Phosphor-Fluorescent Composite for Color Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing phosphorescent materials lack the ability to maintain consistent coloration in both ambient lighting and darkness, and there is a need for compositions that can emit and fluoresce radiation in the same wavelength range for various applications, including safety and decorative uses.

Innovation Solution

The development of phosphor and fluorescent compositions that combine long-persistent phosphors with fluorescent pigments, allowing them to emit and fluoresce radiation in the same range of wavelengths, enabling consistent coloration in different lighting conditions, and can be applied to various materials and surfaces for diverse applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If phosphorescent materials are used to provide emission in darkness, then visibility in dark environments is improved, but coloration consistency between ambient lighting and darkness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility in dark environmentsVSAvoidcoloration consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines phosphorescent materials (for dark emission) with fluorescent pigments (for ambient light reflection) into a single composite material. This merging allows the material to exhibit both phosphorescence in darkness and fluorescent reflection in ambient light, maintaining color consistency across different lighting conditions while providing visibility in dark environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material comprising both phosphorescent and fluorescent components. The phosphorescent portion provides sustained emission in darkness, while the fluorescent portion reflects ambient light to match the perceived color. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating multiple material types with complementary optical properties into a unified composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If phosphorescent materials are used to provide persistent emission, then duration of action is improved, but color matching between light and dark conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersistence timeVSAvoidcolor matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges phosphorescent materials (providing persistent emission) with fluorescent pigments (providing color matching in ambient light) into a single composite material. This combination allows the material to maintain its perceived color in both ambient lighting and darkness, while the phosphorescent component ensures long persistence time for visibility in dark environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the color-changing properties of fluorescent pigments to match the emission color of phosphorescent materials under ambient light conditions. The fluorescent component is selected to reflect or emit light in the same wavelength range as the phosphorescent material, ensuring color consistency across different lighting conditions while maintaining long persistence time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate phosphorescent and fluorescent materials are used, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidmaterial composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate phosphorescent and fluorescent materials into a single integrated composite material. This unified composition provides both phosphorescent emission and fluorescent reflection functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate material layers or components. The result is a simplified application process and single-step manufacturing while maintaining the functional versatility of both material types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both phosphorescent and fluorescent properties into a single material system. This universal material can be applied in a single coating or treatment step to provide both ambient light reflection and dark emission functions, reducing the complexity of applying multiple separate materials while maintaining broad functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

These compositions provide consistent coloration in both light and dark environments, enhancing visibility and utility in safety, decorative, and informational applications, with adjustable formulations to suit specific uses.

Implementation Method 1

a phosphor that emits radiation in a first range of wavelengths

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Implementation Method 2

a fluorescent pigment that fluoresces radiation in a second range of wavelengths

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS8236199B2Phosphorescent/fluorescent compositions and methods
Publication Date: 2012.08.07 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

AI summary

Phosphor and fluorescent compositions and methods of producing them are provided.