作者：Blade

LED area light source technology found breakthrough in Nanjing

LED lighting technology is more advanced than traditional lighting in energy consuming, environmental protection and health-hazard aspects. The current used lighting source for LED lights is so called “spot lighting source”, which has some defects: inevitable lighting attenuation, higher costs and poor performance of cooling sections. These defects exerted a bad effect on their promotion process. With the becoming mature of LED chip technology, “area light sources” are no longer a myth. Then designers and LED engineers started to realize that replacing spot light sources by LED area light source technology is a key point to overcoming the defects of the existing LED lighting products. Under the support of the “Nanjing 321 plan” issued by Nanjing Government in last month, LED area light source technology found breakthrough in Nanjing.

 

LED area light source technology found breakthrough in Nanjing

 

In the Science and Innovation Park of Nanjing University of Technology reporters found this “area light source”. Nanjing XiongYan Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. demonstrated a recently developed table lamps used LED area light source technology. Only judging from the space, this table lamp has nothing special, just like an ordinary table light. However, it is amazed that this LED table light has no bulbs but still can emit soft yellow white rays.

 

“All light are coming from this small light-emitting sheet.” Introduced by Mr. Guohua Bian, general manager of Nanjing XiongYan Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.. On his palm we found a tiny circular sheet (with a diameter around 4cm, with a wideness about 1mm, and covered with yellow phosphor powder and small black spots), which is rather unnoticeable. “Each black spot is a lighting source. All these 3000 thousand small lighting sources have been evenly arranged on this sheet. We called it are light source. Every sheet consumes a power of 3W, but can replace a 20W traditional table lights. This table light has been installed 10 pieces lighting sheets just like this one, which means this lamps are equivalent to a 100W filament table lights. ”

 

In Mr. Bian’s words, his company spent totally 30 million yuan on developing LED area light source technology. It is a light source technology that more advanced than spot light source, less light attenuation, more easily-be-realized cooling design.

Analysis for LED explosion proof lighting technology

LED explosion proof lighting technology is typically led lights used in places which have relatively high risks in explosion, such like chemical plants, mines and gas stations. These places are full filled with explosive mixtures: explosive gas atmospheres, explosive dust environment and methane gas. Specific measurements should be taken before installing corresponding explosion-proof lamps. One of the most important working principles of LED explosive lights is restrict the contact surface of covers/shells with explosive gases or dusts and meanwhile keep the surface temperature of lamp compartments and electronic components under a safe level. Normally, this safe level is set as the minimum ignition temperature of the surrounding explosive gases. That the reason why measurements and tests should be conducted before installing these lamps. Only in the condition of knowing the major constitutions of the gas mixtures that suitable LED explosion proof lamps can be chosen.

 

LED explosion proof lighting technology is typically used in places which have relatively high risks in explosion, such like chemical plants, mines and gas stations.

 

LED is classified as a type cold solid lighting source, with high eletro-optical conversion efficiency, lower level of heat generation and longer service life. Thus high-power White-ray LED Explosion Proof Lamps are ideal lighting applications. Once promoted, LED explosion proof lighting technology gain a rapid development in this area.

 

LED explosion proof lights are mainly composed of lamp shells, lamp covers mounted in front of metal shells, internal lighting sources and batteries, switches and other compartments. Their major properties:

 

Lighting sources are made up of high-power LED modules. Wide input voltage drives (include constant-current chips, power supplier module) are set between lighting sources and batteries. In most cases, power supplier modules are connected directly with constant-current chips and plastically sealed together with LED modules.

 

The low heat generation of LED lighting sources helped to realize the internal temperature control property to some degrees. Both in battery-fully-charged phases and in battery-nearly-worn-out phases, LED lighting sources can maintain a constant brightness. Low-power LED explosion-proof lights are usually made as portable. It is a recently-developed technology according to the demand of the market. Heat sinks are set on the surface of shells (within lamp covers), which can effectively conduction unwanted heat created during the operation. LED explosive-proof lamps are more reliable than other LED lighting products and were used in a variety of industries, such as coal, petroleum, railway, etc.

Intelligent LED Street Lighting System has bright future

With the continuous progress of society, more and more household items and electrical appliances are developing towards an intelligent direction, using the much humanized operation design. It is no doubt that smart phones are the most outstanding one, yielding too much surprises and happiness. As a part of emerging industry, LED lighting also applied a variety of intelligent designs, especially in LED street lamps, LED Tunnel Lights and high-power LED power suppliers.

 

With the continuous progress of society, more and more household items and electrical appliances are developing towards an intelligent direction, using the much humanized operation design.

 

Intelligent LED Street Lighting System utilized centralized monitoring and control, dimming LED street lamps conditionally according to specific using requirements. It is proved that the average energy-saving level of the entire system is around 20% to 30%, and the average service life of lamps can be extended by around 10%. Preset information will be embedded into CU in advanced. Once failed in some branches, the central controller can detect breakdowns immediately and give prompt responds.

 

Intelligent LED Street Lighting System used on bridges used TCI/IP protocol. After optimized signal transmission, more lamps can be connected into LED lighting system and consequently extend applying distance. The transmission control protocol can increase the reliability of Intelligent LED Street Lighting System. In next sections, we will list several main functions of this system:

 

1)       100 levels for brightness adjustments and 16 levels for gray-scale loss of brightness adjustment.

2)       Frequency can reach up to 85Hz.

3)       256 RGB color adjustment capacities.

4)       Brightness depth can reach up to 1024.

5)       Every individual controller can automatically sample input signal.

6)       Support user-configure.

7)       Power supplier: 24VDC/110-220VAC.

8)       Support remote control and serial communication.

 

Synchronous operations can be realized by this system, no asynchronism, approximately zero power supply errors. The average luminous flux should be maintained on a level of 100lx. The stimulating system is not base on surrounding brightness rather than time. External optical sensors detect surrounding light intensity at a frequency of 10/mins. Once the value fall below a certain value (brightness threshold), the central controller will send out a “switch on” signal to each individual triggers. It is cleared that this intelligent lighting system can automatically adjust “switching time”, also can be successfully turned on in rainy and fog days. LED lights manufacturers began to add solar energy technology into this system, making it more environmental friendly.

What kind of LED lighting products does African market need?

What kind of products does African led lights market need? This is the primary problem faced by the lighting companies who wish to enter the African market. The African market is the low-end applications in the lighting market, but low-end does not equal low-cost. Lighting products companies in China exist deviation in the product positioning. Mainly in the blind pursuit of high brightness, power is not conducive to lower costs. China’s product itself has a cost advantage. Wang Guohua pointed out that the African led down light market is not very high requirements in terms of product performance, lower cost, with basic lighting functions, reliability and durability to ensure that the product of three years without replacement, simple operation to meet the market demand.”

What kind of LED lighting products does African market need?

At present, 1.7 billion people in worldwide living in the dark. In Africa alone, there are 500 million people who live without electricity. For an inspection who tour the lighting conditions of the African market. This is absolutely not just a bunch of numbers, their personal life feel the desire for bright people in Africa. “About 90 percent of the rural population in Africa has no electricity supply. The small streets of many cities basically have no street lights, one evening, the small vendors in the market will lose the hustle and bustle during the day.” Basic lighting and municipal lighting market is the most potential market in Africa and it is in urgent need of development.  However, the off-grid solar lighting products are the most suitable one. the indoor small portable lights, a 5-watt solar LED bulbs, emergency lights, etc can meet the basic lighting needs, and which are the promoting product in the near future. It it noteworthy that the differences of the existing street lights of the African market and China’s domestic development, many parts of Africa market and China’s domestic development. Many parts of Africa is directly tried to telephone poles, and in order to prevent damage to the shell on some street lights and also wrapped around a circle barbed wire.  Looking from the installation form, the optical configuration can not achieve the lighting effect, which requires enterprise to think about how to integrate our existing technology, and combine with local LED lighting products and installation conditions.”

