A WHITE LIGHT SOURCE AND A METHOD OF WHITE LIGHT GENERATION

Abstract

A source of white light constructed of a vacuum glass chamber, containing an optically active element, a generator of an IR electromagnetic radiation beam equipped with a laser IR diode, a battery, a focusing lens, and, optionally, a reflector characterized in that the optically active element contained in the vacuum chamber is a thin layer graphene matrix with the thickness of up to 3 mm Embodiments also relate to a method of white light generation by the above-mentioned white light source.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A white light source comprising: a vacuum glass chamber containing an optically active element, a generator of an IR electromagnetic radiation beam equipped with a laser IR diode, a battery, a focusing lens, and, optionally, a reflector wherein the optically active element contained in the vacuum chamber is a thin layer graphene matrix with the thickness of up to 3 mm.

9. The white light source according to claim 8, wherein the optically active element is a thin layer graphene matrix in the form of graphene powder, graphene ceramics, or graphene foam.

10. The white light source according to claim 8, wherein after excitation by means of the beam of radiation generated by the laser IR diode, the optically active element emits white light with the color rendering index (CRI) above 96, preferably 98, more preferably 100.

11. The white light source according to claim 8, wherein the radiation generated by the laser IR diode is in the near infrared range with the wavelength of about 800-1200 nm, preferably 808-980 nm.

12. The white light source according to claim 8, wherein the pressure value in the vacuum chamber containing the optically active element is in the range from 10.sup.0 to 10.sup.6 mbar, preferably 10.sup.0 to 10.sup.3 mbar.

13. The method of white light generation by a white light source according to claim 8, wherein an exciting beam with the wavelength in the range of 808-980 nm and the excitation power of 0.3-0.6 W is generated by means of an electromagnetic radiation beam generator, after which the exciting beam is passed through the focusing lens and then directed onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 45-90 in relation to the matrix surface, which, as a result of excitation, emits radiation in the white light range.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the exciting beam is directed onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 90 in relation to the matrix surface, after which the radiation beam in the white light range emitted as a result of graphene matrix excitement is reflected in a reflector which directs the white light beam outside.

Description

[0022] The subject of the invention is shown in the figures, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 a) presents the spectra of a light source emission, where the optically active element is a matrix in the form of graphene foam with the thickness of 3 mm, after excitation by means of electromagnetic wave with the length of 975 nm;

[0024] FIG. 1 b) presents the dependence between emission intensity and excitation power for a light source, where the optically active element is a matrix in the form of graphene foam with the thickness of 3 mm, after excitation by means of electromagnetic wave between 0.4 W-1.6 W;

[0025] FIG. 2 a) presents the spectra of a light source emission, where the optically active element is a matrix in the form of graphene ceramics with the thickness of 3 mm, after excitation by means of electromagnetic wave with the length of 975 nm;

[0026] FIG. 2 b) presents the dependence between emission intensity and excitation power for a light source where the optically active element is a matrix in the form of graphene ceramics with the thickness of 3 mm, after excitation by means of electromagnetic wave between 0.3 W-1.6 W;

[0027] FIG. 3 a) presents the spectra of a light source emission, where the optically active element is a matrix in the form of graphene powder with thickness of 3 mm, after excitation by means of electromagnetic wave with the length of 975 nm;

[0028] FIG. 3 b) presents the dependence between emission intensity and excitation power for a light source where the optically active element is a matrix in the form of graphene powder with the thickness of 3 mm, after excitation by means of electromagnetic wave between 0.1 W-1.6 W;

[0029] FIG. 4 presents the influence of pressure on the emission intensity of graphene foam (a), graphene ceramics (b) and graphene powder (c) as a result of excitation by a focused beam from an infrared diode. Emission intensity drops rapidly when pressure exceeds the value of 10.sup.2-10.sup.0 mbar;

[0030] FIG. 5 presents the construction of a light source according to the invention where the optically active element 2 in the form of graphene material is placed on metal wire 1 inside a vacuum glass chamber 8. The chamber 8 is surrounded by a reflector 3, whose walls are tilted at the angle of 45 in relation to the surface of the optically active element 2. In the lower part of the reflector 3, there is an opening through which the exciting beam of IR electromagnetic radiation is emitted. The generator of the IR electromagnetic radiation beam is an infrared diode 6 placed in a tube 5 powered by a diode battery 7, where the tube 5 is equipped with a lens 4 at one end constituting an exit point of the radiation beam. The exciting electromagnetic IR radiation beam generated by the diode 6 passes through the lens 4, focusing radiation on the optically active element 2, which, as a result of excitation, generates radiation in the white light range. Radiation emission from the optically active element 2 is reflected in a reflector 3, and then it leaves the device.

