Search
  • Videos
  • Windows 10
  • 5G
  • Best VPNs
  • Cloud
  • Security
  • AI
  • more
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • Windows 10
    • 5G
    • Best VPNs
    • Cloud
    • Security
    • AI
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan

Making LEDs smarter (photos)

1 of 5 NEXT PREV
  • 6219828-540-396.jpg

    Start-up Digital Lumens has developed a commercial light fixture that is smarter than your average LED (light-emitting diode). CNET visited the company in Boston late last week to get a closer look.

    The fixture is designed specifically for warehouses and manufacturing facilities where either HID (high-intensity discharge), metal halide, or florescent lamps are used. This fixture consumes about 160 watts, compared to 400 watts for a metal halide light. To improve efficiency further, there is an embedded processor and wireless networking module. The on-board computing power means lights can be scheduled and managed for big gains in efficiency and a payback of two years. There is also an occupancy sensor (white square on the bottom half), but the platform allows for other sensors to be plugged into it.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT)

    Caption by: CNET News.com

  • 6219829-540-405.jpg

    A side-by-side comparison of an LED light on the right and HID light on the left at a warehouse facility operated by Americold. The commercial lighting industry is very large, but the company is looking at other vertical industries to get into. For example, its platform could collect sensor information, such as aisle traffic in stores or air quality in hospitals, and feed it to a central point.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT)

    Caption by: CNET News.com

  • 6219830-540-450.jpg

    A screenshot of the Light Rules software for managing lighting fixtures and schedules. Each color in this graphic represents a different room. Having a central way to manage lights gives facility managers more information to work with to optimize efficiency and lets them quantify any efficiency gained.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT)

    Caption by: CNET News.com

  • 6219831-540-358.jpg

    One of the advantages of LED lighting is that it's cooler than other light technologies, which can make a significant difference on the air cooling for a building. But LEDs still require cooling to ensure the long life of LEDs. Here is a shot of the aluminum heat sinks behind the LED lights sources on the Digital Lumens fixture.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT)

    Caption by: CNET News.com

  • 6219832-540-314.jpg

    LEDs lights are well-suited for lighting aisles in commercial buildings because they can be directed, dimmed, and turned on and off many times without degrading the life of the bulbs. This shot shows how the light bars can be aimed.

    This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
    Published: April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT)

    Caption by: CNET News.com

1 of 5 NEXT PREV

By CNET News.com | April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT) | Topic: Innovation

  • 6219828-540-396.jpg
  • 6219829-540-405.jpg
  • 6219830-540-450.jpg
  • 6219831-540-358.jpg
  • 6219832-540-314.jpg

Start-up Digital Lumens has developed a commercial LED light fixture that uses a computer technology to vastly improve efficiency.

Read More Read Less

Start-up Digital Lumens has developed a commercial light fixture that is smarter than your average LED (light-emitting diode). CNET visited the company in Boston late last week to get a closer look.

The fixture is designed specifically for warehouses and manufacturing facilities where either HID (high-intensity discharge), metal halide, or florescent lamps are used. This fixture consumes about 160 watts, compared to 400 watts for a metal halide light. To improve efficiency further, there is an embedded processor and wireless networking module. The on-board computing power means lights can be scheduled and managed for big gains in efficiency and a payback of two years. There is also an occupancy sensor (white square on the bottom half), but the platform allows for other sensors to be plugged into it.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com
Published: April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT)

Caption by: CNET News.com

1 of 5 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Innovation CXO Digital Transformation Tech Industry Smart Cities Cloud

By CNET News.com | April 25, 2011 -- 12:49 GMT (05:49 PDT) | Topic: Innovation

Show Comments
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • 1 of 3
  • Remote working, programming languages, artificial intelligence, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

    From the growth in remote working to the rise of automation and onto the demand for wearable devices, here's the research that matters from the past month in tech news. ...

  • Pitfalls to Avoid when Interpreting Machine Learning Models

    Modern requirements for machine learning models include both high predictive performance and model interpretability. A team of experts in explainable AI highlights pitfalls ...

  • Toshiba laptops through the ages

    Toshiba’s 35-year run in the laptop business is at an end, but what a journey it has been.

  • Innovative projects now online to combat coronavirus outbreak

    The spread of COVID-19 has a small silver lining: highlighting how innovative humankind can be under pressure. Here are our favorite examples.

  • Top programming languages, 5G worries, cloud computing, and more: Research round-up

    All the facts and figures that matter to you and your business from the past month in technology news.

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 first look: All the models and colors up close

    Here is Samsung's latest flagship range, in all its glory.

  • Google Maps turns 15: A look back on where it all began

    A timeline of Google Maps through the years since it was launched in 2005.

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2021 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings | Advertise | Terms of Use

  • Topics
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • All Authors
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Join | Log In
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy
  • TechRepublic Forums