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Summit
2008:
What we learned
The feedback is in, and the consensus was: Just
what we needed, do it again soon. In case you missed the Solid
State Lighting Design Summit 2008 in Weehawken, New Jersey, be sure to take
a look at the final
agenda for what went down in the first-of-its-kind event. The Summit brought
together industry thought leaders, pioneers, leading designers, lighting decision-makers
and innovators from the across the solid state lighting eco-system. Read
the conference report...
Solid State Lighting Design
is here to serve the information needs of lighting designers, specifiers, and
decision makers, along with luminaire designers, lighting system integrators
and lighting subsystem developers with application, product and market news
updates for this rapidly evolving technology. Our readership also includes LED
packagers, technology enablers and service companies seeking the the answers
to how best to meet their customers' needs.
Solid
state lighting promises to create unprecedented changes in what we can do with
light. Simultaneously, it will deliver on a promise of massive global energy savings
and access to useful nighttime lighting that has not been conveniently available
to nearly 2 billion people around the world. We're glad to have you join us in
the revolution!
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Agua Caliente Resort Hotel Goes Green With Albeo LED Lighting
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 24, 2008...The Aqua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, California USA, opened its doors exactly two years and one day after officially breaking ground. The $300 million hotel and casino resort is owned and operated by the Cahuilla Indians. LED cove lighting from Albeo Technologies was installed on 14 floors of the new resort.
According to Nancy Conrad, press secretary, the tribe tries to use green technologies and building materials whenever possible. This "green" preference led to the use of Albeo's LED lighting. "The tribal chairman, Richard M. Milanovich, is keenly interested in products that offer ambiance and aesthetics, and regularly walks through the resort to be sure we are attaining the level of beauty and elegance he is after," said Conrad. "The energy-saving benefits of LED lighting make it a natural choice," she added.
"Environmental stewardship is important to the tribal council," said Conrad. "If you can deliver a product that has green attributes, is of top quality, and looks spectacular, that moves you to the top of our list."
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Winona Lighting, i2Systems, and Power Vector Collaborate to Light Peak of Tallest Philadelphia Building
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 24, 2008...The new Comcast Center in Philadelphia, PA features a unique new color changing LED lighting system. The building, the tallest in the Philadelphia skyline measuring 297 m (975 feet), was officially opened on June 8, 2008. Remarkably the towering structure was designed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council. (Ref: www.usgbc.org).
Winona Lighting’s V-Line Linear LED fixtures were installed at the top tier of the building. The V-Line fixtures utilize LED light engines from i2Systems. Power Vector’s IRIS LED Driver Dimmers, both drive and change the colors of the linear fixtures. Power Vector notes that its IRIS Driver Dimmers will be able to support color changing for any holiday celebrations or desired events. Power Vector's three-in-one IRIS LED Driver Dimmer is designed for powering and controlling high-brightness LEDs incorporating Power Isolation, DMX 512A, and up to 8 configurable Constant Current drivers into one compact module.
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Seoul Semiconductor Introduces High CRI Top View LEDs
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 24, 2008...Seoul Semiconductor has release a new line of top view white LEDs with high color rendering indexes (CRI). While many companies have released efficient white LEDs with efficacy of 70 lm/W and higher, Seoul Semiconductor is among the first in the industry to release a white LED that has a CRI above 90. The company’s new top view LEDs are operate at 70 lm/W and last an estimated 50,000 hours. Seoul Semiconductor's new Top View LED series includes: the Warm White part (CAWT722-S), which has a CRI of 96 and achieves 68 lm/W and the Pure White (CWT722-S), which has a CRI of 92 and produces 70 lm/W.
SSL Design PageTwo members login for more. Guests can view membership details.
Strategies in Light is an executive-level conference on high-brightness
LEDs produced by Strategies Unlimited and PennWell Corporation.
Now
in its tenth year and the longest-running conference in the LED
industry, this event is considered to be the premier annual forum
for presenting current commercial developments in high-brightness
LEDs and providing unparalleled networking opportunities for component
and equipment suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users of HB LED
devices. Strategies
in Light is the US-based event to learn about the latest innovation
in HB LED markets, applications, products, and regional activities.
This is the kickoff event of the year, which supplies the critical
market forecast you need to keep the industry working for you. Register
online now, or contact lubah@pennwell.com
for more information.
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Universal Display Corporation Awarded $1.9 Million From DOE for OLED Lighting Product Development
LIGHTimes StaffJuly 24, 2008...Universal Display, a maker of flat panel displays and OLED devices located in Euwing, New Jersey USA, announced that it has received $1.9 Million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a ceiling-based OLED lighting system. The company said it will uses its UniversalPhoLED and other LED technologies. Universal also indicated that it would subcontract Armstrong to leverage Armstrong’s design and engineering expertise in the development. The two-year contract is funded through the U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Universal Display will team with Armstrong World Industries to combine its energy-efficient UniversalPHOLED and other OLED technologies with Armstrong’s product design and engineering expertise into an integrated ceiling lighting system. Universal notes that the program award supports one of the DOE’s goals, to advance the development and market introduction of efficient solid state white light sources for general illuminations
Universal says that working together with Armstrong it hopes to produce an illumination system that is targeted to exceed the DOE’s 2010 performance goals.
