Vishay Intertechnology Expands Color Binning and Ordering Options for VLMW41XX Series of Sapphire-Based, Cool White SMD LEDs

To meet the need for color homogeneity in a wide variety of lighting applications, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) today announced that it has expanded the color binning and ordering options for its VLMW41XX series of sapphire-based, cool white SMD LEDs in the PLCC-2 package. The devices are now available in 14 different color bins with very narrow chromaticity coordinate groups according to CIE1931. In addition, Vishay's customers can now order LEDs comprised of four adjacent color bins.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. , a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, MOSFETs, and infrared optoelectronics) and passive electronic components (resistors, inductors, and capacitors). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, power supplies, and medical markets. Vishay's product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and "one-stop shop" service have made it a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at www.vishay.com .Available in 8 mm tape, samples of the VLMW41XX high-intensity SMD LEDs are available now. Production quantities are available now, with lead times of six to eight weeks for larger orders. Follow Vishay SMD LEDs at http://twitter.com/vishayindust .Link to product photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vishay/6036244443The package for the series is the EIA- and ICE-standard PLCC-2, which consists of a lead frame embedded in a white thermoplast. The reflector inside the package is filled with a mixture of epoxy and TAG phosphor. The TAG phosphor converts the blue emission partially to yellow, which mixes with the remaining blue to produce white. The LEDs feature an ESD-withstand voltage up to 2 kV, in accordance with JESD22-A114-B, and are lead (Pb)-free and RoHS compliant.Link to datasheet: http://www.vishay.com/doc?82411 (VLMW41..)Design engineers need very uniform color temperature when designing with white LEDs. Each LED should be nearly identical in color and intensity. By offering more narrow color bins and allowing customers to order four adjacent color groups, Vishay's VLMW41XX series enables designers to eliminate color differences in applications including backlighting in automotive dashboards and switches; indicators and backlighting in telecommunications systems, audio and video equipment, white goods, and office equipment; and flat backlighting for LCDs, switches, and symbols in general use.

Link to product photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vishay/6036244443

Home Design - What's Hot For 2011

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that a year ago I wrote an article "What's Hot And What's Not For 2010". I had such a huge response to this piece that I thought it was only fitting to share a similar version of the home building, renovation and design trends that are topping the charts for this year.

