IP Library Granted Patent US 12,585,133
Granted Patent B2
US 12,585,133 · App. 18/782,054 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Light source apparatus including splitter and image display apparatus including the same

Inventor: Yuuki Maeda (Tochigi, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G02B27/10G02B6/0031G02B6/0055G02B6/0068G02B27/1006G02F1/133524G02F1/133553G02F1/133557G03B21/2033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,585,133
App. No.
18/782,054
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The light source apparatus includes a light source, and a light guide plate configured to propagate a light beam from the light source in a specific direction. The light guide plate includes a splitter configured to split the light beam from the light source into a plurality of light beams, and to emit the plurality of light beams from the light guide plate. The splitter is configured such that a transmittance for a predetermined wavelength included in the light beam from the light source increases along the specific direction. A predetermined inequality is satisfied.

Claims (160)

1 . A light source apparatus comprising:

a light source; and

a light guide plate configured to propagate a light beam from the light source in a specific direction,

wherein the light guide plate includes a splitter configured to split the light beam from the light source into a plurality of light beams, and to emit the plurality of light beams from the light guide plate,

wherein the splitter is configured such that a transmittance for a predetermined wavelength included in the light beam from the light source increases along the specific direction,

wherein the light guide plate is provided to face the splitter and includes a reflector configured to reflect the light beam from the light source, and

wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

2.

n

/

m

0

T

(

θ

)

2

0

where n is the number of areas of the splitter with different transmittances, m is the number of light beams, and T(θ) is a transmittance of the reflector for the light beam from the light source that enters the reflector at an incident angle θ (°).

2 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmittance increases continuously or stepwise along the specific direction.

3 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined wavelength is a center wavelength or a wavelength having a highest intensity of the light beam from the light source.

4 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

u

/

(

d

×

sin

θ

)

0

.

5

0

where d is a thickness of the light guide plate, u is a width of a smallest area of the splitter among the areas with different transmittances, and θ is an incident angle of a principal ray incident on the splitter.

5 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate is provided to face the splitter and includes a reflector configured to reflect the light beam from the light source, and

wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

8

0

T

(

0

)

1

0

0

where T(0) is a transmittance of the reflector for the light beam from the light source that enters the reflector at an incident angle of 0 (°).

6 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

0.

<

W

/

R

<

0

.

0

3

where R is a center wavelength of at least one spectrum of the light beam from the light source, and W is a half maximum full-width of the spectrum.

7 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the splitter is a dielectric film configured such that the transmittance increases along the specific direction, and

wherein a thickness of the dielectric film changes along the specific direction.

8 . The light source apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the splitter includes a dielectric gradient film that has a transmittance of 25% at a first position and a transmittance of 75% at a second position different from the first position in the specific direction.

9 . The light source apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

3

0

T

x

7

0

where Tx is a transmittance of the splitter at a third position as a middle of the first position and the second position in the specific direction.

10 . The light source apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

U

(

x

1

)

<

U

(

x

3

)

<

U

(

x

2

)

or

U

(

x

2

)

<

U

(

x

3

)

<

U

(

x

1

)

where U(x 1 ) is a thickness of the dielectric gradient film at a first position, U(x 2 ) is a film thickness at a second position different from the first position in the specific direction, and U(x 3 ) is a film thickness at a third position as a middle of the first position and the second position in the specific direction.

11 . The light source apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate is provided to face the splitter and includes a reflector configured to reflect the light beam from the light source, and

wherein the splitter reflects a part of the light beam from the light source and transmits another part of the light beam.

12 . An image display apparatus comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

an image display element illuminated by the light source apparatus.

13 . A light source apparatus comprising:

a light source; and

a light guide plate configured to propagate a light beam from the light source in a specific direction,

wherein the light guide plate includes a splitter configured to split the light beam from the light source into a plurality of light beams, and to emit the plurality of light beams from the light guide plate,

wherein the splitter is configured such that a transmittance for a predetermined wavelength included in the light beam from the light source increases along the specific direction,

wherein the light guide plate is provided to face the splitter and includes a reflector configured to reflect the light beam from the light source,

wherein the splitter reflects a part of the light beam from the light source and transmits another part of the light beam, and

wherein the following inequality is satisfied:

2.

n

/

m

where n is the number of areas of the splitter with different transmittances, and m is the number of light beams.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: MAEDA, YUUKI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 068375/0564 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-126896 · Aug 3, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250044496A1 · Feb 6, 2025
References Cited (12)
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