Europe leads the way in attosecond research
11/21/2008
Breaking the 100 as barrier and making the first movie of electron motion are just two recent milestones achieved by European researchers. Nadya Anscombe talks to key players in the attosecond community to see what the future holds (via optics.org).
Cree R&D achieves 161 lm/W for high-power LED
11/20/2008
Although not available in production LEDs, this level of performance indicates LED technology has still not reached its peak (via ledsmagazine.com).
Periodic stack tunes into photonics market
11/19/2008
Tuneable optical filters that have been fabricated using a simple nanoimprinting method offer unique advantages for display and lighting applications (via optics.org).
Over 32,000 LEDs will power 2009 Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
11/17/2008
The new crystal ball, which can produce millions of vibrant colors and billions of patterns, will also be tough enough to withstand New York weather in its new permanent installation (via ledsmagazine.com).
Fraunhofer opens Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices in Dresden
11/17/2008
A new facility in Germany aims to develop a domestic manufacturing base for the production of organic LEDs and solar cells (via ledsmagazine.com).
Three universities give LEDs good grades
11/13/2008
Cree Inc. has announced the results of LED lighting installations at three universities (via ledsmagazine.com).
LEDs enable energy-efficient microscope for fast tuberculosis detection
11/12/2008
Carl Zeiss has co-developed a rugged, compact LED-excited fluorescence microscope at a low enough running cost to be affordable in poorer countries (via ledsmagazine.com).
Optical oscilloscope is fit for high-speed studies
11/12/2008
An all-optical oscilloscope beats the resolution of conventional devices by more than a factor of five (via optics.org).
Madrid team sets dual-junction solar record
11/12/2008
Researchers working on lattice-matched III-V solar cells at Madrid's Polytechnic University set a new world-best efficiency mark of 32.6 per cent at over 1000-sun concentration (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Quantum dot VCSELs further chip comms
11/12/2008
High temperature operation lasers have brought 20 Gbit/s optical chip-to-chip data transfer closer, with similar technology being used elsewhere in co-operation with Intel (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Chirping boosts solar cell efficiency
11/11/2008
Chirped silicon reflectors have been integrated into thin-film silicon solar cells for the first time (via optics.org).
Freescale and Samsung collaborate on LED backlights
11/10/2008
Freescale expects that its LED driver ICs will complement Samsung’s advanced LED backlighting technology (via ledsmagazine.com).
LED light shown to reduce face wrinkles
11/10/2008
Researchers in Germany say that LED light applied to the face can be a potential alternative to Botox or cosmetic surgery (via ledsmagazine.com).
Casino saves 2 million kW-hrs with LED retrofit
11/10/2008
Lime Energy's LED retrofit project is expected to deliver energy savings of $200,000 per year to Harrah's Valley Center, CA, casino and resort (via ledsmagazine.com).
LED backlights to grab TV share in 2009
11/7/2008
The potential for super-slim designs will be the key market driver behind LED backlighting of large LCD TVs, predicts the Korean analyst firm Displaybank (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
DOE releases Gateway demo report on residential LED lighting
11/7/2008
Testing results of LED downlights and undercabinet lighting include energy savings, improved illuminance uniformity and positive builder feedback (via ledsmagazine.com).
LED backlights could be in 25% of LCD TVs by 2012
11/6/2008
A report by Displaybank says that the use of LED backlights in LCD TVs will start to grow rapidly from 2009 as TV makers introduce slimmer models (via ledsmagazine.com).
III-V solar's largest deals set for 2009 buildout
11/6/2008
Milestones for CPV in Australia and Spain mark the way to continued growth for two firms using compound semiconductor cells next year (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Single laser traps and dissects cells
11/6/2008
Researchers have shown for the first time that a single near-infrared laser can be used to both trap and dissect living cells (via optics.org).
'Smart' LEDs could power wireless networks
11/5/2008
An $18.5m US project that aims to develop LEDs that emit information as well as light could see its first commercial applications in the next few years (via fibresystems.org)
Practical silicon-core optical fibre debuts
11/4/2008
Silicon-core optical fibres that can be mass-manufactured using a conventional fibre-draw process will unite optoelectronics and fibre-optics (via fibresystems.org)
Practical silicon-core optical fibre debuts
11/4/2008
Silicon-core optical fibres that can be mass-manufactured using a conventional fibre-draw process unite optoelectronics and fibre-optics (via optics.org).
LEDs go with the flow in New York City waterfalls
10/30/2008
A series of man-made waterfalls installed around New York Harbor were lit using LED lighting fixtures to simulate the effect of moonlight on the water (via ledsmagazine.com).
CW pump creates visible continuum
10/29/2008
A visible supercontinuum created by a continuous-wave low-power fibre laser could be ideal for spectroscopy, microscopy and optical coherence tomography (via optics.org).
100-meter-tall LED screen planned for Dubai building
10/28/2008
A UAE development company is planning a 33-story high LED screen on the side of a commercial building in Dubai (via ledsmagazine.com).
Feathered photonic crystal takes off
10/28/2008
Natural photonic crystals found within peacock feathers are being used to tune the optical emission of embedded ZnO nanoparticles (via optics.org).
Kodak material boosts OLED performance
10/28/2008
The company, whose OLED wireless picture frame is set to debut late next month, has produced a new green dopant material that enables low-power, long-life OLED displays (via ledsmagazine.com).
Blue LED detects pollutant gas
10/24/2008
Chinese researchers are hoping to commercialize a technique that uses a blue LED to detect nitrogen dioxide cheaply and easily (via optics.org).
Enfis launches world’s brightest LED array
10/23/2008
A demonstration of an output of 12,000 lumens from a single LED array was one of the highlights of Enfis’ recent appearance at the PLASA tradeshow (via ledsmagazine.com).
Chirped fibre delivers short pulses
10/23/2008
A photonic crystal fibre has for the first time been engineered to transmit sub-100 fs pulses over extended distances (via optics.org).
EU ministers seek 2010 bulb ban
10/21/2008
LEDs top the list of proposed acceptable energy-efficient lighting technologies, projected to save Europe 78 TWh/year in energy after incandescents are banned (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
CIP sets thermo-PV efficiency record
10/21/2008
Energy conversion efficiency of 12% could see thermo-photovoltaic devices move into new markets and products (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
LEDs used in cooker hoods and dental lights
10/20/2008
Lower energy consumption, long lifetime and a slimmer sleeker design are key drivers for the replacement of halogen lamps with LEDs in equipment for the kitchen and the dental surgery (via ledsmagazine.com).
Quantum dots pile into 3D photonic crystal
10/17/2008
Researchers embedded quantum dots emitting at 1.5 microns into a 3D photonic crystal for the first time (via optics.org).
Optofluidic microscope shrinks to fit on a chip
10/17/2008
An inexpensive and high-resolution microscope has for the first time been engineered to fit onto a single chip. Marie Freebody speaks to Changhuei Yang of Caltech, US, to find out how the device could benefit applications where portability and low cost are essential (via optics.org).
