It's Time for the LED industry to Tackle Compatibility

The story behind LED development—only the 4th lighting technology developed in human history—is remarkable. The potential ahead of LED lighting to deliver real and measurable advantages—to save energy, last years longer, significantly lower bottom-line costs—is limitless.  But for it to be the next great defining feature of the lighting landscape, LED lighting needs to work.

Yes, work. That’s precisely the question LED end-users, specifiers, designers, utilities and regulatory agencies ask themselves before adopting LED options for their stores and retail fronts, offices and homes. Will these alternative lighting offerings achieve what they promise?

And the simple, scary truth facing the LED industry today is often, there’s no guarantee they will.

Today, legacy infrastructure—the transformers, fixtures, and control devices already incorporated into built environments—creates unique and challenging compatibility interferences with widespread LED adoption.  

What we’ve seen to date in our current, ongoing preliminary phase of LED adoption is “plug and play” applications--a customer simply installs an LED bulb into an existing fixture. Sometimes that fixture works with the LED bulb’s mechanical, electric, and thermal requirements; sometimes it doesn’t; and sometimes there are mixed results. The effect? Consumer uncertainty.  

Any new technology only has a small window to prove its value. Second chances with first impressions do not exist—which is why in any market; it’s essential to capitalize on the moment of market introduction. It’s an opportunity—and a test—to gain the trust of the consumer on the first try.  

The LED industry, peers, partners, and competitors, must work together to ensure full compatibility with the millions of lamps, dimmers, transformers, and fixtures on the market.

When looking at the compatibility problem, there are three separate issues to address: 1. Electrical compatibility; 2. Mechanical compatibility; and 3. Thermal compatibility.  

Electric Compatibility. Common voltages in lighting systems are significantly higher than LED requirements. As a result, the transformer and dimmers often don’t operate consistently, or properly.  Frequently this causes the LED to flicker and dim erratically, one lamp powering off before another, or the LED not even powering on at all.

Mechanical Compatibility. Problems arise when LEDs do not match the size and dimensions of traditional lamps.  It’s simply a matter of fitting a square into a round hole—the LED does not fix the legacy fixture’s width or height.

Thermal Compatibility. Traditional light sources and LEDs operate at dramatically different temperatures.  While some halogen lamps operate at 200 degrees Celsius, LED lamps must operate between a specific thermal temperature to ensure long life and safety standards.  In much of the legacy fixture infrastructure, there’s no means to dissipate heat in the bulb design.  

Let me be clear. Compatibility is the number one compelling problem facing the entire LED industry today. No end-user, designer, specifier will–or should—care what promises and potential LED technology holds in the future, if it doesn’t meet their needs in the present.

So while others keep the issue in the dark, Ledzworld works to guarantee our technology fits legacy lighting infrastructure. How? By proofing every one of our LED solutions against hundreds of the most commonly used dimmer, transformer and fixture applications.  It’s painstaking work, but it’s this behind-the-scenes effort that gives our customers the peace of mind they need, and deserve.

We’re also innovating LED drivers that guarantee our lamps are hassle-free, and work seamlessly on a wide range of magnetic and electric transformers and in combination with commonplace dimmers.

Recently, the company launched a breakthrough MR16 LED lamp with our patented Chameleon driver.  The Chameleon driver self adjusts to its environment by first detecting the transformer type, then analyzing its waveform, and finally adjusting itself to make a perfect electrical fit with that particular transformer. This innovative driver makes the company's MR16 LED retrofit lamps truly "plug and play" devices that can be used in a wide variety of transformer and dimmer combinations.  Anywhere, every time.

What’s more, the CTR functionality implemented in Ledzworld's Chameleon driver design also provides an intelligent temperature control monitoring system. The temperature control system acts as a watchdog by continuously measuring the ambient temperature inside the driver compartment by utilizing a built-in thermal sensor embedded into the Chameleon driver chipset.

Bottom-line, our lamps work on the spectrum of magnetic transformers, in combination with most commonly used leading edge dimmers, and with a large variety of electronic transformers paired with commonly used trailing edge dimmers.

