On October 11, 2024, Nichia Corporation ("Nichia") filed Patent Infringement Lawsuits in Germany in the Düsseldorf Local Division of the European Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the Munich District Court against Endrich Bauelemente Vertriebs GmbH ("Endrich"), a German electronic components distributor, for selling certain automotive LED products manufactured by Malaysia-based LED manufacturer Dominant Opto Technologies Sdn. Bhd. ("Dominant").
In the lawsuits, Nichia is seeking permanent injunction, rendering accounts, damages, recall and destruction, alleging that certain automotive LED products from the Spice Plus and NagaJo series manufactured by Dominant and sold by Endrich infringe three Nichia patents, namely EP2323178 (for the territory of Germany, Italy, France and Netherlands), EP3267494 (for the territory of Germany), and EP2216834 (for the territory of Germany). For the relationship between the Dominant LED products being object of the lawsuits and the Nichia patents, please refer to the information below:
Nichia claims that certain products from the Spice Plus series infringe EP2323178 and EP3267494. EP2323178 relates to LED package epoxy resins that exhibit excellent heat and light resistance. EP3267494 relates to LEDs that achieve high reliability and high efficiency in manufacturing. These two patents represent important technologies in the automotive lighting and backlighting market, where highly reliable LEDs are especially required.
Nichia also claims that certain products from the NagaJo series infringe EP2216834, which relate to CSP (Chip Scale Package) products, an essential technology for high-luminance LEDs. This technology is of particular importance in the automotive headlight market, where high-luminance LEDs are especially required.
Nichia also holds family patents in the following countries:
EP2323178: Japan, U.S., Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Netherlands, China, India, Taiwan, and Korea
EP3267494: Japan, U.S., Germany, U.K., France, Netherlands, India, Taiwan, Korea, and Brazil
EP2216834: Japan, U.S., U.K., France, Italy, Netherlands, India, Taiwan, Korea, and Russia.
Nichia seeks to protect its patents and other intellectual property rights and takes actions against alleged infringers in any country where appropriate and necessary.
On October 16th and 17th, Nichia will exhibit at SIA Vision 2024 in Paris, France. SIA VISION is an event focused on automotive industry, where most recent results of research and development are presented for a bright future of automotive lighting.
Nichia will feature cutting-edge technologies that reflect the trade show's focus on safety and infrastructure improvements. Key products to be showcased include Nichia's µPLS (Micro Pixelated Light Source), a pioneering light engine solution integrating pixelated microLEDs ideal for high-definition (HD) adaptive driving beam applications. Moreover, Nichia will introduce Near Field Projection lighting solutions, and latest LEDs that will make headlamps much slim.
Event Date & Time:
2024 October 16th 8:30am – 7:30pm
2024 October 17th 8:00am – 5:00pm
Venue:
Cite des sciences et de l'industrie
Nichia Booth:
113
Products on Display:
- µPLS (Micro Pixelated Light Source)
- Chip Scale Packages Color: Optimized for near-field projection applications
- Chip Scale Packages White: Showcasing its role in thin design headlight applications
- Interior Lighting Solutions: High CRI Technology
Nichia's laser diode technology has been recognized for its contribution to the advancement of the motion picture industry and has received a Scientific and Technical Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
The Academy's Scientific and Technical Awards are given to companies and engineers who have developed significant technologies that have contributed to the motion picture industry.
Five of Nichia's LD engineers involved in the development of the blue and green laser light sources used in laser projection systems for movie theaters have been awarded in the category of "Technical Achievement Award".
Nichia's blue and green laser diodes have been widely adopted in laser projection systems for movie theaters, and Nichia's contribution to their widespread use has been highly regarded.
Nichia, the world's largest LED manufacturer and inventor of the high-brightness blue and white LEDs, is honored to receive three BrightStar Awards from LEDs Magazine. These awards were given for the Cube Direct Mountable Chip, Nichia Light Cluster™ Type L, and NSSM237B.
LEDs Magazine's BrightStar Awards are intended to recognize ingenuity in commercial components, materials, tools, controls, and finished products for LED-based applications. Categories include LED light sources, indoor/outdoor illumination, horticultural lighting, connected lighting, circadian and disinfection lighting, and specialty applications. This competitive program allows LEDs Magazine to celebrate and recognize the most innovative products of the past year that have successfully built advancing LED and solid-state lighting technology in various applications.
