Brilliant OLED Lighting Designs by Emory Krall

OLED lighting is still considered an emerging technology, but <a href="http://www.universaldisplay.com/default.asp?contentID=604">Universal Display Corporation</a> has been creating amazing concept products with these extremely efficient panels for over a decade. Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) are essentially a micro-thin stack of electrically-charged films sandwiched in between a substrate like glass or plastic. The Universal Display Corp scientists have developed a proprietary phosphorescent OLED technology (PHOLED), which is even more efficient than fluorescent OLED products currently available from companies like <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/23/mimosa-a-stunning-plant-inspired-oled-art-display/">Philips</a> and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/21/ge-unveils-super-efficient-white-oled-lights/">GE</a>. We are really impressed with the work done by <a href="http://emorykrall.com/">Emory Krall</a>, Universal Display’s prototype designer, who excels at showing off the versatility off this astoundingly efficient and vibrant <a href="http://inhabitat.com/interiors/lighting/">light source</a>. Read on for a look at some of our favorite designs!

These light fixtures explore ways to produce panels that are 6” square, which is much larger than what is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/03/17/reader-tip-philips-special-edition-lumiblade-now-available/">currently commercially available</a>. Conductive strands are used in a graphic way to bring power to all parts of the panel.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorescent_organic_light-emitting_diode">PHOLED</a> technology is patented by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/01/08/oled-wristband-by-universal-display-corporation/">Universal Display Corp</a> and is four times as efficient as is fluorescent OLED competitors. It can operate at very low voltages, and is cool to the touch. The panels can range in color from deep red and greens to vivid blues.

The <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBgQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Finhabitat.com%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2Frainbow-oled-transparent-light-origami-folds-to-make-new-hues%2F&amp;ei=VoJlTIHcB8KBlAeQk42TDg&amp;usg=AFQjCNHVEjvbtk1SwDxp6Luq-CghvWtzPQ">TLO</a> (Triangle Light Object, or Transparent Light Origami) panels were designed by <a href="http://emorykrall.com/">Emory Krall</a> for Universal Display to show how the colors of OLED are additive. The hinged design allows the triangles to twist and overlap each other. When you view the overlapping glowing panels, new colors of light appear. For example, red and green produce a yellow light. When the red green and blue panels overlap, white light is achieved. You can see a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXfi-fMHRDE">demonstration of this in a video</a>.

The <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBgQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Finhabitat.com%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2Frainbow-oled-transparent-light-origami-folds-to-make-new-hues%2F&amp;ei=VoJlTIHcB8KBlAeQk42TDg&amp;usg=AFQjCNHVEjvbtk1SwDxp6Luq-CghvWtzPQ">TLO concept</a> is made from 16 multi-colored glass <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/07/16/oled-breakthrough-yields-75-more-efficient-lights/">OLED panels</a>. In the off state, the triangular panels are clear, and when illuminated they glow red, blue or green but remain transparent.

A clever solution for holiday ornaments, these OLED panels are masked with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/05/craftedsystems-creates-modern-decor-to-help-build-community/">laser-cut felt.</a> The concept was made to easily plug into a bulb socket of an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/01/13/reader-tip-how-to-put-your-led-holiday-lights-to-use-year-round/">LED light strand</a>.

OLED’s have gained attention for their potential use in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/06/flexible-oleds-could-lead-to-sony-computer-%E2%80%9Cbracelets%E2%80%9D-by-2020/">flexible displays</a>. You may have read about digital roll up maps or <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/01/18/lg-unveils-flexible-electronic-newspaper/">newspapers</a>, but this concept promotes the technology as something more precious. Used as an element in a cast silver bracelet, the display shows birds soaring across the band.

These “Baby Displays” are used by Universal Display Corporation as technology demonstrators when speaking to new customers. They are used by electronic giants like <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/28/samsung-india-announces-first-solar-powered-mobile-phone/">Samsung</a> and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/03/05/lg-answers-the-green-call-with-a-yet-to-be-named-solar-powered-handset/">LG</a>, which utilize OLEDs in everything from hand-held devices to TVs. They also work with companies that are not consumer electronic manufacturers, such as <a href="http://www.armstrong.com/">Armstrong</a>, who is developing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvIPV0ioSnk&amp;feature=related">OLED ceiling tile lights</a>.

This beautiful desk lamp has very even, diffused <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/16/ingo-maurer-unveils-double-c-future-oled-chandelier/">OLED light source</a>. The delicate form is achieved with the amazing 1/8” thick panel. The head can rotate a full 360 degrees, and spins on thin <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber">carbon fiber</a> supports. Better yet, it is even dimmable.

We love these elegant concepts by Philadelphia-based designer Emory Krall so much that it is easy to downplay that these are first and foremost sustainable designs. PHOLED technology is the future of efficient lighting and displays. Let’s hope Universal Display’s technological rigor paired with <a href="http://emorykrall.com/category/universal-display-corporation-projects/">Krall’s inspiring concepts</a> will make PHOLED products a reality that is not too far off.