Light emissive display based on lightwave coupling

• US 7,123,796 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Cincinnati
• Original Assignee: University of Cincinnati
• Inventors: Heikenfeld, Jason C., Steckl, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mooney, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US10/730,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20050123243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/39, 385/40, 385/141, 385/147, 385/900, 362/84, 362/601, 362/606, 362/618
• US Class Current: 385/40
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/90 Solar collector or transmitter

Abstract

A light emissive display having a specular waveguide that propagates short wavelength light and photoluminescent features adjacent to the waveguide that fluoresce, for example, in visible red, green, blue, and mixed colors when selectively coupled with the short wavelength light. The photoluminescent layers emit light primarily and, therefore, efficiently in the direction of an observer only. This light emissive display may be utilized as a planar light source, as patterned information signage, or as a re-configurable information display containing intensity modulated pixels. The light emissive display may be enhanced optically such that only a small portion of ambient light is reflected from the display while preserving the majority of emitted display luminance.

Claims

1. A lightwave coupling device comprising:

a waveguide capable of propagating light of a first wavelength through internal reflection;

a photoluminescent medium positioned proximate to said waveguide, said photoluminescent medium capable of being selectively optically coupled to said waveguide for receiving light of said first wavelength and emitting light of a second wavelength in response to receiving light of said first wavelength;

an electrowetting medium positioned between said waveguide and said photoluminescent medium;

first and second electrodes; and

a voltage source electrically coupled with said first and second electrodes, said voltage source capable of applying an actuation voltage to said first and second electrodes effective to move said electrowetting medium between a first condition that permits transfer light of said first wavelength from said optical waveguide to said photoluminescent medium and a second condition in which light of said first wavelength remains confined in said waveguide.

2. The lightwave coupling device of claim 1 further comprising:

a cladding layer disposed on said waveguide, said cladding layer having a lower refractive index than said waveguide.

3. The lightwave coupling device of claim 2 wherein said cladding layer is disposed between said waveguide and said photoluminescent medium, said cladding layer including an aperture to permit transfer of light of said first wavelength from said optical waveguide to said photoluminescent medium.

4. The lightwave coupling device of claim 1 wherein said waveguide includes a region between said waveguide and said photoluminescent medium effective to reflect said light of said first wavelength back into said waveguide.

5. The lightwave coupling device of claim 1 further comprising:

a third electrode electrically connected to said voltage source, said third electrode participating in the movement of said electrowetting medium by receiving voltage from said voltage source.

6. The lightwave coupling device of claim 1 further comprising:

a flexible supporting layer movable in response to said actuation voltage applied to said first and second electrodes, said flexible supporting member moving said electrowetting medium to provide said first and second conditions.

7. A lightwave coupling device comprising:

a waveguide capable of propagating light of a first wavelength through internal reflection;

first and second electrodes;

an electrowetting medium positioned between said first and second electrodes, said electrowetting medium capable of being selectively optically coupled to said waveguide for receiving light of said first wavelength and emitting light of a second wavelength in response to receiving light of said first wavelength; and

a voltage source electrically coupled with said first and second electrodes, said voltage source capable of applying an actuation voltage to said first and second electrodes effective to move said electrowetting medium between a first condition that permits transfer light of said first wavelength from said optical waveguide to said electrowetting medium and a second condition in which light of said first wavelength remains confined in said waveguide.

8. The lightwave coupling device of claim 7 further comprising:

a cladding layer disposed on said waveguide, said cladding layer having a lower refractive index than said waveguide.

9. The lightwave coupling device of claim 7 wherein said cladding layer is disposed between said waveguide and said electrowetting medium, said cladding layer including an aperture to permit transfer of light of said first wavelength from said optical waveguide to said electrowetting medium.

10. The lightwave coupling device of claim 7 wherein said waveguide includes a region between said waveguide and said electrowetting medium effective to reflect said light of said first wavelength back into said waveguide.

11. The lightwave coupling device of claim 7 further comprising:

a third electrode electrically connected to said voltage source, said third electrode participating in the movement of said electrowetting medium by receiving voltage from said voltage source.

12. The lightwave coupling device of claim 7 further comprising:

a flexible supporting layer movable in response to said actuation voltage applied to said first and second electrodes, said flexible supporting member moving said electrowetting medium to provide said first and second conditions.