LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE, LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICULAR HEADLIGHT, AND VEHICLE

• US 20130027962A1
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Fukuyama Laser Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: TAKAHASHI, Koji, TAKAHIRA, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,500,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/538
• 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: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/27 Thick lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/285 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/32 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/004 using microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0252 using holographic or diffractive means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2202 Reconstruction geometries or arrangements

Abstract

A headlight system in accordance with the present invention includes: a semiconductor laser element that emits laser light; a light-emitting section that upon receipt of the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser element, emits illumination light which is both the laser light and fluorescence obtained by wavelength conversion of a portion of the laser light; and a diffusion plate that mixes the laser light and fluorescence which are contained in the illumination light emitted by the light-emitting section.

Claims

1. A light source device comprising:

an excitation light source that emits excitation light;

a light-emitting section that, upon receipt of excitation light emitted from the excitation light source, emits illumination light which is both the excitation light and wavelength-converted light obtained by wavelength conversion of a portion of the excitation light; and

a light-mixing section that mixes the excitation light and the wavelength-converted light which are contained in the illumination light emitted by the light-emitting section.

2. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein

the light-mixing section is a diffusion plate that transmits and diffuses the illumination light.

3. The light source device according to claim 2, wherein

the diffusion plate is such that a maximum full width at half maximum of intensity distribution of outgoing light derived from incoming parallel light is not less than 0.7 degree and not more than 3.0 degree.

4. The light source device according to claim 2, wherein

the diffusion plate has a micro lens array pattern or surface relief holographic pattern formed thereon.

5. The light source device according to claims 2, further comprising:

a light projection section that projects the illumination light emitted by the light-emitting section in a predetermined direction.

6. The light source device according to claim 5, wherein

the diffusion plate mixes the excitation light and the wavelength-converted light which are contained in the illumination light projected by the light projection section.

7. The light source device according to claim 5, wherein

the light projection section is a projector lens, and

the projector lens is provided so as to abut the diffusion plate.

8. The light source device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a condensing section that concentrates the illumination light emitted from the light-emitting section onto the light mixing section; and

a light projection section that projects the illumination light obtained by the mixture by the light mixing section in the predetermined direction of light projection,

the light mixing section causing light thus concentrated by the condensing section to be reflected inside thereof and then emitting the light thus reflected toward the light projection section.

9. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein

the excitation light source is a semiconductor laser element or a light-emitting diode, and

the excitation light is visible light emitted from the semiconductor laser element or the light-emitting diode.

11. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein

the light-emitting section comprises a phosphor that receives the excitation light and then emits fluorescence, and

the wavelength-converted light is fluorescence that is emitted from the phosphor excited by the excitation light.

12. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein

the light-emitting section emits the wavelength-converted light from an irradiated surface which receives the excitation light.

13. A lighting device comprising:

a light source device according to claim 1.

14. A vehicular headlight comprising:

a light source device according to claim 1.

15. A vehicular headlight comprising:

a light source device according to claim 6,

wherein the diffusion plate is constituted as a vehicular headlight cover for protecting the light source device from an external environment.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicular headlight according to claim 15.

10. The light source device according to claim wherein

the excitation light is laser light.