Thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure with optical lens and multi-color light emission system.

摘要

A thin film electroluminescent edge emitter structure [Fig. 1 (10)] includes a common electrode layer (12) and control electrodes (20) disposed above the common electrode layer. At least one dielectric layer (14 or 16) is disposed between the common electrode layer (12) and control electrodes, and a phosphor layer (18) is interposed between the one dielectric layer and common electrode layer. The common electrode layer, one dielectric layer and the phosphor layer define the light-emitting pixels (24) of the emitter structure. Each pixel has a light-emitting face (24A) formed thereon and is operable upon application of electrical excitation to cause the radiation of light energy within its phosphor layer at least in a direction towards the pixel light-emitting face. An optical lens system [Fig. 3 (36), Figs. 4-7] associated with the pixels includes a preselected contour (34A) shaped on the light-emitting face of each pixel to define an optical lens integral therewith to project the light energy passed therethrough in a preselected direction and form a beam of light energy having a preselected beam pattern. A multi-color light emission system [Fig. 10 (46) ] employed by the pixels includes a plurality of phosphor zones (48 (1), (2), (3)) composing the phosphor layer and capable of projecting different light energy through the light-emitting faces (48A) of the pixels. Also, separate edge emitter structures projecting different colors of light can be utilized in a electrophotographic printer.