Light Source Unit Cooling via Segmented Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source units experience increased temperature and reduced brightness due to heat generated by phosphor emission, particularly affecting red semiconductor lasers, leading to inefficient brightness maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A light source unit with separate circulation units for the light tunnel and phosphor wheel, using heat-receiving and heat-radiating heat sinks connected by heat pipes, and cooling fans to manage temperature, preventing heat transfer between units and maintaining brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single circulation cooling construction is used for the entire light source unit, then the structure is simple, but the temperature increase near red semiconductor lasers becomes excessive causing brightness reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The light source unit is divided into two separate circulation units: a light tunnel-side circulation unit and a phosphor wheel-side circulation unit. Each unit has its own circulation fan and heat receiving heat sink, allowing independent temperature control. This segmentation prevents the high temperature generated by the phosphor wheel from affecting the red semiconductor lasers in the light tunnel, thereby resolving the brightness reduction issue while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If the number of red semiconductor lasers or their current value is increased to maintain brightness, then the brightness is maintained, but the heat generation and internal air temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cooling system into separate circulation units, the patent enables effective heat removal from the light tunnel side without being overwhelmed by heat from the phosphor wheel side. This allows red semiconductor lasers to operate at optimal current levels for maximum brightness efficiency, rather than requiring excessive current that would waste electrical energy and generate more heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The light tunnel-side heat receiving heat sink acts as an intermediary heat exchange component, specifically capturing and removing heat from the light tunnel circulation unit before it can affect the red semiconductor lasers. This intermediary heat removal mechanism enables efficient brightness maintenance without the need to increase laser current or number of lasers, thereby preserving electrical input efficiency.
3Reliability
If a sealed space construction is used to prevent dust infiltration, then dustproof performance is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed space is segmented into two independent circulation units, each with its own air circulation and heat exchange system. This allows each unit to be optimized for its specific thermal characteristics while maintaining the overall sealed dustproof structure. The separate heat receiving heat sinks and circulation fans in each unit enable effective heat dissipation without compromising the sealed construction's dustproof performance.
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 temperature increases near red solid-state light sources, minimizing brightness reduction and maintaining efficient electrical input efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-radiating heat sink that is connected to the light-tunnel-side heat-receiving heat sink and to the phosphor wheel-side heat-receiving heat sink by means of a heat pipe
Implementation Method 2
a light tunnel-side circulation fan that supplies and circulates gas that has passed the light-tunnel-side heat-receiving heat sink through the light-tunnel-side circulation unit and toward the light-tunnel-side heat-receiving heat sink
Implementation Method 3
a light tunnel-side heat-receiving heat sink that is provided in the light-tunnel-side circulation unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention realizes a light source unit and a method of cooling the light source unit that reduces any increase in the ambient temperature of a red solid-state light source and thus reduces any decrease in brightness of the red solid-state light source. The light source unit has: a wall having a window, the wall being provided between a light tunnel-side circulation unit that accommodates a light tunnel that is irradiated by the output light of a solid-state light source and a phosphor wheel-side circulation unit that accommodates a phosphor wheel that is excited by the emitted light of the light tunnel; a light tunnel-side heat-receiving heat sink that is provided in the light tunnel-side circulation unit; a phosphor wheel-side heat-receiving heat sink provided in the phosphor wheel-side circulation unit, a heat-radiating heat sink that is connected to the light tunnel-side heat-receiving heat sink and to the phosphor wheel-side heat-receiving heat sink by means of a heat pipe; and a cooling fan that cools the heat-radiating heat sink.