# US 11,112,686 B2 · Light source unit and projector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,686 B2 - Document ID: US11112686B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/546,035 - Filed: 2019-08-20 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-21 - Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Casio Computer Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Osamu Umamine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112686B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/204: {using secondary light emission, e.g. luminescence or fluorescence (using different colours G03B33/00; if related to video signals H04N9/3197)} - G02B 26/008: {in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels} - G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors} - G02B 27/149: {using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes} - G03B 21/2013: {Plural light sources} - G03B 21/2066: {Reflectors in illumination beam (in projection beam G03B21/28)} - G03B 33/08: Sequential recording or projection (G03B33/02, G03B33/04, G03B33/06 take precedence) - 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 unit of the invention includes a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range and a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a side facing a first surface of the wheel, and the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range being shined from a side facing a second surface of the wheel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light source unit comprising: a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range; and a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a side facing a first surface, wherein the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a partial wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range being shined from a side facing a second surface of the wheel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, wherein the wheel comprises: a second transmitting area provided circumferentially end to end with the first transmitting area and configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range; and a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and the second transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein a reflection film is formed on the side of the first transmitting area that faces the first surface of the wheel, the reflection film being configured to reflect light in the second wavelength range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light source unit according to claim 2, wherein the first luminescent material is dispersed in an interior of the first transmitting area or at a portion of a surface of the first transmitting area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The light source unit according to claim 3, wherein the wheel comprises: a second transmitting area provided circumferentially end to end with the first transmitting area and configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range; and a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and the second transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The light source unit according to claim 2, wherein the wheel comprises: a second transmitting area provided circumferentially end to end with the first transmitting area and configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range; and a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and the second transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light source unit according to claim 1, wherein the first luminescent material is dispersed in an interior of the first transmitting area or at a portion of a surface of the first transmitting area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The light source unit according to claim 6, wherein the wheel comprises: a second transmitting area provided circumferentially end to end with the first transmitting area and configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range; and a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and the second transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The light source unit according to claim 1, comprising: a second light source configured to emit light in the second wavelength range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The light source unit according to claim 8, wherein a density in which the first luminescent material is disposed in the first transmitting area is smaller than a density in which the second luminescent material is disposed in the luminescent light emitting area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The light source unit according to claim 8, wherein the first transmitting area contains the first luminescent material configured to emit, as the first luminescent light, light in a fourth wavelength range that includes part of light in the first wavelength range and part of light in the third wavelength range including a wavelength component lying adjacent to or overlapping light in the first wavelength range as a result of light in the second wavelength range being shined on to the first luminescent material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The light source unit according to claim 10, wherein the first transmitting area comprises a dichroic filter provided on the side facing the second surface side, the dichroic filter being configured to cut off light in the third wavelength range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The light source unit according to claim 10, wherein the second transmitting area constitutes an area configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The light source unit according to claim 12, comprising: a light guiding optical system configured to combine together light in the second wavelength range transmitted to the side facing the first surface of the wheel, light in the first wavelength range transmitted to the side facing the second surface, and light in the third wavelength and the first luminescent light both emitted to the side facing the second surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The light source unit according to claim 12, wherein the light guiding optical system comprises: a first dichroic mirror configured to guide light in the second wavelength range emitted from the second light source to the wheel, guide light in the second wavelength range emitted from the wheel to the side facing the first surface to a combined optical path, and guide light in the first wavelength range, light in the third wavelength range and the first luminescent light that are emitted from the wheel to the side facing the second surface to the combined optical path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The light source unit according to claim 14, wherein the light guiding optical system comprises: a second dichroic mirror configured to guide light in the second wavelength range transmitted through the wheel to the first dichroic mirror and guide light in the second wavelength range emitted from the second light source to the wheel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The light source unit according to claim 15, wherein the light guiding optical system comprises: a first reflection mirror configured to guide light in the second wavelength range emitted from the first dichroic mirror to the wheel and guide light in the first wavelength range, light in the third wavelength range, and the first luminescent light that are emitted from the wheel to the first dichroic mirror. