Waveguide based light source

Abstract

A wave guide based light source having a phosphor film with a large two-dimensional extent and a small thickness. The phosphor film is excited by an excitation means.

1 . An apparatus for generating light, comprising: 
 a substrate including a waveguide pattern thereon;    a phosphor deposited upon said substrate that forms a waveguide that matches the waveguide pattern, said waveguide having a substantially planar shape and further having a waveguide direction within the plane of the waveguide and an exit region at an end of the waveguide direction; and    wherein the phosphor can receive excitation energy from an excitation source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide, and can generate light within the phosphor, wherein the light travels in the waveguide direction and exits the waveguide at the exit region.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said waveguide pattern comprises a spiral and said waveguide direction is a spiral direction.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said waveguide pattern comprises multiple spirals configured about the same center.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said excitation source is an electron beam.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said excitation source is incident light.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said excitation source is an alternating electric field.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the dimensions of the waveguide is of the order of a wavelength of the generated light.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein mirrors are placed on one or more sides of the waveguide.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a plurality of waveguides, each of which are used within a display to form a display pixel at their respective exit regions.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for generating light for use in video display, comprising: 
 one or more substrates including a waveguide pattern or patterns thereon;    one or more phosphors deposited upon said substrates and forming waveguides that matches the waveguide patterns, said waveguides each having a substantially planar shape and further having a waveguide direction within the plane of the waveguide and an exit region at an end of the waveguide direction;    wherein the phosphors can receive excitation energy from an excitation source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planes of the waveguides, and can generate light within the phosphor, wherein the light travels in the waveguide direction and exits the waveguide at the exit region; and    wherein the output of each waveguide is used to form a display pixel at its respective exit region for use within a video display.    
     
     
         11 . A method of generating light, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate including a waveguide pattern thereon;    providing a phosphor deposited upon said substrate that forms a waveguide that matches the waveguide pattern, said waveguide having a substantially planar shape and further having a waveguide direction within the plane of the waveguide and an exit region at an end of the waveguide direction; and    receiving excitation energy at the phosphor from an excitation source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide, and generating light within the phosphor, wherein the light travels in the waveguide direction and exits the waveguide at the exit region.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said waveguide pattern comprises a spiral and said waveguide direction is a spiral direction.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said waveguide pattern comprises multiple spirals configured about the same center.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said excitation source is an electron beam.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said excitation source is incident light.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said excitation source is an alternating electric field.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the dimensions of the waveguide is of the order of a wavelength of the generated light.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein mirrors are placed on one or more sides of the waveguide.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  including a plurality of waveguides, each of which are used within a display to form a display pixel at their respective exit regions.