eNewsletter

July 2010

The Importance of a Sound Patent Plan in the Solid State Lighting Industry
By Darren M. Jiron, Partner • Finnegan

The lighting industry is on the verge of a revolution. Over the next decade, solid state lighting devices will become the norm in lighting applications. Already, LEDs, OLEDs, and other solid state lighting devices have begun displacing traditional incandescent lights and gas discharge lamps. The new solid state lighting devices live longer and require far less energy than traditional lights. They are cool to the touch during operation and come in colors spanning the visible spectrum.

Read full article here.

Albeo’s C-Series LED Lighting Chosen for Natural Grocers Chain Expansion 
Albeo, a LED lighting manufacturer, has announced that Natural Grocers’ new stores in Longmont, CO, Dallas, TX and Cheyenne, WY will be entirely lit with Albeo’s NGL C-series LED lighting. Natural Grocers is a Colorado-owned independent natural grocery chain. Their commitment to sustainability now extends to becoming the first grocery store chain in the US to feature all-LED lighting in their newest expansion sites.  Building stores that demonstrate sustainable solutions and educate local communities is a driving force behind Natural Grocers’ decision to use the most efficient and longest lasting lighting available.  

Grocery store lighting is critical for customer engagement and is integral to successful operation. Grocery stores and super markets require high light levels and high color rendering to provide accurate product recognition. On the operations side, light bulb maintenance and recycling is costly and lighting is the store’s second largest energy consumption category at 23 percent. Using Albeo’s C-series LED lighting, Natural Grocers has met all light quality requirements, saved more than 50 percent on electrical energy and eliminated bulb maintenance.

The new stores use Albeo’s C-series linear SSL system to provide light levels greater than 50 foot-candles throughout the customer shopping area while Albeo’s T8LED Troffer provides lighting in the back offices.  In the loading areas, Albeo’s intelligent fixtures with integrated motion detection delivered even greater energy savings. Natural Grocers chose 4,200 K correlated color temperature light with a CRI (color rendering index) of 92 – ideal for displaying food products. 

“Using LED in our new stores, rather than fluorescent and incandescent lighting, saves energy and the life expectancy of the LED lighting is four to six times longer than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, significantly reducing the impact on the environment.  Albeo’s lights are intrinsically food safe and emit no UV light. We have a serious commitment to being environmentally responsible that we have demonstrated for more than 55 years. Upgrading the lighting of our new stores to LED is a visible way to fulfill our commitment with the latest technological innovation,” said Kevin Stees, Construction Project manager for Natural Grocers.

“We are proud to be the LED lighting supplier to the Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage,” said Neil Cannon, EVP of Business Development for Albeo.  “With LM79 and in-situ testing the 70,000 hour projected lifetimes of our products enable Natural Grocers to extend their highly sustainable daily operations model.”

Prototype and Low-Volume Parts in One Business Day
Proto Labs, through our First Cut and Protomold services, utilizes proprietary computing technologies and automated manufacturing systems to provide quick turn prototype parts and short-run production services. All parts are made using standard production methods, sold at affordable prices, and shipped in as little as one business day.

Our First Cut CNC machining service automatically produces toolpaths for state-of-the-art CNC milling equipment that machine parts from solid blocks of engineering grade resins or aluminum. Typical quantities are 1-10 parts and prices start at around $95. www.firstcut.com

Our Protomold injection molding service supplies quick-turn plastic injection molded prototype and low-volume production parts, with mold prices starting at $1,495. Parts are available in a variety of surface finishes and at a fraction of traditional injection molding costs. www.protomold.com

Submit a 3D CAD model online, anytime day or night, and our 1.9 teraflop compute cluster will go to work, checking your design for manufacturability. Then our proprietary software presents you with results you can use, all web-based and interactive. Potential issues associated with features such as thick walls, sharp corners, undercuts and more are highlighted on detailed 3D illustrations.

FREE PROTOTYPING WHITE PAPER
Whether you’re a newbie, expert or in-between, our Prototyping Processes white paper will help you choose the best process for your project. It’s packed full of excellent information on material properties, surface finish and more. Download it today.

