketing & Communications and PR at Everlight and Dr. Christopher Keusch, Senior Sales Manager at Everlight, talk about the market and development trends in the area of LEDs. The experts also discuss Everlight’s focus at the LED professional Symposium +Expo 2012 which takes place in Bregenz, Austria from September 25th to 27th. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Development Process for a Metal-Halide Replacement LED Module by Neonlite International Ltd.

Seen for the first time at this year’s Light + Building, the TECOH® MHx, has provided specifiers and designers with a viable LED metal halide alternative. Talking about the issues surrounding such a development, Fred Bass, Managing Director of Neonlite International Ltd., the brand owner of MEGAMAN, shows how the module series has been developed and highlights its potential for metal halide replacement moving forward. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Practical Results of a Gas Station Refurbishment with LED Luminaires by the Electromagnetica SA Semiconductor Lighting Centre

Perfect lighting at a gas station is very important for competitiveness. But a conventional lighting system is also a costly and energy demanding installation with high maintenance costs. Stelian Matei from the Electromagnetica SA Semiconductor Lighting Centre shows how a well-planned upgrade of conventional lighting to LED lighting lowers energy consumption and maintenance and, therefore, costs. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Practical Results of a Gas Station Refurbishment with LED Luminaires by the Electromagnetica SA Semiconductor Lighting Centre

Perfect lighting at a gas station is very important for competitiveness. But a conventional lighting system is also a costly and energy demanding installation with high maintenance costs. Stelian Matei from the Electromagnetica SA Semiconductor Lighting Centre shows how a well-planned upgrade of conventional lighting to LED lighting lowers energy consumption and maintenance and, therefore, costs. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

An LED Solution for Historic Monumental Electric Chandeliers by Ramselaar Light Solutions

The Netherlands Institute for War Documentation (NIOD) is housed in a magnificent monumental late 19th century building at the Amsterdam Herengracht (the Netherlands). Recently, the unique brass chandeliers were provided with LED lamps, which were specially developed for this project by Ramselaar Light Solutions. Ron Ramselaar and M. Brouwers, advisor on behalf of the Government Buildings Agency (RGD), tell us about this extraordinary project. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Focus Tunable Lenses for LED Lighting by Optotune AG

Focus tunable lenses open up new possibilities in the design of LED based luminaires. With these shape changing lenses, the beam angle of a spotlight can be flexibly adjusted while keeping the efficiency on a constant, high level. Compact solutions combining a floodlight and a spotlight in one product can therefore be realized. This innovative technology reduces complexity and offers more flexibility in lighting design, especially for changing environments like museums, and shops. Joerg Wertli from Optotune AG demonstrates a very interesting technology for these applications. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Sensors and Feedback Control of Multi-Color LED Systems by MAZeT GmbH

To obtain stable and consistent lighting conditions within the black body range with LED systems, especially RGBx systems is a challenging task. Feedback controlled systems are expensive, but the best solution. Here, the question of which type of sensor accomodates the given application best, arises. Thomas Nimz, Fredrik Hailer and Kevin Jensen from MAZeT GmbH discuss different options based on their scientific studies on LED systems with four or more different LEDs considering secondary conditions like color rendering index. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

Human-Centric Lighting: Sensor Technology for Full- Spectrum Lighting Solutions by ams

While not necessarily common knowledge, research is rapidly validating the common-sense understanding that human beings are “tuned” to the natural lighting cycles of the sun, and can be equally “de-tuned”, to the detriment of both health and productivity, by artificial light sources that operate contrary to these natural flows. Sajol Ghoshal, Director of Sensor Driven Lighting at the Opto Sensor and Lighting BU at ams, discusses the available approaches for full-spectrum solutions, and potential humancentric benefits, of fully integrated intelligent ambient/color light sensor and driver technology. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 04, 2016

DC-Grids - Challenges and Chances for LED Lighting by the Fraunhofer Institute and LED professional

At the beginning of November many important aspects of DC Grids were discussed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology in Erlangen at the European Center for Power Electronics (ECPE) conference. Besides fundamental issues, very specific ones like how the introduction of DC Grids affects lighting technologies and especially LED lighting were part of the program. Below, Arno Grabher-Meyer from LED professional gives a summary of the speeches and expert discussions and gives us an idea of what the key ideas could mean to the LED lighting community. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 01, 2016

Reliable Thermal Management of High-Power LEDs by Haeusermann

Stefan Hörth believes that FR4 PCBs can easily replace IMS PCBs and even open new fields of LED applications. Haeusermann’s HSMtec Product Manager demonstrates that common FR4 laminates, including special copper filling, will sufficiently withstand the heat of HB LEDs. Read more »

LpR Article | Jul 01, 2016

EMI Problems in TRIAC Dimmable LED Drivers by RECOM Lighting

TRIAC dimming adds a dimension to Power Factor (PF) and Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) that is rarely defined by LED driver manufacturers. Bianca Aichinger, Product Marketing Manager at RECOM Lighting, examines the relationship between PF, THD and harmonics and explains why this relationship can change as soon as the LEDs are dimmed, thus causing increased EMI and undesirable visible effects such as LED flashing and flicker. The European standards for EMC and Harmonics are only specified for full load and in the non-dimmed condition. In practice, there are often dimmer/driver/LED load conditions which may meet the regulations when undimmed, but fail significantly if dimming is used. Read more »