Multicolor illumination device using moving plate with wavelength conversion materials

A method for generating multicolor light, comprising:

• generating an excitation light using a light source;
• directing the excitation light onto a segment of a plate, the plate having two or more segments, wherein one or more of the segments each contains a wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation light and emitting light having wavelengths different from that of the excitation light, wherein a first segment contains a first wavelength conversion material, and a second segment either contains a different wavelength conversion material or contains no wavelength conversion material, the plate further including a dichroic filter disposed between the wavelength conversion material and the light source, the dichroic filter transmitting the excitation light and reflecting light emitted by the wavelength conversion materials;
• and
• moving the plate and the excitation light relative to each other so that different segments are exposed to the excitation light at different times to generate emitted light of different colors.

A method for generating multicolor light, comprising:

• generating an excitation light using a light source;
• directing the excitation light onto a segment of a plate, the plate having two or more segments, wherein one or more of the segments each contains a wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation light and emitting light having wavelengths different from that of the excitation light, wherein a first segment contains a first wavelength conversion material, and a second segment either contains a different wavelength conversion material or contains no wavelength conversion material;
• moving the plate and the excitation light relative to each other so that different segments are exposed to the excitation light at different times to generate emitted light of different colors;
• projecting the light of different colors emitted from the wavelength conversion materials toward a display screen using a microdisplay imager;
• modulating the light source;
• controlling the relative movement of the plate and the light source, the microdisplay imager, and the modulation of the light source in a synchronized manner to generate an image on the display screen.

A method for generating a colored light, comprising:

• generating an excitation light using a light source;
• directing the excitation light onto a segment of a plate, the plate having two or more segments, wherein one or more of the segments each contains a wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation light and emitting light having wavelengths different from that of the excitation light, wherein a first segment contains a first wavelength conversion material, and a second segment either contains a different wavelength conversion material or contains no wavelength conversion material;
• moving the plate and the excitation light relative to each other so that different segments are exposed to the excitation light at different times to generate emitted light of different colors;
• modulating the light source;
• and
• controlling the relative movement of the plate and the excitation light and the modulation of the light source in a synchronized manner to generate a colored light.

An illumination device for providing multicolor light, comprising:

• one or more light sources each for generating an excitation light;
• one or more optic fibers for transmitting the excitation light generated by the one or more light sources;
• a plate including two or more segments, wherein one or more of the segments each contains a wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation light and emitting light having wavelengths different from that of the excitation light,
• wherein a first segment contains a first wavelength conversion material, and a second segment either contains a different wavelength conversion material or contains no wavelength conversion material,
• wherein a part of the plate is disposed on an optical path of the excitation light outputted by the optical fibers, and wherein the plate and the optical fibers are moveable relative to each other so that different segments are exposed to the excitation light at different times.