Xicato Spot Modules: The Artist Series The established Xicato Spot Module range has been extended by this month s launch of the Artist Series. These have a CRI (Color Rendering Index) of Ra over 95, including almost perfect rendering of deep reds which the lamp industry has until now found problematic. The range develops Xicato s goal of providing LED based lighting with all intrinsic energy and longevity benefits of LEDs but with no compromises. It is a genuine halogen equivalent, and as such ideally suited for retail, domestic, hospitality and gallery / museum applications. As with all Xicato Spot Modules, the Artist Series modules consist of a LED array within a mixing chamber below a separated phosphor plate. Uniquely a separated phosphor technology is made possible in a LED Spot Module owing to Xicato s technique of keeping the phosphor cold. Separating phosphors away from LED chips increases light quality in terms of both uniformity and colour consistency. Furthermore Xicato s Corrected Cold Phosphor Technology ensures that color points centred on the Black Body Locus for a perfectly natural light are maintained to a 2 step MacAdam ellipse tolerance, part to part and through life. Three CCTs (Correlated Color Temperatures) are available: 2700K, 3000K and 4000K. (See figures 1 and 2.) CRI of Ra over 95 Via attention to both LED and phosphor specification, a CRI of Ra over 95 is obtained, compared to one of 80 + with the standard range. Typically the Color Rendering Index is only evaluated for the first 8 pastel colored reference samples of the CRI system. The Artist Series has also been optimized to get excellent results for the more saturated and skin color samples of the CRI reference set. For the deep red R9 reference sample, a value of R9 over 90 has been achieved for the 2700K and 3000K Artist Series, and the same R9 is over 85 for the 4000K Artist Series. These numbers not only outperform other LED solutions but also traditional lamp types like compact fluorescent and compact metal halide. For the R10 to R14 CRI reference samples the average of R10-R14 is over 95 for the 2700K and 3000K modules, and over 92 for the 4000K modules. For the R15 reference sample, which is representative of Asian skin tones, a value of R15 over 95 is obtained. (See figure 3 for details.) Artist Series modules produce 700lm when run at 700mA - wattage in this case is on average 20W. Page 1 of 5
First installation: The Aplace, Stockholm The first installation using the Artist Series range is at Aplace - a fashion store within the PUB, by the Hötorget (Heymarket) in Stockholm, Sweden. It is the country s oldest department store complex (founded by Paul U Bergström in 1882). Since 2005, the complex is being modernised with a focus on selected fashion, accessories, design, music and cuisine. It has become one of Sweden s key cultural and entertainment centers, and aims to create via its decor, displays and featured brands an enlivening and inspirational experience. This is demonstrated nowhere stronger than in Aplace, an independent store representing the best of today s young fashion designers. Lighting can of course play a vital role in atmosphere creation and the sparkle, accenting and rendering perfection of halogen previously provided a perfectly satisfying visual solution but with economic and ecological shortcomings. The brief for Rikard Ahlstrand of The Stockholm Lighting Company, was to bridge this gap - to mirror the look and feel of halogen but lower energy and maintenance costs. Experiments with compact metal halide lamps provided energy saving but colours did not look so natural, fresh and inviting. Previous work with LEDs had not been successful owing to insufficient color rendering and color point stability. The final solution, installed in January 2010, uses Projection Lighting s AlphaLED luminaires and Xicato s Artist Series modules (3000K). It provides the sought vibrancy in atmosphere and faithful color rendering with a pronounced lift in the rich reds on display. The lighting contributes to the clean and uncluttered environment for example a flawless washing of the predominantly white walls - any color point inconsistencies would have tarnished the integrity of the design. (See figures 4-5.) Page 2 of 5
The Xicato Spot Module XSM technology Patent pending internal optical mixing cavity Patent pending Corrected Cold Phosphor technology Patent pending thermal design LEDs (not to scale) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Page 3 of 5
Figure 4 Figure 5 Page 4 of 5
Profile background Xicato is a young Solid State Lighting company founded by seasoned industry professionals, with offices located in Silicon Valley, California (HQ), London and Tokyo. Xicato develops, manufactures and globally markets LED modules that simply are functional replacements for traditional lamp technologies, offering all the life and energy-saving advantages of LEDs with no light-technical or aesthetic compromises. Xicato provides industry best (plus) specifications via an open approach with a global circle of leading end-users, specifiers and luminaire manufacturers. Xicato is committed to address the whole broad sphere of the general illumination world, taking on segment by segment with our annual new product launches. By Making sense with LEDs Xicato will bring confidence in LEDs to the lighting market and contribute to their widespread adoption. For more information on Xicato contact: Roger Sexton on +44 7525715497 (EU) Noboru Kaito on +81 50 5534 3168 (Japan) Ron Steen on + 1 847 380 2773 (US) For press images contact Jane Kingsley, JKS Communications. email: j@jkscomms.co.uk www.xicato.com Page 5 of 5