SUMMARY
Lehigh University has developed an improved light extraction efficiency of InGaN LEDs using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) concave microstructures arrays. Depending of the size effect of the concave microstructures, ray tracing simulations show an increase in light extraction efficiency by 1.5 to 2 times. This enhancement is attributed to increase in effective photon escape cone due to PDMS concave microstructures arrays.
Lehigh Tech ID# 112009-04
THE MARKET
The SSL market is predicted to reach $33 billion by 2013, growing annually at over 10%.[1] This market is an umbrella market for LEDs, OLEDs, and PLEDs. LED technologies make up a majority of this market ($5.08 billion), with a growth rate of over 24%.[2] Additionally, 22% of the United States electricity is consumed by lighting, which costs consumers over $50 billion each year. SSL technologies have the potential to reduce this consumption by up to six times less. This potential has led to increased market need, funding resources and science centers dedicated to SSL developments, such as the $46 million Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) for solid-state lighting science funded by the Department of Energy.[3]
[1] “Solid-State Lighting Market Will Reach $33 Billion Worldwide by 2013.” AZooptics.com web site. http://www.azooptics.com/Details.asp?NewsID=3867 (accessed September 28, 2010).
[2] About Us.” GE Lumination web site. http://www.lumination.com/overview.php (accessed September 28, 2010).
[3] Solid-state lighting's contributions to national energy efficiency discussed at AAAS meeting.” February 21, 2010. PHYSORG web site. http://www.physorg.com/news185943042.html (accessed
September 28, 2010).
THE OPPORTUNITY
Lehigh University is interested in identifying an industry partner to license this technology.