It's Time for the LED industry to Tackle Compatibility

OFweek | Posted: 22 Nov 2013, 15:23

The story behind LED development—only the 4th lighting technology developed in human history—is remarkable. The potential ahead of LED lighting to deliver real and measurable advantages—to save energy, last years longer, significantly lower bottom-line costs—is limitless. But for it to be the next great defining feature of the lighting landscape, LED lighting needs to work.

Yes, work. That’s precisely the question LED end-users, specifiers, designers, utilities and regulatory agencies ask themselves before adopting LED options for their stores and retail fronts, offices and homes. Will these alternative lighting offerings achieve what they promise?

And the simple, scary truth facing the LED industry today is often, there’s no guarantee they will.

Today, legacy infrastructure—the transformers, fixtures, and control devices already incorporated into built environments—creates unique and challenging compatibility interferences with widespread LED adoption.

What we’ve seen to date in our current, ongoing preliminary phase of LED adoption is “plug and play” applications--a customer simply installs an LED bulb into an existing fixture. Sometimes that fixture works with the LED bulb’s mechanical, electric, and thermal requirements; sometimes it doesn’t; and sometimes there are mixed results. The effect? Consumer uncertainty.

Any new technology only has a small window to prove its value. Second chances with first impressions do not exist—which is why in any market; it’s essential to capitalize on the moment of market introduction. It’s an opportunity—and a test—to gain the trust of the consumer on the first try.

The LED industry, peers, partners, and competitors, must work together to ensure full compatibility with the millions of lamps, dimmers, transformers, and fixtures on the market.

When looking at the compatibility problem, there are three separate issues to address: 1. Electrical compatibility; 2. Mechanical compatibility; and 3. Thermal compatibility.

Electric Compatibility. Common voltages in lighting systems are significantly higher than LED requirements. As a result, the transformer and dimmers often don’t operate consistently, or properly. Frequently this causes the LED to flicker and dim erratically, one lamp powering off before another, or the LED not even powering on at all.

Mechanical Compatibility. Problems arise when LEDs do not match the size and dimensions of traditional lamps. It’s simply a matter of fitting a square into a round hole—the LED does not fix the legacy fixture’s width or height.

Thermal Compatibility. Traditional light sources and LEDs operate at dramatically different temperatures. While some halogen lamps operate at 200 degrees Celsius, LED lamps must operate between a specific thermal temperature to ensure long life and safety standards. In much of the legacy fixture infrastructure, there’s no means to dissipate heat in the bulb design.

Let me be clear. Compatibility is the number one compelling problem facing the entire LED industry today. No end-user, designer, specifier will–or should—care what promises and potential LED technology holds in the future, if it doesn’t meet their needs in the present.

So while others keep the issue in the dark, Ledzworld works to guarantee our technology fits legacy lighting infrastructure. How? By proofing every one of our LED solutions against hundreds of the most commonly used dimmer, transformer and fixture applications. It’s painstaking work, but it’s this behind-the-scenes effort that gives our customers the peace of mind they need, and deserve.

We’re also innovating LED drivers that guarantee our lamps are hassle-free, and work seamlessly on a wide range of magnetic and electric transformers and in combination with commonplace dimmers.

Recently, the company launched a breakthrough MR16 LED lamp with our patented Chameleon driver. The Chameleon driver self adjusts to its environment by first detecting the transformer type, then analyzing its waveform, and finally adjusting itself to make a perfect electrical fit with that particular transformer. This innovative driver makes the company's MR16 LED retrofit lamps truly "plug and play" devices that can be used in a wide variety of transformer and dimmer combinations. Anywhere, every time.

What’s more, the CTR functionality implemented in Ledzworld's Chameleon driver design also provides an intelligent temperature control monitoring system. The temperature control system acts as a watchdog by continuously measuring the ambient temperature inside the driver compartment by utilizing a built-in thermal sensor embedded into the Chameleon driver chipset.

Bottom-line, our lamps work on the spectrum of magnetic transformers, in combination with most commonly used leading edge dimmers, and with a large variety of electronic transformers paired with commonly used trailing edge dimmers.

Ledzworld set out to revolutionize the lighting industry with one unshakable commitment: to develop, design, and manufacture LED lighting that meets—and exceeds—all LED technology expectations. But that starts with ensuring that our technologically progressive, best-in-class lamps work as well with older infrastructure as they do with the new.

So that a few bad actors don’t spoil LEDs reputation, it’s time for the entire LED industry to tackle compatibility, together.

LED & Lighting

How to Reduce LED Driver Failures

The LED lamps show much more efficiency than the traditional incandescent and even the compact fluorescent lamps. The LED lamps are energy saving, eco-friendly, and flexible in usage.

Epistar 2Q17 operations turn to net profit

LED epitaxial wafer and chip maker Epistar has reported second-quarter 2017 operations swung from net losses for the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 into net profit of NT$730.9 million (US$24.1 million).

Lextar, Unity Opto see July revenues rise on month

Lextar, Unity Opto see July revenues rise on month.

Global Lighting reports decreased earnings for 2Q17

Light guide plate (LGP) maker Global Lighting Technologies has reported net profits of NT$84.25 million (US$2.79 million) for the second quarter of 2017, down 66.9% from a year earlier. The earnings translated into an EPS of NT$0.64 for the quarter.

