US6986581B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light emitting material integrated into a substantially transparent substrate
Assignee: Sun Innovations Inc
•
Filing: 2004-11-03
•
Granted: 2006-01-17
•
Expires: 2024-11-03
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with embodiments, viewable images can be created in glass. Viewable images may be created in glass by using a projector which projects ultraviolet light to excite light emitting material. Clear images may be created in glass because the size the light emitting particles in the glass is less than 400 nanometers. In embodiments, the visible illumination of a transparent substrate to display an image is possible, while the transparent substrate remains transparent. Accordingly, for example, drivers of automobiles may view images (e.g. map images) on their windshield while they are driving. As another example, window shoppers may view enhanced advertisements in the windows of stores that they are approaching.
Inventors
- 👤 Xiao-Dong Sun
- 👤 Jian-Qiang Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/54; G03B21/56; G03B21/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus comprising light emitting material integrated into a substantially transparent substrate, wherein the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light from a projector, wherein the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles, and wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 400 nanometers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus comprising light emitting material integrated into a substantially transparent substrate, wherein the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light from a projector, wherein the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles, and wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 400 nanometers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the projector is configured to output multiple sections of an image at the same time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the projector is a digital projector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the digital projector is a micro-mirror array projector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the micro-mirror array projector is a digital light processing projector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the digital projector is a liquid crystal display projector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the digital projector is a liquid crystal on silicon projector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the projector is an analog projector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting material is fluorescent material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 300 nanometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 200 nanometers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 100 nanometers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles is an individual molecule.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit red light comprise Europium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit green light comprise Terbium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit blue light or yellow light comprise Cerium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit blue light comprise Erbium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit blue light are comprised in an organic fluorescent dye.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting material comprises: a first material which emits a first visible color; and a second material which emits a second visible color, which is different from the first visible color.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein: the first material is integrated into a first region of the substantially transparent substrate; and the second material is integrated into a second region of the substantially transparent substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the first region and the second region are pixels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the pixels are formed in stripes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the pixels are formed in a matrix.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein: the first visible color is emitted according to selective projection of ultraviolet light on the first region by the projector, and the second visible color is emitted according to selective projection of ultraviolet light on the second region by the projector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the light emitting material comprises a third material which emits a third visible color, which is different from the first visible color and the second visible color.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the first visible color, the second visible color, and the third visible color are primary colors.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein a fourth color is emitted by a combination of substantially simultaneous selective projection of ultraviolet light on the first region and the second region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the fourth color is a non-primary color.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus comprising light emitting material integrated into a substantially transparent substrate, wherein: the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light; the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles; and each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 400 nanometers.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus comprising light emitting material integrated into a substantially transparent substrate, wherein: the light emitting material is configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light; the light emitting material comprises a plurality of light emitting particles; and each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 400 nanometers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 300 nanometers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 200 nanometers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles has a diameter less than about 100 nanometers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitting particles is an individual molecule.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles are fluorescent material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit red light comprise Europium.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit green light comprise Terbium.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit blue light or yellow light comprise Cerium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit blue light comprise Erbium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of light emitting particles which emit blue light are comprised in an organic fluorescent dye.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the light emitting material comprises: a first material which emits a first visible color; and a second material which emits a second visible color, which is different from the first visible color.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein: the first material is integrated into a first region of the substantially transparent substrate; and the second material is integrated into a second region of the substantially transparent substrate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the first region and the second region are pixels.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the pixels are formed in stripes.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the pixels are formed in a matrix.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the pixels are configured to emit visible light in response to absorption of ultraviolet light from a beam of ultraviolet light.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the beam of ultraviolet light is from a laser apparatus which emits ultraviolet light.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the pixels are configured to selectively emit visible light in response to spatial modulation of the beam of ultraviolet light.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the pixels are configured to selectively emit visible light in response to intensity modulation of the beam of ultraviolet light.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein: the first visible color is emitted according to selective projection of ultraviolet light on the first region; and the second visible color is emitted according to selective projection of ultraviolet light on the second region.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the light emitting material comprises a third material which emits a third visible color, which is different from the first visible color and the second visible color.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein the first visible color, the second visible color, and the third visible color are primary colors.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein a fourth color is emitted by a combination of substantially simultaneous selective projection of ultraviolet light on the first region and the second region.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 52 , wherein the fourth color is a non-primary color.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the light emitting material is homogeneously integrated into the substantially transparent substrate.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 54 , wherein the ultraviolet light is intensity modulated to emit substantially monochromatic light from the substantially transparent substrate at different intensities.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 55 , wherein the ultraviolet light is output from a broad-band UV projector.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the ultraviolet light originates from a projector.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 57 , wherein the projector is configured to output multiple sections of an image at the same time.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 57 , wherein the projector is a digital projector.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein the digital projector is a micro-mirror array projector.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 60 , wherein the micro-mirror array projector is a digital light processing projector.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein the digital projector is a liquid crystal display projector.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein the digital projector is a liquid crystal on silicon projector.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 57 , wherein the projector is an analog projector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-07-18 | 2010-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-16 | 2013-07-18 | 2014-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-16 | 2017-07-18 | 2018-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |