Light-emitting diode constructions

• US 6,005,692 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas D. Stahl
• Original Assignee: Thomas D. Stahl
• Inventors: Stahl, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Jr., Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUMEISTER, BRADLEY W
• Application Number:
  US09/087,003
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 257/40, 257/89, 257/98, 385/37, 359/15, 359/34
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/182 OLED comprising a fiber structure
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/30 Devices specially adapted for multicolour light emission

Abstract

A light-emitting assembly defining a pixel comprising a series of red, green, and blue light-emitting segments in general alignment and connected by first and second electrodes. The light-emitting segments are built upon a fiber optic core. According to the preferred embodiment, the core is coated with a holographic interface material.

Claims

1. A light-emitting assembly comprising:

an optically-conductive core;

a first light-emitting element operatively associated with said core;

a second light-emitting element operatively associated with said core;

said first and second light-emitting elements being positioned adjacent one another on said core;

a first electrode associated with said first and second light-emitting elements;

a second electrode associated with said first and second light-emitting elements;

an electrode layer being formed between said core and said first and second light-emitting elements; and

a holographic interface formed between said core and said electrode.

2. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, further including a third light-emitting element, said light-emitting elements emitting light in the red, green, and blue spectra.

3. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting elements are light-emitting diodes.

4. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein said core is a light-transmitting fiber.

5. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein said holographic interface is composed of a dichromated gel-type of material.

6. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, further including a metal layer formed over said light-emitting elements.

7. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting elements are composed of a light-emitting polymer.

8. The light-emitting assembly of claim 1, wherein said first electrode is a column electrode and said second electrode is a row electrode.

9. A multi-color pixel comprising:

a light-transmitting fiber core;

a light-bending element operatively associated with said core;

an electrode layer at least partially formed on said light-bending element;

a first light-emitting element operatively associated with said electrode layer;

a second light-emitting element operatively associated with said electrode layer;

a third light-emitting element operatively associated with said electrode layer, said first, second, and third light-emitting elements each producing light at different wave lengths; and

an outer metal coating formed substantially over said light-emitting elements.

10. The multi-color pixel of claim 9, wherein said different wave lengths are red, green and blue.

11. The multi-color pixel of claim 9, wherein said light-bending element is a holographic interface.

12. The multi-color pixel of claim 11, wherein said holographic interface is composed of a dichromated gel-type of material.

13. The multi-color pixel of claim 9, wherein said light-transmitting fiber core is composed of glass.

14. The multi-color pixel of claim 9, wherein said light-transmitting fiber core is composed of a polymer.

15. The multi-color pixel of claim 9, wherein said first, second and third light-emitting elements are light-emitting diodes.

16. The multi-color pixel of claim 9, wherein said first, second, and third light-emitting elements are light-emitting polymers.

17. A multi-color pixel comprising:

a fiber optic core;

a light-bending holographic interface formed on said core;

a transparent electrode layer formed on said holographic interface;

a plurality of light-emitting elements positioned on said transparent electrode layer; and

a metal coating formed on said transparent electrode layer.

18. The multi-color pixel of claim 17, wherein said light-emitting elements product light in the red, green, and blue spectra.

19. The multi-color pixel of claim 18, wherein said light-emitting elements are light-emitting diodes.

20. The multi-color pixel of claim 18, wherein said light-emitting elements are composed of a light-emitting polymer.