LED lighting applications and OLED industry standards

LED lighting applications

Because OLED is a flat light source, it is generally a light source of interest to the public. It can provide uniform light across the entire sheet, and has potential energy-saving prospects. Multiple colors of light can be selected in one device at the same time. Usually glass is used as the substrate, and now the focus is on performance improvement. Table 1 shows the requirements for efficacy and color rendering index (CRI) indicators for white OLED lamps in residential and outdoor applications.

Table 1 - Requirements for efficacy and color rendering index (CRI) indicators for white OLED luminaires in residential and outdoor applications — Table 1 – Requirements for efficacy and color rendering index (CRI) indicators for white OLED luminaires in residential and outdoor applications

OLED ceiling lighting fixtures are suitable for general lighting in commercial office spaces. In terms of energy savings, OLED lighting is expected to outperform conventional fluorescent lamps, which makes it very attractive, but its cost-effectiveness is limited when considering energy savings alone. Therefore, non-energy benefits and energy-related economic incentives will significantly affect the ability to sell this product. A typical OLED ceiling luminaire has a power of 56W and a luminous flux of 4200lm (the efficacy of the luminaire is 75LPW).

Table 2 gives some parameter requirements for commercial OLEDs. Buyers of commercial lighting are more sophisticated than consumers of residential lighting. They are paying more and more attention to energy saving, and they will also take energy saving into account in economic benefits. They are also very concerned about the acceptance of each new lighting technology by building users, and risk aversion in this regard. There is also a reliability issue.

Table 2 - Some parameter requirements for commercial OLEDs — Table 2 – Some parameter requirements for commercial OLEDs

OLED industry standard

In the lighting industry, OLEDs generally remain a bit of a mystery, and they are often assumed to be some type of inorganic LED. OLEDs are diffusely reflective planar light sources. White OLED technology has been around for several years, but it is only in the second generation of its development. OLED is still a fairly complex technology due to its thermal management issues. In order to achieve maximum light output and uniform illuminance distribution, the panel size is still relatively limited, with a size of only 6in2. However, OLEDs do offer the possibility of new lighting strategies. OLED offers “a fundamentally different lighting design” where surfaces and objects become the focus of attention rather than space.

A complete solid-state lighting market started in 2012. The distribution trend of LED lighting is also expected to continue to develop. Many companies see this potential LED lighting market and are looking for opportunities to enter the LED lighting industry. However, the understanding of successful LED lighting market entry requirements, LED lighting standards and certification is still in the developing stage. Standards are implemented to achieve common specifications for products from different manufacturers to improve compatibility and prevent inferior products from being distributed in the market, providing consumers with high-quality products. When standards are linked to the market, it’s called certification. By 2015, OLED is expected to enter the lighting market. Table 3 and Table 4 give LED lighting standards and technical parameters.

Table 3-LED lighting standards and technical parameters

Table 4 - Standards/Certifications for LEDs in Development Manufacturing — Table 4 – Standards/Certifications for LEDs in Development Manufacturing

Global LED standards and certifications are implemented to achieve common product specifications in different regions, as shown in Figure 1.