March 21, 2012 Cree, Inc. has introduced new mid-power XLamp ML-C and ML-E LEDs, bringing increased versatility and flexibility to a wide spectrum of lighting applications. Designed to accelerate the adoption of LED lighting, the expanded XLamp ML family now offers red, green and blue color options, high-voltage and three different price-performance options in the proven and reliable ML package. Read more

March 20, 2012 Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced a new off-line primary side sensing controller to the company's portfolio of non-dimming LED drivers. The new TPS92310 AC/DC constant current driver with power factor correction (PFC) reduces cost and shrinks-to-fit in high-power LED retrofit bulbs, including A19, PAR30/38 and GU10. Read more

March 16, 2012 TDK-Lambda has added three new power levels to its AL range of LED AC-DC power supplies, aimed at next generation LED lighting and signage applications. Well suited for both indoor and outdoor installations, these power supplies are IP66-rated and accept a wide universal AC input (90 to 305Vac). Read more

March 16, 2012 Market analyst, IMS Research, has issued a new report that forecasts that the global market for power semiconductors used in LED lighting will reach more than $3 billion in 2016. Read more

March 12, 2012 Linear Technology has introduced a synchronous buck-boost DC/DC LED driver and voltage controller, which can deliver over 100 W of LED power. The device’s 4.7 V to 60 V input voltage range makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications, including automotive, industrial and architectural lighting. Read more

March 6, 2012 Bremen-based LED technology vendor GT Biomescilt claims a breakthrough in the development of energy-efficient LED modules. The Airglow One LED modules can be used without any additional driver circuit. For luminaire designers and manufacturers this translates into lower costs and much higher design freedom. Read more

February 29, 2012 Infineon Technologies has enhanced the company’s online design solution Infineon Light Desk, adding additional features and the support for a new series of AC/DC off-line LED drivers. Read more

February 27, 2012 Excelsys Technologies has introduced two new families of LED lighting power supplies into the company’s Xled series. The LDB75 and LDB100 constant voltage/current LED power supplies can deliver up to 75W and 96W output power respectively in extremely compact, 28 mm high, packages. Read more

February 27, 2012 Austriamicrosystems announced the AS3674 and AS3490 LED backlight drivers for smartphone LCD displays. These new LED drivers enable the industry's best application efficiency at a peak level of 90%, including the DC-DC converter and the current sources. With a PCB footprint of only 11.5 mm², and just four external components required, the AS3674 and AS3940 are well suited for smartphones and other mobile devices where space is at a premium. Read more

February 22, 2012 Power Integrations has launched an online selection tool that enables users to rapidly identify the best power supply reference design for their LED lighting application. The LED Design Selector allows engineers to enter simple selection criteria and provides the best choice from Power Integrations’ library of reference design options for LED lighting. Read more

February 8, 2012 Power Integrations has unveiled a new reference design (DER-286) which describes a 30 W LED tube replacement ballast power supply capable of achieving industry-leading efficiency levels of more than 90% across a wide input-voltage range while meeting worldwide requirements for power factor (PF) and total harmonic distortion (THD). Read more

February 3, 2012 The global market for power supplies used in LED lighting is forecast to reach USD10 billion in 2016, according to a new report from IMS Research, “Opportunities for Power Components in LED Lighting”. The report revealed that rapid uptake of LED lighting, driven by legislation and rising costs of electricity, will result in a potential market of 4 billion power supply units by 2016, worth an astounding USD10 billion. Read more

February 2, 2012 Though legal measures at European Community level should fuel the market for energy-efficient lighting, concerns regarding the quality of such products as well as the high aboriginal costs are affecting the growth perspectives. Still, consulting company Frost & Sullivan regards the overall perspectives as positive. Read more

January 31, 2012 A supercapacitor LED flash/torch controller IC from STMicroelectronics claims to overcome the limitations of compact digital cameras and cameraphones to satisfy demands for increased power from the built-in flash unit while supporting more sophisticated user controls. Read more

January 23, 2012 Everlight Electronics announces a series of Low/Mid Power LEDs especially suited for using in solid state lighting. New Low/Mid Power LED family has ability to provide customers a total solution for lighting applications. Read more

January 18, 2012 Enabling designers to cost-effectively incorporate intelligence and remote connectivity into LED lighting designs and get to market faster, Texas Instruments has launched the 32-bit TMS320C2000 Piccolo microcontroller (MCU) AC LED lighting and communications developer’s kit. Leveraging the performance of low-cost Piccolo MCUs, the kit is a complete mains-powered LED lighting solution. Read more

January 18, 2012 Advantech’s IDK-2000 series of 1200-nit ultra-high brightness LED display kits range from 8.4” to 19”, featuring an LED driver board, and optional resistive touch screen integration. The IDK-2000 N series is a basic 1200-nit non-touch display kit model, while IDK-2000 R is a resistive touch model. Read more

