World's Top Electronics Fair to Spotlight Consumer Products

Electronics Fair highlights include the new Bags and Cases zone. Together with the expanded Mobile Devices and Accessories zone, the two zones will feature 115 exhibitors showcasing tablet PCs, smartphones and related accessories.

The Hall of Fame will present consumer electronics with stylish design and outstanding functions. Among the 400 brands taking part are Alcatel, Motorola, Philips, Pierre Cardin, VTech and Westinghouse. The Invention Zone will return with the latest innovations from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Many of the products there will make their debut at the fair and have yet to be launched in the market.

The Hong Kong Electronic Industry Summit, 13 October, will focus on the latest applications for smart devices, while the 14 October Buyer Forum will spotlight Poland's market potential. A series of seminars will showcase market opportunities, e-retailing strategies, smart TV display technology and its market developments and regulatory updates on electronics and electrical products.

The presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong Electronics Industry Association Award for Outstanding Innovation & Technology Products will take place on 13 October, with the winning products presentation on 15 October.

Pavilions from the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea and Thailand will take part in electronicAsia. Jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia Pte Ltd, the show will launch the new Key Components for Smart Devices zone featuring a range of products, including connectors, touch panels, LED backlight and metal cases for smartphones and tablets.

The HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) will host 2,175 exhibitors from 36 countries and regions, a new exhibitor record. The Czech Republic will participate for the first time.

The new Advertising Lighting zone will spotlight exhibitors specialising in lighting for advertising, offering such products as LED display panels, light boxes and neon signs. Also debuting will be the Batteries/Transformers/Drivers section. The Hall of Aurora, dedicated to brand lighting products, will return with more than 430 brands from 27 countries and regions. They include Bridgelux, Neo-Neon, Philips, Seoul Semiconductor and Viri Bright.

LED, energy-saving and other environmentally friendly products from more than 800 exhibitors will be showcased in the LED & Green Lighting zone. Other theme zones include Commercial Lighting, Outdoor Lighting, Household Lighting, and Lighting Accessories, Parts & Components. Seminars will focus on the global LED lighting market, the application of innovative LED technology, standards and certification for LED lighting products and lighting design and technology.

Other events include the Hong Kong Solid State Lighting Industry Conference, the inaugural Hong Kong International Lighting Products Award presentation ceremony and the winning products' presentation. Winning pieces in four categories Light Source, Architectural/Commercial Lighting, Decorative Indoor Lighting and Outdoor Lighting will be on display in Hall 1A Concourse throughout the fair.

UC San Diego Installs First Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on Campus

Plug-in vehicle owners at UC San Diego campus are happy to learn that the first public electric vehicle (EV) car charging stations have been made available. The unveiling of the two new stations was appropriately done at the new Structures and Materials Engineering building dedication last Friday.

“This is a great opportunity for the UC San Diego community to build upon our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the campus,” said Gary C. Matthews, UC San Diego’s vice chancellor for Resource Management and Planning. “More than half of UC San Diego’s commuters use an alternative form of transportation, contributing to the campus’s dedication to make sustainability a top priority in academics, research and campus-operations.”

The new charging stations were installed by local renewable energy company, Sullivan Solar Power, and the station infrastructure was fully paid for through the EV Project, a Department of Energy funded program administered by ECOtality. Representatives from Sullivan Solar Power and ECOtality were present with their electric vehicles at the dedication, where the UCSD Chancellor and Facilities Management vehicles were also plugged in to the chargers.

“As we continue to make strides toward decreasing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, ECOtality is excited to have such innovative partners such as Sullivan Solar Power and UC San Diego, said Andy Hoskinson, ECOtality Area Manager. “A sustainable electric vehicle infrastructure is one component of a bright future powered by clean technology and we look forward to our continued progress with Sullivan Solar Power, UC San Diego and San Diego County.”

The huge state-of-the-art Structures and Materials Engineering Building is seeking to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. The installation of the solar photovoltaic panels on the rooftop of the facility will assist the new campus facility in receiving this high standard of recognition.

