# US RE49,040 E1 · Light source apparatus and image projection apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US RE49,040 E1 - Document ID: USRE49040E1 - Status: Granted - Kind: E1 - Application number: 16/688,229 - Filed: 2019-11-19 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-20 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Ikuo Maeda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/USRE49040E1 ## CPC - G03B 21/16: Cooling; Preventing overheating - G03B 21/2013: {Plural light sources} - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G03B 21/2066: {Reflectors in illumination beam (in projection beam G03B21/28)} - 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 A light source apparatus includes a light source unit that includes plural sets of a laser and a coupling lens corresponding to the laser, which are circumferentially provided to form a circle; and a reflecting unit placed within the circle and provided with plural reflecting surfaces corresponding to the lasers of the plural sets of the light source unit to be formed in a cone shape, the light irradiated from each of the lasers being injected into the corresponding reflecting surface via the corresponding coupling lens. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light source apparatus comprising: a light source unit that includes plural sets of a laser and a coupling lens corresponding to the laser, which are circumferentially provided to form a circle; a reflecting unit placed within the circle and provided with plural reflecting surfaces corresponding to the lasers of the plural sets of the light source unit to be formed in a cone shape, the light irradiated from each of the lasers being injected into the corresponding reflecting surface via the corresponding coupling lens; a support member on which the lasers and the coupling lenses of the plural sets are fixed; and a radiation member provided at a surface of the support member opposite to the side where the light paths of the lights irradiated from the lasers of the sets are formed, and including a flat surface formed at a center portion, a sloped guide surface which is provided at the outer side of the flat surface to be concaved downward such as to become deeper the closer the sloped guide surface becomes to an outer periphery of the radiation member from the flat surface, and plural fins provided to rest on the concaved sloped guide surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light source apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of the light source units, wherein the plurality of light source units and the reflecting unit are fixed on the support member such that the lights irradiated from the lasers of the plurality of light source units are injected into the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light source apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sets of the laser and the coupling lens of one of the light source units and the sets of the laser and the coupling lens of another of the light source units are alternately positioned in a planar view. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The light source apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of light source units are positioned on different levels, and wherein the sets of the laser and the coupling lens of the plurality of light source units are arranged around the circumference of the same circle in a planar view. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The light source apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lasers and the coupling lenses of the plural sets are positioned such that optical axes of the irradiated lights from the lasers are directed in a thickness direction of the support member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The light source apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: plural reflecting mirrors provided to change the optical paths of the lights irradiated from the respective lasers and passed through the coupling lenses toward the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An image projection apparatus, comprising: the light source apparatus according to claim 1; an amount of light equation unit that equates the amount of the lights reflected by the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit of the light source apparatus; a light transmission optical system that transmits the lights output from the amount of light equation unit to an image forming panel which forms an image; and a projection optical system that projects an enlarged image of the image formed on the image forming panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image projection apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of the light source apparatuses, wherein the lights irradiated from the light source units and reflected by the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting units of the light source apparatuses are injected into the amount of light equation unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The image projection apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a diffusion unit that diffuses the lights. ### Claim 10 A light source apparatus comprising: a light source unit that includes plural sets of a laser and a coupling lens corresponding to the laser, which are circumferentially provided to form a circle; a reflecting unit placed within the circle and provided with plural reflecting surfaces corresponding to the lasers of the plural sets of the light source unit, the light irradiated from each of the lasers being injected into the corresponding reflecting surface via the corresponding coupling lens; a support member on which the lasers and the coupling lenses of the plural sets are fixed, the lasers and the coupling lenses of the plural sets being positioned such that optical axes of the irradiated lights from the lasers are directed in a thickness direction of the support member; a reflecting mirror provided to change the optical paths of the lights irradiated from the lasers and passed through the coupling lenses toward the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit; and a radiation member provided at a surface of the support member opposite to the side where the light paths of the lights irradiated from the lasers of the sets are formed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The light source apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a plurality of light source units, wherein the light source units and the reflecting unit are fixed on the support member such that the lights irradiated from the lasers of the light source units are injected into the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The light source apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sets of the laser and the coupling lens of one of the light source units and the sets of the laser and the coupling lens of another of the light source units are alternately positioned in a planar view. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The light source apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the radiation member includes a flat surface formed at a center portion, a guide surface which is provided at the outer side of the flat surface to be concaved from the flat surface, and plural fins provided to be stand at the guide surface. ### Claim 14 A light source apparatus comprising: a light source unit that includes plural sets of a laser and a coupling lens corresponding to the laser, which are circumferentially provided to form a circle; a reflecting unit placed within the circle and provided with plural reflecting surfaces corresponding to the lasers of the plural sets of the light source unit, the light irradiated from each of the lasers being injected into the corresponding reflecting surface via the corresponding coupling lens; a support member on which the lasers and the coupling lenses of the plural sets are fixed, the lasers and the coupling lenses of the plural sets being positioned such that optical axes of the irradiated lights from the lasers are directed in a thickness direction of the support member; a reflecting mirror provided to change the optical paths of the lights irradiated from the lasers and passed through the coupling lenses toward the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit; and a radiation member provided at a surface of the support member opposite to the side where the light paths of the lights irradiated from the lasers of the sets are formed, and provided with a channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) An image projection apparatus, comprising: the light source apparatus according to claim 10; an amount of light equation unit that equates the amount of the lights reflected by the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting unit of the light source apparatus; a light transmission optical system that transmits the lights output from the amount of light equation unit to an image forming panel which forms an image; and a projection optical system that projects an enlarged image of the image formed on the image forming panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image projection apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a plurality of light source apparatuses, wherein the lights irradiated from the light source units and reflected by the respective reflecting surfaces of the reflecting units of the light source apparatuses are injected into the amount of light equation unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The image projection apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a diffusion unit that diffuses the lights.