 

 

More than 90% domestic LED producers need loan

On 24th July, a Fund and Industry Strategy Symposium was held in Shenzheng by Shenzheng LED Industry Federation and the Minsheng Bank. 32 LED lights manufacturers attended this Symposium, more than 90% of which expressed their willingness to obtain loan. And about 80% will spend this money on development their chip technology, only 20% indicated that they would like to this money for other purposes. And more than 70% domestic LED producers intended to apply for a loan of more than 250 million yuan.

 

On 24th July, a Fund and Industry Strategy Symposium was held in Shenzheng by Shenzheng LED Industry Federation and the Minsheng Bank.

 

Cao Yon, Minister of the Financial Services introduced that among 600 members (most of them are LED lighting producers), 39 enrolled in the meeting but only 32 took part in. According to the size of this Symposium, there should be more than 50 companies plan to establish the fund, with a total amount of 10 million yuan. That means each company should put at least 200 thousands into this fund pool. In 20 pieces valid questionnaires, more than 90% LED tubes enterprises applied for loan. One of them indicated that the amount of mutual fund loans is much higher than that of small loan companies. Besides, the 10% annual interest rate is also much lower than 30% of small loan companies. “We need a lot of money, but lack of confidence to go to banks. Mutual fund can really do us a favor in this part.”

 

Meanwhile, Minsheng Bank indicated that they will limit the large amount loans with a certain percentage of control. Loans larger than2.5 million yuan should be under rigid restrictions. 7 of these 32 domestic LED producers have met the requirements of large amount requirements and expressed their desire to apply for loans larger than 2.5 million yuan. There is limited cash available and many businesses asking, the organizer acknowledged. Loan ratio can be adjusted according to the overall participating situation of fund companies. For example, if more giant jointed into, the ratio of large amount loans will be increase as well.

 

Among all these enterprises, about 45% plan to use this money to alleviate the working capital pressures; 20% of them for restructuring; and 80% will spend this money on technology research and development; 55% indicated that they are planning to expand the production scale.

Technical data of high-power LED street light

With the development of LED lighting technology, the average lighting efficiency of high-power LED street lights can reach up to 80lm/W, making the application of LED street lighting possible in most countries. LED lights, especially high-power LED street lights are impacting the traditional street lighting market at a rapid pace.

 

With the development of LED lighting technology, the average lighting efficiency of high-power LED street lights can reach up to 80lm/W, making the application of LED street lighting possible in most countries.

 

LED street lamps with power consumption more than 30W can be defined as high-power LED street lamps. The current street lighting standard is uniformity of road surface illuminance. The basic requirement of LED lighting products is 0.48 of this value. And the spot ratio should be 1:2. (1/2 center spot should reach up a lumen output of 25lux, and 15lux for 1/4 center spot, at least 4lux for spot 16 meters far away from center spot). Most lens materials selling on the market is improved optical materials, with a luminousness of 93%, can working within -38℃-90℃, without any ultraviolent rays. LED street lighting has good prospects new-born cities. Color temperature and other properties will not change with the adjustment of light intensities.

 

High-power LED street lights start to emerge in some large cities, such like New York, Tokyo, Paris, and Beijing. In order to strengthen the environmental protection awareness, designers are more willing to use them together with solar panels. The outland landscape property made it is possible for LED street lights using solar energy. Even those manufacturers who are not capable of producing solar panels still make LED street lights which can directly used with solar panels. These lamps are more likely related to intelligent technology. Light sensors are typically applied to measure the surrounding light intensity to decide a specific point to trigger these lamps. In the following sections, we will give some technical data of high-power LED street lights.

 

Lighting efficiency should be higher than 17%. (Amount of solar energy per square is 1000W, and the actual utilization is 170W)

 

LED street lamp lenses should have rectangular spots, using PMMA optical materials, with an luminousness higher than 93% and heat durable.

 

The average uniformity of road surface illuminance should be 0.48.

 

1/2 center spot should reach up a lumen output of 25lux, and 15lux for 1/4 center spot, at least 4lux for spot 16 meters far away from center spot.

 

Humidity adaptation should smaller than 95%.

