Resonant microcavity display

• US 5,804,919 A
• Filed: 01/18/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Vision
• Original Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stuart M., Jones, Michieal L., Jaffe, Steven M., Eilers, Hergen, Jaffe, Irving
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US08/581,622
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 313/461, 313/466, 313/474, 313/506, 313/509, 313/113, 313/463, 359/109, 346/161, 428/690, 428/917
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/28 with protective, conductive or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/42 by transforming the wavelength of the light by luminescence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/12 Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/876 comprising a resonant cavity structure, e.g. Bragg reflector pair

Abstract

A resonant microcavity display (20) having microcavity with a substrate (25), a phosphor active region (50) and front and rear reflectors (30 and 60). The front and rear reflectors may be spaced to create either a standing or traveling electromagnetic wave to enhance the efficiency of the light transmission.

Claims

1. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light:

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions;

wherein the plurality of reflective regions comprise;

(c) a front reflective region disposed upon said substrate, and

(d) a back reflective region;

wherein the active region is disposed between the front and the back reflective regions; and

wherein the front reflective region, the active region, and the back reflective region comprise thin films.

2. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

wherein the substrate comprises an organic material.

3. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

wherein the active region comprises an organic material.

4. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

wherein the reflective regions are comprised of an organic material.

5. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

wherein the substrate, the active region, and the plurality of reflective regions each comprise organic materials.

6. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

in which said substrate and said structure disposed thereon are flexible.

7. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

in which at least one of the plurality of reflective regions comprises a photonic band gap material.

8. A luminescent display comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phospor;

wherein said microcavity comprises;

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising the active region and a plurality of reflective regions; and

in which the active region comprises a photonic band gap material.