Image display device that emits multicolored light

• US 5,994,722 A
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OSRAM GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Averbeck, Robert, Tews, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ngan V.
• Application Number:
  US09/107,378
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 257/81, 257/82, 257/89, 257/91, 257/92, 257/98, 257/99, 257/103, 372/43, 372/49, 372/50
• US Class Current: 257/89
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/30 using solid-state colour display devices

Abstract

The high-resolution image display device emits multicolored light from a monolithically integrated array. The monolithically integrated array has a transparent or at least translucent substrate. One side of the substrate carries semiconductor light emitting diodes or semiconductor laser diode devices emitting in the UV wavelength range. Many luminescence converting elements with luminescent substances of a predetermined color are applied to the substrate. The elements are optically separated from one another and associated with the semiconductor light emitting diode or semiconductor laser diode device. The elements receive the light emitted in the UV wavelength range by the semiconductor light emitting diode or semiconductor laser diode device, convert it into visible light, and emit the light in the visible spectrum.

Claims

1. An image display device that emits multicolored light, comprising:

a substrate;

a multiplicity of individually electronically driven semiconductor diodes disposed on or in said substrate;

a multiplicity of optically separate luminescence converting elements assigned to said semiconductor diodes;

said luminescence converting elements being provided with luminescent substances of a different color, said luminescent substances each absorbing at least a portion of light emitted by said semiconductor diodes, converting the light into visible light of a different wavelength, and emitting the visible light.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor diodes are light emitting diodes.

3. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor diodes are semiconductor laser diodes.

4. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor diodes emit light in the ultraviolet wavelength range.

5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor diodes emit light in the blue wavelength range.

6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said luminescence converting elements are provided in alternation with said luminescent substances of at least two basic colors red and green.

7. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said luminescence converting elements are provided in alternation with said luminescent substances of three basic colors red, green and blue.

8. The image display device according to claim 7, wherein said luminescent substances are ZnS:

Ag, ZnS;

Cu,Al and ZnCdS;

Ag, respectively, for the basic colors red, green and blue.

9. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor diodes are formed with a basic material of GaN monolithically integrated on or in said substrate.

10. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is translucent, and said luminescence converting elements are disposed on a side of said substrate opposite said semiconductor diodes.

11. The image display device according to claim 10, wherein said substrate is transparent.

12. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said luminescence converting elements are disposed on a same side of said substrate as said semiconductor diodes, and including a translucent electrically conductive contact layer between individual said electronically driven semiconductor diodes and said luminescence converting elements.

13. The image display device according to claim 12, wherein said electrically conductive contact layer is a transparent contact layer.

14. The image display device according to claim 1, which further comprises a mirror coating applied over a large area of said substrate.

15. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor diodes are disposed in rows and columns and are electrically triggerable.