SBIR Phase I: Dynamic Solid State Lighting with Micromachines

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力在于提高一般照明和任务照明的质量，减少浪费的光量，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、生产力和环境影响的理解。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的光来改善人们的福祉。完全控制人造灯光的照射位置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，空间可控照明的紧凑和低成本解决方案不可用。如果将其推向市场，该行业可以量身定做，以满足每一盏路灯、每一位上班族和娱乐业等人的需求。人工照明的无处不在的本质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。拟议的项目将专注于MicroSystems的解决方案，使用直径小于1 mm的低功率、低成本的硅基反射镜来控制照明。该反射镜能够进行实时调整，将以很大的角度范围引导入射光。它使用数字电子产品进行控制，并很容易与传统的智能家居电子产品相结合。该研究的目的是测量不同系统设置和光学组件的光学输出，以确定适当的光输出形状、均匀性和色温所需的光学元件。该项目将在很大程度上依赖于测试测量和模拟的组合，以快速有效地在实验中循环，以收敛到制造计划。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.