Laser-Phosphor Projector White Point Control With Green Phosphor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser-phosphor projectors face significant light losses and non-compliance with DCI standards due to the use of yellow phosphors, which lack sufficient red content and result in excessive green light, necessitating additional red lasers and electronic corrections, leading to brightness reduction and color gamut issues.

Innovation Solution

Employ a laser phosphor light source utilizing a green phosphor excited by blue lasers, combined with direct red lasers, to minimize light losses by optimizing spectral distribution, reducing the green-red transition zone content, and eliminating the need for notch filters, thereby achieving a balanced white point and color gamut.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If yellow phosphor is used in laser-phosphor projectors, then the system achieves simplicity and lower cost, but significant light losses occur and DCI compliance is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidlight loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of phosphor emission wavelength from yellow (560-580nm) to green (520-540nm). This parameter change fundamentally alters the spectral distribution to reduce losses in the green-red transition zone while maintaining simplicity of the single-phosphor architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite light source by combining blue laser light (440-470nm) with green phosphor emission (520-540nm) and adds red laser (620-650nm) to achieve DCI compliance. This composite approach maintains the simplicity of the laser-phosphor architecture while optimizing spectral output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If yellow phosphor is used, then the system structure remains simple, but the red content is insufficient and green light is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidred light content
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Changing the phosphor emission from yellow to green shifts the spectral power distribution, naturally increasing red content relative to green. This parameter change eliminates the need for complex additional phosphors or filters while achieving proper color balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If electronic corrections are applied to compensate for color imbalances, then color accuracy improves, but brightness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidbrightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary spectral optimization by selecting green phosphor that inherently produces the correct color ratios. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent electronic corrections, preserving brightness while achieving color accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of energy

If the green-red transition zone content is reduced, then light losses in the Philips prism are minimized, but the spectral distribution must be precisely controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight loss in Philips prismVSAvoidspectral distribution control
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the phosphor peak emission wavelength parameter to 520-540nm (green), which inherently minimizes the green-red transition zone content. This parameter change simultaneously achieves energy loss reduction and provides a well-defined spectral distribution that is easier to control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances projector efficiency by up to 32% compared to yellow phosphor systems, achieving DCI compliance with reduced brightness loss and improved color performance through optimized spectral distribution and beam combination.

Implementation Method 1

blue lasers to excite a green wavelength conversion element such as a green phosphor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorescence: Phosphorescence

Implementation Method 2

beam combiners to combine the different color contributions to a white light beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection and transmission: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3409011B1Control of color primaries and white point in a laser-phosphor projector.
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 BARCO NV
  • EP3409011B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3409011B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3409011B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a light projection system for generating an image with three primary colors, each primary color being respectively defined by a first, second and third wavebands. The system comprises a first blue laser source (5) emitting a first beam (5') in a fourth waveband, said first blue laser source (5) having a first laser driver (4), a second blue laser source (3) emitting a second beam (2') having a central wavelength and a fifth waveband, said second blue laser source (3) having a second laser driver (2), a substrate having a wavelength conversion element (8) for emitting light (2'') at a plurality of wavelengths after absorption of a light beam at an excitation wavelength within a fifth waveband of the second blue laser source (3) and a beam combiner (11) for combining the combined first beam and the converted beam (2''), which combination results in a white beam (14). Dichroic losses can be reduced by using a green phosphor together with red laser assistance. White point and color primaries can be controlled by using a variable green waveband reduction filter and/or by using a multi-band color sensor (22) and a controller (24) for deriving driving levels for the drivers of the laser sources.