January 12, 2012 Anomax has invented a revolutionary 100-W LED bulb that uses only 12 W of energy. Compared to today's most energy efficient 100-W bulb (CFL Compact Florescent Light at 23 W) Anomax's bulb is 48% more efficient. Read more

January 10, 2012 XP Power has added to the company's LDU series of PCB mount DC input constant current LED drivers. Comprising four models offering power outputs of 5, 7, 14 and 20 Watts, the highly efficient LED drivers have a typical efficiency of 93% for the 5 – 14 Watt models and 95% for the 20 Watt devices. Read more

December 22, 2011 ZMDI AG has introduced the company’s first step-up converter with integrated 35 V power switch for high brightness LEDs. It is optimal for driving multiple white LEDs connected in series from a low voltage supply. The ZLED7015 can also drive devices that require a constant voltage and the wide input voltage range of 6 V to 30 V supports applications with input voltage from multi-cell batteries or regulated 12 V and 24 V power rails. Read more

December 13, 2011 TDK-Lambda UK has added three new power levels to its AL range of LED AC-DC power supplies, which is targeted towards next generation LED lighting and signage applications requiring high power and high reliability. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations, including traffic, street, architectural and emergency service lighting, as well LED illumination boards, signs and displays, these power supplies are IP66-rated and accept a wide universal AC input (90 to 305 Vac). Read more

December 12, 2011 Philips has called for a worldwide switch to LED lighting at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban. The company is stating that a tipping point has been reached in the development of LED lighting that can now be used for general high-quality lighting in almost all applications. A switch to LED lighting will help combat climate change, save energy and improve people's lives through increased well-being, safety and productivity where they live and work. Read more

December 7, 2011 The famous Louvre art museum in Paris has installed a new exterior light system, entirely based on LEDs. The replacement of the former energy-wasting system based on Xenon lamps helps the museum administration to substantially reduce its electricity bill. Read more

November 25, 2011 After the introduction of a new generation of LED power supplies for a relatively low power output in the range from 80 to 240 W, power supply expert company Mean Well now expands his HLG-xxx(H) product line towards the high end. The model HLG-320H serves the demand for LED lighting power supplies in the power range of up to 320 W. Common feature for the entire family is high efficiency and a metal enclosure. Read more

November 22, 2011 HMI and Lighting expert company Deam S.A.S. (Chassieu, France) has launched a customized LED-based backlight solution for HMI applications as well as for luminous signalization. This Efficient Thin Lighting (ETL) solution can reduce energy consumption up to 50% against conventional LED backlighting solutions, the company says. Read more

November 10, 2011 ON Semiconductor has introduced two new LED drivers to help designers optimize their solutions for automotive, industrial and general lighting applications.   ON Semiconductor's new NCL30051 stage, power factor correction (PFC) and Resonant Half Bridge, LED driver combined with the new NCL30160 , a dimmable constant current step-down (buck) LED driver, provide an ideal solution for high-brightness LED driver applications where space is limited and high efficiency is important. Read more

November 4, 2011 Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have used zinc oxide microwires to significantly improve the efficiency at which gallium nitride light-emitting diodes (LED) convert electricity to ultraviolet light. The devices are believed to be the first LEDs whose performance has been enhanced by the creation of an electrical charge in a piezoelectric material using the piezo-phototronic effect. Read more

November 3, 2011 Seoul Semiconductor has introduced a new product family, the Acrich2. The device enables designers to implement LED-based general lighting solutions that connect directly to the AC grid without the need for AC/DC converters. Read more

October 24, 2011 Analog expert company Austriamicrosystems has launched several chips that aim at reducing power consumption of the LED backlight in TV screens. These devices and other LED drivers are on display at the FPD International Exhibition & Convention in Yokohama, Japan. Read more

October 18, 2011 As of late, the streets in the historic centre of Arraiolos in Portugal have been lit up entirely by energy-efficient lighting diode technology (LED), used in combination with an intelligent lighting management system. The project was realised by Schréder, a manufacturing company for street lighting, in cooperation with Osram Opto Semiconductors. According to Osram, the new street lighting will ensure energy savings of approximately 50 percent. Read more

October 18, 2011 Austriamicrosystems has announced the AS1123 constant-current, 16-channel LED driver with an on-chip diagnostic read-back function. The AS1123 is designed for use in industrial applications, indoor/outdoor public information displays, LED panels, and large LED video walls. Read more

October 13, 2011 IEE, Inc., has integrated 3M's revolutionary 3D film, which requires no 3D glasses, into its field-proven, military-qualified handheld 4.8 inch control display unit (CDU). Read more

