Resonant microcavity display
First Claim
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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 display is excitable by electrons; and
further comprising a cathode ray tube to generate exciting electrons for exciting said active region.
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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 taveling electromagnetic wave to enhance the efficiency of the light transmission.
52 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A luminescent display, comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;
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wherein said display is excitable by electrons; and
further comprising a cathode ray tube to generate exciting electrons for exciting said active region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
(a) a substrate; and
(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising said active region and a plurality of reflective regions.
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16. The luminescent display of claim 15, wherein the luminescent display comprises a plurality of said microcavities, each having a resonant region therein, and said microcavities are operatively coupled to form a larger resonant region.
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17. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein the plurality of reflective regions comprise:
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(a) a front reflective region disposed upon said substrate, and (b) a back reflective region;
and the active region is disposed between the front and the back reflective regions.
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18. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein the substrate, the active region, and plurality of reflective regions are each comprised of inorganic materials.
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19. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of reflective regions comprises a wavelength-dependent reflector that is substantially reflective within a narrow wavelength bandwidth and substantially transmissive outside of said narrow wavelength bandwidth.
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20. The luminescent display of claim 19 and further comprising an opaque surface behind one of said wavelength-dependent reflectors to increase display contrast.
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21. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein said reflective regions comprise dielectric reflectors.
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22. The luminescent display of claim 21 wherein said dielectric reflectors further comprise a plurality of alternating parallel layers, wherein layers comprising a material with a relatively low index of refraction alternate with layers comprising a material with a relatively high index of refraction.
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23. The luminescent display of claim 22 wherein said material with a relative low index of refraction comprises a material selected from the group consisting of fluorides and oxides.
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24. The luminescent display of claim 22 wherein said material with a relatively high index of refraction comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sulfides, selenides, nitrides, and oxides.
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25. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of reflective regions comprises a metallic reflector.
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26. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein said active region comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of sulfides, oxides, silicates, oxysulfides, and aluminates.
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27. The luminescent display of claim 26 wherein said phosphor includes an activator comprising a material selected from the group consisting of transition metals, rare earths, substances having color centers, and combinations thereof.
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28. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein the thickness of the active region is equal to a selected wavelength of light to be emitted by the display multipled by an integer and divided by the quantity 4 times the index of refraction for light of the selected wavelength in a material comprising the active region.
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29. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein the microcavity comprises a plurality of active regions and the thickness of the plurality of active regions is equal to a selected wavelength of light to be emitted by the display multipled by an integer and divided by the quantity 4 times the index of refraction for light of the selected wavelength in a material comprising the plurality of active regions.
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30. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein the thickness of the active region is equal to a selected wavelength of light to be emitted by the display multipled by an integer and divided by the quantity 2 times the index of refraction for light of the selected wavelength in a material comprising the active region.
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31. The luminescent display of claim 15 wherein the microcavity comprises a plurality of active regions and the thickness of the plurality of active regions is equal to a selected wavelength of light to be emitted by the display multipled by an integer and divided by the quantity 2 times the index of refraction for light of the selected wavelength in a material comprising the plurality of active regions.
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32. The luminescent display of claim 1 wherein said resonant microcavity comprises a photonic band gap material.
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33. The luminescent display of claim 15 and further comprising means for generating a predetermined angular light distribution from light emitted from said active region.
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34. The luminescent display of claim 33 in which said means for generating the predetermined angular light distribution comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of lenses, diffusers, holographic elements, gradient index elements, and combinations thereof.
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35. The luminescent display of claim 33 wherein said means for generating a predetermined angular light distribution is disposed within said substrate.
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36. A modulated light source, comprising:
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(a) the luminescent display of claim 1; and
(b) light valve means in front of said microcavity for modulating light emitted from said microcavity.
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37. The modulated light source of claim 36, wherein said resonant microcavity is adapted to emit polarized light.
Specification