Tons Lightology reports worse-than-expected 2Q17 results

Lighting solution provider Tons Lightology saw worse-than-expected results in second-quarter 2017 despite it being a traditional peak season, as Europe-based clients adjusted inventory levels and decreased orders, and competition from China-based firms heated up significantly.

Seoul Semiconductor's Q2 revenue up 14.9% year-on-year, driven by general lighting applications

Seoul Semiconductor’s Q2 revenue up 14.9% year-on-year, driven by general lighting applications.

OLEDs of the Future Could be Curved, Corning Says

Beginning April of 2016, glass company Corning worked with OLEDWorks. In the first demonstration from their partnership, the companies unveiled a curved OLED panel.

Osram Lighting Solutions Presents SIMPLITZ LED Floodlights

Recently, at their new product introduction road shows across the Asia Pacific region, Osram Lighting Solutions presented the SIMPLITZ LED Floodlight series.

Cree Introduces CLQ6A RGBW and CLQ6AF PC Amber LEDs

Cree has added the CLQ6A RGBW to its line of architectural lighting class LEDs.

Acclaim Introduces Touch-Sensitive LED Panel

Acclaim Lighting, a Los Angeles, based lighting firm, has introduced the React Panel. The React Panel is a touch-sensitive LED panel for interactive surface lighting applications.

LG Innotek Debuts First 'Handrail UV LED Sterilizer'

LG Innotek of Seoul, South Korea, has released the ‘Handrail UV LED Sterilizer’. The device uses UV LEDs to remove germs from handrails of escalators.

Toyoda Gosei develops automotive headlamp LEDs

Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd of Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan has developed its first automotive headlamp LED as a new product.

Eaton Launches Metalux Cruze LED Retrofit Kit

Eaton, a power management company based in Peachtree City, Georgia, introduced the Metalux Cruze LED Retrofit Kit.

Hydrogen Could Provide Path to High-Efficiency OLEDs

A molecule that changes its chemical structure slightly before and after emission could provide a novel, stable approach to achieving high efficiency in OLEDs.

Berkeley Lab tests smart LED lighting in New York living laboratory

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has detailed a living laboratory test of solid-state lighting (SSL) and controls on a 40,000-ft2 floor in a New York commercial office building.

NanoLumens Launches Glassless Touch Screen LED Display Technology

NanoLumens an LED display maker based in Atlanta, Georgia USA, has introduced true glassless touch screen technology.

Epistar June revenues hit 15-month high, Everlight Electronics flat

Epistar June revenues hit 15-month high, Everlight Electronics flat.

The LED Bulb Expert Garner Huge Success on 121st Canton Fair

Shanghai Wellmax Lighting Industry (WELLMAX) concluded another successful chapter today at the 2017 Canton Fair with high appraisal from both exhibitors and buyers. Held from April 15-19 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou。

WELLMAX Highlights 2017 Canton Fair with a Captivating Collection of New LED Bulbs

WELLMAX, as the LED Bulb Expert of the LED industry and one of the longest standing participants of the Canton Fair, joined the 121st Canton Fair from April 15th- 19th.

WELLMAX Sets Sailfor 2017 Canton Fair With New Astonishing LED Product

MaxLite Reinvents the Shoebox with Slim LED Area Lights

Providing a sleek and efficient alternative to traditional shoebox fixtures, MaxLite introduces LED Slim Area Lights as well designed illumination for roadways, parking areas and pedestrian routes.

Yajiang Upgrades Stager Line with Lumileds' LUXEON C Color LEDs

While Chinese stage lighting provider Yajiang Photoelectric set out to upgrade its Stager line of lighting equipment, the company sought LED technology capable of delivering vibrant, saturated colors with a high color gamut, as well as fully tunable whites over a wide range of color temperatures. Fo

WELLMAX Applied Diamond Mark of Quality to Shorten Customs Clearance Time for Customers

WELLMAX Applied Diamond Mark of Quality to Shorten Customs Clearance Time for Customers.

SYLVANIA Smart Home Launches Apple HomeKit Integrated Hub Free Bulb

LEDVANCE continues to advance light by announcing the HomeKit-enabled SYLVANIA Smart Multicolor A19 bulb that can be easily controlled via Siri and Apple’s Home app without a separate hub. Installation is easy. All you need to do is screw in the Bluetooth-enabled bulb in your favorite lamp, sync it

MaxLite LED Fixtures with Enlighted Controls Approved by DLC

MaxLite announced that its Polygon and Vapor Tight LED linear fixtures are now recognized by DesignLights Consortium (DLC) as optional models to Enlighted’s Networked Lighting Controls listed products.

Zumtobel Launches Capsule Collection LED Luminaires

Zumtobel presents their first capsule collection consisting of five exclusive luminaires, which were originally developed and custom-made for special client projects and are now available to architects and light planners for creative and high-quality lighting solutions for the first time.

Oriental Edison Lighting Extends LED Bulb Range

The use of LED light is gaining worldwide popularity. Many agencies have now come up to produce and supply high-grade of lighting bulbs that are based on LED technology. Oriental Edison Technology Limited is one such agency that comes with the expertise to manufacture and supply a comprehensive rang