The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science has awarded four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants targeting advances in solid-state lighting (SSL) technology. The FY13 Release 2 Phase I awards will explore the technical merit or feasibility of an innovative concept or technology.

The SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program seeks to increase the participation of small businesses in federal R&D. To learn more about this program, visit http://science.energy.gov/sbir/.

The SBIR Release 2 Phase I awards related to SSL are briefly described below:

SBIR Recipient: Litecontrol Corporation
Title: A Novel OLED Luminaire System for Specialty Lighting Applications
Summary: This project will develop a family of architectural lighting fixtures that utilize the unique capabilities of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology to provide energy-efficient lighting for nighttime hours in corridors and public spaces in buildings where spectral color content is important.

SBIR Recipient: Plextronics, Inc.
Title: Low Cost Printed Electrodes for OLED Lighting
Summary: This project will demonstrate the fabrication of large area OLED panels on low cost anode structures using inkjet printed grids and a novel high conductivity reactive silver ink that is integrated into the grids using a proprietary hole-injection layer (HIL). The benefit will be reduction of both material costs as well as an increase in manufacturing through-put by minimizing number of individual photolithography steps and the use of inkjet printing to fabricate the anode structure.

SBIR Recipient: InnoSys, Inc.
Title: Highly Efficient and Smart Power Supplies to Drive Phosphorescent OLED Lighting Panels
Summary: This team will design, implement, and manufacture unique and innovative power supplies that enable and support rapid introduction of both OLED replacement and innovative general lighting and luminaires for residential, commercial, and industrial applications and markets

SBIR Recipient: Universal Display Corporation
Title: Novel Energy Saving Phosphorescent OLED Lighting Products
Summary: The UDC and IDD Aerospace team will design and develop an energy saving shelf utility light for aircraft interiors that outperforms all other current lighting technologies. Intended for special interior designs such as business aircraft, this product is targeted for commercial sale in 2015.