Ledzworld set out to revolutionize the lighting industry with one unshakable commitment: to develop, design, and manufacture LED lighting that meets—and exceeds—all LED technology expectations. But that starts with ensuring that our technologically progressive, best-in-class lamps work as well with older infrastructure as they do with the new.  

So that a few bad actors don’t spoil LEDs reputation, it’s time for the entire LED industry to tackle compatibility, together.  

China Electric Enters LED Lighting Field with Takeover of GIO Optoelectronics

China Electric Manufacturing Corp. has announced its acquisition of GIO Optoelectronics Corp. in hopes to meet their operation goal of increasing LED lighting revenue share by 20 percent next year. The company announced yesterday its acquisition of 160 million shares at NT $ 0.8 per share with allocated funds reaching NT $83.9 million. Main shareholder of GIO, Chimei Corp. sold its 39.2 percent stake to China Electric and relinquished chairmanship. China Electric will join GIO in LED lighting product R&D, but will not interfere with the company’s operations.

With poor tablet manufacturing prices this year, China Electric has slashed backlight application prices. The company has therefore temporarily ceased OEM for backlight applications due to low profitability, leading to a drop in operation revenue for the year. October consolidated revenue reached NT $207 million, a yearly decrease of 63.24 percent. Consolidated revenue for the first 10 months of 2013 was NT $2.77 billion, a yearly decrease of 53.24 percent.

China Electric’s lighting brand TOA is a conventional lighting leader in Taiwan.

Intematix Introduces Remote Phosphor Product for 150W LED Retrofit Lamps

Intematix Corp, a leading innovator of patented phosphor solutions for high-quality LED lighting, today announced the volume shipments of their remote phosphor component that enables 150W equivalent LED retrofit lamps. This production release adds to the product family already enabling 40W, 60W, 75W and 100W bulb replacements all using a similar omnidirectional form factor.

As global government regulations phase out incandescent lamps, these remote phosphor components streamline access to high quality, efficient lighting in these popular lumen output ranges for use in residential and commercial applications. In addition, this innovative form factor delivers an incandescent-like 325 degree light distribution pattern in contrast to many LED replacement bulbs on the market.

“By applying this remote phosphor technology to the high end of the light bulb output range, we show 38% higher lumen output than bulbs available today,” said Julian Carey, Senior Director of Strategic Marketing at Intematix. “We are already seeing newly available, 2200-plus lumen LED light bulbs worldwide using this technology.”

Remote phosphor is a lighting system architecture where a separate phosphor component is powered by blue LEDs. LED light bulbs use this architecture and the increased light extraction it enables to reduce LED component count and costs. Lighting uniformity and consistency are also improved and supply chains are simplified. Intematix has launched this specific ChromaLit® Contour product with a light bulb reference design that includes the following features:

• Three-way switching mode up to 2200 lumens
• 2700K, 3000K & 5000K color temperature options
• Standard color rendering options of 80 and 90CRI
• 30 watts power consumption
• 325 degree, omni-directional light meeting ENERGY STAR® requirements
• Up to 25,000 hour lifetime
• 150W equivalent LED light bulbs utilizing Intematix’s patented ChromaLit remote phosphor are now available at major US retail outlets. 

Japanese LED Market Size Doubles

Over the past few years, Japan has seen an upsurge in energy conservation awareness. In the wake of the Tohoku earthquake in 2011, the government has even proposed plans for a “low-carbon society”. LED products have since experienced rapid popularization becoming the poster child for energy saving products. A recent survey shows the Japanese LED market size will undergo explosive growth in 2012 of 195 percent to $420.4 billion Japanese yen (US $4.2 billion),as reported by Liberty Times.

The LED market experience exponential growth last year according to Yano Research’s “2013 LED Lighting Market Research Findings” as published in a Japanese media source. The market this year continues to have high energy saving demands. Driven by LED market’s rapid growth, it is forecasted that the market scale for general lighting products will increase.

High popularization for energy saving efficiency

The main selling point of LEDs is that they save around 40 percent more electricity than florescent bulbs with a lifespan of more than 40,000 hours, which comes to over 10 years. In highly energy conscience Japan, popularization of LEDs began much earlier  than other countries with various related merchandise available on the shelves of home appliance hypermarkets.

