Optical luminescent display device

• US 6,307,987 B1
• Filed: 02/08/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Schweitzer, Allan, Ott, Maximilan, Wang, Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONNELLY, MICHELLE R
• Application Number:
  US09/246,145
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/16, 385/31, 385/39, 385/42, 385/47-49, 385/51, 385/115, 385/147, 385/901, 250/458.1, 250/483.1, 250/484.4, 250/486.1
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0126 Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/293 by another light beam, i.e. opto-optical deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2/02 Frequency-changing of light, e.g. by quantum counters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A luminescent material, such as phosphor, is radiated by energy propagated from the side of an optical fiber, causing the luminescent material to emit visible light. The luminescent material can be of a coincidentally-excited type, requiring the absorption of two wavelengths of radiation to emit visible light. In such a case, two side-emitting optical fibers can be used, with each optical fiber providing one of the needed radiation wavelengths. One embodiment of the invention involves a matrix of optical fibers forming an optical display panel made using coincidentally-excited phosphors. Side-emitting optical fibers are used to simultaneously stimulate a phosphor pixel located between the two fibers, allowing matrix addressing of each pixel individually. The optical display panel is constructed of only optical components. Another embodiment involves an optical switch with coincidentally-excited luminescent material. One radiation is provided by a side-emitting optical fiber. To activate the switch, a second radiation is provided by a laser diode.

Claims

1. An optical luminescent display device, adapted for use with a radiant energy source, comprising:

an optical fiber;

a luminescent material; and

a notch formed in said optical fiber adapted to direct a first type of radiant energy within said optical fiber toward said luminescent material,

wherein said luminescent material requires excitement from a first type of radiant energy and a second type of radiant energy to emit visible light.

2. An optical luminescent display device of claim 1, wherein:

said luminescent material is a phosphor.

3. An optical luminescent display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second optical fiber; and

a second notch formed in said second optical fiber adapted to direct said second type of radiant energy toward said luminescent material.

4. An optical luminescent display device of claim 3, further comprising:

a discharge lamp adapted to provide radiation to said luminescent material by transversally penetrating at least one of the group of said optical fiber and said second optical fiber;

wherein said discharge lamp is located external to said optical fiber and said second optical fiber.

5. An optical luminescent display device of claim 3, wherein:

said optical fiber and said second optical fiber are formed of plastic.

6. An optical luminescent display device of claim 3, wherein:

said optical fiber and said second optical fiber are formed of glass.

7. An optical luminescent display device of claim 3, wherein:

said notch and said second notch are filled.

8. An optical luminescent display device of claim 3, wherein:

said luminescent material is a phosphor.

9. An optical luminescent display device of claim 8, wherein:

said first type of radiant energy is UV light; and

said second type of radiant energy is IR light.

10. An optical luminescent display device of claim 9, wherein:

wavelengths of said first type of radiant energy and said second type of radiant energy can be adjusted to adjust the color of visible light emitted from said luminescent material.

11. An optical luminescent display device of claim 9, further comprising:

a dichroic filter formed between said luminescent material and said optical fiber.

12. An optical luminescent display device of claim 9, further comprising:

a mirror coating formed in said notch.

13. An optical luminescent display device of claim 9, wherein:

said luminescent material is a phosphor consisting essentially of EuSm.

14. An optical display panel, comprising:

a plurality of first optical fibers arranged to have common axial orientation;

a second optical fiber arranged so as not to be parallel to said plurality of first optical fibers;

a luminescent material located between said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber;

notches formed in said plurality of first optical fibers to provide side-emission of radiation directed toward said luminescent material; and

corresponding notches in said second optical fiber to provide side-emission of radiation directed toward said luminescent material.

15. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said luminescent material is formed as a plurality of individual pixels.

16. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said notches are formed on the outer side of said plurality of first optical fibers; and

said corresponding notches are formed on the outer side of said second optical fiber.

17. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said notches are formed on the inner side of said plurality of first optical fibers; and

said corresponding notches are formed on the inner side of said second optical fiber.

18. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said notches and said corresponding notches are filled.

19. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said luminescent material is located in said notches.

20. An optical display panel of claim 14, further comprising:

a reflective coating mounted on said optical fiber transversally opposite from said notches.

21. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said luminescent material requires excitement from a first type of radiant energy to emit visible light.

22. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said luminescent material requires excitement from a first type of radiant energy and a second type of radiant energy to emit visible light.

23. An optical display panel of claim 22, wherein:

said luminescent material is a phosphor.

24. An optical display panel of claim 23, wherein:

said first type of radiant energy is UV light; and

said second type of radiant energy is IR light.

25. An optical display panel of claim 24, wherein:

wavelengths of said first type of radiant energy and said second type of radiant energy can be adjusted to adjust the color of visible light emitted from said luminescent material.

26. An optical display panel of claim 24, further comprising:

a dichroic filter formed between said luminescent material and said optical fiber.

27. An optical display panel of claim 24, further comprising:

a mirror coating formed in said notch.

28. An optical display panel of claim 24, wherein:

said notches and said corresponding notches are filled.

29. An optical display panel of claim 24, wherein:

said luminescent material is a phosphor consisting essentially of EuSm.

30. An optical display panel of claim 14, further comprising:

a discharge lamp adapted to provide radiation to said luminescent material by transversally penetrating at least one of the group of said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber;

wherein said discharge lamp is located external to said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber.

31. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber are formed of plastic.

32. An optical display panel of claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber are formed of glass.

33. An optical display panel, comprising:

a plurality of first optical fibers arranged to have common axial orientation;

a second optical fiber arranged so as not to be parallel to said plurality of first optical fibers;

a luminescent material located between said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber;

means for deviating a path of radiation travelling within said plurality of first optical fibers away from the axis of each of said plurality of first optical fibers toward said luminescent material; and

means for deviating a path of radiation travelling within said second optical fiber away from the axis of said second optical fiber toward said luminescent material.

34. A method for operating an optical display panel, comprising:

arranging a plurality of first optical fibers to have common axial orientation;

arranging a second optical fiber so as not to be parallel to said plurality of first optical fibers;

emitting a first radiant energy into one of said plurality of first optical fibers;

emitting a second radiant energy into said second optical fiber;

providing side-emission of radiation, directed toward a luminescent material, via notches formed in said plurality of first optical fibers;

providing side-emission of radiation, directed toward said luminescent material, via corresponding notches in said second optical fiber; and

causing visible light to be emitted from said luminescent material when radiating said material by said first radiant energy and said second radiant energy,

wherein said luminescent material is located between said plurality of first optical fibers and said second optical fiber.

35. A method for operating an optical display panel as in claim 34,

wherein said optical display panel includes a matrix addressing assembly.

36. An optical switch, comprising:

an optical fiber;

a luminescent material requiring excitement from a first type of radiant energy and a second type of radiant energy to emit visible light;

a notch formed in said optical fiber adapted to direct a first type of radiant energy within said optical fiber toward said luminescent material; and

a laser diode disposed to radiate said luminescent material with a second type of radiant energy.

37. An optical switch as in claim 36, further comprising:

an optical pickup for optical communication with said luminescent material.

38. An optical switch as in claim 36, wherein:

said first type of radiant energy is UV light; and

said second type of radiant energy is IR light.

39. An optical switch as in claim 36, further comprising:

a second luminescent material requiring excitement from said first type of radiant energy and a third type of radiant energy to emit visible light;

a second notch formed in said optical fiber adapted to direct said first type of radiant energy within said optical fiber toward said second luminescent material; and

a second laser diode adapted to radiate said second luminescent material with a third type of radiant energy.

40. An optical switch as in claim 36, wherein:

said notch is filled.