Laser-Phosphor Fiber Light Coupling for Wide-Spectrum Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light bulbs, such as the Edison bulb, have limitations in efficiency and flexibility for wide-spectrum lighting applications, particularly in coupling light into optical fibers, where they fall short compared to LED technology.
Innovation Solution
A laser-based light guide-coupled wide-spectrum light system utilizing a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode and a phosphor converter to produce high-brightness, wide-spectrum light, which is efficiently transported through optical fibers, offering superior coupling efficiency and adaptability in lighting applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional light bulbs are used for wide-spectrum lighting, then they provide general illumination capability, but they have low efficiency and poor coupling performance into optical fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the light source parameters by using a laser diode to excite phosphor materials, fundamentally changing the spectral characteristics and brightness parameters. This enables the light to be efficiently coupled into optical fibers while maintaining wide-spectrum coverage, resolving the contradiction between energy loss and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces phosphor materials as an intermediary between the laser diode and the optical fiber. The phosphor converts the laser wavelength to a wide-spectrum output that can be efficiently coupled into the fiber, mediating the transition from high-brightness laser to wide-spectrum fiber-coupled light
2Productivity
If LED technology is used for wide-spectrum lighting, then it provides improved efficiency over conventional bulbs, but it still achieves only 2-10% optical coupling efficiency into fiber optic cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dramatically changes the luminance parameter from LED levels to laser-induced phosphor levels (500-20,000 cd/mm²), enabling efficient fiber coupling while maintaining wide-spectrum output. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction between productivity and energy loss in fiber coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite system combining laser diode (gallium and nitrogen containing material) with phosphor materials (such as yellow phosphors with scattering centers). This composite approach achieves both high efficiency and wide-spectrum output with superior fiber coupling capability
3Loss of energy
If high-brightness laser-based light sources are used, then optical coupling efficiency into fiber increases to 50-90%, but the system complexity increases with laser diode and phosphor integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the laser diode and phosphor materials into an integrated system where the phosphor is positioned to receive laser excitation and emit wide-spectrum light directly into the optical fiber. This merging achieves high coupling efficiency (50-90%) while managing system complexity through functional integration
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional light bulbs are used, then they provide long operational duration and reliability, but they lack adaptability for specialized lighting applications requiring fiber optic transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal lighting system that can serve multiple applications through fiber optic transport. The laser-phosphor-fiber system can be adapted to various lighting scenarios (residential, commercial, specialized) while maintaining consistent performance, achieving both versatility and reliability
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 provides significantly higher luminance and efficiency in coupling light into fibers, enabling novel lighting configurations and improved performance in various applications, including residential, commercial, and specialized lighting scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a laser device comprising a gallium and nitrogen containing material and configured as an excitation source, the laser device comprising an output facet configured to output a laser electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
one or more phosphor members each configured as a wavelength converter and an emitter and disposed to allow a primary surface of the one or more phosphor members to receive the laser electromagnetic radiation from the laser devices; the one or more phosphor members configured to convert at least a fraction of the laser electromagnetic radiation with the first wavelength to a phosphor emission with a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A laser-based fiber-coupled wide-spectrum light system is provided. The system includes a laser device and one or more phosphor members configured and arranged to provide wide-spectrum emissions. One or more fibers are configured and arranged to receive the wide-spectrum emissions.