The Chinese LED lighting market in comparison has only just begun popularization this year. Chinese LED lighting demands could increase in 2015 to $100 billion yen  according to forecasts by market research companies. Japanese manufacturers hope to take advantage of the opportunity and snare a large chunk of the Chinese market.

Competition is becoming fiercer with the increasing number of companies  entering LED lighting. Companies are straining to accelerate development of product distinction from their competitors to keep the market from transforming into pure price competition. LED lamps are no longer just lighting fixtures, but value added interior decoration pieces with aesthetic design and functional value. 

Japanese LED manufacture Koizumi has recently released the industry’s first lighting simulation app called Virtual Lighting Design where users can pick from various locations (bedroom, entrance hall, and hallway), room size, material for flooring and walls, and more to test LED lighting luminosity before deciding to purchase products.

The LED lighting market is expected to continually expand, but whether companies will be able to release products with features aside from energy-efficient and long-life products will become an important condition for companies vying for market share.

Guangdong Still Under LED Industry Oversupply Pressure

China’s National Development and Reform Commission and others announced the country’s latest strategic new industry development report at the China Hi-tech Fair on Nov. 16, 2013. Most industries remain small in Guangdong Province’s eight strategic new industries, according to the province’s latest strategic new industry report.

Strategic new industry sizes in Guangdong Province remained small, due to difficulties in expanding the domestic market and other factors. Different levels of oversupply issues have surfaced in the LED and photovoltaic industry. In addition, innovative technologies are mostly still at the stage of tracking and imitation, and lacks core technologies developed in-house. Take the Guangdong Province for example, on the surface it is a livid and rising industry, but in reality the industry’s future is in the hands of large companies, such as Google and Qualcomm that have control over operation system and core chip technologies.

Shenzhen strategic new industry is also facing lack of core technology. In addition, the city’s report also admitted nurturing a market is a long and tedious road, and tension in the industry’s developable space is also affecting potential development. 

PIDA’s Unveils Top 10 LED Lighting Manufacturers List

Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA) compiled a list of the top 10 global LED lighting manufactures, according to Economic Daily News, with international heavy weights Philips, Osram, and Panasonic among the top three. No Taiwanese manufacturers made the list. Taiwanese lighting brands currently include China Electric, Everlight, Delta, Tatung, Adata, Tsannkuen, and Leotek.

PIDA top 10 global LED lighting manufacturers in order are Philips, Osram, Panasonic, Toshiba, Cree, ENDO, Zumtobel, Koizumi, Iris Ohyama, and Sharp. Global LED lighting output value reached NT $11.5 billion (US $390 million) with a penetration rate of 11 percent

PIDA looks optimistically on business opportunities in the start of 2014, when Europe and North America markets begin to replace most commonly used 40-60W incandescent bulbs in households. Global LED market penetration rates were pushed up by U.S. companies that have slowly switched from conventional lighting to LED, such as GE, and by domestic Chinese manufacturers and OEMs that are global powerhouses for lighting manufacturing. Taiwanese manufacturers are all rushing to grasp this business opportunity whether it is through their own brands or as OEMs. 

Sony Announces Latest OLED Displays

Sony has come out with new professional OLED-based computer monitors. The new models (PVM-A250, 25" and PVM-A170, 17") are approximately 40% thinner in depth and 40% lighter in weight compared to previous Sony models. The newly designed monitors were the result of Sony completely re-engineering them. Sony reportedly made numerous changes from the chassis to the OLED panel module's structure to the signal processing board, material and parts. The monitors have also reduced power consumption by 9% compared to previous versions of its high-end Trimaster El OLED monitors.

"Higher resolution content creation – 4K and beyond – requires monitors with larger screen sizes for accurate color evaluation on site," said Daniel Dubreuil, senior product marketing manager, professional monitors, Sony Europe."But bigger monitors are harder to carry and take up more space. These new models have the screen size needed for critical evaluation, with a thinner and lighter design that’s perfect for live broadcast and outdoor shooting. They even have a handle for easy carrying."

