NARROW-BAND 390 NM EMITTING PHOSPHORS FOR PHOTOLUMINESCENT LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAYS

Photoluminescent liquid crystal displays use a liquid crystal to modul ate the intensity of ultraviolet light incident on visible emissive ph osphors. In order to gain optimum performance from the liquid crystal in such a device, the activating light must cover a narrow spectral ba ndwidth very near to the visible (violet) region of the spectrum. Calc ium sulphate europium phosphor offers an emission spectrum closely mat ching these requirements and has been incorporated inside low pressure mercury cold cathode fluorescent lamps. These have been used to backl ight a photoluminescent liquid crystal display demonstrator. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)00419-8].