The US Department of Energy (DoE) announced four new OLED lighting research grants as part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
The first project, granted ($225,000) to Universal Display in collaboration with IDD Aerospace, aims to develop a low-energy shelf phosphorescent OLED light targeted at aircraft interiors. According to the DoE, IDD plans to commercialize this technology in 2015. Back in 2011, UDC showcased an all-phosphorescent, white OLED luminaire designed into an under-cabinet lighting system. This development was also funded by the DOE back in 2009. The warm-white OLED offer a power efficacy of 70 lm/W when operated at 190 lumens.
Litecontrol is developing an OLED luminaire family for use in corridors and public spaces at night in which accurate color rendering is important.
The third project goes to InnoSys, who's developing a customized driver design for phosphorescent OLED lighting panels. The DoE says that currently all OLED panels use standard LED drivers, and this effort aims to produce better drivers that will be highly efficient and "smart".
The fourth project goes to Plextronics, and we already posted about it earlier. Plextronics will partner with Electroninks to develop low-cost processes of OLED lighting printed electrodes.