October 12, 2011 XP Power has unveiled the DLG series of constant voltage and constant current LED drivers aimed at a broad range of outdoor lighting, security and machine vision applications. TheIP67-rated waterproof units are highly efficient, up to 90%, and generate less waste heat than competitor products resulting in an extended operating lifetime. Compliance against the IP67 specification guarantees no ingress of dust, total protection against contact with live parts and immersion in water to a depth of 1 metre. Read more

October 11, 2011 Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX16841, an offline LED driver that provides flicker-free dimming from maximum light intensity down to zero intensity with both leading-edge (triac) and trailing-edge (transistor) dimmers. Constant frequency control optimizes efficiency at both low- and high-AC line voltages. Read more

October 5, 2011 At the Strategies in Light Europe conference in Milan, Italy, Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced two highly integrated, phase-dimmable AC/DC LED lighting drivers, LM3448 and TPS92070, for use in solid state lighting residential, architectural, commercial and industrial applications, such as retrofit bulbs, LED ballasts, downlights, spot lights and other luminaires. Read more

September 30, 2011 Diodes Incorporated has unveiled a buck LED driver which offers switching at a frequency of up to 1 MHz and ensuring closely controlled rise and fall times. The AL8807 reduces EMI issues in the lower cost MR16 LED lamp market. Read more

September 29, 2011 STMicroelectronics has extended its portfolio of energy-saving solutions for mobile devices with an IC that simplifies the design of power-efficient LCD and keypad backlights comprising white LEDs. Read more

September 27, 2011 Having recently introduced its LPF-40(D) / 60(D) product families, power supply manufacturer Mean Well expands its LED power supply portfolio towards higher wattages. The new LPF90(D) is designed to serve the rapidly rising demand for dimmable LED lighting power supplies. Read more

September 23, 2011 ON Semiconductor has expanded the company's portfolio of Constant Current Regulators (CCR s) to include the NSI50350A. The simple and robust device is designed to provide a thermally efficient and cost-effective alternative to passive/discrete components or driver integrated circuit (IC) solutions for current regulation of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The device is ideal for a variety of 1 W lighting applications including automotive, architectural lighting and signage. Read more

September 20, 2011 Linear Technology has introduced a 16-channel LED driver integrated with a 55 V step-down controller. The LT3745 LED driver powers up to 75 mA of LED current for each channel, which can drive up to 36 V of LEDs in series, making it ideal for applications such as large LED billboards. Read more

September 19, 2011 Osram subsidiary Siteco GmbH has introduced a family of LED luminaries aiming at street lighting applications. The Streetlight 10 luminaries meet DIN EN 13201 for lighting classes S and ME. Operation parameters including luminous flux can be adjusted via optional microprocessor-based control units. Read more

September 9, 2011 The market for LED lighting is poised for extraordinary growth, says market research company Frost & Sullivan. According to a recent study, in the future, LED lighting will be the "clearly dominant technology". Read more

September 6, 2011 Germany’s seven partners of the ‘EnLight’ (Energy Efficient and Intelligent Lighting Systems) research project are aiming to reduce energy consumption of today’s LED systems by up to an additional 40 percent. Read more

September 2, 2011 Semtech Corp., has launched the first device in its innovative platform of phase-shifted boost LED drivers. The new SC5010 is an 8-channel white LED driver with an innovative PWM phase-shift dimming control that uses low-profile inductors, allowing LED drivers to be built directly into the LCD panel in Ultrabook PCs and ultra-mobile PCs (UMPC) for displays as thin as 4 mm. Read more

September 1, 2011 Consumer chip company MediaTek Inc., has announced it has achieved a design win with consumer electronics company Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV and is planning to develop "a long-term and close partnership with Philips." Read more

August 25, 2011 Power Integrations has published a new reference design for a 25-watt LED T8 tube ballast power supply.  Notable for industry-leading efficiency of greater than 91%, the design (DER-287) also meets commercial requirements for power factor (PF greater than 0.9) and harmonic distortion (EN61000-3-2 Class C). Read more

August 23, 2011 Emerson Network Power has introduced a new series of high efficiency power supplies for LED lighting, the LDS25 eries. The new 25 Watt series joins the company's LDS70 series 70 Watt products for this fast-growing market. Read more

July 25, 2011 According to market research company DisplaySearch, TV set brands are missing an opportunity to market LED-Backlit LCD TV sets based on cost savings. Analysis of electricity and TV prices together with power consumption data reveals modest payback times for low-energy TVs. There is a strong case for consumers to choose LED-backlit sets when replacing their TV, given the energy savings advantages. Read more

