February 16, 2009 Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has announced a new range of sustainable lighting solutions for those without access to electricity. It has been estimated that around 1.6bn people around the world are in this situation and - for them - nighttime means either darkness or the dim glow of a kerosene lamp or candle. Three new Philips solar powered lighting products and a wind-up torch have been developed to overcome such problems. They are: Portable Lantern - This sleek looking lantern, as the name implies, is fully portable and it enhances the quality of peoples’ lives by providing bright white light just where it is wanted, when it is wanted. It features both compact fluorescent (CFL) and LED light sources to provide either a wash of light - equivalent to 250 candles - or a spot/torch beam, as required. A detachable cover helps point the light where it is wanted, and there are two settable lighting levels to make best use of the battery with varying ambient light levels. The Portable Lantern is also powered by a solar panel and built in battery pack, and it will last up to four hours after a single day’s charge. Despite being light in weight, it is very strong, easily taking all the knocks that result from portability. It will be available by mid 2009. ‘My Reading Light’ - This is a lightweight solar-powered reading light with a built-in rechargeable battery, which allows the person using it to read and write in the dark. It also enables school children to do their homework where previously this would have been difficult or impossible.
Good, evenly distributed, light is provided by patented LED light sources in conjunction with a special anti-scratch coated perspex sheet placed on the page, so that night time reading is very easy on the eyes – something that many rural Africans have not previously experienced. The advanced 270mAh lithium-polymer battery provides light for 3.5 - 9 hours depending on brightness – there is a choice of high/middle/low dimming settings. The battery can be charged over 500 times, so providing a long life. Both the main ‘My reading light ‘ along with a slimmed down low cost version, which is also in development, are expected to be available from Autumn 2009. Home or Small Business Lighting System - This is a complete home Solar lighting kit, and has been designed to provide low-cost yet highly efficient bright light for homes and small businesses. The central solar panel-charged battery pack powers multiple LED lights, which can be suspended around a building. A full day’s charging in the sun will provide enough light for a whole evening. The illuminance achieved is 250 lumens - equivalent to 250 candles/light, and the kit can be expanded to provide more lights if required. This product is expected to be available by the autumn 2009. Dynamo Multi LED self-powered flashlight - Whatever type of flashlight is required, the wind-up Dynamo Multi LED torch/flashlight perfectly answers the needs. This flashlight contains a dynamo such that two minutes of winding by hand will charge a battery to provide 17 minutes of light. This is highly convenient where there is no mains electricity.
Each flashlight uses the latest LED technology to provide a very bright white light and an extremely long life. LEDs mean that the drain on the battery is low so that the flashlight can be operated for long periods. The Dynamo Multi LED flashlight makes dependency on power sockets obsolete, yet it always provides light when it is wanted. A shock resistant outer cover is provided to extend life still further. The Dynamo Multi LED torch is available now. |