Philips presents world’s first OLED-based interactive lighting concepts

Concepts create a whole new lighting experience, offer interactivity and revolutionary design possibilities

Milan, Italy – Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today premiered the world’s first OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) -based interactive lighting concepts, created for both consumer as well as professional use, during the Euroluce International Lighting Fair in Milan. The concepts are intuitive and interactive in use, boast ultra flat shapes, soft light-effects and design possibilities never before seen in lighting products. The result is lighting that goes beyond mere illumination – it becomes an experience in itself.

The concepts are the culmination of years of research that have placed Philips at the cutting edge of solid-state lighting. “In addition to our expertise in LEDs, we are now unlocking the great potential of flat, energy-efficient OLEDs,” says Rudy Provoost, CEO of Philips Lighting. Our concepts demonstrate a new light ambiance, novel design possibilities and unique interactivity of light and human gesture.”

For homes, Philips is presenting four different concepts: standing, wall-mounted, desk-top and ceiling luminaires. All incorporate glowingly radiant flat OLED light panels, supplemented with LUXEON Power LEDs for the functional lighting part. Each model has different intuitive interactive capabilities. The ceiling concept, for example, features a balance of up-light and down-light that can be changed or dimmed to alter the ambience in a room with a gesture of the hand. All of the concepts on show share a sleek, streamlined design that makes them as decorative as they are functional.

Philips is also unveiling an OLED installation for professional segments in large spaces, such as reception areas. As in the case of the consumer concepts, this installation is both functional and highly experiential, featuring a luminescent wall that reacts directly to passers-by, creating mirrored reflections of their ‘shadows’ amid the light. Philips invites to “play” with this new technology and experience it as much more than a light only: a softly glowing mirror, an interactive tool, a very aesthetic light source and an inspiration for further products and applications.

“The global lighting industry is in a state of great transition,” continued Rudy Provoost. “Economic and environmental concerns are driving all of us to make the move from incandescent lamps to cleaner, more energy-efficient solutions as quickly as we can. The solid state lighting revolution is happening at the right time. What’s particularly exciting is that LEDs and OLEDs offer the possibility to create new lighting designs and experiences that weren’t achievable in the past. With these new concepts Philips is adding a whole new dimension to lighting and the way it can enhance people’s lives.”

The Consumer Luminiares OLED concepts are on show at the Lirio by Philips booth, Hall 14 stand E54, the interactive installations in Superstudio Piu (booth 18.2), Via Tortona 27, Milan (www.superstudiogroup.com)

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.