July 20, 2011 Semiconductor technology company RoseStreet Labs (RSL) has announced what it claims to be the world's first demonstration of a long wavelength LED device utilizing low cost silicon wafer substrates. According to RSL, green and longer wavelength LEDs have been sought after by both science and industry because they would fill a high-value gap in the rapidly growing global LED market for lighting and illumination. Read more

July 19, 2011 austriamicrosystems has introduced two new LED driver ICs with optimized performance and features to perfectly meet the needs of the latest LCD TVs.  The new drivers are the first in a family of 3rd generation drivers that minimize energy consumption while optimizing picture quality. Read more

June 29, 2011 Akros Silicon Inc., has unveiled the company’s new Energy$ense family of multi-output, digital DC/DC power management unit (DPMU) ICs. Energy$ense technology features include real-time power measurements and power-subsystem health monitoring, high efficiency (94% peak) and ultra-low standby current (<10 uA), digital power control (via I²C) for selectable power operating modes, fast transient-handling capability for implementing adaptive power profiles, built-in spread-spectrum clocking for EMI management, and built-in sophisticated PWM-dimming for battery-draining LED-backlight displays. Read more

June 29, 2011 Annual LED driver IC sales will reach nearly $3.5 billion in 2015 up from nearly $2 billion in 2010, a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent, according to market research firm Strategies Unlimited Inc. Read more

June 29, 2011 The newest LED drivers from Intersil Corporation claim to deliver the industry's best current accuracy and channel matching for small- to medium-sized LCD backlights in smartphones, tablets and sub-notebooks. Read more

June 28, 2011 A new family of intelligent multi-string LED drivers targets the backlighting and solid state lighting markets. The portfolio of Atmel LED drivers includes its efficiency optimizer (EO) technology, flexible dimming options, scalability across wide range of power levels, user programmability and lower bill of material (BOM). Read more

June 22, 2011 iWatt, Inc., has expanded the company’s family of DC/DC LED backlight drivers with its iW7032 which can power up to 32 parallel strings of LEDs. Like the iW7040, which powers up to 64 parallel strings of LEDs, the iW7032 is a mixed-signal IC that features iWatt’s digital adaptive switching technology with integrated MOSFETs. Read more

June 15, 2011 Diodes Incorporated has introduced the first devices in a family of Super Barrier Rectifiers (SBR) designed for automotive applications. With a lower forward voltage drop, improved avalanche rating and higher safe operating area (SOA) than alternative Schottky or ultra-fast diode alternatives, these rugged rectifiers enable automotive designers to increase the reliability of motor control, display panel and LED lighting circuits. Read more

June 7, 2011 Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc. has introduced a high-efficiency white LED driver for liquid crystal display (LCD) backlighting applications in portable electronic devices such as the fast-growing tablet and the established computer markets. Read more

June 6, 2011 National Semiconductor Corp. has introduced a highly integrated linear LED driver that simplifies the design of high power, wide area lighting fixtures such as streetlights.  The LM3466, with just a few passive components, provides a complete system that drives each LED string from any off-the-shelf AC/DC constant-current power supply. Read more

June 6, 2011 U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu will be in Moscow next week to chair the U.S.-Russia Presidential Bilateral Commission's Energy Working Group, partly to implement a smart grid partnership program. Read more

May 27, 2011 Skyworks Solutions, Inc. , an innovator of high reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors, has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated, an analog semiconductor company focused on enabling energy-efficient devices for consumer electronics, computing and communications markets. The acquisition expands Skyworks' portfolio with complementary analog semiconductor products including battery chargers, DC/DC converters, voltage regulators and LED drivers. Read more

May 18, 2011 Phihong has developed a new series of 12 W drivers for indoor LED lighting. Designated the PDA012A (for AC input of 220-277 VAC) and PDA012B (for AC input of 100-120 VAC), the 350 mA constant-current driver operates at an output voltage range of 10~43 VDC and is ideal for applications such as display lighting and strings of a few high-intensity bulbs. Read more

May 18, 2011 Everlight Electronics Launched a new Chip-on-Board (COB) LED series to address important issues in general lighting replacement applications. Competing to previously dominating standard discrete low power, mid power, and high power LED components, Chip-on-Board LEDs are predicted to take on a third of all LED A-lamp applications in 2011. Read more

May 18, 2011 Phihong has developed a series of lighting power supplies for LED luminaire applications in both indoor and outdoor environments. The constant-current and constant voltage drivers are worldwide-compatible with high line and low line AC input voltage ranges and provide standard dimming on all outdoor models. Read more

May 13, 2011 Renesas Electronics has introduced an IGBT drive optocoupler that features an integrated insulated gate bipolar transistor protection function. The PS9402 optocoupler comprises a gallium-aluminium-arsenide (GaAlAs) LED as the light emitting element, a photodetector IC, and an IGBT protection circuit. Read more

