Light Source Unit With Inclined Optical Element For High Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light source units face challenges in increasing optical output while maintaining a small size and high coupling efficiency with the optical system, as increasing the number of light sources leads to larger units and reduced coupling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A light source unit configuration featuring a semiconductor laser array with multiple light-emitting points, collimator lenses, and inclined optical elements that collimate beams and distribute heat generation sources efficiently, allowing for high optical output and small size with improved coupling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the number of light sources is increased to achieve higher optical output, then the optical output is improved, but the size of the light source unit is increased and coupling efficiency with the optical system is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical outputVSAvoidsize of light source unit

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple light sources are combined into a single integrated light source unit with a unified optical system. The patent describes a light source unit where multiple light sources share common optical components including a single collimator lens, single reflecting mirror, and single condensing lens, merging what would traditionally be separate optical systems into one compact unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical components in the light source unit serve multiple functions and multiple light sources simultaneously. The single collimator lens collimates beams from multiple light sources, the reflecting mirror reflects and focuses beams from all sources, and the condensing lens condenses the combined luminous fluxes, making each component universal rather than dedicated to a single light source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If the number of light sources is increased to achieve higher optical output, then the optical output is improved, but the coupling efficiency with the optical system is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical outputVSAvoidcoupling efficiency with optical system

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical components are designed with specific local properties optimized for handling multiple light sources. The collimator lens has a diameter and focal length configured to accommodate beams from multiple sources, the reflecting mirror has specific curvature and positioning to reflect and focus combined beams, and the condensing lens is positioned and sized to efficiently collect and condense the combined luminous fluxes onto the optical system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration achieves high optical output, efficient heat dissipation, and high coupling efficiency with the optical system, enabling small-sized light source units for applications like projectors and industrial processing.

Implementation Method 1

a collimator lens configured to transmit the outgoing beams

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCollimation: Lens

Implementation Method 2

an optical element including incident surfaces having different inclination angles with respect to a principal surface for the respective plurality of outgoing beams

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9869453B2Light source, light source unit, and light source module using same

Publication Date: 2018.01.16 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a light source, a light source unit, and a light source module that have small sizes, high output, and high coupling efficiency with an optical system, and further, can efficiently dissipate heat generation sources to exhaust heat. In the light source unit of the present disclosure, the light source is a semiconductor laser array. This configuration can realize high output of the light source, and high output of the whole light source unit. The light source unit includes a lens that converts outgoing beams to parallel beams, and an optical element having a plurality of optical surfaces with different minute inclination angles with respect to a principal surface. The minute inclination angles of the plurality of optical surfaces that intersect with optical rays of the plurality of outgoing beams passing through a principal point of the lens are opposite to one another with respect to the principal surface.