SBIR Phase I: Dynamic Solid State Lighting with Micromachines

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力在于提高普通照明和任务照明的质量，减少光的浪费，从而降低能源消耗。固态照明已经引起了照明行业的范式转变。然而，LED的快速增长已经超出了我们对其对人类健康和生产力以及环境的影响的理解。开发只在需要的地方照明的系统可以减少能源消耗，并通过消除眩光和浪费光来改善福祉。完全控制人造光的照射地点也可能减少光污染对自然生态系统和农业造成的破坏。不幸的是，一个紧凑和低成本的解决方案，空间可控照明是不可用的。如果有一种产品被推向市场，这个行业就可以量身定制，以满足每一盏路灯、每一位上班族和娱乐行业等的需求。人工照明无处不在的特性提供了一个独特的商业机会，具有多个细分市场的增长潜力。该项目将专注于微系统解决方案，使用低功耗、低成本、直径小于1毫米的硅基镜子来实现可操纵照明。镜子能够实时调整，将引导入射光具有显著的角度范围。它使用数字电子设备控制，很容易与传统的智能家居电子设备结合。该研究的目的是测量不同系统设置和光学元件的光输出，以确定适当的光输出形状，均匀性和色温所需的光学器件。该项目将在很大程度上依赖于测试测量和模拟的结合，以快速有效地通过实验循环，以便集中在制造计划上。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in improving the quality of general and task lighting and reducing the amount of wasted light, thus reducing energy consumption. Solid state lighting has caused a paradigm shift in the lighting industry. However, the rapid growth of the LED has surpassed our understanding of its effects on human health and productivity, as well as the environment. Developing systems that put light only where it is needed can reduce energy consumption and improve well-being by eliminating glare and wasted light. Full control over where artificial lights shine may also reduce the disruption of natural ecosystems and agriculture caused by light pollution.? Unfortunately, a compact and low-cost solution to spatially controllable illumination is not available. Should one be brought to market, the industry could be tailored to meet the needs of each street lamp, each office worker and the entertainment industry among others. The ubiquitous nature of artificial illumination provides a unique commercial opportunity with multiple market segments for growth potential.The proposed project will focus on a microsystems solution to steerable lighting using a low-power, low-cost, silicon-based mirror less than 1 mm in diameter. The mirror is capable of real-time adjustments that will steer incident light with significant angular range. It is controlled using digital electronics and easily combined with traditional smart home electronics. The objective of the research is to measure the optical output of varying system setups and optical components to determine what optics are necessary for proper light output shape, uniformity, and color temperature. The project will rely heavily on a combination of test measurements and simulations to cycle through experiments rapidly and efficiently in order to converge on a manufacturing plan.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.