Acuity will design and fabricate OLED lighting fixtures that utilize Universal Display’s UniversalPHOLED technology tapping $2 million in DOE funds.

Universal Display and Acuity Brands have partnered to develop an energy-efficient and color-tunable phosphorescent OLED lighting system. Working with a $2 million US Department of Energy (DOE) Phase III Xlerator grant, the partnership seeks to combine Universal’s OLED technology with Acuity’s experience designing and building solid-state-lighting (SSL) fixtures.

The partners hope to build on the advances in Universal’s PHOLED panel performance achieved in prior phases of the DOEs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. During Phase III research, Acuity will design and fabricate OLED luminaires using Universal’s panels. The prototypes will target commercial applications in office, retail, and healthcare buildings.

The design targets include white-light fixtures that can be tuned across a range of color temperatures using Universal Display’s proprietary OLED architecture. Goals include “a thin, sleek form factor and exquisite quality of light.”

The partners believe that the ability to adjust the color of white light in an OLED panel “adds flexibility and refinement to lighting environments.” Clearly light sources such as incandescent and fluorescent lack such tunability although LED-based lighting can in some cases offer such a feature.

"Our recent advances in white PHOLED lighting panel performance, combined with the superb design capabilities of Acuity Brands Lighting, position our team to demonstrate an elegant, state-of-the-art luminaire system for a variety of commercial settings,” said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display. “By teaming with Acuity Brands Lighting under this program we believe that we can, together, accelerate the development and commercial introduction of PHOLED lighting systems."

"Acuity Brands has been investing aggressively in advanced technologies and control systems, innovations that will permeate the sustainable lighting solutions of the future for our customers," said Vernon J. Nagel Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Acuity Brands. "We are pleased to extend that commitment via this U.S. Department of Energy Award and to work alongside Universal Display Corporation. We are confident that initiatives such as this will facilitate the commercialization of advanced technologies such as OLEDs."

Universal’s Abramson added, “"We are very appreciative of this continued support from the U.S. Department of Energy and this opportunity to partner with Acuity Brands Lighting, a world-leading manufacturer of lighting systems and solutions."

About the Author 

Maury Wright is the Senior Technical Editor of LEDs Magazine.