Philips reached a new milestone in OLED lighting this week: the first AC-powered OLED module. In the past, OLED technology required DC voltage — a requirement that meant OLED panels had to contain expensive switching mechanisms. But the new AC-powered OLEDs can be plugged directly into a standard wall socket, potentially bringing down the cost of the low-energy lights.
In addition to making OLED lights cheaper, Philips‘ advancement purportedly increases design freedom, improves end-design reliability, and allows OLEDs to come to market more quickly.
OLEDs are still too expensive for commercial lighting, but Philips’ discovery might just change that. And once ultra-attractive OLEDs become cheap enough for mass consumption, few people will complain about the death of incandescent bulbs.
Via Engadget
I’m not sure about the Ac or the DC end of it, but I do like the lower energy for the same luminosity.
I want to see appliances, and the grid, go the other way to DC power. Nearly all appliances nowadays need a wall wart or internal power supply to convert the AC to low voltage DC and we want to encourage solar panels on rooftops, so I say we run everything off of USB cables and standard backup batteries. The kitchen and laundry excluded.