Light emitting source incorporating vertical cavity lasers and other MEMS devices within an electro-optical addressing architecture

• US 20060291769A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Patton, David L., Spoonhower, John P.
• Application Number:
  US11/139,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291769A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2852 using tapping light guides arranged sidewardly, e.g. in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the bus light guides (light extraction or launching through cladding, with or without surface discontinuities, bent structures)
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3502 involving direct waveguide displacement, e.g. cantilever type waveguide displacement involving waveguide bending, or displacing an interposed waveguide between stationary waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3594 Characterised by additional functional means, e.g. means for variably attenuating or branching or means for switching differently polarized beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02255 using beam deflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/041 Optical pumping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18383 with periodic active regions at nodes or maxima of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/36 comprising organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity

Abstract

A light source device and method of operating the light source device. The light source device comprising a support substrate, a plurality of light emitting etch structures placed in a matrix on the support substrate forming a plurality of rows and columns of the light emitting etch structures, a plurality of light waveguides positioned on the substrate such that each of the light emitting etch structures is associated with an electro-coupling region with respect to one of the plurality of light waveguides, a deflection mechanism for causing relative movement between a portion of at least one of the plurality of light waveguides and the associated light emitting etch structure so as to control when the light emitting etch structure is in the electro-coupling region, and a light source associated with each of the plurality of light waveguides for transmitting a light along the plurality of light waveguides for selectively activating each of the light emitting etch structures when positioned within the electro-coupling region.

Claims

1. A light source device comprising:

a. a support substrate;

b. a plurality of light emitting etch structures placed in a matrix on said support substrate forming an array of said light emitting etch structures;

c. a plurality of light waveguides positioned on said substrate such that each of said light emitting etch structures is associated with an electro-coupling region with respect with to one of said plurality of light waveguides;

d. a deflection mechanism for causing relative movement between a portion of at least one of said plurality of light waveguides and said associated light emitting etch structure for controlling when said light emitting etch structure is in said electro-coupling region; and

e. a light source associated with each of said plurality of light waveguides for transmitting a light along said plurality of light waveguides for providing power to excite each of said light emitting etch structures when positioned within said electro-coupling region.

2. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises an infrared light source.

3. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises an ultra violet light source.

4. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a visible light source.

5. A light source device according to claim 2 wherein said infrared light source comprises a laser infrared light source.

6. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

7. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said light source may comprise a coherent or incoherent light source.

8. A light source device according to claim 6 wherein said light emitting etch structures comprises an upconverting phosphor.

9. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of light emitting etch structures comprise a light emitting layer made of a lumiphore.

10. A light source device according to claim 9 wherein said lumiphore is selected from any of the following:

organic dyes, organic dye aggregates, light emitting polymers, organic fluorophores, organic host-dopant combination materials, organic phosphors, inorganic phosphors, upconverting phosphors, organic and inorganic nano-materials such as chemical quantum dots, semiconducting materials such as GaAs, OLED materials.

11. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures comprise inorganic vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.

12. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein an overcoat is provided over said plurality of light emitting etch structures and light waveguides.

13. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises at least one electrode provided for deflection of said portion of said waveguides.

14. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a pair of electrodes provided for deflection on said portion of said waveguides.

15. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of at least one of light emitting etch structure and passing adjacent with at least one of said plurality of light waveguides whereby when a voltage is applied across said pair of electrodes a field is produced that causes said at least one waveguide to move into said electro-coupling region.

16. A light source device according to claim 12 wherein a control mechanism is provided for controlling the amount of said voltage across said pair of electrodes for controlling the distance in which said at least one waveguide moves into said electro-coupling region so as to control the amount of emission from said associated light emitting etch structure.

17. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures are grouped into sets wherein each of said leaky etch structures emit a different color.

18. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures emit a polarized light.

19. A light source device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures emit a polarized light in a predetermined direction.

