All-optical, flat-panel display system
First Claim
1. A flat-panel display apparatus comprising a matrix having an array of intersecting and generally perpendicular row waveguides and column waveguides, wherein intersections of the row waveguides and the column waveguides are doped with a photo-active material to form photoluminescent pixels at the intersections of the row waveguides with the column waveguides, and independently selectable photonic power sources for delivering photonic power to selected pixels through the row waveguides and the column waveguides.
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Abstract
An all-optical flat panel display system is based on the generation of photoluminescence within a doped, optical waveguide display matrix. Color photoluminescence is produced through an infrared, two-step photonic upconversion process and the subsequent radiative emission process. Established principles of solid-state laser design and electronic upconversion in a host glass substrate are applied. The present photoluminescent display technology provides for flat-panel display systems having luminous output efficiencies approaching 67 lumens/Watt. That efficiency increase results from employing efficient, innovative photoluminescent phosphors and from an optical cavity architecture which enhances the three physical process (row excitation, column excitation and spontaneous output emission) operating inside the pixel. The present system is thinner, lighter weight, more power efficient and more cost competitive to produce than existing technologies. Further advantages realized by the present system include high readability in varying lighting conditions, viewing angle independence, size scalability without brightness and color quality sacrifice, rugged solid-state construction, vibration and thermal insensitivity and size independence. The present invention has potential applications in military, personal computing and digital HDTV systems, multi-media, medical and broadband imaging displays and large-screen display systems. Defense applications may range from full-color, high-resolution, see-through binocular displays to 60 inch digital command center displays.
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Citations
37 Claims
- 1. A flat-panel display apparatus comprising a matrix having an array of intersecting and generally perpendicular row waveguides and column waveguides, wherein intersections of the row waveguides and the column waveguides are doped with a photo-active material to form photoluminescent pixels at the intersections of the row waveguides with the column waveguides, and independently selectable photonic power sources for delivering photonic power to selected pixels through the row waveguides and the column waveguides.
- 28. A method for converting signals into light images comprising the steps of providing a display having an array of intersecting row waveguides and column waveguides, doping intersecting regions of the waveguides with a photo-active material, selecting pixels by delivering photonic power to selected pixels through the row waveguides, exciting the selected pixels into non-radiative, intermediate metastable states, delivering photonic power to the selected pixels through the column waveguides, and exciting the selected pixels into visible photoluminescent states.
Specification