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Osram Opto Semiconductors Reports Development of 136 lm/W White LED in Lab
LIGHTimes StaffJuly 22, 2008...Osram Opto Semiconductors (Osram) reports that its engineers have achieved new brightness and efficiency records for its white LEDs in the lab. According to the company, under standard conditions with an operating current of 350 mA, the brightness of the white LEDs peaked at 155 lm. This translates to and efficiency of 136 lm/W. The researchers reportedly used prototype 1mm-square white LED chips with a color temperature of 5000K and color coordinates at 0.349/0.393 (cx/cy).
Osram says the key to the successful design was the efficient interplay among all the advances made in materials and technologies. The company contends that the design included a perfectly matched system of optimized chip technology, a highly advanced and extremely efficient light converter, and a special high-performance package combined to produce what the company says is world record performance. Osram notes that it has already applied for patents on the technology related to the efficiency improvements.
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PSE&G Partners with Four Cities to Test New LED Street Lighting
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 17, 2008...The Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), based in Newark, New Jersey USA, reports that it is partnering with four cities to test new LED street lights. PSE&G is New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state’s population. The company said it is partnering with New Jersey cities and Essex County in a test installation of new LED lamps for use on city and county roadways.
PSE&G is replacing cobra head lamps on utility poles in Verona, Elizabeth, Trenton and Camden to assess LED technology and evaluate its effectiveness as a light source. According to the company, twenty four LED street lamps are being installed without charge to the participating cities or counties. Installation locations include Mt. Prospect and Pompton Avenues in Verona, Jefferson Street and Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth, North Broad Street in Trenton, and Vesper Blvd. in Camden.
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Beta-Kramer Files 100th Patent Application for LED Luminaire Innovation
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 17, 2008...Beta-Kramer, a Ruud Lighting company based in Sturtevant, Wisconsin USA, reports that it filed its 100th patent application. The company indicated that this patent application is for its Axis Total Internal Reflection (TIR), not to be confused with the TIR NanoOptic. Beta-Kramer says that this key patent allows the KramerLED recessed downlights to deliver unsurpassed efficiency and optical control while maintaining specification grade 45-degree visual cutoff.
"Our team of world-class engineers is committed to harnessing the benefits of LED technology into effective optical and fixture designs," said Beta-Kramer president Al Ruud. "This significant milestone exemplifies our role in setting the industry standard for continuous innovation of industry leading LED luminaires."
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Wal-Mart Supercenter with LED Lighting Throughout Opens
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 17, 2008...A Wal-Mart Supercenter in Austin, Minnesota USA held its grand opening recently. What made the store unique was not its size, but its environmental sustainability. The store took steps to reduce energy and water consumption and the amount of waste it produces. The store reportedly recycles most everything including: car batteries, waste cooking oil, plastic hangers, aluminum cans ,and office paper. The store even has concrete flooring made with recycled materials from coal-fired electrical generation and steel manufacturing. Apparently, this reduces the amount of limestone that is needed and also provides a use for waste products that would otherwise be sent to landfills. The company said that the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners.
Lighting is another innovation in the store. “The store also has 169 skylights to harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily,” store manager Lee Kruse said. Also, LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Company News Release Greenlight Initiative Company Offers Unique Approach to LED-Lighting Consulting
LIGHTimes StaffJuly 17, 2008...The Greenlight Initiative, a company that advocates LED lighting solutions from many different LED luminaire makers, announced the start of a new qualitative validation and consultation program. The company says its program includes in-house qualitative testing and validation of the industry’s current generation of LED fixtures and luminaires. Several leading luminaire and fixture makers have reportedly had their products qualified for inclusion on the list of products that the Greenlight Initiative company will advocate to its clients. The Greenlight Initiative company indicated that it currently advocates LED products from Albeo Technologies, Gallium LED Lighting Systems, i2 Systems, Revlite Technologies, Electro-LuminX, and ilumisys. The Greenlight Initiative company noted that additional products and companies are in qualification now. The company says it has moved beyond the consulting approach to more of a technology advocacy role.
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Our news features are reported
by the SSL Design staff writers.
For submissions or content suggestions, you can contact us using
editor -at - solidstatelightingdesign.com
For more information and to reserve promotion space contact
Info7 -at - solidstatelightingdesign.com
or call +1 (512) 257-9888
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Commentary
& Perspectives...
