Wavelength conversion element with convective cooling

Abstract

A phosphor wheel comprises a disk, a wavelength conversion layer comprising phosphor disposed on the disk, and an impeller disposed on the disk. The impeller comprises vanes which are shaped as airfoils with each vane oriented to drive outward airflow across the disk and across the wavelength conversion layer when the disk is rotated in the rotation direction. The wavelength conversion layer may be disposed at a larger radial position than the impeller on the disk, and may optionally be an annular wavelength conversion layer. In operation, a light source is arranged to output a pump beam impinging on the wavelength conversion layer while the disk rotates.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.