IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,203,649
Granted Patent B2
US 12,203,649 · App. 18/685,316 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Wavelength conversion device and illumination device

Inventors: Yusuke Yokobayashi (Tokyo, JP); Yasuyuki Kawakami (Tokyo, JP); Yosuke Maemura (Tokyo, JP); Shunsuke Murai (Kyoto, JP)
Assignees: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; KYOTO UNIVERSITY
F21V9/32F21V9/45F21Y2105/10F21Y2115/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,203,649
App. No.
18/685,316
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wavelength conversion device includes a wavelength converter having a plate shape and a plurality of antennas. The wavelength converter converts a wavelength of incident light and generates wavelength-converted light and emits the wavelength-converted light. The plurality of antennas are disposed on a light-emitting surface of the wavelength converter. The plurality of antennas form an antenna array in a first region of the light-emitting surface. The respective plurality of antennas are arranged with a predetermined period in the first region. The antenna array is absent in a second region outside the first region. An optical path length from a light-receiving surface of the wavelength converter to the light-emitting surface of the incident light that reaches a light-emitting surface of the first region is longer than an optical path length from the light-receiving surface to the light-emitting surface of the incident light that reaches a light-emitting surface of the second region.

Claims (27)

1. A wavelength conversion device comprising:

a wavelength converter having a plate shape, the wavelength converter having a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, the wavelength converter converting a wavelength of incident light that is incident from the light-receiving surface and generates a wavelength-converted light, the wavelength converter emitting the wavelength-converted light from the light-emitting surface; and

a plurality of antennas disposed on the light-emitting surface of the wavelength converter, wherein

the plurality of antennas form an antenna array in a first region of the light-emitting surface, the respective plurality of antennas are arranged with a predetermined period in the first region, and the antenna array is absent in a second region outside the first region, and

an optical path length from the light-receiving surface to the light-emitting surface of the incident light that reaches a light-emitting surface of the first region is longer than an optical path length from the light-receiving surface to the light-emitting surface of the incident light that reaches a light-emitting surface of the second region.

2. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between a part of the light-receiving surface opposed to the first region of the light-emitting surface and the first region is greater than a distance between a part of the light-receiving surface opposed to the second region of the light-emitting surface and the second region.

3. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 2 , wherein a recessed portion is formed in at least one of the second region and a part of the light-receiving surface opposed to the second region.

4. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 3 , wherein when the recessed portion is formed in the part of the light-receiving surface opposed to the second region, an optical path change surface made of a recess and protrusion that are lower than the plurality of antennas is formed on a flat surface of the light-emitting surface in the second region.

5. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 3 , wherein a bottom surface of the recessed portion is formed parallel to the first region of the light-emitting surface.

6. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein a part of the light-receiving surface opposed to the first region is a change surface that changes an optical path of the incident light to the second region.

7. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 6 , wherein the change surface is an inclined surface, a serrated surface, a curved surface, or a rough surface.

8. The wavelength conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the wavelength converter is constituted of a phosphor plate that is provided with the light-emitting surface and converts a wavelength of the incident light, and a transparent support body that is provided with the light-receiving surface and supports the phosphor plate sandwiching a dichroic mirror.

9. An illumination device comprising:

the wavelength conversion device according to claim 1 ; and

a light source that generates light to be incident on the wavelength converter.

10. The illumination device according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is a laser light source that generates laser light.

11. The illumination device according to claim 9 , wherein the laser light source is a light source array made of an array of a plurality of light-emitting portions that emit light toward the first region and the second region.

12. The illumination device according to claim 9 , wherein the laser light source is a light source array made of an array of a plurality of light-emitting portions that emit light toward the second region.

13. The illumination device according to claim 9 , wherein the light source is constituted of a light-emitting diode and a condensing optical system that adjusts light distribution of light from the light-emitting diode to generate the incident light.

14. An illumination device comprising

a light source and a wavelength conversion device, wherein

the wavelength conversion device includes a wavelength converter having a plate shape, the wavelength converter has a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, the wavelength converter converts a wavelength of incident light that is incident from the light-receiving surface and generates a wavelength-converted light, the wavelength converter emits the wavelength-converted light from the light-emitting surface, and a plurality of antennas are disposed on the light-emitting surface of the wavelength converter,

the plurality of antennas form an antenna array in which the respective plurality of antennas are arranged with a predetermined period in a first region of the light-emitting surface, and the antenna array is absent in a second region outside the first region, and

when the light source irradiate the light-receiving surface of the wavelength converter with a primary light,

the wavelength converter converts a wavelength of a part of the primary light and generates a secondary light,

the primary light and the secondary light having passed the wavelength converter reaches the light-emitting surface, and

a relatively large amount of the secondary light reaches the first region, while a relatively large amount of the primary light reaches the second region.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE LAST NAMES OF THE 1ST AND 4TH INVENTORS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66512 FRAME: 323. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 14, 2024
From: YOKOBAYASHI, YUSUKE; KAWAKAMI, YASUYUKI; MAEMURA, YOSUKE; MURAI, SHUNSUKE
To: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; KYOTO UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 068595/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2024
From: YOKOBAVASHI, YUSUKE; KAWAKAMI, YASUYUKI; MAEMURA, YOSUKE; MURAL, SHUNSUKE
To: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; KYOTO UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 066512/0323 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-136909 · Aug 25, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240384858A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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