IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,321,090
Granted Patent B2
US 12,321,090 · App. 18/159,167 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Light source apparatus and projector

Inventor: Shigekazu Aoki (Matsumoto, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
G03B21/208
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,321,090
App. No.
18/159,167
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light source apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a light emitter that outputs light, a light guiding member that guides the light outputted from the light emitter, and a support member that supports the light guiding member. The light guiding member has a first surface and a second surface that intersect with the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member and are located on sides opposite from each other, and a third surface that intersects with the first and second surfaces, and causes light to exit via the first surface. The support member has a support surface that faces the third surface of the light guiding member. The support surface has a contact section that is in contact with the third surface and a noncontact section that is not in contact with the third surface. The third surface is a planar surface, and the contact section is a planar surface.

Claims (35)

1. A light source apparatus comprising:

a light emitter that outputs light;

a light guiding member that guides the light outputted from the light emitter; and

a support member that supports the light guiding member,

wherein the light guiding member has a first surface and a second surface that intersect with a longitudinal direction of the light guiding member and are located on sides opposite from each other, and a third surface that intersects with the first and second surfaces, and causes light to exit via the first surface,

the support member has a support surface that faces the third surface of the light guiding member,

the support surface has a contact section that is in contact with the third surface and a noncontact section that is not in contact with the third surface, and

the third surface is a planar surface, and the contact section is a planar surface.

2. The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein air is present between the third surface and the noncontact section.

3. The light source apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support surface has a protrusion that protrudes toward the third surface of the light guiding member, and

a top surface of the protrusion is the contact section.

4. The light source apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the support surface has a plurality of the protrusions,

the protrusions extend along the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member, and

the plurality of protrusions are periodically arranged along a direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member.

5. The light source apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the support surface has a plurality of the protrusions,

the protrusions extend along a direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member, and

the plurality of protrusions are periodically arranged along the longitudinal direction of the light guiding member.

6. The light source apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support surface has a recess that is recessed with respect to the third surface of the light guiding member, and

a portion, of the support surface, that is not the recess is the contact section.

7. The light source apparatus according claim 1 ,

further comprising a pressing member that presses the light guiding member against the support member,

wherein the support surface has a first region where the contact section and the noncontact section are provided and a second region where the contact section is provided but the noncontact section is not provided, and

when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the third surface, a region where the pressing member is in contact with the light guiding member overlaps with the second region of the support surface.

8. The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein planarity of the planar surfaces that form the third surface and the contact section is smaller than or equal to 5 μm.

9. The light source apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light emitter outputs first light having a first wavelength band,

the light guiding member is a wavelength conversion member that contains a phosphor, converts the first light outputted from the light emitter into second light having a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, and outputs the second light via the first surface.

10. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 9 ;

a light modulator that modulates light outputted from the light source apparatus and containing the second light in accordance with image information; and

a projection optical apparatus that projects the light modulated by the light modulator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: AOKI, SHIGEKAZU
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062479/0742 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-009383 · Jan 25, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230236490A1 · Jul 27, 2023
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Cited By (1)
US 12,549,693