JP2019061077A - Luminaire apparatus and projector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a small size high luminance luminaire apparatus.SOLUTION: Disclosed luminaire apparatus comprises: a first light source array for outputting first light; a second light source array for outputting second light; a photosynthesis unit; a focusing optics; and a wavelength conversion element. Both of a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the first light and a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the second light have a longitudinal direction and a minor axis direction. The first light source array is disposed so that the longitudinal direction extends along the first direction on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of a beam of synthetic light. The second light source array disposed so that the longitudinal direction extends along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction on the plane. In each of the first light source array and the second light source array, the angles formed by the straight lines connecting the emission centers of the multiple light emitting elements are equal to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device and a projector.

  In recent years, projectors using a laser light source, which is a light source with a wide color gamut and high efficiency, are attracting attention for the purpose of enhancing the performance of the projector. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a light source device including a plurality of semiconductor laser devices and a rectangular holding member for housing the plurality of semiconductor laser devices.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, a first solid-state light source array that generates excitation light, a second solid-state light source array that generates excitation light, and a first solid-state light source array to increase luminance of a light source device using a phosphor. A light source device and a projector including an excitation light synthesis unit that synthesizes excitation light from a solid state light source array and excitation light from a second solid state light source array, and a fluorescence generation unit that generates fluorescence from at least a part of excitation light It is disclosed.

JP, 2015-38958, A JP 2012-18208 A

  When increasing the number of light source devices such as semiconductor lasers with increasing the brightness of the illumination device, for example, if a plurality of light source devices as disclosed in Patent Document 1 are arranged on the same plane, there is a problem that the light source device becomes large. . Therefore, in Patent Document 2 described above, the light source device is divided into two light source arrays, and light is emitted from the respective arrays in different polarization directions, and then polarization synthesis is performed. Thus, attempts have been made to miniaturize the light source device.

  By the way, in order to enhance the conversion efficiency of light in the phosphor and obtain light with high brightness, it is necessary to avoid concentration of the light density on the phosphor and make the light density uniform. For that purpose, when using, for example, a homogenizer as the illuminance uniforming means, in order to enhance the superposition performance of the homogenizer, each of the two light source arrays is irradiated with the light of the homogenizer so that a plurality of lights enter the homogenizer without overlapping as much as possible. It needs to be placed off axis. However, if each of the two light source arrays is arranged offset from the optical axis of the homogenizer, the light source device becomes large, and the merit of miniaturization due to the division into the two light source arrays is hindered.

  One aspect of the present invention is made in order to solve the above-mentioned subject, and it aims at providing a compact and high-intensity lighting installation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a projector provided with the lighting device described above.

  In order to achieve the above object, a lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of light emitting devices having a light emitting element for emitting a first light and a housing for housing the light emitting element therein. A second light source array comprising a plurality of light emitting devices each having a first light source array, a light emitting element for emitting a second light, and a housing for housing the light emitting element therein, and the first light A light combining unit that generates a combined light obtained by combining the first light and the second light by transmitting the light and reflecting the second light; and collecting the combined light at a predetermined focusing position And a wavelength conversion element that generates fluorescence by using at least a part of the combined light collected by the light collection optical system as excitation light. The sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the first light and the sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the second light both have a major axis direction and a minor axis direction. The first light source array is disposed such that the long axis direction is along the first direction on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the combined light, and the second light source array has the long axis direction that is the plane A plurality of straight lines connecting the light emission centers of the plurality of light emitting elements are disposed along the second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the upper direction, and in each of the first light source array and the second light source array The angles formed by each other are equal to each other.

  In the lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention, the major axis directions in the cross-sectional shapes of the first light and the second light are orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the combined light. Therefore, it is difficult for the first light and the second light to overlap in the illuminated area, and concentration of the light density can be suppressed. As a result, for example, the conversion efficiency of light in the wavelength conversion element can be enhanced, and the luminance can be enhanced. Further, since the angles formed by the plurality of straight lines connecting the light emission centers of the plurality of light emitting elements are equal to each other, the respective light source arrays are arranged in a shape close to a polygon or a circle. Thereby, the arrangement of the plurality of lights can be easily realized without shifting the optical axis between the first light source array and the second light source array. As a result, a compact and high-intensity lighting device can be provided.

  In the lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention, the light combining unit may be configured by a polarization separation element, the first light is P polarization with respect to the polarization separation element, and the second light is the light It may be S-polarization for the polarization separation element.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to combine the plurality of first lights and the plurality of second lights by using the polarization separation element without using a retardation plate.

  In the lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention, in the first light source array and the second light source array, one light source array includes the light emitting device at a central portion, and the other light source array includes the light emitting device at a central portion It is not necessary to have it.