Going green extends beyond plumbing. If you own an older house, it is likely that your electrical panel is not properly equipped to handle the amount of energy that modern life demands. Call your local electricians today to find out if you require an electrical panel upgrade. An archaic, practically prehistoric electrical panel is not only grossly inefficient, but it can also be dangerous! The residential electricians who come to your home will not only be able to switch out your panels so you can enjoy a safer home, lower energy bills, and better service, but they can also help with services like energy-efficient lighting installation. Your older lights can be using more energy and money than is truly necessary, but switching to CFL bulbs or even LED lighting can help eliminate inefficiencies. That's a waste that neither you-- nor the Earth--can afford!Re-designing your home's overall layout and introducing some Universal Design principles into your renovation could include wider doorways, main floor master suites, and user-friendly kitchens and baths. These subtle tweaks make even the smallest homes feel more spacious and appeals to an enormous segment of the population -Baby Boomers and Gen Xers alike.2. Family Room Additions. (75% ROI)For more information: http://plumbing-heating-minneapolis.mn-biz.com/The current scene is definitely green. Energy efficiency is fast becoming the hottest and most desirable trend or "shift" in the home design and building industry. You can go all the way and completely reduce your carbon footprint or simply begin by introducing energy-efficient windows, lighting, appliances, tank-less water heaters, low-VOC paints, stains and sealants into your next home renovation or building projects.With the trend of downsizing our homes comes the idea of expanding our interior living spaces to the outdoors. Homes with charming porches and decks naturally transition the interior to the exterior instantly expanding your living space. It extends the summer season almost forcing us to live outdoors before the really cold weather sets in. Porches can define a neighborhood, and recapture a sense of community.1. Major Kitchen Remodels. (ROI 75-85%)For more information: http://electrical-contractor-boca-raton.fl-biz.com/site/services/service/Residential-Electrician-Boca-Raton-FLIt takes time to switch to a green lifestyle. But like everything that's worth doing, the hardships and adjustments pay off in the end. Call your local electricians and plumbers today to see the impact that you, John and Jane Q. Homeowner, can have on the world around you!Work Spaces.Endangered species. Global warming. Greenhouse gases. Carbon footprint. There are so many different phrases used to talk about environmental issues these days that it can be hard to understand where you fit into the puzzle and what you can do to help. It seems like green is the hip, responsible way to go, but you're not a biologist or a celebrity. What kind of impact could you possibly have on the melting Arctic ice caps and adorably helpless koalas from your comfortable home in Suburbansburg?Since most home-based businesses must co-exist with families, separating the living and working environments can be a challenge. If you're lucky enough to have a separate guesthouse, a detached carriage house, or space above your garage then designate that space for the ideal office location. Otherwise, like the vast majority of home-based businesses provide a space within the home itself - an unused bedroom, space beneath a stairway, or corner of the kitchen or family room. Either way - select an area where noise and traffic are at a minimum and privacy is optimum!Rooms are becoming more multi-functional than in years past and therefore it's more important than ever to maximize every inch of space - within the existing footprint - and provide creative and integrated storage solutions throughout your entire home. Less clutter and greater organization will contain your "stuff" and still allow your home to feel more spacious and uncluttered.Easy maintenance, high quality materials and integral smart systems make for an easy transition for the changing family. Integrating state of the art or "Smart" technology into our homes is a very hot trend that continues to blaze. It's about making our lives easier. Controlling kitchen appliances, lighting and your entertainment systems from a centralized panel will soon be foreshadowed by the apps from our smart phones where we'll be able turn on our lights, have our fireplace crackling and our dinner cooked to perfection the moment we walk through the door. Sign me up!With a one-year extension of energy efficiency tax credits, it only makes sense to take advantage of this offer and incorporate these products along with more durable and sustainable materials when you're updating your home.Whether you're customizing a recently purchased home, making the changes needed to update your existing space or are simply interested in increasing the overall value of your home, keep these ideas in mind when tackling your 2011 home improvement projects.Decks can be as simple or elaborate as the home they're attached to. Multi-leveled or single, built in seating or casual seating areas, hot tubs, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits - all of which create added living space and provide a vacation-like atmosphere. Design your porch or deck to compliment the character of your home's exterior architecture. Give it some thought in planning. It should be proportionate to the size of your home and property and make sure to include energy efficient solar or LED lighting.WHAT'S HOT:For more information: http://plumbing-heating-minneapolis.mn-biz.com/site/services/service/Faucet-and-Toilet-Repair-Minneapolis-MN

Keeping abreast of these home design trends will help guide you when it comes time for you complete your "to do" list. Families grow, people mature and our needs change. It's all about re-inventing your home making it feel as though it was built just for you.

Author: Lori Gilder

Anyone Can Go Green! Make an Impact from Your Very Own Home

Everyone can have an impact on the environment! Just by switching to more efficient energy sources and performing routine maintenance and upgrades, you can go green and save green all at the same time!

For those families purchasing new homes, many are looking for more modestly sized properties than the McMansions of the past. Being more attracted to the space they need rather than the space their ego wants - is on today's agenda. It's all about being more value conscious and living authentically. Although some newly built homes may be shrinking in size - by only about 10-15% (reducing overall room sizes), the high-end materials and finishes are in no way compromised.Porches and Decks.Universal Design.Adding a 400 sq.ft. master bedroom suite and spa-like bath provides a private retreat and appeals to many home buyers. - Access to main floor is gaining in popularity. - Empty nesters and others, who no longer want to tackle stairs, prefer to have the master bedroom and bath retreat on the main floor level of the home. - Immediate access to a gorgeous deck or patio outdoors also adds to the return.The function of the kitchen has evolved over the years and now more than ever the kitchen must meet those needs.Greener, Healthier and Smarter Homes.The homeprenuer trend is not just growing - it's intensifying. With an unstable economy comes the opportunity for more people to work from home either part time or launch home-based businesses. Today's technology makes it easy to be as productive at home as in an office-based location.Smaller Homes.The answer: a huge difference. Just by contacting or paying a visit to your local professional plumbers or electricians, you can have a equipment installed or repairs performed that will make your home so green, you might be tempted to call it a plant. Give your local plumbers a call today to learn more about geothermal heating and cooling, a method of controlling the air temperature in your home using the natural heat that is stored in the ground around your very own property! But that's not all you can do. Ask your local plumber how a tankless water heater, an appliance that heats water as needed without wasting energy to keep it warm all day like traditional water heaters, can help reduce your energy usage and your energy bill.Renovating your existing home by removing interior walls not only improves the flow, it also creates an open and flexible floor plan, which is more comfortable and versatile for families who love to entertain - particularly in kitchens which now serve as multi-functional environments incorporating cooking, dining, gathering, entertaining and even working together in one open space.

