Shaped selective thermal emitter
OwnerRobert A Marshallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A geometrically shaped photonic crystal structure consisting of alternating layers of thin films is heated to emit light. The structure may include index matching layers or a cavity layer to enhance emissions. The layer thicknesses of the structure may be spatially varied to modify the emission spectrum versus emission angle. The self-focusing structure may be fabricated into a convex electrically heated wire filament light bulb, a concave visible thermophotovoltaic emitter, a concentric directional heat exchanger, an electronic display, or a variety of irregularly shaped remotely read temperature or strain sensors.
Claims29
A structure including:
- a topographically-varied substrate;
- a multitude of thin film layers directly deposited on top of said substrate;
- where said layers are of alternating high and low dielectric function;
- said structure is thermally heated to emit light at visible wavelengths.
A means to generate wavelength selective thermal emissions including:
- a topographically-varied substrate;
- a multitude of periods of thin film layers possessing contrasting dielectric functions directly contacting said substrate;
- where said structure is heated to visibly incandesce.
A method of fabricating wavelength selective thermal emitters utilizing periodic dielectric structures on non-planar substrates including:
- a shaped substrate;
- fabricating a periodic stack of thin films of alternating high and low dielectric function directly on top of said substrate;
- and
- heating said substrate to visibly incandesce.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.