At the Electronica 2012 in Munich, a novel LDS-based lighting system attracted a lot of attention at LPKF’s stand. Marketed under the name Homelight, the LED systems manufactured by MOLEX uses flexible solid state lights (SSLs) that adhere magnetically to carrier rails and can be shifted, removed or replaced at any time.
 
With most conventional LED systems, lamp and base are hard-wired so that the entire carrier has to be disposed of when there is an LED failure. With the new application, the flat circular lights and the base are connected in a flexible wireless fashion. The comfortable clip & slide system thus also allows the light quality to be quickly adjusted in color and strength with a range of light disks. Due to the LDS technology, the strip conductors are directly integrated into the carrier and electrical and mechanical functions are combined. The design is extremely compact and flat – its very precise, three-dimensional laser direct structuring is hardly perceptible.

At the Electronica, the world’s leading trade fair for components, systems and applications in electronics, the LPKF stand was equipped with these innovative light disks. In addition, the visitors were able to get a sense of the technology in practice by viewing samples. The LDS-manufactured LED application also attracted the most attention in the press conference afterwards.

In the future, all buildings in the commercial and private area could be converted to this efficient LED lighting. It is extremely energy-saving and provides a high light yield. Thanks to LDS technology, it was possible to develop the system in a compact and space-saving fashion. LDS also contributes to optimizing heat discharge. LPKF is thus setting the pace for new applications in LED technology. “In LED, we see an emerging market and will support the technology in the coming years through further developments within the LDS process chain, for example, with new materials, 3-D assembly and new machine concepts,” says Stephan Krause, LDS Strategic Product Manager, LPKF Laser & Electronics AG.