“The marriage of solar power and electric vehicles is the natural progression to creating a sustainable future for our region and the next generation,” stated Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar Power, “UC San Diego is setting the example for our community by not only embracing clean technology, but also by supporting local infrastructure demands.”

Sullivan Solar Power has installed EV charging stations for several UCSD sites off-campus to accompany solar projects and will be installing a total of 18 new electric vehicle charging stations on University’s main campus.

About Sullivan Solar Power Sullivan Solar Power is a turnkey solar system provider that delivers solar electric projects from concept to completion with offices in San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties. The company has installed more than 10 million watts of solar power ranging from residential to large commercial and municipal systems.

Sullivan Solar Power has a longstanding A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau, with no complaints filed since its founding in 2004. The firm has been named one of the nation’s fastest growing energy companies by Inc. Magazine and services clients throughout Southern California. Regardless of project size and scope, Sullivan is committed to delivering the best products provided by the most qualified professionals to every customer.

SunSi Enters Into LED Energy Savings Project

SunSi Energies Inc., an internationalmanufacturer, seller and distributor of energy products andsolutions, today announced it has entered into an agreement withOn-Site Analysis Inc. ("OSA") to conduct a trial of SunSi's LightskyLED lighting products. OSA, a Florida-based company, will implement atest analysis over a three month period to measure energy savings andquantify the benefits of using the Lightsky LED lighting products atits 15,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Marlborough,Massachusetts.

A light emitting diode ("LED") is a semiconductor device whichconverts electricity into light. LED lights are often considered a"green energy source" due to the absence of dangerous chemicals likemercury and their significant reduction in energy consumption withinvarious applications; ranging from 50% to 70% of traditional lightingproducts.

SunSi's LED lighting products are manufactured by ShanghaiLightsky ("Lightsky"), a leading manufacturer of LED products forcommercial and residential consumers with a large product portfolioranging from illumination and architectural lighting, to extra-largeoutdoor and indoor video LED display systems. Lightsky's productshave also been utilized in numerous high profile projects, includingShanghai International Airport, 2010 Shanghai World Expo, ShanghaiMetro Station and at Hong Kong University.

OSA is a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution ofon-premise diagnostic instruments used to reduce equipment fleetoperating costs while favorably impacting the environment throughreduced hazardous waste disposal and consumption of naturalresources.

Positioned as both a technology and environmental company,OSA has an exceptional record of helping Fortune 500 companies,militaries, municipalities and multi-location fleet service providersreduce their consumption of oil by providing them with the technologyto safely extend the time interval between scheduled changes. OSAexpects to enter into a sub-distribution agreement with SunSi wherebyOSA will have the opportunity to offer Lightsky's LED technology tovery large energy consumers in the transportation, manufacturing anddistribution industries where OSA has numerous, high levelrelationships.

David Natan, SunSi's CEO, stated, "OSA is an ideal location to begindemonstrating the efficacy of our LED products because of OSA'sexpertise in quantifying test results, and their track record ofsuccess in commercializing their breakthrough energy-relatedtechnology to high profile companies. We are confident that we canclearly demonstrate the cost benefits of LED lighting through thesignificant reduction in energy consumption, as well as by generatingsavings in maintenance costs due to the significant reduction in thefrequency of required bulb replacement. We look forward to OSAbecoming a key sub-distributor of our LED products to their extensiveclient base in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico where we have theexclusive rights to Lightsky's products."

Jim Greer, Executive VP for OSA, stated, "We are very excited abouthaving the opportunity to install Lightsky's LED products at ourwarehouse facility in Massachusetts, and believe that the conversionfrom traditional lighting to energy saving LED lighting will begin toaccelerate dramatically in the upcoming years. We have alreadystarted to contact some of our key customers to inform them aboutLightsky's LED products and our cost savings quantification test, andlook forward to a long-term relationship with Lightsky."

Mercedes-Benz renews commitment with S-Class

REGARDED as one of the safest and comfortable automobile, Mercedes-Benz S-class is synonymous with luxury and up-to-date technology.

