Laser Driven Light Source Beam Shield Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser driven light sources face issues with low mercury vapor pressure, leading to reduced light emission intensity due to unabsorbed laser beams passing through high temperature plasma, which can damage peripheral devices and result in unstable plasma generation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a beam shield element within the bulb to absorb unabsorbed laser beams, which are then converted into heat, increasing the vapor pressure of the discharge medium and stabilizing plasma generation by reflecting and absorbing the laser beams using materials like tungsten, molybdenum, or rhenium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a laser driven light source uses high temperature plasma to generate light emission, then the light emission intensity is improved, but unabsorbed laser beams pass through the plasma and can damage peripheral devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emission intensityVSAvoidlaser beam damage to peripheral devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A beam shield element is introduced as an intermediary component within the bulb to intercept and absorb unabsorbed laser beams before they can reach peripheral devices. This mediator element selectively blocks harmful laser radiation while allowing the plasma generation process to continue uninterrupted, thus protecting external components without compromising light emission intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The beam shield element converts the potentially harmful unabsorbed laser beams into useful thermal energy by absorbing them and converting to heat. This not only protects peripheral devices from laser damage but also contributes to maintaining the high temperature environment necessary for plasma generation and stable light emission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the vapor pressure of the discharge medium is increased to stabilize plasma generation, then plasma stability is improved, but the risk of laser beam damage to peripheral devices increases due to more unabsorbed beams

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplasma generation stabilityVSAvoidlaser beam damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The beam shield element serves as a protective intermediary that enables the system to operate at higher vapor pressures for improved plasma stability without exposing peripheral devices to increased laser beam hazards. The shield intercepts the excess laser beams that would otherwise escape when plasma absorption is reduced at higher vapor pressures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Illumination intensity

If electrodes are exposed to arc discharge to generate light, then the light emission is achieved, but the electrodes evaporate and change the emission intensity and spectrum over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emissionVSAvoidemission intensity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the electrodes from the light generation process, replacing them with a laser-driven plasma discharge medium. By taking out the evaporating electrodes and substituting with a electrodeless plasma system, the light emission is maintained while eliminating the source of contamination that caused emission intensity and spectrum changes over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution effectively blocks unabsorbed laser beams, preventing damage to peripheral devices and maintaining stable plasma generation with increased vapor pressure, resulting in consistent and high-intensity light emission.

Implementation Method 1

a beam shield element provided within the bulb so as to provide a shield from the laser beam that passes through the plasma generated in the bulb

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the beam shield element, which absorbs the laser beam passing through the plasma generated in the bulb, thereby generating heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

plasma is generated in the bulb by a laser beam focused in the bulb

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 4

generate plasma by exciting the enclosed gas with the laser beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Data Source

PatentUS8242695B2Laser driven light source

Publication Date: 2012.08.14 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK

AI summary

An laser driven light source comprises a bulb that encloses a discharge medium, a laser beam unit for emitting a laser beam, wherein the laser beam is focused in the bulb for generating a discharge, and a beam shield element that is provided in the bulb to shield peripheral devices from the laser beam, which passes through the discharge generated in the bulb.