# US 8,540,376 B2 · Projector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,376 B2 - Document ID: US8540376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/879,357 - Filed: 2010-09-10 - Published: 2011-03-24 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-18 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Tsuyoshi Kaneko; Takashi Takeda - Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kaneko; Takashi Takeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540376B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/14: Details - G02B 27/0972: {Prisms (prisms per se G02B5/04)} - G03B 21/16: Cooling; Preventing overheating - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G03B 21/208: {Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light} - G03B 33/12: using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors - H04N 9/3161: {using laser light sources (using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129)} - H10W 72/851: {Dispositions of multiple connectors or interconnections} - H10H 20/042: {Superluminescent diodes} - H10H 20/8316: {Multi-layer electrodes comprising at least one discontinuous layer} - H10H 20/857: Interconnections, e.g. lead-frames, bond wires or solder balls - H10W 72/07251: {characterised by changes in properties of the bump connectors during connecting} - H10W 72/20: Bump connectors, e.g. solder bumps or copper pillars; Dummy bumps; Thermal bumps - 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 - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS ## Abstract A projector includes: a light emitter; a light modulator modulating light from the light emitter; and a projector projecting the image from the light modulator. The light emitter includes a light emitting element and an optical member. The light emitting element is a super luminescent diode having an active layer constituting first and second gain regions sandwiched between first and second cladding layers. The first gain region is tilted in a clockwise direction relative a perpendicular of a first surface of the stacked structure. The second gain region is tilted in a counterclockwise direction relative to a perpendicular of the first surface. As such, the optical member refracts the light respectively emitted from the end surfaces of the first and second gain regions on the second surface side to thereby emit light beams in the same direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A projector comprising: a light emitting device; a light modulation device adapted to modulate a light beam emitted from the light emitting device in accordance with image information; and a projection device adapted to project the image formed by the light modulation device, wherein the light emitting device includes a light emitting element, and an optical member which a light beam emitted from the light emitting element enters, the light emitting element is a super luminescent diode provided with a stacked structure having an active layer sandwiched between a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer, at least a part of the active layer constitutes a first gain region and a second gain region, a first surface and a second surface out of exposed surfaces of the active layer opposed to each other in the stacked structure, the first gain region is disposed linearly from the first surface to the second surface of the active layer so as to be tilted in a clockwise direction with respect to a perpendicular of the first surface in a plan view along a stacking direction of the stacked structure, the second gain region is disposed linearly from the first surface to the second surface of the active layer so as to be tilted in a counterclockwise direction with respect to a perpendicular of the first surface in the plan view along the stacking direction of the stacked structure, and the optical member has a first planar surface in which the light beam emitted from an end surface located on a second surface side of the first gain region enters so as to be tilted toward one side with respect to the second surface, a second planar surface in which the light beam emitted from an end surface located on a second surface side of the second gain region enters so as to be tilted toward another side with respect to the second surface, and an exit planar surface that is parallel to the second surface and emits the light incident in the optical member, the optical member refracting the light beams emitted respectively from the end surface of the first gain region on the second surface side and the end surface of the second gain region on the second surface side to thereby emit the light beams as light beams proceeding in the same direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein the proceeding direction of the light beams emitted from the optical member is a direction of a perpendicular of the second surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein the first gain region and the second gain region constitute a V-shaped gain region in which an end surface of the first gain region on the first surface side and an end surface of the second gain region on the first surface side overlap each other on the first surface, and a reflectance of the first surface is higher than a reflectance of the second surface in a wavelength band of light generated in the first gain region and the second gain region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first gain region is more than one, and the number of the second gain region is more than one. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein the optical member has a translucency to a wavelength of the light beams emitted from the light emitting element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a light entrance area and a light exit area of the optical member is covered by a reflection reduction member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is mounted to a support member, a thermal conductivity of the support member is higher than a thermal conductivity of the light emitting element, and the active layer is disposed on the support member side in the light emitting element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The projector according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is mounted to a support member, the active layer is disposed on a side opposite to the support member side in the light emitting element, the stacked structure further includes a substrate, and the substrate is disposed between the active layer and the support member.