Variable power control for OLED area illumination

1. An OLED area illumination apparatus, comprising:

(a) an OLED device;

(b) a variable power controller connected to the OLED device for providing variable power to the OLED device and responsive to a control signal;

(c) a feedback circuit for measuring a resistance of the OLED device and using said measurement signal for providing the control signal to control the variable power controller; and

(d) a reference signal to which the feedback circuit is responsive, and wherein the feedback circuit compares the reference signal and the measured resistance of the OLED device to form the control signal.

2. The OLED area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the variable power controller employs a variable resistor to vary the voltage supplied to the OLED device.

3. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the variable power controller employs pulse width modulation to vary the power supplied to the OLED device.

4. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the resistance is measured by measuring a current passed through the OLED device.

5. The area illumination apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the current is measured as a voltage across a resistor connected in series with the OLED device.

6. The area illumination apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the control signal is a voltage signal.

7. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the variable power source provides power at a first predetermined voltage during a predetermined portion of a time period and at a second voltage different from the first predetermined voltage during the remainder of the time period.

8. The area illumination apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control signal varies the length of the predetermined portion of the period.

9. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a constant current is maintained and passed through the OLED device.

10. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power supply provides a reverse bias to the OLED device.

11. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reference signal to which the feedback circuit is responsive, and wherein the feedback circuit compares the reference signal and the measured resistance of the OLED device to form the control signal.

12. The area illumination apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference signal is variable.

13. A method of providing power to an OLED area illumination apparatus, comprising:

(a) providing an OLED device;

(b) passing current through the OLED device;

(c) measuring a resistance of the OLED device;

(d) modifying the current passed through the OLED device in response to the measured resistance; and

(e) measuring a light output of the OLED device at a known current and setting a reference signal in response to the light output measurement.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein current is provided at a predetermined voltage during a predetermined portion of a time period and the total current passed through the OLED is modified by changing the length of the predetermined portion of the time period.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the current is modified by changing a predetermined voltage supplied to the OLED device.

16. A method of claim 13 further comprising the step of adjusting the reference signal by a user to brighten or dim the light output of the OLED device.

17. An OLED area illumination apparatus, comprising:

(a) an OLED device;

(b) a variable power controller connected to the OLED device for providing variable power to the OLED device and responsive to a control signal;

(c) a feedback circuit for measuring the resistance of the OLED device and using said measurement signal for providing a control signal to control the variable power controller; and

(d) a switch apparatus and wherein the feedback circuit and variable power controller are located in the switch apparatus.

18. An OLED area illumination apparatus, comprising:

(a) an OLED device;

(b) a variable power controller connected to the OLED device for providing variable power to the OLED device and responsive to a control signal;

(c) a feedback circuit for measuring the resistance of the OLED device and using said measurement signal for providing a control signal to control the variable power controller; and

(d) a socket for removably inserting the OLED device and electrically connecting power to the OLED device and wherein the feedback circuit and variable power controller are located in the socket.

19. A method of providing power to an OLED area illumination apparatus, comprising:

(a) providing an OLED device;

(b) passing current through the OLED device;

(c) measuring a resistance of the OLED device;

(d) modifying the current passed through the OLED device in response to the measured resistance; and

(e) adjusting the reference signal by user to brighten or dim the light output of the OLED device.