Author/Photo：Noriko Ishida

From “pursuing brilliance” to  “new light technology providing a unique value.”

The use of LED and organic EL lighting technology welcomes a transition period. During the Light Fair held in Tokyo during March 5th through the 8th in 2012, the introduction of new lighting technology possibilities was the most popular showcase. Before 2012, many showcases’s light rays still had a bit of a glare, but in 2013 the conference hall instead had a tranquil and happy atmosphere. The lighting market is quickly expanding, with the pursuit in lighting no longer only on brightness, but on using soft light rays to construct a comfortable environment and open space.

This years exhibition’s biggest distinguishing feature is the increase in number of organic EL light showcases. The trend of actively collecting suggestions in order to develop new uses  has attracted people’s attention.  There also included a lot of OLED Lighting products, some of them are compatible with LED lighting products，and many of them were already reach the market.

The lighting appliance industry is also actively pushing organic EL lighting

In regards to organic EL lighting, aside from the companies NEC lighting, KANEKA, Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc., Toshiba, Panasonic (Panasonic prototype OLED lighting),  and Mitsubishi Electric whom will continue to participate in the exhibition after 2012, Iwasaki Electric, ODELIC, Koizumi, Hitachi, and Yamada lighting presented for the first time this type of lighting and panels.

DN LIGHTING, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd., and Yamagata Promotional Organization for Technology’s first time participating in the Light Fair enterprise and organization, also attracted a lot of spectator’s attention. From the start of 2013, many lighting appliance industries had already started producing organic EL lighting.

In addition to organic EL lighting and original products identical usage, those “translucent”, “using mirror combination”, etc. organic lighting special functions attract people’s attention even more. This is also the developing trend for this exhibition’s organic lighting showcase. Adopting Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, ROHM Semiconductor, and Letterpress’s joint company Lumiotec and Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp developed organic EL light panel factory increase, as well as being on the threshold of having technology that will cut down on costs, the market is a very lively sight. However currently on how to expand the market, and realize LED lighting’s diversity, is still an existing problem.

Application scenarios and design of "only for organic EL lighting"

In regards to organic EL lighting, aside from the companies NEC lighting, KANEKA, Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc., Toshiba, Panasonic (Panasonic prototype OLED lighting),  and Mitsubishi Electric whom will continue to participate in the exhibition after 2012, Iwasaki Electric, ODELIC, Koizumi, Hitachi, and Yamada lighting presented for the first time this type of lighting and panels.

DN LIGHTING, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd., and Yamagata Promotional Organization for Technology’s first time participating in the Light Fair enterprise and organization, also attracted a lot of spectator’s attention. From the start of 2013, many lighting appliance industries had already started producing organic EL lighting.

In addition to organic EL lighting and original products identical usage, those “translucent”, “using mirror combination”, etc. organic lighting special functions attract people’s attention even more. This is also the developing trend for this exhibition’s organic lighting showcase. Adopting Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, ROHM Semiconductor, and Letterpress’s joint company Lumiotec and Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp developed organic EL light panel factory increase, as well as being on the threshold of having technology that will cut down on costs, the market is a very lively sight. However currently on how to expand the market, and realize LED lighting’s diversity, is still an existing problem.

Toshiba Lighting Technology in 2012 exhibited an integrated lighting using organic EL lighting and LED lighting. Translucent organic EL panel measurement is 90mm×180mm. This product has already provided to two Family Mart connivence stores in Kanasugi (Funabashi-shi, Chiba) for lighting appliances.

Toshiba Company’s concept exhibit

Translucent organic EL lighting has been introduced into Family Mart convenient stores.

Panasonic showcased three different types of color temperature lighting for the organic EL lighting “ELeaf” (3000K: 60lm luminous flux; 4000K: 51lm luminous flux; 5000K: 49lm luminous flux) . The panel measurement is 102mm×95mm×8.9mm. Luminous efficiency is 17lm/W.  The summer season will cause an increase in the production of rectangular shaped products.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in 2012 only showcased German Osram’s organic EL panels. During this time, the company already started to purchase Lumiotec and other industry’s organic paneling. The idea was to compete with other designs in lighting in order to expanding organic lighting appliance product line.

