Universal Display, IDD Aerospace/Zodiac Lighting Solutions Awarded U.S. DoE SBIR Grant

Universal Display Corporation has been awarded a $225,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Under the program, titled “Novel Energy-Saving Phosphorescent OLED Lighting Products,” Universal Display will partner with and subcontract IDD Aerospace/Zodiac Lighting Solutions to evaluate and demonstrate the potential for energy-efficient and cost-effective white OLED lighting panels for aircraft interiors.

Universal Display and IDD Aerospace/Zodiac Lighting Solutions are collaborating to design and demonstrate an energy-saving shelf utility OLED lighting prototype for aircraft interiors. OLED lighting offers several significant advantages over fluorescent and incandescent lighting technologies traditionally used in aircrafts, including energy savings, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and minimal space requirements. The elegant form factor of OLEDs is expected to translate into an extremely thin and lightweight utility light design.

“IDD has considerable experience in the development and production of utility lighting for aircraft,” said Beth de Young, general manager at IDD Aerospace/Zodiac Lighting Solutions. “Through our partnership with Universal Display, we aim to contribute to a disruptive shift in the adoption of OLED lighting by providing a compelling early entry product. The data generated by developing this shelf utility light may be applied to larger-scale OLED lighting aircraft projects, including cabin applications for interior furniture, galley, interior structure enhancements, as well as other potential adoptions in cabin accent, task, ceiling and sidewall lighting, and sign backlighting.”

“This U.S. Department of Energy award will allow us to further demonstrate the potential for high-efficiency, high-performance PHOLED lighting panels in an aircraft utility lighting application,” said Steven Abramson, president and CEO of Universal Display. “Working with aerospace equipment leader IDD Aerospace/Zodiac Lighting Solutions, we have an excellent opportunity to highlight the energy efficiency, thin form factor, and potential cost effectiveness of phosphorescent OLED lighting panels. During this program, we will help IDD develop a path to commercializati on for this exciting aircraft application and continue to advance key building blocks for future energy-efficient commercial and consumer lighting applications.”