GE Lighting has entered a joint-development agreement with Cooledge Lighting Inc. to develop a customized GE Lightech™ LED driver as a key component in Cooledge's first full range of LED light sheet solutions for fixture companies, which debut this week at the LightFair International trade show in Philadelphia.

GE Lighting's JDA with Cooledge extends beyond the LED driver integration to include the development of high performance LED phosphors and LED solutions targeting a wide range of commercial applications including signage and retail refrigeration applications.

A 12 millimeter pitch, 3.56 centimeter (1.4 inch) wide Cooledge flexible LED light sheet wrapped around orchids. (Photo: Cooledge Lighting)

"Our technology and application teams appreciate the range of possibilities enabled by this new LED form factor," said Maryrose Sylvester, President and CEO, GE Lighting. "These Cooledge light sheets advance the art of light fixture design by combining the application features of OLEDs with the cost and performance of LED technology."

Cooledge's flexible LED light sheets are engineered to provide high-quality lighting with luminous efficacies exceeding 120 lumens-per-watt and 50,000-hours of life. The light sheets utilize a highly dense pattern of LEDs on a thin plastic substrate.

A 12mm pitch, 21.59 cm (8.5 inch) wide Cooledge flexible LED light sheet.  (Photo: Cooledge Lighting)

"I know the depth and breadth of GE Lighting's global technology organization and its commercial channel expertise will accelerate the broader adoption of Cooledge LED light sheet technology," said C. Wade Sheen, CEO, Cooledge Lighting.

The unique form factor of Cooledge's LED light sheets allows large panels, long lengths and the ability to conform to a wide variety of shapes -- eliminating many of the constraints and challenges imposed by traditional LED lighting options. Luminaire designs using the LED light sheets can be fluid and minimal, also permitting unique material choices in many cases. Based on Cooledge's patented technology, this new medium of light requires no additional heat-sinking or thermal management.