Light reading

From silicon to ceilings

Last month, the Durham, NC-based LED manufacturer Cree announced that it was buying another North Carolina company, LED Lighting Fixtures, for about $100 million.

Privately held LLF makes an XLamp LED-based unit that directly replaces current down-lighting in ceiling fixtures — versions come with an Edison base — and so the purchase gives Cree direct access to residential and commercial lighting markets.

Going for the gold

In addition to being a showcase for international athletes, this year’s Olympics in Beijing will also highlight the latest in advanced lighting. One of the hallmarks will be the new National Swimming Center; the so-called the “Watercube,” whose exterior resembles bubbles, will be architecturally lit using LEDs so it will have a watery blue appearance at night.

Beijing’s Shanghai Stadium, which will serve as the Olympic venue for soccer, has the largest LED screen for sports in China; it measures 391 m2 and uses 651 Barco SLite 14 LED display tiles. Barco is also supplying 12 large LED screens that will be installed in strategic locations, or Cultural Squares, around the Olympic Games area. Further, the Belgium-based company is providing mobile, 3,584 x 2,688-mm B-10 LED-wall screens that comes in a trailer that can be moved about by a vehicle with a 3,500-kg towing capacity.

Those arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport’s new Terminal Three, especially built for the Olympics, will be greeted by Beijing Leyard Electronics Technology’s 20-m LED panels driven by Macroblock LED-MBI5030 drivers.

Undoubtedly, these Olympics will show the rest of the world what to expect in the way of LED lighting.