Pixelated Ceramic Laser Phosphor for Heat and Beam Shape Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-power laser light sources face challenges in heat management, compact design, and control of beam shapes and spatial power distributions, particularly in applications requiring high brightness and thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A light generating system comprising an array of luminescent bodies with ceramic bodies and a light transmissive matrix, allowing for different beam shapes and spectral power distributions, improved heat management, and easier production through smaller luminescent bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single large phosphor body is used, then the device structure is simple, but heat management becomes difficult and brightness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphor body is divided into multiple smaller luminescent bodies (e.g., 1-10 mm diameter) distributed within the laser beam path. This segmentation allows heat to be distributed across multiple smaller volumes rather than concentrated in one large body, improving thermal management while maintaining structural simplicity through the modular arrangement of identical units.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single large phosphor body is used, then manufacturing is easier, but beam shape control and spatial power distribution become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple smaller luminescent bodies are used instead of one large phosphor crystal. Each small body can be independently manufactured with controlled dimensions (1-10 mm), and their collective arrangement enables precise control over beam shape and spatial power distribution by adjusting the number, position, and orientation of individual segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the laser beam interact with different luminescent bodies, allowing local control of conversion efficiency and emission characteristics. The spatial arrangement of luminescent bodies creates variations in local energy density and thermal conditions, enabling tailored beam shapes and spectral power distributions.
3Power
If higher power laser light is used, then brightness increases, but heat management challenges intensify
Solution Approach 1:
The high power laser beam is divided into multiple smaller effective interaction zones by distributing luminescent bodies throughout the beam path. This segmentation allows the total power to be handled through many small conversion events rather than one large thermal load, enabling higher overall power operation with improved heat management.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminescent bodies act as intermediary conversion elements between the laser beam and the final output light. Each body converts a portion of the laser energy, distributing the thermal load across multiple intermediaries rather than concentrating heat in a single phosphor mass, thereby enabling higher power operation.
4Volume of moving object
If compact high power devices are designed, then space efficiency improves, but heat management and beam control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple small luminescent bodies (1-10 mm each) are arranged in a compact volume, distributing the thermal load across many small segments within a limited space. This segmentation enables compact device design while maintaining effective heat management through the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminescent bodies are nested or densely packed within a compact housing structure, maximizing space utilization. The nested arrangement allows multiple conversion elements to occupy the same spatial volume efficiently, achieving compactness without compromising heat management due to the distributed thermal load.
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 enables control of beam shapes and spectral power distributions, optimizes heat management, and extends the lifetime of the luminescent arrangement by distributing heat more effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a (remote) phosphor converts laser light into converted light
Implementation Method 2
The phosphor may in embodiments be arranged on or inserted in a heatsink for improved thermal management
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B(I)~1B(V)
Figure 1C(IX)~1C(VIII)
AI summary
The invention provides a luminescent arrangement (2000) comprising an array (2005) of luminescent bodies (2100), and a matrix (2210) at least partly configured between the luminescent bodies (2100), wherein the luminescent bodies (2100) comprise a first luminescent material (2110), wherein the matrix (2210) comprise a light transmissive material (2215), wherein the light transmissive material (2215) comprises a second luminescent material (2220), wherein the first luminescent material (2110) and the light transmissive material (2215) are different materials; and wherein the luminescent bodies (2100) comprise ceramic bodies.