Rotating Diffuser Light Source Apparatus for Projector Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source apparatuses for projectors face issues with heat buildup in phosphor layers due to continuous excitation light incidence, leading to reduced fluorescence conversion efficiency, and inefficient fluorescence collection due to wide excitation light ranges.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus with a wavelength converter, optical element, and light collector, where the optical element and light collector are rotated around a shared axis, shifting the excitation light path to avoid continuous local incidence and reduce the excitation light range, thereby improving heat dissipation and fluorescence collection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If excitation light continuously illuminates the same location in the phosphor layer, then the phosphor layer can be effectively excited to generate fluorescence, but the temperature at the excitation light incident position rises, reducing fluorescence conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotating diffuser that continuously changes the incident position of excitation light on the phosphor layer. This dynamic movement distributes the thermal load across different regions, preventing localized overheating while maintaining continuous fluorescence generation. The rotation speed and diffuser design ensure that each location receives excitation light intermittently rather than continuously, effectively managing heat accumulation.
2Temperature
If the excitation light incident position is changed by moving the light collection optical system or changing the angle of the optical member, then heat buildup is reduced, but the excitation light spreads over a wide range in the phosphor layer, causing fluorescence to spread and reducing collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the excitation light path by introducing a rotating diffuser that divides the concentrated excitation beam into multiple dispersed beams. This segmentation allows the excitation light to cover a controlled area of the phosphor layer without excessive spreading, maintaining both heat management and fluorescence collection efficiency. The diffuser creates a pattern of multiple incident points rather than a single broad area.
3Productivity
If a light collection optical system is used to collect excitation light at the phosphor layer, then fluorescence generation is enhanced, but the incident excitation light inclines or separates from the optical axis, causing wide spread of excitation and fluorescence
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating diffuser acts as an intermediary element between the light collection optical system and the phosphor layer. It receives the collected excitation light and redistributes it in a controlled manner across the phosphor surface. This intermediary component decouples the light collection function from the light incident position control, allowing efficient collection while managing the spatial distribution of excitation light to prevent excessive spreading.
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 configuration enhances the efficiency of fluorescence conversion and collection, reducing heat-related efficiency drops and increasing the usable fluorescence for image formation in projectors.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element disposed in an optical path of the first light to be incident on the wavelength converter... The optical element has a first surface on which the first light is incident along the first optical axis and a second surface via which the first light exits toward the light collector along the second optical axis
Implementation Method 2
a wavelength converter configured to convert the first light into second light having a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band
Implementation Method 3
a light collector configured to collect the first light emitted from the optical element toward the wavelength converter
Data Source
AI summary
A light source apparatus includes a light source configured to emit first light, a wavelength converter configured to convert the first light into second light, an optical element disposed in an optical path of the first light to be incident on the wavelength converter, a light collector configured to collect the first light emitted from the optical element toward the wavelength converter, and a driver configured to rotate the optical element and the light collector around a rotation axis parallel to a first optical axis of the first light. The optical element has a first surface on which the first light is incident and a second surface via which the first light exits. The first light emitted from the light collector is incident on the wavelength converter along the second optical axis. The first optical axis and the second optical axis are shifted from each other.