Laser lighting having selective resolution

• US 10,075,688 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera SLD Laser Incorporated (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Novotny, Vlad Joseph, Rudy, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haiem, Sean
• Application Number:
  US15/728,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 348196, 345 7, 359246, 359567, 362607, 385 4
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/312 Driving therefor driving of electronic spatial light modulators in displays other than projection devices G09G3/34, G09G3/36; control of liquid crystal elements G02F1/133; control of micromechanical modulators G02B26/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3135 Driving therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3144 Cooling systems cooling of liquid crystal cells in general G02F1/133382; cooling of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/77 Circuits for processing the brightness signal and the chrominance signal relative to each other, e.g. adjusting the phase of the brightness signal relative to the colour signal, correcting differential gain or differential phase circuits for matrixing H04N9/67

Abstract

In an example, the present invention provides an optical engine apparatus. The apparatus has a laser diode device, the laser diode device characterized by a wavelength ranging from 300 to 2000 nm or any variations thereof. In an example, the apparatus has a lens coupled to an output of the laser diode device and a scanning mirror device operably coupled to the laser diode device. In an example, the apparatus has an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror and configured with the laser device; and a spatial image formed on a portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate configured by a modulation of the laser and movement of the scanning mirror device.

Claims

1. A method of using an optical engine apparatus for selective resolution, the method comprising:

in the optical engine apparatus comprising;

a laser diode device, characterized by a wavelength;

a lens coupled to an output of the laser diode device;

a scanning mirror device operably coupled to the laser diode device;

an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device and configured with the laser diode device; and

a controller coupled to the laser diode device and the scanning mirror device;

forming a first spatial image having a first resolution on a first portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate by a modulation of the laser diode device and movement of the scanning mirror device;

forming a second spatial image having a second resolution on a second portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate, the second resolution being different than the first resolution,

wherein the second spatial image is formed concurrently with the first spatial image on the un-patterned phosphor plate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a multi-element phosphor species, the multi-element phosphor species comprises a red phosphor, a green phosphor, and a blue phosphor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a plurality of multi-element phosphor plates, and the scanning mirror device comprises a plurality of scanning mirrors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured with a display system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink device coupled to the un-patterned phosphor plate such that thermal energy is transferred and removed using the heat sink device;

and wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate includes at least one of a transmissive phosphor species or a reflective phosphor species.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor or imager, and

feedback and servo controls to track and dynamically illuminate an object of interest.

7. A method of using an optical engine apparatus, the method comprising:

in the optical engine apparatus comprising;

a laser diode device, characterized by a wavelength;

a lens coupled to an output of the laser diode device;

a scanning mirror device operably coupled to the laser diode device;

an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device and configured with the laser device; and

a controller coupled to the laser diode device and the scanning mirror device;

forming a first spatial image on a first portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate by a modulation of the laser diode device and movement of the scanning mirror device;

a first resolution associated with the first spatial image, the first resolution being selected from one of a plurality of pre-determined resolutions, the first resolution being provided by a control parameter associated with the first spatial image;

forming a second spatial image on a second portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate;

a second resolution associated with the second spatial image, the second resolution being different than the first resolution and a color of the second spatial image being different than a color of the first spatial image,

wherein the second spatial image is formed concurrently with the first spatial image on the un-patterned phosphor plate,

wherein the first spatial image is characterized by a time constant,

wherein the control parameter is provided by the controller, and

wherein the first spatial image is speckle free.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a plurality of plates and the scanning mirror device comprises a plurality of scanning mirrors.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is configured with a display system.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises a red phosphor, a green phosphor, or a blue phosphor within a spatial region of the un-patterned phosphor plate.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising a heat sink device coupled to the un-patterned phosphor plate such that thermal energy is transferred and removed using the heat sink device;

and wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate includes at least one of a transmissive phosphor species or a reflective phosphor species.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising a color or colors associated with the first spatial image, the color or colors being associated with the modulation of the laser device and movement of the scanning mirror device.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising a beam path provided from the scanning mirror device, wherein the un-patterned phosphor plate comprises:

a first un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device via the beam path and configured with the laser diode device;

a second un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device via the beam path and configured with the laser diode device;

a third un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device via the beam path and configured with the laser diode device, wherein the first spatial image is formed on a first portion of either the first un-patterned phosphor plate, the second un-patterned phosphor plate, or the third un-patterned phosphor plate, and the first spatial image is configured by a modulation of the laser diode device and movement of the scanning mirror device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising a first blocking mirror configured in a first portion of the beam path to configure the beam path to the first un-patterned phosphor plate, and a second blocking mirror configured to a second portion of the beam path to configure the beam path to the second un-patterned phosphor plate.

15. A method of using an optical engine apparatus for selective resolution, the method comprising:

in the optical engine apparatus comprising;

a laser diode device, characterized by a wavelength;

a lens coupled to an output of the laser diode device;

a scanning mirror device with phosphor on its surface, operably coupled to the laser diode device;

an un-patterned phosphor plate coupled to the scanning mirror device and the laser diode device; and

a controller coupled to the laser diode device and the scanning mirror device;

forming a first spatial image having a first resolution and a first color on a first portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate by a modulation of the laser diode device and movement of the scanning mirror device;

forming a second spatial image having a second resolution and a second color on a second portion of the un-patterned phosphor plate, the second resolution being different than the first resolution and the second color being different than the first color,

wherein the second spatial image is formed concurrently with the first spatial image on the un-patterned phosphor plate.