US 10,761,250 B2Granted

Photo-luminescent visual elements, systems and methods

AssigneeNanolumens Acquistion, Inc.

InventorsRobert J. Cross, Richard C. Cope, Jorge Perez-Bravo, Gary Feather, Theodore Heske, III

Life of this patent

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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.

Claims17

Dependent claims

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;
b) a second photo-luminescent pigment coupled to said planar substrate, said second photo-luminescent pigment operative to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at said first wavelength and, in response, emit an outgoing electromagnetic radiation at a third wavelength that is within the human visible spectrum;
c) a third photo-luminescent pigment coupled to said planar substrate, said third photo-luminescent pigment operative to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at said first wavelength and, in response, emit an outgoing electromagnetic radiation at a fourth wavelength that is within the human visible spectrum;
d) said planar substrate at least partially transparent to each of:
said second wavelength;
said third wavelength;
and, said fourth wavelength;
e) further characterized in that the outgoing electromagnetic radiation at said second wavelength comprises both an obverse portion and a reverse portion, the brightness of said obverse portion differing from the brightness of said reverse portion by no more than about 30% or less.

5 more elements

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) a first portion of said photo-luminescent regions producing by means of photo-luminescence an outgoing electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength within the human visible spectrum;
d) a second portion of said photo-luminescent regions producing by means of photo-luminescence an outgoing electromagnetic radiation having a third wavelength within the human visible spectrum;
e) a third portion of said photo-luminescent regions producing by means of photo-luminescence an outgoing electromagnetic radiation having a fourth wavelength within the human visible spectrum;
f) said outgoing electromagnetic radiation at said second wavelength comprising an obverse portion and a reverse portion, each emitted away from opposites sides of said planar substrate;
g) 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.

6 more elements

A photo-luminescent visual element comprising:

a) a planar substrate having both a viewing side and a pigment side;
b) a first photo-luminescent pigment coupled to said planar substrate proximate to said pigment side;
said first 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 that is within the human visible spectrum;
c) a second photo-luminescent pigment coupled to said planar substrate proximate to said pigment side, said second photo-luminescent pigment operative to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at said first wavelength and, in response, emit an outgoing electromagnetic radiation at a third wavelength that is within the human visible spectrum;
d) a third photo-luminescent pigment coupled to said planar substrate proximate to said pigment side, said third photo-luminescent pigment operative to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at said first wavelength and, in response, emit an outgoing electromagnetic radiation at a fourth wavelength that is within the human visible spectrum;
e) said planar substrate shaped such that at least a portion of said outgoing electromagnetic radiation passes through said viewing side;
f) 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;
g) said first wavelength further characterized in that it is smaller than about 400 nanometers;
h) said second wavelength further characterized in that it is greater than said first wavelength and less than about 700 nanometers.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/972,833Filed 7 May 2018 · continuation
Priority: 26 Jan 2015
Published: US 2018/0252851 A16 Sep 2018
Granted: 1 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G02B 5/22
Filters: absorbing filters
G02F 1/0126
For the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour: opto-optical modulation, i.e. control of one light beam by another light beam,…
G09F 13/20
Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising: with luminescent surfaces or parts
G09F 13/22
With luminescent surfaces or parts: electroluminescent

Family

Application62/107,573Us provisional application · filed 26 Jan 2015
Application15/004,310Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Jan 2016
Application15/586,425Parent of this continuation · filed 4 May 2017
US 2018/0252851 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Sep 2018
US 9,964,675 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,651,724 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0216417 A1Published application
US 2017/0235033 A1Published application
US 10,761,250 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.