Microlens Array Illumination Layout for Speckle and Energy Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems using three-color pure laser and phosphor light face issues such as laser speckle, limited brightness, and light energy loss due to overlapping wavebands, which affect light uniformity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system with a light source module, wavelength conversion device, and microlens array module that guides blue and green laser beams separately to different regions of the microlens array, using a first and second light guiding assembly to form uniform illumination beams by overlapping green, blue, and phosphor light spots on the microlens array.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If green or red laser is combined with phosphor light to overlap light paths, then light energy loss occurs due to waveband overlap requiring sacrifice of light, but this would improve illumination efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the microlens array into multiple regions, with each region receiving specific laser wavelengths (red, green, blue) or phosphor light separately. This spatial segmentation allows independent optimization of each light path without waveband interference, eliminating the need to sacrifice light from overlapping wavebands while maintaining high illumination efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from temporal/mixed light path combination to spatial separation by distributing different light sources to different regions of the microlens array. This dimensional change from overlapping paths to parallel spatial paths resolves the waveband conflict while preserving energy from all light sources.
2Loss of energy
If green or red laser and phosphor light are incident to different positions of light uniformizing element, then light energy loss is avoided, but this causes poor light uniformity of illumination system
Solution Approach 1:
The microlens array is segmented into multiple functional regions, each receiving specific light sources. The uniformity is achieved not by mixing all lights at one position, but by ensuring each region receives uniform illumination from its designated source, and the overall uniformity emerges from the coordinated arrangement of these segmented regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the microlens array are assigned different light sources (red laser, green laser, blue laser, phosphor light) based on local requirements. Each region is optimized for its specific light source characteristics, achieving local uniformity that collectively produces overall uniform illumination while preserving all light energy.
3Illumination intensity
If three-color pure laser is used for illumination, then brightness can be increased, but laser speckle problems occur and brightness is limited by packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three-color pure laser with phosphor light in a unified illumination system. The phosphor light component helps suppress laser speckle while the laser components maintain high brightness. This merging allows the system to achieve high brightness without being limited by packaging constraints, as phosphor conversion enables more flexible light generation.
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 system achieves improved light uniformity and reduced energy loss by separating laser beams and guiding them to distinct regions, enhancing overall illumination efficiency and brightness.
Implementation Method 1
the wavelength conversion region is configured to convert the plurality of blue laser beams to generate a phosphor light beam
Implementation Method 2
the microlens array module is disposed in a transmission path of the plurality of green laser beams, the plurality of blue laser beams and the phosphor light beam
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of green laser beams, the plurality of blue laser beams and the phosphor light beam are emitted from a second side surface of the microlens array module to serve as the illumination beam
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system and a projection apparatus are provided. The illumination system includes a light source module, a wavelength conversion device, a first light guiding assembly, a second light guiding assembly and a microlens array module. The light source module is configured to provide a plurality of green and blue laser beams. The wavelength conversion device is configured to generate a phosphor light beam. The first light guiding assembly and the second light guiding assembly are configured to respectively guide the phosphor light beam and the green laser beams. The phosphor light beam forms a phosphor light spot on a first region of a first side surface of the microlens array module. The plurality of green laser beams form a plurality of green light spots on a second region of the first side surface of the microlens array module. The first region is adjacent to the second region.