JP2011198588A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system capable of reducing an occupied space of optical fibers while preventing damage of the same.SOLUTION: The lighting device includes a light source unit LU including: a plurality of laser heads 10 irradiating light; a plurality of optical fibers 20, each coupled with each laser head 10, for light from each laser head 10 to be incident on; and a bundle 30 for bundling the plurality of optical fibers 20. A part of each optical fiber is formed into a loop part 20a with a minimum allowable bend radius R. The loop part 20a is tied by tying bands 50 so as to be held in an arc of the minimum allowable bend radius R. Each laser head 10 is arranged around the loop part 20a.

Description

  The present invention relates to an illuminating device, and is particularly suitable for an illuminating device that achieves high brightness using a plurality of light sources.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a projection display apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “projector”) that modulates light from a light source based on an image signal and projects light generated thereby (hereinafter referred to as “image light”) onto a projection surface. Are known. This type of projector is required to increase the brightness of image light with the recent increase in screen size. For this reason, in an illuminating device mounted on this type of projector, it is necessary to increase the luminance of illumination light.

  Therefore, in order to increase the luminance of illumination light in an illuminating device, for example, a configuration is used in which light from a plurality of light sources is coupled with a plurality of optical fibers and these optical fibers are bundled (for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2006-60033 A

  The optical fiber is composed of a core in the center and a clad around the core, and light incident from the entrance surface of the core propagates while being totally reflected in the core.

  A glass material such as silicon (Si) is used for the core from the viewpoint of light transmittance and the like. The diameter of the core is sufficiently small with respect to the length of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber can be bent with a certain radius even if the core is made of a glass material. However, if it is bent to be smaller than a certain radius, the core may be broken and light may leak from the fracture surface. If it becomes like this, sufficient light guide performance as an optical fiber cannot be obtained. The minimum radius at which the core does not break is called the minimum allowable bending radius.

  For this reason, when guiding each optical fiber from each light source to the bundling portion, the optical fiber exits from each light source portion between each light source portion and the bundling portion while preventing each optical fiber from being bent smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius. Each optical fiber in a dispersed state is gradually collected.

  Therefore, in an illumination device using an optical fiber, each dispersed optical fiber may occupy a relatively large space.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device capable of reducing the occupied space of the optical fiber while preventing the optical fiber from being damaged.

  The illumination device according to the present invention includes a plurality of light source units that emit light, a plurality of optical fibers that are coupled to the respective light source units and receive light from each of the light source units, and a binding unit that binds the plurality of optical fibers. And an arrangement means for arranging the optical fibers so that a part of the optical fibers is along the same arc having a radius equal to or larger than a minimum allowable bending radius.

  According to the lighting device of the present invention, since each optical fiber is arranged so that a part of each optical fiber is along the same arc having a radius equal to or larger than the minimum allowable bending radius, the optical fiber is not bent less than the minimum allowable bending radius. Meanwhile, dispersion of each optical fiber between each light source unit and the binding unit can be suppressed. Therefore, the occupation space of the optical fiber can be reduced while preventing the optical fiber from being damaged.

  The arc is preferably a perfect circle. In this way, the bending state of each optical fiber becomes equal, so that the propagation of light in each optical fiber becomes equal. Therefore, the luminance unevenness of the illumination light synthesized by each optical fiber and emitted from the illumination device is reduced.

  In the illuminating device of the present invention, each of the light source units may be arranged such that the optical fiber extends linearly from the light source unit to the arc and follows the arc, and an end of the light source unit is in contact with the arc. .

  With such a configuration, each light source unit can be arranged in a compact manner, so that the lighting device can be downsized.

  In the lighting device of the present invention, the arc may include a first arc and a second arc having a radius smaller than the first arc defined inside the first arc. . In this case, each light source unit includes a first light source unit disposed outside the first arc, and a second light source unit disposed between the first arc and the second arc. It can be set as the structure containing these. Further, each of the optical fibers receives light from the first light source unit, and receives light from the first optical fiber arranged along the first arc and the second light source unit. And a second optical fiber arranged along the second arc.

