Two Companies Simultaneously Claim to Launch "World's Smallest Driver"

In the continuous quest to make LED fixtures smaller, luminaire designers are challenged to interweave drivers, optics, heat sinks, surge suppressors and other components. Two companies claiming to have game-changing LED drivers might be enabling more elegant fixture designs. Read the two LIGHTFAIR press releases below and decide for yourself...

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seoul Semiconductor, a leading global innovator of LED products and technology, has developed the industry’s smallest phase-cut DC LED driver series, with a power density 10X higher than conventional LED drivers. The NanoDriver Series is the world’s smallest miniature converter at just 13.5mm wide, and is available in four versions rated for 16W and 24W output power for operating LED lighting with input power of 120V or 230V (50 – 60Hz), and can be driven by AC or DC power supplies. Manufactured with Seoul Semiconductor’s original Acrich technology, the NanoDriver Series features an IC directly attached to the substrate, dramatically reducing the size of the converter.

“The new NanoDriver Series will be a game-changer for lighting designers by enabling them to reduce the size, weight and volume of their light fixtures,” explained Keith Hopwood, executive vice-president at Seoul Semiconductor. “This breakthrough in size reduction for the NanoDriver Series is the result of the company’s continuing investment in high voltage LED technology, combined with a unique power topology that results in smaller size, increased efficiency and lower costs.”

In the future, Seoul Semiconductor will also launch the MicroDriver Series high performance drivers for LED lighting fixtures from 900 to 2400 lumens. The MicroDriver Series is designed with a miniature package that reduces the size of the converter by more than 10X to enable the integration of the control circuitry with the external driver, making it possible to mount more light sources on the board, or reduce the size of the board.

The NanoDriver Series requires few external components, and delivers 16W or 24W of output power in a package just 13.5mm x 13.5mm x 1.42mm. These drivers are ideal for downlight, flush mount, track and spotlight fixtures. Their small size enables ultra-thin and novel fixture designs in wall sconces, making conventional lamp replacement possible without the need for a large volume recess for the driver, or a reduction in the light output.

The resulting decrease in the LED drivers’ physical size has significant business implications for the lighting industry, giving lighting designers the ability to shrink the size of light fixtures by as much as 20%, which reduces shipping and storage costs. Because conventional LED drivers are both heavy and bulky, they are typically shipped via sea freight from manufacturers in Asia to European and North American fixture companies, with transit times up to six weeks. The NanoDriver Series are small and lightweight enough to make airfreight practical and economical, reducing transit time and making the overall supply chain more flexible and responsive.

The NanoDriver Series is available in four models rated for output power of 16W and 24W, for LED assemblies operating at input voltages of 120V or 230V (50 – 60Hz). The drivers have typical efficiencies of 85% and power factor correction (PFC) of <0.9, and are rated for inrush current of <300mA, with an over-temperature protection feature that limits the LED current at temperatures above 160°C. Operating temperature range is -40° to +70°C (ambient) and -20° to +85°C (at TC point).

The drivers are UL recognized, provide flicker-free, low ripple current operation for phase-cut dimmers, and are compliant to California Title 24, enabling lighting designers to meet the most challenging design requirements, including low flicker, high power factor, Class B EMI and 2kV surge.

The NanoDriver Series LED drivers are available immediately from Seoul Semiconductor. To learn more about the NanoDriver Series please visit http://www.seoulsemicon.com/en/technology/drivers .

For more information about Seoul Semiconductor, please visit http://www.seoulsemicon.com, or, if you’re planning to attend LIGHTFAIR, visit

Seoul Semiconductor at Booth #2825.

About Seoul Semiconductor:

Seoul Semiconductor develops and commercializes light emitting diodes (LEDs) for automotive, general illumination, specialty lighting, and backlighting markets. As the fifth-largest LED manufacturer globally, Seoul Semiconductor holds more than 12,000 patents, offers a wide range of technologies, and mass produces innovative LED products such as Wicop – a simpler structured Package-Free LED which provides market leading color uniformity, cost savings at the fixture level with high lumen density and allows design flexibility; Acrich, the world's leading direct AC LED; Acrich MJT multi-junction technology; a proprietary family of high-voltage LEDs; and nPola, a new LED product based on GaN-substrate technology that achieves over ten times the output of conventional LEDs.

# Trademarks: Wicop and Acrich are trademarks of Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

MOORPARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ERP Power LLC (ERP), a leading provider of small, smart and efficient LED drivers for the lighting industry, today announced the world’s smallest power supply for LED lighting fixtures will be demonstrated in Philadelphia May 9-11 at LIGHTFAIR International 2017 – the world's largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference. The next generation ERP LED driver architecture delivers power density of 20 Watts per cubic inch in a package the size of two AA batteries. The new patent-pending power electronics design delivers more than double the density of the previous generation ERP platform, while delivering 5 times the power density of current industry competitors. Initial models will be available in 100W, 60W, and 40W capacity in constant current and constant voltage configurations.

“ERP is once again redefining what small and powerful means in the LED lighting industry,” said Michael Archer, CEO of ERP Power. “Every LED luminaire design engineer who has held it in their hand simply says ‘Wow!’. We expect our new LED driver power density will accelerate an entire generation of creative new lighting fixture designs.”

ERP will also be demonstrating its latest lineup of high wattage outdoor LED Drivers, surge protection devices and step-down transformers designed for use in roadway lighting, parking areas, and sporting venues. ERP's programmable LED drivers with integrated Bluetooth® mesh communications make dimming, scheduling, and ambient scene control as simple as a swipe of your finger or the sound of your voice. #LFI2017 attendees can see the ERP CDB Series driver on display as part of the Avi-On Pro demonstration in booth number 457; and embedded as part of a Leotek area lighting demonstration in booth number 2841.

About ERP Power

Established in 2004, ERP designs and manufactures small, smart and efficient LED driver power electronics for architectural, commercial and industrial lighting applications. Powerful ERP products deliver an industry-leading combination of compact size, extensive dimmer compatibility, wireless controls, programmable output, and high efficiency at competitive cost. Headquartered in Moorpark, CA, ERP owns and operates its own ISO 9001 certified manufacturing facility to ensure quality of design, sourcing, production and testing. Learn more online at www.erp-power.com or by emailing SaveEnergy@erp-power.com.

About Angeles Equity Partners, LLC

Angeles Equity Partners is a private equity firm that invests in companies across a wide range of industrial sectors and specifically targets businesses which it believes can directly benefit from the firm’s deep expertise in operational transformation and strategic repositioning. This skill set drives the firm’s investment philosophy and, in its view, can help underperforming businesses reach their full potential. Learn more online at www.angelesequity.com.

About LIGHTFAIR International

LIGHTFAIR® International is the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference and is sponsored by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). The event is produced and managed by AmericasMart® Atlanta. For more information, please visit LIGHTFAIR.COM. Join the #LFI2017 conversation on Facebook, Twitter @lightfair, Instagram @lightfair_international, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Contacts
ERP Power LLC
Trenton Waterhouse, + 1 623-523-1672
SaveEnergy@erp-power.com
www.erp-power.com