It takes time to switch to a green lifestyle. But like everything that's worth doing, the hardships and adjustments pay off in the end. Call your local electricians and plumbers today to see the impact that you, John and Jane Q. Homeowner, can have on the world around you!

Author: Rebecca Paul

5 Major Home Renovation Projects That Offer The Best Return On Investment

When it comes to renovating your home for re-sale there are a few major renovations that top the list.

For more information: http://plumbing-heating-minneapolis.mn-biz.com/site/services/service/Geothermal-Heating-Systems-Minneapolis-MNThe family room is the second most popular space in the home after the kitchen. - Adding 400 sq. ft. of bright and cheery living space (if your neighborhood will bare it), will definitely improve the value of the home. - Increase the overall height of your space and introduce a vaulted ceiling. Creating a sense of volume instantly makes a room feel more spacious. - Consider the details and add beautiful French doors, floor to ceiling windows or even skylights to flood this new space with light and maximizes a view. Take it one step further and add the deck.For more information: http://electrical-contractor-boca-raton.fl-biz.com/site/services/service/Electrical-Panel-Upgrade-Boca-Raton-FLThere is a return to a more simple, warm, natural and clean-lined design reminiscent of mid-century modern architecture. A blending contemporary and traditional styles - resulting in a chic transitional design style.3. Deck Addition. (72-95% ROI)Keeping abreast of these home design trends will help guide you when it comes time for you complete your "to do" list. Families grow, people mature and our needs change. It's all about re-inventing your home making it feel as though it was built just for you.For more information: http://electrical-contractor-boca-raton.fl-biz.com/4. Main Floor Master Bedroom Addition (73% ROI)- A two-story addition of 800 square feet could include a new main floor family room and an upper level master suite complete with a full bath. - Or utilizing that extra space and designating it, as the home office, is very appealing to home- buyers. - Homeowners are spending more time working from home and with the homepreneur trend growing, buyers are attracted to the extra space dedicated solely to operating their home based business.Deck additions are quite possibly the best investments these days. They naturally transition the interior to the exterior - instantly expanding your living space. And who doesn't love that? - It's a vacation-at-home experience, as it expands your living space and extends the summer season - forcing you to live more outdoors before the winter season sets in. - Its design can be as simple or elaborate as the home it's attached to. - Multi-leveled or single, built in seating or casual seating areas, hot tubs, and outdoor kitchens - all of which add to the vacation home atmosphere. - Decks are more popular than pools and relatively easy to build. - Design the deck to compliment the character of your home's exterior architecture. Give it some thought in planning - it should be proportionate to the size of your yard. - Incorporate energy efficient solar or led lighting.

- A two-story addition of 800 square feet could include a new main floor family room and an upper level master suite complete with a full bath. - Or utilizing that extra space and designating it, as the home office, is very appealing to home- buyers. - Homeowners are spending more time working from home and with the homepreneur trend growing, buyers are attracted to the extra space dedicated solely to operating their home based business.

Author: Lori Gilder

Solar Lighting - Advantages and Disadvantages

Solar power is becoming more and more an acceptable and preferred renewable energy source. Developers are finding many uses for the power of the sun, and lighting may in fact be the quickest growing solar industry. With the push toward green living and a consumer's need to save money, solar powered lighting may just be the right option. There are many advantages to the lighting; however, there are also disadvantages to the systems. Every plus and minus should be weighed carefully before a person makes the decision to purchase solar lights.

