All optical display with storage and IR-quenchable phosphors
US6917751B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S385/901
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A luminescent material, such as phosphor, is radiated by energy propagated from the side of an optical fiber, causing the luminescent material to emit visible light. The luminescent material can be of: a coincidentally-excited type, requiring the absorption of two wavelengths of radiation to emit visible light; memory-type, requiring absorption of one wavelength of charging radiation and absorption of another wavelength of controlling radiation to emit visible light; and quenchable type, requiring absorption of one wavelength of radiation to emit visible light and absorption of another wavelength of radiation to stop, i.e. quench, the emission of visible light. Two side-emitting optical fibers can be used, with each optical fiber providing one of the needed radiation wavelengths. One embodiment of the invention involves a matrix of optical fibers forming an optical display panel made using coincidentally-excited phosphors. Side-emitting optical fibers are used to simultaneously stimulate a phosphor pixel located between the two fibers, allowing matrix addressing of each pixel individually. The optical display panel is constructed of only optical components.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.