Rotor Cooling Mechanism for Projector Light Source Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing light source apparatus for projectors faces challenges in efficiently cooling the phosphor wheel due to heat accumulation in a closed space, making it difficult to prevent dust entry and maintain optical component cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus with a ventilation structure that includes a rotor with a wavelength conversion region outside the housing, a ventilation passage for cooling air supply, and a lens unit that forms part of the ventilation passage to minimize air resistance and dust entry, ensuring efficient cooling and dust prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the phosphor wheel is housed in a closed space to prevent dust from attaching to the phosphor layer, then dust protection is improved, but heat accumulation occurs making cooling difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing into two separate spaces: a closed space containing the light source and optical components for dust protection, and a ventilation passage containing the phosphor wheel for effective cooling. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal environment without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The phosphor wheel is extracted from the closed housing space and placed in a separate ventilation passage. This extraction enables the phosphor wheel to be cooled effectively by air flow while the housing remains closed to protect the light source and optical components from dust.
2Temperature
If heat radiation fins are formed at the outer periphery of the casing or vanes are formed on the phosphor wheel substrate to cool the rotor, then cooling capability is improved, but cooling efficiency remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ventilation passage that allows air to flow through the phosphor wheel region, using pneumatic cooling (air flow) to remove heat from the phosphor wheel. This approach is more efficient than passive heat radiation fins because it actively removes heat through convection.
3Temperature
If cooling air is supplied to the phosphor wheel in the ventilation passage, then cooling efficiency is improved, but dust may enter the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the housing into a closed space for the light source and optical components, and a separate ventilation passage for the phosphor wheel. This segmentation ensures that cooling air flows only through the ventilation passage where the phosphor wheel is located, preventing dust from entering the closed space containing the optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The phosphor wheel is extracted from the closed housing space and placed in a separate ventilation passage. This extraction allows cooling air to be supplied to the phosphor wheel without risking dust entry into the housing, as the two spaces are physically separated.
4Device complexity
If the wavelength conversion region is arranged inside the housing, then structural compactness is improved, but cooling of the rotor becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength conversion region (phosphor wheel) is extracted from the housing and placed in a separate ventilation passage. This extraction prioritizes cooling efficiency over structural compactness, as the phosphor wheel generates significant heat that requires active cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent rearranges the spatial arrangement of components by placing the phosphor wheel in a ventilation passage that extends outside the housing. This dimensional reorganization allows the phosphor wheel to access cooling air from the environment while the housing remains compact and closed.
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 solution effectively cools the rotor and prevents dust from entering the housing, maintaining the optical components' cleanliness and improving the light source apparatus's efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
cooling air is supplied to the rotor in the ventilation passage
Implementation Method 2
heat from the light source is easily accumulated in the closed space
Implementation Method 3
an optical device that collects light from the light source at a light collecting position
Implementation Method 4
a phosphor wheel having a substrate that is rotatable about a predetermined rotation axis and a phosphor layer including phosphor disposed on the substrate, and irradiating the phosphor wheel with light to provide fluorescence light
Implementation Method 5
wavelength conversion region that is arranged on a light irradiation region which is irradiated with light
Data Source
AI summary
[Solving Means] A light source apparatus includes a light source unit, a rotor, and a ventilation structure. The light source unit includes a light source, an optical device that collects light from the light source at a light collecting position, and a housing having an opening at the light collecting position that houses the light source and the optical device. The rotor has a wavelength conversion region that is arranged on a light irradiation region which is irradiated with light, the light being collected at the light collecting position and emitted outside the housing via the opening, the rotor being disposed rotatably about a rotation axis. In the ventilation passage, at least a part of the rotor is arranged.