PC Memory Company Rambus Focus on LED Market

Rambus is best known for its PC memory technology. Recently it has developed a process for making flat LED plates to replace overhead office lighting.

The company on Wednesday at the Lightfair Intenrational conference will show off prototypes of a system that it says can lower the manufacturing costs of LED lighting for commercial buildings and flat-panel displays.

Last year, Rambus bought patents from Global Lighting Technologies related to components of a flat LED fixture. Having developed product prototypes and a manufacturing process, Rambus is now seeking to license that technology to other companies, executives said on Monday.

The components to a flat-plate LED designed for overhead lights. The textured gray layer is a lens to reflect light uniformly on a flat surface,
(Credit: Rambus)

The technology itself is not the actual LEDs, but components for an edge-lit lighting panel. LEDs are placed on the edge of a panel, which is about a half-inch thick. A “light guide,” made up of textured plastic, acts as series of tiny lenses to reflect the light so that it emits uniformly from the flat plate.

The prototypes that Rambus plans to show are two rectangle shaped light sources–one 2 feet by 2 feet and the other by 3 inches by 43 inches.

If the company is successful, larger versions of those flat-plate light sources would replace florescent bulbs used in office buildings. In a commercial product, manufacturers would license the process technology and use LEDs from another supplier, Rambus executives explained.

“My guess is that we’re about two years away from parity with fluorescents because LEDs are on a faster cost curve,” said Tim Messegee, vice president of marketing at Rambus.

Now companies or consumers buy LEDs based on the cost savings over time and for other benefits, such as the lack of mercury and the longer life of LEDs, he said.

LED for Backlighting LCDs in Shot Supply

According to market researcher iSuppli Corp, the LEDs used for backlighting LCDs larger than 10 inches diagonally are in short supply at a time when shipments of LCD panels are to expected to soar.

The shortage is likely to last until the end of this year. ISuppli predicts large-sized LCD display shipments with LED banklights will more than double this year to 276.7 million from 117.8 million units a year earlier. By comparison, total display shipments are expected to rise to 642.5 million from 526.6 million.

ISuppli predicts shipments of LED backlights to rise another 73% to 477.6 million units in 2011 and take up 88% of the total large-sized LCD television market by 2014.

“There have been mounting concerns in the industry about supply constraints for LEDs and light guide plates, two of the major components for LED backlights,” said Sweta Dash, senior director for LCD research at iSuppli. But Dash expects the supply will increase and the constraint will ease going into 2011.

The increased popularity in LED backlighting is due to its substantial advantages, compared with the older cold-cathode fluorescent lamp technology. LED are slimmer, lighter in weight, consumes less power and are free of mercury.

More than 40% of the LED backlights are used in LCD televisions, mobile computers and desktop monitors. While used in electronic signage, industrial and medical applications are on the rise. By 2012, LED backlights will be used by all notebook panels, iSuppli said.

LED Diogen Lighting to be the Next-generation Light Bulb

Diogen makes the next generation of power-sipping light bulbs: LEDs, short for light-emitting diodes. The unique retrofit design of the Diogen Bulb universally replaces standard incandescent and compact fluorescent(CFL) bulbs and is both UL and CUL certified.

The light output and color rendering of this new bulb is the equivalent of the current 60-Watt incandescent bulb available in the market but uses only 12 Watts of energy consumption.

The Diogen Bulb has a lifespan 40 times greater than incandescent and 6 times greater than the current CFL bulbs offered in the market today and is completely safe and is Mercury-free, unlike CFL products.

The colors are more vibrant than you can get in an incandescent, they use up to 98 percent less power than comparable incandescents, and they have a long life. A string of decorative lights will last forever. It can take 50,000 to 100,000 hours of use, well over 20 years.

Also, LED lights are cool to the touch and don’t contain mercury, unlike CFLs — which requires special handling for disposal.

LED’s last about 40 times longer than regular incandescent lights and six times longer than CFLs currently on the market.

It’s great for us because we can afford to go more green — not only from using less power, but also from being able to have enough power to do a show. And we’re over 50 percent with LED lights in the show.

LED Flood Lights Help You to Light Up Your Closet

Did you ever feel that your cabinet is lacking light? Are you thinking of installing lights in the cupboard, but worried about the tiring installation process? Then you have an easy solution in lighting up the cabinets, cupboards or even closets.

After a while you may feel that you lack lighting in your bedroom, bathroom or even kitchen.

When you think of different lighting options, you may find these lighting options costly.

Here is an easy option in lighting up the closets, cupboards, cabinets [Cabinet Lighting] etc.

