. . . to $7 billion, according to Forbes. The story includes:
So how to make LEDs mimic incandescents? The key was in redesigning the structure in the middle of the bulb called the filament tower, where 10 or 20 LEDs of varying colors are arranged. Cree’s configuration let the individual light sources overlap, creating an omnidirectional glow.
For now Home Depot is the only place you can buy the Cree, part of an exclusive deal to roll out the bulb in more than 2,000 stores. “The exclusivity is to be negotiated. We will look at other partnerships at some point,” says Swoboda.
And — to the magazine’s credit — the article included this:
But bulbs are just the start. Because they seldom need to be replaced, LED lights can be built into fixtures and furniture. Professor Michael Siminovitch, head of the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis, envisions a world of LEDs programmed to change color and intensity throughout the day, matching light from the sun.
Since humans’ circadian rhythms take cues from sunlight, Siminovitch thinks smart LED lighting will improve moods and reduce seasonal depression. Cree and its rivals are making “really, really good first steps” toward this future, he says.
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