LEDs

Bright forecast for LED lighting

by Candace Lombardi

LEDs are about to have their day in the sun.
By 2020, nearly half (46 percent) of the $4.4 billion commercial lighting business will be given over to LED lighting, according to a Pike Research report released Wednesday, "Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Markets."

The 6th Street Bridge in LA now basks in the light from LEDs.

(Credit: City of Los Angeles/Bureau of Street Lighting)

Because of their energy-frugal characteristics, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have always had the potential to save commercial properties a significant amount of money on their electricity bills. However, the initial expensive of the lighting systems have made LEDs cost-prohibitive in many situations. Not so anymore, according to Pike Research.
The prices for commercial solid-state lighting systems have come down and will continue to decline enough to make them a practical and attractive option for commercial properties. There are federal and local government incentives to install LEDs in new buildings and as retrofits in existing properties. For these reasons, people can expect to see a significant increase in the use of LED lamps for commercial and industries properties, according to Pike Research.
The shift to LED installations will start outdoors.
LEDs, which have already seen an increase in installation for traffic lights and exit signs, will saturate the market for outdoor lighting within a few years, according to Clint Wheelock, managing director at Pike Research.
One doesn't have to look to hard to see anecdotal evidence of this already happening. An abundance of U.S. cities and towns have been announcing programs to install LEDs for municipal lighting. In one notable example, the Bureau of Street Lighting for the city of Los Angeles has been replacing much of LA's municipal lighting with LEDs, including all 209,000 streetlights. As a result of the change, LA has started to give off a different glow at night in addition to seeing a 40 percent reduction in its annual energy consumption for public lighting.

 Candace Lombardi, a freelance journalist based in the Boston area, focuses on the evolution of green and otherwise cutting-edge technologies, from robots to cars to scientific innovation. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not a current employee of CNET.

 

Scientists Find Way to Turn LED Lights Into Wireless Internet Source

Photo: Velo Steve via Flickr
LEDs are already known for being a super energy efficient way to light up a room, but did you know that they might also be a way for you to connect to the internet? That’s right, a group of scientists from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute have devised a way to encode a visible-frequency wireless signal in light from our plain old desk lamps and other light fixtures. Just think – in the near future, jumping on the interwebs might be as simple as flipping on your light switch!

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Set Your Own Mood Lighting With An LED Light Wand Ceiling

by Bridgette Meinhold

If you had a ceiling like this one, which is completely covered in LEDs, you could, on a whim, change the lighting in your room. Draw The Lights, by Seo Dong-Hun, is a concept for a customizable LED ceiling composed of a network of energy efficient LED lights, a few sensors and a light wand. Need brighter light right above you to read? Use the light wand to turn on more lights. Want to create a special pattern for a party? You can paint the ceiling with lights to fit your mood.

In most houses, you would need a complete remodel in order to reposition lights if you want to move your furniture around. Dong-Hun’s concept for a customizable ceiling would give you the flexibility to light for different settings, parties or work. Composed of a ceiling web of circular LED units, patterns and moods can be drawn into the ceiling via the light wand, which communicates with the sensor inside the LED unit.
Users can set the light type as well as the color for each unit across the whole ceiling. And since all of the lights are LEDs, the lighting system is energy efficient and could have the potential to save energy, since you can create the ambiance that fits your needs. And it’s pretty unlikely that you would ever need the entire ceiling of lights on at once.

Smart Lighting? Software-Controlled Networked LED Lights Save Tons of Power

by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada

Design & Architecture (lighting) 

Photo: Digital Lumens
A Bright Idea for the Lighting Industry
According to the US Department of Energy, lighting represents about 12% of energy consumption for residential buildings and 25% for commercial ones (presumably because commercial buildings are kept much brighter than residential homes on average). That's a lot of energy, and despite recent improvements thanks to CFLs (check out the safer ArmorLite CFLs) and LED lights, a lot more can still be done. That's the mission of a two years old startup called Digital Lumens.

Photo: Digital Lumens
Digital Lumens makes networked LED light fixtures that, it claims, can save up to 90% compared to regular HID lights typically used in warehouses and commercial buildings. It does that with sensors and software that control precisely how and when the lights are used.