Sainsbury’s stores adopt Philips LED lighting system for freezers
10/15/2008
Around 15,000 LED lighting modules have been installed in freezers in 350 stores across the UK (via ledsmagazine.com).
External cavity quantum dots see yellow
10/14/2008
Researchers in Germany fabricate quantum dot lasers that produce second harmonics in the yellow-red spectral range (via optics.org).
OLED lighting markets to reach $4.5 B by 2013, says report
10/9/2008
NanoMarkets claims that OLED lighting has made great leaps forward and may soon become a real presence in the backlighting market (via ledsmagazine.com).
Innovative laser lines up for optical interconnects
10/8/2008
Innolume wants to exploit wavelength-division multiplexing to enable low-cost, short-reach optical interconnections between line cards and silicon chips (via fibresystems.org)
Center Aims for Smarter LEDs
10/8/2008
A new research center that aims to replace existing lighting with smarter and greener LEDs and integrate them with optical wireless communications has been funded by a five-year, $18.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) (via photonics.com).
DOE report estimates LED savings in niche markets
10/8/2008
A new report says that a complete switch to LED lighting in twelve niche markets could save consumers $22 billion in electricity costs (via ledsmagazine.com).
IMEC paves the way toward optical sensing foils
10/7/2008
IMEC said with this technique, it will be possible to create foils that sense changes in pressure, and such sensing, skin-like foils could be used for monitoring irregular or moving surfaces, like in robots, pliable machinery, or as an artificial skin (via Electronic News)
Toshiba hones UV chips for white LEDs
9/29/2008
The Japanese electronics giant says a new efficiency record for UV emitters, based on technology it has previously used to make blue laser diodes, will help LED lighting (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
A simpler way to test quantum computers
9/29/2008
Quantum computers could be a step closer thanks to a more classical approach to testing optical components (via optics.org).
Optical mask boosts iris identification
9/25/2008
Iris recognition systems could become faster and more accurate thanks to a carefully designed phase mask, which increases the imaging depth of field (via optics.org).
BN doping heralds transparent solar cells
9/25/2008
Japanese researchers have invented a doping technique that could bring BN into use as a III-V wide-bandgap semiconductor, and used it to make a solar cell (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
VCSEL shrinks position sensor
9/24/2008
Combining a VCSEL and a photodetector array creates a compact and highly accurate position sensor (via optics.org).
European PV best suits concentrator modules
9/24/2008
Redesigned contacts have added more than 2 percent to Fraunhofer ISE's conversion efficiency, with optimal performance at solar concentrations used in commercial systems (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Nine LED streetlights to undergo year-long test in US suburb
9/16/2008
Xcel Energy has installed prototype LED streetlights in a neighborhood in Brooklyn Park, MN, to test their ability to survive harsh weather, provide adequate light, and please the residents (via ledsmagazine.com).
Display LED wins PLASA Innovation Award for digiFLEX
9/16/2008
The highly flexible LED display module can be curved around pre-formed metal surfaces (via ledsmagazine.com).
2008 Lighting for Tomorrow LED winners announced
9/16/2008
Thirty-two companies submitted LED entries, four of which were recognized in the Near-term Applications category and three in other application categories (via ledsmagazine.com).
Doped InGaN barriers attack LED droop
9/15/2008
US researchers are combating high-current LED efficiency loss with magnesium-doped InGaN barriers in the active region (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Hospital lighting project draws LEDs into public sector
9/12/2008
A hospital trust in the UK is to participate in a government initiative to hasten the market entry of innovative and sustainable technologies, including LED lighting (via ledsmagazine.com).
Photonic textiles are a perfect fit
9/5/2008
A glove incorporating plastic optical fibre is ideal for autonomously monitoring vital health statistics such as blood oxygenation (via optics.org).
LED backlights enhance TV performance
9/3/2008
Sony and Philips have introduced LCD TVs with LED backlights that use local dimming technology, while Sony has also unveiled a 9.9-mm thick, 40-inch LCD with white LED edge-lighting (via ledsmagazine.com).
Laser emits tunable blue light
9/3/2008
A solid-state laser that offers practical output powers and a tuning range of 425 to 489 nm is unveiled by researchers in Spain (via optics.org).
Indium controls GaN nanowire laser emission
9/1/2008
Harvard resarchers have increased the complexity of nanowire structures, producing light between 365 and 494 nm (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
SLM boosts microscope resolution
8/28/2008
Researchers have extended the resolution of a wide-field microscope beyond the diffraction limit to image cells in finer detail (via optics.org).
VCSEL extends its reach to detect CO
8/27/2008
Carbon monoxide can now be detected by vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, thanks to a design that pushes emission out to 2.3 microns (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Nanosphere-coated LEDs emit white light
8/26/2008
Chinese researchers have found that adding an opal-like layer of fluorescent nanospheres to blue LEDs gives uniform white-light emission (via optics.org).
New York architect firm, LSG to build prototype LED streetlights
8/26/2008
Under a $1.175M contract, OVI and LSG will produce and test 6 LED prototype streetlights for New York City (via ledsmagazine.com).
Quantum dot laser emits twin peaks
8/26/2008
A quantum dot laser that emits at 1543 and 1571 nm simultaneously is the first in a new generation of dual-wavelength self-modelocked sources (via optics.org).
LED market predicted to grow 20+ percent/year, says Rubicon CEO
8/22/2008
At Rubicon Technology's recent 2Q08 earnings conference call with industry analysts, the company's president and CEO discussed the future of the LED market (via ledsmagazine.com).
Market research indicates increasing use of HB-LEDs in lighting
8/22/2008
In a new report, Strategies Unlimited says the 2007 market for HB LEDs used in lighting applications reached $337M, up from $205M in 2006 (via ledsmagazine.com).
New study says OLED efficiency is less than previously reported
8/17/2008
The study's findings hint that OLEDs would convert no more than 25% of electricity into light, contrary to earlier estimates of up to 63% (via ledsmagazine.com).
In-fibre Bragg grating taps spinal pressure
8/14/2008
Canadian researchers have unveiled a tiny fibre Bragg grating that could replace conventional spinal disc pressure sensors with a less invasive alternative (via optics.org).
Optofluidic microscope shrinks to fit on a chip
8/12/2008
A low-cost and high-resolution microscope has for the first time been engineered to fit onto a single chip (via optics.org).
Cheaper LEDs by Growing Gallium Nitride on Silicon
8/7/2008
Researchers at Purdue University are using a technique called nano-hetero-epitaxy to grow light-emitting diodes on bases of silicon, which could pave the way for cheaper LED lighting. They say they’ve come up with a better way to grow gallium nitride-based LEDs—essential to white lighting—on top of silicon rather than sapphire (via IEEE Spoectrum)
Silicon Camera Mimics Eye
8/6/2008
The human eye's ability to use a curved surface to capture images has stumped research groups trying to reproduce it for the last 20 years. But now engineers report they have solved the problem by using stretchable optoelectronics to create a working eye-like camera (via Biophotonics.com)
Plasmons put laser light on the straight and narrow
8/5/2008
A semiconductor laser that has been engineered to emit a narrow beam of light without the use of additional lenses could help to reduce the cost of optical systems (via optics.org).
