LED Light Source Device with Adjustable Collimation and Integrator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light source devices using LED elements produce less radiant flux compared to lamp-based systems, leading to reduced illuminance due to misalignment between LED elements and downstream optical systems, resulting in inefficient light collection and distribution.
Innovation Solution
A light source device with a plurality of LED elements, a collimating first optical system, and a collecting second optical system, equipped with an adjustment mechanism to align the light source unit with the first optical system, and an integrator optical system such as a rod integrator or fly eye lens to ensure uniform illuminance distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple LED elements are used to increase light output, then the light source can replace lamps in optical processing applications, but the radiant flux per LED element is lower than lamps, requiring complex optical systems to collect and distribute light efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple independent collimating lens units, each corresponding to one LED element. This segmentation allows each lens to collect light from its associated LED independently, simplifying the overall optical design while maintaining high light collection efficiency across multiple LED elements
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple collimated light beams from individual LED elements are merged into a single uniform light distribution through the integrator optical system. This combining approach enables the system to achieve high radiant flux equivalent to lamp sources while maintaining the advantages of multiple LED elements
2Productivity
If the light source unit and optical system are precisely aligned to maximize light collection, then illuminance efficiency is improved, but any misalignment causes significant decrease in illuminance, requiring high precision assembly and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates adjustable mounting structures that allow dynamic positioning of the light source unit relative to the optical system. This adjustability enables precise alignment during setup and compensation for any misalignment, ensuring high light collection efficiency while maintaining reliability against positioning variations
Solution Approach 2:
An integrator optical system acts as an intermediary between the LED elements and the downstream optical system. This intermediary component uniformizes the light distribution and reduces sensitivity to misalignment, thereby improving both light collection efficiency and illuminance stability
3Illumination intensity
If the distance between LED elements is reduced to minimize the non-light-emitting region and increase brightness, then the light source achieves higher brightness, but the arrangement and alignment of multiple LED elements and corresponding optical components becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple independent collimating lens units, each aligned with a corresponding LED element. This segmentation allows for modular assembly where each LED-lens pair can be positioned and adjusted independently, simplifying manufacturing despite the need for close spacing between elements
Solution Approach 2:
The integrator optical system serves as a mediator that uniformizes the light from closely spaced LED elements. This intermediate component handles the complexity of combining light from multiple closely-spaced sources, allowing the LED elements to be arranged with minimal spacing while maintaining ease of assembly through the standardized integrator interface
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 effectively minimizes the decrease in brightness and illuminance caused by misalignment, achieving a high-brightness light source with uniform illuminance distribution by adjusting the positional relationship between the LED elements and optical systems, thereby enhancing light collection and distribution efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical system that collimates each of light emitted from the light source unit
Implementation Method 2
a second optical system that collects a plurality of light emitted from the first optical system, wherein an image can be formed at the focal point by the light beams emitted from each LED element
Data Source
AI summary
The light source device of the present invention has a light source unit having a plurality of LED elements; a first optical system that collimates each of light emitted from the light source unit; and a second optical system that collects a plurality of light emitted from the first optical system. At least one of the light source unit and the first optical system is provided with an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a positional relationship between the light source unit and the first optical system relative to each other.