July 25, 2008...It's about more than the numbers. While
great progress has been made in the specifications that will help designers, architects
and consumers to select LED-based solid state lighting solutions, there's still
more to this than meets the eye. Or rather, it's about what really does meet the
eye, as opposed to what the spec sheet tells you. Anyone who knows me will confirm
that I'm a numbers guy, so this concept has been one I wrestle with. I'm reminded
of the vintage Star Trek episode, Spectre
of the Gun (fear not, I actually had to look up the name), in which Captain
Kirk and the key crew members are beamed into a representation of old Tombstone,
Arizona for a showdown with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday at the OK Corral. They
brew up a tranquilizer gas that should work, but doesn't. While the team struggles
with another way out, ever-logical Spock points out that reality demanded that
the gas will work. Since it did not work, he points out, reality is not the operating
rule, and therefore, none of it is real and the Earp's bullets won't matter either.
And he was right. (And not to leave anyone hanging, once they believed in unreality
the bullets passed right through them, allowing a fair fist fight to ensue, mercy
to be shown, and the basic merits of the human race were once again demonstrated
to some further-advanced alien culture). The 'dose of unreality' that brought
this all to mind came yesterday when I had the privilege of a hands-on test of
the new Samsung SP-P400B, which is built around Luminus Devices "photonic lattice" or "PhlatLight" LED array. Fear not, lighting folks,
this isn't a pocket projector product review, it's a metal halide versus LED slap-down
match. After stringing some wires and giving a quick read to the user manual
to figure out how to make the picture pretty, we got this all-new, just now available "150 ANSI lumen" juggernaut to display a
DVD playing on the laptop. The more observant spec-hounds will notice the still-common
ANSI reference and point out that the specifications relating to the
measurement of lumens – ANSI/NAPM IT7.228-1997 and ANSI/PIMA IT7.227-1998
– were officially retired on July 25, 2003, due to lack of technical support.
CIE lumens are now the real standard, but the lumens come up the same. It's a big hint for everyone that the ANSI spec is still more commonly referred to
in at least the projector marketing community - the efforts to maintain one's investment in educating the consumers can outweigh a lot of other factors. The projector itself is only
about a 6 x 6 x 3-inch cube, and about 1/4 or less the size of our 2000+ lumen
company "presentation projector" that throws enough light to do the
job for a conference room of up to 300 or so people (you can see both projectors
up close and personal at the upcoming SSLdesign
Summit, Aug 26-27 in New Jersey... where, along with our other great speakers,
Luminus will share some "out of the box" approaches to general lighting
based upon the same technology). With the LED illumination source in there, it
has a nice, quiet fan, and more importantly for anyone who has experience the
joys of traditional metal-halide projector bulbs, an ill-timed bump while in transit
or especially while running, is not going to frag things and leave you with a
rather immediate need for a $250 to $350 bulb. The LED solution is also projected
to give you a lifetime of 4 to 10 times that of the metal halide. As you would
expect the colors are brilliant in comparison to the larger projector's, and here's
the reality-challenged part: It seemed every bit as bright despite the 10x disadvantage
in its lumen rating. Do my eyes deceive me? Even if it is really only half as
bright, making it a 5x disadvantage, there's a spec problem here.
One industry-insider that I shared this with commented, "It looks like the industry is starting
to realize – and as you have observed in your 'testing', ANSI Lumens don’t
predict perceived brightness comparisons between LED and lamp based projectors,
and the disparity between LED and lamp ANSI ratings for equivalent perceived brightness
is astonishingly large. Just as CRI is an inadequate predictor of perceived color
rendering for saturated (RGB) white light sources, white ANSI lumens are not good
predictors for LED projector performance. Bulb-based metrics are certainly
inadequate for the move to SSL, but change is hard…" [emphasis
added]. Color temperature (CCT) specs are another area that highlight the discrepancies,
and are the subject of one standards effort underway, in addition other recently
completed ones from Dr. Yoshi Ohno's group at the US's National Institute
of Standards (NIST). What this means for the general lighting community
is that while the continual refinement of the specs will be helpful in any number
of ways, it will still come down to understanding where the specs reach their
limit and when our eyes have to take over. Jeff Miller, one of our 2008 Summit
co-chairs, who is a director with Pivotal Lighting Design, as well as the current
president of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), gave
a spectacular workshop and talk at our supply-chain oriented Blue
2006 conference in Taiwan. In that talk, Jeff shared the "human factors"
that needed to be considered and that are sometimes forgotten by the "semiconductor
specification orientation" of the LED community. Things like "acceptable
levels of contrast" and the understanding of "a daylighting approach"
matter greatly when it comes to the user's lighting experience, comfort and even
health. That's part of what the SSLdesign
Summit is about, of course, as we've created an agenda
that will enable specifiers and luminaire manufacturers to come away with a sharpened
knowledge-base to enable them to qualitatively evaluate and implement their
designs, whether at the fixture or lighting project level. The networking time
will also connect them to key solution enablers to help them get it done (both
in the form of people and technology). Change is hard, but it's always worth the effort, and usually
successful if you have the knowledge to make it work for you.
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