# US 10,309,601 B2 · Light source device, lighting apparatus, and vehicle lamp device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,601 B2 - Document ID: US10309601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/764,820 - Filed: 2016-11-24 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-27 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Masatoshi Nishimura; Akihiro Yamada; Jun Kondo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309601B2 ## CPC - F21V 7/22: characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors - F21S 41/125: Coloured light - F21S 41/285: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805} - F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED] - F21S 43/26: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255} - F21S 43/40: characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors - F21V 9/30: Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source (shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40) - G02B 5/122: cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type - G02B 5/126: including curved refracting surface - G02B 19/0014: {at least one surface having optical power} - G02B 19/0052: {the light source comprising a laser diode (coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S5/005)} - G02B 19/0061: {the light source comprising a LED} - G02B 27/0972: {Prisms (prisms per se G02B5/04)} - H10H 20/856: Reflecting means - F21Y 2115/30: Semiconductor lasers - H10H 20/851: Wavelength conversion means - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A light source device includes a light source, a wavelength conversion member, and a retroreflective optical member. The light source emits excitation light. The wavelength conversion member includes a first region irradiated with the excitation light and radiates, from the first region, converted light having a wavelength different from that of the excitation light. The retroreflective optical member reflects the converted light toward the first region. The first region is a region that is a part of the wavelength conversion member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light source device comprising: a light source to emit excitation light; a wavelength conversion member including a first region which is irradiated with the excitation light, converted light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the excitation light being emitted from the first region; and a retroreflective optical member to reflect the converted light to the first region, wherein the first region is a region that is a part of the wavelength conversion member, the retroreflective optical member includes a spherical lens that retroreflects the converted light and a fixing member holding the spherical lens, the fixing member has a concave part for holding the spherical lens, the fixing member is formed to surround the converted light radiated from the wavelength conversion member toward the light source, and the spherical lens is disposed on a surface of the fixing member formed to surround the converted light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes a first transmission part that allows the excitation light to pass through. ### Claim 3 A light source device comprising: a light source to emit excitation light; a wavelength conversion member including a first region which is irradiated with the excitation light, converted light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the excitation light being emitted from the first region; and a retroreflective optical member to reflect the converted light to the first region, wherein the first region is a region that is a part of the wavelength conversion member, the retroreflective optical member has a concave surface that retroreflects the converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion member and traveling toward the concave surface, the retroreflective optical member includes a transmission part that allows the excitation light to pass through, and the concave surface is formed on the transmission part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light source device according to claim 1, comprising a condenser optical member to condense the excitation light emitted from the light source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The light source device according to claim 4, wherein the condenser optical member makes an incident region when condensed luminous flux reaches the wavelength conversion member smaller than an incident region when luminous flux reaches the condenser optical member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The light source device according to claim 4, wherein divergence angles of the excitation light at a time of emission from the condenser optical member are different in two directions that are perpendicular to an optical axis of the condenser optical member and orthogonal to each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A lighting apparatus comprising: the light source device according to claim 1; and a projection optical member that projects a luminous pattern formed on the wavelength conversion member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A vehicle lamp device comprising the lighting apparatus according to claim 7. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The light source device according to claim 3, comprising a condenser optical member to condense the excitation light emitted from the light source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The light source device according to claim 9, wherein the condenser optical member makes an incident region when condensed luminous flux reaches the wavelength conversion member smaller than an incident region when luminous flux reaches the condenser optical member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The light source device according to claim 9, wherein divergence angles of the excitation light at a time of emission from the condenser optical member are different in two directions that are perpendicular to an optical axis of the condenser optical member and orthogonal to each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) A lighting apparatus comprising: the light source device according to claim 3; and a projection optical member that projects a luminous pattern formed on the wavelength conversion member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A vehicle lamp device comprising the lighting apparatus according to claim 12. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The light source device according to claim 3, wherein the retroreflective optical member further has a wavelength selection coating that is formed on the concave surface, allows the excitation light to pass through, and retroreflects the converted light. ### Claim 15 A light source device comprising: a light source to emit excitation light; a wavelength conversion member including a first region which is irradiated with the excitation light, converted light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the excitation light being emitted from the first region; and a retroreflective optical member to reflect the converted light to the first region, wherein the first region is a region that is a part of the wavelength conversion member, the retroreflective optical member has a concave surface that retroreflects the converted light, the retroreflective optical member includes a transmission part that allows the excitation light to pass through, the retroreflective optical member is disposed on an optical path and between the light source and the wavelength conversion member, and the concave surface is formed on the transmission part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The light source device according to claim 15, comprising a condenser optical member to condense the excitation light emitted from the light source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The light source device according to claim 16, wherein the condenser optical member makes an incident region when condensed luminous flux reaches the wavelength conversion member smaller than an incident region when luminous flux reaches the condenser optical member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The light source device according to claim 16, wherein divergence angles of the excitation light at a time of emission from the condenser optical member are different in two directions that are perpendicular to an optical axis of the condenser optical member and orthogonal to each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A lighting apparatus comprising: the light source device according to claim 15; and a projection optical member that projects a luminous pattern formed on the wavelength conversion member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The light source device according to claim 15, wherein the retroreflective optical member further has a wavelength selection coating that is formed on the concave surface, allows the excitation light to pass through, and retroreflects the converted light.