Light-source apparatus and projector

• US 8,562,141 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogino, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko, Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reilly-Diakun, Jori S
• Application Number:
  US13/430,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 353 30- 31, 353/38, 353 84- 85, 353/94, 353 98- 99, 353/122, 359885-887, 359889-892, 315/360
• US Class Current: 353/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/204 using secondary light emission, e.g. luminescence or fluorescence using different colours G03B33/00; if related to video signals H04N9/3197
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/208 Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3164 using multiple light sources

Abstract

A projection apparatus includes a fluorescence plate including a fluorescence layer configured to emit fluorescence light beams upon irradiation of the excitation lights, a first lens array, provided on a light source side of the fluorescence plate and including a plurality of lenses arranged in an array to correspond with the light-emitting elements, and configured to collect the fluorescence light beams and emit the fluorescence light beams to be parallel with one another, and a projection unit configured to form an optical image using the fluorescence light beams obtained via the first lens array and project the optical image on a projection object.

Claims

1. A projection apparatus comprising:

a light source including a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in an array and configured to emit excitation lights;

a fluorescence plate including a fluorescence layer configured to emit fluorescence light beams upon irradiation of the excitation lights;

a first lens array, provided on a light source side of the fluorescence plate and including a plurality of lenses arranged in an array to correspond with the light-emitting elements, and configured to collect the fluorescence light beams and emit the fluorescence light beams to be parallel with one another; and

a projection unit configured to form an optical image using the fluorescence light beams obtained via the first lens array and project the optical image on a projection object.

2. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the fluorescence plate includes a fluorescence layer in which a plurality of different types of fluorescence substances differing in wavelength of emitted fluorescence light are divided and arranged, and

the light-emitting elements of the light source switch light-emitting timing to correspond with the different types of fluorescence substances divided and arranged on the fluorescence plate.

3. The projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the different types of fluorescence substances differing in wavelength of emitted fluorescence light include a first fluorescence substance and a second fluorescence substance differing from each other in wavelength of emitted fluorescence light, and

the first fluorescence substance and the second fluorescence substance are arranged in a checker pattern.

4. The projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

a surface of the fluorescence plate on which the fluorescence layer has been formed includes a first area formed on an inner side of the fluorescence plate and a second area formed outside the first area,

the different types of fluorescence substances differing in wavelength of emitted fluorescence light include a first fluorescence substance and a second fluorescence substance differing from each other in wavelength of emitted fluorescence light, and

the first fluorescence substance is formed in the first area of the fluorescence plate and the second fluorescence substance is formed in the second area of the fluorescence plate.

5. The projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements of the light source emit excitation lights simultaneously toward the different types of fluorescence substances divided and arranged on the fluorescence plate.

6. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence plate is arranged such that the fluorescence layer lies substantially in a focal position of the first lens array.

7. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second lens array including a plurality of lenses arranged in an array on a fluorescence plate side of the light source to correspond with the light-emitting elements, and configured to emit the excitation light beams from the light source to be parallel with one another toward the fluorescence plate.

8. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the fluorescence plate.

9. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence plate further includes a reflecting plate on a back side of a surface on which the fluorescence layer has been formed.

10. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence layer is formed on an entire surface of the fluorescence plate.