[0031] FIG. 6 presents a variant of the light source according to the invention, where the optically active element 2 in the form of graphene material is placed on metal wire 1 inside a vacuum glass chamber 8. Next to the chamber 8, a generator of IR electromagnetic radiation beam in the form of an infrared diode 6 put in a tube 5 powered by a diode battery 7 is placed, where the tube 5 is equipped with a lens 4 at one end constituting an exit point of the radiation beam. The tube 5 is directed towards the optically active element 2 in such a way so as to form the angle of 45 with its surface. The exciting IR electromagnetic radiation beam generated by the diode 6 passes through the lens 4, focusing the radiation, and then falls onto the optically active element 2 at the angle of 45, which, as a result of excitation, generates radiation in the white light range.

[0032] The present solution may find its application in the lighting industry. Thanks to its characteristics, including low power consumption (energy efficiency), as well as its spectral characteristics (wide emission range covering the entire visible radiation range), it can replace fluorescent lamps, LED diodes etc. that are currently used.

[0033] The invention is illustrated in more detail in an embodiment that does not limit the scope thereof.

EXAMPLE 1

[0034] An optically active element in the form of graphene powder compressed into a tablet with the thickness of 3 mm is placed in a glass chamber. The distance between the lens and the active element is 3 cm, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber is 10.sup.6 mbar. By means of an IR diode, a beam of electromagnetic radiation with the wavelength of 980 nm is generated and directed by means of a focusing lens onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 45 in relation to the graphene matrix surface. Warm white light with the CRI value of 97 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 2

[0035] An optically active element in the form of graphene powder compressed into a tablet with the thickness of 3 mm is placed in a glass chamber. The distance between the lens and the active element is 3 cm, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber is 10.sup.6 mbar. By means of an IR diode, a beam of electromagnetic radiation with the wavelength of 808 nm is generated and directed by means of a focusing lens onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 45 in relation to the graphene matrix surface. Warm white light with the CRI value of 97 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 3

[0036] An optically active element in the form of graphene ceramics with the thickness of 3 mm is placed in a glass chamber. The distance between the lens and the active element in 3 cm, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber is 10.sup.6 mbar. By means of an IR diode, a beam of electromagnetic radiation with the wavelength of 980 nm is generated and directed by means of a focusing lens onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 45 in relation to the graphene matrix surface. Warm white light with the CRI value of 98 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 4

[0037] An optically active element in the form of graphene ceramics with the thickness of 3 mm is placed in a glass chamber. The distance between the lens and the active element in 3 cm, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber is 10.sup.6 mbar. By means of an IR diode, a beam of electromagnetic radiation with the wavelength of 960 nm is generated and directed by means of a focusing lens onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 45 in relation to the graphene matrix surface. Warm white light with the CRI value of 98 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 5

[0038] An optically active element in the form of graphene foam with the thickness of 3 mm is placed in a glass chamber. The distance between the lens and the active element in 3 cm, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber is 10.sup.6 mbar. By means of an IR diode, a beam of electromagnetic radiation with the wavelength of 960 nm is generated and directed by means of a focusing lens onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 90 in relation to the graphene matrix surface. The white emission beam generated by the graphene matrix as a result of excitation is reflected by the walls of a reflector placed around the vacuum chamber at the angle of 45 in relation to the active element. Warm white light with the CRI value of 100 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 6

[0039] An optically active element in the form of graphene foam with the thickness of 3 mm is placed in a glass chamber. The distance between the lens and the active element is 3 cm, and the pressure in the vacuum chamber is 10.sup.6 mbar. By means of an IR diode, a beam of electromagnetic radiation with the wavelength of 808 nm is generated and directed by means of a focusing lens onto the graphene matrix at the angle of 90 in relation to the graphene matrix surface. The white emission beam generated by the graphene matrix as a result of excitation is reflected by the walls of a reflector placed around the vacuum chamber at the angle of 45 in relation to the active element. Warm white light with the CRI value of 100 is obtained.