Multi-color microcavity resonant display

• US 6,404,127 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• 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: Jaffe, Irving, Jacobsen, Stuart M., Jones, Michieal L., Jaffe, Steven M., Eilers, Hergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US09/760,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 313/463, 313/465, 313/466, 313/504, 313/506, 313/509, 313/113, 428/690, 428/917, 346/161, 359/109, 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 traveling electromagnetic wave to enhance the efficiency of the light transmission.

Claims

1. A luminescent display comprising:

a plurality of resonant microcavities each with an active region, wherein each active region has a phosphor disposed therein for emitting light;

some of said plurality of resonant microcavities have a phosphor disposed therein for emitting red light;

some of said plurality of resonant microcavities have a phosphor disposed therein for emitting green light; and

some of said plurality of resonant microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting blue light.

2. The luminescent display of claim 1 wherein each microcavity comprises:

(a) a substrate; and

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

3. The luminescent display of claim 2 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.

4. The luminescent display of claim 3 in which the front reflective region, the active region, and the back reflective region comprise thin films.

5. The luminescent display of claim 2 wherein said reflective regions comprise dielectric reflectors.

6. The display of claim 1 comprising:

an first electron gun for exciting the microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting a red light;

an second electron gun for exciting the microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting a green light; and

an third electron gun for exciting the microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting a blue light.

7. The display of claim 1 wherein:

said red light emitting resonant microcavities, said green light emitting resonant microcavities and said blue light emitting resonant microcavities alternate.

8. The display of claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of microcavities alternate in a pattern with a red light emitting resonant microcavity, followed by a green light emitting resonant microcavity, followed by a blue light emitting resonant microcavity;

and said pattern repeats throughout the display.

9. The display of claim 1 wherein:

said microcavities are pixel size microcavities.

10. A luminescent display comprising:

a first plurality of resonant microcavities each with an active region, wherein each active region has a phosphor disposed therein for emitting red light;

a second plurality of resonant microcavities each with an active region, wherein each active region has a phosphor disposed therein for emitting green light; and

a third plurality of resonant microcavities each with an active region, wherein each active region has a phosphor disposed therein for emitting blue light.

11. The display of claim 10 comprising:

an first electron gun for exciting the microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting a red light;

an second electron gun for exciting the microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting a green light; and

an third electron gun for exciting the microcavities having a phosphor disposed therein for emitting a blue light.

12. The display of claim 10 wherein:

said red light emitting resonant microcavities, said green light emitting resonant microcavities and said blue light emitting resonant microcavities alternate.

13. The display of claim 10 wherein:

said pluralities of microcavities alternative in a pattern with a red light emitting resonant microcavity, followed by a green light emitting resonant microcavity, followed by a blue light emitting resonant microcavity;

and said pattern repeats throughout the display.

14. The display of claim 10 wherein:

said microcavities are pixel size microcavities.