• Intelligent Light Engines™ - Intended as one-for-one replacements of 400W HID, HPS and T5 or T8 fluorescent fixtures, Digital Lumens Intelligent Light Engines (ILEs) are white-light LED-based luminaires that provide desired light levels on the target surface, while minimizing kWh consumption. Easy to install, each ILE has a built-in Digital Light Agent™ - an on-board computer - as well as sensors and wireless mesh networking capabilities that share key information across the system.
• Smart Light Grid - Digital Lumens Intelligent Light Engines form a Smart Light Grid - a lighting network - that enables all fixtures in the system to communicate with each other, respond to a neighboring fixture's state and/or system-wide programming, and provide usage and occupancy data to the Light Rules management system.
• LightRules™ - Digital Lumens' intuitive control and energy management software gives facility managers the tools to effectively manage their lighting resources and energy use. They are able to specify system behavior, receive up-to-the-minute kWh consumption details by fixture/zone/day/shift and control the entire system for maximum energy efficiency. LightRules also provides the ability to respond to demand response calls and integrate with warehouse management, energy carbon accounting or other third-party systems.

So if more daylight is available, less artificial light will be used. The system can be programmed to know when certain zones need more light during the day, or to sense when people enter a room and adjust lighting accordingly.
Another way to extract further savings from LED lights is described by Technology Review. A company called Redwood Systems uses centralized power supplies for their LED lights, removing the need for redundant AC/DC converters at each fixture (LEDs use low voltage DC current, while what comes out of the wall is AC).
"The new system converts alternating current to low-voltage direct current at a central location, rather than at each light. This more efficient method cuts energy consumption by 10 to 20 percent, according to Jeremy Stieglitz, vice president of marketing for Redwood Systems, which will start selling its systems this summer."
So in the future, expect to see smart LED lights that are networked and running on low-voltage DC.

Inhabitat

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Philips Lumiblade Reflections OLED Mirrorwall Now Available

by Lea Bogdan

When we saw the debut of the Philips Lumiblade Mirrorwall prototype last year in a special exhibition during the Milan Furniture Fair, we fell head over heels for this sophisticated use of lighting technology. The series of linked OLED modules act as a mirror in the off state, and as an interactive lit curtain wall when powered. Well, it's been almost a year since the prototype debut, and Philips has announced that a version of the mirrorwall, called Lumiblade Reflections, will be available for sale in limited quantities. The technology is cutting edge, extremely energy efficient, and perfect for the eco-enthusiast looking to splurge on one of these limited edition museum-worthy products.P.S. Thanks to reader mertero for tipping us off!

Lumiblade tiles use OLED technology, which allows for a very homogenous surface light. Unlike LEDs, this light will never have those pesky hot spots. OLEDs work by passing low levels of electricity through thin layers of organic semiconductor materials. In other words, the tiles are a stack-up of films that can be electrically charged, causing them to become “excited” and emit light. Right now, the tile sizes are limited in size, but they can be linked together into endless configurations.
OLEDs are superior to LEDs in their even output, their flat form, and their minimal circuitry required for powering. OLED is extremely energy efficient with ratings for white modules providing up to 15 lumens per watt. Efficiencies depend highly on the colors, with white being the most efficient. Similar to LED technology blue emitters still have room for improvement, while green is also highly efficient. Certification bodies, such as Energy Star, typically rate lighting efficiency by efficacy, which is a ratio of lumens per watt. The white Lumiblade tiles provide approximately 15 lm/W. This is a great rating considering that these tiny tiles output 1000 candelas for up to 10,000 hours. As a comparison, the efficacy of a Philips 100 watt incandescent bulb is about 14 lm/watt, but only gives off 120 candelas for a lifespace of about 750-1000 hours.

