Case 13785

Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Energy Harvesting in Displays

Keywords:

Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs), Linear polarizer, Display systems, Solar cells

Applications:

A wide range of liquid crystal displays such as flat panel television, portable electronics, and E-books

Problem:

    High energy consumption in displays

Technology:

This invention introduces two linearly polarized luminescent concentrators to replace the purely absorptive polarizers employed in current display systems. The new configuration has light-emitting molecules that re-emit the captured photons into the waveguide. These photons travel to the edges of the waveguide by total internal reflections, where they are collected by solar cells. This geometry allows for the solar cells to be placed only in the frame of the display, leaving the entire front surface available for the display. The collectors, compatible with low cost manufacturing, can be optimized for monochromatic excitation and stacked for higher efficiency.

Advantages:
  • Harvesting energy that have been wasted in conventional polarizers
  • Fabrication at low costs

Inventors:
  • Professor Marc A. Baldo (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT)
  • Dr. Carnek Rotschild (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT)
  • Carlijn Mulder (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT)

Intellectual Property:

Provisional patent filed on June 24, 2009

Publications:

N/A

Last revised: January 19, 2012

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