Remote Phosphor Structure With Immersion Layer for Lower Optical Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote phosphor devices in lighting apparatuses suffer from optical losses due to reflection and acceptance losses caused by the gap between the phosphor wheel and the transmitting member, leading to inefficient wavelength conversion and heat management.
Innovation Solution
A phosphor device with a phosphor layer embedded in a reflecting member, where the transmitting member completely covers the phosphor layer, reducing the gap and incorporating an immersion layer to minimize optical losses, and a thermally conductive carrier member for improved heat dissipation, enhancing optical efficiency and heat removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the phosphor wheel is rotated to remove heat, then heat dissipation is improved, but optical losses increase due to the gap between phosphor wheel and transmitting member
Solution Approach 1:
An immersion layer with refractive index between air and glass is introduced into the gap between the transmitting member and phosphor layer. This intermediary substance reduces Fresnel reflection losses by providing a gradual refractive index transition, thereby minimizing optical energy loss while allowing the phosphor wheel to rotate for heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index parameter of the medium in the gap is changed from air (n=1.0) to an immersion layer with intermediate refractive index (e.g., n=1.3-1.5). This parameter change optimizes light transmission by reducing reflection losses at the interfaces, thereby decreasing optical energy loss while maintaining the rotating mechanism for thermal management.
2Temperature
If the gap between phosphor wheel and transmitting member is increased to facilitate heat removal, then heat management is improved, but acceptance losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The immersion layer serves as a mediator that fills the gap between the transmitting member and phosphor layer. This allows maintaining a larger physical separation for heat management while the immersion layer ensures optimal optical coupling, preventing acceptance losses by matching refractive indices and reducing reflection.
3Device complexity
If the phosphor layer is coated on a carrier plate, then device structure is simplified, but optical efficiency decreases due to reflection and acceptance losses
Solution Approach 1:
The immersion layer is introduced as an intermediary substance between the transmitting member and phosphor layer, reducing Fresnel reflection losses at the air-glass and air-phosphor interfaces. This simple addition significantly improves optical efficiency without complicating the overall device structure or requiring fundamental redesign of the phosphor coating approach.
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
Significantly reduces optical losses and thermal impact on the phosphor, improving the overall efficiency of the phosphor device by minimizing reflection and acceptance losses and facilitating effective heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
The phosphor is excited by exciting light, e.g. visible blue laser light (450 nm), impinging on the phosphor. The exciting laser light is wavelength-converted by the phosphor to generate light with longer wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
a reflecting member having a side surface portion and a bottom portion, the reflecting member being arranged at the upper face of the carrier member; a phosphor layer being embedded in the reflecting member
Implementation Method 3
a thermally conductive carrier member for improved heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
A phosphor device comprising a carrier member having upper and lower faces; a reflecting member having a side surface portion and a bottom portion, the reflecting member being arranged at the upper face of the carrier member; a phosphor layer being embedded in the reflecting member; a transmitting member having a first end face and a second end face, the transmitting member being arranged on the phosphor layer, wherein the first end face of the transmitting member completely covers the top portion of the phosphor layer.