Illuminator Transmissive Diffusing Unit Thermal Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminators using solid-state light sources face challenges in producing high-intensity illumination light with little brightness unevenness due to the short life of phosphor layers under thermal load and inefficiencies in light homogenization without a phosphor layer.
Innovation Solution
An illuminator design incorporating a solid-state light source group, a transmissive diffusing unit, and a lens integrator system, where the transmissive diffusing unit, such as a microlens array or holographic diffuser, diffuses and transmits light to the lens integrator system, enhancing light use efficiency and reducing thermal load, while semiconductor lasers provide compact and high-intensity illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a phosphor layer is used to convert excitation light to illumination light, then high-intensity illumination light can be produced, but the phosphor layer has a short life due to large thermal load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the phosphor layer from the optical system entirely, replacing it with a transmissive diffusing unit. This extraction eliminates the thermal load problem on the phosphor layer while maintaining the ability to produce high-intensity illumination light through direct transmission of solid-state light source output.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmissive diffusing unit acts as an intermediary between the solid-state light source and the lens integrator system. It diffuses the light without absorbing thermal energy like a phosphor layer would, thereby mediating the light transmission while protecting against thermal degradation.
2Reliability
If light from solid-state light sources is used directly without a phosphor layer, then the phosphor layer thermal load problem is avoided, but the lens integrator system cannot homogenize the spot-shaped light distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The transmissive diffusing unit serves as a mediator that transforms spot-shaped light into diffused light suitable for the lens integrator system. This intermediary component enables the system to use solid-state light sources directly while achieving uniform brightness distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmissive diffusing unit changes the spatial distribution parameter of the light, transforming concentrated spot-shaped light into diffused light with a broader angular distribution, which the lens integrator system can then homogenize effectively.
3Loss of energy
If a traditional lens integrator system is used with spot-shaped light from solid-state light sources, then high light use efficiency can be achieved, but brightness unevenness cannot be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The transmissive diffusing unit performs preliminary diffusion of the light before it enters the lens integrator system. This preliminary action prepares the light in a form that the lens integrator system can process efficiently to achieve both high uniformity and maintained light use efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmissive diffusing unit acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between spot-shaped light and the requirements of the lens integrator system, enabling the system to achieve both high light use efficiency and uniform brightness distribution simultaneously.
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 enables the production of high-intensity illumination light with reduced brightness unevenness and increased efficiency, extending the life of the transmissive diffusing unit and improving heat resistance, thus achieving reliable and uniform illumination.
Implementation Method 1
a transmissive diffusing unit disposed in the vicinity of the light collection position, the transmissive diffusing unit transmitting light from the light collecting system while diffusing the light
Implementation Method 2
a lens integrator system on which light having passed through the transmissive diffusing unit is incident... the first lens array divides light into a plurality of sub-light fluxes, and the second lens array and the superimposing lens superimpose the plurality of sub-light fluxes on an illuminated surface
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminator includes a (solid-state light source array) including a plurality of solid-state light sources, a light collecting system that collects light from the solid-state light source group at a predetermined light collection position, a collimator system disposed on the opposite side of the light collection position to the light collecting system and substantially parallelizing light from the light collecting system, and an integrator system that homogenizes the in-plane light intensity distribution of light from the collimator system. The illuminator further includes a transmissive diffusing unit that is disposed in the vicinity of the light collection position and transmits the light from the light collecting system while diffusing the light from the light collecting system.