Recent developments and announcements from major developers of
organic electroluminescence (OLED) technology seem to be pointing
towards the conclusion that 2011 will be the year where the first
commercial OLED lighting applications will appear on the
market.
Prototypes have been demonstrated by several companies, such as
NEC, OSRAM OS, Matsushita Electric Works and Koizumi Lighting
technology. Some of the prototypes are similar to conventional
lighting elements, such as beautifully crafted desktop lamps and
others, demonstrating the versatility of using OLED technology, are
more intricately designed concepts. A fine example of that is the
lamp designed by Makoto Tojiki, named "Archimedes Dream"; with
Archimedes' constant π running along it.
General Electric have also demonstrated the ability to use
printing technologies to manufacture OLED panels on a roll to roll
process and its optimization over the next few years will see the
reductions in cost that are so inadvertently intertwined with the
successful introduction of OLED products in the market. Konica
Minolta is working closely with General Electric in the development
of their lighting products.
Konica Minolta has also licensed UDC's proprietary
phosphorescent OLED technology and is integrating it into their
white OLED lighting products. The incorporation of the core
competencies of the two companies into the final products will
strengthen the competitiveness of the resulting products and lead
to their accelerated commercialisation.
The design possibilities become even more varied as flexible
OLED technology is developed. Limitations due to low lifetime are a
big challenge at the moment, and the issue is being addressed by
several companies and research institutes, in order to be able to
achieve lifetimes that would make a viable commercial product. Once
that hurdle is overcome, many more applications are envisaged.
The Research Institute for Organic Electronics (RIOE) in Japan
is aiming to help with the industrialization and commercialization
of OLED technology by tackling issues such as:
- Higher efficiency (comparable to fluorescent lighting), and
durability at high power input. According to the RIOE, in order for
OLED lighting to be used as a mian lighting source, it's luminance
should reach 50000 cd/m sq.
- Lower cost panel production
- Development of new applications, in which organic
electroluminescence can maintain a competitive advantage against
other technologies.
Examples of potential applications include:
- Illuminating room switches, desk drawers, staircases etc.
- Illuminating accessories (e.g. toothbrushes, bags)
- Underwater lighting
- Interior lighting for vehicles
Together with the development of OLEDs for displays, a push
that's mostly supported by Samsung and Sony who have already their
OLED television on sale, the next few years will see companies
overcoming barriers and issues that are currently inhibiting a
faster growth. Once that happens, OLEDs have the potential to
penetrate many aspects of everyday life. And soon after,
glow-in-the-dark windows and illuminating ceilings will be a
ubiquitous reality.
Harry Zervos is a technical consultant
with IDTechEx
To hear from global giants Samsung, DuPont Displays, Kodak and
more attend the
IDTechEx Printed
Electronics Asia conference being held in
Tokyo on October 8-9, 2008.