Cube Direct Mountable Chip is an LED that realizes a horizontal light distribution by combining Nichia's expertise and technology in phosphors and LEDs cultivated over many years. Nichia Light Cluster™ Type L, similar to the Cube Direct Mountable Chip, is an LED lighting module characterized by its ultra-wide light distribution. The strong horizontal light is effective to the realization of thinner and lighter weight fixtures, and reduction of building materials. In addition, it creates a soft, low-glare light that envelops the entire environment.
NSSM237B is a lensed, full-color RGB SMD LED for outdoor displays, and developed by adopting Nichia's proprietary technology. It achieves brightness comparable to through-hole LEDs with even greater contrast, while maintaining the lightweight, thinness, and compactness of SMD LEDs. This LED represents a completely new innovation by combining the best features of through-hole and SMD LEDs. Not only does the NSSM237B reproduce the beauty of the displayed content, but it also requires less power and minimizes “light pollution” by fine-tuning the light distribution. And its lightweight design reduces the total weight of the display unit. All these benefits lead to environmental-friendly display advertisements.
Nichia continuously strives to develop innovative products, with a focus on function and quality of light, for the daily comfort of our lives.
On March 6th and 7th, Nichia will exhibit at the Water Quality Convention & Exposition (WQA) in Orlando Florida. WQA is one of the most respected shows on water quality for residential and commercial applications. The focus of this show is to bring together the world's best water treatment professionals and manufacturers to share cutting edge technology and best practices geared toward moving the water quality industry ever forward.
Nichia plans to exhibit its industry leading UV-C LED technology, ideal for water disinfection applications including residential, commercial, and agricultural water treatment. In addition, Nichia will introduce the advantages and benefits of transitioning from mercury lamps to LED technology including a realization of a mercury-free society.
Event Date & Time:
2024 March 6th 11:00am – 5:00pm
2024 March 7th 9:00am – 2:00pm
Venue:
The Orange County Convention Center
Nichia Booth:
662
Products on display:
High Power UV LED
For registration and details:
2024 WQA Convention & Exposition – Be The Catalyst!
convention.wqa.org
For more information about products, refer to Nichia's website.
We look forward to seeing you at the fair.
From March 3rd to March 8th, Nichia will exhibit at Light + Building 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany. Light + Building, Europe's premier international trade fair, showcases a comprehensive range of lighting trends, featuring the newest innovations in lighting, electrification, digitalization of home and building services, and integrated security technologies.
Nichia will display several groundbreaking products, including the Nichia Light Cluster™ Type L and a new Cube Direct Mountable Chip which introduces a novel feature of efficient horizontal light distribution. Both solutions provide an unrivaled soft, low-glare quality of light and enable luminaire manufacturers to significantly reduce the thickness and weight of lighting fixture designs.
Other highlights include the H6 Series LEDs which delivers the industry's highest joint-boost in color quality and efficacy and HPS color LEDs, true alternative to high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS) contributing to the realization of a sustainable society. Visitors can also attend presentations on technology trends from industry partners and Nichia's technical experts.
Nichia, the world’s largest LED manufacturer and inventor of high-brightness blue and white LEDs, is launching a full-color RGB SMD LED with a lens (Part no. NSSM237B) aimed at contributing to a more environmentally friendly society.
The NSSM237B is an innovative full-color RGB SMD LED with a lens designed for outdoor large-scale displays, realized by combining technologies of through-hole LEDs and SMD full-color LEDs that Nichia has cultivated over many years. With the use of lens and packaging technologies, it features light distribution characteristics that suppress light in the upward direction of the display while dispersing light downward. This has successfully reduced the waste of light energy.
The NSSM237B can achieve high brightness, low power consumption, and contributes to the reduction of light pollution, which were difficult with previous SMD LEDs, as well as miniaturization and weight reduction, which were challenging with through-hole LEDs. In addition, it is possible to create environmentally-friendly advertisements that not only use less energy, but also reduces waste by reusing enclosures when installing displays.
Traditionally, through-hole and SMD LEDs have been used for outdoor displays, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. However, through the technology Nichia has cultivated over many years, Nichia has successfully combined these advantages. The lens of the NSSM237B is designed in such a way that each bubble is optimized for each RGB die to ensure excellent color matching even when viewing the display from below.
By adopting the NSSM237B, which boasts overwhelming brightness, power consumption is reduced by approximately 55% compared to conventional SMDs.
