Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are versatile, bright, efficient light sources. OLEDs are flat two dimensional lights made by placing a series of organic thin films between two conductors. When electrical current is applied, light is emitted.

The General Electric’s Ecomagination department has been developing OLEDs since 1999, and in 2003 they demonstrated a 2'x2' OLED light source. For a behind-the-scenes look at what is going on check out this recent blog post from GE.

OLEDs can be made very thin and very power efficient. While currently not as efficient as fluorescent lights, OLEDs have a higher theoretical maximum efficiency. OLEDs don’t produce waste heat and are so are great for illuminating things you don’t want to get hot, like cell phone screens.

The manufacturing process for OLEDs can include printing dots of different organic compounds on a clear plastic carrier to create a matrix of pixels that emit different colored light. These systems can be used in television screens, computer displays, and cell phone screens.

At the Las Vegas CES 2007 Summit Sony showcased a 27 inch (full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080) OLED television claiming a million-to-one contrast ratio and total thickness of 5 mm. According to news reports, Sony plans to begin releasing TVs this year.

So when do our semi-transparent, high-def, low-wattage, flexible pocket TVs arrive? All in good time my friend.

Comments (5)

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the problem
written by Tobias , April 28, 2007

the problem I see with OLEDs is the lifespan; it's much shorter than lcd-screens. but I read on wikipedia that they're working on the lifespan, so there is hope.

I would really love flexible screens ^.^

Organic lifespan
written by sfdsf , April 28, 2007

Easy, just add organic salt

It will last longer.

...
written by Ashley L. , April 29, 2007

I just think it's amusing that the picture on the example screen looks like it's from a 70's Good Housekeeping cookbook.
Pretty cool stuff, though.

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written by Varient , April 29, 2007

Hey Hank! Could you tell me a few things about lights.

1. How do High Intensity Discharge lamps rate. Cost, effeciency like energy used versus energy output, life, and how much heat is created.

2. High pressure sodium lights. same info as above.

3. Helied lights. I don't know how to spell them.

and how safe are sulfur burners?

...
written by Varient , April 29, 2007

Did you Videotape the interview?

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