Illumination System Annular Wavelength Conversion Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser projectors require a large number of optical elements, increasing size and cost, and suffer from optical efficiency losses due to beam scattering when using light splitting/combining elements.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system with an excitation light source, a wavelength conversion element having an annular region with a reflective and light transmissive area, and a reflective cover that guides the excitation and conversion beams in the same direction using fewer optical elements, reducing scattering and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical elements are used to guide light paths in laser projectors, then the projection device can achieve proper light transmission, but the number of optical elements increases, leading to larger size and higher costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical functions into a single integrated optical element. The optical element includes a first reflective surface for reflecting blue laser beams, a second reflective surface for reflecting yellow light beams, and a light splitting/combining surface all in one component. This merging reduces the number of separate optical elements needed in the projection device while maintaining proper light transmission for both blue laser and yellow light paths.
2Device complexity
If a light splitting/combining element is used to reduce the number of optical elements, then device complexity is reduced, but beam scattering occurs through the element causing optical efficiency to drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface properties to different regions of the optical element. The first reflective surface has high reflectivity for blue laser beams, the second reflective surface has high reflectivity for yellow light beams, and the light splitting/combining surface is designed with specific optical properties to minimize scattering. This local optimization of surface qualities reduces beam scattering and maintains optical efficiency while still reducing device complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple optical elements are used to separate and direct blue laser and yellow light paths, then proper light path separation is achieved, but the overall size of the projection device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light path management functions into a single optical element that handles both blue laser beam reflection and yellow light beam reflection and splitting/combining. This integration maintains proper light path separation for both wavelengths while significantly reducing the overall volume of the projection device by eliminating the need for multiple separate optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes different spatial orientations and angles for the reflective surfaces and light splitting/combining surface within the single optical element. By arranging these surfaces at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) and in different spatial dimensions, the element can separate and direct blue laser and yellow light paths effectively without requiring additional space for multiple separate components, thus reducing projector size.
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
The solution achieves favorable optical efficiency and a smaller projector size by minimizing the number of optical elements and reducing beam scattering, allowing the excitation and conversion beams to be guided in the same direction.
Implementation Method 1
The wavelength conversion element has a wavelength conversion region, a reflective region, and a light transmissive region
Implementation Method 2
the reflective cover covers at least a part of the light transmissive region, the conversion beam or the excitation beam reflected by the reflective cover may exit via the light transmissive region
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system includes an excitation light source and a wavelength conversion element. The excitation light source provides an excitation beam. The wavelength conversion element has a wavelength conversion region, a reflective region, and a light transmissive region. The wavelength conversion region and the reflective region form an annular region. The light transmissive region is surrounded by the annular region, wherein the excitation beam passes through the light transmissive region of the wavelength conversion element. The illumination system of the disclosure is small in size and achieves favorable optical efficiency. A projection device including the illumination system is also provided.