Phosphor Wheel Illumination System for Compact Laser Projectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing laser projector systems have a complex optical path structure with many optical elements, leading to high accumulated tolerance, assembly difficulties, and increased volume, which hinders accuracy and compactness.
Innovation Solution
The illumination system incorporates a phosphor wheel, a first lens, a reflector, and a light uniforming element, where the excitation beam passes through the lens three times in one sequence and the conversion beam passes through twice in another, sharing a common path to simplify the optical path and reduce tolerance, facilitating assembly and reducing volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple optical elements are used in the optical path structure, then the light can be properly directed and converted, but the accumulated tolerance increases and assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical elements (lens and reflector) into a integrated optical component structure. The phosphor wheel assembly integrates the phosphor material with optical elements, and the light uniforming element combines multiple optical functions in a single component, reducing the total number of separate optical elements while maintaining optical path accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The light uniforming element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it uniformizes light intensity, directs light through the optical path, and works with both the phosphor wheel and color filter wheel. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function
2Reliability
If multiple optical elements are used in the optical path structure, then the light conversion can be achieved, but the system volume becomes difficult to reduce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the phosphor wheel is positioned within the optical path structure, and the light uniforming element is integrated into the existing optical assembly. The color filter wheel and phosphor wheel share the same rotational axis and spatial envelope, allowing compact nesting of multiple functional components within a limited volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the rotational dimension of the phosphor wheel and color filter wheel to achieve light conversion and selection functions that would otherwise require linear arrangements of multiple stationary optical elements. This rotational approach compactifies the optical path in the longitudinal dimension while maintaining all necessary optical functions
3Ease of manufacture
If the optical path structure is simplified, then the accumulated tolerance is reduced and assembly is facilitated, but the light conversion function may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphor wheel assembly is designed to be self-aligning through its rotational mechanism, where the phosphor material naturally positions itself relative to the optical elements. The light uniforming element utilizes the existing light distribution from the laser array without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms, simplifying assembly while maintaining optical 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
This configuration results in a more accurate and compact optical system with reduced assembly complexity and volume, enhancing the overall performance of the illumination and projection apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The phosphor of the phosphor wheel will excite yellow light when the blue light hits the phosphor of the phosphor wheel
Implementation Method 2
The excitation beam passes through the first lens and then is transmitted to the phosphor wheel
Implementation Method 3
the phosphor wheel is configured to reflect the excitation beam to the first reflector, the first reflector reflects the excitation beam to the first lens
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system comprises an exciting light source, a phosphor wheel, a first lens, a first reflector, and a light uniforming element. The exciting light source emits an excitation beam. In a first time sequence, the phosphor wheel reflects the excitation beam to the first reflector, the first reflector reflects the excitation beam to the first lens and the excitation beam passes through the first lens and transmits to the light uniforming element. In a second time sequence, the phosphor wheel converts the excitation beam to a conversion beam, the conversion beam from the phosphor wheel passes through the first lens and transmits to the first reflector, the first reflector reflects the conversion beam to the first lens, the conversion beam passes through the first lens and transmits to the light uniforming element, the excitation beam and the conversion beam, sequentially and respectively transmits to the light uniforming element.