These software packages gather data from an integrated database about LED performance and specifications along with those of other devices that are mounted on the insulated metal circuit board. This data is combined with other information about elements of the design, including the copper traces, power and ground planes, and vias. The collated information is then processed to produce an accurate representation of the thermal performance of the design.Photovoltaic lighting sounds great, but there can be some problems. Since the batteries depend on the sun for recharge, just a few days of storms and overcast skies can mean no lighting at night. Plus, the lights would be absolutely no good in an area that is always in the shade.Thermal analysis software packages are available to help prove LED based module designs before they are committed to manufacture.Thermal managementZero Cost of EnergyGoing three-dimensionalLow MaintenanceBest for Non-criticalThermal analysis software can bring significant commercial and design benefits by helping speed the time to market and reducing the number of iterations needed to reach a production-ready solution.Prepackaged SetsDielectric materials are made by blending thermally efficient materials such as alumina and boron nitride with other ingredients, to provide a flexible yet resilient coating on the base plate. An important characteristic of the dielectric layer is the amount of electrical isolation it provides between the copper on the topside and the metallic base plate on the underside. This is known as its dielectric strength. A typical dielectric material may possess a dielectric strength of around 800 V/mil and be coated onto the base plate to a thickness of 8�12 mils (1 mil = 1 inch�3 = 25.4 �m).Strength and durabilityLED modules typically comprise a matrix of many surface mount devices. These LEDs are soldered to an etched copper layer that provides the interconnects between the individual LEDs as well as other passive and active components that are required to complete the circuit. The small size of the LEDs and the close proximity with which they can be mounted means that designers have a huge amount of design freedom and can achieve complex lighting patterns with high levels of brightness.Everywhere one looks it seems there is something saying that we all need to go green in whatever ways possible. With fears of energy sources running dry, a chance to add something green is a satisfying opportunity. By choosing solar powered lights, one has made one more step into a green way of life.As mentioned before, these lighting systems are extremely easy to install. In most cases, they will need some minor assembly and then they are ready for installation. Set up rarely requires the work of a professional, for it requires no wiring, so no electrical work is needed.The Advantages:User-friendly graphical representations of the results enable the design engineer to quickly pinpoint areas that may require attention, right down to component and track level.Dielectric materials used on insulated metal circuit boards usually have a thermal conductivity figure in the region of 3W/mK. This is approximately 10 times the performance achieved by FR4 (flame retardant woven glass reinforced epoxy resin) PCB material.DisadvantagesSince the lighting systems recharge themselves everyday, the maintenance and care of them is extremely low. And, the lights will continue to work for years to come. LED bulbs last ten times longer than a standard bulb and the batteries will continue to recharge themselves. At worst, the only regular maintenance that the light will need is a cleaning every once in a while to make sure the panel is not covered with dust.

With careful thought and a little study, one can weigh the advantages to a new lighting system to the disadvantages. After considering all of the options, it will make the choice of whether or not to choose Solar Lighting much, much easier.

Author: Kriss Bergethon

LED Lighting Modules: Taking The Heat Out Of The Situation

The appeal of using LEDs in lighting applications is growing rapidly. The numerous and significant benefits of using modules that incorporate a matrix of LEDs are being recognized by design engineers in several key industry sectors, including aerospace, architectural lighting, and the �golden egg� automotive market.