Triple Output LED Driver Drives Up to 24 x 500mA LEDs
Linear Technology has released the H-grade version of the LT3496. The LT3496 is a 2 MHz DC/DC converter designed to operate as a three-channel constant current LED driver. Each of the device’s three channels can drive up to eight 500 mA LEDs in series, enabling it to drive up to 24 x 500 mA LEDs at efficiencies up to 96 percent. The H-grade version operates up to a junction temperature of 150˚C, compared to the E- and I-grade versions’ 125˚C maximum junction temperature. All electrical specifications are identical for the E-, I- and H-grade versions. The H-grade parts are tested and guaranteed to the maximum junction temperature of 150˚C. They are well suited for automotive and industrial applications which are subjected to high ambient temperatures. 

The LT3496 senses output current at the high side of the LED, enabling buck, buck-boost or boost configurations. Each channel is operated by an independent True Color PWM signal, enabling each to be dimmed independently to ratios as high as 3,000:1. A fixed frequency, current-mode architecture ensures stable operation over a wide range of supply and output voltages. A frequency adjust pin enables the user to program the frequency between 330 kHz and 2.1 MHz to optimize efficiency while minimizing external component size. The LT3496's thermally enhanced 4 mm by 5 mm QFN package provides a highly compact solution footprint for 50 W LED applications.
The LT3496HUFD is available from stock in a 4 mm by 5 mm QFN-28 package. Pricing starts at $4.45 each for 1,000 piece quantities.

Dow Corning Announces Dow Corning OE-8001 Die Attach Adhesive for Improved LED Manufacturing
Dow Corning’s Electronics group has introduced the OE-8001 Die Attach Adhesive, a one-part heat curable methyl silicone resin adhesive for LED manufacturing.

OE-8001 offers better adhesion strength than conventional silicone DA and better thermal stability than that of conventional epoxy DA. The new adhesive is formulated for good pin transfer, enabling better application process workability and low viscosity change at room temperature for improved handling.

“Dow Corning brand silicone LED materials are designed to meet the challenges of the LED industry, including high adhesion, high purity, moisture resistance, thermal and light stability and optical transmittance,” said Kaz Maruyama, Global Market manager, Dow Corning Electronics. “Silicones retain optical clarity at elevated temperatures relative to organic materials.”

LEDs manufactured using OE-8001 offer good light transmission due to its translucent appearance, and have excellent durability thanks to its high modulus retention over a wide range of temperatures.

EV Group Introduces Fully Automated Wafer Bonding System for HB-LED Manufacturing
EV Group (EVG), a supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, has introduced the EVG560HBL wafer bonder -- the industry's first fully automated wafer bonding system for  HB-LED manufacturing.  The system features a new design for multi-substrate bonding and is capable of throughput rates of an unprecedented 160 bonds per hour.  Based on the successful EVG500 wafer bonding series, the EVG560HBL is optimized to meet the unique requirements of HB-LED manufacturers with the advanced automation capabilities that they will need to increase their production capacity and yields.  

The HB-LED market continues to grow at a rapid pace due to the rising number of applications that can take advantage of the lower energy consumption and myriad other benefits of LED devices.  According to market research firm Strategies Unlimited, the HB-LED market will grow from $8.2 billion in 2010 to $20.2 billion by 2014, driven mainly by the market for LCD display backlights and lighting applications.  To meet this increased demand, HB-LED manufacturers must quickly ramp up to higher production capacity, as well as optimize their manufacturing processes to ensure the highest yields -- both of which drive the need for automated manufacturing solutions.  This is especially critical for the wafer bonding process, which is needed to transfer the active LED layer from epitaxial substrates onto carrier wafers with thermal properties better suited for HB-LED devices.  With a dominant position in the wafer bonder market and having served the HB-LED industry for many years, EVG is uniquely positioned to leverage its expertise to bring the first dedicated automated wafer bonding solution to this industry.

"Through continuous investment and innovation in equipment manufacturing and process engineering expertise, EVG is bringing start-of-the-art processing solutions for high-volume manufacturing applications to our customers," stated Paul Lindner, executive technology director, EV Group.  "Leveraging our 30 years of experience in developing wafer bonding solutions for advanced micro-electronics manufacturing, the EVG560HBL is the latest result in our ongoing efforts aimed at helping HB-LED manufacturers develop more efficient, cost-effective and higher yielding devices to meet the demands of their customers."

