ABI Research: LED and Visible Light Communications Could be Key to Indoor Location Market

LED/visible light communication technology is one method of establishing a person’s location indoors. While the indoor location market is relatively nascent, companies are already aggressively addressing next-generation, high accuracy (sub-5m) technologies to ensure they are best placed to...

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While GPS (global positioning satellite) technology works well outside to give a person’s location, finding your location indoors requires different technology. LED/visible light communication technology is one method of establishing a person’s location indoors. While the indoor location market is relatively nascent, companies are already aggressively addressing next-generation, high accuracy (sub-5m) technologies to ensure they are best placed to dominate the emerging multi-billion dollar retail technology market. According to ABI research LED/Visible light Communications (VLC) is tantalizingly close to providing huge performance benefits without the usual cost implications.

ABI Research’s latest report examines the case for LED/VLC technologies in the high-accuracy indoor location space. Senior analyst Patrick Connolly commented, “As a standalone location technology, LED/VLC has some inherent problems, including the need for line-of-sight and a complex value chain. But as part of a hybrid solution it becomes indoor location on steroids, offering ubiquitous sub-meter levels of accuracy in three dimensions, and even has the theoretical possibility as a data communications alternative to Wi-Fi, etc.”

Connolly added, “Most implementations under consideration are already compatible with existing smartphone technology today. If this can be incorporated with negligible cost at the infrastructure side as retail stores naturally migrate to LED lighting, it immediately becomes a no-brainer. However, this means it will also require the backing of at least one of the big four LED OEMs.”

ABI research points out that major OEMs, start-ups, and universities are investigating a host of competing technologies including: sensor fusion, audio/ultrasound, magnetic field, UWB and future evolutions of BLE and Wi-Fi, such as Quuppa’s HAIP technology.

Practice director, Dominique Bonte noted, “Despite the inherent barriers, many companies continue to research and develop in the LED/VLC area, because the technology is potentially so powerful. With large companies like Qualcomm, Casio, Motorola (via Bytelight investment) and Intel joining start-ups in this area, there is now the necessary muscle to force this technology into the mainstream.”

ABI Research: LED and Visible Light Communications Could be Key to Indoor Location Market

Dow Corning MS-2002 White mouldable plastic reflects 98% of LED light

Dow Corning has introduced a highly reflective moulding compound for LED lighting.
Called MS-2002, it is a silicone that “delivers mechanical, thermal and optical stability at temperatures exceeding 150°C. It targets reflectivity as high as 98%”, said the firm.
With this temperature capability, i...

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Dow Corning has introduced a highly reflective moulding compound for LED lighting.

Called MS-2002, it is a silicone that “delivers mechanical, thermal and optical stability at temperatures exceeding 150°C. It targets reflectivity as high as 98%”, said the firm.

With this temperature capability, it can be used in contact with LED die – no air gap is required.

“Unlike epoxies, polycarbonate, acrylic and other LED materials, it retains colour, reflectance and mechanical performance over the lifetime of an LED lamp or luminaire without yellowing or physical degradation,” claimed Dow.

The firm already makes transparent moulding compounds for lenses.

Mould undercuts are permitted, as is or co-moulding of white and transparent materials. It exhibits 84 Shore A hardness.

Dow Corning MS-2002 White mouldable plastic reflects 98% of LED light

Honglitronic won 42.421 million LED lighting project

Honglitronic announced that Guangzhou Wangtat Project Management & Consultancy Co., Ltd. unveiled the candidate winning the bid of “EMC mode procurement project of Guangzhou Huadu municipal road LED lighting upgrade”. Revenue from the won energy saving project is expected to...

On the afternoon of Jan. 10,

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(Item Number: TPA [2013]-ZB / C2-058) through its network one day ago , which confirmed Honglitronic and its wholly owned subsidiary Guangzhou ZYGY (referred to as “ZYGY”) were the pre-winners of west district No.1 in this project package group.

According to the announcement, the above-mentioned project is launched for upgrading municipal road lamps of Huadu in Guangzhou, aiming at promoting the application of LED lighting products. The energy-saving upgrade service provided by EMC will last 6 years. Revenue from the won energy saving project is expected to total RMB 42.421 million, accounting for about 8% of the company’s operating revenue in the audited consolidated financial statements in 2012.

Honglitronic won 42.421 million LED lighting project

Xicato expands and brings manufacturing to San Jose, California

Xicato, a leading developer of superior light quality from LED modules, announced today that it has relocated its San Jose headquarters to accommodate a new manufacturing line for the company’s next generation of products. The new 24 thousand-square-foot space is more than double the size...

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Xicato, a leading developer of superior light quality from LED modules, announced today that it has relocated its San Jose headquarters to accommodate a new manufacturing line for the company’s next generation of products. The new 24 thousand-square-foot space is more than double the size of Xicato’s previous San Jose facility. The privately held company has invested millions of dollars in equipment and resources to meet the increasing global demand for its LED modules.

“Investment in our U.S. operations enables Xicato to rapidly develop and introduce innovative technologies and products for the global lighting industry and starting next month we will transition to full manufacturing mode,” said Menko de Roos, CEO of Xicato. “Our move timeframe was very short, and it was critical that the build-out and permitting went smoothly and matched our equipment arrival schedule. The City of San Jose’s appointment-based permitting process worked well and allowed us to meet critical milestones and get our operations up and running.”

Xicato’s new space includes areas for manufacturing, research and development labs and testing facilities for its LED modules. Class 100K cleanroom space is dedicated to a new manufacturing line; expanded reliability testing labs ensure product longevity and quality.

Xicato’s focus continues to be the delivery of quality light. The new manufacturing facility allows Xicato’s next generation of products to offer significantly improved efficiency to reduce energy use and costs, lowers the cost of Xicato’s modules and ushers in a new era of intelligent lighting – Lighting 2.0.

