Light-Emitting Device With Segmented Glass-Resin Optical Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light-emitting devices using glass fibers are expensive, and substituting with resin materials is hindered by their inability to tolerate heat from excitation sources, necessitating a cost-effective solution that mitigates heat effects.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device comprising a solid-state blue-based light-emitting element, a wavelength converting member producing secondary light with longer wavelengths, a first light-guiding member made of heat-resistant materials, and a second light-guiding member using resin materials, connected by an optical connector with a numerical aperture converter to manage heat and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If resin materials are used for light-guiding members to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but heat tolerance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding system is divided into two segments: a first light-guiding member made of heat-resistant glass material positioned near the excitation light source, and a second light-guiding member made of inexpensive resin material positioned away from the heat source. This segmentation allows each material to be used in its optimal thermal environment, resolving the contradiction between cost and heat tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector acts as an intermediary component between the glass-based first light-guiding member and the resin-based second light-guiding member. The connector includes a numerical aperture converting member that optically couples these two different material systems, enabling light transmission from the heat-resistant glass section to the cost-effective resin section while protecting the resin from direct heat exposure.
2Temperature
If glass fiber yarn is used for light-guiding members to ensure heat tolerance, then heat resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat resistance is applied locally only where needed - in the first light-guiding member that is positioned close to the excitation light source. The second light-guiding member, which is positioned away from the heat source, uses inexpensive resin material. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction by providing heat tolerance only in the critical high-temperature zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding system is segmented into a heat-resistant glass portion near the source and a cost-effective resin portion farther away, with each segment optimized for its specific functional requirements. This segmentation allows the expensive heat-resistant material to be used minimally only where thermal exposure is significant.
3Ease of manufacture
If resin materials are used for light-guiding members to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but reliability under heat exposure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the light-guiding function into two parts: the first light-guiding member made of heat-resistant glass ensures reliable light transmission in the high-temperature zone near the excitation source, while the second light-guiding member made of resin provides cost-effective light guidance in the lower-temperature zone, achieving both reliability and cost reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector serves as a protective intermediary that interfaces between the heat-resistant glass light-guiding member and the resin light-guiding member. By positioning the resin material away from the excitation light source and using the connector to bridge the optical paths, the system ensures the resin operates in a thermally safe environment, maintaining reliability while reducing cost.
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 reduces the impact of heat from generation sources while lowering manufacturing costs, making the device suitable for applications like endoscopes where disposability and infection prevention are critical.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength converting member that emits secondary light, the secondary light including wavelength-converted light, the wavelength-converted light being the primary light converted into light having more long-wavelength components than the primary light
Implementation Method 2
a first light-guiding member that transmits the secondary light emitted by the wavelength converting member
Implementation Method 3
a second light-guiding member which includes a resin material, and transmits the secondary light transmitted by the first light-guiding member
Implementation Method 4
the connector including a numerical aperture (NA) converting member that optically connects a transmission path in the first light-guiding member and a transmission path in the second light-guiding member
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting device includes: a laser light source that radiates blue-based light as primary light; a wavelength converting member that emits secondary light, the secondary light including wavelength-converted light, the wavelength-converted light being the primary light converted into light having more long-wavelength components than the primary light; a first light-guiding member that transmits the secondary light emitted by the wavelength converting member; and a second light-guiding member which includes a resin material, and transmits the secondary light transmitted by the first light-guiding member, and the first light-guiding member and the second light-guiding member are connected by a connector, the connector including a numerical aperture (NA) converting member that optically connects a transmission path in the first light-guiding member and a transmission path in the second light-guiding member.