The solid-state lighting industry is in flux: the National Electrical Manufacturers Association has embraced new lighting solutions using LEDs, while the US Congress is being asked to fund further development, writes Kathryn Conway of LED Consulting.

The recent formation of a Solid State Lighting Section signals the start of a dynamic era for the Lighting Division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). The launch of this industry group is timely because the United States Congress will soon deliberate whether or not to include support for solid-state lighting research in its pending energy bill and appropriations. The need for a new NEMA section was first discussed in April, when 24 manufacturers and an additional 10 participants from government, academia and consulting firms convened at NEMA s headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia. Although LEDs are a relatively new light source, and as yet undefined as a lighting product category, all present easily came to a consensus on the benefits of working together to advocate advances in technology, applications and standards through a well-established entity. Participants enthusiastically expressed their belief that semiconductor products "introduce a whole new level of flexibility in lighting solutions, such as control of intensity, color and other technical parameters." So, rather than limiting the new section to LEDs, they decided that the term "solid-state lighting" would better describe the many emerging technologies that their companies are exploring and manufacturing. As a follow-up, four manufacturers volunteered to draft a product scope and statement of activity and operation. Scope of work and action plan In June the group reconvened to refine its product scope that was in turn approved by NEMA s Board of Governors in July. The Solid State Lighting Section encompasses two product and technology types, the first being "Semiconductor light sources including LEDs, laser diodes, organic LEDs and any other semiconductor light source." The second is "Fixtures, luminaires, and associated hardware, power supplies, mechanical or electronic control devices, and software written to operate, facilitate, and control the light produced by a solid-state light device." Cognizant of the creativity and rapid evolution of solid-state lighting, the authors of the product scope have specifically left the door open for as yet unknown technologies that could be categorized as solid-state lighting. The new Section s primary tasks are to integrate solid-state light sources in existing lighting practices and to create new practices to fully exploit the technologies potential. Additional tasks include developing a center of expertise and creating definitions of terms. Beyond standard fare Manufacturers clearly do not relish the thought of having their new products governed by outmoded or misapplied standards. Few standards exist today that adequately address the needs of the solid-state lighting market. The Section will proactively seek to collaborate with recognized policy- and standards-setting organizations. This is an area in which NEMA offers a distinct advantage. NEMA has significant expertise in code and standard development. For example, NEMA industry director Kyle Pitsor explained to the new Section that the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) lighting committee (TC34) has recently revised its scope to incorporate LED lighting standards. NEMA administers the US technical advisory group for TC34, and is responsible for gathering widespread input. Measurement standards for LEDs will remain under the purview of the Commission International de L Eclairage/ International Commission on Illumination (CIE). Some of the members of the Solid State Section are also very active in CIE. Matrix of technical themes Eager to move on many fronts, the industry leaders represented in the new Section compiled a list of technical themes they would like to tackle together. Nearly everyone agreed that providing information to the public and to practicing lighting professionals would both fill a void and help to create a stronger demand for solid-state lighting. The themes are:

Definitions, measurement and color.

Life testing and lumen maintenance.

Human factors, safety, emissions and susceptibility.

Signs and signals.

LED-based lighting fixtures (including low voltage, stage and studio, track, lamps/bulbs, and underwater fixtures) and consumer products such as toys and nightlights.

Interchangeability and connectors, power supplies and system efficiency.

Environmental issues such as disposal and energy efficiency.

For each of the above themes, section members are assembling information about relevant codes, standards, ongoing research projects, publications and organizations. This data is arranged in a matrix for easy reference; NEMA staff maintain the document for the section members use. Next-Generation Lighting Initiative In an exciting outgrowth of a paper authored by Roland Haitz et al. (see Compound Semiconductor March 2000, p34), the US government is considering support for solid-state lighting research, specifically for "white light" semiconductor devices. The call for government backing was advanced through both the efforts of the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association (OIDA) and the US Department of Energy s recent roadmapping activities. The Next-Generation Lighting Initiative was introduced in two separate bills in July, first in the House "SAFE Act of 2001" by W Tauzin of Louisiana, chair of the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee and then in the Senate by Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Michael DeWine of Ohio. Advocates expect the texts to converge in a compromise that could include the following provisions:

Establishing an industry/academia/ government initiative to be administered by US DOE.

A call for a strategic research plan.

A request for millions of dollars of funding for a grant program.

Specific technology, efficiency and market goals to be achieved during the next decade.

Inclusion of both LEDs and OLEDs.

Members of the NEMA Solid State Lighting Section are hopeful that language that would encompass the entire white light emitting solid-state lighting system would be adopted in the final version. Moving forward at light speed Among the manufacturers participating in the Solid State Lighting Section discussions are Color Kinetics, Cree, Gelcore, Ledtronics, Lumileds, Norlux, Osram, Permlight, Philips Lighting and Uniroyal Optoelectronics. Firms with solid-state lighting manufacturing facilities in North America may apply to join the Section. Members pay an annual fee to NEMA and an additional sum to support the budget and activities of the Section.