May 13, 2011 RECOM has released an extension to the company’s range of isolated AC/DC-LED-Drivers with constant current-output in 3 to 6 W power supply. Read more

May 13, 2011 Avago Technologies launched a white high-brightness LED in a robust SMT package that simplifies manufacturing. The ASMT-UWB1 LEDs are available in a Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC)-2 package encapsulated in a heat-resistant silicone resin, enabling them to operate in a wide range of environmental conditions with high reliability and long operating life. Read more

May 12, 2011 Teridian Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Maxim Integrated Products, is planning to demonstrate both AC- and DC-power measurement suitable for high-power LED-lighting ballasts at the forthcoming LIGHTFAIR International in Philadelphia, USA. Using the Teridian/Maxim 78M6613 energy-measurement system-on-chip (SoC), the demonstration will validate the interoperability of various components to create a ballast capable of measuring its own power efficiency. Read more

May 9, 2011 austriamicrosystems has introduced a highly integrated power management integrated circuit (PMIC) designed specifically for portable devices powered by a single-cell Li-Ion battery. The AS3605 integrates seven low dropout regulators (LDOs), a DC/DC converter, a complete battery charger, LED backlight driver and an audio power amplifier on one die. Read more

May 9, 2011 CamSemi has launched the company’s C3120 family of LED driver ICs and its intention to become a major player in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the lighting market. The new family has been specifically designed to drive an advanced boost/flyback topology to deliver the three essential performance requirements for volume LED applications: ‘best in class’ current regulation, high efficiency and power factor correction. Read more

April 29, 2011 Demand for LEDs continues to rise, with TV applications forecast to dominate LED demand through 2013, accounting for nearly 50% of total LED backlight market demand. Read more

April 28, 2011 RECOM Power, a designer and manufacturer of DC/DC and AC/DC converters, switching regulators, and LED drivers has agreed a worldwide distribution alliance with Mouser Electronics, Inc. Read more

April 22, 2011 CUI Inc's Power line has released AC-DC LED drivers designed for driving high powered LEDs. The constant current drivers offer flicker free operation when used with standard triac based incandescent dimmers. This makes them ideal for retrofitting existing applications or for integration into new systems that will use standard triac or electronic low voltage dimming devices. Read more

April 21, 2011 Analog Devices, Inc., has released the ADP8866 LED charge pump backlight driver, which features independent control of nine LED current sinks, programmable LED blinking sequences and low operating current drain. Independent LED control allows designers to program different currents for each channel and enable them at different times. Read more

April 14, 2011 International Rectifier has introduced a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) control IC for energy efficient applications for high power Light Emitting Diode (LED) illumination including LED street lighting, stadium lighting and theatrical lighting. Read more

April 6, 2011 Latest data from market anaysts, IMS Research suggests that Texas Instruments' acquisition of National Semiconductor for $6.5 billion will create a giant that will dominate the power IC arena. Read more

March 31, 2011 The AL8806 buck LED driver from Diodes Incorporated is capable of producing a constant current of up to 1.5 A from voltage sources of between 6 V and 30 V. Suiting MR16, 12 V and 24 V LED lamp design, the driver ensures a 5% average LED current accuracy for up to nine high power LEDs over the wide operating voltage range, helping to significantly improve inter-lamp luminance matching. Read more

March 31, 2011 Semtech Corp., has introduced a new platform of easy-to-use capacitive sensing ICs optimized for the next-generation of energy-efficient, touch button television applications. The 8-channel SX8660/61 touch sensor platform features integrated LED drivers and an extended, 10 cm range of proximity sensing. Read more

March 24, 2011 The AMLDV-NZ series from Aimtec produces more than 16 W/in2 and comprises high power constant current DC/DC LED drivers in a SMD package of 23.86 x 13.7 x 8 mm. Read more

March 21, 2011 Linear Technology has introduced a 60 V, 1 MHz, step-down DC/DC converter designed to operate as a three channel, constant current LED driver. Each channel of the LT3597 contains a constant current sink LED driver with a dedicated adaptive-output buck converter. Read more

March 21, 2011 TDK-Lambda EMEA has extended the capabilities of the company's ZWS-BAF series of PCB-type AC-DC power supplies by adding two lower power models. The 50 Watt ZWS50BAF and 75 Watt ZWS75BAF combine high efficiency even at low load conditions, with a wide operating temperature range, small size and up to ten-years electrolytic capacitor life. Read more

March 15, 2011 Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation and Richtek Technology Corporation, one of the world’s top 10 analog IC companies, have signed a global distribution agreement. Read more

