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 FY14 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/STTR Release 2 Phase 1 awards related to SSL are briefly described below:

SBIR Recipient: VoltServer, Inc.
Title: Low-Cost, High Efficiency Integration of SSL and Building Controls using a PET Power Distribution System
Summary: This project will demonstrate a way to leverage a safe method for distributing high voltage direct current (DC) power in buildings by embedding data signals directly onto the power distribution channel using a novel technology called "Packet Energy Transfer" (PET). Eventual commercialization could reduce SSL installed costs by 20–30%, reduce power distribution and conversion losses by a factor of three, and seamlessly integrate advanced building controls.

SBIR Recipient: Innotec, Corp.
Title: Integrating Energy Efficient SSL with Advanced Sensors, Controls and Connectivity
Summary: Starting with existing products, Innotec will design and demonstrate a new, improved, and integrated electronic film construction to support the unique electrical current and thermal energy levels required for efficient SSL applications. Combining printed films with injection over molding will streamline the number of components and assembly time, resulting in reduced manufacturing costs for pcLEDs, elimination of PCBs in the manufacturing process, and increased performance and design flexibility.

SBIR Recipient: MoJo Labs Inc.
Title: Task-to-Wall Solid State Lighting Sensing and Control
Summary: This project will demonstrate replacing a traditional light switch or analog dimmer with a smart SSL wall dimmer equipped with a photosensor, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) RF communication, and a novel task-to-wall (TTW) sensing and control technology that enables energy savings via daylighting. The TTW architecture will be designed and managed by any personal device running iOS, Android, or Windows 8. Using smart devices not only eliminates the cost to design, manufacture, and support custom commissioning hardware, but will also lower adoption barriers by employing simple, no-cost UI's. Leveraging the ambient light sensing capability of smart devices (phones and tablets) could enable nearly 33% lower product cost.

SBIR Recipient: OLEDWorks LLC
Title: OLED Lighting Panel with Directional Light Output and High Efficiency
Summary: Using an integrated, systematic design approach, OLEDWorks will demonstrate a low-cost OLED panel product with the thinness and light quality characteristic of OLEDs while achieving high efficacy. The Phase 1 effort will produce a 4" prototype OLED with directional control that can be applied to white light panels with efficiency of >45 lumens per watt, along with a roadmap for >60 lumen per watt as well as for color applications such as amber. In addition, understanding will be gained regarding the capability of existing directional films as well as the desired design specifically made for OLEDs through optical simulation and experimental verification, for both single wavelength amber OLEDs as well as multi-wavelength white OLEDs.