In an off state, it is possible for the OLED tiles to be transparent, since the materials on the layers of sandwiched films appear to be clear. A mirror-like appearance, like that of the Lumiblade Reflections, can also be achieved by using specialty layers in the stack-up. The added feature that makes Lumiblade Reflections so outstanding is that it is interactive. The tiles have infrared sensors behind the illuminated panels that detect an object or presence, so when an object passes in front of the tiles, the OLED face dims to a mirrored surface. If one were to stand in front of the mirror, the tiles around their silhouette would stay illuminated, allowing for a very functional mirror and light in one!
In a Philips newsletter, it states that the special edition Lumiblade Reflections would cost approximately 5000€ ($6,798USD), which may not be practical for a household mirror for grooming your locks, but it sure would be a wonderful art piece. We have to consider that this is only the beginning for explorations in OLED technology and responsive lighting. Even though these first editions may not be in financial reach for all, the fact that they are commercially available suggests that we will see this technology translated to bathroom products, furniture, mirrors, and other household good in the near future.

Inhabitat

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Toshiba Kills Incandescent Bulb Production

by Sarah Parsons

Yesterday, Toshiba ended its manufacture of mass-market incandescent light bulbs–bulbs that use a ton of energy, burn out quickly and pale in comparison in terms of energy efficiency to CFLs and LEDs. The move ends the company’s 120-year history of incandescent bulb production. The decision signals that the lighting industry is poised to become significantly greener.

Toshiba initially planned to halt production of incandescents next year, but decided to push the date up. The company now aims to focus on creating LED lights, which are significantly more energy efficient than incandescents. Incandescents have drawn criticism from environmentalists in recent years because most of the power they consume is released as heat, so they need to use a ton of energy to produce light. Plus, the bulbs burn out quickly when compared to CFLs and LEDs.
The death of incandescents is proof that consumer choices and sound legislation can quickly and effectively improve the state of the environment. Australia started regulating the sale of incandescent bulbs last year, and countries like the EU and US are poised to implement regulations over the next few years. Now if only the world could adopt legislation to limit carbon emissions…
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In the near future I believe that you will be able to do some phenomenal new things with LED lighting. Just a few of the current LED and LED solar applications available are:

LED panel light source used in an experiment on plant growth. The findings of such experiments may be used to grow food in space on long duration missions.

The LED destination display on a bus. Note how the camera has had difficulty catching all the LEDs.

Old calculator LED display.

Flashlights and lanterns that utilize white LEDs are becoming increasingly popular due to their durability and longer battery life.

A single high-intensity LED with a glass lens creates a bright carrier beam that can stream DVD-quality video over considerable distances. The device, RONJA, can be built very simply by enthusiasts.

LED lights on an Audi S6

LED sign advertisement.

Partial list of LED applications

Some of these applications are further elaborated upon in the following text.

Devices, medical applications, clothing, toys:

• Remote controls, such as for TVs and VCRs, often use infrared LEDs.
• Glowlights, as a more expensive but longer lasting and reusable alternative to Glowsticks.
• Movement sensors, for example in optical computer mice
• The Nintendo Wii's sensor bar uses infrared LEDs.
• In optical fiber and Free Space Optics communications.
• Toys and recreational sporting goods, such as the Flashflight
• Lumalive, a photonic textile
• In pulse oximeters for measuring oxygen saturation
• LED phototherapy for acne using blue or red LEDs has been proven to significantly reduce acne over a three-month period.^{[citation needed]}
• Some flatbed scanners use an array of red, green, and blue LEDs rather than the typical cold-cathode fluorescent lamp as the light source. Having independent control of three illuminated colors allows the scanner to calibrate itself for more accurate color balance, and there is no need for warm-up.
• Computers, for hard drive activity and power on. Some custom computers feature LED accent lighting to draw attention to a given component. Many computer manufacturers use LEDs to tell the user its current state. One example would be the Mac, which tells its user when it is asleep by fading the LED activity lights in and out, in and out.
• Sterilization of water and other substances using UV light.^[4]