Each option according to the automobile firm   is representative of a different engine, and in “the case of the AMG models, a higher degree of other performance capabilities”.

Every model comes standard with 18-inch wheels, an adaptive air suspension, active bi-xenon headlights with automatic high beams and LED running lights, a power trunk closer and a sunroof.

Comfort and convenience items include dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power front seats (with heating, ventilation, four-way lumbar adjustment and memory functions), leather upholstery and extended interior trim.

Also available is a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirrors and a power rear sunshade.

Electronic features include the COMAND electronics interface, Bluetooth, a navigation system, voice controls and a 15-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system with a six-CD/DVD changer, HD radio, satellite radio and an iPod interface.

The auto firm explained that S63 AMG includes those items, but adds 20-inch AMG wheels and specific styling cues, as well as AMG-tuned suspension, steering, brakes and exhaust.

Also included is Active Body Control, a suspension technology that reduces body roll in the corners. The available AMG Performance package increases its engine output and top speed.

Optional on the S350, S400 and S550, and standard on the S63 is the Premium 2 package that includes a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, keyless ignition/entry and front seats with massage, adjustable/active bolsters and enhanced headrests.  The Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control as well as blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems that take evasive action in the event of driver inaction.

The Rear Seat package adds four-zone automatic climate control and eight-way power rear seats with memory, heating and ventilation.  Rear Seat Entertainment package includes a dual-screen rear seat entertainment system and two rear seat remotes that can control all functions in the COMAND system.

Optional on every S-Class is Splitview, which allows the driver and passenger to look at different media on the center COMAND screen. It includes a COMAND remote control for the passenger.

In terms of safety, every S-Class comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, side airbags both front and rear, side curtain airbags and active head restraints and Mercedes-Benz mbrace emergency telematics.

Also standard is the Mercedes PreSafe system, “which can sense an impending crash and automatically tighten the seatbelts and reposition the power seats for maximum airbag protection”.

Optional features, depending on the trim, include a lane-departure and blind-spot warning system with automatic brake intervention, infrared Night Vision Assist and PreSafe braking, which uses the optional adaptive cruise control’s radar system to sense an impending crash and automatically apply the brakes.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class, according to edmons motoring experts has been the standard-bearer for luxury for several decades, adding that the “with exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, the cabin features top-notch materials and exacting construction.”

New lights for tennis courts turned off in Hermosa Beach

The city turned off the new tennis court lights behind the community center last Monday, and it’s unclear when they will be back on. Tennis players can still play during the day, but instead of volleying under the lights until 10 p.m., as is the normal schedule, the courts have been closed at 7 p.m. and will be for the foreseeable future.

At issue are the new lights themselves, which were installed over the summer. Some tennis players say the new lights are dimmer than the old lights, but city officials say that’s not so.

As part of its long-term effort to become more energy efficient, the city used a $108,000 Federal Recovery Act Grant issued through the state energy commission to pay for replacing old 1000-watt lights with more efficient new 400-watt lights, both at the tennis court as well as in the downtown parking structure, said Public Works Director Frank Senteno.

“We replaced the lights with a lower wattage light and we were able to provide the same level of illumination,” Senteno said. “It’s a different light. It’s a white light. It’s a completely different level of illumination, where the other one was more like yellow. This is white and it’s more reflective. So you get more light, so to speak.”

Senteno likened it to replacing a 100-watt incandescent light bulb in a home with a 25-watt LED light. “There’s a significant amout of savings and energy, and yet you are producing the same amount of light,” Senteno said.

The new lights at the Hermosa Beach Community Center tennis courts were installed beginning on about June 21. After the lights were installed on two of the four lower public courts, Bill Hein, an avid tennis player who has worked in the lighting business for 30 years, said he took light readings to test both the old lights versus new ones.

Gauging foot candles, the unit of measurement used in the lighting industry, Hein used a handheld light meter to measure about 38 foot candles at the center of the courts under the old lights. The new lights measured far less— about 15 foot candles, he said.