The EVG560HBL is available for purchase immediately.

Opto Diode Introduces High Power, 30-Die, Infrared LED Array
Opto Diode Corp., a supplier of photodiodes and IR LEDs, has developed the first in a series of high power LED arrays, the OD-850-30-030.  The new 30-die near-infrared (NIR) LED array delivers more efficient operation and higher power with a narrow beam angle of 30°.  The device has a peak wavelength of 850 nm (min. 840 nm and max. 865 nm) and a total optical power output of 16 watts

Well suited for night vision systems and skin therapy applications, Opto Diode’s NIR LED array is available for shipping in OEM quantities by June 28, 2010.

Russ Dahl, director of sales and marketing for Opto Diode, said, “Making an array results in a much more compact size, compared to using discrete components. This, of course, is critical in applications that have space limitations. Our 30-die NIR LED array also features a narrow beam angle which results in much higher intensities than could be achieved with a chip-on-a-board-type solution.” 

Thermal parameters for storage range from -40°C to 125°C, with the operating temperature range from -20°C to 100°C.  The maximum junction temperature is 125°C with a thermal resistance, junction to case, of 0.8°C per watt.

GlacialLight Releases GL-SD60 Series, Waterproof DC-Powered LED Spotlights or Floodlights
GlacialTech Inc., has released the GL-SD60 series, waterproof DC-powered LED spotlights or floodlights. The GL-SD60 series are completely dust-proof as well as waterproof, protected against strong water jets from all directions, making them well suited for both indoor and outdoor lighting. Designed with an optional beam angle of either 30° or 60°, the GL-SD60 series are available to provide spotlighting or floodlighting as commonly required at residential, commercial and industrial sites for security or construction lighting. The GL-SD60 series feed on a DC source of 11 to 15 V/22 to 30 V, consume a typical power usage of 76 W, have a typical luminous efficacy of 46 lm/W, and last for a lifespan of over 20,000 hours, giving users excellent mobility and liberating their owners from frequent replacement.

A standard 12 V or 24 V DC power supply can be used for the inbuilt LED driver. In fact, any voltage within 11 to 15 V or 22 to 30 V is completely suitable. The LED driver is equipped with Undervoltage-Lockout (UVLO) and will prevent damage, should the DC power supply's voltage fall below adequate levels. For a 12 V this level is 11 V and for a 24 V this level is 22 V. Furthermore, Over-Voltage Protection (OVP) will prevent damage to the LED lamp, should there be an unpredictable excess of DC output voltage. The GL-SD60 LED lamp is electrically designed to be both flexible and protected, in terms of its DC power supply. However, it should be noted that a DC power supply greater than 30 V may lead to product damage.

The GL-SD60 series are available in warm white (GL-SD60-WW) with a color temperature of 3,000 K and in cold white (GL-SD60-CW) with a color temperature of 6,000 K.

The GL-SD60 series feed on a DC source of 11 to 15 V/22 to 30 V and last for a lifespan over 20,000 hrs, liberating owners from frequent bulb replacement.

Completely dust-proof and waterproof, protected against strong water jets from all directions, the GL-SD60 series are suitable for indoor and outdoor usages.

i2Systems Delivers LED Elevator Downlights
LED lighting developer i2Systems is now shipping the first solid state elevator downlights to be rolled out in volume, chopping energy consumption by 75 percent over conventional halogen models as well as lengthening lamp life from as little as 1,000 hours to 50,000. The new Apeiron A1161 fixtures utilize ANSI-binned Luxeon Rebel LEDs and associated support services supplied by Future Lighting Solutions.

The energy savings is significant because in-cab recessed lights account for as much as 70 percent of the energy costs involved in elevator operation. The use of i2Systems’ 5 W recessed fixtures instead of 20 W halogen versions makes it possible to light a six-downlight elevator cab with just 30 W of power instead of 180 W. The long Luxeon lifetime further reduces total cost of ownership by eliminating 19 out of 20 relampings, dramatically reducing replacement bulb expenses and related labor costs.

