The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 2020
Filed:
Feb. 29, 2016
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Michael W. Geis, Acton, MA (US);
Joshua Kramer, Branchburg, NJ (US);
Karen M.G.V. Gettings, Carlisle, MA (US);
Marc J. Burke, Pelham, NH (US);
Mankuan M. Vai, Sudbury, MA (US);
Theodore M. Lyszczarz, Concord, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
An improved waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide utilizes a luminescent material disposed within or around its perimeter to introduce additional light into the waveguide. For example, the waveguide may include a plurality of planar layers having different refractive indexes. A luminescent material may be disposed along the outer edge of these layers. When light from within the waveguide strikes the luminescent material, it emits light, thereby adding to the light in the waveguide. Not only does the luminescent material introduce more light into the waveguide, it also introduces more light sources, thereby making it more difficult to introduce a probe without blocking at least a portion of the light destined for the image sensor. The luminescent material may be a phosphor.