VCSELs shape up for high data rates
8/5/2008
An 850 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser capable of achieving data rates of up to 25 Gbit/s makes its debut (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Rubicon: LED production nearing 6-inch mark
8/5/2008
The sapphire substrate maker highlights that larger wafer sizes and Taiwanese LCD manufacturers are beginning to make their mark on the LED industry (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
VCSELs shape up for high data rates
8/4/2008
Researchers in Sweden unveil an 850 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser capable of achieving data rates of up to 25 Gbit/s (via fibresystems.org).
Zero-indium laser hits UV record
8/1/2008
By growing AlGaN sideways from angled seed crystals, Hamamatsu Photonics has cut non-radiative recombination while providing a suitable bandgap for UV lasing (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Large LED displays appear in Liverpool and Times Square
7/31/2008
Europe's largest commercial LED screen has been unveiled in Liverpool, UK, while two new giant LED displays will add to the ambience in Times Square, New York (via ledsmagazine.com).
All-polymer lasers move closer to mass production
7/28/2008
High-throughput roll-to-roll production methods have been used to make a surface-emitting DBR source (via optics.org).
VCSELs head farther into the infrared
7/28/2008
Sometimes it's very difficult to take a successful device and replicate it in another materials system. The GaAs VCSEL is a case in point: although it has been a great commercial success, transferring the design to longer wavelengths has been fraught with difficulty (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
DOE quality program and lifecycle study will boost SSL acceptance
7/25/2008
Two new efforts, a voluntary product labeling program and a lifecycle study for solid-state lighting, will help to accelerate the introduction and acceptance of LED-based lighting (via ledsmagazine.com).
Asia dominates global FTTH rankings
7/24/2008
The three FTTH Councils released the second update to their global fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) rankings at the FTTH Council Asia Pacific Conference in Kuala Lumpur (via fibresystems.org).
Photonic chip chases terabit processing
7/23/2008
Researchers have demonstrated error-free demultiplexing of a 640 Gbit/s optical signal using a planar waveguide made from chalcogenide glass (via fibresystems.org).
Lasers guide neuron growth
7/21/2008
optics.org speaks to researchers trying to get to grips with how lasers influence neuron growth (via optics.org).
Osram reports 155 lm and 136 lm/W from R&D LED
7/21/2008
Osram is claiming a record for luminous flux and efficacy from an LED driven at 350 mA (via ledsmagazine.com).
Multi-faced LEDs introduce more color
7/21/2008
Color-converting phosphors hamper the efficiencies of commercial white LEDs. But this can be avoided by switching to quantum-well growth on multiple facets, say Mitsuru Funato and Yoichi Kawakami from Kyoto University (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
UV laser builds structures atom by atom
7/18/2008
A 326 nm laser system is the latest tool for researchers trying to create precise 3D nanostructures via atomic nanofabrication (via optics.org).
BT to invest £1.5bn in next-generation access
7/16/2008
What a difference a year makes. In 2007, UK incumbent BT said that the unfavourable regulatory regime and the ongoing cost of rolling out its core network transformation project, 21CN, made investment in a national fibre-to-the-home rollout unlikely. This week the operator announced a plan to spend £1.5 billion (€1.9 billion) on a next-generation fibre access network that will bring headline speeds of 40 Mbit/s to 10 million homes by 2012 (via fibersystems.org).
Simulations question Lumileds’ droop theory
7/15/2008
Complex calculations reveal that Auger recombination is not responsible for the decrease in LED efficacy at higher drive currents, in contrast to the findings of a Philips Lumileds team (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Thin-film dyes boost solar cells
7/15/2008
Light-capturing dyes have enabled researchers in the US to increase the power output of solar cells by up to ten times (via optics.org).
Honeywell provides LED lighting for Airbus wingtips
7/15/2008
Honeywell has signed an $80 million contract to supply LED navigation lights to the Airbus A320 family of aircraft (via ledsmagazine.com).
New Jersey utility to evaluate LED street lighting
7/15/2008
PSE&G is partnering with four cities in New Jersey to evaluate LED lamps for effectiveness and energy savings (via ledsmagazine.com).
Slowing terahertz promises all-optical processing
7/14/2008
On-chip integration of optical circuits, optical data storage and ultrafast optical communications are the ultimate goal of researchers developing a metallic grating to slow down terahertz waves (via optics.org).
Ultrafast technology shifts to wafer scale
7/11/2008
Combining a saturable absorber and a gain section in a single semiconductor structure could lead to a new generation of compact ultrafast lasers. Jacqueline Hewett talks to ultrafast pioneer Ursula Keller of ETH Zurich, Switzerland, to find out about her latest idea (via optics.org).
RIKEN makes record bug-busting UV LED
7/11/2008
Teaming with Matsushita Electric Works, the Japanese research institute has revolutionized InAlGaN LED design to make the highest output power device in the 280 nm region (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Coating traps more light in solar cells
7/10/2008
Solar cells could be made thinner and more efficient thanks to a light-trapping coating designed by researchers in Germany (via optics.org).
Polarization-matching combats LED droop
7/10/2008
Switching to a polarization matched GaInN/AlGaInN active region combats droop and improves LED efficacy at high currents, according to researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Water-core PCF creates broad spectrum
7/7/2008
optics.org speaks to the research team that claims it has created the first supercontinuum in a water-core photonic crystal fibre (via optics.org).
Osram explores the route to high-performance greens
7/7/2008
Why are green LEDs so inefficient? Is it the result of poor carrier injection, high Auger loss, strong internal fields, or simply poor material quality, asks Osram's Matthias Peter (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Buried photonic crystals boost LED emission
7/7/2008
Deeply entrenched silica lattices hold the key to producing photonic crystal LEDs that maintain electrical performance while improving light extraction, say South Korean scientists (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Laser pulses target individual cancer cells
7/4/2008
An image-guided femtosecond laser is allowing surgeons to remove individual cancer cells while adjacent cells remain intact (via optics.org).
Cannes: candid talk on migration strategies
7/2/2008
The future of the optical networking industry, like the weather at IIR's WDM & Next Generation Networking conference in Cannes, appears to be bright and sunny. For operators it's just a question of how to get there (via fiberssystems.org).
Light Pulse Speed Record Set
7/2/2008
Researchers have set a new record in ultrafast metrology, producing the first light pulses lasting only 80 attoseconds (a billionth of a billionth of a second) (via biophotonics.com).
Chirped fibre laser drills faster
7/2/2008
Researchers in Germany have engineered a fibre laser system with a high repetition rate that is allowing them to drill holes in metal faster than ever before (via optics.org).
Light Pulse Speed Record Set
7/2/2008
Researchers have set a new record in ultrafast metrology, producing the first light pulses lasting only 80 attoseconds (a billionth of a billionth of a second) (via photonics.com).