March 10, 2011 Bridgelux Inc., a developer of semiconductor technology for solid-state lighting, has said it has demonstrated a light output of 135 lumens per watt from a GaN-on-Si LED. The company claimed that this is the first achievement of "commercial grade" performance from a silicon substrate LED, but said it may take two to three years for products based on the technology to come to market. Read more

February 22, 2011 National Semiconductor Corp. is releasing the company’s WEBENCH Designer tools in the Russian language. National's WEBENCH environment features WEBENCH Visualiser, which claims to be the only tool to provide visual navigation of virtually unlimited power and lighting designs optimized to meet desired specifications in seconds, and WEBENCH Power Architect, which makes creation of highly optimized multiple load, multiple supply power regulation systems almost effortless. Read more

February 18, 2011 Excelsys Technologies has unveiled the company’s LDV series of ultra compact LED drivers which deliver up to 92 W of output power in what the company claims is the smallest package size available in the market today, 28 mm high x 40 mm wide. Read more

February 17, 2011 XP Power has released the company's new Power Supply Guide for 2011/2012 which comprises 296 pages that highlight more than 60 new product ranges added since the previous edition. Read more

February 10, 2011 Intematix, a provider of patented phosphors for high-quality LEDs, has developed an enabling technology that allows lighting system manufacturers a novel approach to build out luminaires. Read more

February 9, 2011 iWatt has expanded its family of digital LED driver ICs with its first power-factor-corrected (PFC), primary-side-regulated, leading- and trailing-edge-dimmable, AC/DC Digital PWM Controller targeting 120 V/230 VAC offline commercial and industrial LED lighting applications. Read more

February 7, 2011 Linear Technology has introduced an isolated LED controller with active power factor correction (PFC), specifically designed for driving LEDs from a universal input range of 90 VAC to 265 VAC. The LT3799 is optimized for LED applications requiring 4 W to over 100 W of LED power and also compatible with standard TRIAC in-wall dimmers. Read more

January 31, 2011 Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation is now stocking Cree's LMR4 LED light modules in Europe and around the world. The LMR4 modules are designed to simplify the creative process, giving lighting manufacturers more options as they develop LED lighting products. Read more

January 28, 2011 Cree claims that it has banished last century's lighting with a ''revolutionary'' LED light bulb. Read more

January 27, 2011 Power Integrations has added seven members to its popular LinkSwitch-PH family of LED driver ICs. Optimized for industrial and commercial settings where high efficiency and system longevity are dominant requirements, the devices (LNK413-LNK419) are suitable for lighting applications ranging from 3 W bulbs to 55 W replacements for fluorescent lighting fixtures. Read more

January 17, 2011 Seiko Instruments announced the S-5855A Series, a PWM (pulse width modulation) output temperature sensor IC for LED lightning designs. The S-5855A begins to decrease the duty ratio of PWM signal output when the temperature exceeds the specified value. This change in the duty ratio enables LED lighting circuits to avoid temperatures increasing above design limits, improving safety and efficiency while reducing total design cost. Read more

January 12, 2011 iWatt, Inc., has released two primary-side-regulated, leading- and trailing-edge-dimmable, AC/DC Digital PWM Controllers targeting 100 V/230 VAC offline LED lighting applications. Read more

December 30, 2010 Before you ease yourself into 2011 maybe you should take a little while to reflect on the ten most popular technical articles of 2010. Read more

December 20, 2010 RECOM Power is releasing its inaugural webcasts in an ongoing web series that will focus on practical design applications using RECOM products. Read more

December 16, 2010 Multi-DC/DC colour LED kit delivers more design flexibility for lighting systems that require a variety of LED types and string lengths. TI claims that the complete and easy-to-use kit enables developers to leverage C2000 real-time control microcontrollers to innovate feature-laden, intelligent automotive and stage lighting applications Read more

December 14, 2010 Diodes Incorporated has introduced the AL8400 linear LED driver controller. The AL8400 is designed to tightly regulate LED current via an external transistor across wide variations of high brightness LEDs. Suiting a broad range of LED chains in illumination, indication or signage systems, the controller can directly operate from 2.2 V to 18 V and will drive either N-channel MOSFET or NPN Bipolar transistors. Read more

December 13, 2010 Display power supply specialist Endicott Research Group (ERG) Inc. has unveiled new package configurations that offer footprint-compatibility with their existing CCFL inverter designs.  Read more

December 8, 2010 OSRAM Opto Semiconductors announced the TOPLED Compact 5630 LED, a brilliant LED that the company says will enhance monitor and TV screens of all sizes. Two new versions of the TOPLED 5630 with different coverage of the color space according to the sRGB standard are available to meet various customer requirements. Read more

