Technology News Articles

Technology News

Pushing Photons - Metasurface Design Methods Can Make LED Light Act More Like Lasers

UC Santa Barbara researchers continue to push the boundaries of LED design a little further with a new method that could pave the way toward more efficient and versatile LED display and lighting technology: In a paper published in Nature Photonics, UCSB electrical and computer engineering professor Jonathan Schuller and collaborators describe this new approach, which could allow a wide variety of LED devices — from virtual reality headsets to automotive lighting — to become more sophisticated and sleeker at the same time. Read more »

Executive Summary on "A Study on the Perception of Full Spectrum LEDs" Published

From a LED producer's perspective, it is essential to have knowledge about the perception of LEDs by human beings. To consolidate existing and gain new knowledge on recently introduced Full Spectrum LEDs, which claim to bring natural light quality into electric lighting appliances, the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (Germany) conducted a study in cooperation with three main LED manufacturers Nichia (Japan), Seoul Semiconductor (Korea), Toshiba Materials (Japan) and the LED gear supplier Lumitronix (Germany). Read more »

Austrian Tech University Graz Revolutionizes 3D Metal Printing Using LEDs

A technology developed at Graz University of Technology uses LED instead of laser sources for the additive manufacturing of metal parts and optimizes 3D metal printing in terms of construction time, metal powder consumption, equipment costs and post-processing effort. Read more »

Fundings + Projects | Research News | Office Lighting | Health + Wellbeing | May 04, 2020

Repro-Light Consortium Announce Intelligent Workspace Lighting Concept

The pioneering design team at Bartenbach unveils a brand-new intelligent lighting concept set to revolutionize workspace personalization. It is set to deliver a truly user-centric, workspace lighting blueprint for lighting designers to transform workspaces for healthier living. The story began with Bartenbach's involvement in the Repro-light project consortium, funded through the European Commission's Horizon 2020 work program. The scope of the project, "To successfully initiate transformation in the European LED lighting industry, by creating the 'Luminaire of the Future'." Part of this remit was to develop a new customizable lighting system. Read more »

Full Spectrum LEDs Outperform Standard LED Lighting, Study Shows

Full Spectrum LED products outperform conventional solutions, according to a study into the visual impact and perceptual performance of LED lighting by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) in Stuttgart, Germany. Read more »

Environment | SSL | Health + Environment | Research News | Apr 06, 2020

Light Pollution Suppresses Melatonin Production in Perch

Melatonin controls the body clock – high melatonin levels make us feel tired in the evening. However, the hormone also plays an important role in animals' biological rhythms. Artificial light at night – light pollution – can suppress the production of melatonin in fish, even at very low light intensities, a finding established by researchers from IGB. Read more »

SSL | Technologies | Research News | UV | Disinfection | Apr 02, 2020

Seoul Viosys and SETi's Violeds Technology Proves 99.9% Sterilization of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 30 Seconds

Seoul Viosys and Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. ("SETi"), leading global innovators of UV LED products and technology, announced that it has been successful in achieving 99.9% sterilization of coronavirus (COVID-19) in 30 seconds. Tests were conducted with the research group of Korea University, Korea's top rank university, by using a compound semiconductor Violeds technology that is being mass-produced. Read more »

SSL | Technologies | Light Generation | Mar 25, 2020

Advanced "Super-Planckian" Material Exhibits LED-Like Light When Heated

Could there be a new kind of light in the universe? Since the late 19th century, scientists have understood that, when heated, all materials emit light in a predictable spectrum of wavelengths. Research published this week in Nature Scientific Reports presents a material that emits light when heated that appears to exceed the limits set by that natural law. Read more »

HCL-Research | Health | Applications | Feb 24, 2020

LRC Evaluates Hybrid UV/Blue Light Lighting System to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections

People who visit hospitals are expecting care and treatment, not additional complications, yet approximately 1 in 25 patients contract healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in U.S. hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Standard cleaning procedures usually involve manual application of detergents and disinfectants. Unfortunately, the efficacy of these manual cleaning procedures can vary considerably. In fact, less than 50% of patient room surfaces are properly cleaned. Read more »

SSL | Technologies | microLEDs | Displays | Feb 13, 2020

Compound Photonics and Plessey Create microLED Display Modules from Bonded Wafers

Compound Photonics US Corporation (CP), a leading provider of compact high-resolution microdisplay solutions for Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) applications, and Plessey Semiconductors Ltd. (Plessey), an embedded technologies developer at the forefront of microLED technology for AR and MR display applications, today announced they have produced the first fully addressable microLED display modules resulting from their previously announced strategic partnership to develop and introduce GaN-on-Silicon microLED based microdisplay solutions for AR/MR applications. Read more »