LED standards published in the US
7/1/2008
Two standards relating to LED chromaticity and photometric measurements have already been published in 2008, and more are in the pipeline (via LEDsmagazine.com).
Nanotweezers trap tiny objects
7/1/2008
An optical tweezer has for the first time been engineered to move nanometre-sized particles.
'Excitonic integrated circuit' is a first
6/30/2008
Device used excitons to switch beams of light (via compoundsemiconductor.net)
Philips claims first with office building entirely lit using LEDs
6/26/2008
Philips Lighting France will light an office building in Paris using LED fixtures to achieve both functional and decorative lighting (via ledsmagazine.com).
Tiny green laser targets mobile projectors
6/26/2008
Researchers in Korea believe that their tiny green laser ticks all the boxes for mobile projection applications (via optics.org).
40G: it's time for a reality check
6/24/2008
The mood here in Cannes at IIR's WDM & Next Generation Networking conference is definitely upbeat, but there's one topic where carriers are sounding a note of caution: 40G (via fiberssystems.org).
High-power SLED delivers broad spectrum
6/24/2008
A superluminescent LED has for the first time been engineered to exhibit high output power as well as a broadband emission spectrum (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Texas supermarket chain to use GE LED refrigerated display lighting
6/24/2008
United Supermarkets has replaced Lumation LED lighting in 47 stores to save $633,000 in energy and maintenance costs (via ledsmagazine.com).
Osram Opto unveils LED street lamp project in mainland China
6/23/2008
Shenzhen SED Industry Co.'s light fixtures containing Osram LEDs will illuminate roads in Shenzhen High-Tech Industrial Park (via ledsmagazine.com).
Partnerships show prototypes for LED-based home projectors and tactile displays
6/23/2008
Luminus and TI have created lamp-free projectors, and Osram Opto and Design Dash Ltd. have developed image projection and IR technology for reconfigurable tactile displays (via ledsmagazine.com).
Fraunhofer cooperation speeds roll-to-roll fabrication of OLEDs and solar cells
6/22/2008
Two Fraunhofer institutes have joined forces in the development of a technology for an organic device roll-to-roll production process (via ledsmagazine.com).
Universal Display pushes white OLEDs to 100 lm/W
6/19/2008
Made using the company's phosphorescent OLED technology and with the help of a DOE grant (via ledsmagazine.com)
Toshiba reviews lighting business with emphasis on LEDs
6/19/2008
Toshiba plans to stop production of filament lamps in 2010 and move towards eco-friendly lighting (via ledsmagazine.com)
Dilute nitride closes in on telecom demands
6/18/2008
Perfect annealing conditions hold the key to fabricating room-temperature singlemode GaInNAs lasers operating at 1.5 microns (via optics.org).
Patterned polymers boost OLED efficiency
6/13/2008
The efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) could be boosted by 40% thanks to a nanoimprinting lithography technique (via optics.org).
Thin-disk laser yields energetic femtosecond pulses
6/12/2008
A thin-disk laser has for the first time been engineered to achieve pulse energies greater than 10µJ without the need for external amplification (via optics.org).
Dilute nitride closes in on telecom demands
6/12/2008
Perfect annealing conditions hold the key to fabricating room-temperature single-mode GaInNAs lasers operating at 1.5 microns (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Driving current crucial in blue diode failures
6/12/2008
An extensive analysis of blue laser diode degradation has found that control of crystal quality is the key to making the devices more reliable (via optics.org).
Close-packed array improves LED output
6/10/2008
Etching a photonic crystal structure onto the surface of an LED boosts light emission intensity by a factor of three (via optics.org).
Defects targeted for InGaN laser improvement
6/9/2008
Better control of crystal quality is "strictly necessary" to improve blue laser diode reliability, finds an extensive study by laser manufacturer Panasonic and a team at the University of Padova (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Compound cells double solar electricity yield
6/6/2008
Best-ever system efficiency figures bode well for Concentrix Solar’s larger upcoming solar power plant deployments and factory opening (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
ZnO allows m-plane GaN growth on sapphire
6/5/2008
Using a closely lattice-matched buffer, Chinese researchers have demonstrated HVPE growth of non-polar GaN epilayers on economical substrates (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Polaritons promise more efficient lasers
6/5/2008
Particles that are 'half-matter and half-light' could lead to the development of low-power ultrafast lasers, says a team of researchers from Crete (via fibresystems.org).
Cavity soliton laser brings all-optical processing closer
6/3/2008
A CW or pulsed laser that can be switched on and off using light pulses could play an important role in future photonic systems (via optics.org).
Chip makers chase the Sun as competition hots up
6/2/2008
The rush to invest in and develop clean energy technologies has witnessed unprecedented interest in III-V solar cells for concentrating photovoltaics (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Sun Microsystems to Develop On-Chip Optical Networks
5/31/2008
The US Department of Defense has awarded Sun Microsystems Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., $44.29 million to develop computer microchip interconnectivity through on-chip optical networks enabled by silicon photonics and by the company’s proximity communications technology (via Photonics Spectra).
US Invests in Solar
5/31/2008
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has announced that it will invest up to $13.7 million over three years in 11 university-led solar photovoltaic technology projects. This investment is part of the Solar America Initiative that was begun in 2006, the goal of which is to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by 2015 and to install photovoltaic systems that can produce 5 to 10 GW of electricity in the US by 2015 and 70 to 100 GW by 2030 (via Photonics Spectra)..
Laser sets heart beating to a new rhythm
5/30/2008
Researchers in Japan have created a femtosecond laser pacemaker (via optics.org).
Terahertz laser emits at room temperature
5/29/2008
A quantum cascade laser that emits terahertz radiation at room temperature opens up applications in biological imaging and security screening (via optics.org).
Water boosts laser ablation efficiency
5/23/2008
An ablation technique that fires nanosecond pulses onto a sample with a layer of water on its surface could aid laser processing of metals (via optics.org).
Fibre delivers self-healing Bessel beam
5/21/2008
A fibre-based source of near-ideal Bessel beams will be crucial for applications that require remote beam delivery as well as diffraction-free propagation (via optics.org).
Femtosecond laser delivers breakthrough performance
5/19/2008
A Ti:Sa laser that emits sub-50 fs pulses at repetition rates of 10 GHz offers unique advantages for applications in spectroscopy (via optics.org).
Moore's Law for Photovoltaics Takes Hold
5/16/2008
Specialists in solar energy got together in San Diego to discuss how photovoltaics can be improved to achieve commercial success. Three positive developments have now emerged (providing a sort of "Moore's Law" for solar power) that could lead to the elusive goal of grid parity (via IEEE Spectrum).
Medical imaging via mobile phone
5/15/2008
Medical images that can be uploaded onto a mobile phone and transmitted to health professionals for analysis could help make diagnosis and treatment more accessible (via optics.org).