Each Apeiron A1161 fixture has a 200-lumen output and is available with a choice of cool, neutral or warm white LEDs that have been tightly binned for color consistency through Future’s inventory management program. The use of ANSI-binned LEDs ensures an optimal combination of color temperature and color rendering while also enabling the emitters to qualify for the US Department of Energy’s Energy Star program.

The small Luxeon Rebel form factor enabled i2Systems to achieve a high lumen density that helped produce a uniform beam free of telltale LED “dots,” while the amount of forward light in the Rebel beam pattern helped deliver a wide 120° light distribution to illuminate both the floor and the walls of the elevator cab.

A single power supply enclosure installs into the cab ceiling for simple wiring and easy serviceability, thanks to low LED power consumption that minimizes the size and weight of the transformer required to handle the necessary voltage conversions.

Cree and Philips Sign Comprehensive LED Patent Cross-License Agreement
Cree, Inc. and Philips have signed a comprehensive, worldwide patent cross-license agreement designed to further accelerate the growth of the LED lighting market.

Cree and Philips both hold broad and substantial optoelectronic patent portfolios, which are important to their respective businesses. This agreement covers patents from both parties in the fields of blue LED chip technology, white LEDs and phosphors (including remote phosphors), control systems, LED luminaires and lamps as well as LED backlighting of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and patents in the Philips LED Luminaire Licensing Program.

“This agreement demonstrates the breadth and depth of both companies’ intellectual property, as well as the fundamental nature and value these patents bring to the market,” said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. “It also signals both companies’ commitment to growing the LED market while respecting the value and importance of international intellectual property laws.”

“Philips and Cree have significantly invested in innovation in LED lighting solutions. The wide-ranging IP portfolios of the respective companies reflect the outcome of this effort,” said Rudy Provoost, chief executive officer of Philips Lighting. “We wish to see the accelerated adoption of LED lighting, and are therefore delighted that Cree will be joining our LED Luminaire Licensing Program.”

Digi-Key and Bridgelux Sign Global Distribution Agreement
Digi-Key Corp. and Bridgelux have entered into an agreement in which Digi-Key will distribute Bridgelux products to customers worldwide.

The agreement gives Digi-Key's customers ready access to Bridgelux's entire portfolio of LED array products, including the recently introduced neutral white color temperature (4100K) LED arrays.

Bridgelux offers one of the industry's widest ranges of solid-state light sources, delivering 240 to 4500 “hot” lumens across a broad range of color temperatures. This expansive portfolio of UL-recognized arrays provides designers with wide-ranging options as they develop high quality replacement lamps and luminaires for a market rapidly transitioning to energy efficient lighting.

Bridgelux products are now available for purchase on Digi-Key's global websites and will be featured in future print and online catalogs.

“We are very pleased to announce this distribution agreement with Bridgelux,” said Dave Doherty, Digi-Key's vice president of semiconductor product. “The demands of an emerging customer base vary greatly between discrete HBLEDs, arrays to fully turn-key solutions. The Bridgelux relationship is keeping with Digi-Key's commitment to provide its customers with the latest and most innovative range of products.”

“Digi-Key's exceptionally broad range of products and its world-class customer service have made it an industry leader. We are proud to partner with Digi-Key and look forward to working with them to serve our customers,” said Dave Barnby, Bridgelux vice president of worldwide sales. “We are impressed with Digi-Key's Lighting Solutions Technology Zone approach, consolidating solid-state lighting products on their website, simplifying component selection for lamp and luminaire design engineers.”

Nuventix’ LED Cooling Solutions Now Available from Future Lighting Solutions
Nuventix, Inc., developer of SynJet thermal management solutions for LED luminaires, has announced a distribution agreement making the company’s LED cooling products available from LED lighting component and support services provider Future Lighting Solutions.

The agreement extends the reach of Nuventix products to 169 locations in 41 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia through Future Lighting Solutions and its parent company Future Electronics, the third largest electronic component distributor in the world. It also gives Nuventix customers access to proprietary online tools and engineering resources from Future Lighting Solutions that help simplify LED lighting application development.

