Optical Device Multiple Focusing Spots Phosphor Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices face challenges in achieving a compact design while maintaining high light power, particularly due to thermal stress and efficiency issues with phosphors, especially at high light powers, which leads to increased costs and larger structural volumes.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple focusing spots on a phosphor, arranged in a focusing plane perpendicular to the optical axis, allows for more uniform thermal stress and temperature distribution, improving phosphor reliability and reducing internal stresses, with the option to easily switch between different phosphors and conversion lights by positioning focusing spots on various phosphors or using a stationary phosphor configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single focusing spot is used on the phosphor, then the optical device can be simpler in design, but the thermal stress on the phosphor becomes concentrated and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The single focusing spot is segmented into multiple focusing spots (at least two) that are distributed across the phosphor surface. This segmentation distributes the thermal load across multiple locations, preventing concentrated thermal stress and improving phosphor reliability while maintaining a relatively simple optical device design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the phosphor are utilized by positioning multiple focusing spots at different locations on the phosphor surface. This creates local quality variations in thermal distribution, where each focusing spot creates a localized heating region rather than a single concentrated hot spot, thereby improving overall phosphor reliability.
2Temperature
If the phosphor wheel is enlarged to compensate for heat dissipation, then the thermal management improves, but the structural volume and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of enlarging the phosphor wheel to improve heat dissipation, the invention segments the light input into multiple focusing spots on the phosphor surface. This allows the same or smaller phosphor wheel to dissipate heat more effectively by distributing the thermal load across multiple locations, thereby maintaining compact dimensions while improving thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-point thermal management approach to a multi-point distributed approach across the phosphor surface. By utilizing the two-dimensional surface area of the phosphor for multiple focusing spots, the system improves heat dissipation without increasing the overall volume of the phosphor wheel or optical device.
3Reliability
If a rotating phosphor wheel is used to distribute light power, then thermal stress is reduced, but the device complexity and mechanical components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the light beam into multiple focusing spots that can be positioned at different locations on the phosphor surface. This segmentation achieves thermal stress distribution similar to a rotating phosphor wheel, but without requiring mechanical rotation, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical rotation system is replaced by an optical segmentation approach. Instead of physically rotating the phosphor wheel to distribute light power, the invention uses optical means to create multiple focusing spots on a stationary phosphor, substituting mechanical complexity with optical simplicity while achieving the same thermal management goal.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple phosphors are used for different wavelengths, then the spectral coverage improves, but the device complexity and alignment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the light processing into multiple focusing spots, each of which can be positioned on different phosphor materials with different spectral characteristics. This allows multiple phosphors to be used for different wavelengths without requiring complex mechanical switching, as the segmented focusing spots can independently address different phosphor regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from temporal multiplexing (rotation) to spatial multiplexing by positioning multiple focusing spots at different locations on the phosphor surface. This allows different phosphors to be arranged in space rather than time, improving spectral coverage while reducing mechanical complexity by eliminating the need for rotation.
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
This approach enables a more compact and efficient optical device with improved phosphor utilization, reduced thermal stresses, and enhanced reliability, allowing for flexible conversion light generation and color adjustment without the need for a rotating phosphor wheel.
Implementation Method 1
a conversion apparatus (12) including at least one phosphor (22, 24, 26) which is designed to convert light having the at least one predefinable wavelength into conversion light
Implementation Method 2
a light-imaging component (14) configured to focus light fed to the light-imaging component in at least one focusing spot
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device is provided including a light-imaging component configured to focus light fed to the light-imaging component in at least one focusing spot, wherein the light fed includes at least one predefinable wavelength; and a conversion apparatus including at least one phosphor which is designed to convert light having the at least one predefinable wavelength into conversion light, wherein the conversion apparatus is arranged in such a way that the at least one phosphor is arranged in the focusing spot of the light-imaging component. The light-imaging component is configured to generate at least two focusing spots, and the conversion apparatus is arranged in such a way that the at least two focusing spots are positioned on the at least one phosphor.