Toshiba Donates Portable Organic EL Lighting Devices to Shelters in Japan's Disaster Areas

Toshiba Corp. announced on May 30, 2011, that it has developed a lighting device for disaster shelters by adding portability and light modulation specifications to its organic electroluminescence (EL) display technology currently under development. The corporation, which decided to manufacture 100 units as a gift to shelters, made its first donation of 50 units to the shelters in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.

The portable organic EL lighting device runs on dry-cell batteries or solar rechargeable batteries. It emits a softer light compared with point-source lighting such as an LED or incandescent light bulb by applying an electric current to a rectangular organic thin film several hundred nanometers thick.

The light-emitting panel is almost the size of the device itself and features a high light efficiency, thereby helping to conserve electricity. Thin and lightweight, the device is expected to fulfill a wide range of applications for daily use as a surface emitting light source. A prolonged lighting time can also be achieved by connecting a solar powered rechargeable battery to the device via a built-in USB terminal.

Posted: 2011/10/14 06:00:15 AM