“Future Lighting Solutions is more than a distributor. Their mission is to accelerate the adoption of solid state lighting, and they provide tools and engineering support to back that up,” said Jim Balthazar, president and CEO, Nuventix. “This partnership therefore not only adds an important new channel for our products, but also equips our customers with valuable resources for streamlining luminaire development and optimizing the performance of their finished products.”

In addition, for OEMs using Philips Fortimo and Lexel LED light engine modules, the agreement makes it possible to purchase those module systems and Nuventix thermal management solutions specifically designed for them from the same source. The Fortimo and Lexel modules as well as Philips driver modules and lighting controls are available from Future Lighting Solutions through an expanded relationship with Royal Philips Electronics that was announced in April.

“Along with technical benefits like low power usage and silent 100,000-hours lifetime cooling, one of the big advantages of Nuventix’ SynJet thermal management solutions is the availability of products tailored to Philips Fortimo and Lexel LED module systems,” said Jamie Singerman, Corporate VP at Future Lighting Solutions. “By combining Philips’ fully integrated modules with SynJet products built to fit them, solid state lighting designers and OEMs can lower development costs, further reduce time to market and help drive continued market penetration for LED lighting.”

ilumisys Grants Intellectual Property Licenses for LED Fluorescent Tube Replacements
ilumisys, Inc., developer and producer of next-generation solid-state lighting technology, has granted a license for its patents on LED fluorescent tube replacements to ATG Electronics, Diogen Lighting, Hudnut, LEDtronics, LumaSmart and NCS Power Inc.

The ilumisys licensing program allows companies to offer LED fluorescent tube replacement products to the market at a range of price and performance points. By providing licensees access to its expanding patent portfolio, ilumisys believes that both LED product development and installation pace will continue to accelerate. The licensing agreements provide for royalty payments in exchange for rights to manufacture and sell products covered by Altair Engineering’s patent portfolio.

“Our goal with the licensee program is to support the industry by enabling credible LED companies to offer quality, dependable and efficient LED products,” said Dave Simon, president of ilumisys. “The program promotes collaboration in the industry and supports a rapidly expanding marketplace.”

ilumisys is a spinoff of Altair, a global software and technology company with a growing presence in the energy market. With the backing of Altair, its majority owner, ilumisys has made a deep and substantial investment in research and development that includes more than 50 patent applications filed to date.

The Technology World in One Location • October 19-20 • Dallas, Texas

Click here to download a brochure

For the first time ever, six leading market-focused events will be co-located and sharing a combined exhibit hall in the Dallas area this fall. Each attracts leading technical professionals in their respective field. Together, it means a show floor populated by top design engineers, system engineers, manufacturing and facility managers, control and wireless communication specialists, and management executives from multiple industries and markets throughout North America.

The event is backed up by the programs of five separate in-depth annual conferences and more than 15 intensive workshops and master classes covering many of today’s hottest technologies and fastest-growing markets. Additionally, a series of free educational classes on energy efficiency for engineers and managers will take place on the exhibit floor for Energy Efficiency Expo.

Discover how and where to integrate new technologies into your systems to improve performance and efficiency, as well as new market trends and how they can impact your company. Find new suppliers and solutions for a variety of technology needs in your organization.

Battery Power 2010 • Advancements in Thermal Management
REMOTE Site & Equipment Management 2010 • Energy Efficiency Expo 2010
Antenna Systems 2010 • Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding Expo

Download the 2010 Resource Guide Issue

Issue Features:

• DOE's CALiPER Program: Shedding Light on an Emerging Marketplace
• Extending the Life of LED Lighting Systems
• Phosphor Film Conversion for White LEDs
• Application Profile: Widnes Waterfront Future Flower is Unveiled
• 2009 Innova Awards
• 2010 Annual Resource Guide

AUGUST 2010

8/1 - 8/5
SPIE Optics + Photonics 2010
San Diego, CA

8/27
The LED Show
Las Vegas, NV

SPIE Optics + Photonics
August 1-5, 2010
San Diego, CA

SPIE Optics + Photonics – San Diego, 1-5 August the largest international, multidisciplinary optical sciences and technology meeting in N. America.