20. A method for controlling visible light emitting from a light source device having a plurality of light emitting etch structures placed in a pattern forming a plurality of rows and columns and a plurality of wave light guides positioned so that each of said light emitting etch structures is positioned adjacent one of said plurality of wave light guides comprising the steps of:

a. providing a light source associated with each of said plurality of light waveguides for transmitting a light along said associated light waveguide;

b. providing deflection mechanism for causing relative movement between a portion of at least one of said plurality of light waveguides and said associated light emitting etch structure for controlling when said light emitting etch structure is in said electro-coupling region;

c. selectively controlling emission of visible light from said plurality of light emitting etch structures by controlling said deflection mechanism and light source such that when said light emitting etch structure in said electro-coupling region and a light is transmitted along said associated light waveguide said emission of visible light will occur.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein deflection mechanism for causing relative movement comprises a pair of electrodes associated with each of said plurality of light emitting etch structures, further comprising the step of controlling the amount of relative movement by controlling the voltage applied across said pair of electrodes.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said light source comprises an infrared light source.

23. The method according to claim 20 wherein said infrared light source comprises a laser infrared light source.

24. The method according to claim 20 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

25. The method according to claim 20 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises at least one electrode provided for deflection of said portion of said waveguides.

26. The method according to claim 20 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a pair of electrodes provided for deflection of said portion of said waveguides.

27. The method according to claim 20 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of at least one of said light emitting etch structure and passing adjacent with at least one of said plurality of light waveguides whereby when a voltage is applied across said pair of electrodes a field is produced that causes said at least one waveguide to move into said electro-coupling region.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein a control mechanism is provided for controlling the amount of said voltage across said pair of electrodes for controlling the distance in which said at least one waveguide moves into said electro-coupling region so as to control the amount of emission from said associated light emitting etch structure.

29. The method according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structure are grouped into sets wherein each of said etch structures emit a different color.

30. The method according to claim 20 wherein said light source comprises an infrared light source.

31. The method according to claim 29 wherein said infrared light source comprises a laser infrared light source.

32. The method according to claim 20 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

33. The method according to claim 20 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures provide a polarized light.

34. The method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of controlling the direction of said polarized light.

35. A light source device comprising:

a. a support substrate;

b. a plurality of light emitting etch structures placed in a matrix on said support substrate forming an array of said light emitting etch structures;

c. a plurality of light waveguides positioned on said substrate such that each of said light emitting etch structures is associated with an electro-coupling region with respect to one of said plurality of light waveguides;

d. a deflection mechanism for causing relative movement of at least one of said plurality of light waveguides with respect to said associated light emitting etch structure for controlling when said light emitting etch structure is in said electro-coupling region; and

e. a light source associated with each of said plurality of light waveguides for transmitting a light along said plurality of light waveguides for providing power to excite each of said light emitting etch structures when positioned within said electro-coupling region.

36. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said light source comprises an infrared light source.

37. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said light source comprises an ultra violet light source.

38. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said light source comprises a visible light source.

39. A light source device according to claim 36 wherein said infrared light source comprises a laser infrared light source.

40. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

41. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said light source may comprise a coherent or incoherent light source.

42. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said light emitting etch structures comprises an upconverting phosphor.

43. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein each of said plurality of light emitting etch structures comprise a light emitting layer made of a lumiphore.

44. A light source device according to claim 43 wherein said lumiphore is selected from any of the following:

organic dyes, organic dye aggregates, light emitting polymers, organic fluorophores, organic host-dopant combination materials, organic phosphors, inorganic phosphors, up converting phosphors, organic and inorganic nano-materials such as chemical quantum dots, semiconducting materials such as GaAs, OLED materials.

45. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures comprise inorganic vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.

46. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein an overcoat is provided over said plurality of light emitting etch structures and light waveguides.

47. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises at least one electrode provided for deflection of said portion of said waveguides.

48. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a pair of electrodes provided for deflection on said portion of said waveguides.

49. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said deflection mechanism comprises a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of at least one of light emitting etch structure and passing adjacent with at least one of said plurality of light waveguides whereby when a voltage is applied across said pair of electrodes a field is produced that causes said at least one waveguide to move into said electro-coupling region.

50. A light source device according to claim 46 wherein a control mechanism is provided for controlling the amount of said voltage across said pair of electrodes for controlling the distance in which said at least one waveguide moves into said electro-coupling region so as to control the amount of emission from said associated light emitting etch structure.

51. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures are grouped into sets wherein each of said leaky etch structures emit a different color.

52. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures emit a polarized light.

53. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures emit a polarized light in a predetermined direction.

54. A light source device according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of light emitting etch structures are placed in groups that each form a generally circular pattern for controlling the polarization of light emitting from each of said groups.