New Light Engines from Lumitex use advanced high-power LEDs with fiber optic panels to dramatically increase brightness

Lumitex, a player in fiber-optic illumination technology, has developed a new, modular Light Engine utilizing the latest advances in LED technology for designers who want to spread light from a single light source over a wide, flat area.

"Lumitex's fiber optic illumination technology is uniquely suited to take advantage of the new high-bright, ultra-compact LEDs like the Luxeon(R) III Star or Luxeon(R) V to offer a really bright user interface device for our customers," said Brian Spahnie, R&D Engineer at Lumitex. "Customers for this new Light Engine are companies who want something special to distinguish their product in the marketplace."

The Lumitex LED Light Engines combine one or more of these high-power LEDs with a Lumitex(R) woven or UniGlo(R) fiber-optic panel. A special collimating lens captures, then focuses the light from the LEDs to the fiber-optic panel. Encased in an aluminum housing that acts as a heat sink, the assembly provides significantly increased panel brightness--as much as 20 X to 50 X brighter--by driving these high-power LEDs at a higher current through more efficient heat management.

Typical brightness that can be routinely achieved with this new light engine are 100 FtL or more for a 3" X 5" fiber-optic panel illuminated by a single high-brightness LED. Also, the Lumitex Light Engines utilizing the new Luxeon(R) LEDs provide complete control over what color the light source produces, eliminating the color shift that can be a problem with incandescents. And, unlike systems using CCFL light sources, they require no warm-up and are not sensitive to shock and vibration.

Lumitex's new Light Engines offer a very attractive alternative to halogens, incandescents, light arrays, and CCFLs for a variety of applications, according to the company. Applications include touch screens (ATMs, POS displays, advertising kiosks, and process control equipment), medical (MRI illumination), LCD backlighting, machine vision (CCD cameras), a range of membrane switch applications, and a wide variety of specialty applications such as high-end salon and spa equipment.

Pricing for a Lumitex's Light Engine with a single Luxeon(R) III Star light source illuminating a 3"X5" panel is approximately $10-$50 in OEM quantities. Pricing varies with application and the number of light sources used and number of Light Engines required. Contact Lumitex for details.

For further information, go to www.lumitex.com

COPYRIGHT 2004 Information Gatekeepers, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group