Fraunhofer FEP Presents Modular OLED Light Strips at ISAL 2019

At the International Symposium on Automotive Lighting 2019 in Darmstadt (Sept. 23-25, 2019), the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP (booth 37) will present OLED light strips of any length with additional functionalities for the first time.

Customized strips with additional functionalities play an increasingly important role, especially in the area of innovative car designs.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer FEP have now succeeded in producing light strips from individual organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). What is special about this innovation is that the OLED light strips act as a single luminous surface without interruption.

“We manufacture flexible OLEDs with appropriate control electronics in such a way that any number of OLED modules can be connected without creating visible interruptions to the active surface,” said Claudia Keibler-Willner, head of the Sheet-to-sheet OLED Technologies department at Fraunhofer FEP. “This makes it possible to produce infinitely long OLED light strips. An additional highlight is the individual control of the segments. This allows additional lighting effects such as different dimmings or dynamic warnings to be realized.”

But why actually use OLEDs for car interiors or luminous clothing instead of using existing LED technology? The enormous advantage of OLEDs lies in their properties as area light sources. In contrast to LEDs as point light sources, OLEDs illuminate surfaces and are therefore homogeneous. As a result, OLED strips require no reflectors, light guides or additional optics. They also impress with their extremely low installation depth and light weight. This filigree quality of flexible OLEDs, which are manufactured on plastic substrates, for example, can hardly be achieved with conventional LED technology. In addition, the reduction of glare effects contributes to increased road safety, for example in safety clothing with lighting.

The OLED can make particularly good use of these advantages in the developed modular light strips of any length: OLED strips can be flexibly applied to curved surfaces such as car bodies or furniture. They can be transparent when switched off so that the underlying surface remains visible. Thus the OLEDs almost melt into their surroundings. Dynamic control or dimming opens up additional possibilities, such as for welcoming scenarios at the car. Designer dreams for interior design are thus within reach.