Structured Phosphor Pixel Arrays for Low Crosstalk Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser-based and phosphor-pumped lighting systems face challenges with lateral spreading of emitted light in phosphor materials, leading to diffuse spots and crosstalk between adjacent pixels in projection display devices, which limits their application and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Structured phosphor devices with pixelated arrays and boundary regions are developed to minimize cross-talk, featuring surface treatments and substrates, along with methods for fabricating these devices to enhance light emission and image projection capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional phosphor materials are used in laser-based lighting systems, then high power efficiency and coherence are achieved, but lateral spreading of emitted light occurs leading to diffuse spots and crosstalk between adjacent pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphor material is divided into an array of pixel regions separated by boundary regions. Each pixel region can be independently addressed by the laser beam, preventing lateral spreading from affecting adjacent regions. This segmentation maintains the high power efficiency of phosphor materials while eliminating the crosstalk and diffuse spots problem.
Solution Approach 2:
Boundary regions with different optical properties are introduced between pixel regions. These boundary regions have specific characteristics (such as different refractive indices or absorption properties) that confine the emitted light within each pixel region, thereby improving light directionality locally without affecting the overall efficiency of the phosphor material.
2Illumination intensity
If laser-based phosphor-pumped lighting systems are used for dynamic lighting, then high beam quality with low divergence is achieved, but crosstalk between adjacent pixels limits application and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphor device is structured as an array of discrete pixel regions separated by boundary regions. This segmentation allows each pixel to be independently controlled and prevents light from one pixel from spreading into adjacent pixels, thereby eliminating crosstalk while maintaining the high beam quality and low divergence characteristics of laser-based systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If pixelated phosphor devices are created to reduce cross-talk, then light directionality and image projection quality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphor material is segmented into pixel regions that can be formed using standard semiconductor fabrication techniques such as photolithography and etching. This approach maintains manufacturing precision for light directionality while keeping device complexity manageable by using established fabrication processes rather than requiring entirely new manufacturing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
Boundary regions are introduced as intermediary structures between pixel regions. These boundary regions serve as optical barriers that confine light within each pixel, improving light directionality without requiring complex active control mechanisms. The boundary regions act as passive mediators that simplify the overall device complexity while achieving the desired optical performance.
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
The structured phosphor devices effectively reduce light cross-talk and enhance image projection quality by independently addressing pixel regions, resulting in improved beam directionality and color accuracy for dynamic lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
phosphor material that generates white or colored light
Implementation Method 2
a surface treatment applied to the first surface of the phosphor
Implementation Method 3
The boundary regions are configured to limit the cross-talk of the laser light beam between the one or more addressed pixel regions and adjacent pixel regions
Data Source
AI summary
A structured phosphor device includes a frame member that includes wall regions separating multiple openings of window regions. Further, the structured phosphor device includes a phosphor material filled in each of the multiple openings with a first surface thereof being exposed to an excitation light from one or more laser sources to generate an emitted light out of each window region. Additionally, the structured phosphor device includes an anti-reflective film overlying the first surface of the phosphor material. Furthermore, the structured phosphor device includes a substrate attached to a second surface of the phosphor material in each of the multiple openings. Alternatively, the structured phosphor device includes an array of phosphor pixels dividing a plate of single-crystalline or poly-crystalline phosphor material separated by optically reflective and thermally conductive walls. A dynamic lighting system based on the arrays of phosphor pixels for single or full color image projection is also disclosed.