Wavelength-Dependent Beam Splitter for Pump Light Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting devices using pump light units and phosphor elements for conversion light generation often require complex mechanisms for mixing pump and conversion light, leading to structural complexity, higher noise, and maintenance challenges due to time-averaged light perception.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device incorporating a wavelength-dependent beam splitter that reflects pump light and transmits conversion light, allowing simultaneous superposition of both lights to generate mixed light for lighting purposes, eliminating the need for moving parts and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If complex mechanisms are used for mixing pump light and conversion light, then light mixing is achieved, but structural complexity increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A beam splitter is introduced as an intermediary optical element to separate and redirect pump light and conversion light into different paths. The beam splitter enables clean separation of the two light types without requiring complex mixing mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective light mixing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical path is segmented into distinct channels: one for pump light and another for conversion light. By spatially separating the light paths using the beam splitter, the system avoids the need for complex temporal or spatial modulation mechanisms, reducing structural complexity while achieving effective light mixing at the output.
2Ease of operation
If moving parts are used for light mixing, then light perception is time-averaged, but noise increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system involving moving parts for light mixing is replaced with a static optical system using a beam splitter. This substitution eliminates mechanical noise, vibration, and associated maintenance requirements while maintaining the ability to mix pump light and conversion light effectively. The beam splitter provides a stable, noise-free optical path separation and combination mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If pump light and conversion light are mixed sequentially, then mixing is achieved, but time is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitter enables continuous simultaneous presence of both pump light and conversion light in the output path. Rather than sequential mixing that requires time for switching or modulation, the optical design allows both light types to be present and mixed continuously, maximizing light output efficiency and eliminating time losses associated with sequential operations.
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
The solution provides a stable and efficient mixed light output without time-averaging, reducing structural complexity, noise, and maintenance requirements, while ensuring robustness and cost-effectiveness by ensuring simultaneous presence of pump and conversion light at the output.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength-dependent beam splitter which is reflective to the pump light and transmissive to the conversion light
Implementation Method 2
a phosphor element for the at least partial conversion of the pump light into conversion light
Implementation Method 3
a second portion of the pump light is directed onto the light exit surface of the beam splitter and is reflected by the beam splitter, and is superposed with the conversion light transmitted by the beam splitter
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device provides a pump light unit for emitting pump light, a phosphor element for generating conversion light in response to excitation by the pump light, and a wavelength-dependent beam splitter which is reflective to the pump light and transmissive to the conversion light. The first pump light portion is incident on a light incidence surface of the beam splitter and is reflected from the beam splitter to the phosphor element. The element emits the conversion light in response to the excitation by the pump light. The conversion light is likewise incident on the light incidence surface, but transmitted by the beam splitter and exiting at a light exit surface of the beam splitter opposite the light incidence surface. Concurrently, the second pump light portion, reflected from the beam splitter, is directed onto the light exit surface of the beam splitter and is superposed with the conversion light.