December 2, 2010 Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., has unveiled two metal-core-based, cold white LED power modules, each assembled with 12, 24, or 36 high-brightness LEDs. The new VLSL40xxA is designed for flexible use by utilizing optional special reflectors to adjust the modules’ emission characteristics, while the VLSL50xxA features a clear silicone lens for a butterfly-shaped radiation characteristic. Read more

December 1, 2010 National Semiconductor Corp., has introduced a new LED driver with the industry's best phase-based dimming performance for high-brightness light-emitting diode (LED) applications. The LM3450 LED driver integrates active power factor correction (PFC) and phase dimming decoding to provide uniform, flicker-free illumination across a wide, programmable dimming range. Read more

November 22, 2010 ON Semiconductor has introduced a 6-channel, high efficiency Quad-Mode LED driver for use in the latest smartphones and other consumer handheld applications such as digital still cameras and portable media players. The Quad-Mode architecture coupled with Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) claims to ensure market leading efficiency in LED backlighting using only external capacitors. Read more

November 17, 2010 Avago Technologies launched cyan-colored high-power LEDs optimized for traffic signals, the new ASMT-JC11 and ASMT-AC00 1-Watt LEDs. The chips address space constraints in applications with one of the industry's smallest footprints of 5x4x1.85mm for the ASMT-JC11 device's 6-leaded small outline package (SOP). Both devices can withstand maximum current of up to 500mA to provide high flux output performance of 58 lumens at 350mA. Read more

November 10, 2010 ZMD AG has launched the second wave of the company's ZLED family of LED control solutions with two new low-voltage ICs designed for battery-powered handheld devices. The ZLED7012 and ZLED7022 incorporate low-noise, constant-frequency charge pump DC/DC converters that can efficiently drive up to four (ZLED7012) or six (ZLED7022) strings of LEDs. Read more

November 9, 2010 Excelsys Technologies has introduced further models in the company’s range of products for industrial and architectural LED lighting applications. The models claim industry leading efficiencies up to 92%, an extensive protection feature set and capable of delivering up to 100 W of output power in a compact package size these new power supplies will be very popular with LED lighting manufacturers. Read more

November 8, 2010 austriamicrosystems has introduced a new 4-channel LED driver IC that claims to provide the brightest and most brilliant video images. Designed for edge lighting in LCD televisions, the AS3696 is the first to include a special control mechanism for 3D effects and extends austriamicrosystems’ portfolio of LED BLU (backlight unit) drivers for the next generation of LCD TVs. Read more

October 27, 2010 TRUMPower has launched its 12 Watt LIS12 series of constant current AC/DC LED power supplies, which can efficiently drive high bright LEDs in series. The series is an addition to the company’s LED power supply product line. TRUMPower’s AC/DC LED power supplies range from 5 W to 120 W and the DC/DC LED power supplies range from 8 W to 12 W. Read more

October 25, 2010 A new family of innovative multi-channel LED drivers from Intersil Corporation provides an ultra-low dimming capability that extends battery life in notebook, netbook and tablet computers. Read more

October 14, 2010 A group of 22 leading European companies and academic institutions announced that they are working together in the “Consumerizing Solid-State Lighting” (CSSL) project, partly funded by the European Union and EU countries. The CSSL project aims to develop technology and application breakthroughs as well as new market approaches in order to speed up the availability of affordable high-quality LED lamps to replace the ordinary light bulb in the home. Read more

October 6, 2010 High expectations are connected to LED headlights for vehicles: High energy efficiency, novel design solutions and greatly improved design options. Renesas' μPD168891 LED control chip integrates several core functions for this type of application. Read more

October 6, 2010 Diodes Incorporated has unveiled a multi-topology LED driver designed to increase the performance of high brightness automotive, industrial and commercial lighting systems. Operating in buck, boost and buck-boost modes, the ZXLD1374 LED driver's integrated 60 V power MOSFET switch is capable of producing a maximum LED current of 1.5 A. Read more

October 1, 2010 RECOM has added a new series of 60 W open frame AC input LED drivers to its range of LightLine constant current LED drivers. The new products are approximately half the size of their competitors. Read more

September 28, 2010 National Semiconductor Corp., has released a LED driver with dynamic headroom control that accurately and efficiently drives current to two independently dimmable strings of LEDs. The LM3492, a member of National's PowerWise energy-efficient product family, maximizes system efficiency and reduces system complexity and cost in automotive LCD backlight applications. Read more

September 23, 2010 RECOM has developed a new series of constant current LED drivers with universal AC inputs, power factor correction and UL certification. The first two products in the "all inclusive" RACD series are a 12 W and a 20 W solution to meet the needs of the high brightness LED lighting market. Read more

September 22, 2010 austriamicrosystems has unveiled two new LED driver ICs that claim to ensure the brightest and most brilliant video images. Read more