  With such a configuration, the second light source unit can be arranged by effectively utilizing the space generated inside the first arc, so that the light source can be highly integrated and the lighting device can be downsized. .

  The illuminating device of this invention may be set as the structure provided with the base part for fixing the said several light source part. In this case, the pedestal portion may be provided with cooling means for cooling the light source portions.

  With such a configuration, the pedestal portion can be shared as a cooling portion for cooling each light source portion, so that the lighting device can be further miniaturized.

  The illuminating device of the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of light source units including the plurality of light source units, the plurality of optical fibers, the bundling unit, and the arrangement unit are arranged. In this case, the lighting device may be configured to further include a holding unit that holds the plurality of light source units in an aligned state.

  With such a configuration, since light from a plurality of light source units is used, it is possible to further increase the luminance of the lighting device.

  In the illumination device of the present invention, the holding unit may be configured to hold the light source units so that they can be taken out individually.

With such a configuration, an operation of increasing or decreasing the number of light source units or replacing the light source units can be easily performed.

  The illumination device of the present invention is preferably used for a projection display apparatus. In this way, it is possible to reduce the size of the projection display apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an illumination device that can reduce the occupied space of an optical fiber while preventing the optical fiber from being damaged.

  The features of the present invention will be further clarified by the embodiments described below. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example when the present invention is implemented, and the present invention is not limited to what is described in the following embodiment.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the laser head and optical fiber which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the arrangement | positioning method of the laser head in the illuminating device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of the illuminating device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure for fixing the loop part and laser head of the optical fiber which concern on 2nd Embodiment to a base part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the illuminating device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the illuminating device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical system of the projector carrying the illuminating device which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a change of the illuminating device which concerns on embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a lighting device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the laser head 10 and the optical fiber 20. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a state in which the optical fiber 20 is connected to the laser head 10, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the laser head 10 and the optical fiber 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the illumination device includes a light source unit LU. The light source unit LU corresponds to a plurality of laser heads 10, a plurality of optical fibers 20 provided corresponding to the laser heads 10, a bundle 30 that binds emission ends of the optical fibers 20, and the laser heads 10. And a plurality of cooling jackets 40 provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the laser head 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. A coupling portion 101 for coupling the incident end of the optical fiber 20 is provided on the front surface of the laser head 10.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a semiconductor laser 102 and a condensing lens 103 are arranged inside the laser head 10. The semiconductor laser 102 has a plurality of emitters 102a (light emitting points) from which laser light is emitted. The laser light emitted from each emitter 102a is collected by the condenser lens 103 and is incident on the optical fiber 20 with a predetermined angular distribution. The optical fiber 20 includes a core 201 at the center and a clad 202 around the core. Laser light incident from the incident surface of the core 201 propagates while being totally reflected in the core 201. The core 201 is made of a glass material such as silicon (Si), for example.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the output ends of the optical fibers 20 emitted from the laser heads 10 are collected and bound by a bundle 30. The bundle 30 has, for example, a cylindrical shape and is made of a material such as metal or resin. The emission end of each optical fiber 20 is bundled in a form corresponding to the hole shape of the bundle 30.

  Each optical fiber 20 has a loop portion 20a having the same circular arc in a part thereof. Here, the loop portion 20 a is substantially a perfect circle, and its radius is set to be equal to or larger than the minimum allowable bending radius R of the optical fiber 20. In the first to fourth embodiments, the radius of the loop portion 20 a is set to the minimum bending radius R of the optical fiber 20. Actually, in order to reliably prevent the optical fiber 20 from being damaged, it is desirable that the diameter of the loop portion 20a is set to be slightly larger than the minimum bending radius R.