The monitors improvements include an I/P conversion system that delivers automatically optimized signal processing according to input signals, with low latency (less than 0.5 field). The new monitors will be available in January, 2014. Retail prices for the 17" and 25" OLED monitors will be well over $4 thousand and $6 thousand respectively. So don't plan on having that monitor added to your gaming system unless you have lots of money to spend.

Samsung to Switch Flash LED Package Specs to 2016

Smartphones are driving up demands for flash LED. Aside from Philips Lumileds, Cree, Osram and other leading global manufacturers in the flash market, Taiwanese and Korean manufacturers are also entering the market. Samsung plans to switchits flash LED package specs from 4139 to 2016. Following various manufacturers  production launch, industry insiders estimate larger price cuts for flash LEDs in 1Q14.

For flash LEDs to emit light, it requires high currents in a very short period of time.    In smartphone applications, the size of the flash LED must also accommodate available space. Following smartphone camera specs upgrades; flash LED brightness has also increased, going from 75 lm to 500 lm. The industry believes that the main 2016 specs for flash LEDs will be extended into 2014, and overall brightness and current voltage will also continue its upward climb.

The global flash LED market is still largely led by Philips Lumileds, Cree, and Osram. Following smartphone flash LED upgrade to dual-flash, the industry anticipates continued growth for flash LED. Taiwanese manufacturers including chip manufacturer Genesis Photonics, package manufacturers Everlight and LiteOn Technology are all aiming to enter into the flash LED supply chain. Everlight has already snatched a hefty market share since its product entry into  China’s smartphone supply chain. Samsung, which previously used in-house package specs, is also taking into consideration its export market, and planning a major shift into the2016 LED market.

As far as flash LED specs are concerned, 2016 is the main spec used in smartphone flash applications. Previously, Samsung mostly used 4139 LED combined with LED package components, optical reflectors, and second optic lens. In smartphone applications, 4139 LED requires more space due to its larger size compared to 2016. Therefore, aside from Samsung smartphones applications 4139 is rarely used in smartphones. 

Samsung is planning to expand flash LED exports, and hopes to switch to 2016 specs, according to LEDinside understanding. With more  manufacturers entering the flash LED market, industry insiders believe that the current price for a single flash LED unit will continue to drop from US $0.25. It is projected flash LED prices slides will escalate in 1Q14.

Dialog Semiconductor Introduces New SmarteXite Technology Platform for Intelligent LED Lighting

SmarteXite enables solutions for digital dimming, wireless control and sensor control while supporting unprecedented time to market, optimised LED bulb quality and production yields

Dialog Semiconductor plc, a provider of integrated power management, AC/DC, solid state lighting and short-range wireless technologies, today announced its smarteXiteTM platform, enabling a new generation of highly flexible, programmable LED driver ICs for smart lighting applications. SmarteXite, based on fully configurable logic, is the first LED driver technology to directly and easily support wireless connectivity, light sensor control and allow easy integration into lighting control systems.

The first device from the smarteXite family, the iW6401, supports multiple dimming interfaces, including digital dimming via a simple main on/off switch, the new Ledotron(TM) digital dimming protocol and toggle-switch based dimming. All dimming-curves can be memory-configured to enable a highly optimised end-user lighting experience. The integrated digital loadline transmission (DLT) receiver in the iW6401 supports the Ledotron IEC 62756-1 dimming protocol, making it the world's first single-chip plug-and-play Ledotron solution.

Using a standard I2C digital interface, the iW6401 can serve as a powerful frontend for wireless communication modules like low-energy Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ZigBee. Additionally, intelligent sensor devices enabling color- or proximity-sensing can be directly connected. When such a peripheral device is used, the integrated power management unit in the iW6401 provides a stable power source, reducing the external component count and cost.

Combining Dialog's strengths in configurable power management with state-of-the-art digital signal processing design, the iW6401 is the world's first programmable AC/DC retrofit LED lamp driver IC, which allows engineers to design and configure the bulb design via software with an optimised bill of material (BOM) versus a time intensive iterative hardware design process. This greatly reduces the time to market and allows a smarteXite-based design to support many different global configurations and lighting requirements.