At the time, Hein said he called the city and asked that the project be slowed down and investigated. Hein wasn’t the only one to complain. Joe Testa, a tennis instructor who pays $550 a month to the city for use of the courts, said the new lights provide less than adequate lighting.

“The new fixtures cast a shadow down the middle of the court and reflect as much light off the court as they do on the court,” Testa wrote in a letter to the public works department.

Testa, like fellow tennis instructor Adam Burt, has been forced to abandon his tennis lessons in the evenings.

“Down the middle of the court, the lighting got worse,” Burt said after wrapping up his tennis lessons for the day last week. “It’s definitely brighter around the outside of the court.”

Like Hein, Senteno said he and staff, as well as the vendor and light manufacturer, also took light readings using handheld light meters. But they only took light readings directly below the light fixtures at the base of the pole, and the light levels were found the same between the old lights and new ones, Senteno said.

“Typically you measure the light at its source,” Senteno explained. “We took photos before and after, and we can’t tell the difference. I think the white lighting is an improvement.”

Senteno, who said he interviewed people playing tennis under the new lights and heard no complaints, said that the tennis instructors complaining have higher standards of lighting that aren’t realistic for free, recreational courts.

Elton John delivers impressive set to packed Von Braun Center crowd

The 12-foot screen behind Elton John and his dapper, deft band flashed the word "BITCH" in white LED lights.

And then, after singing the first verse of his strutting classic, "The Bitch Is Back," John hopped onto the lid of his black grand piano, like a mountaineer who'd just scaled a peak.

By this point Wednesday night, it was the Von Braun Center audience that was atop a sierra...of John's hits. Hits from the '70s ("Rocket Man"). Hits from MTV ("I'm Still Standing"). Hits with banjos in them ("Honky Cat"). Hits from movie soundtracks (the "Almost Famous" sing-along "Tiny Dancer").

But the flamboyant English singer brought more than his back catalog with him. He brought his molasses-rich voice and impressive piano chops - the latter's gospel, soul, R&B and blues leanings were more evident in a live setting, particularly on John's '80s material that was stripped of its studio sheen, like "Sad Songs."

Opening with "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting," John was in command of his midrange and honky-tonk piano licks from the get go. That said, he did miss a few upper-register notes in the first couple of tunes, but eventually owned those as well. By the time John and his band dug into the joyous groove of "Philadelphia Freedom," the 65-year-old star was completely feeling it, hooting after hitting high-notes like he was 25.

John was clad in purple pants, shirt and a knee-length coat that was spangled-out like Vegas-era Elvis. The outlandish eyeglasses that were his visual trademark for decades were replaced by shiny Malcolm-X-type spectacles with amber lenses. In between virtually every song, Sir Elton strutted around the stage like the most fabulous preacher ever, pointing at the audience with both hands, his mouth agape with attitude like Mick Jagger's.

The energy did slow down a click though during the last third of the two-hour-and-a-half concert, due to a few too many slow numbers, such as "Nikita."

The VBC crowd was a mix of aunts in animal prints, polo-shirted dads, teenage daughters, skinny-jeans-wearing skinny guys, thirty-something gals in feather boas and novelty specs, and even the occasional Nixon-era acid burnout. A group of young-professional chicks seated next to me somehow managed to sneak an entire bottle of white wine into the show.

John's core five-piece, black-suited male band was anchored by two musicians that have been with him for decades: drummer Nigel Olsson swung all night, particularly on "Bennie and the Jets," which John goosed with a bordello-jazz solo. Exceptionally tan guitarist Davey Johnstone added vital texture to the material all night, whether it was using a slide and double-neck guitar to mimic pedal steel on "Tiny Dancer," busting out a mandolin on the deep-cut "Holiday Inn" or doing some prog-rock shredding on his Les Paul during "Madman Across the Water."

"The energy that he continues to put out," says Kurtts, who attended the show with husband Rob. "Elton's probably played "Rocket Man" 3,000 times, but he still plays it so furiously."

