Projector Light Source Beam Shaping for Lower Heat Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing projectors using a light source that illuminates a liquid crystal panel by temporally scanning with a polygon mirror suffer from high light density in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, leading to potential damage and reduced reliability due to heat.
Innovation Solution
A light source system that includes a light source section emitting beams, a light enlargement system to generate enlarged light along a specific axis, and a light scanning section to scan the enlarged light in an orthogonal direction, with beam cross-sections having a long side and short side orientation, and a superimposing system to enhance light uniformity and reduce heat-related damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a polygon mirror is used to illuminate the liquid crystal panel by temporal scanning, then the light can be scanned across the panel, but the light density becomes high in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, causing heat-related damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the beam cross-section relative to the scanning direction. By making the short side of the beam cross-section aligned with the scanning direction and the long side orthogonal to it, the illumination pattern is transformed from a concentrated vertical strip to a distributed horizontal pattern, reducing light density in the orthogonal direction while maintaining scanning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an asymmetric beam cross-section with distinct long and short sides. This asymmetric geometry is deliberately oriented so that the short side is along the scanning direction, creating an asymmetric illumination pattern that distributes light more evenly across the panel in the orthogonal direction, thereby reducing heat concentration
2Area of stationary object
If the light is enlarged along the first axis, then the illumination area is increased, but the light density in the orthogonal direction becomes concentrated, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The light enlargement is performed specifically along the first axis (short side direction), while the beam maintains its extended structure along the second axis (long side direction). This dimensional selective enlargement increases the overall illumination area without concentrating light density in the orthogonal direction, thereby improving reliability
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 effectively illuminates the entire image formation region with reduced light density, enhancing image brightness and projector reliability by suppressing heat-induced damage to components.
Implementation Method 1
a light enlargement system that generates an enlarged light by enlarging the light along a first axis
Implementation Method 2
a light scanning section that scans with the enlarged light incident from the light enlargement system in a direction along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis in the illuminated region
Data Source
AI summary
A light source according to the present disclosure includes a light source section that emits a light including a first beam, a light enlargement system that generates an enlarged light by enlarging the light along a first axis, a superimposing system that superimposes the enlarged light emitted from the light enlargement system on an illuminated region, and a light scanning section that scans with the enlarged light incident from the light enlargement system in a direction along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis in the illuminated region, wherein a cross section of the first beam along a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of the light enlargement system has a shape having a long side and a short side, and the short side of the first beam is along the first axis.