'Solid state lighting components and manufacturing costs have fallen to a level enabling LED bulbs to be sold in retail stores for under 10 dollars; this price point drives consumers to adopt the technology and retrofit their homes,' said Mark Tyndall, VP Corporate Development & Strategy and GM Power Conversion Business Group at Dialog Semiconductor. 'Market analyst firm McKinsey predicts a 57 percent compounded annual growth rate for LED bulbs units to be sold between 2012 and 2016, with more than 2.6 billion units to be sold in 2016.'
SmarteXite supports final stage digital calibration on the production line where the bulb manufacturers can reconfigure the illumination calibration settings like brightness and colour via the A/C mains terminals. This allows lower tolerance LEDs to be used with less binning or waste of LED's. Additionally, using this final stage calibration feature, the adjustment of the LED currents can be done even in the installed state, making the smarteXite platform also ideal for Zhaga compliant power supplies. The iW6401 can be configured to actively manage the lamp temperature using either an on-chip or off-chip temperature sensor together with configurable state temperature control.

LEDs are especially suitable to be dimmed in a wide range. Unlike CFLs and other discharge lamps, LEDs can be set to almost zero current by applying digital control principles. With smarteXite, intelligent control algorithms can be employed and configured to provide a wide dimming range. Additionally, the smarteXite platform offers a range of protection and supervision functions, which can be customised for the different lamp requirements.

Opel Monza Concept Car Introduces 3D LED Panel Projection Technology

Opel Monza concept car. (LEDinside/Opel)

Efficiency and connectivity are two main focal points that will define development of the next generation of automobiles. The celebrated Opel Monza Concept, which premiered at this year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show, is a visionary and pioneer in both areas, offering a fascinating preview of the future of vehicle development. With its captivating exterior styling and innovative modular powertrain system design, the Monza Concept embodies stylish and ultra-modern efficiency on four wheels, taking this even further in the interior. There Opel’s youngest concept car impresses with unique projection technology and versatile connectivity possibilities that seem like a quantum leap for drivers today but will soon be a normal part of everyday life.

“The Opel Monza Concept breaks the conventions of automobile design, particularly in the interior,” said Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “With trailblazing LED projection technology, we create a completely new infotainment world with a unique sense of space. This comes with connectivity possibilities between drivers and their family, friends and acquaintances, and even with the entire internet community that have been unimaginable to date.”

Information in 3D: LED projectors create a multi-media display

A spectacular view when opening: The expansive doors provide maximum functionality and offer an unobstructed view of the spacious, open passenger cabin. (LEDinside/ Opel)

Once behind the wheel, the Monza Concept whisks you away into a completely new and unique world of instruments and infotainment with its ultra-modern LED projection technology.

Drivers no longer find the conventional individual, separate monitors that display different information; instead, they face a wide, sculpted multi-function panel that sweeps from door to door, and is used as a single projection surface. Information and decorative elements are displayed on the surface, which the driver can customize according to his needs, taste or mood.

The wide multi-functional panel that uses 3D LED projections.  (LEDinside/ Opel)

Doors open with a mere sweep of a hand: Just place your hand over the diverse design shades of blue that make up the gradated LED design line and the expansive doors of the Opel Monza Concept open and close like condor wings.

Close up of the blue LED display design in the Opel Monza Concept. (LEDinside/ Opel)

The LED projectors create a continuous, adaptable multi-functional display – a world premiere in an automobile. Already established in the events arena, Opel designers were the first to come up with the idea of implementing this technology in a passenger car. The 3D graphics are impressive, and reflect all important functions from precise vehicle and driver information to internet and communication options as well as decorative elements. So the Monza Concept offers a trendsetting multi-function design: it elicits pure emotion while offering superb functionality. Both the area displaying information and the background can be individually configured according to personal information needs and preferences; operation of the different menus and displays is via voice control and steering wheel controls..

