Armstrong World Industries wants to shed light on a new way to conserve energy.
Armstrong and a New Jersey firm have won a $1.9 million federal contract to develop a high-tech ceiling lighting system for commercial buildings.
The two-year Department of Energy contract calls for Armstrong and Universal Display Corp. to create an integrated system that uses white OLED lights.
OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes, are a form of LEDs used to illuminate digital camera displays and cell phone displays, but are not used in commercial lighting.
Not yet, anyway.
"Imagine taking that high-tech form of lighting and making it bright enough and economical enough to light a room," said Armstrong's Brian Patterson on Thursday.
The role of Armstrong — the world's largest maker of ceilings and ceiling-suspension systems — is to collaborate with Universal Display so the lighting functions in a commercial ceiling.
In particular, Armstrong will help Universal Display make sure the OLEDs fit into its recently introduced TechZone ceiling, meet building code standards and fulfill other real-world requirements.
"While Armstrong isn't developing the OLED technology, we're providing a pathway for the rapid commercial adoption of the technology in the marketplace...," said Patterson.
"If Armstrong doesn't do this, it could be just another neat technology that never makes its way to the shelf."
Armstrong is Universal Display's subcontractor on the project.
In that role, Armstrong will receive about 15 percent of the contract funds, estimated Patterson, general manager of business development for the building products division.
OLEDs are a version of LEDs, the small, bright and economical solid-state light sources that are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and are gaining popularity in flashlights and other uses.
As solid-state light sources manufactured as flat tiles, they are not bulbs, as are traditional incandescent and fluorescent lights.
But where LEDs use inorganic materials, meaning they have no carbon-based materials, OLEDs do. OLEDs have an organic polymer film that glows when an electrical current is applied.
Universal Display's specific kind of OLED is called a PHOLED, or phosphorescent OLED. This type converts more of the electrical current into light than a plain OLED.
The main attraction of OLEDs is their energy efficiency. OLED lighting systems are expected to be 30 percent more efficient on average than traditional commercial fluorescent lighting, said Patterson.
That potential explains why the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has awarded the grant, in hopes of spurring the technology's commercialization.
It also explains the interest of Armstrong, which has a history of being a leader in the use of renewable resources, recycling and other "green" initiatives.
Armstrong's TechZone ceiling is distinctive for the attractive way it consolidates a ceiling's lighting, air intakes and returns, and sprinkler heads into spaces called "technical zones." These zones are six inches wide and four to five feet long.
Armstrong will work with Universal Display to make sure the light sources, which will be six inches square, can be installed into the zones, distribute light properly across the room, and meet various safety, building and electrical code standards, said Patterson.
"We'll help them design their product so it will work with our product and be readily accepted by the commercial market," he said.
Staff writer Tim Mekeel can be reached at tmekeel@LNPnews.com or 481-6030.
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