Resonant microcavity display with a light distribution element

• US 6,392,341 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Vision
• Original Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stuart M., Jones, Michieal L., Jaffe, Steven M., Eilers, Hergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US09/760,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 313/461, 313/463, 313/504, 313/506, 313/509, 313/113, 313/466, 313/474, 359/15, 428/690, 428/917, 315/169.3
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133521 Interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133602 Direct backlight
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/28 with protective, conductive or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/42 by transforming the wavelength of the light by luminescence
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 63/06 Lamps with luminescent screen excited by the ray or stream
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/12 Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/22 characterised by the chemical or physical composition or the arrangement of auxiliary dielectric or reflective layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/85 Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/852 comprising a resonant cavity structure, e.g. Bragg reflector pair
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/917 Electroluminescent

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 treaveling eledtromagnetic wave to enhance the efificenty of the light transmission.

Claims

1. A luminescent display, comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

and

further comprising means for generating a predetermined angular light distribution from light emitted from said active region.

2. The luminescent display of claim 1, wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying a process selected from the group consisting of spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor and energy transfer processes of the phosphor.

3. The luminescent display of claim 1, wherein said microactivity comprises means for modifying the spontaneous emission processes of the phosphor.

4. The luminescent display of claim 1, wherein said microcavity comprises means for modifying energy transfer processes of the phosphor.

5. The luminescent display of claim 1 wherein the microcavity comprises:

(a) a substrate; and

(b) a structure disposed upon said substrate comprising an active region and a plurality of reflective regions.

6. The luminescent display of claim 5 wherein the plurality of reflective regions comprise:

(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.

7. The luminescent display of claim 1 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.

8. A luminescent display, comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light, and a holographic element.

9. The display of claim 8, wherein said holographic element is a holographic optical element.

10. The display of claim 8, wherein said holographic element generates a predetermined angular light distribution.

11. A luminescent display, comprising a resonant microcavity with an active region, the active region having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light, and an angular light distribution element.

12. The display of claim 11 wherein said angular light distribution element is a holographic element.

13. The display of claim 11 wherein said angular light distribution element is a lens.

14. The display of claim 11 wherein said angular light distribution element is a diffuser.

15. The display of claim 11 wherein said angular light distribution element is a gradient index element.