METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR WAVEGUIDING LUMINESCENCE GENERATED IN A SCATTERING MEDIUM
First Claim
1. A waveguide comprisinga. a luminescent substrate having an average refractive index n1;
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a luminescent waveguide device, and methods of making thereof, that may be used to convert solar energy into electricity. In particular, the present invention relates to extracting and waveguiding luminescence generated in a scattering medium so as to improve luminescent concentrator performance. By stacking one or a pair of transparent plates of refractive index slightly smaller than that of luminescent plate but still larger than that of air, a much greater fraction of re-emitted light by the embedded luminescent particles can be extracted so that the detrimental effect of particle scattering can be minimized. Additionally, by additionally using a high-efficiency diffractive optic component in the structure to redirect the re-emitted photons with angles falling into the escape zone to much larger angles so these otherwise outgoing photons can be waveguided by total internal reflection. These improvements minimize the critical-angle loss and increase the output light intensity at the ends of the waveguide.
40 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A waveguide comprising
a. a luminescent substrate having an average refractive index n1; - and
b. a transparent plate covering a surface of the luminescent substrate, the transparent plate having a refractive index n2, wherein n2 is greater than n1 and greater than a refractive index of air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 47)
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13. A method for making a waveguide comprising the steps of
a. providing a luminescent substrate having an average refractive index n1; - and
b. covering a surface of the luminescent substrate with a transparent plate having a refractive index n2, wherein n2 is greater than n1. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A multi-phase luminescent substrate comprising
a. a transparent matrix having a refractive index n1a; - and
b. luminescent particles having a refractive index nib dispersed within the transparent matrix, wherein n1a and nib are approximately equal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for making a multi-phase luminescent substrate comprising the steps of
a. providing a transparent matrix having a refractive index n1a; -
b. providing luminescent particles having a refractive index nib, wherein n1a and nib are approximately equal; and c. dispersing the luminescent particles within the transparent matrix, wherein n1a and nib are approximately equal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A waveguide comprising
a. a luminescent substrate having an average refractive index n1; - and
b. a diffractive optic covering a surface of the luminescent substrate; and c. a transparent cover covering a surface of the diffractive optic, the diffractive optic and the transparent cover having a refractive index n3. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for making a waveguide comprising the steps of
a. providing a luminescent substrate having a refractive index n1; - and
b. covering a surface of the luminescent substrate with a diffractive optic; and c. covering a surface of the diffractive optic with a transparent cover, the diffractive optic and the transparent cover having a refractive index n3. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification