Dual-Path Illuminator for Uniform Fluorescence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminators using semiconductor lasers with short focal length collimator lenses face challenges in achieving uniform illuminance distribution due to the small light flux diameter, which requires closely arranged multi-lens arrays, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
The configuration includes a first and second light emitting device with distinct optical paths and lens arrays, where the first light emitting device has a shorter optical path length and a greater angle of rotation, combining their light beams to produce a combined light ray flux that is incident on a diffused light producing element, such as a phosphor, to achieve a highly uniform illumination distribution without the need for closely spaced lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If short focal length collimator lenses are used to reduce cost, then the distance between semiconductor lasers and collimator lenses is reduced, but the light flux diameter becomes smaller making it difficult to achieve uniform illuminance distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single optical path into two separate optical paths, each with its own light emitting device and lens array. This segmentation allows each path to use cost-effective short focal length lenses while the combined output achieves uniform illuminance distribution through the interaction of the two paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two separate light beams from different optical paths into a single combined light ray flux. The light ray combining element superimposes the two beams, and their different illuminance distributions complement each other to achieve uniform overall illumination on the diffused light producing element.
2Illumination intensity
If multi-lens array is used to increase uniformity of illuminance distribution, then lenses must be arranged at small intervals, but this increases device complexity and manufacturing difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex multi-lens array with small intervals, the invention segments the illumination function into two separate optical paths, each with its own simpler lens array. This reduces the complexity of individual lens arrangements while achieving the same uniformity goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimension by creating two separate optical paths that can be independently optimized. Rather than optimizing a single path with complex lens spacing, the solution uses two paths with different characteristics that complement each other when combined.
3Illumination intensity
If two light emitting devices with different optical paths are used to achieve uniform illuminance distribution, then the device complexity increases, but this allows for reduced optical loss and improved fluorescence production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes key parameters of the optical system by creating two distinct optical paths with different optical path lengths and different angles of rotation. This allows each path to contribute differently to the final illuminance distribution, achieving uniformity while managing complexity through parameter differentiation.
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 the uniformity of the illuminance distribution on the diffused light producing element, reducing optical loss and allowing for efficient fluorescence production while maintaining cost-effectiveness by avoiding the use of multi-lens arrays with small intervals.
Implementation Method 1
a light ray combining element that combines the first light beam having passed through the first lens array with at least part of the second light beam having passed through the second lens array to produce a combined light ray flux
Implementation Method 2
a diffused light producing element on which the combined light ray flux having passed through the light collection lens is incident
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminator includes first and second light emitting devices that emit first and second light beams, respectively, first and second lens arrays, a light ray combining element that combines at least parts of the first and second light beams having passed through the first and second lens arrays with each other to produce a combined light ray flux, a light collection lens, and a diffused light producing element on which the combined light ray flux having passed through the light collection lens is incident.