OLED Light 101

What is OLED Light?

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode — a lighting technology made of thin layers of organic compounds deposited on a sheet of glass. When electricity is applied, the organic layers glow evenly across the entire surface of the panel. This unique technology offers highly uniform, diffuse lighting in an ultra-thin (1mm or less) profile.

OLED lighting is seeing a wave of adoption within the automotive industry, but is an ideal solution for anywhere that uniform, thin, and energy-efficient lighting is needed.

Benefits of OLED Lighting

Beautiful Design

Uniform, diffuse glow — no harsh spots or glare
Flexible design with custom panel shapes and sizes
Logos and branding elements can be patterned directly into the panel
Can be made on bendable glass to seamlessly fit curved surfaces

Smart Functionality

Highly reliable — passes stringent reliability testing
High brightness capability for various daytime applications
Dynamic segmentation for improved communication and branding

Sustainability

Long lifetimes mean fewer replacements
ISO 14001 certified for easy glass disposal
High energy efficiency — reduce energy consumption

OLED Lighting vs OLED Display

While OLED display and OLED lighting share the same base technology, they serve different purposes and have some key differences:

	OLED Lighting	OLED Display
Purpose	Illuminate spaces / applications	Show images or videos
Brightness	Very bright	Less bright
Lifespan	Often 15+ years	Shorter lifespan
Color	Usually White, Red, or Amber	RGB Pixels (Red, Green, Blue)
Price	$	$$

OLEDWorks is leveraging our proprietary technology and decades of OLED expertise to develop longer-lasting, higher-brightness OLED display and microdisplay products.

OLED vs LED

	OLED	LED
Light Emission	Surface Area Light	Many Small Diodes
Thickness	Ultra-thin	Bulkier due to heat sinks and other components
Energy Efficiency	High	High
Best Use Cases	Diffuse, surface applications	Directional lights — headlights, spotlights, flashlights

OLED and LED each offer unique strengths in lighting design — OLEDs excel in diffuse, glare-free illumination, while LEDs provide powerful, directional light. By embracing both technologies, we can create a more sustainable, high-performance lighting ecosystem that leverages the best of each.