Laser-Driven White Lighting System With Remote Phosphor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current high-brightness lighting systems for large venues, such as sports arenas and auditoriums, face issues with slow warm-up times, maintenance difficulties, energy inefficiency, and limited flexibility in operation due to high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps and LED-based systems, which require manual replacement and have efficiency losses at high operating currents.

Innovation Solution

A high-power, high-brightness lighting system utilizing a laser diode as the excitation source combined with remote phosphor materials, where the laser diode is placed at ground level for easy maintenance, and the light is directed to phosphor materials using waveguiding materials, allowing for flexible control and energy-efficient operation with stable color properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If HID lamps are used for high-brightness lighting, then luminous efficacy and lifetime are improved, but warm-up time and maintenance difficulty worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminous efficacyVSAvoidwarm-up time

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the light source (laser diode at ground level) from the phosphor conversion location (elevated position), allowing the laser to be easily replaceable while maintaining high-brightness illumination at the venue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal ignition mechanism of HID lamps with a laser diode excitation source, eliminating the need for warm-up time while maintaining high luminous efficacy through direct laser pumping of phosphor materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If HID lamps are mounted at high positions for large venue illumination, then illumination coverage is improved, but maintenance safety and ease of repair worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination coverageVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the lighting apparatus into two segments: the laser diode source located at accessible ground level and the phosphor conversion elements positioned at elevated locations, allowing maintenance personnel to easily access and replace the laser source without working at heights

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical transmission media (such as optical fibers or waveguides) as intermediaries to transport laser light from ground level to the elevated phosphor materials, enabling separation of the light source from the illumination point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If LEDs are used for lighting control flexibility, then operational adaptability is improved, but efficiency at high operating currents worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidefficiency loss at high current

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the excitation mechanism from electrical current-driven LEDs to laser diode optical pumping, maintaining operational flexibility through programmable laser control while avoiding efficiency degradation at high operating levels by using photon-driven phosphor conversion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If shutters are used to control lighting sections, then operational flexibility is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesectional control flexibilityVSAvoidshutter mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical shutter systems with electronically controlled laser diode arrays, where individual laser elements or groups can be independently activated or deactivated through electrical control, eliminating moving parts while maintaining sectional control capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system achieves high brightness, long lifetimes, quick turn-on times, and environmental sustainability with easy maintenance, reducing operating and maintenance costs while maintaining color stability and efficiency even at high operating currents.

Implementation Method 1

generation of white light using a laser diode (LD) as the excitation source in combination with phosphor materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

the light is directed to phosphor materials using waveguiding materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical waveguiding: Waveguide (optics)

Data Source

PatentUS9927076B2Laser-driven white lighting system for high-brightness applications

Publication Date: 2018.03.27 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

A high-power, high-brightness lighting system for large venue lighting, which includes a laser diode as the excitation source and one or more phosphor materials placed at a remote distance from the laser source. The invention offers a lighting system with the advantages of high brightness, high efficiency, high luminous efficacy, long lifetimes, quick turn-on times, suitable color properties, environmental sustainability, and easy maintenance, which may allow for smart and flexible control over large area lighting systems with resulting savings in operating and maintenance costs.