  The loop portion 20a of each optical fiber 20 is held in an arc shape having a minimum allowable bending radius R by binding appropriate portions such as a portion where the fibers intersect when the loop is formed by the binding band 50. . Thus, in the present embodiment, each optical fiber 20 is arranged so that a part of each optical fiber 20 follows the same arc having the minimum allowable bending radius R.

  Each laser head 10 is arranged around the loop portion 20a so as to be aligned in a direction parallel to the loop portion 20a. Further, each laser head 10 is arranged at a position and orientation so that each optical fiber 20 does not bend smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius R before reaching the loop portion 20a.

  Each laser head 10 is provided with a cooling jacket 40 on the installation surface side. Inside the cooling jacket 40, a flow path for the coolant is formed in a predetermined pattern, and a plurality of heat radiation fins are provided in the flow path. In each cooling jacket 40, a coolant circulates from the cooling system. Each laser head 10 is cooled by heat exchange with the coolant.

  Thus, in the illumination device of the present embodiment, the laser light emitted from each laser head 10 is collected by each optical fiber 20. Then, high-luminance laser light (illumination light) is emitted from the front end portion of the bundle 30.

  The light source unit LU may be provided with a laser head 10 that emits laser light of the same color (wavelength band). Or the laser head 10 which radiate | emits the laser beam of a different color can also be mixed. When three types of laser heads 10 that emit red, green, and blue laser light (hereinafter referred to as “R light”, “G light”, and “B light”, respectively) are arranged, the illumination device emits white light. Illumination light is emitted.

  When laser heads 10 of different colors are arranged, optical fibers 20 having different core diameters, that is, different minimum allowable bending radii, may be used in accordance with the respective laser heads 10. In this case, the radius of the loop portion 20a is set to the largest minimum allowable bending radius.

In the present embodiment, the minimum allowable bending radius R is between each laser head 10 and the bundle 30.
A loop portion 20a of the optical fiber 20 is formed along an arc having As a result, a space S that is not occupied by the optical fiber 20 is formed inside the loop portion 20a. In this space S, it becomes possible to arrange other components of the lighting device.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the optical fibers 20 are dispersed (spread widely) between the laser heads 10 and the bundle 30 while preventing the optical fibers 20 from being bent smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius R. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the occupation space of the optical fiber 20 can be reduced while preventing the optical fiber 20 from being damaged. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the lighting device.

  In the present embodiment, a part of each optical fiber 20 is used as a loop portion 20a, and all the optical fibers 20 are bound by a binding band 50 in order to hold the loop portion 20a in an arc having a minimum allowable bending radius R. Corresponds to the disposing means of the present invention.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of arranging the laser head 11 in the illumination apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, first, the circumference C of the minimum allowable bending radius R for allowing the loop portion 21a of the optical fiber 21 to follow is defined. A tangent line K0 that touches one point P0 on the circumference C is drawn. The laser head 11 is configured such that the center of the coupling portion 111 coincides with the tangent line K0 so that the optical fiber 21 linearly extending from the contact point P0 along the tangent line K0 is coupled to the coupling portion 111. Are arranged in parallel with each other. The laser head 11 is arranged so that the front corner is in contact with the circumference C. Thereby, the optical fiber 21 coupled to the coupling unit 111 linearly extends to the contact point P0 along the tangent line K0, and then draws a loop along the circumference C. The point where the corner of the laser head 11 contacts the circumference C is the next contact P1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, a tangent line K1 in contact with the contact point P1 is drawn. Similarly to FIG. 1A, the next laser head 11 has the center of the coupling portion 111 at the tangent line K1. So as to coincide with the tangent line K1. In this way, contacts P2, P3,... Are sequentially provided on the circumference C, and the laser head 11 is disposed with reference to these contacts P2, P3.

