Nanoparticle optical storage apparatus and methods of making and using same
AssigneeNomadics, Inc.
InventorWei Chen
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Abstract
The present invention relates in general to nanoparticles exhibiting luminescence such as photostimulated luminescence or photoluminescence and optical switching processes based upon such properties, in more particular, the use of such photostimulated luminescence exhibiting nanoparticles and switching nanoparticle for optical storage apparatuses and sensors as well as methods of making and using same.
Claims21
An imaging plate for use in a digital imaging system to store energy patterns, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- a nanoparticle thin film supported by the substrate, the nanoparticle thin film formed of nanoparticles which cooperate to store energy that is indicative of latent images when the nanoparticles are exposed to such energy.
A method for converting energy patterns into digital signals, comprising the steps of:
- exposing an imaging plate having a nanoparticle thin film supported by a substrate to an energy pattern, the nanoparticle thin film formed of photostimulated luminescence nanoparticles which cooperate to store energy that is indicative of the energy pattern;
- optically stimulating the photostimulated luminescence nanoparticles in the thin film and thereby releasing the stored energy causing photostimulated luminescence;
- and
- converting the photostimulated luminescence into at least one digital signal indicative of the stored energy.
A method for converting energy patterns into digital signals, comprising the steps of:
- exposing an imaging plate having a nanoparticle array thin film supported by a substrate to an energy pattern, the nanoparticle thin film formed of nanoparticles which cooperate to store energy that is indicative of the energy pattern, wherein the nanoparticles are switchable between a first energy state and at least one additional energy state where light emitted from the nanoparticles in the first state is different from the light emitted from the nanoparticles in the at least one additional energy state;
- optically probing the nanoparticles by directing light of a predetermined energy onto at least a portion of the nanoparticle thin film so as to cause nanoparticles exposed to the probe to provide signals;
- receiving the signals utilizing a detector;
- and
- converting the signals output by the nanoparticles into at least one digital signal indicative of the energy pattern.
An imaging plate for use in a digital imaging system to store energy patterns, comprising:
- a matrix;
- a nanoparticle array operatively associated with the matrix, the nanoparticle array formed of nanoparticles which cooperate to store energy that is indicative of latent images when the nanoparticles are exposed to such energy;
- and
- a cover assembly positioned substantially adjacent to the nanoparticle array, wherein the cover assembly only allows passage of predetermined light energies to and from the imaging plate.
An imaging plate for use in a digital imaging system to store energy patterns, comprising:
- a matrix;
- a nanoparticle array operatively associated with the matrix, the nanoparticle array formed of nanoparticles which cooperate to store energy that is indicative of latent images when the nanoparticles are exposed to such energy, wherein the nanoparticle array is applied to an exterior surface of the matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.