Light Source Device Direct Bonding Etendue Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light source devices using LEDs face a dilemma where increasing the light-emitting area to achieve high brightness results in decreased illumination efficiency due to the etendue effect, leading to increased power consumption and the need for cooling mechanisms, which complicates the design and size of the lighting device.
Innovation Solution
A light source device incorporating a light-emitting body, a dichroic film, and a wavelength converter with a larger incident surface than emission surface, directly bonded in a stacked configuration, to enhance light extraction efficiency by focusing fluorescence-converted light into a small area without increasing the etendue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light-emitting area is increased to achieve high brightness, then the brightness is improved, but the illumination efficiency decreases due to etendue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is divided into multiple LEDs arranged in an array, with each LED emitting light that is individually collected and guided through optical elements. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high total brightness while maintaining efficient light collection from each individual emitter, avoiding the etendue penalty of a single large-area source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple optical elements (lenses, reflectors) are positioned around and between the LED array elements. Each optical element is nested within the overall device structure, allowing compact integration of light collection, guidance, and emission functions while maintaining high illumination efficiency despite the multi-element light-emitting area.
2Illumination intensity
If the light-emitting area is increased to achieve high brightness, then the brightness is improved, but the device size increases due to required cooling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components: the optical elements serve both as light collection structures and as thermal management elements. The nested optical components are positioned to simultaneously guide light and facilitate heat dissipation from the LED array, eliminating the need for separate large cooling mechanisms and reducing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar light-emitting area to a three-dimensional nested structure. By arranging LEDs and optical elements in multiple layers and dimensions, the system achieves high brightness through volumetric light collection and emission rather than relying on a large two-dimensional area, thereby reducing the device's footprint and eliminating bulky cooling requirements.
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 improves light extraction efficiency, reducing the need for cooling mechanisms and enabling miniaturization of the light source device while maintaining high brightness without increasing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength converter configured to convert the first wavelength range light to second wavelength range light
Implementation Method 2
a light collector including a light collecting part configured to collect the second wavelength range light
Data Source
AI summary
A light source device according to the present disclosure includes a light-emitting body configured to emit first wavelength range light, a dichroic film configured to be able to selectively transmit the first wavelength range light, a wavelength converter that includes an incident surface on which the first wavelength range light is incident, and an emission surface configured to convert the first wavelength range light to second wavelength range light and subsequently emit, and for which the incident surface is set to be larger than the emission surface, and a light collector including a light collecting part configured to collect the second wavelength range light, wherein the light-emitting body, the dichroic film, and the wavelength converter are subjected to direct bonding, in a state of being stacked in this order, in an emission direction of the first wavelength range light from the light-emitting body.