Laser Light Source Optical Module for Projectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser light sources for projectors face issues with image quality due to varying beam shapes, divergence angles, and focal lengths, leading to inefficiencies in light collection and increased volume from excessive optical components.
Innovation Solution
A laser light source design incorporating a laser light source module, light converging module, first and second lens sets, color wheel, and light tunnel, which converges and transforms light to reduce energy loss and optical component count, enhancing light collection efficiency and reducing volume by optimizing beam direction and component usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional laser light sources are used with standard optical components, then the basic light emission function is achieved, but the light collection efficiency is low and the device volume is large
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into two independent lens sets (first lens set for blue light, second lens set for green/red light) rather than using a single optical component. This segmentation allows each lens set to be optimized for its specific wavelength, improving light collection efficiency while maintaining a compact overall structure by eliminating the need for additional optical components that would be required in a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The first lens set serves multiple functions: it focuses blue light onto the color wheel and also provides part of the optical path for green and red light after wavelength conversion. The color wheel assembly similarly serves dual purposes by both converting wavelength (blue to green/red) and acting as a beam splitter. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, thereby reducing device volume while improving light collection efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical components are used to handle different color lights, then color conversion is achieved, but the number of optical components increases and device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the wavelength conversion function and the beam splitting function into a single color wheel assembly. The color wheel contains both fluorescent materials for wavelength conversion and reflective regions for beam splitting, eliminating the need for separate optical components for each function. This reduction in component count simplifies the optical path while maintaining full color conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The first lens set is designed to handle multiple wavelengths simultaneously - it focuses blue light directly and also receives green and red light after wavelength conversion from the color wheel. This multi-functional lens design eliminates the need for separate optical paths for each color, reducing the overall number of optical components required in the system.
3Device complexity
If a single optical path is used for all colors, then the optical structure is simple, but the incident angle on the color wheel becomes too large causing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The optical path is segmented into two separate lens sets that independently handle different wavelength ranges. The first lens set is positioned and angled specifically for blue light incidence on the color wheel, ensuring optimal incident angles. This segmented approach allows each optical component to be optimized for its specific wavelength, preventing excessive incident angles and associated energy losses while maintaining overall structural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical system are optimized for different wavelengths - the first lens set is optimized for blue light with specific incident angles, while the second lens set handles green and red light. The color wheel itself has different local properties in different regions (fluorescent materials for conversion, reflective regions for beam splitting). This local optimization ensures minimal energy loss at each interface while maintaining relatively simple overall optical structure.
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 design enhances light collection efficiency and reduces the volume of the laser light source by minimizing energy loss and optical components, improving image quality and projector performance.
Implementation Method 1
The light converging module converges the first color light along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and does not converge the first color light along a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The light converging module makes the first color light become a parallel beam after the first color light passes the light converging module.
Implementation Method 2
The color wheel receives the first color light emitted by the first half portion, transforms a part of the first color light to a second color light, and reflect a part of the first color light.
Data Source
AI summary
A laser light source includes a laser light source module, a light converging module, first and second lens sets, a color wheel, and a light tunnel. The laser light source module emits a first light. When passing the light converging module, the first light converges in a second direction perpendicular to the travel direction of the first light and does not converge in a third direction perpendicular to the second direction and the travel direction. The first light becomes a parallel beam after passing the light converging module. Then, the first light enters the first lens set. The color wheel receives the first light passing the first lens set, partially transforms the first light into a second light, and partially reflects the first light. Then, the first and second light pass the first and second lens sets. Then, the light tunnel collects the first and second light.