GE Lighting and Rambus sign LED technology license agreement

GE Lighting and Rambus Inc., a technology licensing company, have signed a broad licensing agreement for the use of Rambus' patented lighting innovations, including its product reference designs and manufacturing process know-how. The initial focus will be to create a flat-panel LED lighting system for architectural and commercial lighting for global markets.

Michael Petras, president and CEO of GE Lighting, said, "One of our objectives as a lighting innovator is to quickly launch leading-edge products that can accelerate the adoption of quality LED lighting solutions around the world in commercial and residential settings. We want to provide customers with more unique LED innovations, and this agreement helps us get there faster."

Jeff Parker, president of Lighting and Display Technology at Rambus, said that the companies would work together to "create a new generation of advanced LED-based lighting products with unique form factors that are cost-competitive and energy efficient."

Rambus launched its Lighting and Display Technology business in 2009, and in December of that year the company acquired patents and technology from Global Lighting Technologies (GLT). Parker joined Rambus from GLT.

The patented technologies acquired by Rambus from GLT include LED edge-lit optical designs, MicroLens light distribution features, and high-volume, low-cost light guide panel and multi-function film manufacturing technologies.

Although the technologies were originally developed for backlighting applications, GE evidently intends to exploit their benefits in general lighting products, for example by using fewer or lower-cost LEDs while delivering excellent light quality and output.