You may never encounter a performer that absolutely bathes in applause like Elton – or who seems so determined to give that energy back. Near the end of the night, John and his band - augmented by four female singers and two Croatians cellist (who opened the show playing instrumental covers of Michael Jackson, U2 and Nirvana) – left the stage following a rollicking "Crocodile Rock."

After the near-capacity arena clapped, whooped and stomped for a few minutes, John returned.

Kirchner Solar Group introduces the solar lamp solar light 300

The Kirchner Solar Group, a pioneer of the solar industry and a leading producer of solar off-grid solutions, extends its product portfolio of mobile and self-sufficient solar applications by the solar light 300. The solar lamps will primarily come into use in rural parts of Africa where light is generated via non-profitable paraffin and kerosene lamps. The solar light 300 of the Kirchner Solar Group is a robust and cost-efficient lighting alternative for households without access to the public electricity grid.

The solar light 300 are especially designed for use in developing countries without regular electricity supply, in particular for use in rural areas without access to the electric grid. The African continent, especially Uganda and the Ivory Coast, where the company has offices, are key distribution markets for the Kirchner Solar Group. According to a table by “Lightning Africa”, a joint electrification program of the World Bank and the International Finance Cooperation (IFC), some 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa have no access to a power supply system, and spend more than 10 billion dollars annually on lighting; this often equals a major part of the household income.

An investment that needs to be undertaken over and over again for lighting sources operated with paraffin, kerosene, oil or diesel – often at the expense of a person’s health due to released fumes. With the solar light 300, the Kirchner Solar Group now offers a health conscious, cost-efficient and sustainable solution for the illumination of private housing space and industrial real estates. The lightning source runs on a 4 Watt PV module and provides light for up to 24 hours at a radiance of 300 lumen. The recharging time is four to eight hours only. The solar light 300 offers effective protection against mechanical damage and dampness, so that deployment in rough environments will be straightforward and long-lasting.

“Solar energy is the key for giving a large majority of Africa’s population access to reliable electricity supplies and thus to sustainable economic development. Practically speaking, the goal is to create solutions that provide a constant and cost-efficient supply of energy for private households, contractors, hospitals and schools without a comprehensive national grid”, declares Hans Wulff, Head of the Off-Grid Department of the Kirchner Solar Group. “Thanks to our longstanding experience in different African markets, we are in a position to offer secure and tailored means of energy generation, based on solar energy.”

The Kirchner Solar Group co-operates with different Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on its projects in Africa, but it also has its own subsidiaries in Uganda and the Ivory Coast as well as mobile shops. Through its activities in several African countries, the solar company feels closely wedded to the continent and is particularly committed to the electrification of its rural areas.

Chroma-Q to highlight new LED range and brand identity

The Chroma-Q stand at PLASA 2012 (1-E8) will see the official worldwide launch of the new Studio Force Phosphor LED lighting range alongside the brand's other recent LED, control, data distribution and lighting accessory solutions, which are designed for a wide range of entertainment, broadcast and architectural applications.

Chroma-Q will also unveil a new-look corporate logo, brand identity and revamped website, underscoring their continuing transformation into one of the industry's leading innovators of LED lighting solutions.

A nominee for the 2012 PLASA Awards for Innovation, the new Studio Force Phosphor range utilises innovative LED technologies to provide an equivalent soft edge output to a fluorescent fixture - up to 7,000 lumens - developed specifically for use in TV, film and broadcast studio environments, says the company.

There's a choice of standard daylight (5,600K) white and variable (3,200 - 5,600K) white colour temperature versions, with the variable version offering fine-tuning of the green & magenta tints and frequency for camera.

Other features include "an extremely smooth uniform wash, extra soft beam, theatrical grade dimming, laboratory calibration to match Black Body Locus". Designed for practicality, the unit is equipped with a manual control mode, colour touch screen interface, fanless, studio & full modes for maximum control of the units and a range of optional accessories.

