LEDs light up Leica microscopes

The LED illumination series LED5000 and LED3000 have been designed for high-end stereo microscopes and routine stereo microscope systems, respectively. Both series have spotlight, ringlight, and multicontrast illumination modules available. Lifetimes up to 50,000 hours nearly eliminate downtime. The LEDs save up to 90% of the power required by a 150-W halogen lamp. The LED5000 series can communicate with Leica Application Suite (LAS) software to save illumination settings with captured images and performing recall when needed.   www.bgocled.com

Epistar to introduce retrofit 60W-100W LED light bulbs

Taiwan-based LED chipmaker Epistar announced the development for high-pressure warm white LEDs with efficiency of 150lm/W. This means the warm white LED lighting products that can replace the traditional 60W, 70W, even 100W can be introduced to the market in 2012. In parrticular the Europe and US markets tend to favor warm color lighting designs.   www.bgocled.com 

Incandescent light bulb phaseout begins

The nation's light bulbs begin facing new efficiency and labeling standards starting Jan. 1, but don't expect old-fashioned incandescents to suddenly disappear from store shelves. The congressionally mandated efficiency standards gradually phase out Thomas Edison's 131-year-old creation in favor of other light bulbs that use at least 25% less energy. The first to go, beginning Sunday, is the traditional 100-watt, followed in January 2013 with the 75-watt version and in January 2014 with the 40-watt and 60-watt bulbs.   www.bgocled.com