Note that the angle θ between the two contact points is the length M (usually half the width of the laser head 11) from the coupling portion 111 to the side surface in contact with the arc, and the radius of the circumference C, that is, the minimum allowable Using the bending radius R, it is expressed as:
θ = COS ⁻¹ (1-M / R) (1)
Therefore, in this case, the number m of the laser heads 11 that can be arranged around the circumference C is as follows.
m = 360 / θ (2)

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration of the illumination device according to the second embodiment. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view of the illumination device according to Configuration Example 1, respectively. 4C and 4D are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the lighting device according to Configuration Example 2. FIG. In FIGS. 4B and 4D, for the sake of convenience, the plurality of laser heads 11 are combined into a single dot and dash line.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the illumination device according to Configuration Example 1 includes a light source unit LU. The light source unit LU fixes a plurality of laser heads 11, a plurality of optical fibers 21 provided corresponding to the laser heads 11, a bundle 31 that binds emission ends of the plurality of optical fibers 21, and the laser heads 11. And a pedestal portion 41.

  Each optical fiber 21 has a loop portion 21a having a substantially perfect circle and a minimum allowable bending radius R at a part thereof. The optical fibers 21 are bundled into one bundle in the loop portion 21a, and the bundled optical fibers 21 extend from the position of the contact point P0 of the loop portion 21a to the bundle 31, for example. At this time, the bundle of optical fibers 21 coming out from the contact P0 is lifted slightly upward as shown in FIG. 4B so as not to interfere with the optical fiber 21 corresponding to the contact P5.

  Each laser head 11 is arranged on the outer periphery of the loop portion 21a by the arrangement method described in FIG. In the present configuration example, the laser head 11 having the length M that is a half of the radius R of the loop portion 21a is used. In this illumination device, the angle θ between the contacts is θ = 60 ° from the above equation (1), and the number m of the laser heads 11 arranged is m = 6 from the above equation (2). It has become.

  The structures of the laser head 11, the optical fiber 21, and the bundle 31 are the same as those of the laser head 10, the optical fiber 20, and the bundle 30 of the first embodiment.

  Each laser head 11 is fixed to a circular pedestal 41. The pedestal portion 41 also functions as a cooling jacket for cooling the laser head 11. For this reason, in the pedestal portion 41, a flow path 41a is formed in a predetermined pattern, and a plurality of heat radiation fins 41b are provided in the flow path 41a.

  An inflow port 411 and an outflow port 412 connected to the flow path 41 a are provided on the peripheral surface of the pedestal portion 41. The inflow port 411 and the outflow port 412 are connected to a cooling system (see FIG. 1). The coolant flowing in from the inflow port 411 flows out of the outflow port 412 through the flow path 41 a in the pedestal portion 41. Thus, the pedestal portion 41 is cooled by the coolant, and the laser head 11 fixed to the pedestal portion 41 is cooled.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a structure for fixing the loop portion 21 a of the optical fiber 21 and the laser head 11 to the pedestal portion 41. FIG. 5A is a plan view of a main part showing the arrangement position of the holding body 51. 5B and 5C are a side view and a front view of the holding body 51 in a state where the optical fiber 21 is held.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of holding bodies 51 are arranged on the pedestal portion 41. The plurality of holding bodies 51 are arranged on the pedestal portion 41 so as to draw an arc having the same radius R as that of the loop portion 20a. In the present configuration example, for example, the six holding bodies 51 are respectively arranged at positions where the optical fibers 21 start along the arc of the loop portion 21a. FIG. 5A shows only a part of the holding bodies 51 arranged on the pedestal portion 41.

  As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the holding body 51 supports a head portion 511 having a cylindrical shape with the upper portion cut away, a support column portion 512 extending downward from the head portion 511, and the support column portion 512. A base portion 513 is used. The holding body 51 binds the plurality of fibers 21 by the head portion 511 and is fixed to the pedestal portion 41 by the base portion 512.

The loop portion 21 a of the optical fiber 21 is held by the holding body 51, so that the loop portion 21 a is kept in an arc shape with a minimum allowable bending radius R. Further, it is kept in a state separated from the pedestal 41 by a predetermined distance. In addition to holding by the holding body 51, the loop portion 21a may be appropriately bound by a binding band. In this way, the loop portion 21a can be more firmly maintained in an arc shape with the minimum allowable bending radius R. Of course, strong holding may be performed by increasing the number of holding bodies 51 themselves (for example, 12 in this configuration example).