Transparent Material Considerations for UV Optics in Horticultural Lighting Applications

Advancements in UV LED technology have begun changing the horticultural lighting landscape. Research is still ongoing to discover the extent of benefits and best practices of using UV light in horticulture. Using optics in tandem with UV LED light systems can help reach performance goals and optimize growing. Although there are several UV- transmitting materials available, not all are equivalent or able to meet the requirements for UV applications. Justine Galbraith, glass engineer, and Sharayah Follett, market development manager at Kopp Glass, Inc. discuss the performance considerations of various UV-transmitting materials and how application challenges are addressed by integrating optical elements. Read more »

Flickering Light Mobilizes Brain Chemistry that May Fight Alzheimer's

For over a century, Alzheimer's disease has confounded all attempts to treat it. But in recent years, perplexing experiments using flickering light have shown promise. The promise of flickering light to treat Alzheimer's takes another step forward in this new study, which reveals stark biochemical mechanisms: 40 Hertz stimulus triggers a marked release of signaling chemicals. Read more »

ENABLED – A New Funded Research Program to Design Fluorescent Proteins for White LEDs

A joint research project between Spain, Italy and Austria will work to replace inorganic phosphor filters in LEDs by those nature uses deed down the sea. The ENABLED project, coordinated by the Spanish research center IMDEA Materials Institute, has a budget of € 2.7 million euros, will run for the next 3 years and is funded by the European Commission under the Future and Emerging Technologies programme. Read more »

Technologies | Light Generation | LEDs | Phosphors | Jan 22, 2020

Researchers from Hokkaido University Let Europium Shine Brighter

A stacked nanocarbon antenna makes a rare earth element shine 5 times more brightly than previous designs, with applications in molecular light-emitting devices. - The europium Eu(III) complex with nanocarbon antenna emitting fine red light. Read more »

Technologies | Horticulture | Standardization | Jan 09, 2020

Researchers Call for Greenhouses LED Lighting Standards

While LED lighting can enhance plant growth in greenhouses, standards are needed to determine the optimal intensity and colors of light, according to Rutgers research that could help improve the energy efficiency of horticultural lighting products. Read more »

Technologies | Micro-LEDs | LED Modules | Displays | Jan 09, 2020

SSC Develops World's First One Pixel Micro LEDs for 4K Resolution TV from 42" to 220"

Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. (CEO Young Joo Lee) and Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (CEO Chung Hoon Lee), leading global innovators of LED and UV LED technologies, announced the new concept display, 'Micro Clean LED' at CES 2020, the biggest global consumer electronics and technology show, running from January 7th through January 10th. Read more »

Resources | Reports | Automotive | Dec 19, 2019

Yole Identifies Automotive Lighting Being a Building Block of Autonomous Driving

The automotive lighting market is booming. Yole Développement (Yole) announces a US$29 billion market in 2018. According to the market research and strategy consulting company, the automotive lighting sector should reach US$38.8 billion in 2024, at a 4.9% CAGR between 2018 and 2024. The digitalization of cars is a megatrend in the automotive industry, moving towards electric and autonomous vehicles. The developments related to this trend facilitate new approaches in safety, comfort, and information services. Exterior lighting is gaining significance because automated driving advancements have illustrated the importance of communication between all road users. Read more »

HCL-Research | HCL | Health + Environment | Dec 19, 2019

Research Confirms that Light Pollution Can Suppress Melatonin Production in Humans and Animals

Melatonin sets the internal clock. Researchers from IGB in an international team have analyzed data on the impact of light pollution on melatonin formation in humans and vertebrates. They found that even the low light intensities of urban skyglow can suppress melatonin production. Melatonin influences the metabolism and other body functions. Read more »

HCL | HCL-Research | Biological Effects | Health | Dec 18, 2019

University of Manchester Scientists Suggest Blue Light Not So Disruptive to Sleep as Thought

Contrary to common belief, blue light may not be as disruptive to our sleep patterns as originally thought. According to the team, using dim, cooler, lights in the evening and bright warmer lights in the day may be more beneficial to our health. Twilight is both dimmer and bluer than daylight, they say, and the body clock uses both of those features to determine the appropriate times to be asleep and awake. Read more »

HCL | HCL-Research | Health | Dec 18, 2019

Tailored Light Improves Sleep Quality, Depression, Agitation in Older Adults with Alzheimer's Disease

