Light Guide and Wavelength Converter Integration for Compact Projectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source apparatuses for projectors require separate components to generate white light, leading to increased size and complexity, as they need to combine different colored lights emitted by phosphors with blue light from LEDs, resulting in a larger and more cumbersome system.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus that includes a light guide, a wavelength converter with phosphor, and a light combiner, where the light guide and wavelength converter are disposed side by side, allowing blue light from LEDs to be guided and converted into yellow fluorescence, which is then combined with blue light to produce white light, reducing the overall size and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate components are used to generate white light by combining blue light and yellow fluorescence, then the light source can produce the required white light, but the size and complexity of the light source apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light guide and wavelength converter into a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate components to generate and combine blue light and yellow fluorescence. The light guide serves dual functions: guiding blue light and housing the wavelength converter that generates yellow fluorescence, which are then automatically combined within the same structure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining white light generation capability
2Illumination intensity
If additional phosphor light sources are added to generate white light, then the illumination capability is improved, but the etendue and size of the projector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it guides blue light from the LED, houses the wavelength converter that generates yellow fluorescence, and combines both wavelengths to produce white light. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional separate phosphor light sources, maintaining high illumination capability while minimizing the projector's overall size and etendue
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 enables a compact light source apparatus capable of producing white light efficiently, reducing the size and etendue of the projector while maintaining high light use efficiency, without the need for additional phosphor light sources or complex optical systems.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength converter including a phosphor that emits second light having a wavelength band different from the wavelength band of the excitation light when the wavelength converter is excited with the excitation light emitted from the light source section
Data Source
AI summary
A light source apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a light source section that emits first light and excitation light having a first wavelength band, a light guide that causes the first light emitted from the light source section to propagate, a wavelength converter including a phosphor that emits second light having a wavelength band different from the wavelength band of the excitation light when the wavelength converter is excited with the excitation light emitted from the light source section, and a light combiner that combines the first light having exited out of the light guide with the second light having exited out of the wavelength converter. The light guide and the wavelength converter are disposed side by side, and a light transmissive member that transmits the first light is provided between the light source section and the light guide.