With its optimized downward distribution, it minimizes the impact on the night sky. Nichia's expertise in light control technology contributes to creating environmentally-friendly advertisements that support the Dark Sky initiative.
NSSM237B enables a weight reduction of 85% and can almost halve the weight of the display compared to three through-hole LEDs (1 pixel). Additionally, it allows for thinning of the display like SMD.
Nichia continues to develop products that are useful to society.
Nichia, the world's largest LED manufacturer and inventor of the high-brightness blue and white LEDs, is pleased to announce that the Nichia Light Cluster™ Type L received an award from the 2023 LpS Digital Innovation Awards in the LED modules category for Product Awards.
The LpS Digital Innovation Awards are presented annually by LED Professional, the world's leading LED magazine based in Europe, to the most outstanding LED products and solutions in the categories of "Product", "Sustainability", "Scientific Paper" and "Achievement". The award-winning Nichia Light Cluster™ Type L is a lighting LED module featuring ultra-wide light distribution, developed by combining technology and expertise in LEDs and optical systems that Nichia has cultivated over many years. This feature enables thin and lightweight fixtures which have not been seen before and realizes a comfortable lighting space that envelops the entire environment with soft light.
These distinctive characteristics were highly considered by the judges as they will bring new possibilities to the design of lighting fixtures. Also, for the first time this year, the jury utilized AI to evaluate entries, and the Nichia Light Cluster™ Type L was awarded the AI Prize in addition to a Product Award.
NCSWE13A-V1 (Ra≥90, R9≥80) has been added to Nichia’s Direct Mountable Chip Series portfolio, a high luminous flux density chip scale LED. Its higher CRI improves the appearance of illuminated objects and is ideal for downlight and spotlight applications.
To learn more about the product, visit Nichia Corporation’s website: https://led-ld.nichia.co.jp/jp/product/led_product_data.html?type=NCSWE13A-V1
Nichia's new UV-B and UV-A LEDs, scheduled for release in 2024, deliver the highest power conversion efficiency and radiation flux in the industry for LEDs with peak wavelengths of 308nm and 330nm, respectively (according to Nichia's research). These new LEDs feature the same 3.5mm x 3.5mm packages as Nichia's highly acclaimed 434 Series UV-C LED, currently in mass production. Nichia has successfully developed a UV LED portfolio where all wavelength ranges are available in the same size, enabling the creation of fixtures that combine various wavelengths and allowing for high-density installations.
Tokushima, Japan - 6 December 2023: Nichia, the world's largest LED manufacturer and inventor of the high-brightness blue and white LED, is scheduled to launch two new UV LEDs in March 2024: UV-B LED with a peak wavelength of 308nm and UV-A LED with a peak wavelength of 330nm.
The spectrum of high-pressure mercury lamps, which are commonly used as the light source for ultraviolet irradiation devices, includes peak emissions at 280nm, 365nm, and 405nm, as well as around 308nm and 330nm. With UV LEDs at 280nm, 365nm, and 405nm already in mass production, Nichia has now chosen to add to its UV LED portfolio with the development of 308nm and 330nm LEDs. With this broad product portfolio, Nichia believes that it will be able to successfully meet the replacement of high-pressure mercury lamps in most of applications.
Nichia's new UV-B and UV-A LEDs, scheduled for release in 2024, deliver the highest power conversion efficiency and radiation flux in the industry for LEDs with peak wavelengths of 308nm and 330nm, respectively (according to Nichia's research). These new LEDs feature the same 3.5mm x 3.5mm packages as Nichia's highly acclaimed 434 Series UV-C LED, currently in mass production. Nichia has successfully developed a UV LED portfolio where all wavelength ranges are available in the same size, enabling the creation of fixtures that combine various wavelengths and allowing for high-density installations.
In addition to being an alternative technology to mercury lamps, the UV emission from the 308nm UV-B LED is also considered to be effective in vitamin D production and in the control of plant diseases and insect pests. Nichia expects that this technology will be applied in these medical and agricultural fields in the future.
Product samples of discrete LEDs or LEDs mounted on boards to expedite design efforts are already available and can be requested through Nichia's sales representatives or the Contact Form via Nichia's website.
Nichia promises to continue developing UV LEDs with improved performance to contribute to the realization of a mercury-free society and carbon neutrality and to help solve social issues including improvement of food self-sufficiency.