OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) stands for organic light emitting diode. It is a semiconductor device made of a multilayer polymer structure placed on a flat substrate. When an electric current passes through it, it emits light. Unlike a conventional LED, which is a miniature "bulb" in the form of a hemisphere or parallelepiped, an OLED is a flat panel. It does not require cooling and therefore does not need a metal jacket to dissipate heat. The structure is placed on a substrate, which is usually made of glass or plastic and can be transparent, colored or mirrored. So even when off, OLED looks aesthetically pleasing.
First of all, OLED technology is used to create displays, but the ability to apply a pattern to the panel, give any color to the glow, adjust its brightness, the small thickness and sufficiently large area of the LED attracted the attention of luminaire manufacturers.
Meissen (Germany) and the Fraunhofer Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices in Dresden (Fraunhofer COMEDD) have developed a luminaire in which organic LEDs are mounted on thin porcelain plates.
The result is a feeling of uniform porcelain glow - it seems that the chandelier shines on its own, without visible light sources. This luminaire will be presented in 2013 in Milan at the International Furniture Salon.
Cinimod Studio, UK, together with Philips and designer Domenic Harris, have created the "Moonlight Chandelier", consisting of 19 transparent balls with round OLED panels inside. Depending on the angle of view, you can see the "full moon" or its "crescent" in different phases.
True, so far this is quite an expensive pleasure. For example, Novaled's Liternity Victory table lamp with OLED in a carbon fiber housing costs € 4,500.
So while OLED lamps are an element of prestige that an advanced user can be proud of, such as Deutsche Bank, for example. The world's largest OLED luminaire is suspended from the spiral staircase of his Berlin office. 384 OLEDs from Philips are arranged around a dichroic mirror rod - it selectively reflects parts of the spectrum, so that the color of the light changes depending on the angle of view.
Philips also offers "structured OLED light panels", which means "light panels containing text or images." They can be decorative or informational and are designed for the client.
Universal Display Corporation has created the Spiral OLED fixture, which is a strip of metal foil coated with organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The light spiral can be unwound and stretched.
A similar idea was embodied by the Japanese artist and designer Makoto Toike (Makoto Tojiki). He creates light sculptures and paintings using LEDs. From OLED, he made a lamp in the form of a luminous ribbon rolled into a ball and called it "Archimedes' Dreams".
The English company Lomox went even further and decided that having organic LEDs, you can do without lamps at all. Instead, the company proposes to use its two-in-one products - glowing OLED wallpapers.
Toshiba has come up with a special OLED lamp designed for use in emergencies when the usual energy sources are not available: earthquakes, floods, etc. It is powered by four AAA batteries, a rechargeable battery or solar panels. When using batteries, the charge lasts for two hours, and if the brightness is reduced, then for twenty hours.
OLED manufacturers around the world are working to reduce the cost of LEDs; create flexible substrates so that they can be rolled up and shaped into any shape; increase their size. Each company has its own ambitious plans. For example, Philips plans to make meter-by-meter OLEDs by 2018. Verbatim is focused on working with architects, designers and artists. The company has developed brightness and color control systems for OLED panels and recently showed spectacular lighting fixtures that can change color tones.
And in May of this year, she presented a joint project with the Finnish designer Päivi Maunu, who uses the old technology of glass melting to create paintings from it. Now his work is illuminated with transparent OLED panels, which enhances their expressiveness.
Russian manufacturers are just beginning to master this direction - at the beginning of this year, the Optogan company announced that it will be engaged in OLED technologies, and will also develop organic LED control systems, thanks to which it will be possible to adjust the brightness, color and luminescence mode.