 

Warranty: 2 years.

Taiwan’s LED industry wants to use the London Olympics to reverse the downturn

From early May, Taiwan media has been flooded with various reports of the continuous depressed state of Taiwan’s LED industry. Lacking for funds and core technology, facing a saturated and highly competitive market at home, all kinds of problems exerted negative influences on local LED lights manufacturing. With the approaching of the London Olympic Games, some experts considered this as a good opportunity to turn the situation around. Many manufacturers also prepared to grab the chance to create a re-booming.

 

Taiwan’s LED industry wants to use the Olympics to reverse the downturn

 

It is reported that the London Olympics will apply mobile devices to live matches. Meanwhile, solar LED street lighting products will be used on roads nearby competition venues. During the preparation time, the UK Government has purchased a large number of solar LED street lighting products from Taiwan and China. The exportation of LED lights in Taiwan has increased by nearly 10% in the past two years. The average growth rate of solar LED street lights is around 35%.

 

As the largest LED manufacturer and exporter in Taiwan, EveryLight suggested that Taiwan’s LED industry was under pressure for a long time. “The local market is actually saturated. You can hardly expect a re-booming. The only way out is transferring our sight from local market to the international market. China is a primary consideration. Mainland has the largest market and LED manufacturing. We are also looking for other breakthrough, and the London Olympic Games will be a good opportunity for us. ” According to their explains, the major competitors of EveryLight is Seoul Semiconductor (also a large LED manufacturer from Korea), Lumen-Max (another LED giant in Taiwan) and other LED producers in Mainland.

 

Some other LED producers still treated China as the largest and the most important market for them. “In LED lighting area, although we have some clients from North America and Europe, but China is still the most important one. We have no willing to move targets recently.”

 

Similarly, LED chip market also suffered fierce competitions. Many local LED chip manufacturers are looking for good chances to shift their focus to other markets. Overall, Taiwan’s LED industry is in a downturn condition. It is suggested that how to turn the table will be a long-term and not-easy issue.

Two major causes of the high price of small LED lights

So far, LED lighting technology still hardly accepted by ordinary people. In fact, LED lights have huge potential in domestic indoor lighting market. But as a result of the high prices, LED lights only have small progresses in this area. Relatively, LED high-power LED lamps had much better performance on the market. The energy-saving and environmental friendly advantages can be more showed up among high-power/large LED lamps. Thus the spread of these lamps are far more rapid than low-power/small LED lights.

 

So far, LED lighting technology still hardly accepted by ordinary people. In fact, LED lights have huge potential in domestic indoor lighting market.

 

In recent years, many LED manufacturers started to convert their energy and time on large LED lighting applications, such like LED High Bay Lights, LED Street Lights. High costs, fierce competitions and limited demands led a much slower development to small LED lights. “We are so willing to accept new lighting technology. The working principles of LED sounds pretty good, but they are too expensive, either. If the current price can reduce by 1/3, I’m going to replace all lights in my house by LED lights.” said one of consumers during the 2012 International LED Fair held in Guangzhou.

 

Why they coasts so much? Here we will give out two major causes of the high price of small LED lights.

 

Lacking of core technology. Core chip technologies belong to the upstream of LED lighting industry. Unfortunately, more than 85% LED chip technologies are under the control of overseas competitors. Although we have occupied more than 50% manufacturing value in LED lighting products, we earned the least among them. With the continuous improvement of producing technique, it was estimated that the cost of LED chips will be reduced by 20% per year. LED chips cost is the main part (around 60%) of LED lamp costs. If LED chip costs can maintain this dropping trend, by 2015, LED light prices can reach a similar level with energy-saving lights.

 

Cooling problems. Most domestic LED lighting producers tend to limit the cooling section costs within 5%. In order to achieve this goal, there are two points need to be noticed: 1. The short the path, the better the cooling effects. Here path means heat conducting path, including aluminum layers, heat sinks and cooling fins. 2. Thermal resistance. Multi-cooling-path is necessary for most LED lighting applications.

