Rambus Inc. announced the commencement of a business alliance with the Elite Group Inc. The Elite Group will promote and sell the Rambus LED bulb portfolio to retail and professional markets within North America, including the broad range of major retail customers already working with Elite. Elite Group, in its L'Image Home Products division, currently sells a portfolio of bulbs and lighting products to major retailers including Home Depot. The Rambus LED bulbs take a fundamentally different design approach than other LED light bulbs on the market.

The inventive seed of this lighting solution is Rambus' MicroLens(R) optical technology, which in the bulb enables the use of a cylindrical light guide with the ability to produce a consistent, spherical distribution of light. This open structure allows for the innovative use of convection to keep the bulb cool. The result is a family of bulbs with increased energy efficiency, significantly improved lifetime and reduced bill of materials cost by utilizing fewer or lower-powered LEDs.

The technology embodied in MicroLens optics has a proven track record in backlighting cell phones, computer screens, televisions and other displays. The first Rambus LED bulbs will be available at major retailers and professional channels as soon as second quarter 2013. An extended portfolio of A19 and PAR bulbs with a roadmap of technology enhancements that enable increased functionality is under way.