Radiohead tour goes bulb-free with i-Pix LED fixtures
5/15/2008
For its current world tour, rock band Radiohead has chosen to use only LED fixtures for stage lighting (via LEDs Magazine).
LED Lasers Cost Less
5/8/2008
Plastic lasers that convert light from LEDs and can be tuned to every color of the rainbow can be created at a fraction of the cost of existing technologies, said the physicists who developed them at the University of St. Andrews (via photonics.com)
Solder Bumping Improves Lens
5/7/2008
A solder technique used in electronics manufacturing is proving useful in keeping optical device lenses clear and in place when they are used inside a vacuum (via photonics.com)
Virgin Media lights up 40G with Nortel
5/7/2008
When Nortel unveiled its 40 Gbit/s strategy and products back in March, it also named UK carrier Neos Networks and Danish service provider TDC as customers, but a third customer has managed to steal the limelight by being first to actually deploy Nortel's 40 Gbit/s equipment (via fibresystems.org).
Pulse-driven LEDs have higher apparent brightness
5/5/2008
Human perception studies by a Japanese university indicate that pulse-driven LEDs appear up to twice as bright (via LEDs Magazine).
Nitride LED pumps polymer laser
5/2/2008
A polymer laser that is pumped by an LED could provide a low-cost and compact source of visible light (via optics.org).
Nitride LED pumps polymer laser
5/2/2008
A polymer laser that is pumped by an LED could provide a low-cost and compact source of visible light (via optics.org).
Smoothing process boosts green LED output
5/1/2008
The secret to reducing out-diffusion of indium from quantum wells is adding an extra trimethylindium-ammonia step during epiwafer growth (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Pico-projectors featured at upcoming Projection Summit
5/1/2008
Pico-projector systems, many using LED light sources, are expected to be a major feature of the consumer electronics marketplace by 2012 (via LEDs Magazine).
Study finds US consumers warming to LEDs for energy-efficient lighting
5/1/2008
A new study says 87% of consumers would be willing to try LED technology for some or all of their home lighting (via LEDs Magazine).
An alternate way of driving LEDs
4/30/2008
Several lighting manufacturers have recently incorporated AC-driven LEDs into their lighting fixtures. Tim Whitaker looks at this emerging technology (via LEDs Magazine).
LED-illuminated gas station sees higher traffic and reduced costs
4/30/2008
The Better Day BP gas station and convenience store in Racine, Wisconsin, is the first to feature all-exterior LED lighting, writes Kevin Orth (via LEDs Magazine).
UK hospital installs LEDs to save energy costs and improve illumination
4/28/2008
Norfolk and Norwich U. Hospital will save GBP1600 pounds annually by replacing the halogen lights in its atrium with PuraLED luminaires (via LEDs Magazine).
Nav-comm develops new LED lighting systems for emergency vehicles
4/25/2008
The Russian Police and Emergency Services are among the latest entities buying the UK-made light bars, which have a lower profile and higher efficiency than traditional lighting systems (via LEDs Magazine).
EU laser team readies cancer surgical strike
4/25/2008
Backed by industry and the European Commission, the 'Brighter' project is delivering powerful 635 and 650 nm diodes for medical applications as the first of its many goals (via optics.org).
GaN VCSEL delivers electrically pumped lasing
4/24/2008
GaN VCSELs are now producing electrically pumped lasing thanks to superlattice structures in the n-type mirror and indium tin oxide coating of the aperture (via optics.org).
OLED encapsulation method reduces water intrusion
4/24/2008
Georgia Tech researchers have replaced the glass enclosure with a thin-film barrier formed by a less expensive conventional deposition method (via LEDs Magazine).
London looking for LEDs lights in Trafalgar Square fountains
4/17/2008
The Greater London Authority is looking for a contractor to replace the lighting system in the Trafalgar Square fountains with a new high specification LED lighting system (via LEDs Magazine).
Light+Building tradeshow breaks records in Frankfurt
4/17/2008
Light+Building had a big leap in visitor numbers this year, a strong emphasis of energy efficiency, and of course plenty of LEDs (via LEDs Magazine).
Infrared spectroscopy detects Alzheimer's
4/16/2008
An optical technique for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in living patients has been proposed by researchers in the US (via optics.org).
AlInN mirrors spur VCSEL progress
4/15/2008
Electrically pumped GaN VCSELs are just round the corner, thanks to the development of AlInN-based distributed Bragg mirrors and ring-shaped intracavity contacts (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Positive predictions for laser market
4/14/2008
"The world optoelectronics market will surpass $1.2 trillion by 2017." That's the staggering prediction made by Steve Anderson, chief editor of Laser Focus World (LFW) in Photonics Europe Industry perspectives seminar (via optics.org).
Plastic perfection
4/14/2008
Yasuhiro Koike believes in the optical properties of plastics and, judging by the number of people who came to hear his plenary discussion, he's not alone in his view (via optics.org).
Robo-pet
4/14/2008
Ever wanted a pet, but without the hassle of training or cleaning up after it? Well 'Probo' could be for you!
This robotic companion has an artificial optical skin, which can detect touch and respond accordingly. Probo is so clever that it can differentiate between different types of touching such as tickling, poking, slapping and petting and reacts with the appropriate facial expressions and noises (via optics.org).
LED brightness doubles in a flash
4/9/2008
A researcher from Ehime University in Japan hopes that pulsed LED operation, which fools us into thinking that we’re looking at brighter light, can be used in residential lighting (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Spliced fibres yield sensitive strain sensor
4/9/2008
The spherical microbubble formed when a single-mode fibre is spliced to a hollow-core photonic crystal fibre produces a high-precision strain sensor (via optics.org).
Osram and lighting designer Ingo Maurer unveil OLED table lamp
4/8/2008
The limited-edition table lamp shows the potential of using OLEDs as flexible or transparent light sources with a uniform light-generating surface (via LEDs Magazine).
III-V solar cell firms target 150 mm substrates
4/4/2008
Emcore and Spectrolab are planning to manufacture cells on larger germanium wafers to help meet the anticipated growth of GaAs-based solar power generation.
Novel thin films target device applications
4/4/2008
A new class of optical thin-film materials enables the refractive index to be tuned to extremely low values. E Fred Schubert and colleagues believe that this capability could have important applications in real-world devices, including solar cells and LEDs (via optics.org).
Fluidic lens allows universal imaging
4/4/2008
An imaging device combining a fluidic lens with a set of fixed glass lenses can operate as a camera and as a microscope (via optics.org).
Antenna directs light emission for first time
4/3/2008
An optical antenna that redirects the light emitted by nearby molecules could benefit sensing and analytical applications (via optics.org).
Novel cascade structure aims for shorter wavelengths
4/2/2008
A quantum cascade laser operating in the near infrared could be on the cards, thanks to research that has shown electroluminescence from an unusual combination of materials (via optics.org).
Graphene makes for better optical displays
3/31/2008
The cost and quality of LCDs could be improved by replacing conventional indium tin oxide electrodes with graphene (via optics.org).
