System and method for a transparent color image display utilizing fluorescence conversion of nano particles and molecules

• US 7,090,355 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun Innovations Inc.
• Original Assignee: SuperImaging, Inc. (Sun Innovations Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jianqiang, Sun, Xiao-Dong
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/848,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 353/122, 353/31, 353/34, 353/37, 353/11, 353/12, 353/79, 359443-461
• US Class Current: 353/79
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/08 containing inorganic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2/02 Frequency-changing of light, e.g. by quantum counters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161

Abstract

A system and a method of a transparent color image display utilizing fluorescence conversion (FC) of nano-particles and molecules are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, a color image display system consists of a light source equipped with two-dimensional scanning hardware and a FC display screen board. The FC display screen board consists of a transparent fluorescence display layer, a wavelength filtering coating, and an absorption substrate. In another preferred embodiment, two mechanisms of light excitation are utilized. One of the excitation mechanisms is up-conversion where excitation light wavelength is longer than fluorescence wavelength. The second mechanism is down-conversion where excitation wavelength is shorter than fluorescence wavelength. A host of preferred fluorescence materials for the FC screen are also disclosed. These materials fall into four categories: inorganic nanometer sized phosphors; organic molecules and dyes; semiconductor based nano particles; and organometallic molecules. These molecules or nano-particles are incorporated in the screen in such a way that allows the visible transparency of the screen. Additionally, a preferred fast light scanning system is disclosed. The preferred scanning system consists of dual-axes acousto-optic light deflector, signal processing and control circuits equipped with a close-loop image feedback to maintain position accuracy and pointing stability of the excitation beam.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional color image display setup with visibly transparent screen based on fluorescence conversion comprising:

at least one excitation light beam operating in a wavelength range of >

700 nm or <

450 nm;

an optical imaging processing unit projecting the said light beam to specified positions with specified light intensities;

a displaying screen comprising at least one layer of transparent medium containing at least one type of electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting ingredients, wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting ingredients containing laser dye or organic molecules with dimensions between 0.5 nm to 100 nm;

a coating attached to the said layer of transparent medium of the said displaying screen separating the said visible light from the said excitation light;

a covering layer of transparent materials protecting the said transparent layer of medium containing the said visible light emitting particles of the said displaying screen.

2. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said covering layers being glass plates.

3. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said covering layers being polymer material.

4. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said transparent medium of the said fluorescent layer being a transparent liquid.

5. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said transparent medium of the said fluorescent layer being a transparent solid.

6. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles absorbing electro-magnetic radiation in the wavelength range <

450 nm or<

700 nm while emitting visible light in the wavelength range >

700 nm and >

450 nm.

7. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing semiconductor elements with dimensions between 1 nm to 1 μ

m.

8. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing fluorescent organic polymers that are coated to the said displaying screen.

9. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing inorganic phosphors with dimensions between 1 nm to 500 nm.

10. The two-dimensional color image display setup recited in claim 1 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing at least one type of metallic element (atoms or ions)being chemically bonded to an organic compound with molecular dimensions between 0.5 nm to 500 nm.

11. A transparent fluorescence conversion screen for two-dimensional color image display comprising:

at least one fluorescent layer of transparent medium containing at least one type of electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles, wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing laser dye or organic molecules with dimensions between 0.5 nm to 100 nm;

a coating attached to the said layer of transparent medium separating the said visible light from the said activation radiation;

a covering layer of transparent materials protecting the said fluorescent layer.

12. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said covering layers being glass plates.

13. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said covering layers being polymer material.

14. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said transparent medium of the said fluorescent layer being a transparent liquid.

15. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said transparent medium of the said fluorescent layer being a transparent solid.

16. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles absorbing electro-magnetic radiation in the wavelength range <

450 nm or >

700 nm while emitting visible light in the wavelength range <

700 nm and >

450 nm.

17. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing semiconductor elements with dimensions between 1 mm to 1 μ

m.

18. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles containing organic polymer coated to the said display screen.

19. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles contains inorganic phosphors with dimensions between 1 mm to 500 nm.

20. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said electro-magnetic radiation activated visible light emitting particles contains at least one type of metallic element (atoms or ions) being chemically bonded to an organic compound with molecular dimensions between 0.5 nm to 500 nm.

21. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said transparent medium of the said fluorescent layer having thickness of 1 μ

m to 1 cm.

22. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said screen having diagonal measuring from 5 cm to 10 meters.

23. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said screen is attached to the windshield of a moving object (automobile, aircraft or boat).

24. The transparent fluorescence conversion screen recited in claim 11 wherein the said screen is attached to the window of a building.

62. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the tight emitting material comprises a Garnet series phosphor doped with Cerium, wherein:

the Garnet series phosphor is represented by (Y_mA_1-m)₃(Al_nB_1-n)₅O₁₂;

0≦

m and n≦

1;

A comprises rare earth elements; and

B comprises at teast one of boron and gallium.

25. An apparatus comprising light emitting material integrated into a substantially transparent substrate, wherein:

the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of at least one of light having a wavelength less than approximately 500 nanometers and light having a wavelength greater than approximately 700 nanometers;

the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles; and

each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 500 nanometers.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter greater than about 0.5 nanometers.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter greater than about 1 nanometers.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter greater than about 2 nanometers.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 450 nanometers.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 400 nanometers.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 300 nanometers.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 200 nanometers.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 100 nanometers.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 50 nanometers.

35. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus is a monochromatic display.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises:

a first material which emits a first visible color; and

a second material which emits a second visible color, which is different from the first visible color.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the light emitting material comprises a third material which emits a third visible color, which is different from the first visible color and the second visible color.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first visible color, the second visible color, and the third visible color are primary colors.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the primary colors are red, green, and blue.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first material and the second material are integrated into the substantially transparent substrate as a mixture.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first material and the second material are integrated into the substantially transparent substrate as layers on a surface of the substantially transparent substrate.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the first visible color is emitted according to selective projection of light having a first wavelength; and

the second visible color is emitted according to selective projection of light having a second wavelength.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein a fourth color is emitted by a combination of substantially simultaneous selective projection of light having the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the fourth color is a non-primary color.

45. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one of light having a wavelength less than approximately 500 nanometers and light having a wavelength greater than approximately 700 nanometers is emitted from a laser apparatus.

46. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of light having a wavelength less than approximately 500 nanometers.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the light emitting material is a fluorescent down-conversion material.

49. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of light having a wavelength greater than approximately 700 nanometers.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of infrared light.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the light emitting material is a fluorescent up-conversion material.

52. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises europium.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the europium is comprised in an organometallic material.

54. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises terbium.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the terbium is comprised in an organometallic material.

56. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one of:

inorganic particles;

ceramic particles;

nanoparticles;

a laser dye;

pyrromethene;

coumarin;

rhodamine;

fluorescein;

aromatic hydrocarbons;

derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons;

polymers containing unsaturated bonds;

small organic molecules;

fluorescent polymers;

fluorescent organic polymers;

semiconductor particles;

inorganic crystallite;

homogeneous nano-crystals;

nanoparticles each having at least one shell;

II–

VI compound semiconductors;

IlI–

V compound semiconductors; and

fluorescent quantum dots.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the light emitting material is a nanoparticle having a core and at least one shell.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein:

the core comprises a first semiconductor material; and

the at least one shell comprises a second semiconductor material.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material comprise materials from at least one of:

group II–

VI semiconductors;

group III–

V semiconductors; and

group IV semiconductors.

60. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one of:

a metal oxide;

a metal fluoride;

a metal halide;

a metal chalcoginide; and

a metal sulfide.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the light emitting material is doped with rare earth elements.

63. The apparoatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one of:

metal silicates;

metal borates;

metal phosphates; and

metal aluminates.

64. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one rare earth element.

65. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one transitional metal element.

66. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one main group element.

67. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises undoped fluorescent material.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the undoped material comprises at least one of:

metal tungstates;

calcium;

zinc;

cadmium;

metal vanadates; and

zinc oxide.

69. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one of:

a polymer;

a MEH-PPV polymer; and

a PPV polymer.

70. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light emitting material comprises organometallic molecules.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the light emitting material comprises a metal center comprising at least one rare earth element protected with at least one material of organic chelating groups.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the light emitting material comprises a metal center comprising at least one transitional element.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the light emitting material comprises a metal center comprising at least one main group element.

74. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the light emitting material comprises at least one of:

Tris(dibenzoylmethane)mono(phenanthroline)europium(III);

Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)erbium;

Tris(1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethylpropan-1-oyl)-pyrazolin-5-one)terbium(III);

Bis(2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolato)zinc; and

Diphenylborane-8-hydroxyquinolate.

75. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said at least one of light having a wavelength less than approximately 500 nanometers and light having a wavelength greater than approximately 700 nanometers is emitted from a laser.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the laser is modulated by a galvanometer.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the laser is modulated by an acousto-optic light defector.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the laser is modulated by an electro-optic light deflector.

79. A method comprising integrating light emitting material into a substantially transparent substrate, wherein:

the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of at least one of light having a wavelength less than approximately 500 nanometers and light having a wavelength greater than approximately 700 nanometers;

the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles; and

each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 500 nanometers.