OLED vs. LED
Both technologies are classified as solid-state lighting, a type of lighting system that relies on semiconductors that convert electricity into light rather than filaments or gases encased in glass bulbs. However, the similarities end there. Differences in the materials and manufacturing processes used to make the two light sources lead to differing characteristics in the finished products.
“One of the main distinguishing characteristics of an LED is that it’s a point source, which makes it a good choice for directional applications. However, if you were to look directly at the diodes, they’re extremely bright – maybe up to 1 million candelas per square meter,” explains Jeannine Wang, director of business development for Acuity Brands’ OLED Business Group. “In order to be able to use the light in a useful fashion, glare control is a big consideration. You need optics to control the light from an LED source.”
OLEDs, on the other hand, are thin sheets (less than 2 mm thick).
Light is produced by the whole sheet instead of by a diode, but the
light is less bright than that of an LED, so it’s comfortable to view
directly without the aid of a diffuser or other optics.
The thinness of the finished product is increasingly leading
manufacturers to high-end architectural fixtures and task lights – in
other words, “following the same path LED did before it,” says Ethan
Biery, LED engineering leader for Lutron.
Lifetimes for OLED haven’t quite caught up to LED (30,000-40,000 hours vs. 50,000-plus for LEDs), but they’re moving in the right direction. “OLED technology is still several years behind regular LEDs, so a lot of the things people are struggling with now were solved for LEDs years ago,” Biery adds. “However, the technology is rapidly improving. A lot of that has to do with the DOE – they’re pouring research and development dollars into incentivizing manufacturers to invest in better technologies and equipment. OLEDs are still a few years out from mass commercial adoption, but you can already find some residential OLED fixtures in Home Depot.”
To find out more a
Both technologies are classified as solid-state lighting, a type of lighting system that relies on semiconductors that convert electricity into light rather than filaments or gases encased in glass bulbs. However, the similarities end there. Differences in the materials and manufacturing processes used to make the two light sources lead to differing characteristics in the finished products.
“One of the main distinguishing characteristics of an LED is that it’s a point source, which makes it a good choice for directional applications. However, if you were to look directly at the diodes, they’re extremely bright – maybe up to 1 million candelas per square meter,” explains Jeannine Wang, director of business development for Acuity Brands’ OLED Business Group. “In order to be able to use the light in a useful fashion, glare control is a big consideration. You need optics to control the light from an LED source.”
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| LED Lighting |
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| OLED Lighting |
Lifetimes for OLED haven’t quite caught up to LED (30,000-40,000 hours vs. 50,000-plus for LEDs), but they’re moving in the right direction. “OLED technology is still several years behind regular LEDs, so a lot of the things people are struggling with now were solved for LEDs years ago,” Biery adds. “However, the technology is rapidly improving. A lot of that has to do with the DOE – they’re pouring research and development dollars into incentivizing manufacturers to invest in better technologies and equipment. OLEDs are still a few years out from mass commercial adoption, but you can already find some residential OLED fixtures in Home Depot.”
To find out more a
Guardian
Service Industries Inc. | Facility Solution Provider
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