Apr 18 2005
One year after beginning the project, developers at Osram Opto Semiconductors have introduced a prototype of an OLED light source which has a color rendering index of 80, a luminous efficiency of 7lm/W and an average brightness (luminance) of 250 Cd/m².
The prototype light source is based on two white emitting tiles of glass substrate, each measuring 2 x 3 inches (approx. 5 x 7.6 cm). Each tile has a luminous efficiency of 7lm/W, a color rendering index of 80 and a brightness of 250 Cd/m². For the second milestone in February, 2006, further development of the light source is planned. Eight tiles of the same size will operate with a luminous efficiency of 20lm/W, and achieve a brightness of 400 Cd/m² with a lifetime of 3,000 hours. By the project end in 2007, a prototype is expected with 32 individual light tiles, each of which will operate with a luminous efficiency of 40 lm/W, the same lifetime, and twice the brightness.
The U.S. Department of Energy has funded the OLED research with 4.65 million US dollars within a framework of the U.S. energy plans for the introduction of new technology. The goal is to save energy in both commercial and private lighting applications as well as the reduction of emissions and costs. Osram Opto Semiconductors has been given the task of demonstrating the possibilities and energy saving potential of the white organic light emitting diodes.
For more information on OLEDs, click here.