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US5260625A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Color sequential illumination system

Assignee: Central Research Laboratories Ltd
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Filing: 1991-10-10
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2011-10-10
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Abstract

Abstract A colour sequential illumination system, such as, for example, a backlighting system for a liquid crystal display (LCD), comprises lamps (1) for emitting blue, red and green light. The red and green light is provided by lamps (1) including fluorescent dyes having optical decay times similar to a phosphor material (4) used to provide the blue light. In this manner, the blue, red and green emissions can be fully synchronised with electrical signals used to energise the lamps, enhancing colour range and colour quality. Furthermore, if the fluorescent dyes are carried in plastics materials (10), then trapping and concentration of the light generated may also be achieved, providing enhanced brightness for the LCD for a given power input. <IMAGE>

Inventors

  • 👤 John G. Holden
  • 👤 Ian A. Shanks
  • 👤 Andrew N. Carrington

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:08
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/06; F; F21; F21K; F21K2/00; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0003; H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/38; H01J61/42; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133621; G02F1/133622

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A colour sequential illumination system comprising: a plurality of illumination means for generating light of respective colour characteristics; each illumination means including a phosphor for producing light by excitation thereof; at least one illumination means further including organic fluorescent material for receiving light emitted by the phosphor and emitting in response light having a respective colour characteristic, the or each organic fluorescent material having an optical decay time which is of substantially less duration than the optical decay time of a phosphor material possessing a corresponding colour characteristic, whereby all illumination means of the plurality have substantially equal optical decay times.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 101 words
A colour sequential illumination system comprising: a plurality of illumination means for generating light of respective colour characteristics; each illumination means including a phosphor for producing light by excitation thereof; at least one illumination means further including organic fluorescent material for receiving light emitted by the phosphor and emitting in response light having a respective colour characteristic, the or each organic fluorescent material having an optical decay time which is of substantially less duration than the optical decay time of a phosphor material possessing a corresponding colour characteristic, whereby all illumination means of the plurality have substantially equal optical decay times.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the organic fluorescent material comprises a dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the organic fluorescent material comprises a plastics material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the illumination means includes a gas discharge tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the illumination means includes an arc lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the colour characteristic is red.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the colour characteristic is green.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical decay time is less than 0.1 milliseconds.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4001628A Cited
GB1574619A Cited
US4099090A Cited
US4469980A Cited
US4870484A Cited
AU4425685A Cited
FR2578954A1 Cited
GB2198867A Cited
US5143438A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-11-08 1997-05-10 1997-11-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-11-08 2001-05-10 2001-11-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-11-08 2005-05-10 2005-11-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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