Light source apparatus and projector having a light combiner with a polarization separation film

• US 9,348,206 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Matsubara, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Bao-Luan
• Application Number:
  US13/952,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/14 for producing polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2033 LED or laser 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 21/2073 Polarisers in the lamp house peculiar to electronic spatial light modulators H04N9/3197
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/208 Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light

Abstract

A light combiner having a polarization separation film and transmitting P-polarized light from a first light source unit whereas reflecting S-polarized light from a second light source unit forms combined light, and the angle of incidence of the light from the first light source unit and the angle of incidence of the light from the second light source unit with respect to the polarization separation film are each greater than 45°.

Claims

1. A light source apparatus comprising:

a first light source unit that emits first light;

a second light source unit that emits second light; and

a light combiner that combines the first light emitted from the first light source unit and the second light emitted from the second light source unit and outputs the combined light,

wherein the light combiner has a polarization separation film that transmits light polarized in a first direction and reflects light polarized in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

the first light is polarized in the first direction,

the second light is polarized in the second direction,

an angle of incidence θ

1 of the first light with respect to the polarization separation film and an angle of incidence θ

2 of the second light with respect to the polarization separation film are each greater than 45°

,

an optical axis of the first light source unit and an optical axis of the second light source unit form an angle smaller than 90°

, and

wherein expressions (1), (2), and (3) are satisfied as follows;

45°

<

α

 

 

(1)

β

≦

θ

1≦

2α

−

β

 

 

(2)

β

≦

θ

2≦

2α

−

β

 

 

(3)

where α

represents a maximum efficiency angle that is an angle of incidence with respect to the polarization separation film where polarized light combination efficiency is maximized, the maximum efficiency angle α

determined in accordance with a wavelength band of the first light and a wavelength band of the second light, and β

is (45°

+α

)/2.

2. The light source apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the angle of incidence θ

1 of the first light with respect to the polarization separation film and the angle of incidence θ

2 of the second light with respect to the polarization separation film are equal to each other.

3. The light source apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein in a wavelength band of the first light, the angle of incidence θ

1 of the first light is so set that the polarization separation film transmits the first light at a transmittance of a predetermined value or greater and the light combiner reflects the first light at a reflectance of a predetermined value or smaller, and

in a wavelength band of the second light, the angle of incidence θ

2 of the second light is so set that the polarization separation film reflects the second light at a reflectance of a predetermined value or greater.

4. The light source apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the light combiner further includes a base that supports the polarization separation film, and

the angle of incidence θ

1 of the first light falls within a range including Brewster'"'"'s angle with respect to the base.

5. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a collector system that collects the combined light outputted from the light combiner; and

an object to be irradiated with the combined light collected by the collector system.

6. The light source apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an afocal system that adjusts a beam cross section of the combined light outputted from the light combiner;

a lens array integrator that is disposed in a position downstream of the afocal system, divides light incident on the lens array integrator, and outputs the divided light fluxes in such a way that the light fluxes are superimposed in a predetermined position; and

an object that is disposed in the predetermined position and irradiated with light outputted from the lens array integrator.

7. The light source apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the object is at least one of a diffuser plate that diffuses light and a fluorescent material that produces fluorescence.

8. The light source apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a rotating plate that rotatably holds the object.

9. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 1;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

10. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 2;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

11. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 3;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

12. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 4;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

13. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 5;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

14. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 6;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

15. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 7;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.

16. A projector comprising:

the light source apparatus according to claim 8;

a light modulator that modulates the light from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information; and

a projection system that projects the modulated light from the light modulator to form an image.