Phosphor Wheel Radial Segmentation for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phosphor wheels in projectors face efficiency issues due to high light source energy, leading to excessive temperature and reduced utilization of excited phosphor light, with the optimal light spot size being difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A phosphor wheel design featuring a base with both an excitation light reflecting section and a transmitting section, where the first and second phosphor layers are offset radially, allowing for partial light reflection and transmission to reduce temperature and enhance efficiency, combined with a light combining system to merge the excited light paths effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the light spot focused on the phosphor wheel is made small to reduce temperature, then the temperature of the phosphor is reduced, but the luminous flux of the excited phosphor light decreases and utilization efficiency is reduced due to etendue limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphor wheel is divided into multiple phosphor layers (first phosphor layer, second phosphor layer, third phosphor layer) arranged at different radial positions. Each layer receives a portion of the excitation light, allowing the light spot to be effectively distributed across multiple zones. This segmentation enables temperature reduction by spreading energy while maintaining total luminous flux output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane phosphor arrangement to a multi-layer radial structure. The phosphor layers are positioned at different radial distances from the rotation axis, creating a three-dimensional light interaction geometry. This dimensional change allows the excitation light to interact with phosphor material across multiple radial zones, effectively decoupling temperature control from luminous flux utilization.
2Temperature
If the light spot focused on the phosphor wheel is enlarged to reduce phosphor temperature, then the temperature of the phosphor is reduced and luminous flux increases, but the utilization efficiency of the excited phosphor light in the system is reduced due to etendue limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation light path is segmented to interact with multiple phosphor layers at different radial positions. The first phosphor layer is positioned closer to the excitation light source, the second phosphor layer at an intermediate radial position, and the third phosphor layer at a larger radial position. This segmentation allows efficient energy transfer at each interface while distributing thermal load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a continuous energy transfer chain through multiple phosphor layers. Excitation light transfers energy to the first phosphor layer, which emits light that excites the second phosphor layer, which in turn excites the third phosphor layer. This continuous cascading energy transfer maintains high utilization efficiency while distributing the thermal load across multiple layers.
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 design effectively reduces the phosphor wheel's temperature and doubles the excitation efficiency by optimizing the light spot size in both reflecting and transmitting regions, improving overall light efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Phosphor is excited by excitation light to generate red light, green light, or yellow light
Implementation Method 2
the base includes an excitation light reflecting section and an excitation light transmitting section
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to the field of projection technology and discloses a phosphor wheel, a light source module, and a projector. A phosphor wheel includes a base, a first phosphor layer, and a second phosphor layer. The base includes an excitation light reflecting section and an excitation light transmitting section. The first phosphor layer is disposed on a surface of the excitation light reflecting section facing a direction of incident light and spreading along a circumferential direction of the base. The second phosphor layer is disposed on a surface of the excitation light transmitting section facing away from the direction of incident light and spreading along a circumferential direction of the base. The first phosphor layer and the second phosphor layer are offset to each other in a radial direction of the base.