OLED for Lighting
November 20, 2013, Printed Electronics Show, Santa Clara, CA—Mike Lu from Acuity presented commentary on OLED for lighting and the prospects for growth in this area. OLED lighting is poised for growth, since the devices allow more degrees of freedom in lighting fixture design.
The technology world is making printed synonymous with organic, since the required materials for printing electronics have moved almost exclusively to organic. Comparing and contrasting OLED and LED notes that both are low-energy solid state devices. The LEDs are edge emitters while the OLEDs are surface emitters. As a result, OLED can be scaled by adding area, which poses the potential for yield improvements and lower costs. LEDs, on the other hand, scale by periphery or edge length, so a large area lighting surface needs a lot of assembly work.
Continuing the comparison, LEDs need phosphors to get a full spectrum light, and usually are closer to incandescent lights than to a full spectrum light. OLEDs can be built to be broad spectrum, and adding more layers allows the OLED to be tuned for any color spectrum. In addition, the OLEDs are more efficient than the LEDs.
OLEDs can be fabricated on many types of substrates permitting flexible, transparent, and other custom designs for the fixtures. The design is less constrained by source technology and form factors with OLED because the emitters can be printed on any surface. These characteristics allow aesthetic and individualized designs versus uniform and commoditized panels for lighting. Now the light can be a function of art and design and therefore less price sensitive than most consumer electronics products.
The ability to work with flexible substrates allows for lighting with configurable capabilities. It is possible to assemble an array of panels for area specific and visually appealing fixtures. The ability to focus light into an area means that some arrays can be powered down or not be well lit since the light can be placed into areas of need.
The use of flexible substrates allows not only curved surfaces, but also enables the fixtures to operate with some spatial frequency. The surfaces can move and respond to gestures to change the type and amount of movement. These characteristics facilitate the move from cubicles to open office layouts, since the light can be dynamically changed to light areas of activity. The open office requires that the fighting fixtures change to adapt to personal preferences and work requirements. Some knowledge workers like graphic artists prefer very low levels of light in their work areas while others will want more light for other tasks.
The ideal light will have good light quality, personal control, and minimal disturbances to adjacent areas. the next generation of OLED fixtures will offer personal, interactive, and efficient lighting for the commercial work environment.
