Illumination Unit Laser Diode Luminance Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current projector systems using high-luminance discharge lamps face challenges with size and power consumption, and struggle to adequately reduce luminance non-uniformity of illumination light, even with integrators like fly-eye lenses.
Innovation Solution
An illumination unit incorporating solid-state light-emitting devices, such as laser diodes, with an optical system that includes a first and second fly-eye lens integrator and an optical device that expands the luminance distribution shape along the minor axis direction, reducing luminance non-uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a high-luminance discharge lamp is used as a light source, then illumination intensity is improved, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a discharge lamp light source to a solid-state light-emitting device (LED or LD), fundamentally changing the light source parameters. This substitution maintains high illumination intensity while significantly reducing device size and power consumption, as solid-state devices are inherently more compact and energy-efficient than discharge lamps
2Weight of stationary object
If a solid-state light-emitting device is used as a light source, then device size and power consumption are reduced, but luminance non-uniformity of illumination light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical device as an intermediary component between the solid-state light-emitting device and the fly-eye lens integrator. This optical device includes a diffuser or scattering element that redistributes the light from the compact solid-state source, effectively reducing luminance non-uniformity while maintaining the size and power consumption advantages of solid-state lighting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a fly-eye lens integrator consisting of multiple lens arrays arranged in specific dimensional configurations. This multi-dimensional optical structure collects light from the point-like solid-state source and redistributes it across the illumination plane, transforming the spatial distribution of light to achieve uniform illuminance while maintaining system compactness
3Device complexity
If only a fly-eye lens integrator is used, then device complexity is reduced, but luminance non-uniformity reduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into distinct functional components: a solid-state light-emitting device, an optical device with diffusing/scattering elements, and a fly-eye lens integrator. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the optical device handles initial light redistribution while the fly-eye lens provides final uniformity - achieving better luminance uniformity than a single-component system without excessive complexity
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 effectively reduces luminance non-uniformity in the illumination light, enhancing the displaying quality by optimizing the use of solid-state light-emitting devices in projectors and direct view displays.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources 10A, 10B, and 10C each including a solid-state light-emitting device 11 configured to emit light from a light emission region
Implementation Method 2
one or more of the chips in the one or more light sources as a whole is a laser diode
Implementation Method 3
an integrator 40 uniformizing an illuminance distribution of light in a predetermined illumination region illuminated by the light incident from the solid-state light-emitting device
Implementation Method 4
the optical member includes an integrator having a first fly-eye lens on which the light from the solid-state light-emitting device is incident and a second fly-eye lens on which the light from the first fly-eye lens is incident
Implementation Method 5
the optical device is disposed on an optical path between the first fly-eye lens and the one or more light sources including the one or more chips configured by the laser diode, and allows a shape of a luminance distribution of incidence light on an incidence plane of the first fly-eye lens to be expanded along a minor axis direction of the shape of the luminance distribution
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination unit includes: one or more light sources, an optical member, and an optical device. The optical member includes an integrator having a first fly-eye lens on which light from a solid-state light-emitting device is incident and a second fly-eye lens on which the light from the first fly-eye lens is incident. The integrator uniformalizes an illuminance distribution of light in a predetermined illumination region illuminated by the light incident from the solid-state light-emitting device. The optical device is disposed on an optical path between the first fly-eye lens and one or more light sources including one or more chips configured by the laser diode, and allows a shape of a luminance distribution of incidence light on an incidence plane of the first fly-eye lens to be expanded along a minor axis direction of the shape of the luminance distribution.