You do not need to hire a plumber or any electrician in lighting up your surroundings.

These lights are LED flood lights, which do not need any apparatus to setup. These are self-stick LED flood lights and are battery powered lights.

This light has 6-LED light bars, which rotate according to your needs and aims at certain point.

Features of LED flood lights:

* They can also light up small areas such as counter tops, closets, book shelves etc.
* The swivel head rotates according to your needs.
* They are made up of plastic.
* This works on 3 AAA batteries and the life can last up to 25 hours.
* Mounting plate can be detached from the LED flood lights.

Make Your Kitchen Glaring at You

Light has been on my mind a lot lately.

Probably, though, it’s because whenever I’m in my kitchen, I am pinned beneath the clinical glare of a monstrous 45-by-16-inch fluorescent light fixture situated over my island. Just a few feet away, a second one (22 by 22 inches) stares down from above the sink. The effect is far from soothing, and in fact rather unsettling, as though my kitchen were a morgue and my island an autopsy table.

The good news, as I contemplate a kitchen overhaul in the (hopefully) near future, is that lighting in kitchens has changed a lot since the previous owner of my home remodeled the space some 15 years ago.

Kitchen designer Mary Galloway of Onesta Design in Alexandria agrees, saying she views the kitchen as a place of many scenes set, in large part, by how it is lit. “You think about someone cooking, someone eating, someone snacking at midnight,” Galloway says. ” . . . Your lighting needs change depending on the scene.”

Recessed lighting, which provides the general lighting in many kitchens these days, has come a long way, says designer Jennifer Gilmer of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath in Chevy Chase. Most types now use smaller cans than the once-standard six-inch size, and incandescent bulbs have been replaced by more efficient lights.

Indeed, just as we’ve seen the proliferation of tiny, bright LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs on trees and roofs during the holidays, so are these energy-efficient lights making their way into the kitchen, not only in recessed lighting but also in task and accent lights.

More and more kitchens are also adding accent lights — those that draw attention to a particular appliance or decorative piece, the inside of a cabinet, or the so-called toe-kick space just above the floor — though the latter seems to have its detractors. “I would say that 50 percent of our customers love the toe-space lighting, while the other 50 percent see no point in it,” says Anderson. Its primary function (and appeal) is that it can softly light the kitchen at night, he says.

Pendant lights continue to be popular. They are “a good way to add color and some bling,” Anderson says. Gilmer says the sheer variety in styles makes pendant lighting a good option for almost any kitchen. In fact, it was a pendant light that helped solve a puzzle for one of Gilmer’s clients. “This particular person has contemporary tastes, but we needed something that would fit in with the traditional look of their Georgetown brownstone.” In the end she chose a pair of spare, vessel-shaped frosted glass and chrome pendants to hang above the sink and adjacent cream, black and gray mottled granite countertop.

Revolutionary LED Showroom Opened in Texas

It was reported that LED Illumination Direct opens its one-of-a-kind, green showroom in the Waco area. This 2,500-square-foot showroom hosts LED Illumination Direct’s 200 different varieties of LED products. LED Illumination Direct’s showroom demonstrates LED lighting capabilities by comparing its LED lights to incandescent, CFLs, and Fluorescent lighting and showing various light spectrums and colors available in the LED light.

“Our doors are open to commercial, industrial and residential consumers who are looking for the best selection of quality LED products to provide energy efficiency and solid state lighting,” says Greg Klepper, CEO of LED Illumination Direct.

LED Illumination Direct’s lights are recyclable, energy efficient and cost effective and emit 90% less heat than a conventional bulb. The LED low emission bulbs can be touched by the human hand, unlike that of incandescent, CFLs, and Fluorescent lights. The showroom is set up where the lights can be touched, held and controlled by anyone present.

“Greg Klepper and LED Illumination Direct produce the highest quality LED products on the market today and are the leaders of the LED lighting industry,” said Anthony Newberg, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Dealers Electrical Supply Company. “Without LED Illumination Direct the lighting industry would not be where it is today.” Dealers Electrical Supply is the authorized distributor in Texas for LED Illumination Direct.

The technologically advanced showroom at LED Illumination Direct displays LED lighting products ranging from LED tube lights, LED high power bulbs and spotlights, LED household lights, LED PAR/Flood lights, LED flexible strips and LED Modules.

LED Lighting Types include:

• High Bay
• High Power Bulb
• Household Bulb
• Low Bay Light
• PAR Light
• Street Lights
• Tube Light
• Bi-Pin Down Light
• Growlights
• Grid Lights
• Wall Washers

Green Mountain Power Plans to Go LED

As we all know that new lights that save energy and lower emissions might be coming soon to a street near you.