Silicon chip processes single photons
3/28/2008
The first single-chip logic gate capable of processing individual photons represents an important step towards practical quantum computers (via optics.org).
Computer giants embrace on-chip optics
3/27/2008
Competition is mounting in the race to use light rather than electronics to transfer information in next-generation supercomputers (via optics.org).
Photon research breaks new boundaries
3/26/2008
Three independent research groups have demonstrated how the quantum nature of individual photons could boost the performance of both imaging and data transmission systems (via optics.org).
Warmer whites top DOE's wish list
3/25/2008
The research focus on high-performance LEDs will now shift towards more warm-white LED and high-efficacy luminaire development, says a US Department of Energy report (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Thin-disk lasers set new benchmarks
3/20/2008
Two separate research groups have unveiled thin-disk lasers that push the performance boundaries of both pulsed and continuous-wave laser sources (via optics.org).
Giant optics gives telescope a wider view
3/19/2008
The world's most powerful wide-angle survey telescope uses a huge two-in-one mirror to become the widest, fastest and deepest eye of the new digital age (via optics.org).
$20 DVD head images graphite terraces
3/18/2008
Optical chips that are commonly found in DVD players could pave the way for low-cost atomic force microscopy (via optics.org).
Osram reports warm-white OLED with 46 lm/W efficiency
3/18/2008
As part of the OPAL research project, Osram has simultaneously achieved long lifetime and high efficiency (via LEDs Magazine).
Solar dish breaks 20-year efficiency record
3/17/2008
A honeycomb structure of highly accurate and reflective mirrors boosts conversion of sunlight to electricity to beyond 31% (via optics.org).
Groovy nitrides could light up silicon
3/17/2008
Devising a monolithic approach to making a silicon light source has been fraught with difficulty, but the fabrication of lattice-matched GaNAsP lasers on CMOS-compatible substrates is showing a great deal of promise, according to Wolfgang Stolz from the University of Marburg and NAsP III/V (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
LED displays prominent in Olympic Games venues
3/13/2008
Shenzhen Sansun Hi-Tech Co., Ltd has supplied four LED screens to the main stadium and the aquatic center for the Beijing Games (via LEDs Magazine).
Global market for OLED displays to exceed US $4.5 billion by 2010
3/13/2008
The global Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display industry is anticipated to experience stupendous growth in the coming five years according to a new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc (via LEDs Magazine).
GE demonstrates OLEDs manufactured by roll-to-roll process
3/13/2008
A manufacturing process similar to that used for newspaper printing could eventually result in low-cost, commercially viable OLED lighting (via LEDs Magazine).
Intel extends silicon lasers to 1850nm
3/11/2008
Intel's optical engineers have notched up another first: a cascaded Raman laser built in silicon that they believe could be used in gas sensing applications (via optics.org).
Picosecond pulses sort real jewels from fakes
3/10/2008
A new laser technique could spot counterfeit gemstones without damaging the material (via optics.org).
IBM takes on-chip interconnects to light speed
3/7/2008
As IBM's prototype optical interconnect technology hits the headlines, optics.org spoke to IBM researcher Clint Schow to find out what's really under the bonnet (via optics.org).
Nanowires brighten up organic LEDs
3/7/2008
Organic LEDs that use gold nanowires to boost light-emitting efficiency show promise for future lighting and display technology (via optics.org).
Prize fund provides $20 m incentive to develop efficient LED lamps
3/6/2008
The new energy bill contains details of the Bright Tomorrow Lighting prizes totaling $20 million, to encourage US companies to develop efficient LED lamps to replace 60 W incandescents and PAR-38 halogens (via LEDs Magazine).
Tunable laser deluge drives down prices
3/4/2008
The recent raft of announcements about the latest tunable laser releases should come with a health warning, as excessive competition in this market segment may stunt its growth (via fibersystems.org).
Europe invests in TEIN3
3/3/2008
Collaboration between researchers in the Asia-Pacific region and their peers across the globe has been extended by an €18 million investment in the new TEIN3 high speed research and education network from the European Union and its Asian partners (via fibersystems.org).
OFC/NFOEC report part 1: 40G
3/3/2008
To find the buzz at the Optical Fiber Communications/ National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC) in San Diego last week then look no further than 40 Gbit/s optical components (via fibersystems.org).
Novel research boosts solar cell efficiency
3/3/2008
Solar panels that combine the ubiquity and low cost of silicon-based solar cells with the high efficiencies associated with more expensive compound semiconductor technologies could be in production within three years (via optics.org).
2007: a good year for optical
3/3/2008
Sales of optical network hardware are up for the 4th consecutive year, nearing $13.9 billion worldwide in 2007, a 19% jump from 2006, says Infonetics Research in its latest Optical Network Hardware report (via fibersystems.org).
Experiments locate light source in silicon nanocrystals
3/2/2008
A long-standing controversy surrounding the source of light emission in silicon nanostructures has been settled by new experiments in high magnetic fields (via optics.org).
Study reveals true cost of fibre access
2/29/2008
TNO, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, has developed a model to evaluate the lifetime costs of large-scale fibre-to-the-home deployments that will help operators and investors plan their network roll-outs more effectively (via fibersystems.org).
Optics pioneer honoured
2/28/2008
Alcatel-Lucent today announced that Bob Tkach, director of Transmission Systems research at Bell Labs, received the 22nd John Tyndall Award, the highest recognition in the optical telecommunications community, during a ceremony at the OFC/NFOEC conference in San Diego, California (via fibersystems.org).
Power record falls as laser emits 300 TW
2/28/2008
The most intense laser in the world could improve radiation treatment of cancer and shed new light on ultra fast light-matter interactions (via optics.org).
Scientists prevent quantum dots from "blinking"
2/27/2008
Quantum dots can be made to emit single photons more efficiently and reliably by using a new method to suppress quantum dot "blinking" (via optics.org).
Seoul LED delivers 900 lm maximum at 10 watts
2/26/2008
The new Z-Power P7 Series single LED package has significantly higher light output than a 60 W incandescent lamp (via LEDs Magazine).
Infinera unveils photonic roadmap
2/26/2008
Infinera is out to prove that it won’t be left behind when the industry makes the move to 40 or 100 Gbit/s (via fibersystems.org).
Record cell sets IMEC's III-V solar agenda
2/26/2008
Scientists at the European research center hope to make the most of industry-leading germanium junctions, and intend to deploy an unusual cell design to do so (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
New applications speed LED market recovery
2/25/2008
Now much less reliant on mobile phone backlighting, the market for high-brightness LEDs is bouncing back from two years of sluggish growth (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
LED market to grow by 12% in 2008
2/20/2008
Strategies Unlimited predicts that the LED industry is emerging from a slow growth phase, and that the total market size in 2012 will exceed $11bn (via LEDs Magazine).