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the laser head 11 is provided with flange portions 114 on both side surfaces. The laser head 11 is fixed to the pedestal portion 41 by a flange portion 114. In the present embodiment, since the two laser heads 11 are not arranged side by side, the flange portion 114 does not affect the arrangement of the laser heads 11.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D, in the illumination device according to Configuration Example 2, the laser head 11 having the length M that is a quarter of the radius R of the loop portion 21a is used. ing. In this illuminating device, the angle θ between the contacts is θ = 41.4 ° from the above equation (1), and the number m of the laser heads 11 arranged is m = from the above equation (2). There are eight.

  The configuration of the illumination device according to this configuration example is substantially the same as that of the configuration example 1 except for the number of laser heads 11. However, in this configuration example, since eight laser heads 11 are arranged, at least eight holding bodies 51 are arranged accordingly. Further, in this configuration example, the bundle of the optical fibers 21 toward the bundle 31 may interfere with the laser head 11 corresponding to the contact P7, not the optical fiber 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4D, the bundle of optical fibers 20 toward the bundle 31 is lifted obliquely upward so as not to interfere with the laser head 11.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment, the following functions and effects can be achieved.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, each laser head 11 is disposed compactly around the loop portion 21a. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the size of the lighting device.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the loop portion 21a has a perfect circle shape, and any optical fiber 21 extends linearly from the laser head 11 to the loop portion 21a. Thereby, the bending state of all the optical fibers 21 becomes equal, and the propagation state of the light in all the optical fibers 21 becomes equal, so that the luminance unevenness of the illumination light emitted from the bundle 31 is reduced.

  In the present embodiment, a configuration in which a plurality of holding bodies 51 are arranged on the pedestal portion 41 and the loop portion 20a is held by the holding body 51 in an arc having a minimum allowable bending radius R corresponds to the disposing means of the present invention. . As in the first embodiment, the optical fibers 21 may be held by the holding body 51 after being bundled with the binding band 50 so as to have the minimum bending radius R. In this case, the binding band 50 and the holding body 51 correspond to the disposing means of the present invention.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a lighting device according to the third embodiment. FIGS. 6A and 6B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the lighting apparatus according to Configuration Example 1. FIGS. 6C and 6D are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the lighting apparatus according to Configuration Example 2. In FIGS. 6B and 6D, for the sake of convenience, the plurality of first laser heads 12 and the second laser heads 13 are combined into one and represented by a one-dot chain line.

  Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the illumination device according to Configuration Example 1 includes a light source unit LU. The light source unit LU includes a plurality of first laser heads 12 and second laser heads 13, a plurality of first optical fibers 22 and second optical fibers 23, a bundle 32, and a pedestal portion 42.

  As the first laser head 12, a laser head that emits G light and a laser head that emits B light are used. A first optical fiber 22 is coupled to the first laser head 12.

  Each first optical fiber 22 has a loop portion 22a having a substantially perfect circle and a minimum allowable bending radius Ra at a part thereof. The first optical fibers 22 are combined into one bundle in the loop portion 22a, and the bundled first optical fibers 22 extend from the predetermined position of the loop portion 22a to the bundle 32, for example.

  Each first laser head 12 is arranged on the outer periphery of the loop portion 22a by the arrangement method described in FIG.

  The fixing structure of the first laser head 12 and the first optical fiber 22 to the pedestal portion 42 is the same as the fixing structure of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  As the second laser head 13, a laser head that emits R light is used. A second optical fiber 23 is coupled to the second laser head 13.

  Each second optical fiber 23 has a loop portion 23a having a substantially perfect circle and a minimum allowable bending radius Rb at a part thereof. The second optical fibers 23 are bundled into one bundle in the loop portion 23a, and the bundled second optical fibers 23 extend from the predetermined position of the loop portion 22a to the bundle 32, for example.

