Rotatable Color Wheel Light Module for Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current green and red phosphors in LARP light modules have emission spectra that are not well-suited for demanding projection applications, requiring additional filters which increase complexity, cost, and space.
Innovation Solution
A light module design with a rotatable color wheel having sectors with wavelength conversion elements and a partially light-transmissive region allows for wavelength filtering without an additional filter wheel, using static filters to adjust emission spectra efficiently and compactly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a filter wheel synchronized with the color wheel is used to shift dominant wavelengths, then the spectral matching for projection applications is improved, but the device complexity, cost, and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filter wheel and color wheel into a single integrated color wheel structure. The wavelength conversion elements (phosphors) are applied directly to the color wheel sectors, eliminating the need for a separate filter wheel. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining spectral matching capability through the wavelength conversion properties of the phosphor materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The color wheel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the rotating element for sequential phosphor excitation and as the carrier for wavelength conversion elements. The same structural component (color wheel) performs both the timing/sequencing function and the spectral conversion function, reducing the need for additional specialized components.
2Manufacturing precision
If a filter wheel synchronized with the color wheel is used to shift dominant wavelengths, then the spectral matching for projection applications is improved, but the space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the filter wheel and color wheel into a single integrated structure, the patent eliminates the additional space that would be required for a separate filter wheel assembly, its mounting structure, and the synchronization mechanism. The wavelength conversion elements are applied directly to the color wheel, consolidating the optical path and reducing overall device footprint.
3Device complexity
If current green and red phosphors are used, then the light module structure is simple, but the emission spectra are not well suited for demanding projection applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the system by introducing wavelength conversion elements (phosphors) with specific emission characteristics. By selecting phosphors with appropriate dominant wavelengths and emission spectra, the system achieves improved spectral quality for projection applications while maintaining the fundamental LARP structure. The parameter change occurs at the material level rather than the structural level.
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 enhances the addressable color space with improved spectral matching for projection applications, reducing complexity and cost by eliminating the need for a separate filter wheel and synchronizing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength conversion element is arranged in a first region at least in one of the sectors, which is designed to convert radiation having a wavelength in a first wavelength range into light having a dominant wavelength in a second wavelength range
Implementation Method 2
at least one subregion of the second region is embodied as at least partly light-transmissive, wherein at least one part of the light emitted by the at least one wavelength conversion element can be guided through the at least one subregion to an output of the light module
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments relate to a light module having an excitation radiation source, a rotatable color wheel having a plurality of sectors which can be irradiated sequentially by the excitation radiation source upon a rotation of the color wheel. In this case, a wavelength conversion element is arranged in a first region at least in one of the sectors. Furthermore, at least one subregion of a second region of the color wheel is embodied as at least partly light-transmissive, and at least one part of the light emitted by the at least one wavelength conversion element can be guided through said subregion to an output of the light module.