IntertechPira Issues New Report – The Future of OLEDs for Lighting and Displays

January 18, 2010 — Phillip Wright

IntertechPira has announced availability of a new report on Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) entitled “The Future of OLEDs for Lighting and Displays.”  This market and technology report authored by Phillip Wright of WRT Associates analyses the current status and future trends for OLEDs used in display and lighting applications.  The OLED report describes the key drivers and trends for the ongoing development of OLED technology, discusses the applications of OLEDs to lighting and displays by end use product, and provides market forecasts for OLED display and lighting revenues for the next five years to 2014.

As a result of the sustained development efforts on OLED technology, the market for OLED lighting and displays is poised to grow from $615 million in 2008 to more than $6700 million in 2014, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 44%.  The OLED report will be of interest to individuals and businesses that are seeking to update their knowledge of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) and answer questions concerning this important emerging technology.

Consumers are eagerly awaiting televisions and mobile phones with brilliant, and low power consumption, OLED displays.  OLED lighting is just now coming to market offering lighting designers and the lighting industry new lighting efficiency and design freedoms.  The OLED report addresses many key questions concerning the OLED industry, markets and technology:

  • What barriers must be overcome to bring affordable products with OLED displays to consumers?
  • When will these barriers be surmounted?
  • When will OLED lighting begin shipping in lighting applications?
  • What are these OLED lighting applications?
  • What challenges must OLED lighting and displays overcome to reach market and gain market share from incumbent display and lighting products?
  • What alternative lighting and display technologies will compete for market share with OLEDs?
  • Who are the players in the OLED industry today and what will the competitive landscape look like in 2014?
  • What are current OLED display revenues by product application and how will they grow in future?
  • When will OLED lighting reach the billion dollar revenue mark?

IntertechPira’s new report, “The Future of OLED Lighting and Displays,” answers these questions about OLEDs and provides the reader with a thorough overview, status and analysis of the OLED industry and markets.

Take a look at a slide presentation or a webinar introducing the new OLED report.  Let us know your thoughts on the evolution of OLED technology and markets.

Posted in Announcements, Displays, Gadgets, Green Technology, Investment, Mobile Phones, Optoelectronics, Solid State Lighting. No Comments »

LED TVs – What Are They and What Will They Do for the Environment

January 6, 2010 — Phillip Wright

After attending the LG, Samsung and Toshiba press conferences at CES today it was even clearer that LCD TVs with LED backlights will soon dominate the television market.  Scott Ramirez, Toshiba VP of TV Marketing went so far as to suggest that in 2012 there may be no cold cathode fluorescent (CCFL) backlit TVs in the Toshiba lineup.

While organic light emitting diode (OLED) TVs are still a good distance from the mass market, LCD TVs employing LED backlights which are often inaccurately called “LED TVs” are being widely introduced and bring along several important display performance and environmental benefits.  Key LED-backlit LCD TV design and performance attributes are slim design, improved contrast ratio when combined with local area dimming, and substantially reduced power consumption.

Although the press conferences did not emphasize reduced power consumption, slim designs and extreme contrast ratios were underscored by all presenters.  Samsung for example showed their 9000 series TV that at only 0.3 inches thick was claimed to be “pencil thin.”

While fashionable thin designs and excellent display performance will likely catch consumers’ attention on the CES show floor tomorrow, the low power consumption and elimination of mercury-containing CCFL backlights will pay continuing environmental dividends as LED back-lit sets come to dominate the television market.  One of my objectives tomorrow when the CES show opens is to meet with LCD TV manufacturers and ask them to quantify the environmental benefits of their latest products.  It will be interesting to see if the greener characteristics of the new LED backlit LCD TVs are an important selling point for set manufacturers.

Posted in Displays, Green Technology, Solid State Lighting. No Comments »

Klipsch Shines – An Audio and Solid State Lighting Solution

January 6, 2010 — Phillip Wright

At last evening’s “CES Unveiled” press event at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas well known audio equipment maker Klipsch Group, Inc. unveiled their LightSpeaker System.  The LightSpeaker System (below) combines wirelessly connected loudspeakers with an LED solid state lamp that can be retrofitted in a conventional ceiling can by simply screwing the unit into the Edison base lamp socket.

Light-Speakers-System

The wireless base station can connect up to two audio sources such as an iPod or compact disc player.  The wireless transmitter’s 2.4GHz technology handles up to eight LightSpeakers providing for stereo sound in multiple rooms and the user can set up two separate listening zones. The transmitter or remote will control the sources, zones, lighting levels and volume.  The LED bulb is rated for 40,000 hours of use and Klipsch claims the LightSpeaker reduces lighting expenses by 80 percent, using 10 watts to produce light that’s bright enough to replace up to a 65 watt bulb. (We will try to determine whether actual lumen output of the LightSpeaker is comparable to a 65 watt reflector bulb often used in ceiling cans as we do not expect that the US DOE Caliper program will get around to testing the LightSpeaker in the very near future).  Further adding to the LightSpeaker’s green credentials, Klipsch points out that the LightSpeaker LED bulb contains no mercury as do compact fluorescent lamps.

A basic LightSpeaker system consisting of two LightSpeakers, a transmitter, radio frequency remote, mini jack to RCA plug cable, lenses and trim, retails for $599.  Additional LightSpeakers are available for $249.  Although this may seem pricey, Klispsch makes several points in the graphic below concerning the cost effectiveness of their new product.

LightSpeaker Callouts

Klipsch also point out that installation and set up are quick and easy, and that homeowners can take it with them if they move.

While it’s too early to say if the LightSpeaker will catch on in a big way, it is easy to see that smart companies like Klipsch are exploring products that provide consumers convenient solutions for old problems while offering greener products as well.

Posted in Green Technology, Optoelectronics, Solid State Lighting, Wireless Networking. No Comments »