The Studio Force Phosphor range joins the existing lineup of Studio Force extreme output white LED fixtures, which are also available in a choice of daylight (6,100K) and variable white (3,000 - 6,100K) versions. Providing a full range of creative tools to suit every lighting need and budget, options include an ultra compact workhorse fixture, a 335mm / 13.2" long multi-purpose unit and 1.2m / 4ft (48) and 1.8m / 6ft (72) battens.

All Studio Force LED models are also available as the Color Force RGBA lineup, which delivers power across the spectrum, from bold colours to super soft pastels, all from a single fixture.

Also showing is the Color Charge Plus - a higher output version of the original portable, battery powered, wireless DMX fixture - and the Color Block 2 Plus modular, re-configurable fixture.

Access Fixtures is expanding their extensive bollard selection to include a new energy saving LED bollard light featuring a purpose built reflector to maximize LED performance and efficacy.

To date, bollard lights have been modified to accommodate LEDs, but few were purpose built for LEDs or designed to maximize optics. Access Fixtures newest bollard light features a newly designed bollard head featuring a purpose built reflector to maximize LED performance and efficacy.

With an LG light engine mounted on the top of the bollard head the light from the LED light engine shines down and out bouncing off the cone reflector maximizing the output of the LG light engine and evenly dispersing the light. Most bollards currently use fluorescent or high intensity discharge lamps. Access Fixtures LED technology has superior efficacy and lasts as much as six times longer reducing energy use and maintenance.

Solar pioneer spreading clean energy technology

SolEnergy owner Ken Olson has seen remote villages in Central America with no light. He knows the impact a small, two-watt solar panel can make.

“What does strike me is the great gap between these two worlds,” he said, of his recent travels to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

“On one hand, we provide two-watt systems, basically the panel is the size of a paperback book — and on another we're filling roof tops and yards with solar here. Everyone here asks what's the payback.”

Olson said payback is the last thing on the minds of the remote villagers he has helped in the 10 years he has traveled for international rural development work. He estimates he has made at least 15 trips to Central and South America in the last decade, installing systems of all sizes. His average solar system size for his August relief trip was between two and 15 watts.

Last week, Olson returned from a trip with Trees, Water & People, a Fort Collins-based nonprofit that takes a community-based approach to sustainable development. The group works in collaboration with the Peace Corps and the U.S. State Department.

The two-week mission was part of a program to promote reforestation, clean cookstoves, and solar-powered and energy-efficient lighting in remote areas of Central America.

“My role is as a third-party evaluator,” Olson said. “I go and observe and report on the project's means and techniques and report back to the State Department,” he said. “There's a solar component to it for home lighting, so that's how I really got into it.”

“Trees, Water & People is a wonderful organization,” Olson said. “What a pleasure it was working with them. Their experience is not in solar. Their experience and depth of knowledge leans more toward fuel-efficient wood stoves, so I joined. To me, they are just a model organization.”

Olson has worked for more than 20 years in the solar energy field, and owns SolEnergy, a solar installation and design company at Third Street Center in Carbondale. He was the first person in Colorado to obtain North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certification, now becoming a requirement for many installers on solar job sites in the U.S.

Today, Olson is seeing firsthand how his expertise in rural international development, energy efficiency, solar energy and LED lighting can change lives.

“You would not believe it,” he said. “It's interesting how with the availability of LEDS and smaller [solar] systems now has made such a difference. Clean energy technologies have matured and there are now financial mechanisms that make them affordable.”

While in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, Olson traveled with two staffers with Trees, Water & People: Elliot Cooper, international program coordinator, and Sebastian Africano, international director. There were also Peace Corps workers at the locations they visited.

In some of the areas, including in Honduras and El Salvador, Peace Corps workers had been pulled out for safety. Living conditions were hardly comparable to Carbondale, Olson said. But he always felt safe.

“These were crude conditions,” he said. “All dirt floors. All the areas we pretty much went into were mountainous jungle. We would have 12-hour days riding in a truck on bumpy roads. But we normally felt safe.”

The group worked with local partners and NGOs. They helped welcome a renewable energy training facility in Honduras that will focus on cleaner-burning cookstoves to help reduce firewood consumption and indoor air pollution, and on solar lighting for the developing world.