Light Source Device for Projection Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projectors using high-pressure mercury lamps have short lifespans and require frequent maintenance, and the use of solid-state light sources like LEDs and lasers face efficiency issues due to the lower luminous efficiency of green and red lasers compared to blue lasers, leading to decreased brightness and increased thermal burden on fluorescent bodies.
Innovation Solution
A light source device comprising multiple wavelength conversion units and optical systems, where each unit emits light with a different wavelength, with synchronized irradiation timing to form adjacent or superimposed images, increasing light use efficiency and reducing thermal burden by using blue and ultraviolet excitation light to generate red and green light, thereby enhancing brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If green laser and red laser are used to generate green and red light, then color image projection is achieved, but luminous efficiency decreases compared to blue laser
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the excitation light from blue (higher efficiency) to green and red (lower efficiency) by using fluorescent conversion. Instead of directly using green and red lasers which have lower luminous efficiency, the system uses blue laser to excite fluorescent materials that convert the blue light to green and red wavelengths, thereby improving overall luminous efficiency while maintaining color image projection capability.
2Illumination intensity
If excitation light with several tens of watts is condensed and irradiated to fluorescent body, then sufficient brightness is achieved, but efficiency decreases due to burnout and temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single high-power irradiation system into multiple lower-power irradiation channels. Instead of condensing several tens of watts onto a single fluorescent body point which causes burnout and temperature increase, the system uses multiple blue laser sources that independently irradiate multiple fluorescent conversion regions, distributing the thermal load and improving reliability while maintaining sufficient brightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic switching between multiple wavelength conversion units. The system can switch between different fluorescent conversion regions (e.g., yellow fluorescent body for red light, green fluorescent body for green light) to distribute the operational stress and prevent localized burnout, thereby improving efficiency and reliability.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple fluorescent wheels are used to combine fluorescence, then brightness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wavelength conversion functions into a single integrated fluorescent conversion element. Instead of using multiple separate fluorescent wheels that need to be mechanically combined, the system integrates multiple fluorescent conversion regions (yellow fluorescent body, green fluorescent body) into one element that can be simultaneously or sequentially excited by blue laser, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining brightness improvement.
4Volume of moving object
If DLP single-chip method is used to achieve size reduction, then device size is reduced, but loss occurs when colors are switched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous illumination across multiple wavelength conversion regions to eliminate color switching loss. By using multiple blue laser sources that simultaneously or sequentially excite different fluorescent conversion regions without turning off the light source, the system maintains continuous useful action, avoiding the energy loss associated with color switching in single-chip DLP systems while keeping the device compact.
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 results in a brighter light source with improved light use efficiency and reduced thermal stress on wavelength conversion elements, leading to higher color purity and longer lifespan of the light source units.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength conversion region configured to receive light emitted from the light source and emit light with a wavelength different from a wavelength of the received light
Data Source
AI summary
A light source device includes a light source, a plurality of wavelength conversion units, and a plurality of optical systems. The plurality of wavelength conversion units each includes a wavelength conversion region configured to receive light emitted from the light source and emit light with a wavelength different from a wavelength of the received light. The plurality of optical systems are configured to form images of wavelength conversion regions of the plurality of wavelength conversion units. The light source is configured to irradiate the wavelength conversion units with light at a same timing. The plurality of optical systems are configured to cause the images of the wavelength conversion regions of the plurality of wavelength conversion units to be adjacent to or superimposed on each other.