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US 9,295,855 B2Granted
Ambient spectrum light conversion device
OwnerGary W. Jones, Susan K. Schwartz Jonesinventors
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OwnerGary W. Jones, Susan K. Schwartz Jonesinventors
Estimating the term…
Apparatus and methods to enhance light intensity within useful red to near-infrared spectral ranges, using direct or indirect sunlight, or from other ambient white light, are described. The disclosed devices provide high quantum yield photoluminescent ambient light spectrum conversion to increase the supplied energy primarily in the 590 nm-850 nm spectral range. These devices also pass much of the incident light in the spectral range in which the device's photoluminescent materials emit light, thereby greatly increasing the effective intensity of light available in the targeted 590-850 nm wavelength range. The ambient light conversion devices of the disclosure may be incorporated in apparel, bandage-like patches, converting reflectors, large area converters, awnings, window covers, and other articles, materials, and products. The converted light may be used in therapeutic treatments, horticultural and biotechnological applications, and other applications in which the converted light outputs of the present disclosure are beneficial.
A high quantum yield (QY) photoluminescent light spectrum conversion device for absorbing and converting sunlight or other available ambient light to a modified light spectrum output that contains 75% or more of its output radiant light spectrum in the over-580 nm red, near-infrared and/or infrared wavelength range, the device comprising two or more photoluminescent conversion materials that collectively absorb over 60% of normal angle ambient light that has entered the device in the 350 nm to 580 nm spectral range, and wherein the modified light spectrum output light emitted from within the device provides 75% or more of its output radiant light power in the 580 nm-850 nm spectral range, wherein the photoluminescent conversion materials are selected from the group consisting of dyes, phosphors, quantum dots, and photonic structures, wherein the device comprises one or more layers that are transmissive of at least 40% of normal angle ambient light in a spectral range of over 600 nm that has entered the device, and wherein the device does not utilize any electrical power supply for the production of the modified light spectrum output, the device further comprising an optical filter that is over 50% transmissive to normal angle ambient light in most of the red or near infrared spectral range that has entered the device, so that ambient red and near-IR light is added to the spectrum converted light and constitutes a portion of the output radiant light spectrum to the targeted surfaces.
A high quantum yield (QY) photoluminescent light spectrum conversion device for absorbing and converting sunlight or other available ambient light to a modified light spectrum output that contains 75% or more of its output radiant light spectrum in the over-580 nm red, near-infrared and/or infrared wavelength range, the device comprising two or more photoluminescent conversion materials that collectively absorb over 60% of normal angle ambient light that has entered the device in the 350 nm to 580 nm spectral range, and wherein the modified light spectrum output light emitted from within the device provides 75% or more of its output radiant light power in the 580 nm-850 nm spectral range, wherein the photoluminescent conversion materials are selected from the group consisting of dyes, phosphors, quantum dots, and photonic structures, wherein the device comprises one or more layers that are transmissive of at least 40% of normal angle ambient light in a spectral range of over 600 nm that has entered the device, and wherein the device does not utilize any electrical power supply for the production of the modified light spectrum output, wherein the photoluminescent conversion materials comprise three or more of the following layers or mixtures or high efficiency photoluminescent materials including:
A high quantum yield (QY) photoluminescent light spectrum conversion device for absorbing and converting sunlight or other available ambient light to a modified light spectrum output that contains 75% or more of its output radiant light spectrum in the over-580 nm red, near-infrared and/or infrared wavelength range, the device comprising two or more photoluminescent conversion materials that collectively absorb over 60% of normal angle ambient light that has entered the device in the 350 nm to 580 nm spectral range, and wherein the modified light spectrum output light emitted from within the device provides 75% or more of its output radiant light power in the 580 nm-850 nm spectral range, wherein the photoluminescent conversion materials are selected from the group consisting of dyes, phosphors, quantum dots, and photonic structures, wherein the device comprises one or more layers that are transmissive of at least 40% of normal angle ambient light in a spectral range of over 600 nm that has entered the device, and wherein the device does not utilize any electrical power supply for the production of the modified light spectrum output, further comprising a monitoring material that upon a predetermined exposure to ambient light or spectral region(s) thereof changes optical density and/or color to provide a visually discernible indication of status and/or completion of light dosage from the device.
A high quantum yield (QY) photoluminescent light spectrum conversion device for absorbing and converting sunlight or other available ambient light to a modified light spectrum output that contains 75% or more of its output radiant light spectrum in the over-580 nm red, near-infrared and/or infrared wavelength range, the device comprising two or more photoluminescent conversion materials that collectively absorb over 60% of normal angle ambient light that has entered the device in the 350 nm to 580 nm spectral range, and wherein the modified light spectrum output light emitted from within the device provides 75% or more of its output radiant light power in the 580 nm-850 nm spectral range, wherein the photoluminescent conversion materials are selected from the group consisting of dyes, phosphors, quantum dots, and photonic structures, wherein the device comprises one or more layers that are transmissive of at least 40% of normal angle ambient light in a spectral range of over 600 nm that has entered the device, and wherein the device does not utilize any electrical power supply for the production of the modified light spectrum output, further comprising a dose-limiting material that upon a predetermined exposure to ambient light or spectral region(s) thereof changes optical density to provide a predetermined light dosage of the modified light spectrum output of the device.
A method of light therapy treatment of a subject in need thereof, said method comprising generating a modified light spectrum output using a high quantum yield (QY) photoluminescent light spectrum conversion device for absorbing and converting sunlight or other available ambient light to a modified light spectrum output that contains 75% or more of its output radiant light spectrum in the over-580 nm red, near-infrared and/or infrared wavelength range, the device comprising two or more photoluminescent conversion materials that collectively absorb over 60% of normal angle ambient light that has entered the device in the 350 nm to 580 nm spectral range, and wherein the modified light spectrum output light emitted from within the device provides 75% or more of its output radiant light power in the 580 nm-850 nm spectral range, wherein the photoluminescent conversion materials are selected from the group consisting of dyes, phosphors, quantum dots, and photonic structures, wherein the device comprises one or more layers that are transmissive of at least 40% of normal angle ambient light in a spectral range of over 600 nm that has entered the device, and wherein the device does not utilize any electrical power supply for the production of the modified light spectrum output, the device further comprising an optical filter that is over 50% transmissive to normal angle ambient light in most of the red or near infrared spectral range that has entered the device, so that ambient red and near-IR light is added to the spectrum converted light and constitutes a portion of the output radiant light spectrum to the targeted surfaces, and exposing a body region of the subject to the modified light spectrum output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.