Efficiency and clarity are also priorities here: when it came to how the displays present information, Opel engineers focused on the best and most personal way to make relevant data available to the driver. The approach was “simplifying the multitude” and so details on the car, the navigation and the smartphone settings and connection only appear when necessary or desired. So drivers can use a wide range of information without being overwhelmed by text or images. This also makes the Monza Concept a model of future HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) systems, as its interior design is based on latest research findings in this field.

Technical Consumer Products Introduces LED Home Lighting System

Technical Consumer Products, Inc announced the immediate purchase availability of its new smart home LED lighting system. Connected by TCP™ utilizes LED technology that operates on a home’s Wi-Fi network and is controlled by any iOS or Android-enabled device, allowing instant control of any home or business lighting system.

“In today’s smart device driven society, phones and tablets enable us to control several aspects of our personal and professional lives”
“In today’s smart device driven society, phones and tablets enable us to control several aspects of our personal and professional lives,” said Ellis Yan, Founder and CEO of TCP. “With the combined power of Connected by TCP and any smart device, our customers can now enjoy the performance of LED technology in the palms of their hands. As technology advances, we believe everyone’s lighting should get smarter too.”

Connected by TCP is powered by GreenWave Reality’s award-winning cloud-based Home2Cloud platform providing a smart home infrastructure that makes it easy to combine everyday household items, and make setup fast and simple. By linking to a home’s existing Wi-Fi network, users can easily program a LED lighting system to turn on and off while arriving or leaving the house, or dim the bulbs to create the desired ambience. Connected by TCP also enables users to create a Smart Control routine using free app software that will automate the bulbs to a personalized setting to be used at any time during the day or evening. The smart routine can be programmed for any time period and used while home and away.

When compared to incandescent lighting, LED light bulbs utilize 80 percent less energy and have an average lifespan of over 10 years. With the use of Connected by TCP home and business owners can eliminate the need for light dimmer switches and save on energy costs.
The Connected by TCP kit includes: three A-Lamp 11 watt 800 Lumen LED bulbs (60 watt equivalent), one Greenwave Gateway – providing anywhere access – one Gateway power supply, one remote control with batteries that can be used in addition to any smart device, one LAN cable, free downloadable app software, and installation instructions.

The rapidly growing OKT LED Lighting

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Everlight Flash LED Breaks Into Japanese Smartphone Supply Chain

Dual-LED Flash is hoped to become a trend in smartphone application. Taiwan LED manufacturer Genesis Photonics and Everlight have both recently announced their entry into the Japanese smartphone supply chain. LED package manufacturer Everlight, which already has a strong Taiwan, China, Europe, and North America client base, has announced once again its entry into the Japanese smartphone flash LED supply chain . Flash LED designs will feature both warm white and white lights.

Following Apple iPhone5 incorporation of flash LEDs in their design, dual-LED flash is hoped to become a trend. After Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Genesis Photonics introduced flip-chip technology into the Japanese smartphone flash supply chain, Everlight announced its entry into the supply chain as well. Everlight will use both white and warm white based lights for the flash LED design.

In regards to Everlight’s revenue distribution, the largest portion is made up by backlight products and lighting products at 25 percent each and SMD products which have dropped down to 30 percent. Application in consumer electronics is categorized in the SMD product line. Additionally, infrared ray products make up 15 percent and other products make up the last 5 percent.

Roadblocks for Chinese LED Manufacturers to Overcome

Quotes/ Perspectives from LEDinside： 

"Consumers have only heard about LED lights, but do not really understand its benefits. Aside from energy saving benefits, the lights also have exceptionally long lifetime...Our long term goal is to lead Chinese enterprises out of China and introduce them to the world." -Roger Chu, Director of LEDinside.

In the midst of China’s tightening natural resources, serious environmental pollution, degrading ecosystems, society is increasingly focused on the “beautiful China, ecological civilization, and green development.” The LED technology has become an emerging industry comprised of a two core business strategies, a new generation of communication technologies and energy saving technology. LED companies in lighting, display and backlight industry have sprung out like young bamboo shoots after spring showers. 

However, the industry’s development has not been a smooth ride. Foreign manufacturers have monopolized the technology market in China. The industry in China also faces challenges of being overtly small, incomplete supply chains, and oversupply in the midstream and downstream markets. Despite being the “star” of the era, the industry is facing a bottleneck. How can companies cope pragmatically during an industry low tide? How should social awareness change to create a better environment for industry development? How can the Chinese government speed up industry standardization and corresponding development policies?

