Philips Research Technology Backgrounder
New device architectures increase efficiency and lifetime of organic LED lighting panels |
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New work by Philips is bringing the concept of large-area lighting
based on organic LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology close to
practical reality. Organic LEDs are based on a thin layer of organic
material that emits light when a voltage is applied to it. As a
result, lighting panels based on this new solid-state lighting
technology offer a unique set of features, including a thin flat
form factor, optical transparency, color tunability and mechanical
flexibility.
By implementing new material systems in specific device architectures, Philips has succeeded in improving the performance and significantly extending the lifetime of organic LED panels. It has also developed new barrier coatings for plastic substrates, making ultra-thin flexible organic LED panels a feasible proposition. In the long run, lighting panels based on red, green and blue organic LED emitters will be able to produce light of almost any color and color temperature (for example, mimicking daylight, fluorescent or tungsten lighting) at energy efficiencies approaching and maybe surpassing that of fluorescent lamps. Organic LEDs also have the potential to be fabricated on low-cost flexible substrates using roll-to-roll manufacturing methods, opening up entirely new application areas such as conformal lighting panels for automotive interiors. By applying its advanced know-how in materials and device architectures, acquired over many years of research into polymer electronics and organic LED development, Philips has been able to extend the lifetime of organic LED emitters considerably. It has also improved transparent cathode materials, making it possible to produce rigid organic LED panels that are almost as transparent as glass when they are switched off. Incorporated into buildings, these panels will function as windows by day or highly versatile interior lighting by night. They could also function as privacy shields. To demonstrate the capabilities of organic LED lighting tiles, Philips’s latest prototype tiles contain integrated drive electronics that picks up electrical power wirelessly from printed circuit induction coils. To extend the lifetime of flexible organic LED panels, Philips has developed barrier layers that prevent the diffusion of water and oxygen through flexible plastic substrates. The integrity of these ultra-thin barrier layers has allowed the fabrication of highly flexible, extremely thin organic LED panels. The availability of large-area lighting panels with low energy consumption and a high degree of controllability will open up new opportunities in a very wide range of applications, from LCD backlighting to highly diffused anti-glare interior lighting for buildings and cars. The availability of flexible panels will allow organic LED lighting to be sculptured or tiled onto curved surfaces. |
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