September 17, 2010 ON Semiconductor has introduced a new one-channel Quad-Mode LED Driver for ultra low power LED applications such as portable handheld medical equipment. The device's 92 percent efficiency extends battery life. Read more

September 16, 2010 The SBR1U400P1 super barrier rectifier from Diodes Incorporated has been designed to increase the efficiency of off-line LED drivers by featuring a forward voltage 25% lower than standard p-n diode alternatives. Read more

August 31, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is now offering the new LED power supplies from YDS which allow designers of LED lamps, street lights, traffic signals, warning lights, displays and similar applications to fully concentrate on their system design. Read more

August 31, 2010 LED component and lighting specialist Cree Inc. claims that it has achieved a breakthrough in the development and commercialization of silicon carbide (SiC) technology with the demonstration of 150-mm SiC substrates with micropipe densities of less than 10/cm2. Read more

August 23, 2010 austriamicrosystems has released what the company claims is the  most advanced and smallest LED dot-matrix driver (channels vs. PCB space)  available. The AS1119 drives 144 LEDs but requires only 9 mm² PCB space, reduces external component count, reduces connector pin count and requires fewer PCB layers. Read more

August 9, 2010 LCD backlight power specialist Endicott Research Group (ERG) has introduced a new LED driver that can simultaneously and efficiently power up to eight strings of high brightness LEDs (HBLEDs).      Read more

August 3, 2010 Electronics recently unveiled the world's first solar-powered air conditioner as part of its "green" energy initiative. Over the next five years, the South Korean company will promote energy efficiency across all it business groups, including solid-state lighting. Read more

July 20, 2010 Fairchild Semiconductor has released a 150 V MOSFET with low RDS(ON) (17 mOhm MAX) and an optimized Figure of Merit (FOM) to bring high efficiency, lower power dissipation and less heat in a 5 mm x 6 mm MLP footprint. The FDMS86200 offers efficiency and output power in LED lighting, solar and industrial designs. Read more

July 19, 2010 Analog Devices, Inc., has introduced a 1500-mA white LED driver which is the latest addition to ADI's power management portfolio and its inductive-based flash driver class of devices. Read more

July 15, 2010 Maxim Integrated Products has introduced a high-voltage HB LED driver for boost, buck-boost, and buck configurations. Read more

June 30, 2010 Lumex announces the extension of its TitanBrite line of high power LED technology with the introduction of new 2-watt, 3-watt and 5-watt LEDs. The surface mounted devices provide a high intensity light of up to 58, 210 and 300 lumens respectively. Read more

June 22, 2010 Maxim Integrated Products has introduced a highly integrated power-management IC (PMIC) for cell phone displays which integrates a white LED (WLED) driver, passive-matrix organic LED (PMOLED) driver, and a linear drop-out regulator (LDO) in a 10mm2 package. Read more

June 15, 2010 ZMD AG, (ZMDI) a global supplier of analog and mixed-signal solutions for automotive, industrial, and medical applications, is entering entry into the LED market with the first three energy-efficient LED driver ICs of a new family. Read more

June 2, 2010 Fairchild Semiconductor is offering designers of mobile handsets, gaming devices, MP3 players and other small display applications LED drivers that deliver 92 percent peak efficiency, extending battery life. Read more

May 20, 2010 XP Power has unveiled the DLA series of AC input LED drivers that feature output power ranges of 50, 75, 100, 120 and 150 W. Read more

May 12, 2010 Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has expanded its photocoupler portfolio with two new devices that offer ultra-low-profile board mounting in applications requiring isolated switching in accordance with international safety standards. Read more

May 11, 2010 Diodes Incorporated have introduced new LED drivers designed to provide the simplest possible solution for driving low power high brightness LEDs from a single solar or rechargeable battery cell. Read more

May 11, 2010 Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation and RECOM Power, Inc. have entered into an agreement in which Digi-Key will distribute RECOM Power, Inc.'s products to customers worldwide. Read more

May 4, 2010 ERG Lighting, a new Division of Endicott Research Group, Inc., has introduced the eDriver family of LED power supplies for maximum efficiency in a range of solid state lighting (SSL) applications. Read more

April 26, 2010 National Semiconductor Corp. is claiming the industry’s first LED driver with dynamic headroom control and multiple outputs for high-power applications that accurately and efficiently drives up to four strings of LEDs. Read more

March 29, 2010 Cypress Semiconductor Corp., has introduced new AC-DC digital power controllers for LED lighting which offer a cost-effective solution for both non-dimmable and dimmable LED lighting, delivering high efficiency while meeting EnergyStar requirements. Read more

March 17, 2010 Cypress Semiconductor Corp’s PowerPSoC embedded power controller is playing an integral part of the revolutionary new iPAR-38 LED replacement bulb from MSi. Read more