  According to this configuration, the first light and the second light do not easily overlap even in the vicinity of the central axis of the combined light, and the concentration of the light density can be further suppressed.

  In the first light source array and the second light source array of the lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention, imaginary circles in contact with the light emitting devices disposed at the periphery may have the same diameter.

  According to this configuration, the occupied area of each light source array can be reduced, and a smaller illumination device can be realized.

  In the lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention, the light emitting devices of the first light source array and the second light source array may both be composed of semiconductor lasers.

  According to this configuration, a compact and high-intensity lighting device can be realized.

  In the lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention, the semiconductor laser has a rectangular light emitting area, and the divergence angles of the first light and the second light along the short side direction of the light emitting area are The first light source array and the second light source array are larger than the divergence angles of the first light and the second light along the long side direction of the light emitting region; The long side direction of the first light source array and the short side direction of the second light source array coincide with each other when viewed from the central axis direction of the second light, and the short side direction of the first light source array And the long side direction of the second light source array may be aligned.

  According to this configuration, since the plurality of first lights and the plurality of second lights enter, for example, different areas on the wavelength conversion element, an excessive heat load occurs in a specific area on the wavelength conversion element. Therefore, the reliability of the wavelength conversion element can be enhanced.

  A projector according to an aspect of the present invention includes: the illumination device according to the aspect of the present invention; a light modulation device that forms image light by modulating light from the illumination device according to image information; and the image light And a projection optical system for projecting light.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to realize a compact projector capable of projecting an image of high luminous flux.

It is a schematic block diagram of the projector of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of a 1st light source array. It is a front view of a 1st light source array. It is a front view of a 2nd light source array. It is a perspective view of a semiconductor laser chip. It is a simulation result which shows intensity distribution of the light which injects into a homogenizer optical system. It is a simulation result which shows intensity distribution of light in a wavelength conversion element. It is a front view of the 2nd light source array of 2nd Embodiment. It is a simulation result which shows intensity distribution of the light which injects into a homogenizer optical system. It is a front view of the 1st light source array of a modification. It is a front view of a 2nd light source array.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 6.
The projector of the present embodiment is an example of a liquid crystal projector provided with a light source device using a semiconductor laser.
In addition, in order to make each component intelligible in the following each drawing, the reduced scale of a dimension may be shown differently by component.

  The projector 10 of the present embodiment is a projection type image display device that displays a color image on a screen (projected surface) SCR. The projector 10 uses three light modulation devices corresponding to the respective color lights of red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB. The projector 10 uses, as a light emitting element of the light source device, a semiconductor laser capable of obtaining light of high brightness and high output.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a projector 10 of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 10 includes an illumination device 700, a color separation light guide optical system 200, a red light light modulation device 400R, a green light light modulation device 400G, and a blue light light modulation device 400B. And a synthetic optical system 500 and a projection optical system 600. The red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B modulate the light from the illumination device 700 according to image information to form image light. The projection optical system 600 projects image light.

  In the following drawings, the direction in which light is emitted from the first light source array 710 is taken as the X direction, the direction in which light is emitted from the lighting device 700 is taken as the Y direction, and the paper is perpendicular to the X and Y directions. The direction from the back of the to the front is the Z direction.

  The illumination device 700 includes a first light source array 710, a second light source array 720, a light combining unit 730, a homogenizer optical system 735, a condensing optical system 740, a reflection mirror 745, a wavelength conversion element 750, and pickup optical A system 760 and an integrator optical system 780 are provided. In illumination device 700, reflection mirror 745, wavelength conversion element 750, pickup optical system 760, and integrator optical system 780 are provided on optical axis AX0 that coincides with the central axis of light LW emitted from illumination device 700. . The first light source array 710, the light combining unit 730, the homogenizer optical system 735, the condensing optical system 740, and the reflection mirror 745 are provided on the optical axis AX1 orthogonal to the optical axis AX0. The second light source array 720 and the light combining unit 730 are provided on an optical axis AX2 orthogonal to the optical axis AX1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first light source array 710. In FIG. 2, in order to make the drawing easy to see, illustration of the pedestals of some semiconductor lasers is omitted. Further, as described later, since the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 have the same configuration, only the first light source array 710 is shown in the perspective view, and the first common light source array is not shown. The light source array 710 will be described as a representative.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the first light source array 710 as viewed from the light emission direction. FIG. 4 is a front view of the second light source array 720 as seen from the light emission direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first light source array 710 includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 (light emitting devices), and a holding member 712 for holding the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711. The semiconductor laser 711 emits the first blue light LB1 (first light) in the X direction. The wavelength of the first blue light LB1 is, for example, 455 nm ± 20 nm. In the present embodiment, the first light source array 710 includes seven semiconductor lasers 711. Therefore, light including seven first blue light LB1 is emitted as the entire first light source array 710.