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The light source unit according to claim 16, the light guiding optical system comprises: a second reflection mirror configured to guide light in the second wavelength range transmitted through the wheel to the second dichroic mirror and guide light in the first wavelength range emitted from the second dichroic mirror to the wheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The light source unit according to claim 10, wherein light in the first wavelength range constitutes light of a wavelength in a red wavelength range; wherein light in the second wavelength range constitutes light of a wavelength in a blue wavelength range; wherein light in the third wavelength range constitutes light of a wavelength in a green wavelength range, and wherein light in the fourth wavelength range constitutes light of a wavelength in a yellow wavelength range. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A projector comprising: the light source according to claim 1; a display device on to which light source light from the light source unit is shined to form image light; a projection-side optical system configured to project the image light emitted from the display device on to a screen; and a control unit configured to control the display device and the light source unit. ### Claim 20 A light source unit comprising: a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range; and a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a side facing a first surface, wherein the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a partial wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range being shined from a side facing a second surface of the wheel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, wherein a reflection film is formed on the side of the first transmitting area that faces the first surface of the wheel, the reflection film being configured to reflect light in the second wavelength range, wherein the first luminescent material is dispersed in an interior of the first transmitting area or at a portion of a surface of the first transmitting area, wherein the wheel comprises: a second transmitting area provided circumferentially end to end with the first transmitting area and configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range; and a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and the second transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side. ### Claim 21 A light source unit comprising: a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range; and a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a side facing a first surface, wherein the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a partial wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range being shined from a side facing a second surface of the wheel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, wherein the first luminescent material is dispersed in an interior of the first transmitting area or at a portion of a surface of the first transmitting area, wherein the wheel comprises: a second transmitting area provided circumferentially end to end with the first transmitting area and configured to transmit light in the second wavelength range; and a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and the second transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side. ### Claim 22 A light source unit comprising: a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range; a second light source configured to emit light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range; and a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a side facing a first surface, wherein the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a partial wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in a second wavelength range being shined from a side facing a second surface of the wheel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, wherein the first transmitting area contains the first luminescent material configured to emit, as the first luminescent light, light in a fourth wavelength range that includes part of light in the first wavelength range and part of light in the third wavelength range including a wavelength component lying adjacent to or overlapping light in the first wavelength range as a result of light in the second wavelength range being shined on to the first luminescent material. ### Claim 23 A light source unit comprising: a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range; a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a side facing a first surface; and a second light source configured to emit light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range, wherein the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a partial wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in a second wavelength range being shined from a side facing a second surface of the wheel, the second surface being opposite to the first surface, wherein the wheel comprises a luminescent light emitting area provided end to end with the first transmitting area and including a second luminescent material formed thereon, the second luminescent material being configured to emit, as second luminescent light, light in a third wavelength range that differs from light in the first wavelength range and light in the second wavelength range by being shined with light in the second wavelength range from the second surface side, and wherein a density in which the first luminescent material is disposed in the first transmitting area is smaller than a density in which the second luminescent material is disposed in the luminescent light emitting area. ### Claim 24 A light source unit comprising: a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength range; a wheel in which a first transmitting area is formed, the wheel having opposite first and second surfaces that face in opposite directions from each other, the first transmitting area being configured to transmit light in the first wavelength range incident from a first side facing the first surface; and a second light source configured to emit light in a second wavelength range whose wavelength range differs from that of light in the first wavelength range, wherein the first transmitting area contains a first luminescent material configured to emit first luminescent light including at least a partial wavelength range of light in the first wavelength range by light in the second wavelength range being shined from a second side facing the second surface of the wheel, wherein the first light source is disposed on the first side facing the first surface of the wheel, and the second light source is disposed on the second side facing the second surface of the wheel, and wherein the wheel rotates in a plane so that the first and second sides are separated by the plane.