Hundreds of luminaires and applications ranging from retail shops to bars and restaurants, to homes, offices and retail locations can be viewed in Xicato’s web galleries on the company’s website. Lighting designers, interior designers and others achieve their desired emotional impact using three different light types created by the company:

• Standard Series light provides a smooth spectrum of light that feels natural and superior to ceramic metal halide and fluorescent lamps.

• Artist Series light is indistinguishable from halogen-based light and gives Artist Series light an even richer feel compared to other sources.

• Vibrant Series light brings out vivid, saturated colors and the details of texture for compelling and eye-catching visuals that capture and hold consumers’ attention.

Xicato expands and brings manufacturing to San Jose, California

Vishay Intertechnology"s New Power MiniLEDs Deliver Luminous Intensity Up to 4900 mcd

The VLMx234.. series reportedly offers a typical luminous intensity of 3500 mcd and maximum luminous intensity of 4900 mcd at 70 mA, while delivering what the company describes as improved thermal performance compared to previous-generation LEDs.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. of Valvern, Pennsylvania USA, released a new series of power MiniLEDs in 2.3 mm by 1.3 mm by 1.4 SMD packages. The series of MiniLEDs utilizes the company’s AllnGaP technology. The VLMx234.. series reportedly offers a typical luminous intensity of 3500 mcd and maximum luminous intensity of 4900 mcd at 70 mA, while delivering what the company describes as improved thermal performance compared to previous-generation LEDs.

The high-intensity LEDs provide low thermal resistance junction/ambient of 325 K/W and power dissipation up to 200 mW, which in turn enables high drive currents up to 70 mA. According to Vishay, the devices’ small size and high luminous intensity makes them ideal for automotive applications. The LED series comes in super red, red, amber, and yellow and are AEC-Q101-qualified for interior and exterior lighting, dashboard illumination, indicators and backlighting for A/V and industrial equipment, LCD switches and symbols, illuminated advertising, and more.

VLMx234..devices feature a ± 60° angle of half-intensity and a luminous intensity ratio per packing unit of less than 1.6, and are categorized, per packing unit, for luminous intensity and color. They are available in 8 mm tape and are compatible with IR-reflow soldering processes and preconditioning according to JEDEC Level 2a, and offer an ESD-withstand voltage up to 2 kV according to JESD22-A114-B. The devices are RoHS-compliant, halogen-free, and Vishay Green.

Vishay Intertechnology"s New Power MiniLEDs Deliver Luminous Intensity Up to 4900 mcd

COB LED Market to Grow Rapidly Through 2018

Market research firm Research and Markets forecasts that the global Chip on Board LED market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40.71 percent over the period 2013-2018.

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Market research firm Research and Markets forecasts that the global Chip on Board LED market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40.71 percent over the period 2013-2018. The company contends that one of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the declining average selling price of LEDs. The Global Chip on Board LED market has also been witnessing the increasing demand of chip-on-board (COB) LEDs in general lighting applications. However, the company says that fluctuating global economic conditions could present a challenge to the growth of the COB LED market.

According to Research and Markets, the key vendors dominating this market space are Citizen Electronics co. Ltd., Cree Inc., Nichia Corp., Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH, Philips Lumileds Lighting Co., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Seoul Semiconductor Co. Ltd. Other vendors in the market include Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd., Lumens Co. Ltd., and LG Innotek Co. Ltd.

A company analyst stated, “The shift from traditional lighting sources to solid-state lighting technology has resulted in the wider adoption of COB LEDs. COB LEDs are wide-area light emitters and thus, are increasingly used in highway and street lighting, which require large amounts of light spread across a large area.” The analyst added, “COB LEDs produce better color mixing, better lighting effect, and require very low thermal resistance systems, thereby enhancing the total consumer experience. Thus, greater power density, efficient heat dissipation, small space requirement, and high performance makes COB LEDs more suitable than conventional LED packages for various general lighting applications.”

The company also pointed out that COB LEDs offer high intensity with a homogenous luminous field suitable for high-power LED applications, which also increases the potential for savings.

COB LED Market to Grow Rapidly Through 2018

Spark Wins China’s LED Promotion Financial Subsidies Bid

Spark recently emerged as one of the successful bidders of the “2012/2013 Semiconductor Lighting Products Financial Subsidies Promotion Project”, a joint project between China’s Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, and Ministry of Science and Technology.

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Spark recently emerged as one of the successful bidders of the “2012/2013 Semiconductor Lighting Products Financial Subsidies Promotion Project”, a joint project between China’s Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, and Ministry of Science and Technology. This is the second time Spark has won a national LED lighting application promotion project after successful bidding of “Semiconductor Lighting Products Demonstration Project” in 2010.

The biddings organized by the three ministries are based on the requirement of Interim Measures for the Administration of Fund on Efficient Lighting Products to Promote Financial Subsidies (Finance Construction [2007] No.1027), aiming at encouraging the promotion, demonstration and application of semiconductor lighting products; further promoting green lighting program; energy conservation; reducing carbon emissions; and guiding the healthy and orderly development of LED lighting industry.

Through product quality and technical evaluations of bidders, only 30 enterprises out of hundreds of bidders made the cut, including Spark Optoelectronics S&T Co., Ltd.. The three ministries jointly promote LED lighting products promotion project and determine the shortlisted enterprise has added new impetus to the development of LED lighting industry. Spark will take this opportunity to increase R & D and innovation, positively respond to the nation’s call for the policy of promoting high efficiency and energy saving lighting products through the “Industrial Benefiting People” plan, and allow high-end LED lighting products to benefit end users with lower price and better services.

Spark Wins China’s LED Promotion Financial Subsidies Bid