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| | Zhaga consortium aims to standardize LED light-engine interfaces | | 03 Feb 2010 | | A consortium of international lighting companies aims to drive standardization that will enable interchangeability between products made by diverse manufacturers. | | An international group of companies from the lighting industry –- including Acuity Brands Lighting, Cooper Lighting, Osram, Panasonic, Philips, Schréder, Toshiba, Trilux and Zumtobel Group -– is to initiate the formation of Zhaga, an industry-wide cooperation aimed at the development of standard specifications for the interfaces of LED light engines.
As rapid advances in LED technology continue, Zhaga will enable interchangeability between products made by diverse manufacturers. Interchangeability is achieved by defining interfaces for a variety of application-specific light engines.
Zhaga standards will cover the physical dimensions, as well as the photometric, electrical and thermal behaviour of LED light engines.
Zhaga is being formed for the benefit of the consumers in the expectation that standardization will prevent market fragmentation into incompatible light engines. Zhaga standards will give consumers the confidence to specify and purchase LED products that will be easily replaceable and commercially available, while continuously enjoying the performance upgrades that LED technology enables. In addition, this will foster innovation and competition in the application of LED lighting in general.
Zhaga’s membership will grow with the participation of other companies openly invited from across the lighting industry. Membership will be drawn from the broad spectrum of players in the LED lighting industry, such as LED light engine and LED luminaire vendors, as well as suppliers of components such as heat sinks and optics.
A first meeting of the consortium will take place in March 2010, at which members will make first steps in creating Zhaga standard interfaces for LED light engines. | | COMMENTS | | Name: kevin willmorth Posted: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:03 |
| The work of this consortium is to be commended. However, there is an obvious list of missing companies, such as Molex Inc., GE, Tyco, Xicato, and others emerging now - all actively developing and producing new modules right now. By not including manufacturers not specifically tied to luminaire production, this consortium's success could potentially be hobbled by a lack of adoption, as modules entering the market now are put into place. An agreement between a group of luminaire manufacturers who may or may not be the final producers of the open source sockets and module components, seems to be missing an important component of the concept. Further, there is a need for a wide range of modules, just like there are in incandescent/halogen lamps, to suit different applications. What works in a downlight will not likely work in a linear strip, which will likely now work well in a decorative bowl, which is unlikely to fit a sconce, which will certainly not work in a roadway luminaire. Establishing a modular platform with limited applications, controlled by a few luminaire manufacturers will produce minimal real results. Administrators Reply The news item explicity refers to "interfaces for a variety of application-specific light engines."
| | Name: lumenpro Posted: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:02 |
| Seems the spin is that this is only for the betterment of the customer or end user? It certainly gives the larger company's with money to spend influencing/participating in efforts like this get the leg up. The smaller guy (with innovative ideas and talent), has to fall in line?
Too early for this............
Maybe the big guys just feel too threatened. |
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