The Design Excellence Award went to Hong Kong-based Traxon Technologies | e:cue for its Light-Drive Elite, a wall-mounted standalone DMX controller and interactive user interface for dynamic lighting. End-users can easily setup color changing effects and control lighting directly using the device. The user interface features touch-sensitive keys and a touch wheel with color LEDs for intuitive selection of colors and adjustment of intensity and speed. Memory function allows users to define four colors for color-changing effects. It can be easily connected to LED RGB fixtures through an RJ-45 connection for power and data.
“Winning the [award] for the Light-Drive Elite is another testament to our commitment to deliver attainable dynamic lighting control to all types of venues — from sophisticated and complex communities to simple, small-scale environments — and to users of any level of skill,” says Tony Carrella, president of Traxon | e:cue, adding that the product “humanizes the power and possibility of lighting control.”
“We are honored that its capabilities, and our commitment to its design and development, have been recognized on such a prestigious scale,” Carrella says. Traxon | e:cue also won LightFair’s Best Booth award. The Light-Drive Elite was also tapped as the top product in the category of Controls, Daylight Integration and Systems.
The Technical Innovation Award was given to NXP Semiconductors, based in Europe, for its SSL2101, a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) controller IC designed to drive LED devices.
It operates in combination with a phase cut dimmer directly from rectified mains, and includes a high-voltage power switch and a circuit to allow direct start-up from the rectified mains voltage. The SSL2102 also includes high-voltage circuitry to supply the phase cut dimmer. The product was also named the best-of-category in Specialty, Hardware, Lampholders and Components.
The Judges’ Citation, a special recognition given for innovative product design at the discretion of the judges, was handed to Colorado-based LightLouver for its Lightlouver Daylighting System.
Using a passive optical design, the system redirects light deep into an interior space while eliminating all direct sunlight penetration onto work surfaces for all east, west and south facing facades. The product’s design simplicity earned raves from the judges, who likened it to a “better mousetrap.”
“We are very excited and proud to receive this prestigious award from the lighting industry,” says Michael Holtz, co-founder and principal of LightLouver. “It’s recognition of the innovative design we have developed for laylighting commerical buildings while contrlling glare and direct sunlight penetration. With electric lighting costs representing 30 to 40 percent of a typical office building’s annual energy costs, daylighting is an essential part of an overall strategy to achieve low- and zero-energy commercial buildings,” adding that its potential application to the retrofit market is limitless.