Integrated LED Phosphor Light Source for Compact Projectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source devices for projectors require separate light sources and optical systems to produce white light, leading to increased size and complexity, as they need to combine different colored lights, which complicates the design and makes the devices larger.
Innovation Solution
A light source device configuration that includes a light guide body, a wavelength conversion section with phosphor, and a light combining section, where blue light from a light emitting diode (LED) is used to excite the phosphor, producing yellow light, which is then combined with the blue light to create white light, reducing the device's size and complexity by eliminating the need for separate blue light sources and optical systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate light sources and optical systems are used to produce white light, then the light source device can achieve the required illumination, but the device size and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the blue light source (LED) and yellow phosphor converter into a single integrated illumination unit. The blue LED emits light that directly excites the yellow phosphor material, and the combination of blue and yellow light produces white light output. This merging eliminates the need for separate light sources and complex optical combining systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining white light illumination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blue LED serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the primary light source for blue wavelength illumination and as the excitation source for the yellow phosphor converter. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, as one light source performs the work that would traditionally require separate blue light source and yellow light source, thereby simplifying the overall optical system structure.
2Illumination intensity
If separate light sources and optical systems are used to produce white light, then the light source device can achieve the required illumination, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the blue LED and yellow phosphor converter into a compact integrated unit where the phosphor converter is positioned in close proximity to the LED chip. This integration dramatically reduces the spatial footprint compared to separate light sources and optical combining systems, thereby reducing the overall volume of the light source device while maintaining effective white light output.
Solution Approach 2:
The yellow phosphor converter is nested in close proximity to the blue LED chip, with the phosphor material positioned to directly receive excitation light from the LED. This nested arrangement minimizes the distance between components and eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and optical pathways, thereby compacting the device volume while preserving illumination functionality.
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 configuration efficiently produces white light with a compact design, improving light use efficiency and reducing the size of the light source device while maintaining high efficiency in light projection, allowing for a more streamlined projector setup.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength conversion section including a phosphor which is excited by another part of the first light emitted from the light source section and transmitted though the light guide body, and emits second light
Data Source
AI summary
A light source device includes a light source section configured to emit first light, a light guide body configured to propagate a part of the first light, a wavelength conversion section including a phosphor which is excited by another part of the first light and transmitted though the light guide body, and emits second light, and a light combining section configured to combine the part of the first and second lights together. The light guide body includes a first and a second side surface opposed to each other, and the wavelength conversion section includes a third and a fourth side surface opposed to each other. The light source section is disposed at a position opposed to the first side surface, and the light guide body and wavelength conversion section are disposed in parallel to each other so that the second and third side surfaces are opposed to each other.