Project description
Breakthrough driver solution could lead to lighter, cheaper LED lamps
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp mainly comprises the lens/optics, the LED chip, the heat sink and the driver – an electrical device that regulates the current flowing through the LED. LED drivers account for nearly 15–20 % of the total cost of a LED lamp. Furthermore, they use a switching regulator for efficient electrical power conversion. The EU-funded NRGDriver project aims to simplify the design of LED lamps, thereby reducing their production cost and increasing their lifetime. NRGDriver’s breakthrough concept involves a driver solution made from a smaller number of components. Importantly, the size of the electronics will not grow when power requirements increase, which means a decreased risk of failure and less energy waste.
Objective
Since its inception, LEDs are driven by a constant voltage or current with some compensation for temperature fluctuations. As the power grid works on alternating current, a rectifier circuit is required, in virtually all cases combined with a DC convertor. This type of circuitry is constructed along the principles of a switched mode power supply, which requires a reactance. In short: current LED lamps contain complex constructed technologies, which limits lifetime, reduces design versatility and increases costs.
We take a different approach. NRGDriver is built by discrete components and semiconductors. The size of the solution does not grow with increasing power requirements and it comprises only about 10 components: less components means less cost, less failure and less waste of energy. While current drivers are considered to be the Achilles’ heel for LED lighting, the concept of NRGDriver offers a breakthrough in LED driver technologies, making possible the same revolution in size, function and cost as happened to mobiles phones – but now in 1 jump.
So far, we have invested more than €1.5M into the development of the NRGDriver to ensure its robustness and efficiency. We now seek further investments of about €1.45M. This sum will allow us to surpass the so-called “valley of death” and reach commercialization.
The proposed work in Phase 1 of the SME instrument fits into our overall plan to reach the market by contributing the financial resources needed to plan a fast sound wider deployment of NRGDriver and its market uptake.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power transmission
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications mobile phones
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
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H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3515ET UTRECHT
Netherlands
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.