Highly Segmented OLEDs for Exterior Automotive Lighting and Safety Communication

Lead Performer: OLEDWorks – Rochester, New York
Partner: None
DOE Total Funding: $199,974
Project Term: June 28, 2021 – June 27, 2022
Funding Type: SBIR

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

In automotive lighting today, red OLED lighting panels used in the rear combination light (“RCL”) and OLED displays used in interior applications are highly energy efficient and cost effective. Yet, the maximum brightness of current OLED panels (1- to 2-stack OLED formulations on glass substrates of 1 to 6 segments) only reaches 1,000 to 2,000 cd/m², which is too dim for daylight visibility and hazards signals. For OLED panels, more and smaller segments and higher brightness are needed. Similarly, today’s OLED displays are too dim and too expensive to be used for exterior automotive lighting and safety communication.

OLEDWorks will develop new OLED automotive taillights composed of multiple stacked layers of red and white OLEDs to provide greater efficiency, a broader intensity range, and the ability to communicate safety information. The project will entail development of red OLED formulations of 3 to 6 stacks to increase brightness up to ~20,000 cd/m² and cost-effective substrates capable of up to ~1,000 segments per panel. In addition, a standard 6-stack white OLED formulation will be deposited on the highly segmented substrates to demonstrate the added feature of safety communication for interior building applications.

PROJECT IMPACT

This project targets advancements in exterior automotive lighting and safety lighting product technology that reduces energy consumption and adds safety communication functionality not possible with conventional product technology. Outcomes include both increased brightness and increased segmentation to enable cost-effective, daytime visible exterior automotive lights that can communicate a wide variety of safety-related hazards symbols. The technology can also be applied to interior building lighting, adding safety communication functionality to standard ceiling or wall mounted lighting fixtures.

CONTACTS

DOE Technology Manager: Brian Walker, [email protected]
Lead Performer: Michael Boroson, OLEDWorks