Blue lasers to emerge intact from format war
2/19/2008
Analyst Asif Anwar remains confident in the impressive growth rates he's predicted for GaN laser diode sales, even if the triumph of Blu-ray leads to a change in Sony and Nichia's ongoing relationship (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Ultrafast fibre lasers offer flexible solutions
2/15/2008
One of today's most active research areas is exploiting ultrafast fibre lasers that produce picosecond or femtosecond pulses. Frank Lison and Thomas Renner of TOPTICA provide a back-to-basics look at the technology and review the emerging applications that could benefit (via optics.org).
Laser turns aluminium into gold-coloured aluminium
2/14/2008
A femtosecond laser process can create a variety of colours on a metal surface, and could lead to control of material's optical properties from UV to terahertz (via optics.org).
Bringing optical technology to the seismograph
2/12/2008
The University of Kent at Canterbury applied its expertise in advanced optics to develop a new generation of sensors to measure seismic activity.
Four-pronged attack promises ultra-high efficiency lighting
2/11/2008
Ultra-high efficacy white-light sources can be built by carefully mixing efficient blue, green, yellow and red LEDs, say Sandia National Laboratories researchers. Richard Stevenson investigates (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
InP removal sharpens airplane vision
2/6/2008
Etching back the epiwafer substrate stretches InGaAs light detection from the infra-red into the visible region, which could prove critical for imaging LED landing lights (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Efficient white OLED emits clearly
2/5/2008
High quality light has been produced by a white OLED using a novel three emission layer structure (via optics.org).
New process boosts fiber production
1/25/2008
A hollow-core optical fiber that can be produced in a day instead of a week suffers no loss in quality according to UK researchers (via optics.org).
Incentives needed for LED streetlight adoption
1/24/2008
Oakland study finds that, at current prices, it could take as long as 26 years for LED streetlights to deliver a return on investment through energy savings(via compoundsemiconductor.net).
LED lenses make eyes light up
1/21/2008
Contact lenses with imprinted LEDs could benefit drivers, pilots, or patients with impaired vision (via optics.org).
PC-SEL emits blue-violet for first time
1/17/2008
A short wavelength surface-emitting laser could help Japanese researchers to develop next-generation information storage devices (via optics.org).
LED trio dominate the automotive sector
1/17/2008
Osram, Nichia and Lumileds have a combined share exceeding 50% of the global LED market, according to a report from IMS (via LEDs Magazine).
LED backlights enable Apple's ultra-thin notebook
1/16/2008
Apple's latest notebook with an LED-backlit screen tapers to a thickness of just 4 mm (via LEDs Magazine).
Bookham LED multiplexing module targets biomedical market
1/16/2008
Using novel multiplexing filters, Bookham's LED module can combine up to six wavelengths in the visible range (via LEDs Magazine).
An answer to LED droop?
1/14/2008
A major obstacle to solid-state lighting is so-called "droop" - the way that the efficiency falls at high drive currents. Its origins were unclear: until a recent spate of papers appeared, that is… (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
DARPA kicks off green laser project
1/9/2008
Non-polar GaN substrates and low-defect crystal growth will have an important part to play in powerful, practical green laser diodes (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
US Energy Bill powers up LED lighting
1/8/2008
A new law will help the US Department of Energy improve understanding across the solid-state lighting industry, which could bring benefits far beyond the $20M competition that will be the first outcome.
Team develops tiny optical switch
1/7/2008
What could be the world's smallest optical switch has been made by a team of researchers at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Osram transparent OLED offers high efficacy
12/17/2007
Osram Opto Semiconductors has developed a high-performance, transparent white OLED, that is transparent either when on or off (via LEDs Magazine).
Optical system stores light as sound
12/14/2007
A new technique for storing light pulses as sound waves could improve the performance of optical communications networks (via optics.org).
Silicon waveguide cleans up optical signals
12/13/2007
US scientists have unveiled a centimetre-sized silicon chip that can regenerate optical signals transmitted through an optical fiber (via optics.org).
Nanolasers boost data storage
12/12/2007
US researchers have made a nanolaser that could enable data to be stored with a density of 10 Tbit per square inch (via optics.org).
IBM unveils tiny silicon modulator
12/11/2007
IBM's silicon optical modulator is one hundred times smaller than previous devices, which could enable high-density optical integration in silicon (via optics.org).
Tunable bandgap heralds new photonic devices
12/6/2007
A new semiconductor material with a tunable bandgap could allow precise control over the wavelength of light emitted by a laser (via optics.org).
The team from OSRAM and Fraunhofer IOF win the German Future Prize 2007
12/6/2007
The German Future Prize for 2007 was awarded specifically for thin-film chip technology and its application in the Ostar family of LEDs
Optical hardware market hits a new high
12/4/2007
2007 revenues are the highest for the market since the crash in 2001, says Infonetics (via fibersystems.org).
OLEDs: Osram transparent OLED offers high efficacy
12/4/2007
Osram Opto Semiconductors has developed a high-performance, transparent white OLED, that is transparent either when on or off (via LEDs Magazine).
OLED project unveils see-through displays
11/30/2007
Transparent and non-transparent OLED signage devices have been developed for automotive applications (via optics.org).
Silicon Photonics: Challenges and Future
11/29/2007
The report examines the emphasis on silicon photonics today as a potential optical interconnect solution and addresses the issues and technology paths being pursued.
Cascaded VCSELs beat bandwidth record
11/29/2007
A direct modulation bandwidth of 66 GHz has been achieved from two daisy-chained VCSELs, and the principle could be scaled up to reach over 100 GHz (via optics.org).
Microstructured fiber boosts ultrafast photonics
11/28/2007
The photonic crystal fiber produces ultrafast pulses at low powers and across a broad spectral range, as well as breaking new conceptual ground in photonics (via optics.org).
Berlin gains new semiconductor nanophotonics center
11/28/2007
German research on novel optoelectronic devices and nanostructures is reinforced by a new Center of Excellence funded by the country's National Science Foundation (via optics.org).
Researchers see 100 Gbit/s future for copper
11/23/2007
Copper could still give fibre a run for its money in future home and enterprise networks if predictions by US researchers turn out to be correct (via fibersystems.org).
Production Cadillac sports full LED headlamp
11/23/2007
Next summer, the cavernous Cadillac Escalade Platinum will become the first series production sports utility vehicle to feature a full LED headlamp (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
A four-core fiber-optic sensor
11/14/2007
A novel design senses curvature, twisting angle, and temperature gradient in a single optical fiber for structure monitoring (via SPIE Newsroom).
Osram's LEDs light up Canadian sidewalks
11/12/2007
LEDs are lighting the streets of Banff in Canada as part of a pilot project with Osram (via optics.org).
Tunable gel senses surroundings
11/6/2007
Colorimetric sensors could benefit from research into photonic gels that can be tuned across the entire visible spectrum (via optics.org).
Novaled reports 35 lm/W and 100,000 hours from white OLED
11/6/2007
Further progress has been reported by Novaled in the development of white OLEDs for lighting (via LEDs Magazine).
Creative Technology scores at Rugby World Cup
11/5/2007
A giant rugby ball composed of multiple LED panels was the showpiece of the hospitality area in a Paris rugby stadium (via LEDs Magazine).