  Here, the numerical aperture of the second optical fiber 23 used for the second laser head 13 that emits R light is smaller than the numerical aperture of the first optical fiber 22 used for the first laser head 12 that emits G light and B light. For this reason, an optical fiber having a smaller core diameter than the first optical fiber 22 can be used for the second optical fiber 23. Thus, since the second optical fiber 23 is an optical fiber having a smaller core diameter than the first optical fiber 22, the minimum allowable bending radius Rb is also smaller than the minimum allowable bending radius Ra of the first optical fiber 22.

  The second optical fiber 23 is disposed so that the loop portion 23a is inside the loop portion 22a of the first optical fiber 22 and is substantially concentric with the loop portion 22a. Each second laser head 13 is arranged on the outer periphery of the loop portion 23a and inside the loop portion 22a by the arrangement method described in FIG.

  Note that the fixing structure of the second laser head 13 and the second optical fiber 23 to the pedestal 42 is the same as the fixing structure of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the bundle of the optical fibers 22 and 23 exiting from the loop portions 22a and 23a is lifted obliquely upward so as not to interfere with the first laser head 12 and the second laser head 23. And their exit ends are bound by a bundle 32.

  In this way, white illumination light obtained by combining the G light and B light emitted from each first laser head 12 and the R light emitted from each second laser head 13 is emitted from the front end portion of the bundle 32.

FIGS. 6C and 6D show the lighting device according to the configuration example 2. FIG. When the number of the second laser heads 13 is smaller than the number that can be arranged and the second laser head 13 is arranged only at a part of the outer periphery of the loop part 23a as in this illumination device, the loop part 23a is looped. It can be biased within 22a. If it does in this way, a space as large as possible can be left inside the loop part 22a, and it becomes possible to arrange | position a further structural member in this space. Further, as in this configuration example, when the number of first laser heads 12 arranged on the outer periphery of the loop 22a is smaller than the number that can be arranged, the first laser head 12 passes through the space where the first laser head 12 is not arranged. A bundle of the first optical fiber 22 and the second optical fiber 23 may be guided to the bundle 32. In this way, it is not necessary to bend the first optical fiber 22 and the second optical fiber 23 at the drawn portions from the loop portions 22a and 23a.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the following functions and effects can be achieved.

  That is, in the present embodiment, a further laser head (second laser head 13) is used by effectively using the space generated by suppressing the dispersion of the first optical fiber 22 inside the loop portion 22a of the first fiber 22. ) Is arranged, the lighting device can be further miniaturized.

<Fourth Embodiment>
7 and 8 are diagrams showing the configuration of the illumination device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a state before the light source unit LU is stored in the storage case 50, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a state where the light source unit LU is stored in the storage case 50. FIG. 8A and 8B are a plan view and a side view showing the configuration of the light source unit LU, respectively. In FIG. 7, the light source unit LU is simplified for convenience. Moreover, in FIG.7 (b), the inside of the storage case 50 is seen through.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lighting device includes three light source units LU and a case 50 that houses these light source units LU.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the light source unit LU includes a plurality of first laser heads 14 and second laser heads 15, a plurality of first optical fibers 24 and second optical fibers 25, a bundle 33, and a pedestal portion 43. ing. The light source unit LU has the same configuration as the light source unit LU of the configuration example 1 of the third embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B except for the pedestal portion 43. For this reason, white illumination light is emitted from the light source unit LU.

  The pedestal portion 43 has a rectangular shape, and a flow path is formed in a predetermined pattern therein. A plurality of heat radiating fins are provided in the flow path. An inflow port 431 and an outflow port 432 connected to the flow path are provided on the front surface of the pedestal portion 41, that is, the side surface on the side where the bundle 33 is disposed. The inflow port 431 and the outflow port 432 are connected to a cooling system (see FIG. 1), and the coolant that has flowed in from the inflow port 431 flows out of the outflow port 432 through the flow path in the base portion 43.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the storage case 50 includes a rectangular parallelepiped case body 501 whose front is open. In the case main body 501, a pair of shelf boards 502 are provided in a lower stage, a middle stage, and an upper stage. With these three sets of shelf portions 502, three slot portions 503 are formed in the case main body 501 vertically.

