Illumination Device Spotwise Color Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illumination devices using laser light sources are limited in their ability to arbitrarily change the illumination mode of specific areas within an illumination zone without complicating the optical system configuration, as they can only switch the emission color for the entire area illuminated by each laser beam.
Innovation Solution
An illumination device featuring a coherent light source with multiple light source units emitting different wavelength ranges, a scanning unit that periodically changes the traveling direction of the coherent light beams, and a timing control unit that synchronizes the incident timing of these light beams to achieve arbitrary illumination modes, including color changes and selective illumination or non-illumination of specific regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate laser light source with small beam diameter is provided for each color spot, then spotwise color change is enabled, but the optical system configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination area into multiple regions, each associated with specific light source units. By segmenting the control of different wavelengths to different spatial regions, the system achieves spotwise color change without requiring separate laser light sources for each location. The control unit selectively activates specific light source units based on the target region, enabling localized color control while maintaining a shared optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a single light source unit that can emit multiple wavelengths (e.g., blue and green light from the same LED). This multi-functional light source replaces the need for multiple separate laser sources, as the same physical component can serve different color illumination needs by selectively activating different wavelength emissions, thereby simplifying the overall optical system while maintaining color versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple laser beams with different wavelengths are superimposed to change emission color, then color variety is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wavelength emissions from the same light source unit into a single illumination output. Instead of requiring separate beams to be superimposed from different sources, the system merges the control of multiple wavelengths within a unified light source unit, allowing color variety to be achieved through selective wavelength activation rather than complex beam superposition mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the light source unit by selectively activating different wavelength emissions from the same source. By controlling which wavelength range is emitted (e.g., switching between blue and green from a single LED), the system achieves color variety without the complexity of multiple beams, as the fundamental parameter being changed is the emission wavelength of a single source rather than the number of sources.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a laser beam traveling direction is periodically changed to reduce speckle, then speckle visibility is reduced, but the illumination stability is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic modulation of the light beam characteristics (such as intensity or wavelength) to reduce speckle visibility. By periodically varying the illumination parameters at frequencies that prevent speckle pattern formation, the system reduces the harmful speckle effect while maintaining overall illumination stability through controlled periodic action rather than random or continuous variation.
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
Enables arbitrary and flexible illumination mode changes within an illumination area without complicating the optical system configuration, allowing for precise control of illumination colors and modes across different regions, reducing speckle visibility and enhancing illumination uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
the recording area has an interference fringe that diffracts an incident coherent light beam
Implementation Method 2
Each of the plurality of recording areas has an interference fringe that diffracts a coherent light beam of the corresponding wavelength range
Data Source
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AI summary
An illumination device (1) has a coherent light source (4) that emits a plurality of coherent light beams; an optical device (3) that diffuses the plurality of coherent light beams and illuminates a predetermined illumination area; and a timing control unit (5) that individually controls incident timing of the plurality of coherent light beams to the optical device (3) or illumination timing of the illumination area so that a first region in the illumination area and a second region different from the first region in the illumination area have different illumination modes, respectively, wherein the optical device (3) has a plurality of diffusion regions that illuminate the illumination area by diffusing respective coherent light beams, the diffusion regions being provided corresponding to the plurality of coherent light beams, the plurality of diffusion regions have a plurality of element diffusion regions (15) that illuminate partial regions in the illumination area.