# US 11,029,591 B2 · Light source device and optical engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,591 B2 - Document ID: US11029591B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/821,309 - Filed: 2020-03-17 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-22 - Assignees: Nichia Corporation - Applicants: Nichia Corporation - Inventors: Seiji Nagahara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029591B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/208: {Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light} - G02B 27/1006: {for splitting or combining different wavelengths (G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence)} - G02B 27/149: {using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes} - G02B 27/283: {used for beam splitting or combining} - G03B 21/2073: {Polarisers in the lamp house (peculiar to electronic spatial light modulators H04N9/3197)} - G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors} - G03B 21/2013: {Plural light sources} - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G03B 21/2066: {Reflectors in illumination beam (in projection beam G03B21/28)} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A light source device includes a plurality of laser modules and a beam combiner. Each laser module includes a first laser diode configured to emit a first laser beam and a second laser diode configured to emit a second laser beam. The beam combiner has a first dichroic mirror region and a second dichroic mirror region. The first dichroic mirror region is configured to transmit the first laser beam going out from the first laser module, and to reflect the second laser beam going out from the second laser module. The second dichroic mirror region configured to transmit the second laser beam going out from the first laser module, and to reflect the first laser beam going out from the second laser module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light source device, comprising: a plurality of laser modules including a first laser module and a second laser module, each laser module including at least one first laser diode configured to emit a first laser beam and at least one second laser diode configured to emit a second laser beam, said second laser beam having a wavelength which is longer than a wavelength of the first laser beam; and a beam combiner including a first dichroic mirror region configured to transmit the first laser beam going out from the first laser module, and to reflect the second laser beam going out from the second laser module, and a second dichroic mirror region configured to transmit the second laser beam going out from the first laser module, and to reflect the first laser beam going out from the second laser module, wherein the first laser module is disposed at a position for obliquely irradiating a rear side of the beam combiner with the first laser beam and the second laser beam going out from the first laser module; and wherein the second laser module is disposed at a position for obliquely irradiating a front side of the beam combiner with the first laser beam and the second laser beam going out from the second laser module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light source device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of laser modules includes: a hermetic package housing the first laser diode and the second laser diode; and a plurality of collimating lenses including at least one first collimating lens configured to be passed through by the first laser beam and at least one second collimating lens configured to be passed through by the second laser beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The light source device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of laser modules includes wiring for connecting the first laser diode and the second laser diode respectively to a plurality of terminals that are electrically independent of each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light source device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of laser modules includes: a plurality of said first laser diodes which are arranged in at least one row; and a plurality of said second laser diodes which are arranged in at least one row. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The light source device of claim 1, wherein the first laser module and the second laser module are disposed orthogonal to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light source device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of laser modules further includes at least one third laser diode configured to emit a third laser beam; the at least one third laser beam is configured to have a wavelength which is between the wavelength of the first laser beam and the wavelength of the second laser beam; the first dichroic mirror region is configured to transmit the third laser beam; and wherein the second dichroic mirror region is configured to reflect the third laser beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The light source device of claim 6, wherein the first laser beam comprises a blue laser beam; the second laser beam comprises a red laser beam; and the third laser beam comprises a green laser beam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An optical engine, comprising: at least one light source device according to claim 1; optics configured such that a laser beam emitted from the at least one light source device is incident thereto; a spatial light modulator configured to be irradiated with the laser beam having passed through the optics; and projection optics configured to project the laser beam having been modulated by the spatial light modulator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The optical engine of claim 8, wherein the optics include: a lens to focus the laser beam going out from the at least one light source device; and an integrator through which the laser beam having been focused by the lens is passed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The optical engine of claim 9, wherein the integrator comprises a rod integrator or a light tunnel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The optical engine of claim 9, wherein the optics include an array toroidal lens disposed between the lens and the integrator; the laser beam configured to be incident on the array toroidal lens is configured to have an elliptical beam shape having a minor axis and a major axis; and wherein the array toroidal lens comprises a plurality of toroidal lens regions in each of which a curvature in a plane that contains a propagation direction of the laser beam and the minor axis is greater than a curvature in a plane that contains the propagation direction and the major axis. ### Claim 12 A light source device, comprising: a first laser module, a second laser module, and a third laser module, each including at least one first laser diode configured to emit a first laser beam having a wavelength λ1 and being linearly-polarized along a first direction, and at least one second laser diode configured to emit a second laser beam having a wavelength λ2 which is longer than the wavelength λ1 and being linearly-polarized along the first direction or along a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction; said light source device further comprising a beam combiner disposed between the third laser module and the second laser module and configured to combine the first laser beam and the second laser beam emitted from each of the first laser module, the second laser module, and the third laser module, the beam combiner including a first optical film including a first dichroic film configured to transmit light of the wavelength λ1 and to reflect light of the wavelength λ2, a second optical film including a λ/2 phase plate for the wavelength λ2 configured to rotate a polarization direction of light of the wavelength λ2 by 90 degrees, and a second dichroic film configured to transmit light of the wavelength λ2, transmit light of the wavelength λ1 being polarized along the first direction, and to reflect light of the wavelength λ1 being polarized along the second direction, the second optical film and the first optical film being provided side by side along a first plane, a third optical film including a third dichroic film configured to transmit light of the wavelength λ2 and to reflect light of the wavelength λ1, and a fourth optical film including a λ/2 phase plate for the wavelength λ1 configured to rotate a polarization direction of light of the wavelength λ1 by 90 degrees, and a fourth dichroic film configured to transmit light of the wavelength λ1, transmit light of the wavelength λ2 not passing through the λ/2 phase plate for the wavelength λ2, and to reflect light of the wavelength λ2 having passed through the λ/2 phase plate for the wavelength λ2, the fourth optical film and the third optical film being provided side by side along a second plane, wherein, the first plane and the second plane intersects at a line of intersection between the first optical film and the second optical film and between the third optical film and the fourth optical film; the first laser module is disposed at a position for obliquely irradiating rear sides of the first optical film, the second optical film, the third optical film, and the fourth optical film with the first laser beam and the second laser beam going out from the first laser module; the second laser module is disposed at a position for obliquely irradiating front sides of the second optical film and the first optical film with the first laser beam and the second laser beam going out from the second laser module; and wherein the third laser module is disposed at a position for obliquely irradiating front sides of the third optical film and the fourth optical film with the first laser beam and the second laser beam going out from the third laser module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The light source device of claim 12, wherein the second laser beam comprises light which is linearly-polarized along the second direction; and wherein the fourth dichroic film is configured to transmit light of the wavelength λ1, transmit light of the wavelength λ2 being polarized along the second direction, and reflect light of the wavelength λ2 being polarized along the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) An optical engine, comprising: at least one light source device according to claim 8; optics configured such that a laser beam emitted from the at least one light source device is incident thereto; a spatial light modulator to be irradiated with the laser beam having passed through the optics; and projection optics configured to project the laser beam having been modulated by the spatial light modulator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The optical engine of claim 14, wherein the optics include: a lens to focus the laser beam going out from the at least one light source device; and an integrator configured such that the laser beam having been focused by the lens is passed there through. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The optical engine of claim 15, wherein the integrator comprises a rod integrator or a light tunnel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The optical engine of claim 15, wherein the optics include an array toroidal lens disposed between the lens and the integrator; the laser beam is configured to be incident on the array toroidal lens has an elliptical beam shape having a minor axis and a major axis; and wherein the array toroidal lens comprises a plurality of toroidal lens regions in each of which a curvature in a plane that contains a propagation direction of the laser beam and the minor axis is greater than a curvature in a plane that contains the propagation direction and the major axis.