August 25, 2008—Along with the amazing athleticism displayed at the 2008 Olympics, US technology provided an amazing display of a different sort outside the National Aquatic Center (or “Water Cube”) and the National Stadium (or “Bird’s Nest”), reports the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
Colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from Cree, Inc., allowed the Water Cube to change color, display words, and generate moving images to create a unique architectural presence on the Olympic Green in Beijing.
Nearly 500,000 red, green, and blue LEDs allowed the 3,000 “bubbles” on the exterior of the building to display millions of different colors. The building displayed a different computer-controlled pattern each evening.
About 258,000 Cree XLamp LEDs also provided white, amber, and red accent lighting for the exterior of the unique Bird’s Nest. Cree LEDs were also used inside the Bird’s Nest for a video screen behind the main stage, and they were also incorporated into the amazing luminous scroll that formed one of the largest LED screens in the world, measuring 230 feet by 70 feet, according to the broadcast on NBC.
For more information, see the Cree Web site.
