Illuminating light source device using semiconductor laser element

• US 5,535,230 A
• Filed: 01/03/1995
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shogo Tsuzuki
• Original Assignee: Shogo Tzuzuki
• Inventors: Abe, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNutt, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/368,552
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 257/98, 313/461, 345/82, 345/83, 348/801, 372/43, 372/49, 372/75, 250/504 R, 250/365, 359/326, 362/259, 362/260
• US Class Current: 372/50.23
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/69 Details of refractors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/005 Optical components external to the laser cavity, specially adapted therefor, e.g. for homogenisation or merging of the beams or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping H01S5/026, H01S5/18388 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0087 for illuminating phosphorescent or fluorescent materials, e.g. using optical arrangements specifically adapted for guiding or shaping laser beams illuminating these materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0092 for nonlinear frequency conversion, e.g. second harmonic generation [SHG] or sum- or difference-frequency generation outside the laser cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02257 using windows, e.g. specially adapted for back-reflecting light to a detector inside the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0611 wavelength convertors
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/2231 with inner confining structure only between the active layer and the upper electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4012 Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4093 Red, green and blue [RGB] generated directly by laser action or by a combination of laser action with nonlinear frequency conversion

Abstract

There is disclosed an illuminating light source device suitable for illumination at a vibrating place or a portion where an electric lamp is hardly exchangeable for new one, as well as for general luminairs. The illuminating light source device comprises a semiconductor laser element for outputting a laser beam of a particular wavelength in the range from infrared rays to ultraviolet rays, a lens for diffusing the laser beam from the semiconductor laser element and a fluophor for converting the diffused laser beam from the diffusion lens into visible light. Otherwise, the illuminating light source device comprises a group of semiconductor laser elements for respectively outputting laser beams of three primary colors consisting of red, green and blue, a lens for diffusing the laser beam from each of the semiconductor laser elements, and lenses for superposing the diffused laser beams from the diffusion lenses. Therefore, the illuminating light source device has small power consumption, is excellent in durability and can generate sufficient radiant power output in extreme safety so as to obtain the optimum illumination light such as white light.

Claims

1. An illuminating light source device, comprising:

a semiconductor laser element for outputting a laser beam having a particular wavelength in the range from infrared rays to ultraviolet rays;

a diffusion lens for diffusing the laser beam from said semiconductor laser element; and

a fluophor for converting the diffused laser beam from said diffusion lens into visible light.

2. An illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor laser element is of phased array type, in which a stripe is divided into a plurality of narrow stripes.

3. An illuminating light source device according to claim 2, wherein said semiconductor laser element has at least one cleaved facet, and wherein a reflection member is provided on the cleaved facet on one side of an active layer of the semiconductor laser element.

4. An illuminating light source device according to claim 2, wherein mercury atoms or rare earth substances are doped into the active layer of the semiconductor laser element.

5. An illuminating light source device according to claim 2, wherein a second harmonic generation medium is provided on the output side of the semiconductor laser element.

6. An illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor laser element has at least one cleaved facet, and wherein a reflection member is provided on the cleaved facet on one side of an active layer of the semiconductor laser element.

7. An illuminating light source device according to claim 6, wherein mercury atoms or rare earth substances are doped into the active layer of the semiconductor laser element.

8. An illuminating light source device according to claim 6, wherein a second harmonic generation medium is provided on the output side of the semiconductor laser element.

9. An illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein mercury atoms or rare earth substances are doped into the active layer of the semiconductor laser element.

10. An illuminating light source device according to claim 1, wherein a second harmonic generation medium is provided on the output side of the semiconductor laser element.