Semiconductor Light Source Device with Per-Element Operation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source devices with multiple semiconductor elements face challenges in efficiently driving each element to achieve uniform light output, leading to unevenness and potential breakage due to inappropriate drive currents, and require complex hardware and software configurations for precise control, increasing size, cost, and component count.
Innovation Solution
A light source device comprising semiconductor light-emitting elements, a reference signal output section, a selection section, an operation control section, and a drive section that outputs and converts reference signals based on each element's light-emitting characteristic to drive the elements appropriately, allowing for precise control of light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements are driven by the same drive current, then the control configuration is simple, but unevenness in light output quality and potential breakage occur due to element variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into multiple independent operation control sections, with each section dedicated to controlling a specific semiconductor light-emitting element. This segmentation allows each element to receive individually optimized drive currents based on its characteristics, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and light output uniformity by making the control architecture modular and element-specific.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing customized drive current parameters for each semiconductor light-emitting element based on its individual characteristics. Each operation control section holds and applies element-specific operation values, ensuring that each element operates at its optimal current level, thereby achieving uniform light output quality without requiring complex centralized control.
2Measurement precision
If separate control sections are prepared for each semiconductor light-emitting element, then precise control of each element is achieved, but the hardware configuration and apparatus size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal control architecture where multiple operation control sections share common functional blocks including the reference signal output section, selection section, and drive section. This multi-functionality allows precise individual control of each semiconductor element while avoiding redundant hardware, as the shared sections handle common control tasks for all elements, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges common control functions into shared sections that serve multiple elements. The reference signal output section generates reference signals used by all operation control sections, and the drive section collectively drives multiple semiconductor elements. This merging approach reduces hardware duplication while maintaining precise individual control capability.
3Speed
If conversion tables are prepared for each control section to manage element characteristics, then real-time control is achieved, but the load on the control section and data management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing optimized operation values for each semiconductor light-emitting element in the operation control sections during the design and setup phase. These pre-stored values represent the optimal drive parameters for each element, allowing the system to achieve real-time control by simply retrieving and applying these pre-computed values during operation, thereby minimizing real-time computational load and data management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements separately emits light of each of a plurality of colors. A reference signal output section outputs a reference signal for each of the plurality of colors. A selection section selects a reference signal for each of the plurality of colors output from the reference signal output section in accordance with a light-emission timing of each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements. An operation control section, provided for each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, holds an operation value fitted to a light-emitting characteristic of a corresponding semiconductor light-emitting element and converts the reference signal selected by the selection section by an operation. A drive section drives corresponding one of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements on the basis of a signal which has converted by the operation control section.