White LEDs offer radio-free wireless option
11/2/2007
A photonic alternative to wireless networking could offer data rates of up to 100 Mbit/s in an unlicensed part of the spectrum (via optics.org).
Fiber laser sales to surpass $240 million in 2007
11/2/2007
Sheet metal cutting and micro applications lead the growth in the fiber laser market, according to the latest report from Strategies Unlimited (via optics.org).
Cree installs LED lighting in all its facilities
11/2/2007
As part of its LED Workplace initiative, Cree will convert all of the lighting at its facilities to LED lighting. Part of the project has been completed, and energy usage has been cut by 48% (via LEDs Magazine).
LED safety and the evolution of international standards
10/19/2007
For the purposes of LED safety analysis, newer standards use lamp-based rather than laser-based criteria. However, with continued improvements in LED performance, safety standards for LED are still evolving, according to Neil Haigh and Geoff Archenhold (via LEDs Magazine).
Liquid-core fibers improve sensor sensitivity
10/18/2007
New research is improving the performance of sensors based on fluid-core optical fibers, while also making them easier to fabricate (via optics.org).
Tunable VCSEL includes intracavity microlens
10/12/2007
Fabricating microlenses directly on to the top of a VCSEL's gain structure creates a versatile single-mode source (via optics.org).
Sony launches ultra-thin OLED TV
10/5/2007
The first commercially available OLED TV could be the first step towards a new generation of ultra-thin screens (via optics.org).
Mitsubishi Electric unveils 140-inch indoor LED display
10/4/2007
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced today a new 140-inch full-color LED display for indoor-use, called Resolia (via LEDs Magazine).
Sony announces OLED TV launch in December
10/4/2007
Sony will seed the OLED TV market with an 11-inch model priced at around $1700 (via LEDs Magazine).
Daktronics installs world's largest HD display for Kansas City Royals
10/4/2007
The Kansas City Royals and Daktronics announced today that the world's largest high definition (HD) LED video display will be installed at Kauffman Stadium prior to the start of the 2008 Major League Baseball season (via LEDs Magazine).
LED lights could provide Michigan with a greener Christmas
10/1/2007
A company selling LED holiday lights wants the State of Michigan to adopt LEDs for its Christmas tree (via LEDs Magazine).
Carmanah lights up Big Apple with LED street signs
9/28/2007
New York City is to install energy-efficient internally illuminated LED street signs.
Flat-panel display spans entire color range
9/27/2007
A reflective flat-panel display that exhibits color tuning across the entire visible spectrum could be a valuable power saver (via optics.org)
LEDs lights to span the Hudson River
9/25/2007
LEDs will replace conventional lighting on the George Washington bridge and the Holland Tunnel (via LEDs Magazine).
Vertical emission opens new doors for VCSELs
9/21/2007
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers have long been associated with the datacom market but as Karlheinz Gulden of Bookham explains, the laser's unique emission properties are now proving useful in applications such as optical mice and atomic clocks.
Nitride LEDs get brighter with transparent ZnO contacts
9/19/2007
LED manufacturers can boost chip performance by up to 30% if they replace ITO contacts with those based on ZnO, says Structured Materials Industries' Gary Tompa.
Cree breaks efficacy records for power LEDs
9/13/2007
R&D measurements verified by NIST show that Cree has developed LEDs driven at 350 mA that have efficacies of 129 lm/W and 99 lm/W for cool and warm white, respectively (via LEDs Magazine).
Optical networking enjoys best quarter sales in six years
9/12/2007
Investment in metro-WDM equipment spending up by 51% in year to mid-2007, reports analyst Ovum-RHK. North American wireline capex dips while spending on mobile infrastructure outperforms fixed (via fibers.org).
JDSU shows off ‘transmitter-on-a-chip’
9/7/2007
JDSU demonstrates the integration of tunable lasers and modulators on a single InP die, drawing on more than a decade of experience researching photonic integrated circuits (via fibers.org).
Pulsed hybrid laser looks good for fiber-optics
9/4/2007
A mode-locked silicon evanescent laser could lead to high-speed data transmission (via fibers.org).
Optical active cable exploits CMOS photonics
9/4/2007
A new 40 Gbit/s cable is paving the way for CMOS photonics to be used in consumer products (via fibers.org).
Osram supplies LEDs for street lights, unveils new Dragon
9/3/2007
Osram LEDs have been used in solar-powered streetlights in two Austrian towns, and a new version of the Golden Dragon has been unveiled with 20- or 40-degree optics (via LEDs Magazine).
Supercontinuum sources head for medical market
8/31/2007
Many biomedical applications are now benefiting from the unique optical properties of supercontinuum fibre lasers (via optics.org)
Supercontinuum sources head for medical market
8/31/2007
Many biomedical applications are now benefiting from the unique optical properties of supercontinuum fibre lasers (via optics.org)
Banknotes boost ultraviolet LED firm's cash flow
8/30/2007
Japanese company Nitride Semiconductor is doing good business replacing conventional UV bulbs with GaN LEDs, but for further growth, it's looking beyond money (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Optical inspection spots defective ball bearings
8/29/2007
Illumination by ring light could be the best way to see potentially dangerous flaws in ball bearings (via optics.org)
Pulsed hybrid laser looks good for fiber-optics
8/29/2007
A mode-locked silicon evanescent laser could lead to high-speed data transmission
EU permit lights the way for first all-LED headlamp
8/24/2007
Audi is to bring full LED headlamp units, featuring Lumileds’ Luxeon LEDs, to the road in its “brand icon” R8 (via compoundsemiconductor.net).
Verizon Center to install first true HD indoor LED scoreboard
8/22/2007
High-definition video using 6-mm pitch LED screens will be installed in the Washinton DC arena by ANC Sports and Mitsubishi Electric (via LEDs Magazine).
Silicon photonics goes organic
8/21/2007
A combination of organic semiconductors and silicon photonics results in a hybrid red surface-emitting laser (via optics.org).
LED sales for large backlight units to hit $1bn by 2012
8/21/2007
As the market for LEDs used in handset backlights hits saturation point, larger-scale applications will represent a billion dollar market by 2012, predicts IMS Research.
Welland is Well Lit with LED street lighting
8/20/2007
The City of Welland, Ontario is undertaking a pilot program to evaluate LED street lighting, which could possibly lead to the installation of more than 6500 luminaires in future (via LEDs Magazine).
LED backlight set for strong market growth
8/17/2007
LEDs light sources, driver ICs and ambient light sensors will all be in demand as new backlighting applications emerge (via LEDs Magazine).
LED bulbs create star-scape in LA's Ernst & Young Plaza
8/9/2007
LED lighting has created an attractive decorative feature and saved tens of thousands of dollars for the building owner.
Lessons to be learned from LED product recall
8/9/2007
The LED lighting industry should react positively to news that an LED lighting product has been recalled due to a fire risk in the circuit