PHOTONIC FABRIC DISPLAY WITH CONTROLLED PATTERN, COLOR, LUMINESCENCE INTENSITY, SCATTERING INTENSITY AND LIGHT SELF-AMPLIFICATION

• US 20070281155A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Tao, Xiaoming, Cheng, Xiaoyin, Yu, Jianming, Liu, Lijie, Wong, Wang-wah, Tam, Wing-kwong
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/365
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 11/003 Table-cloths
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/005 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 27/0243 Features of decorative rugs or carpets
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/0284 Counterpanes
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 21/00 Curtain shields
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 23/00 Curtains; Draperies shower curtain arrangements A47K3/38
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/00 Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/292 Conjugate, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/47 multicomponent, e.g. blended yarns or threads multicomponent fibres or filaments D03D15/292
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/49 textured chenille D03D27/18; curled; crimped
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/54 coloured
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/20 Metallic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/02 Cotton
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/04 Linen
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/02 Wool
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2211/04 Silk
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2321/121 polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 : optical
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/00 : Wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2503/04 : Floor or wall coverings; Carpets
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2503/06 : Bed linen
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/08 : Upholstery, mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/18 : Outdoor fabrics, e.g. tents, tarpaulins D10B2507/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/15 : the light being emitted along at least a portion of the outer surface of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 : the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2915 : including textile, cloth or fabric

Abstract

A method of making a photonic fabric display includes wrapping photonic fibers with a yarn, weaving the wrapped photonic fibers to form a fabric, printing a pattern on the fabric, surface treating the fabric, and coupling the photonic fibers with a light source to form a photonic fabric display.

Claims

1. A method of making a photonic fabric display, comprising:

wrapping photonic fibers with a yarn;

weaving said wrapped photonic fibers to form a fabric;

printing a pattern on said fabric;

surface treating said fabric; and

coupling said photonic fibers with a light source to form a photonic fabric display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said weaving comprises looming, knitting, braiding, embroidering, textile assembling, or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said printing comprises screen-printing, offset printing, gravure printing, letterpress printing, digital printing, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said surface treating comprises applying a surface chemical treatment, a laser treatment, a mechanical treatment, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said surface treating comprises applying a laser treatment with a laser source of 355 nm third harmonic.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said surface treating comprises applying a laser treatment with a laser source of 532 nm double-frequency Nd:

YAG laser.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said surface treating comprises applying a surface chemical treatment with methyl ethyl ether (MEE), acetone, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, or tetrahydrofuran on said pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said applying a surface chemical treatment comprises spraying MEE and TiO₂ nanoparticles on said pattern.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said surface treating comprises applying a mechanical treatment by side notching said pattern with a motion-limited press.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a protective layer of finishing treatment on said photonic fabric display.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said protective layer is antibacterial, waterproof, oil-proof, soil-proof, self-cleaning, or combinations thereof.

12. A method of making a coupler, comprising:

providing photonic fibers with terminal ends;

binding said terminal ends;

embedding said terminal ends into a tube; and

inserting a light source into said tube in communication with said terminal ends.

13. The method of clam 12, further comprising filing said tube with optic resin.

14. The method of clam 13, wherein said optic resin has a refractive index of 1.49 to 1.59.

15. The method of clam 12, further comprising coating the interior of said tube with a reflective layer.

16. A photonic fabric display, comprising:

a plurality of photonic fibers having terminal ends and forming a fabric;

a pattern on said fabric; and

a light source in communication with said terminal ends of said photonic fibers.

17. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said photonic fibers comprise a core and a cladding covering said core.

18. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, further comprising yarn wrapped around at least one of said photonic fibers.

19. The photonic fabric display of claim 18, wherein said yarn comprises natural fibers, continuous filaments, staple yarn, cotton, wool, silk, flax, metal, or combinations thereof.

20. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said photonic fibers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA), poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl methacrylate) (PMMA/PEMA), and combinations thereof.

21. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said photonic fibers have a diameter of about 10 to about 3000 micrometers.

22. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said photonic fibers have a diameter of about 25 to about 1000 micrometers.

23. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said pattern comprises wavelength-converting materials.

24. The photonic fabric display of claim 23, wherein said wavelength-converting materials comprise fluorescent dyes, laser dyes, conductive polymers, polymers, semiconductors, phosphors, nanoparticles, or combinations thereof.

25. The photonic fabric display of claim 24, wherein said wavelength-converting materials comprise a fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of lucifer yellow CH-1, Fura Red, POPO-3 iodide, BODIPY TMR-X, BO-PRO-3 iodide, Calcium Orange, SNAPF-1 carboxylic acid, and combinations thereof.

26. The photonic fabric display of claim 24, wherein said wavelength-converting materials comprise a laser dye selected from the group consisting of Coumarin compounds, Stilbene compounds, Rhodamine compounds, conducting polymers, inorganic laser crystal powder, and combinations thereof.

27. The photonic fabric display of claim 24, wherein said wavelength-converting materials comprise nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of titania, zinc oxide, zirconia, metal particles, and combinations thereof.

28. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

29. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said light source comprises a coating comprising a converter.

30. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, wherein said light source emits light at a wavelength from about 10 to about 100 nanometers.

31. The photonic fabric display of claim 16, further comprising a coupler, said coupler housing said terminal ends of said photonic fibers and said light source.

32. A decoration article, comprising a body and the photonic fabric display of claim 16 attached to said body.

33. The decoration article of claim 32, wherein said decoration article is selected from the group consisting of a wall fabric, a decorative picture, a retractable droplight, a layered colored luminescent display, a floor screen, a tablecloth, a backrest, a folding screen, a chair cushion, and a carpet.