Ceramic Composite Phosphor for Projectors Resolving Heat and Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing projector light sources using glass-based phosphor layers with low thermal conductivity suffer from inadequate heat radiation, leading to reduced light emission efficiency and conversion efficiency due to low phosphor content.

Innovation Solution

A ceramic composite containing a high volume percentage of YAG:Ce or BAl5O12 phosphor phase and a translucent ceramic scatterer phase, with specific particle size and content ratios, enhances light emission efficiency by efficiently converting blue light to yellow light.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If glass-based phosphor layer with low thermal conductivity is used, then manufacturing is easier and material cost is lower, but heat radiation is inadequate and light emission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidlight emission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material structure consisting of phosphor particles dispersed in a transparent resin matrix. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both good manufacturability and adequate heat radiation properties, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and light emission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If phosphor content is kept low (at most 80%), then heat radiation is improved, but excitation light absorption is insufficient and conversion efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat radiationVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the phosphor content parameter to a specific range (5-80 vol%) and controls particle size parameters (0.1-10 μm) to achieve the best balance between heat radiation and light conversion efficiency. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal point where both requirements are satisfied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If phosphor content is increased to improve conversion efficiency, then light absorption is improved, but heat radiation capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion efficiencyVSAvoidheat radiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates local heterogeneity in the phosphor layer by using particles of different sizes distributed within the transparent resin matrix. This local quality variation allows different regions to serve different functions: larger particles for light absorption and smaller particles for heat radiation, resolving the contradiction between conversion efficiency and heat radiation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 ceramic composite significantly improves light emission efficiency and mechanical strength while maintaining high phosphor content, effectively addressing heat radiation and conversion efficiency issues.

Implementation Method 1

a phosphor phase including YAG containing Ce or BAl5O12 containing Ce... When irradiated with blue light, can convert the wavelength efficiently

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a scatterer phase including a translucent ceramic... excellent in light emission efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10216076B2Ceramic composite, phosphor for projector including the same, and light emitting device for projector including the same
Publication Date: 2019.02.26 COORSTEK GK

AI summary

A ceramic composite contains inorganic materials and includes a phosphor phase including YAG containing Ce, and a scatterer phase including a translucent ceramic, in which the phosphor phase is contained in an amount of 90 vol % or more and 99 vol % or less, and the scatterer phase is contained in an amount of 1 vol % or more and 10 vol % or less.