No WiringThe long life of LEDs also simplifies the designers� task because it is less important to make the lighting module accessible for servicing in the finished product. This can result in a neater, more integrated installation and also in potential cost savings.Sun ExposureTemperature modellingLEDs themselves are inherently durable. Mounting them on metal based circuit boards only serves to enhance their robustness and that of the finished module, providing excellent resistance to vibration and mechanical shock.Initial CostIf one is considering buying more than one solar powered light, like walkway lighting for example, packaged sets are available for purchase. These sets will include the LED light bulb(s), rechargeable battery, housing, and the PV panel and any other required parts, making set up extremely simple for the purchaser. In most cases, the consumer can set up their own lights without having to pay the money to hire a professional.Flat sheets of insulated metal circuit board comprising copper foil, a dielectric layer and an aluminum base plate have been available for several years. In the eyes of the forward-thinking LED module designer, the main problem has been that flat sheets of insulated metal circuit board limit them to 2D shapes.Automotive lighting clusters provide a good example of how LED modules can provide superior performance compared with traditional filament lamps. On-vehicle applications experience high levels of vibration and wide operating temperature ranges that can cause premature failure of filament lamps. In some operating conditions LEDs can last up to 100,000 hours, which means that they should not require any attention for the life of the vehicle.When designing with new, formable insulated metal circuit board materials it is possible to route the tracks around corners, which alleviates the need to use connectors and hard wiring. There are several benefits to this, including enhanced reliability resulting from having fewer junctions and interconnects. Despite the slightly higher cost of the new materials, the overall cost is reduced because fewer components are needed, and assembly time is reduced.Perhaps the most challenging issue when realizing a module design that uses LEDs is to manage the temperature of individual device junctions during normal operation. If the considerable amount of heat produced by all the devices in a module is not managed correctly then the junction temperatures may reach a level where the LEDs� expected life is shortened and reliability is compromised (see Links).A good example of some other benefits of LED lighting is demonstrated by an application in the cabin of a passenger aircraft. A retrofit LED unit that replaced a fluorescent-tube lighting module enabled finely controlled dimming and also provided mood lighting through the use of differently coloured LEDs.The etched copper circuit is separated from a base plate � usually made of aluminum � by a thermally efficient, electrically isolating dielectric material. The characteristics and capabilities of the dielectric layer are key to the design flexibility and performance of the overall module.A further key requirement of the dielectric layer is to be able to compensate for the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the copper track on the topside of the assembly and the aluminum base plate/heat spreader on the bottom side.In an era when energy proficiency is the need of the hour building lighting is yet another step in this direction and can prove very helpful in a long way for saving energy. The best way to save energy is to control and reduce its consumption and the ultimate method to execute it is by changing old patterns of lighting systems. Energy saving bulbs and lights is the first and very effective approach towards checking the over consumption of energy. Now the time has come to implement the building lighting techniques which saves energy and also saves money. Energy saving technology, energy saving solutions, energy saving bulbs and energy saving lamps hold a promise of solving the energy deficiency problem which is gravely threatening the world.completed, only a small amount of payment owing to use of light is credited on your name as maintenance and servicing charges of LED are next to none. Therefore, this is an additional advantage.The U.S department of energy (DOE) has recommended LED lightings for commercial buildings, government buildings and home owners. Environmental synergy can also be achieved by fitting LED building lightings. It is a well known fact that electricity is the most costly and highly consumed energy and reduction in its consumption is the only way of stalking the threat of energy drought looming in front of the world. Lighting fixtures use three times more energy as compared to the air conditioners and highest amount of energy is used in commercial buildings. Hence for lessening carbon foot print, retrofitting of a building is must. This will enable emission of less amount of carbon while saving good amount trees, energy and money as well. For financial problems caused by excess amount of energy consumption, use of LED for building lighting is the right solution. This way the over consumption can be stopped and the environment can also be saved indirectly. Once the retrofitting is !To address these limitations, new dielectric materials are becoming available that have a low modulus, meaning that they are compliant with mechanical stress and strain. These materials not only accommodate the coefficient of expansion of the metal elements of the construction, but also enable parts to be formed into right angles, and even through 360˚. This enables designers to realize complex-shaped designs and ones that form a complete circle with either internal or external copper traces.The power of the sun is an excellent option for lights that are decorative or serve a fairly non-critical role. But, solar power technology is not yet dependable enough to say that all situations can benefit. In situations where dependable lighting is an absolute must, regular electricity is still the best option.The sun is a continuous energy source that is free to everyone who feels its rays. By using the power of the sun, a consumer no longer requires the use of electricity to run their lights. This means zero cost for the energy. This is especially pleasing for owners of parking lots or anyone who needs certain lighting on twenty four hours a day.That Green Feeling

Thermal analysis software can bring significant commercial and design benefits by helping speed the time to market and reducing the number of iterations needed to reach a production-ready solution.

Author: James Stratford

Use LED For Building Lighting To Save Energy And Money

Building lighting is very necessary and equally important is to option for energy saving lighting devices as they save energy and also subsequently are easier on pocket. To achieve this nowadays, LED lighting systems are used which are eco friendly and also good energy savers. These latest lighting techniques guarantee low carbon emission and instant positive flow of cash. It�s a unique way of saving in a secured and guaranteed manner.

With careful thought and a little study, one can weigh the advantages to a new lighting system to the disadvantages. After considering all of the options, it will make the choice of whether or not to choose Solar Lighting much, much easier.While going for building lightings only energy star qualified products should be used as they are highly durable and are guaranteed to produce the expected energy saving results. The energy start qualified LED lighting solutions helps in saving energy, money, are environmental friendly, have very low maintenance cost and come in all different designs so as to match the latest modern building or an old one. According to the US Department of Energy use of LED building lightings for the coming 20 years will avoid forming of 40 power plants, lessen the demand for energy in 2027 by 33% and save about $ 265 billion.With these lighting systems, each light is individually controlled with a photovoltaic panel and rechargeable battery package. The lights do not have to be wired together. This can be very advantageous, for a consumer will not have to bury electric lines or string them from one light to the next. For safety reasons as well as aesthetics, this can be a great advantage.

While going for building lightings only energy star qualified products should be used as they are highly durable and are guaranteed to produce the expected energy saving results. The energy start qualified LED lighting solutions helps in saving energy, money, are environmental friendly, have very low maintenance cost and come in all different designs so as to match the latest modern building or an old one. According to the US Department of Energy use of LED building lightings for the coming 20 years will avoid forming of 40 power plants, lessen the demand for energy in 2027 by 33% and save about $ 265 billion.

Author: Sushant Shukla