Projector with laser and phosphor
A projector includes a laser light source and a glass wheel. The laser source is configured to generate laser light. The glass wheel is optically coupled to the laser source. The glass wheel includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to receive the laser light, and includes a light direction device optically coupled to the laser source. The second surface is opposite the first surface and is configured to emit light. The second surface includes a first arc of a phosphor deposited at a first distance from a center of the glass wheel. The light direction device is configured to direct the laser light to the first arc of the phosphor. The second surface also includes a second arc of the phosphor deposited at a second distance from the center of the glass wheel.
1. A projector comprising:
a laser source;
a glass wheel optically coupled to the laser source, and comprising:
a first surface comprising:
a first arc of a phosphor deposited at a first distance from a center of the glass wheel; and
a second arc of the phosphor deposited at a second distance from the center of the glass wheel; and
a second surface opposite the first surface, and comprising a light direction device optically coupled to the laser source and the first arc of the phosphor.
2. The projector of claim 1 , wherein:
the light direction device is a first light direction device; and
the second surface of the glass wheel comprises a second light direction device optically coupled to the laser source and the second arc of the phosphor.
3. The projector of claim 2 , wherein the second light direction device comprises:
a first prism disposed on the second surface opposite the first arc of the phosphor; and
a second prism optically coupled to the first prism and disposed on the first surface.
4. The projector of claim 2 , wherein the second light direction device comprises:
a first diffractive optical element disposed on the second surface; and
a second diffractive optical element optically coupled to the first diffractive optical element and disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel between the first surface and the second arc of the phosphor.
5. The projector of claim 1 , wherein the light direction device comprises:
a first prism disposed on the second surface opposite the first arc of the phosphor; and
a second prism optically coupled to the first prism and disposed on the first surface.
6. The projector of claim 1 , wherein the light direction device comprises:
a first diffractive optical element disposed on the second surface; and
a second diffractive optical element optically coupled to the first diffractive optical element and disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel between the first surface and the first arc of the phosphor.
7. The projector of claim 1 , wherein the light direction device comprises a glass wedge disposed on the second surface of the glass wheel opposite the first arc of the phosphor.
8. The projector of claim 1 , wherein the glass wheel comprises a sector lacking the first arc of the phosphor and the second arc of the phosphor.
9. A projector, comprising:
a laser source configured to generate laser light;
a glass wheel optically coupled to the laser source, and comprising:
a first surface configured to receive the laser light, and comprising a light direction device optically coupled to the laser source; and
a second surface opposite the first surface and configured to emit light, and comprising:
a first arc of a phosphor deposited at a first distance from a center of the glass wheel, wherein the light direction device is configured to direct the laser light to the first arc of the phosphor; and
a second arc of the phosphor deposited at a second distance from the center of the glass wheel.
10. The projector of claim 9 , wherein:
the light direction device is a first light direction device; and
the second surface of the glass wheel comprises a second light direction device optically coupled to the laser source, wherein the second light direction device is configured to direct the laser light to the second arc of the phosphor.
11. The projector of claim 10 , wherein the second light direction device comprises:
a first prism disposed on the second surface of the glass wheel; and
a second prism disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel;
wherein the second prism is configured to direct the laser light to the first prism, and the first prism is configured to direct the laser light received from the first prism to the second arc of the phosphor.
12. The projector of claim 10 , wherein the second light direction device comprises:
a first diffractive optical element disposed on the second surface of the glass wheel; and
a second diffractive optical element disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel;
wherein the second diffractive optical element is configured direct the laser light to the first diffractive optical element, and the first diffractive element is configured to direct the laser light received from the second diffractive element to the second arc of the phosphor.
13. The projector of claim 9 , wherein the light direction device comprises:
a first prism disposed on the second surface of the glass wheel; and
a second prism disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel;
wherein the second prism is configured to direct the laser light to the first prism, and the first prism is configured to direct the laser light received from the first prism to the first arc of the phosphor.
14. The projector of claim 9 , wherein the light direction device comprises:
a first diffractive optical element disposed on the second surface of the glass wheel; and
a second diffractive optical element disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel;
wherein the second diffractive optical element is configured direct the laser light to the first diffractive optical element, and the first diffractive element is configured to direct the laser light received from the second diffractive element to the first arc of the phosphor.
15. The projector of claim 9 , wherein the light direction device comprises a glass wedge disposed on the first surface of the glass wheel opposite the first arc of the phosphor, and configured to direct the laser light to the first arc of the phosphor.
16. The projector of claim 9 , wherein the glass wheel comprises a sector lacking the first arc of the phosphor and the second arc of the phosphor.
17. A method for projection, comprising:
generating laser light;
rotating a glass wheel in a path of the laser light;
illuminating, by the laser light, a first arc of a phosphor in a first sector of the glass wheel to generate a first beam; and
illuminating, by the laser light, a second arc of the phosphor, that is offset from the first arc of the phosphor, in a second sector of the glass wheel to generate a second beam that is offset from the first beam.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reflecting the laser light in a first prism and a second prism to the first arc of the phosphor; and
reflecting the laser light in a third prism and a fourth prism to the second arc of the phosphor.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
diffracting the laser light in a diffractive optical element and a second diffractive optical element to the first arc of the phosphor; and
diffracting the laser light in a third diffractive optical element and a fourth diffractive optical element to the second arc of the phosphor.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
refracting the laser light in a glass wedge to the first arc of the phosphor; and
passing the laser light through the glass wheel with no change in direction to the second arc of the phosphor.