Photo-luminescent visual elements, systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964675-B2
Application number	US-201715586425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of photo-luminescent display systems and photo-luminescent visual elements creating eye-catching displays of visual advertising or marketing messages that are very effective at generating interest, engagement, and loyalty in the viewing public. Photo-luminescent pigment containing visual elements are illuminated by one or more remotely located emitters at a first wavelength that is outside the human visual spectrum. In response, the visual elements then radiate at one or more wavelengths within the human visual spectrum. Additional features control unwanted reflections and unwanted transmission of radiation at the first wavelength. Additional features control the uniformity of radiation of one or more wavelengths within the human visual spectrum.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A photo-luminescent visual element comprising:
a) a photo-luminescent pigment coupled to a planar substrate, said photo-luminescent pigment operative to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength and, in response, emit an outgoing electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength that is within the human visible spectrum; further characterized in that an obverse portion of said outgoing electromagnetic radiation and a reverse portion of said outgoing electromagnetic radiation are emitted from opposite sides of said planar substrate;
b) the photo-luminescent visual element further characterized in that the brightness at said second wavelength of said obverse portion and said reverse portion differ by no more than about 30% or less.

2. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 1 in which the difference in brightness between said obverse portion and said reverse portion is about 20% or less.

3. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 1 in which the difference in brightness between said obverse portion and said reverse portion is about 10% or less.

4. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 1 in which the difference in brightness between said obverse portion and said reverse portion is about 5% or less.

5. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 1 further characterized in that:
a) the first wavelength is about 400 nanometers or less; and,
b) the second wavelength is greater than the first wavelength and less than about 700 nanometers.

6. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of photo-luminescent pigment regions arranged in a planar configuration and coupled to said planar substrate; each photo-luminescent pigment region operative to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength of about 400 nanometers or less, and, in response, emit outgoing electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength greater than said first wavelength and less than about 700 nanometers.

7. A photo-luminescent visual element comprising:
a) a planar substrate having both a viewing side and a pigment side;
b) a photo-luminescent pigment coupled to said planar substrate proximate to said pigment side; said photo-luminescent pigment operative to receive an incoming electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength and, in response, emit an outgoing electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength;
c) said planar substrate shaped such that at least a portion of said outgoing electromagnetic radiation passes through said viewing side;
d) said planar substrate further characterized in that it is substantially transparent to said second wavelength; the planar substrate further characterized in that it is, at least, partially opaque to said first wavelength;
e) said first wavelength further characterized in that it is smaller than about 400 nanometers;
f) said second wavelength further characterized in that it is greater than said first wavelength and less than about 700 nanometers.

8. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 7 further characterized in that:
a) the photo-luminescent pigment is dispersed in a substantially rigid binder, the binder being coupled to said pigment side of said planar substrate;
b) said binder further characterized in that it is at least partially transparent to said first wavelength and at least partially transparent to said second wavelength;
c) said binder shaped into an object having a first planar surface through which said incoming electromagnetic radiation passes and a second planar surface through which a portion of said outgoing electromagnetic radiation passes.

9. A photo-luminescent visual element comprising:
a) a planar substrate having at least one substrate edge adapted to accept an incoming electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength; said planar substrate configured to retain a portion of said incoming electromagnetic radiation by means of total internal reflection within said planar substrate;
b) a plurality of photo-luminescent regions in direct contact with said planar substrate; each photo-luminescent region receiving a portion of said incoming electromagnetic radiation;
c) each of said photo-luminescent regions producing by means of photo-luminescence an outgoing electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength within the visible spectrum;
d) said outgoing electromagnetic radiation having an obverse portion and a reverse portion, each emitted away from opposites sides of said planar substrate;
e) the photo-luminescent visual element further characterized in that the brightness at said second wavelength of said obverse portion and said reverse portion differ by no more about 30% or less.

10. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 9 in which the difference in brightness between said obverse portion and said reverse portion is about 20% or less.

11. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 9 in which the difference in brightness between said obverse portion and said reverse portion is about 10% or less.

12. The photo-luminescent visual element of claim 9 in which the difference in brightness between said obverse portion and said reverse portion is about 5% or less.

Assignees

• Nanolumens Acquisition Inc

Inventors

• Cross Robert J
• Cope Richard C
• Perez-Bravo Jorge
• Feather Gary
• Heske Iii Theodore

Classifications

• G09F13/20 Primary

  with luminescent surfaces or parts (luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00) · CPC title

• G02B5/22 Primary

  Absorbing filters {(G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G09F13/22

  electroluminescent (electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00) · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• G02F1/0126

  Opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam, not otherwise provided for in this subclass · CPC title