Optical device with anisotropic luminescent material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices for light absorption and guidance are complex in construction and lack control over light absorption by luminescent materials, requiring multiple layers and laborious mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An optical device with a switchable layer comprising anisotropic luminescent material that can be aligned using electrical signals or light intensity, integrated with a light guiding system and energy-converting means, allowing for controlled light absorption and emission without additional layers, enabling a compact and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple layers are used for light absorbing and guiding, then light absorption and guidance functions are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light absorbing function and light guiding function into a single integrated layer structure. The luminescent material layer serves dual purposes: absorbing incident light and guiding the emitted luminescence through total internal reflection, eliminating the need for separate absorbing and guiding layers while maintaining both functions effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The single layer containing luminescent material is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: light absorption, light emission, and light guidance. This multi-functional layer replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate layers, simplifying the overall device structure while achieving the same optical performance
2Reliability
If additional layers are added for luminescent material, then light absorption is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the luminescent material directly into the existing layer structure rather than adding a separate dedicated luminescent layer. This merging approach maintains high light absorption efficiency while reducing the number of manufacturing steps and material deposition processes required
Solution Approach 2:
The layer containing luminescent material serves multiple purposes in the device architecture, acting as both the light-absorbing element and part of the light-guiding structure. This multi-functionality reduces the total material and layer count, simplifying manufacturing procedures and reducing production costs
3Adaptability or versatility
If light absorption by luminescent material is not controllable, then device functionality is limited, but adding control mechanisms increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a switchable layer that can dynamically change its optical properties in response to external stimuli such as electrical voltage or light intensity. This dynamic control allows the luminescent material's light absorption characteristics to be adjusted without requiring complex mechanical control mechanisms, achieving adaptability through material response to simple control signals
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 solution provides a reliable, compact, and cost-effective optical device with controlled light absorption and guidance, enhancing efficiency and simplicity by using a single switchable layer with anisotropic luminescent material and a light guiding system in physical contact with an energy-converting system.
Implementation Method 1
the luminescent material exhibits anisotropic properties... the anisotropic properties of the luminescent material result in a controllable absorption rate
Implementation Method 2
Light emitted by the fluorescent layer is guided via total internal reflection to a photovoltaic cell
Implementation Method 3
a light guiding system... guides the light to a photovoltaic cell
Data Source
Figure 1A~3
Figure 1B~2B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An optical device (1) is provided. The optical device comprising a switenable layer (2) at least one alignment layer (6) a light guiding system (5), whereas the switchable layer (2) comprises a luminescent material (3) for absorbing and emitting light, whereby the alignment of the luminescent material (3) is changeable and the light guiding system (5) guides the emitted light, whereby the switchable layer (2) is in contact with the at least one alignment layer (6) and the luminescent material (3) exhibits anisotropic properties, whereby the optical device (1) comprises a light energy-converting means (7), wherein the light guiding system (5) is in physical contact with the energy converting means (7).