DEVELOPMENT OF MICROPLASMA ARRAYS FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY LIGHTING TILES

ABSTRACT: EDEN PARK ILLUMINATION, INC. and the University of Illinois have formed a team to pursue the demonstration and commercialization of large arrays of microcavity plasmas capable of producing white light panels with luminous efficacies above 30 lumens/W. This proposed project will demonstrate the ability of arrays of microplasmas to yield flat lamps of high efficiency, luminance, and color rendering index suitable for general lighting. Microplasmas represent a new technology that we expect to be disruptive to the lighting industry because their properties (low temperature and atmospheric pressure operation, specific power loadings of kW/cm3) have no parallel in conventional, macroscopic plasmas. A team comprising leading researchers and engineers from the University of Illinois and Eden Park Illumination will aggressively pursue lamps employing molecular emitters of high radiative efficiency to realize lamps having efficacies of at least 30 lumens/W, and luminance values above 500 lumens. A successful program will have a significant impact on the energy consumption of lighting in the U.S. by providing non-toxic, ballast free, lightweight, and efficient lamps with radiating areas>200 cm2. BENEFIT: General Lighting, Commercial Lighting, Special Lighting