Polarized, multicolor LED-based illumination source
First Claim
1. An illumination source, comprising:
- an arrangement of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising LEDs capable of generating light at a first wavelength;
phosphor material disposed proximate the one or more LEDs, the phosphor material emitting light at a second wavelength when illuminated by the light at the first wavelength;
a light collecting unit comprising at least a tapered optical element, light at the first and second wavelengths passing through the light collecting unit; and
a reflective polarizer disposed to transmit light at the first and second wavelengths in a first polarization state and to reflect light at the first and second wavelengths in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, light at the first and second wavelengths reflected by the reflective polarizer being directed back towards the phosphor material without any substantial increase in angular range, the illumination source producing an output light beam containing polarized light at the first and second wavelengths.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) emit light at a first wavelength. A phosphor material close to LEDs converts at least some of the light to a second wavelength. The light at both wavelengths passes through a light collecting unit. A reflecting polarizer transmits both wavelengths in a first polarization state and reflects light at both wavelengths in a second, orthogonal, polarization state. Light reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed back towards the phosphor material without any substantial increase in angular range. The resulting output light beam contains polarized light at the first and second wavelengths. In some embodiments, an array of LEDs includes LEDs that emit light at a first wavelength and others that emit light at a second wavelength. The phosphor material is disposed on the LEDs emitting the light at the first wavelength.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An illumination source, comprising:
-
an arrangement of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising LEDs capable of generating light at a first wavelength; phosphor material disposed proximate the one or more LEDs, the phosphor material emitting light at a second wavelength when illuminated by the light at the first wavelength; a light collecting unit comprising at least a tapered optical element, light at the first and second wavelengths passing through the light collecting unit; and a reflective polarizer disposed to transmit light at the first and second wavelengths in a first polarization state and to reflect light at the first and second wavelengths in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state, light at the first and second wavelengths reflected by the reflective polarizer being directed back towards the phosphor material without any substantial increase in angular range, the illumination source producing an output light beam containing polarized light at the first and second wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An illumination source, comprising:
-
an array of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising first LEDs capable of emitting light at a first wavelength and second LEDs capable of emitting light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; a phosphor material disposed on the first LEDs so that light from the first LEDs is incident on the phosphor material, light at the first wavelength being converted to a third wavelength by the phosphor; light collecting unit disposed to receive light at the first, second and third wavelengths; and a liquid cooled plate having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second LEDs being attached directly to the first surface of the liquid cooled plate, a liquid coolant contacting the second surface of the liquid cooled plate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
Specification