  The three light source units LU are respectively inserted into the slot portions 503 from the front. Thus, by storing in the storage case 50, the three light source units LU are held in a stacked state.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the functions and effects of the first to third embodiments, the following functions and effects can be achieved.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the light from the plurality of light source units LU can be synthesized, so that the luminance of the lighting device can be increased. Further, since the light source units LU can be individually attached and detached, the work of increasing or decreasing the number of the light source units LU or exchanging the light source units can be easily performed.

  Further, when replacing the light source unit LU, only the target light source unit LU has to be extracted from the slot portion 503, and the light source unit LU can be easily replaced.

  In the present embodiment, the housing case 50 is provided with the three slot portions 503, but more slot portions 503 can be provided. Further, it is not necessary to store the light source units LU in all the slot portions 503, and the number of light source units LU to be stored may be adjusted according to the required luminance.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the constituent parts including the laser heads 14 and 15, the optical fibers 22 and 23, and the bundle 33 are provided only on the upper surface of the pedestal portion 43. However, as shown in FIG. 9A, such a configuration may be configured such that the constituent portions are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the pedestal portion 43. In this way, a lighting device that is compact in the vertical direction can be realized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, instead of the housing case 50, recesses 433 are formed at the four corners of the upper surface of the pedestal portion 43, and leg portions 434 are provided at the four corners of the lower surface of the pedestal portion 43, respectively. By inserting the leg portion 434 into the concave portion 433, a configuration in which the plurality of light source units LU are held in a stacked state may be employed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, three light source units LU that emit white illumination light by arranging a laser head that emits R light, a laser head that emits G light, and a laser head that emits B light are accommodated. It is configured to be accommodated in the case 50. However, three light source units LU that respectively emit only R light, G light, and B light may be housed in the housing case 50.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the housing case 50 is configured so that the plurality of light source units LU are held in a state of being arranged in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the housing case 50 may be configured so that the plurality of light source units LU are held in a state in which they are arranged in the left-right direction (lateral direction).

<Embodiment of Projection Display Apparatus>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an optical system of a projector on which the illumination device of the present embodiment is mounted.

  The lighting device 1 has the configuration described in the fourth embodiment, for example. In this case, the bundles 33 of the respective light source units LU shown in FIG. 9 are further bundled by other bundles to integrate the illumination light. The illumination device 1 emits white illumination light in which R light, G light, and B light are combined. In addition, as the illuminating device 1, the structure demonstrated in 1st Embodiment thru | or 3rd Embodiment can also be used.

Illumination light emitted from the illuminating device 1 is made uniform by the rod integrator 2, and then is separated and synthesized for 3DMD (Digital Micro-mirror Device) via a relay optical system 7 including a relay lens and a mirror. The light enters the TIR (Total Internal Reflection) prism 81 of the prism 8. Details of the configuration of the 3DMD color separation / combination prism 8 are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-79080.

  The illumination light incident on the 3DMD color separation / combination prism 8 is separated by the dichroic films 82 and 83 constituting the 3DMD color separation / combination prism 8, and is a reflective display element 9R for R light composed of DMD, for G light. The light enters the display element 9G and the B light display element 9B. The R light, G light, and B light modulated by the display elements 9R, 9G, and 9B are integrated by the 3DMD color separation / combination prism 8, and light (video light) obtained by color-combining each color light is TIR prism. The light enters the projection lens 6 from 81.

  The image light incident on the projection lens 6 is enlarged and projected onto the screen (projection surface).

