IP Library Granted Patent US 10,907,774
Granted Patent B2
US 10,907,774 · App. 16/688,044 · Granted Feb 2, 2021

Light source unit

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,907,774
App. No.
16/688,044
Granted
Feb 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

[Object] Collection efficiency of a reflector that reflects a converted beam, which is converted from a pump beam by a phosphor, and projects the resultant as a projection beam is increased. [Solution] An optical member ( 4 ) of a light source unit ( 1 ) deflects a pump beam (PB) so that a first angle of incidence (α 1 ) of a pump beam (PBX) relative to a surface of a phosphor ( 3 ) is larger than a second angle of incidence (α 2 ) of the pump beam (PB), which is incident on the optical member ( 4 ), relative to the surface of the phosphor ( 3 ).

Claims (46)

1. A light source unit comprising:

a light source that emits a pump beam;

a phosphor that converts the pump beam, which is emitted from the light source, into a converted beam; and

an optical member that is arranged near the phosphor to deflect the pump beam, wherein

the optical member deflects the pump beam so that a first angle of incidence of the pump beam, which is deflected by the optical member, relative to a surface of the phosphor is larger than a second angle of incidence of the pump beam, which is incident on the optical member, relative to the surface of the phosphor,

the optical member has a counterface surface that faces the phosphor so as to cover the surface of the phosphor, and

the optical member is bonded to the phosphor, an intermediate layer is arranged between the optical member and the phosphor, or an air gap is formed between the optical member and the phosphor.

2. The light source unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second angle of incidence is equal to or less than 40 degrees.

3. The light source unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pump beam deflected at an incident surface of the optical member travels in the optical member and is incident on the phosphor.

4. The light source unit according to claim 1 , wherein the optical member refracts or diffracts the pump beam.

5. The light source unit according to claim 1 , wherein an anti-reflective coating is formed on the optical member.

6. The light source unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the pump beam includes a plurality of different pump rays, and

a traveling direction correction member that corrects traveling directions of the plurality of different pump rays so that the plurality of different pump rays are incident to converge onto an identical point on the phosphor is further provided.

7. A light source unit comprising:

a light source that emits a pump beam;

a phosphor that is mounted on a substrate to convert the pump beam, which is emitted from the light source, into a converted beam; and

an optical member that is arranged at a position corresponding to the phosphor to deflect the pump beam at an incident surface on which the pump beam is incident, wherein

the optical member deflects the pump beam so that a first angle of incidence of the pump beam, which is deflected by the optical member, relative to a surface of the phosphor is larger than a second angle of incidence of the pump beam, which is incident on the optical member, relative to the surface of the phosphor,

the phosphor is arranged on a side of one edge of the optical member,

the converted beam converted by the phosphor is reflected by an inner surface of the optical member and re-imaged on a side of another edge of the optical member,

the converted beam that is re-imaged on the side of the other edge of the optical member is emitted, and

the optical member is bonded to the phosphor, an intermediate layer is arranged between the optical member and the phosphor, or an air gap is formed between the optical member and the phosphor.

8. The light source unit according to claim 7 , wherein the second angle of incidence is equal to or less than 40 degrees.

9. The light source unit according to claim 7 , wherein the pump beam deflected at the incident surface of the optical member travels in the optical member and is incident on the phosphor.

10. The light source unit according to claim 7 , wherein the optical member refracts or diffracts the pump beam and deflects the pump beam toward a side of the phosphor in a traveling direction.

11. The light source unit according to claim 7 , wherein an anti-reflective coating is formed on the optical member.

12. The light source unit according to claim 7 , further comprising

a reflector that projects a projection beam obtained by collimating the converted beam that is emitted through an emission hole formed in the substrate, wherein

a direction in which the pump beam is incident on the optical member and a direction in which the projection beam is projected are identical, opposite, or orthogonal directions.

13. The light source unit according to claim 7 , wherein the optical member has an extraction portion arranged on the side of the other edge of the optical member to improve extraction efficiency of the converted beam.

14. The light source unit according to claim 7 , further comprising a reflector that projects a projection beam obtained by collimating the converted beam that is emitted through an emission hole formed in the substrate.

15. The light source unit according to claim 7 , wherein a size ratio of a converted spot on the side of the one edge of the optical member, at which the pump beam is converted into the converted beam by the phosphor, to a re-imaged spot on the side of the other edge of the optical member, at which the converted beam is re-imaged, is decided in accordance with a shape of the optical member.

16. A light source unit comprising:

a light source that emits a pump beam;

a phosphor that converts the pump beam, which is emitted from the light source, into a converted beam; and

an optical member that is arranged near the phosphor to deflect the pump beam, wherein

the optical member deflects the pump beam so that a first angle of incidence of the pump beam, which is deflected by the optical member, relative to a surface of the phosphor is larger than a second angle of incidence of the pump beam, which is incident on the optical member, relative to the surface of the phosphor, and

the optical member has a counterface surface that faces the phosphor so as to cover the surface of the phosphor,

the light source unit further comprising

a reflector that projects a projection beam obtained by collimating the converted beam from the phosphor, wherein

a direction in which the pump beam is incident on the optical member and a direction in which the projection beam is projected are identical, opposite, or orthogonal directions.

17. The light source unit according to claim 16 , wherein the second angle of incidence is equal to or less than 40 degrees.

18. The light source unit according to claim 16 , wherein the pump beam deflected at an incident surface of the optical member travels in the optical member and is incident on the phosphor.

19. The light source unit according to claim 16 , wherein the optical member refracts or diffracts the pump beam.

20. The light source unit according to claim 16 , wherein an anti-reflective coating is formed on the optical member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2022
From: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SHARP FUKUYAMA LASER CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059039/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2019
From: WELNA, KARL PETER; SIGNORETTO, MATTIA; BERRYMAN-BOUSQUET, VALERIE
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 051052/0101 →