Green Mountain Power plans to replace worn-out street lights throughout its service area with energy-efficient, long-lasting LEDs. The LED lights have a life span of more than 25 years, compared to the 5 to 7 years for traditional street lamp bulbs.

LEDs are traditionally used in Christmas tree lights, newer flash lights and basketball scoreboards. They use a different technology from standard incandescent bulbs.

“By reducing the amount of electricity that you use by more than half, it eliminates any environmental effects that will be needed to produce that power,” said Dotty Schnure of GMP. “Also, with the lights they’ll be replacing, mercury lights, those lights have mercury in them and have very specific disposal issues. With LED, we’ll be avoiding all the mercury disposal issues.”

GMP submitted the plan to the Vermont Public Service Board. If approved, the lights could be installed as early as March 1.

PITTSBURGH Considers LED Streetlights

It was said from a new study that Pittsburgh needs to replace 40,000 streetlights, and officials have the option of installing LED lights.

According to officials, this would be a big expense now, but could mean big savings later.

The city has already begun to test LED lights by installing 150 in Shadyside and South Side.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh concluded that the city could save millions of dollars by switching to LED lights.

The lights may be a bit more expensive, but they last longer and they’re much more energy efficient than the current lights.

Researchers studied several different options but concluded that LED offered the best bang for the buck. “An average streetlight would last about two years before you have to replace it; an LED light would last 15 years,” said Councilman Bill Peduto. “The energy costs associated with it are about 70 percent less than the regular streetlights. Put those together and you will see savings of nearly $2 million annually.”

Peduto said his goal is for Pittsburgh to become a leader in LED lighting. He hopes the city will begin installing more LED lights by the end of this year.

Fantastic Motion Sensing LED Light

There are times when it’d make life a lot easier if lights would just come on.  Be it because you usually have your hands full in that area or any other reason, it’d just be nice.  Now this little motion sensor won’t turn on all the lights in the room, but it will turn on a small light to help you find your way.  Plus it could be used as a security device, so you’ll know if someone is moving around where they shouldn’t.

This simple little light could even be used in other areas besides in your home.  It could also be grabbed for when you go camping if you need some small lights to keep you from tripping over anything.  On the light itself you can adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor.  You can also just shut off the light entirely.  It runs on 4 AAA batteries which aren’t actually included.

LED Makers Promise to Shake up Global Market

LEDs, once confined to the tiny red indicator lights on TV remote controls, have now grown to illuminate TV screens themselves and promise to shake up the global lighting market.

LED (light emitting diode) backlit TVs were heavily featured at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month, as manufacturers announced products intended to emulate the success seen by Samsung in 2009.

Samsung, which has 80 per cent of the US market for LED TVs, aims to quadruple global sales in 2010 to more than 10m.

But manufacturers such as LG, another Korean player, say Samsung will not have things all its own way as LED-backlit TVs become available at entry-level as well as premium prices. LG will offer cheaper edge-lit LED technology, which requires fewer arrays of diodes, on its entry-level TVs and full LED backlights on premium models.

LEDs have graduated from use in mobile phone screens to backlights for notebooks, PCs and now TVs and monitors.

They offer better brightness and contrast, energy savings and slimmer screens than those using the established cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) now used for backlighting.

LED technology was first introduced in 1962, beginning with a low-intensity red light. Semiconductor-based diodes or valves produce light from the excitation of electrons as they are moved over a “light” bridge by a direct electrical current. LEDs differ from traditional incandescent light bulbs, which produce their light from heat generation.

Over the years, white LEDs have been developed by combining chips that produce different colours into a single package, or by adding a yellow phosphor layer. Improvements in light intensity and cost reductions are now resulting in wider adoption of LEDs.

Pete Moran of the DCM venture capital firm says LEDs have advantages such as longer life and greater efficiency compared with both incandescents and the energy-saving compact fluorescents with which consumers are currently replacing them.

As well as the green argument, there are manpower savings from LED’s longevity. Cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, New York and Minneapolis are testing LED street lamps that will not need regular bulb replacement by lighting crews. In retail, Walmart and Starbucks are replacing lighting in their US stores with LED bulbs to cut energy consumption.

But as big semiconductor makers such as Samsung and Micron begin to take an interest in the LED industry, it could eventually take on the same characteristics as the DRAM, or flash memory, industries, according to analyst Daniel Amir.

The LED industry will then become cyclical, with a period of oversupply as early as the second half of 2011, according to Lazard, although demand should still be growing at rates of 20 to 30 per cent a year.

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