Innovation Timeline

Never Before Possible Solutions

Lumileds is a global innovation leader. Our advances in OEM and aftermarket automotive lighting and accessories, camera flash for mobile devices, and light sources for general illumination, horticulture, and human-centric lighting enable our partners and customers to deliver never before possible solutions for lighting, safety, and well-being.

19
14

Introduction of the Philips “1/2 Watt” bulb for car headlamps

24

First dual filament car lamp (Philips Duplo) laid the foundations of car lighting, enabling public use of electric headlamps.

36

Introduction of modern motor-car lighting: Philips Duplolux Selectiva

50

Introduction of bicycle lighting sets: Philips Philidyne

57

Car lamp with asymmetrical passing beam: launch of Philips Duplo-d

66

First to introduce Halogen headlighting technology in the market (H1 bulb type)

68

Commercialization of LEDs by HP optoelectronics division

70

First H4 Halogen bulb

70-1972

HP LEDs used in HP-35 calculator and first digital watch (Hamilton Pulsar)

87

Record efficiency of double heterostructure AlGaAs (650nm) LEDs on transparent substrate

88

High volume manufacturing of double heterostructure AlGaAs LEDs

90s

Pioneering AlInGaP LED innovation

  • First publication and commercial introduction of red and yellow AlInGaP LEDs
  • Continual performance breakthroughs

91
92

First LED rear applique (Ford Thunderbird)

93

First H7 Halogen bulb

94

Introduced LED package designed specifically for automotive lighting: SuperFlux

96

First cost-effective LED solution for automotive lighting: SnapLED

98

First 0.5W high power LED

99
  • First automotive LED front turn signal lamp (Hyundai Equus)
  • First 100 lm/W LED: Record efficiency for AlInGaP LEDs
  • Lumileds becomes a joint venture between Philips and Agilent

00
01
  • First introduction of high power AlGaInN FlipChip light-emitting diodes
  • Philips introduced high-performance signaling lamps: HiPerVision
01-2003
  • First 1W power LED: LUXEON I
  • First 3W and 5W LUXEON power LED families
  • Industry's first warm white LED
04
  • First TV backlit with LEDs (Sony Qualia 005)
  • First LED for functional phone camera flash used in the Sony Ericsson: LUXEON PWF1
  • First LED daytime running lamp (Audi A8 W12)

06
  • Philips acquired Agilent Technologies’ interest in Lumileds
  • Lumileds introduced Thin Film Flip Chip architecture (TFFC): High efficiency, highest “punch” LED architecture for lighting

07
  • First full LED headlamp (Audi R8) enabled by first generation of LUXEON Altilon
  • World’s smallest, lowest cost power LED introduced: LUXEON Rebel, redefining power LED packaging
  • First to publish evidence of Auger recombination as the cause for epi droop
08
  • First Xenon upgrades: Xenon UltraBlue
09
  • First to develop and manufacture ceramic phosphor for high-performance amber applications,enabling industry first PC Amberproduct: LUXEON Rebel PC Amber
  • Launch of automotive accessory business
10
  • World’s first to ship 1 billion high power LEDs
  • First to mass produce power LEDs on 150mm wafers
  • First to introduce Freedom from Binning products: LUXEON A and LUXEON S
11
  • Enabled first true replacement for 60 Watt bulb, 90 lm/W, 900 lm, 90CRI DOE L-prize bulb
  • First fully integrated HID system (D5S)
12
  • First Chip-in-Frame LED product based on 8mm² multi-junction architecture for high bay and outdoor applications with leading lm/W performance: LUXEON M
  • First 50 Watt equivalent perfect-fit GU10, enabled by LUXEON H
13
  • World’s first Chip Scale Package LED
  • First combined LED lightguide, daytime running light and front turn signal (Audi A3)
  • First color tunable cell phone flash
15
  • The Philips Lumileds LED business and the Philips Automotive lighting business are combined into a standalone operating entity: Lumileds
  • New state-of-the-art 2-filament Halogen (H18 & H19)
  • Introduced nitride red phosphor with record-low FWHM: SLA
16
  • RacingVision: most powerful Halogen ever
17
  • First illumination-grade LEDs with quantum dots
  • First H7 LED with SafeBeam and AirCool technology
  • Lumileds officially an independent company
19

First Thin-Film-Side-Coat (TFSC) technology allowing for the design of significantly smaller, lighter, and more cost-efficient matrix arrays.

20
  • First LED Headlamp (H7) retrofit bulb certified road-legal
  • First LED designed for deep dimming applications: LUXEON 3030 HE Plus Deep Dimming

21
  • Lumileds simplifies and speeds development of human centric lighting solutions with introduction of LUXEON SkyBlue™
  • First road legal H4-LED headlight bulb for retrofitting halogen lamps