Info Pioneer

A new approach to LED lighting uses network cables, rather than conventional electrical wiring, to supply power to lights. Developed by a startup in Fremont, CA, the system also allows the cables to carry data from an array of sensors on the lights to a central control station. The system would cost about the same as a conventional lighting system, but because it can sense and control every light in a building, it could cut power consumption from lighting by 50 to 80 percent. The new system offers a better way to control LEDs, which are relatively efficient and long-lasting compared to conventional lights, by taking advantage of the fact that they run on low-voltage direct current power. Current LED-based systems require transformers at each light to convert the higher-voltage alternating current in conventional wiring into lower-voltage direct current. The new system converts alternating current to low-voltage direct current at a central location, rather than at each light. This more ...

One thing that camping enthusiasts never forget to take is a flashlight along with additional ambient sources of illumination. Industrial designers Kyeore Kim, Jaesuk Han, Sungkuk Hong and Sena Joo are trying to reduce the weight of their backpacks with the FLEXI concept. The all-in-one lighting solution for outdoor activity is a flexible flashlight that can be used for both directional light and ambient illumination for convenient cooking and other activities of the campers.. When direction light is needed, the flexible sheet can be rolled in the form of a flashlight and when only ambient light is needed, the FLEXI can be used like an open sheet. The concept is made of thin rectangular silicon pad which is fitted with powerful but energy-efficient LED lights along its one edge. The users can roll the pad into different shapes for different types of lighting needs. [via Tuvie ]