IP Library Granted Patent US 7,511,879
Granted Patent B2
US 7,511,879 · App. 12/136,394 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

Light source device and projector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,511,879
App. No.
12/136,394
Granted
Mar 31, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light source device includes a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections, a plurality of wavelength conversion elements each having a periodic polarization inversion structure, and for converting wavelengths of light beams emitted from the plurality of light emitting sections into predetermined wavelengths, a temperature control medium for controlling temperature of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements, a holding member having a housing space for housing the temperature control medium, and for holding the plurality of wavelength conversion elements, and a temperature control section for controlling the temperature of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements with the temperature control medium, and the temperature control section controls the temperature of the wavelength conversion elements so that the wavelength of the light beam emitted from at least one of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements is different from the wavelength of the light beam emitted from another of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements.

Claims (47)

1. A light source device comprising:

a light source having a plurality of light emitting sections;

a plurality of wavelength conversion elements each having a periodic polarization inversion structure, and for converting wavelengths of light beams emitted from the plurality of light emitting sections into predetermined wavelengths;

a temperature control medium for controlling temperature of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements;

a holding member having a housing space for housing the temperature control medium, and for holding the plurality of wavelength conversion elements; and

a temperature control section for controlling the temperature of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements with the temperature control medium,

wherein the temperature control section controls the temperature of the wavelength conversion elements so that the wavelength of the light beam emitted from at least one of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements is different from the wavelength of the light beam emitted from another of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements.

2. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a pitch of the periodic polarization inversion structure of at least one of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements is different from a pitch of the periodic polarization inversion structure of another of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements, and

the temperature control section controls the temperature of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements to be substantially the same.

3. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein pitches of the periodic polarization inversion structures of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements are substantially equal to each other, and

the temperature control section controls the temperature of the wavelength conversion elements so that the temperature of at least one of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements is different from the temperature of another of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements.

4. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a circulating channel for circulating the temperature control medium in the housing space is disposed outside the holding member, and

the temperature control medium flows along an arranging direction of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements.

5. The light source device according to claim 4 ,

wherein an inflow section allowing the temperature control medium to flow into the housing space and an outflow section allowing the temperature control medium to flow out from the housing space are provided to one end section of the holding member in the arranging direction of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements, and

the inflow section and the outflow section are communicated to each other with the circulating channel.

6. The light source device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the inflow section is disposed nearer to the side of an entrance end surface of the wavelength conversion element than the outflow section.

7. The light source device according to claim 4 ,

wherein an inflow section allowing the temperature control medium to flow into the housing space is provided to one end section of the holding member in the arranging direction of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements,

an outflow section allowing the temperature control medium to flow out from the housing space is provided to the other end section of the holding member in the arranging direction of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements, and

the inflow section and the outflow section are communicated to each other with the circulating channel.

8. The light source device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a temperature measuring section for measuring the temperature of at least one of the wavelength conversion elements,

wherein the temperature control section varies a flow rate of the temperature control medium based on the temperature measured by the temperature measuring section.

9. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the housing space is provided for every one of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements.

10. The light source device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the holding member is provided for every one of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements.

11. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the temperature control section includes a temperature varying section for varying the temperature of the wavelength conversion element via the temperature control medium, and a flow section for making the temperature control medium flow, and

the temperature varying section and the flow section are provided separately from the holding member.

12. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the temperature control section includes

a temperature varying section for varying the temperature of the wavelength conversion element via the temperature control medium, and

a flow section for making the temperature control medium flow, and

the temperature varying section and the flow section are provided to the holding member.

13. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the holding member is provided with a positioning section for positioning the wavelength conversion element in a proceeding direction of the light beam.

14. The light source device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wavelength conversion element has a growth striation caused by a periodic variation in one of crystal composition and impurity concentration, and the growth striation forms the periodic polarization inversion structure.

15. A projector comprising:

the light source device according to claim 1 ; and

an image forming device using the light beam from the light source device to display an image of a desired size on a display surface.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP.
To: COLUMBIA PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 058952/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2008
From: KINOSHITA, SATOSHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021077/0720 →