Cone-Shaped Light Source for Projector Heat and Size Trade-off
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in image projection apparatuses using lasers as light sources is to balance light efficiency and heat radiation, as densely packed lasers improve light output but complicate cooling, while spacing them out reduces size but affects optical system functionality.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus with plural lasers arranged circumferentially and a reflecting unit forming a cone shape, allowing efficient light injection and heat radiation through a support member with a radiation member, which can be easily cooled, and using a rod integrator to mix colors and equalize light amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If plural lasers are densely provided to reduce the size of the image projection apparatus, then the size is reduced, but heat radiation becomes more difficult and a larger cooling unit is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of lasers to a three-dimensional conical configuration. The reflecting unit forms a cone shape with reflecting surfaces arranged in three-dimensional space, allowing lasers to be positioned at different heights and radial distances. This spatial redistribution enables improved heat dissipation pathways while maintaining compact overall dimensions, resolving the contradiction between size reduction and heat radiation efficiency.
2Temperature
If lasers are provided with longer intervals to improve heat radiation efficiency, then heat radiation is improved, but the size of the image projection apparatus becomes larger and incident angles to the rod integrator become larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones with different spacing characteristics. Lasers closer to the cone axis have different intervals compared to those at the periphery. The reflecting surfaces are positioned at optimized local distances from each laser source, allowing each laser to have adequate spacing for heat dissipation while the overall conical structure maintains compact dimensions. This localized optimization resolves the contradiction between heat radiation and size.
3Illumination intensity
If lasers are densely placed to obtain sufficient light amount, then light output is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conical configuration distributes lasers across three-dimensional space rather than confining them to a two-dimensional plane. This allows sufficient light output from multiple lasers while providing each laser with adequate thermal management space in the radial and vertical directions. The three-dimensional arrangement enables independent optimization of optical density for light output and thermal spacing for cooling efficiency.
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 configuration enhances light efficiency, reduces heat interference, allows for a smaller projector size, and improves image quality by minimizing incident angles and speckle patterns, enabling effective heat dissipation and efficient light mixing.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling lens corresponding to the laser, which are circumferentially provided to form a circle
Implementation Method 2
a reflecting unit placed within the circle and provided with plural reflecting surfaces corresponding to the lasers of the plural sets of the light source unit to be formed in a cone shape, the light irradiated from each of the lasers being injected into the corresponding reflecting surface
Implementation Method 3
a support member with a radiation member, which can be easily cooled
Implementation Method 4
improving the heat radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A light source apparatus includes a light source unit that includes plural sets of a laser and a coupling lens corresponding to the laser, which are circumferentially provided to form a circle; and a reflecting unit placed within the circle and provided with plural reflecting surfaces corresponding to the lasers of the plural sets of the light source unit to be formed in a cone shape, the light irradiated from each of the lasers being injected into the corresponding reflecting surface via the corresponding coupling lens.