Fly-Eye Lens Light Source Layout for Phosphor Luminance Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light source apparatuses using a fly-eye lens for phosphor light sources face issues with luminance efficiency, lens reliability, and lifetime due to improper light density settings on the lens cells, leading to decreased performance.

Innovation Solution

A light source apparatus is designed with a configuration that includes a plurality of light sources, collimator lenses, a diffuser plate, a fly-eye lens, and a condenser optical system to ensure uniform and high-intensity excitation light is directed to a phosphor face, adhering to specific conditional expressions to optimize light density and lens cell settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a fly-eye lens is used to obtain excitation light that is uniform and having a high light intensity, then luminance efficiency is improved, but if light density on the output face of lens cells is not properly set, reliability and lifespan of the fly-eye lens decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight intensityVSAvoidreliability of fly-eye lens

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by setting different light density requirements for different regions of the fly-eye lens. Specifically, it controls the light density on the output face of each lens cell to be within a specific range (0.5-2.0 kW/cm²), while allowing other regions to have different characteristics. This localized control of light density ensures uniform illumination without overloading specific lens cells, thereby maintaining both high luminance efficiency and reliability of the fly-eye lens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If light density on output face of lens cells is increased to improve luminance efficiency, then light intensity is improved, but lifespan of the fly-eye lens decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminance efficiencyVSAvoidlifespan of fly-eye lens

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the light density parameter within a specific range (0.5-2.0 kW/cm²) on the output face of the lens cells. By controlling this physical parameter, the system achieves high luminance efficiency while preventing excessive light density that would cause overheating and degradation of the fly-eye lens, thereby extending its lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If excitation light is concentrated to achieve high light intensity, then luminance efficiency is improved, but uniformity of illumination on phosphor face deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight intensityVSAvoiduniformity of illumination

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the illumination task across multiple lens cells of the fly-eye lens. Each lens cell contributes to the overall illumination, and by controlling the light density from each individual cell within the specified range, the system achieves both high intensity and uniform distribution across the phosphor face, preventing localized hot spots while maintaining overall brightness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 achieves high reliability and luminance efficiency by ensuring uniform light intensity and reducing light density on the fly-eye lens, thereby enhancing the lifespan and performance of the apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of collimator lenses that outputs, as parallel light, divergent light from each of the plurality of light sources

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCollimation: Lens

Implementation Method 2

a diffuser plate that diffuses output light from each of the plurality of collimator lenses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

a fly-eye lens having a plurality of lens cells, and in which the output light from each of the plurality of collimator lenses enters each of the plurality of lens cells through the diffuser plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 4

a condenser optical system that condenses output light from each of the plurality of lens cells of the fly-eye lens toward the phosphor face

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 5

a fluorescence emission section having a phosphor face

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS12529947B2Light source apparatus and projector

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A light source apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a plurality of light sources; a plurality of collimator lenses that outputs, as parallel light, divergent light from each of the plurality of light sources; a diffuser plate that diffuses output light from each of the plurality of collimator lenses; a fly-eye lens having a plurality of lens cells, and in which the output light from each of the plurality of collimator lenses enters each of the plurality of lens cells through the diffuser plate; a fluorescence emission section having a phosphor face; and a condenser optical system that condenses output light from each of the plurality of lens cells of the fly-eye lens toward the phosphor face.