Optical converter colour wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10145541-B2
Application number	US-201514737816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2015
Priority date	Jun 12, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A light converter comprises: a solid-state optical member configured to absorb light of an excitation wavelength and generate light of an emission wavelength; a base; and a mechanical fastener attaching the solid-state optical member to the base. The light converter may be part of a light engine, a phosphor wheel or an automotive headlight. A method of manufacturing such a phosphor wheel is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light converter comprising:
a solid-state optical member configured to absorb light of an excitation wavelength and generate light of an emission wavelength, wherein the optical member is an annulus having a planar front, a planar rear, an inner surface, and an outer surface, and wherein the optical member comprises a ceramic phosphor;
a base having a seat surface for receiving the planar rear of the optical member such that the seat surface supports the entire planar rear of the optical member between the inner and outer surface of the annulus, the base having a step formed thereon for fixing the optical member relative to the base; and
a mechanical fastener attaching the solid-state optical member to the base, and the mechanical fastener applying force to an inner rim of the optical member;
wherein no adhesive is used to join the optical member to the base.

2. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener rigidly attaches the solid-state optical member to the base.

3. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener removably attaches the solid state optical member to the base.

4. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a longitudinal part that engages with a corresponding engaging point to allow coupling of the mechanical fastener to the base.

5. The light converter of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical fastener further comprises a front plate, the optical member being between the front plate and the base and the longitudinal part fixing the front plate to the engaging point, thereby to attach the optical member to the base.

6. The light converter of claim 4 , wherein the engaging point is in the base, or in a bracing component, distinct from the base.

7. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the base or the mechanical fastener further comprise a plurality of projections, each engaging with a complementary anchor point on the fastener or the base respectively.

8. The light converter of claim 7 , wherein each of the projections comprises a deformable clip.

9. The light converter of claim 7 , wherein each of the complementary anchor points comprises one of: a ridge; a groove; or a lip.

10. The light converter of claim 8 , wherein the deformable clips are spring members, each exerting a force on their respective anchor point, thereby holding the mechanical fastener in place.

11. The light converter of claim 7 , wherein each of the projections comprises a projecting plug and each of the anchor points is a respective notch.

12. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a cover plate attached to the base and the optical member is between the cover plate and the base.

13. The light converter of claim 12 , wherein the cover plate is attached to the base by spot welding.

14. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises an elastic material.

15. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is configured to absorb blue light.

16. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the optical member is configured to generate yellow light or green light.

17. The light converter of claim 1 , wherein the optical member further comprises:
an anti-reflection coating; or
a high-reflection coating.

18. The light converter of claim 17 , wherein the anti-reflection coating or the high-reflection coating is a thin film coatings.

19. A phosphor wheel comprising:
the light converter of claim 1 ; and
a motor arranged to rotate the base around an axis passing through the base and normal to a planar surface of the solid-state optical member.

20. A light engine comprising:
A light source; and
a light converter including:
a solid-state optical member configured to absorb light of an excitation wavelength and generate light of an emission wavelength, wherein the optical member is an annulus having a planar front, a planar rear, an inner surface, and an outer surface, and wherein the optical member comprises a ceramic phosphor;
a base having a seat surface for receiving the planar rear of the optical member such that the seat surface supports the entire planar rear of the optical member between the inner and outer surface of the annulus, the base having a step formed thereon for fixing the optical member relative to the base; and
a mechanical fastener attaching the solid-state optical member to the base, and the mechanical fastener applying force to an inner rim of the optical member;

wherein no adhesive is used to join the optical member to the base;
wherein the light source is arranged to apply exciting light to the light converter.

21. The light engine of claim 20 , wherein the light source is a laser-based illumination source.

22. The light engine of claim 20 further comprising:
a motor arranged to rotate the base around an axis passing through the base and normal to a planar surface of the solid-state optical member.

23. A projector comprising the light engine of claim 22 .

24. An automotive headlight comprising the light engine of claim 20 .

25. A light converter comprising:
a solid-state optical member configured to absorb light of an excitation wavelength and generate light of an emission wavelength, wherein the optical member is an annulus and has a planar front and a planar rear, and wherein the optical member comprises a ceramic phosphor;
a base for supporting the planar rear of the optical member between an inner surface and an outer surface of the annulus, the base having a step formed thereon for fixing the optical member relative to the base; and
a mechanical fastener attaching the solid-state optical member to the base,
wherein the base or the mechanical fastener further comprises a plurality of projections each of the projections engaging with a complementary anchor point on the fastener or the base respectively, and each of the projections comprising a deformable clip.

26. The light converter of claim 25 , wherein the deformable clips are spring members, each exerting a force on their respective anchor point, thereby holding the mechanical fastener in place.

Assignees

• Materion Corp

Inventors

• Yu Louisa
• Fan Jie
• Wang Xianjiang

Classifications

• F21V9/45

  by adjustment of photoluminescent elements · CPC title

• F21S41/192

  Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors · CPC title

• G02B7/006 Primary

  Filter holders · CPC title

• G02B26/008

  in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels · CPC title

• B60Q1/02

  the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments · CPC title