# US 10,871,644 B2 · Enhancement of output of optically pumped phosphor by use of surface nanostructures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,644 B2 - Document ID: US10871644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/542,912 - Filed: 2019-08-16 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-12 - Assignees: Materion Corporation - Applicants: Materion Corporation - Inventors: Robert Sprague; Michael P. Newell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871644B2 ## CPC - G02B 26/008: {in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels} - B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material} - B29C 45/372: {provided with means for marking or patterning, e.g. numbering articles} - C09K 11/025: {non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media} - C09K 11/08: containing inorganic luminescent materials - F21V 7/30: the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances - F21V 9/38: Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials - F21V 9/45: by adjustment of photoluminescent elements - F21V 13/08: the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors - G02B 1/118: having sub-optical wavelength surface structures designed to provide an enhanced transmittance, e.g. moth-eye structures - H04N 9/3111: {for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources (sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08)} - H04N 9/3158: {for controlling the spectrum} - H04N 9/3161: {using laser light sources (using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129)} - B29K 2083/00: Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material - B29K 2995/0035: Fluorescent - G02B 2207/113: Fluorescence - G03B 21/204: {using secondary light emission, e.g. luminescence or fluorescence (using different colours G03B33/00; if related to video signals H04N9/3197)} - G03B 33/08: Sequential recording or projection (G03B33/02, G03B33/04, G03B33/06 take precedence) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract Phosphor elements comprising phosphors in a host material having a phosphorescence-emitting surface with surface nanostructures are disclosed. Phosphor wheels having such phosphor elements, methods of making such phosphor elements, and methods of using such phosphor elements are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phosphor element comprising: a host material defining the shape of the phosphor element; and one or more phosphors dispersed in the host material that emit phosphorescence in response to an optical pump beam; wherein the phosphor element has a phosphorescence-emitting surface with surface nanostructures which do not comprise the host material; and wherein the surface nanostructures have a lateral dimension Tx along an x-direction which is a statistical average spacing between adjacent surface nanostructures along the x-direction and a lateral dimension Ty along a y-direction which is a statistical average spacing between adjacent surface nanostructures along the y-direction, wherein the x-direction and the y-direction are mutually orthogonal and the lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are different, and wherein the different lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are effective to lead to optical emission anisotropy in the phosphorescence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the surface nanostructures comprise a membrane made of a different material from the host material and attached to the phosphorescence-emitting surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the surface nanostructures are laterally periodic in the x- and y-directions over the phosphorescence-emitting surface and the lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are the periodicity of the surface nanostructures in the x- and y-directions, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the surface nanostructures are non-periodically distributed in the x- and y-directions over the phosphorescence-emitting surface and the lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are the statistical average spacing between adjacent surface nanostructures in the x- and y-directions, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the surface nanostructures are frustoconical surface nanostructures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the surface nanostructures are rounded bump surface nanostructures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the surface nanostructures are tapered conical surface nanostructures. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein no anti-reflection coating is disposed on the phosphorescence-emitting surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The phosphor element of claim 1, wherein the host material is silicone or a transparent or translucent thermoplastic resin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A phosphor wheel device comprising: a wheel having a central axis via which the wheel is rotatable; and a phosphor element as set forth in claim 1 disposed along a rim of the wheel and secured to the wheel. ### Claim 11 A phosphor element comprising: a host material defining the shape of the phosphor element; and one or more phosphors dispersed in the host material that emit phosphorescence in response to an optical pump beam; wherein the phosphor element has a phosphorescence-emitting surface with surface nanostructures having a lateral dimension Tx along an x-direction which is a statistical average spacing between adjacent surface nanostructures along the x-direction and a lateral dimension Ty along a y-direction which is a statistical average spacing between adjacent surface nanostructures along the y-direction, wherein the x-direction and the y-direction are mutually orthogonal, the lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are different and the different lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are effective to lead to optical emission anisotropy in the phosphorescence. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The phosphor element of claim 11, wherein the surface nanostructures are frustoconical surface nanostructures. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The phosphor element of claim 11, wherein the surface nanostructures are rounded bump surface nanostructures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The phosphor element of claim 11, wherein the surface nanostructures are laterally periodic in the x- and y-directions over the phosphorescence-emitting surface and the lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are the periodicity of the surface nanostructures in the x- and y-directions, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The phosphor element of claim 11, wherein the surface nanostructures are non-periodically distributed in the x- and y-directions over the phosphorescence-emitting surface and the lateral dimensions Tx and Ty are the statistical average spacing between adjacent surface nanostructures in the x- and y-directions, respectively. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A phosphor wheel device comprising: a wheel having a central axis via which the wheel is rotatable; and a phosphor element as set forth in claim 11 disposed along a rim of the wheel and secured to the wheel.