Light Conversion Element with Remote Down-Conversion Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display technologies face challenges in producing high-resolution, small-scale displays that effectively utilize down-conversion materials without thermal degradation and environmental toxicity, while also requiring efficient light conversion and spectral control.

Innovation Solution

A light conversion element with down-conversion material housed in remote, thermally insulated cavities within light guides, allowing for controlled emission spectra and efficient conversion of input light to lower frequency output light, using materials like phosphors and quantum dots, and incorporating optical wavelength selective elements for filtering and isolation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If down-conversion material is placed close to the light source for efficient light conversion, then light conversion efficiency is improved, but thermal degradation of the down-conversion material occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight conversion efficiencyVSAvoidthermal degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide is divided into multiple segments with down-conversion material housed in separate cavities at different locations. This segmentation allows the light conversion function to be distributed along the light guide path, maintaining efficiency while reducing thermal load on any single material location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide acts as an intermediary medium that transports light from the source to remote cavities containing down-conversion material. This intermediary approach allows light conversion to occur at a distance from the heat-generating light source, reducing thermal degradation while maintaining conversion efficiency through the light guide's optical transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If down-conversion material is placed at remote locations for thermal insulation, then thermal degradation is reduced, but light conversion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidlight conversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide performs preliminary light transport and conditioning before light reaches the remote down-conversion material. This preliminary action ensures that the light is properly directed and concentrated in the cavities, maintaining conversion efficiency despite the remote placement for thermal insulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple down-conversion materials are used for spectral control, then emission spectrum control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission spectrum controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different down-conversion materials are placed in different cavities at different locations along the light guide, with each cavity optimized for a specific wavelength conversion. This local quality approach enables spectral control through spatial distribution rather than through complex mixing or filtering mechanisms, maintaining versatility while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Temperature

If down-conversion material is housed in cavities for thermal insulation, then thermal degradation is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal degradationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The down-conversion material is nested within cavities that are integrated into the light guide structure. This nesting approach allows thermal insulation to be achieved through the natural geometry of the light guide itself, reducing the need for additional external insulation components and simplifying the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the production of high-resolution displays with controlled emission spectra and efficient light conversion, reducing thermal degradation and environmental impact, while allowing for flexible spectral manipulation and improved display performance.

Implementation Method 1

down-conversion material (150) configured to down-convert the received input light (102) to produce the provided output light (104) of lower frequency or frequencies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDown-conversion: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of light guides (140) extending between the input interface (120) and the output interface (130)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight guiding: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 3

incorporating optical wavelength selective elements for filtering and isolation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWavelength selective filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP3043336B1A light conversion element
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3043336B1 patent drawingFigure 1~9
  • EP3043336B1 patent drawingFigure 10~13
  • EP3043336B1 patent drawingFigure 14~15

AI summary

An apparatus comprising: a light conversion element (110) comprising: an input interface (120) for receiving input light (102); an output interface (130) for providing output light (104) having at least one different, lower frequency than the input light; and a plurality of light guides (140) extending between the input interface and the output interface that suspend down-conversion material (150) at remote locations from the input interface, wherein the down-conversion material is configured to down-convert the received input light to produce the provided output light of lower frequency or frequencies.