Researchers boast of progress towards more efficient OLED lighting

We haven't seen all that many OLED lighting options, but a group of researchers from the University of Michigan and Princeton University say they could be on the verge of changing that situation, with them now boasting of a new breakthrough that could greatly increase the efficiency of OLEDs. The key to that, it seems, is a combination of an organic grid and some tiny dome-shaped micro lenses that guide the trapped light out of the devices. As the researchers point out, with current OLEDs, only 20% of the light generated is actually released, but they say this new method could boost the efficiency by a full 60%, or about 70 lumens per watt of power. Of course, they're also quick to point out that all of this is still quite a ways away from becoming practical for commercial purposes, although they seem to be optimistic that the eventual production cost for these new and improved OLEDs will be competitive with existing ones.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:17PM]

so the light is trapped and cant get out?
should've bought life alert

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:24PM]

help! my photons are trapped in my organic liquid crystals and they can't get out!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:25PM]

er.. *light emitting diodes.

hold on, i'm just rinsing off the failsauce baster

[kjb434 Posted Jul 23rd 2008 3:32PM]

OLED: The blackholes of display technology. We can't the light out!

[Ignatius Posted Jul 23rd 2008 4:53PM]

70 lumens per watt? Daaaaaaamn.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:12PM]

Is that good?

[Ignatius Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:30PM]

If Wikipedia is to be believed, the average incandescent bulb (60 watts) has only a 14.5 lumens to watt efficiency.

So... yes. It's VERY good. You could have a 60-watt incandescent bulb (850 lumens) with an 12-watt OLED.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:14PM]

Laaaaaame!!!!11!1111!!!!

But seriously, how exited can we get about lights?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:15PM]

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame!!!!111!!!!!!111!1!!

But seriously, how exited can we get about lights, i'm serious, somene please tell me what this means.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:16PM]

Fail

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 5:56PM]

If this article was titled "More Available OLED Lighting" I would've been excited.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2008 7:12PM]

Why is this article accompanied by pictures of the backs of floor tiles?

[ntw1103 Posted Jul 24th 2008 10:26AM]

I was wondering the same thing. lol