SISTA COAT new technology can substantially reduce manufacturing cost

In 2013, the first showcase of a new technology of organic EL lighting manufactured by Hitachi called “high efficiency coating-style organic EL illuminant” won attention. This type of technology can increase luminous efficacy ti 70lm/W, with one coat can create a RGB luminous layer (red, green, and blue), while traditional lighting methods need a coating of three layers.

There are a lot of opinions that the original coating method is more mainstream than the current method, like vacuum steam method, easily cutting down on manufacturing costs. The coating method developed by Hitachi changed the three layer process to only one layer. This then causes the manufacturing cost to decrease. The R and G in the luminous materials increases to “replacement base” special ingredient. Therefore, the luminous layer can separate and become three layers depending on the lapse of time.

Steam coating method's luminous efficacy is good, however the manufacturing cost is high. On the other hand, the traditional coating method manufacturing cost is low, but the luminous efficiency is bad. It could combine these two major benefit and product a new panel. This is because through this process of technology, not only is the manufacturing speed faster than that of steam coating method, the luminous efficiency is also higher, and it can cut the manufacturing cost. However, the company still has not decided to use this technology towards volume production.

Nippon Seiki from 2012 started sample product supply 90mm squared organic panel, this time has done a remodel towards panels. The new panels have a measurements of 125mm squared and 280mm×37mm. These products will be on the market start in April of 2013. The price for these products will be 6000 yen for the 90mm squared (45lm), 9000yen for the 125mm squared (70lm). The 76.2mm squared and 14lm colored organic EL lighting is also currently in development.

Nippon Seiki’s organic EL products

Lighting appliance companies also expressed a fierce interest in organic EL lighting

This exhibition’s other distinguishing feature is the increase in manufacturer's  use of external purchase of organic EL panel developmental lighting appliance products.

Koizumi lighting show their medical lighting product. Organic EL lighting’s soft light not only is able to calm the mood of patients in a doctor’s clinic, the color is also nice. Therefore, it is allegedly easier to observe skin color, etc. Also, it will not make patients feel rushed at night when walking around. Aside from this, the use of green in lighting appliances makes it easy to distinguish veins. The panel system are being acquired from Lumiotec and Panasonic.

Koizumi Lighting

Iwasaki Electric showcased Mitsubishi Chemical tone adjusting organic EL light “VELVE” panel. After today, Iwasaki Electric will continue to explore this panel’s lighting equipment and promote different types of products. DN LIGHTING plans to also put similar tone adjusting organic EL light from Mitsubishi Chemical on the market in April. Their product is called “EL Palette”.

Iwasaki Electric showcased lighting using organic EL paneling.

Iwasaki Electric different types of lamps using Mitsubishi Chemical’s paneling.

Companies adopting Lumiotec’s organic EL lighting panels include Yamada Lighting and ODELIC. Yamada Lighting showcased their lamps that hit the market in January of 2013, with a selling price of 29.82 million yen. ODELIC showcased a mirror with inlaid organic EL panelling for a makeup vanity table and lamp.  They will produce it and sell it when the order comes.

Yamagata Promotional Organization for Technology exhibited the organization’s mutual group production of about 30 types of lighting products (see above photo).  These products have all been used as lighting appliances and concept products in the Yamagata Prefecture. This includes Yamagata Technology Industry Center and Center for Advancement for Commercialized Organic Electronics working together to develop exterior examination of lighting “OLED net panelling” and television studio organic EL lighting, taking full advantage of the characteristics of organic EL lighting to attract people’s attention.

Visual Inspection OLED Panel Net

Inspection OLED Panel Net method

Film Studio applied organic EL lighting
 

Author/Photo: Noriko Ishida