Dichroic Mirror Light Source for Compact Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing light source devices with phosphor wheels suffer from increased size due to multiple optical components and suffer from optical loss, leading to reduced light utilization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light source device design that includes a mirror with dichroic and wide wavelength transmission regions to guide excitation light to a phosphor wheel, reducing the number of optical components and minimizing light loss by selectively reflecting and transmitting excitation and fluorescent light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If excitation light and fluorescent light are emitted to opposite sides through the phosphor wheel, then the light beams can be separated, but the number of optical components increases and the device size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror is designed with dual functionality: a first region for reflecting excitation light and a second region for transmitting fluorescent light. This multi-functional design allows a single component to perform what previously required multiple separate optical components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining light beam separation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror is divided into distinct functional regions (first region for excitation light reflection and second region for fluorescent light transmission). This segmentation allows different parts of the same component to handle different light paths independently, achieving beam separation without requiring multiple separate components
2Ease of operation
If multiple optical components are arranged in the optical system, then light beam combination is achieved, but optical loss occurs and light utilization efficiency is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror combines the functions of excitation light reflection and fluorescent light transmission into a single integrated component. By merging these functions, the number of optical interfaces is reduced, minimizing optical loss at each interface while maintaining effective light beam combination capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it reflects excitation light to the phosphor wheel, transmits fluorescent light to the illumination optical system, and separates the two light paths. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate components, reducing cumulative optical loss
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 allows for a compact light source device with maintained light utilization efficiency by minimizing the number of optical components and optimizing light transmission, resulting in reduced size and enhanced performance.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror which guides the excitation light from the excitation light source to the phosphor wheel and transmits the fluorescent light from the phosphor wheel, wherein the mirror includes a first region which reflects the excitation light
Implementation Method 2
a phosphor wheel including a phosphor which is excited by the excitation light from the excitation light source to generate yellow fluorescent light
Implementation Method 3
a mirror which guides the excitation light from the excitation light source to the phosphor wheel and transmits the fluorescent light from the phosphor wheel, wherein the mirror includes a first region which reflects the excitation light and transmits the fluorescent light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a light source device where the number of optical components is reduced without lowering an efficiency for light utilization. The light source device includes an excitation light source which generates blue laser light as excitation light, a phosphor wheel including a phosphor which is excited by the excitation light from the excitation light source to generate yellow fluorescent light, and a mirror which guides the excitation light from the excitation light source to the phosphor wheel and transmits the fluorescent light from the phosphor wheel, wherein the mirror includes a first region which reflects the excitation light and transmits the fluorescent light and a second region which transmits the fluorescent light and diffused excitation light which is diffused and reflected in the phosphor. The yellow fluorescent light and the diffused excitation light passing through the mirror are mixed to generate white light.