Lighting

• Grow lights composed of LEDs are more efficient, both because LEDs produce more lumens per watt than other alternatives, and also because they can be tuned to the specific wavelengths plants can make the most use of.^{[citation needed]}
• Light bulbs
• Lanterns
• Streetlights
• Large scale video displays
• Architectural lighting
• Light source for machine vision systems, requiring bright, focused, homogeneous and possibly strobed illumination.
• Motorcycle and Bicycle lights
• Flashlights, including some mechanically powered models.
• Emergency vehicle lighting
• Backlighting for LCD televisions and displays. The availability of LEDs in specific colors (RGB) enables a full-spectrum light source which expands the color gamut by as much as 45%.
• Stage lights using banks of LED's as replacement for incandescent bulbs. LED's produce less heat so LED stage lighting is cheaper to operate and reduces the risk of fire considerably.
• LED-based Christmas lights have been available since 2002, but are only now beginning to gain in popularity and acceptance due to their higher initial purchase cost when compared to similar incandescent-based Christmas lights. For example, as of 2006, a set of 50 incandescent lights might cost US$2, while a similar set of 50 LED lights might cost US$10. The purchase cost can be even higher for single-color sets of LED lights with rare or recently-introduced colors, such as purple, pink or white. Regardless of the higher initial purchase price, the total cost of ownership for LED Christmas lights would eventually be lower than the TCO for similar incandescent Christmas lights^{[citation needed]} since the LED requires much less power to output the same amount of light as a similar incandescent bulb. More to the point, LEDs have practically unlimited life and are hard-wired rather than using unreliable sockets as do replaceable bulbs. So a set of LED lights can be expected to outlive many incandescent sets, and without any maintenance.

 Indicators and signs

• Status indicators on a variety of equipment
• Traffic lights and signals
• Exit signs
• Railroad crossing signals
• Continuity indicators
• Elevator push-button Lighting
• Thin, lightweight message displays at airports and railway stations, and as destination displays for trains, buses, trams, and ferries.
• Red or yellow LEDs are used in indicator and alphanumeric displays in environments where night vision must be retained: aircraft cockpits, submarine and ship bridges, astronomy observatories, and in the field, e.g. night time animal watching and military field use.
• Red, yellow, green, and blue LEDs can be used for model railroading applications
• In dot matrix arrangements for displaying messages.
• Because of their long life and fast switching times, LEDs have been used for automotive high-mounted brake lights and truck and bus brake lights and turn signals for some time, but many high-end vehicles are now starting to use LEDs for their entire rear light clusters.

Adding solar garden lights to your landscaping can add visual interest and increase visibility long after the daylight hours are gone. Use them to make outdoor areas more inviting, highlight an area, and add an element of safety outside. Solar garden lights come in weather-resistant finishes that withstand the outdoor elements. Depending on the type of solar garden light you choose, they may last anywhere from 8 to 18 hours at night. Choose solar garden lights that can effectively collect solar power even during overcast weather. You will be able to choose from a variety of styles from dramatic cracked-glass spherical lights to more traditional die-cast aluminum lights.

Solar lighting does several things for your outdoor space: It increases visibility, creates visual interest, highlights landscaped areas, and adds a measure of safety in the outdoors. This is how solar lighting works:

• First, solar light fixtures collect solar energy via solar cells.
• Then the energy gets stored within the batteries of the solar lighting.
• The amount of sunlight that a fixture receives as well as the sunlight conditions will affect the amount of time that a light will run at night.
• Shade from landscaping features and built structures will also affect the performance of a solar lighting fixture. In order to find out how long you can expect the fixture to run, check with the manufacturers specifications.

DuPont’s New Ink Can Quickly Print Cheap OLED Displays

by Ariel Schwartz

Want an ultra energy-efficient OLED television? You’ll have to pay — LG’s 15-inch display, for example, will cost a scathing $2,725 when it is released later this year. But OLED displays may not always be so pricey. DuPont has developed a new manufacturing process that can reportedly print a 50-inch TV screen that lasts 15 years in under two minutes. The development could eventually bring down OLED prices drastically.

DuPont teamed up with Japanese manufacturer Dainippon Screen to develop a garden hose-like printer that spews out a stream of ink, moving over a surface at rates of four to five meters per second all while patterning an OLED display. Today’s OLED printers use shadow-mask evaporation — a technique that patterns the organic molecules that make up the pixels in OLED displays. But shadow-mask evaporation only works at a small scale, unlike DuPont’s new printer.
We might not have to wait long to get our hands on DuPont’s cheap new displays. The company is already working to license its manufacturing process, which could bring OLEDs down to the cost of LED displays.