Recently, LEDinside Director Roger Chu and Lawrence Lin, Marketing and Sales General Manager at MLS were invited as guest speakers to “China’s Positive Energy” (literal translation), a TV program produced by Xinhuanet. The two shared insights on LED green lighting industry. 

Below are excerpts from the interview:

TV host: LED has been viewed as the “green lighting” of the 21st century. It has naturally become the focus of society since the day it was made and continues to be appraised. LED advantages and its groundbreaking technological progress has earned it the honorable title of “the fourth revolution in human lighting history.”

Lawrence Lin: The LED lighting era might be similar to a saying from the “Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin”—“After Qin Dynasty collapsed everyone came fighting over the kingdom. However, only the most talented and fastest won the kingdom.” It can be foreseen that the LED industry will be able to quickly replace Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) in the near future.

Lawrence Lin,Marketing and Sales General  Manager at MLS speaking on the "China's  Postive Energy" TV show, the hostess listens attentively as he explains the questions. Roger  Chu, Director of LEDinside straightens his tie as the MLS manager speaks. Front left:  Xinhuanet TV host. Front right: Lawrence Lin, Marketing and Sales General  Manager at  MLS. Back left: Roger Chu, Director of LEDinside. (LEDinside)

TV Host: However, conceptual, innovative, or R&D waves in the LED industry have failed to introduce the technology to ordinary homes.

Lawrence Lin: The global LED lighting market penetration rate is less than 10 percent, which means the industry still has 90 percent of room for growth.

TV Host: What challenges and changes will the LED industry face when it enters the lighting market? Compared to traditional lighting, what are some of its incomparable advantages? 

Roger Chu, Director of LEDinside at the TV show interview. (LEDinside)

Roger Chu: Consumers have only heard about LED lights, but do not really understand its benefits. Aside from energy saving benefits, the lights also have exceptionally long lifetime.

TV Host: Over a long 16 year period, the LED world of large enterprises was built on top of dreams, defeats, and silent reflections. How should these enterprises deal with the industry low tide pragmatically, and find innovative development opportunities?

Lawrence Lin: Government policy support is one option, the other is urbanization projects in China. Objectively, there are massive numbers of urbanization projects in the country. On its own, these offer a huge momentum for lighting demands. 

We are confident that in the next two to three years, we will be able to build a LED lighting enterprise worth millions of Renminbi.

Roger Chu: Our long term goal is to lead Chinese enterprises out of China and introduce them to the world.

TI Floating Switch Architecture Transforms Offline LED Drive Design

Texas Instruments introduced the industry's first floating switch architecture that simplifies the offline linear drive of LEDs in lamps, downlights and fixtures. The AC switched matrix technique features TI's TPS92411 floating MOSFET switch and is an innovative approach to producing low-ripple LED drive current without magnetic components. The architecture provides excellent compatibility with legacy wall dimmers and delivers high power factor and low total harmonic distortion (THD). For more information, samples and evaluation modules, visit www.ti.com/tps92411-pr.

Texas Instruments (TI) new floating switch architecture. (LEDinside/ Texas Instruments)

Flyback, buck and boost converters are common switch-mode power supply (SMPS) topologies in LED lamps today. These circuits operate at high frequencies and require inductive components to turn mains AC current into the constant DC current necessary to drive LEDs. Selection of inductors and transformers for power transfer is complicated, often requiring expensive custom components. In addition, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter consisting of four to ten passive components is required to prevent the SMPS circuit from harming other electronic equipment. If phase dimming is required, multiple design iterations may be necessary to optimize dimmer compatibility and prevent LED flicker.

The floating switch architecture with TI's TPS92411 overcomes these challenges. It requires no inductive components for power transfer, eliminating cost and bulk and simplifying design. 

