APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY BACKLIGHTING A MATERIAL

• US 20090059554A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scheifers, Steven, Latella, Rick, Skipor, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/29
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1336 Illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133614 using photoluminescence, e.g. phosphors illuminated by UV or blue light
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133617 Illumination with ultraviolet light; Luminescent elements or materials associated to the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/052 Phosphorescence

Abstract

A backlighting device (300, 400, 500, 600) emitting light having a first wavelength includes a first radiation emission device (302), e.g., an electroluminescent lamp, for emitting radiation having a second wavelength. A layer (306) of a plurality of photon emitting particles (308), e.g., free standing quantum dots or phosphorus particles, emits light having the first wavelength in response to the first radiation emission device (302), the first wavelength being larger than the second wavelength. A transparent material (116, 120, 122) overlies the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles (308), wherein the light having a first wavelength passes through the transparent material (116, 120, 122). Optionally, a filter (402) may be placed over the layer (306) to block the radiation having a second wavelength, and a scattering layer (604) may be placed over the layer (306) to scatter wavelength other than the first wavelength.

Claims

1. A backlighting device for emitting light having a first wavelength, comprising:

a first radiation emission device for emitting radiation having a second wavelength; and

a layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles emitting light having the first wavelength in response to the first radiation emission device, the first wavelength being larger than the second wavelength.

2. The backlighting device of claim 1 further comprising a transparent material overlying the layer through which the light having a first wavelength passes.

3. The backlighting device of claim 1 further comprising a filter disposed over the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles that prevents the radiation having a second frequency from passing therethrough while allowing the light to pass therethrough.

4. The backlighting device of claim 1 further comprising a layer including scattering particles disposed over the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles that scatters the radiation and light having wavelength other that the first wavelength.

5. The backlighting device of claim 1 further comprising a second radiation emission device disposed on a side of the first radiation emission device opposed to the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles, for emitting light having the first wavelength.

6. The backlighting device of claim 1 wherein the transparent material comprises one of a touch key, an icon, and at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device.

7. The backlighting device of claim 1 wherein the first radiation emission device comprises an electroluminescent lamp.

8. The backlighting device of claim 1 wherein the layer comprises free standing quantum dots.

9. The backlighting device of claim 1 wherein the layer comprises phosphorus particles.

10. A backlighting device emitting light having a first wavelength, comprising:

a first radiation emission device for emitting radiation having a second wavelength; and

a layer of a plurality of free standing quantum dots emitting light having the first wavelength in response to being impacted by the light having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being larger than the second wavelength.

11. The backlighting device of claim 10 further comprising a transparent material overlying the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles, wherein the light having a first wavelength passes through the transparent material.

12. The backlighting device of claim 10 further comprising a filter disposed over the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles that prevents the light having a second wavelength from passing therethrough while allowing the light having a first wavelength to pass therethrough.

13. The backlighting device of claim 10 further comprising a layer including scattering particles disposed over the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles that scatters the light having a second wavelength.

14. The backlighting device of claim 10 further comprising a second electroluminescent lamp disposed contiguous to the first electroluminescent lamp, for emitting light having the first wavelength.

15. The backlighting device of claim 11 wherein the transparent material comprises one of a touch key, an icon, and at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device.

16. A backlighting device emitting light having a first wavelength, comprising:

a first radiation emission device for emitting radiation having a second wavelength; and

a layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles emitting light having the first wavelength in response to the first radiation emission device, the first wavelength being larger than the second wavelength, the photon emitting particles comprising one of free standing quantum dots and phosphorus particles.

17. The backlighting device of claim 16 further comprising a transparent material overlying the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles, wherein the light having a first wavelength passes through the transparent material.

18. The backlighting device of claim 16 further comprising a filter disposed over the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles that prevents the radiation having a second frequency from passing therethrough while allowing the light to pass therethrough.

19. The backlighting device of claim 16 further comprising a layer including scattering particles disposed over the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles that scatters the radiation and light having wavelength other that the first wavelength.

20. The backlighting device of claim 16 further comprising a second radiation emission device disposed on a side of the first radiation emission device opposed to the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles, for emitting light having the first wavelength.

21. The backlighting device of claim 17 wherein the transparent material comprises one of a touch key, an icon, and at least a portion of a housing of an electronic device.

22. The backlighting device of claim 16 wherein the first radiation emission device comprises an electroluminescent lamp.