Light Source Apparatus with Segmented Support for Fluorescence Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source apparatuses for projectors face challenges in suppressing fluorescence loss due to reflection at heat conductive members and in maintaining wavelength conversion efficiency due to temperature rises in the phosphor.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus comprising a light emitter, a light guiding member with specific surfaces for light exit and support, and a support member with contact and non-contact sections to manage heat transfer and minimize fluorescence loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the phosphor and heat conductive member are in contact, then heat transfer is improved, but fluorescence loss increases due to reflection at the heat conductive member
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is segmented into contact sections and noncontact sections. The contact sections provide thermal conduction paths for heat dissipation, while the noncontact sections allow fluorescence to pass through without reflection loss. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by spatially separating the heat transfer function from the light transmission function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support surface have different properties: contact sections have high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation, while noncontact sections have optical transparency for fluorescence transmission. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
2Loss of energy
If the phosphor and heat conductive member are separated, then fluorescence loss is reduced, but temperature of phosphor increases causing decreased wavelength conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into contact sections that provide thermal conduction and noncontact sections that allow light transmission. This segmentation enables simultaneous heat dissipation and fluorescence extraction without the trade-off present in fully contacted or fully separated configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact sections act as thermal intermediaries, conducting heat away from the phosphor through the support member while the noncontact sections allow fluorescence to pass through to the external environment. This intermediary structure enables independent optimization of thermal and optical paths.
3Temperature
If the support surface is fully in contact with the light guiding member, then heat transfer is maximized, but fluorescence intensity decreases due to reflection loss
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is segmented into contact sections for thermal management and noncontact sections for optical transmission. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both effective heat dissipation and high fluorescence intensity by preventing reflection loss at the noncontact sections.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire support surface contact the light guiding member for heat transfer, the invention inverts the approach by creating controlled noncontact sections. This inversion allows fluorescence to exit without reflection loss while contact sections provide adequate thermal management.
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 suppresses fluorescence loss and maintains wavelength conversion efficiency, enabling the production of desired intensity fluorescence.
Implementation Method 1
When the phosphor and the heat conductive member are separate from each other and the surface of the phosphor is in contact with an air layer, the fluorescence is guided while totally reflected off the surface of the phosphor
Implementation Method 2
a light source apparatus using fluorescence emitted from a phosphor when the phosphor is irradiated with excitation light outputted from a light emitter
Implementation Method 3
a rod-shaped phosphor that converts the excitation light into fluorescence
Implementation Method 4
The support surface has a contact section that is in contact with the third surface and a noncontact section that is not in contact with the third surface
Data Source
AI summary
A light source apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a light emitter that outputs light, a light guiding member that guides the light outputted from the light emitter, and a support member that supports the light guiding member. The light guiding member has a first surface and a second surface that intersect with the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member and are located on sides opposite from each other, and a third surface that intersects with the first and second surfaces, and causes light to exit via the first surface. The support member has a support surface that faces the third surface of the light guiding member. The support surface has a contact section that is in contact with the third surface and a noncontact section that is not in contact with the third surface. The third surface is a planar surface, and the contact section is a planar surface.