Most people associate Alzheimer's disease with profound memory loss, but it is often the symptoms - sleep disturbances, depression, and agitation - that are a challenge to treat, and can significantly reduce the quality of life for both the affected individual and their family members and caregivers. In a research project funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dr. Mariana Figueiro, Professor and Director at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is investigating whether a tailored lighting intervention can lessen the impact of these symptoms in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Read more »

Hella Announces Development of High-Resolution Lighting System Digital Light SSL|HD

With the new high-resolution lighting system "Digital Light SSL|HD", the lighting and electronics expert HELLA is making a further significant contribution to greater safety and comfort in road traffic. With this lighting technology, more than 30,000 pixels can be controlled intelligently and individually, thus bringing about numerous new safety functions like optical lane markings. Furthermore, original equipment manufacturers and end customers can use SSL|HD technology to implement and experience further options allowing enhanced individualisation, such as coming and leaving home animations as well as communication functions. Read more »

Chinese Researchers Propose Method to Overcome Low Efficiency of High-Power Flip-Chip LEDs

Chinese scientists from different research centers recently published a co-authored paper on "Highly Efficient GaN-based High-Power Flip-Chip LEDs" in Optics Express Vol. 27, Issue 12, pp. A669-A692 (2019)under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement. High-power flip-chip light-emitting diodes (FCLEDs) suffer from low efficiencies because of poor p-type reflective ohmic contact and severe current crowding, they propose an improvement by using an Ag film. Read more »

Study Reveals How Age Affects Perception of White LED Light

Although LEDs are increasingly used in low-energy lighting and displays, consumers sometimes find their light harsh or unpleasant. Findings from a new study point to the need to take age-related perception differences into account when designing white LED lighting that is more pleasing to the eye. Read more »

Yole Releases Report on MicroLEDs: Satus and Reality Check

MicroLEDs are drawing an increasing amount of attention. Startups have raised more than US$800 million to date, including at least US$100 million in 2019. It is estimated Apple has spent in the range of US$1.5 to US$2 billions on the technology over the last five years. Panel makers such as Samsung Display, LG Display, AUO or Innolux have also significantly increased their efforts. Under this dynamic context, Yole Développement (Yole) is continuing its investigations towards microLED technologies and related applications. Read more »

Plessey - Native Blue and Native Green Emission microLEDs from the same Wafer

Plessey, an embedded technologies developer at the forefront of microLED technology for augmented and mixed reality (AR/MR) display applications has extended the capability of their proprietary GaN-on-Silicon process to enable Native Blue and Native Green emission from the same wafer. Read more »

Fraunhofer Shows Modular OLED Light Strips

At the International Symposium on Automotive Lighting 2019 (ISAL) in Darmstadt from September 23 to 25, 2019, the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP, a provider of research and development services in the field of organic electronics, will present OLED light strips of any length with additional functionalities for the first time at booth no. 37. Read more »

Resources | LpR Article | Technologies | DC-Grids | Sep 17, 2019

LED Lighting Systems in Smart Buildings with DC Microgrids

LpR 72 Article, page 60: While electric motors for ventilation and air-conditioning systems were already DC-based in the past, powerful IT systems, LED lighting systems, photovoltaic systems with batteries and charging systems for electro mobility are now increasingly being used in modern building environments. They all need direct current (DC). Therefore, an obvious step is to equip modern buildings with DC grids. Carsten Moellers from Abalight discusses a number of unresolved questions and presents possible solutions in this article. Read more »

High Performance from Extraordinarily Thick Organic Light Emitting Diodes with Perovskite Layers

By combining thin organic layers with thick layers of hybrid perovskite, researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have developed micrometer-thick organic light-emitting diodes that could improve the affordability and viewing angles of high-performance displays and televisions in the near future. Read more »

ALAN May Be Increasing West Nile Virus Spillover from Wild Birds

We're in the midst of summertime mosquito bite season and cities across the country are reporting a heightened number of West Nile Virus (WNV) cases. The house sparrow is one of the most common carriers of WNV in urban areas. Mosquitos feed off the infected birds and spread the virus to humans. New research finds house sparrows exposed to artificial light at night, such as what's used in parking lots, maintain higher burdens of WNV for longer than those who spend their nights in the dark. Read more »

Technologies | Smart Lighting + IoT | Resources | LpR Article | Jul 29, 2019

Voice Controlled Lighting that Protects Privacy and Data

LpR 71 Article - page 54: Intelligent lighting systems undoubtedly offer high comfort and energy efficiency. But especially conventional voice control systems like Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri or OK Google, with connected lamps and lighting fixtures are also becoming targets for uninvited guests. The benefits and technology of a new approach offering local voice control and artificial intelligence will be explained by Genia Shipova, Director Global Communications at Snips. Read more »