# US 11,445,156 B2 · Optical device, light source device, and projector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,156 B2 - Document ID: US11445156B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/285,674 - Filed: 2019-10-16 - Published: 2021-12-23 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-26 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Yuki Maeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445156B2 ## CPC - H04N 9/3152: {for shaping the light beam (beam shaping per se G02B27/09)} - H04N 9/3161: {using laser light sources (using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129)} - F21S 2/00: Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction - G02B 27/10: Beam splitting or combining systems (polarising systems G02B27/28; mixing and splitting light signals using optical waveguides G02B6/28; {beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, by dividing or superposing multiple light beams G02B27/0905}) - G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors} - G02B 27/283: {used for beam splitting or combining} - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G03B 21/204: {using secondary light emission, e.g. luminescence or fluorescence (using different colours G03B33/00; if related to video signals H04N9/3197)} - G03B 21/2073: {Polarisers in the lamp house (peculiar to electronic spatial light modulators H04N9/3197)} - G03B 33/12: using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors - H04N 9/3105: {for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators (simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10)} - H04N 9/3158: {for controlling the spectrum} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - 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) ## Abstract Provided is an optical device including: a light-emitting layer structure constituted of a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer; and a wavelength selection unit. The wavelength selection unit is disposed on one side of the light-emitting layer structure. The first light-emitting layer emits light having a first wavelength region. The second light-emitting layer emits light having a second wavelength region based on the light emitted from the first light-emitting layer. The wavelength selection unit allows parts and of the light having the first wavelength region emitted from the light-emitting layer structure to pass through, returns the remaining light to the light-emitting layer structure, and allows the light having the second wavelength region to pass through. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical device comprising: a light-emitting layer structure constituted of a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer; and a wavelength selection unit, wherein the wavelength selection unit is disposed on one side of the light-emitting layer structure, the first light-emitting layer emits light having a first wavelength region, the second light-emitting layer emits light having a second wavelength region based on light emitted from the first light-emitting layer, and the wavelength selection unit allows a part of light having the first wavelength region emitted from the light-emitting layer structure to pass through, returns the remaining light to the light-emitting layer structure, and allows light having the second wavelength region to pass through. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength selection unit allows light in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band to pass through, out of the first wavelength region from the light-emitting layer structure, and the second wavelength region and the second wavelength band at least partially overlap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the second light-emitting layer further emits light having the second wavelength region based on the remaining light in the first wavelength region returned to the light-emitting layer structure by the wavelength selection unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer does not absorb the remaining light in the first wavelength region returned to the light-emitting layer structure by the wavelength selection unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein a lens system is disposed between one side of the light-emitting layer structure and the wavelength selection unit, and light that passes through the lens system and propagates to the wavelength selection unit is converted into collimated light by the lens system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting layer emits light having the first wavelength region based on energy supplied from an energy generation unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical device according to claim 6, wherein the energy generation unit is constituted of a light-emitting element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The optical device according to claim 7, wherein the energy supplied from the energy generation unit to the first light-emitting layer is light having a third wavelength region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The optical device according to claim 8, wherein a light reflection unit is disposed on another side of the light-emitting layer structure, and light from the energy generation unit enters the light-emitting layer structure from the one side of the light-emitting layer structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The optical device according to claim 9, further comprising a light transmission/reflection unit, wherein light from the energy generation unit is reflected by the light transmission/reflection unit, passes through the wavelength selection unit, and enters the light-emitting layer structure, and light emitted from the light-emitting layer structure and passed through the wavelength selection unit passes through the light transmission/reflection unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The optical device according to claim 10, further comprising: a phase difference plate that controls light from the energy generation unit to be a first polarization state and a second polarization state; and a second light reflection unit, wherein the phase difference plate is disposed between the energy generation unit and the light transmission/reflection unit, and in the first polarization state, light which passed through the phase difference plate and entered the wavelength selection unit is reflected by the light transmission/reflection unit, passes through the wavelength selection unit, and enters the light-emitting layer structure, and in the second polarization state, light passes through the light transmission/reflection unit, is reflected by the second light reflection unit, reenters the light transmission/reflection unit, and is reflected by the light transmission/reflection unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The optical device according to claim 10, wherein a phase difference plate is disposed between the light transmission/reflection unit and the wavelength selection unit, a second light transmission/reflection unit is disposed between the phase difference plate and the wavelength selection unit, light which was reflected by the light transmission/reflection unit and passed through the phase difference plate is partially reflected by the second light transmission/reflection unit, reenters the phase difference plate, and passes through the phase difference plate and the light transmission/reflection unit, and light which passed through the phase difference plate and the second light transmission/reflection unit passes through the wavelength selection unit and enters the light-emitting layer structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The optical device according to claim 8, wherein a light transmission/reflection unit is disposed on another side of the light-emitting layer structure, light from the energy generation unit passes through the light transmission/reflection unit and enters the light-emitting layer structure from another side of the light-emitting layer structure, and light emitted from the light-emitting layer structure is reflected by the light transmission/reflection unit. ### Claim 14 A light source device comprising: an optical device which includes a light-emitting layer structure constituted of a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer, and a wavelength selection unit; and an energy generation unit, wherein the wavelength selection unit is disposed on one side of the light-emitting layer structure, the first light-emitting layer emits light having a first wavelength region, the second light-emitting layer emits light having a second wavelength region based on light emitted from the first light-emitting layer, and the wavelength selection unit allows a part of light having the first wavelength region emitted from the light-emitting layer structure to pass through, returns the remaining light to the light-emitting layer structure, and allows light having the second wavelength region to pass through. ### Claim 15 A projector comprising: a light source device equipped with an optical device which includes a light-emitting layer structure constituted of a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer and a wavelength selection unit, and an energy generation unit; an illumination optical system; an image forming unit; and a projection optical system, wherein the wavelength selection unit is disposed on one side of the light-emitting layer structure, the first light-emitting layer emits light having a first wavelength region, the second light-emitting layer emits light having a second wavelength region based on light emitted from the first light-emitting layer, the wavelength selection unit allows a part of the light having the first wavelength region emitted from the light-emitting layer structure to pass through, returns the remaining light to the light-emitting layer structure, and allows light having the second wavelength region to pass through, an image is formed by the image forming unit using light passed through the wavelength selection unit, and the image formed by the image forming unit is sent to the projection optical system.