LED and OLED: Provide the necessary light for necessary places

With the development of energy-saving lighting, the popularity of LEDs that gradually replace incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent lamps and free-form OLEDs is increasingly expected. The use of a necessary amount of LEDs only where necessary, direct light emission of all surfaces using OLEDs, and the like have brought about a wide range of usage possibilities.

From the perspective of energy saving, the use and production of incandescent light bulbs, which were the main lighting, have become less and less. In Japan, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have required relevant industries to stop producing and selling incandescent light bulbs before 2012. Major companies have complied with this requirement.

As an alternative light source, Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology has achieved rapid development. Because of its high luminous efficiency, LEDs have become energy-efficient as a "new generation of lighting," and have been actively adopted since the cost was high. With the continuous reduction of prices, LED will undoubtedly become the mainstream light source in the future.

Not only Japan, LED development in the world is also accelerating. In South Korea, for example, the country is planning to make LED lighting account for 30% of all lighting by 2015. Countries such as the United States and China are also promoting LED lighting related investments.

As the next stage, the trend of replacing LED light bulbs with straight-tube fluorescent light under the same pattern has become apparent. Most lighting companies are currently developing and selling products that replace straight fluorescent lamps.

The important point of LED lighting is that it is not only limited to replacing the original light source but also aims at saving energy. Contains the potential to change the way people live and work in the light of life and work.

This is mainly due to the fact that LEDs can be used to dim and color highly free lighting.

For example, LED lighting can theoretically achieve 0-100% full-range dimming that is difficult for fluorescent lamps to achieve. Although fluorescent lamps also have products that support dimming, there is no type that can be freely controlled from 0%.

In addition, there is a problem that the fluorescent lamp is lighted at a low light amount to shorten the light emitting life. After lighting, it usually takes a few minutes to stabilize the light. The LED lighting can reduce the light intensity but can prolong the life of the light, and the responsiveness during dimming is also relatively high.

Providing the necessary light for the necessary places In Japan in the past, the idea that the lighting is brighter and better is deeply rooted. Therefore, there are very few cases where these functions are actively used in homes, offices, and cities because brightness is adjusted and atmospheres including colors are adjusted according to circumstances. The general use of these features is only commercial facilities.

Under the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, this concept began to change. This is because the reality has caused people to drastically adjust their traditional lifestyle of running out of water. Even now, in eastern Japan, the lighting intensity is greatly reduced in homes, offices, and cities. Based on these experiences, the understanding that "it is not necessary to be bright" has also been expanded.

In order to adapt to this change in concept, LED is regarded as the best light source. Because the LED can simply use the necessary amount of lighting where necessary, adjust the color temperature.

In order to support the progress of LED lighting, automatic dimming combined with sensors is an effective means. This requires a variety of peripheral technologies and products such as a communication system that connects the LED lighting and the sensor, and a terminal group that controls and manages the LED lighting and the sensor. It is difficult for the original lighting companies to increase the degree of integration, and cooperation with communications equipment manufacturers and construction companies should be carried out.

OLEDs fundamentally change the lighting pattern as a light source that contributes to energy saving as well as LEDs and can achieve higher freedom of illumination than LEDs. OLEDs (ELectro-Luminescence) are highly anticipated. OLEDs have not yet been fully put into practical use and the topics are quite numerous. However, on OLEDs, hidden innovations that subvert traditional lighting concepts are hidden.

The greatest feature that has never been seen before is that the light source itself emits light. Existing lighting, including LED lighting, uses point and line light sources to illuminate space. When surface lighting is required, a plurality of point light sources and line light sources are arranged together, and a panel-shaped lamp cover is arranged on the outside. The use of OLEDs enables direct illumination of the entire surface, making it possible to produce the best instruments for a wide range of uniform illumination.

The thickness of the light emitting portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the glass and plastic as the substrate. Very thin and very coordinated with the flat interior. It can illuminate the entire ceiling or cover the surface of furniture, electrical appliances such as walls, windows, tables, chairs, etc., and shines directly as illumination. In other words, lighting looks like "sticking" instead of "installing."

In addition, in addition to being able to be effectively used in places such as automobiles and airplanes where space is limited, sign lighting that can be posted like a poster is also expected to be realized. With the designer's new ideas, unexpected lighting may emerge in the future.