  Although FIG. 10 shows an optical system using the TIR prism 81, the illumination device according to each of the above embodiments causes the color light separated by the plurality of dichroic mirrors to be incident on three to three liquid crystal panels. The present invention can also be used as appropriate for illumination devices in other optical systems such as an optical system that combines color light modulated by a liquid crystal panel with a dichroic prism.

<Others>
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the embodiment of the present invention can be variously modified in addition to the above.

  For example, in each of the embodiments described above, a part of the optical fiber 20 (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) is a perfect circular loop portion 20a (21a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a). That is, a part of each optical fiber 20 is arranged along the same circular arc. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the loop portion 20a may be an ellipse. That is, a part of each optical fiber 20 may be arranged along the same elliptical arc.

  Furthermore, as long as a part of each optical fiber 20 (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) can be made to follow the same circular arc, not all the optical fibers 20 need be made into a loop shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), one optical fiber is formed into a loop shape, and the other optical fiber is bent along the loop portion of the optical fiber and fixed by a binding band or a holding body. It is also good.

  In the case where the holding body 51 is arranged along the arc on the pedestal portion 41 as in the second embodiment, if the holding body 51 holds the optical fiber 21, a part of the optical fiber 21 has a predetermined arc. To be kept. Therefore, in this case, as shown in FIG. 11B, the plurality of optical fibers can be configured not to have a loop shape.

  Furthermore, in each embodiment, the radius of the loop portion 20a (21a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a) is set to the minimum allowable bending radius R of the optical fiber 20. That is, a part of each optical fiber 20 is arranged along the same circular arc having the minimum allowable bending radius R. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the radius of the loop portion 20a may be set to a value larger than the minimum allowable bending radius R. That is, a part of each optical fiber 20 may be arranged along the same arc having a radius larger than the minimum allowable bending radius R.

Furthermore, the illumination device of the present invention can be mounted on other devices such as an exposure device and a processing illumination machine in addition to a projector.

  In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can be variously modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

10, 11 Laser head (light source)
12, 14 First laser head (light source unit, first light source unit)
13, 15 Second laser head (light source unit, second light source unit)
20, 21 Optical fiber 22, 24 First optical fiber (first optical fiber)
23, 25 Second optical fiber (second optical fiber)
30, 31, 32, 33 Bundle (Bundling part)
41, 42, 43 Base part 41a Flow path (cooling means)
41b Radiation fin (cooling means)
433 recess (holding part)
434 Leg (holding part)
50 Storage case (holding part)
LU light source unit

Claims (6)

A plurality of light source units that emit light;
A plurality of optical fibers that are respectively coupled to the light source units and into which light from the light source units is incident;
A bundling unit for bundling the plurality of optical fibers;
Arrangement means for arranging each optical fiber so that a part of each optical fiber is along the same circular arc having a radius equal to or larger than a minimum allowable bending radius;
A lighting device characterized by that. The lighting device according to claim 1.
Each of the light source units is arranged so that the optical fiber extends linearly from the light source unit to the arc and follows the arc, and an end of the light source unit is in contact with the arc.
A lighting device characterized by that. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2,
The arc includes a first arc and a second arc having a smaller radius than the first arc defined inside the first arc;
Each of the light source units includes a first light source unit disposed outside the first arc, and a second light source unit disposed between the first arc and the second arc. ,
Each of the optical fibers receives light from the first light source unit, receives light from the first optical fiber disposed along the first arc, and light from the second light source unit, and A second optical fiber disposed along the second arc,
A lighting device characterized by that. In the illuminating device as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
A pedestal part for fixing the plurality of light source parts;
Cooling means for cooling each light source unit is disposed on the pedestal unit.
A lighting device characterized by that. In the illuminating device as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
A plurality of light source units including the plurality of light source units, the plurality of optical fibers, the bundling unit, and the arrangement unit;
A holding unit that holds the plurality of light source units in an aligned state;
A lighting device characterized by that. The lighting device according to claim 5.
The holding unit holds the light source units so that they can be taken out individually.
A lighting device characterized by that.

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