Asymmetric Laser Beam Combining for Compact Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in miniaturizing laser projection apparatuses lies in achieving a balance between miniaturization, cost, and optical efficiency, while ensuring effective illumination and reducing light attenuation and performance degradation of optical components due to high-energy beam exposure.
Innovation Solution
A laser source with a light-emitting assembly, phosphor wheel, converging lens group, and combining component is designed to emit asymmetric laser beams, which are converged and reflected to generate fluorescent beams, reducing the number of optical elements and minimizing exposure to high-energy beams, thus enhancing miniaturization and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional laser projection apparatus design is used, then basic illumination function is achieved, but volume is large and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions (illumination, color separation, beam combining) into a single integrated optical system using a combining component with multiple reflecting regions. This merging of functions reduces the overall number of separate optical components and subsystems, directly reducing volume while managing complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The combining component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a beam splitter, a combiner, and a wavelength separator through its different reflecting regions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing both volume and complexity
2Illumination intensity
If high-energy laser beams are used for illumination, then luminance is improved, but optical components suffer from performance degradation and aging
Solution Approach 1:
The combining component is divided into multiple specialized reflecting regions, each designed to handle specific wavelengths or beam paths. This segmentation distributes the high-energy beam exposure across different regions with optimized properties, reducing concentrated stress and degradation on any single component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate optical elements (such as the converging lens group and specific reflecting regions) that mediate between the high-energy laser source and the final projection path. These intermediaries distribute and manage the energy load, protecting downstream components from direct exposure to concentrated high-energy beams
3Loss of energy
If more optical elements are added to improve optical efficiency, then light attenuation is reduced, but device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optical functions are merged into the combining component, which integrates beam splitting, combining, and wavelength separation in a single element. This reduces the total number of separate optical components needed while maintaining efficient light transmission and minimizing attenuation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes spatial arrangement and angular separation of beam paths through the combining component's multiple reflecting regions. By organizing optical paths in different spatial dimensions and angles rather than adding sequential components, the system maintains optical efficiency without increasing linear complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves a compact and efficient laser projection apparatus with improved optical efficiency and reduced component aging, enabling a high-luminance projection with a smaller volume and lower costs.
Implementation Method 1
the fluorescence-exciting region is excited to generate a first fluorescent beam and the second fluorescent beam
Implementation Method 2
the converging lens group is disposed between the light-emitting assembly and the phosphor wheel, and is configured to converge the first laser beam and the second laser beam to the phosphor wheel
Implementation Method 3
the first fluorescent beam and the second fluorescent beam are both reflected by the phosphor wheel and transmitted through the converging lens group and then incident on the first reflecting region and the second reflecting region respectively
Data Source
AI summary
The laser source includes a light-emitting assembly, a phosphor wheel, a converging lens group, and a combining component. The light-emitting assembly is configured to emit at least a first laser beam and a second laser beam. The phosphor wheel includes a fluorescence-exciting region and a laser-reflecting region. The converging lens group is disposed between the light-emitting assembly and the phosphor wheel, and is configured to converge the first laser beam and the second laser beam to the phosphor wheel. The first laser beam and the second laser beam are asymmetric with respect to an optical axis of the converging lens group. The combining component is disposed between the light-emitting assembly and the converging lens group. The combining component includes a first reflecting region and a second reflecting region that are arranged at an interval.