 

Once the high price of small LED lights problem has been solved, LED indoors lighting market could rapid developed.

LRC published a research report for LED airfield lighting

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) of Renss ELaer Poly Technical Institute has recently published a research report for LED airfield lighting, indicating that airport lighting should select suitable LED lighting products according to their specific conditions.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) of Renss ELaer Poly Technical Institute has recently published a research report for LED airfield lighting, indicating that airport lighting should select suitable LED lighting products according to their specific conditions.

“Issues with use of LED airfield lighting：ACRP synthesis 35” was published by LRC of of Renss ELaer Poly Technical Institute, which suggested that as the most environmental friendly and energy saving lighting technology on the earth, LED lights is so to say the best lighting equipments for air ports. Replacing traditional airfield lighting technology with LED applications can firstly reduce the costs (maintenance costs primarily) dramatically. Traditional airfield lighting systems are generally based on filament lamps.

 

Transportation Research Board (TRB) of National Academies and Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACPR, which is also one of the main sponsors of this project) published this report together.

 

LRC had a long-term co-operation with FAA. Using solid lighting technology was recently put forward between them. Dr. John Bullough, the senior fellow of LRC and also the author of this report explained that “Obviously, LED airfield lighting can save more money for airports. But filament lamps have been on service for a long time. Almost every airport power supplying system in the world is based on filament lighting technology. Applying LED airfield lighting is not as simple as we though, we may probably have to replace the entire power system as well. ” Flat lands can let LED lighting products perform better, having higher penetration.

 

In the early stage of LED airport lighting industry, there are some “Compatibility Problems” between solid lighting system and airports. These problems have been gradually resolved during a two-year development. This report was based on a large amount of data from the detailed examines of more than 20 air ports all over the world. This report pointed out that despite the high cost of preparation, these cost will be compensate within a few years after installation LED lamps. Upgrade electricity infrastructure can improve the energy-saving capacity and the reliability of the entire airfield lighting system. In accordance with LRC, FAA is currently on a new research report for basic airfield lighting infrastructure.


LED bulbs will become cheaper than traditional filament bulbs?

With the rapid development of LED lights and continuous dropping of cost, prices for LED lights kept on reducing as well. Do you know how to choose the most suitable LED lighting products for your living places?

With the rapid development of LED lights and continuous dropping of cost, prices for LED lights kept on reducing as well.

With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness and the increase of living standard, more and more consumers are inclined to buy green and health-harmless products. In the lighting area, they would like to prefer more energy-saving and healthier lighting products. As if to respond the requests of customers, LED technology was developed during this period of time. LED lighting products can save more energy, have higher lighting efficiencies and longer service lives, the wide spreading of which has become a trend. This new born technology has many disadvantages, either. The expensive selling prices of indoors LED lighting products (such as LED bulbs) made them hardly be accepted by ordinary people. However, things are moving into the right direction. With the constant increase of production and continuous decrease of cost, experts estimated that by 2015, production cost of LED bulbs will drop to around 1.5USD.

 

Unlike traditional filament bulbs, LED bulbs are constituted by LED chip modules, LED components, cooling sections, metal covers, etc.. It is rather difficult to restrict the budget under a reasonable level. Currently, the cost ratio of these three main parts is about 1:1:1. It is expected that by 2015, the costs of LED products will be reduced to 1/5.

 

Currently, the average selling price for first-line brand LED bulbs (like Phillips, OSRAM) is about 90 yuan, while the average price for three-line bulbs is around 40 yuan. Compare with first-line energy-saving lamps on the market, which normally costs 10 yuan, LED bulbs are far more expensive. During the interview, some customers expressed their desire to replace filament bulbs with LED lamps. If the price can be drop to the current energy-saving lamps’ level, there will be no need to take any more considerations.

 

LEDs’ light emitting principles and internal structures determined that they can be made in alternative modes, like dimmable, RBG, or even intelligent. Designers indicated that dimmable LED bulbs can automatically adjust the color and brightness of light, which cannot be realized by any other traditional lamps. In additional, LED lamps with embedded CU also provide users a wireless remote control.