Key features and benefits of TPS92411:

• 100-V, 2-Ohm floating MOSFET switch with 350 mA of current capability
• LED drive performance is comparable to traditional flyback, buck and boost converters:
• Greater than 0.95 power factor.
• Less than 15 percent of total harmonic distortion.
• Low LED current ripple results in efficient LED utilization as compared with "tapped linear" drivers.
• Low-frequency, slew-rate controlled switch action produces very little EMI noise.
• Unlike designs using traditional converters, the very low-cost floating switch architecture requires no inductive components.
• Works well with both TRIAC and reverse phase wall dimmers.
• Supports lighting designs up to 70 W.
• Availability, packaging and pricing 
• Available now in volume from TI and its authorized distributors, the TPS92411 is offered in a 5-pin SOT-23 package priced at US$0.23 each in 1,000-unit quantities. An evaluation module is offered at $75.00. The TPS92411 in an 8-pin PowerPad™ SOIC package will be available in the first quarter of 2014.

Tools and support:

• Order the TPS92411 light engine evaluation module.
• Download the TPS92411 design calculator tools: 120V or 230V.

Taiwan LED Manufacturers Present Green Lighting Solutions at Indo LED & Lighting Expo in Jakarta

The 2013 Emerging Markets Campaign of Taiwan’s Green Trade Project Office has landed in Jakarta, Indonesia with a delegation of Taiwanese LED lighting manufacturers ready to showcase the latest innovations at the Indo LED & Lighting Expo scheduled to be held on November 6-9.
A ‘Taiwan Innovative LED Lighting Product Pavilion’ is set up for the fair in the Jakarta International Expo Center (Hall A2, Booth AK 010) to present a variety of LED lighting solutions offered by Taiwanese companies.

Indo LED & Lighting Expo to be held on November 6-9 (photo courtesy: indoledexpo)

The Green Trade Project Office had previously organized exhibitions in Sao Paulo, Chongqing, Tianjin and Istanbul, aiming to enhance the overall brand visibility of Taiwan’s LED lighting products for further business opportunities in the aforementioned markets.

Li-Yen Ma, Division Chief of the Integrated Marketing Division at the Green Trade Project Office, said, ‘We have seen strong demand for energy-efficient products as well as diversified sources of energy in the emerging market segment, mainly boosted by the robust economic performance. Taiwanese companies can no doubt fulfill the needs. Taiwan has been the largest LED component manufacturer in the world, and has been lately expanding its business scope, serving global customers with innovative LED lighting solutions. The “Taiwan Innovative LED Lighting Product Pavilion” is intended as the first stop for buyers and visitors around the world to experience Taiwan’s quality products.’

Exhibitors at the ‘Taiwan Innovative LED Lighting Product Pavilion’ include TYC Brother Industrial, one of the world’s largest automotive lighting product makers; Aeon Lighting Technology, a leading high-power LED light manufacturer which had won the Red Dot Design Award and M Technology Award; Lei Yueh Enterprise, also an award-winning lighting solution provider holding several international design awards such as the IDEA, iF and Red Dot Design Awards; apm Communications of the Unimicron Group; Peng-Yun Technology; UBLeds; Hergy Lighting Technology; Eulife Technology; and Torch Industrial, presenting a wide range of LED lighting products.

Winner of the 2013 Taiwan Green Classics Award and iF Product Award, the BE Light from QisDesign combines form and light. Featuring a special hinge design, the BE Light can actually be folded down flat to a minimum height of 1.8 cm when not in use. Everlight Electronics, Taiwan’s leading LED maker and also a three-time winner of the Taiwan Green Classics Award, showcases its 8W LED light bulb line. The dimmer-free LED light bulb from BenQ is the winner of the 2012 Taiwan Green Classics Award.

The ‘Taiwan Innovative LED Lighting Product Pavilion’ is located at Hall A2, Booth AK 010. During the exhibition, the Green Trade Project Office will also hold the ‘A Touch of Light: Taiwan Products Launch’ conference on November 7, starting 14:00, in which five leading Taiwanese lighting solution designers, Lei Yueh Enterprise, Aeon Lighting Technology, apm Communications, Peng-Yun Technology and Jan Cheng Lighting Co., Ltd. (Dancelight), will present their latest technology innovations and lighting products.