  The semiconductor laser 711 is configured of a CAN package type semiconductor laser. The semiconductor laser 711 includes a semiconductor laser chip 715 (light emitting element) and a housing 716 for housing the semiconductor laser chip 715 therein. The housing 716 is composed of a pedestal 713 and a can 714 covering one surface side of the pedestal 713. Further, in the example of FIG. 3, one semiconductor laser chip 715 is accommodated in each case 716, but a plurality of semiconductor laser chips 715 may be accommodated in each case 716. .

  The holding member 712 is formed of a plate material having a circular shape when viewed in the light emission direction (X direction) from the light source device. The plate material is provided with seven holes corresponding to the number of the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 and corresponding to the dimensions of the can 714. Although the material of the plate material is not particularly limited, for example, a metal having high thermal conductivity is desirable. Each of the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 is supported by the holding member 712 when one surface of the pedestal 713 abuts on the holding surface 712 a of the holding member 712 in a state where the can 714 is inserted into the hole of the holding member 712. Thus, the holding member 712 has the holding surface 712 a disposed on the side opposite to the light emission direction of the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711.

  As shown in FIG. 3, among the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711, one semiconductor laser 711 a is disposed in the holding member 712 so as to be located at the center of the first light source array 710. The remaining six semiconductor lasers 711 b are arranged at the periphery of the central semiconductor laser 711 a in the holding member 712 so as to surround the central one semiconductor laser 711 a.

  The peripheral six semiconductor lasers 711 b are disposed on the holding member 712 so as to be located on an imaginary circle circumscribing the six semiconductor lasers 711 b with the center one semiconductor laser 711 a as a center. In the present embodiment, the virtual circle substantially coincides with the outline of the holding member 712. With the above arrangement, in the first light source array 710, the straight lines k1 to k3, m1 to m3 and n1 to n3 connecting the light emission centers of the plurality of semiconductor laser chips 715 are mutually equal in angle to each other. It is. In the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711, the casings 716 of the adjacent semiconductor lasers 711 are in contact with each other at the base 713.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the first light source array 710, three rows of semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged in the Y direction, and three semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged in the Z direction in the center row of the three rows, Two semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged in the Z direction in each of the right side column and the left side column.

  The plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged such that the directions of the semiconductor laser chips 715 are the same. In the first light source array 710, the semiconductor laser 711 is disposed such that the long side of the semiconductor laser chip 715 is parallel to the Y axis. According to this arrangement, linearly polarized light whose polarization direction is parallel to the Y-axis is emitted as the first blue light LB1, as indicated by the arrow LP. In this case, linear polarization in which the polarization direction is parallel to the Y axis is P polarization with respect to a polarization separation element described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second light source array 720 includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 (light emitting devices), and a holding member 712 for holding the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711. The semiconductor laser 711 emits the second blue light LB2 (second light) in the -Y direction. The wavelength of the second blue light LB2 is, for example, 455 nm ± 20 nm. In the present embodiment, the second light source array 720 includes seven semiconductor lasers 711. Therefore, light including seven second blue light LB2 is emitted as the entire second light source array 720.

  Thus, the second light source array 720 is identical in configuration itself to the first light source array 710, and is installed in a form in which the first light source array 710 is rotated by 90 ° around the center of the holding member 712 as a rotation axis. . That is, in the second light source array 720, three rows of semiconductor lasers 711 are arrayed in the Z direction, and three semiconductor lasers 711 are arrayed in the X direction in the center row of the three rows. Two semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged in the X direction in each of the side rows.

  In the second light source array 720, the semiconductor laser 711 is disposed such that the long side of the semiconductor laser chip 715 is parallel to the Z axis. According to this arrangement, linearly polarized light having a polarization direction parallel to the Z-axis is emitted as the second blue light LB2, as indicated by the arrow LS. In this case, linear polarization in which the polarization direction is parallel to the Z axis is S polarization with respect to a polarization separation element described later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the second light source array 720, one semiconductor laser 711 a of the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 is located at the center of the second light source array 720, as in the first light source array 710. Are disposed on the holding member 712. The remaining six semiconductor lasers 711 b are arranged at the periphery of the central semiconductor laser 711 a in the holding member 712 so as to surround the central one semiconductor laser 711 a. The peripheral six semiconductor lasers 711 b are disposed on the holding member 712 so as to be located on an imaginary circle circumscribing the six semiconductor lasers 711 b with the center one semiconductor laser 711 a as a center. In the present embodiment, the virtual circle substantially coincides with the outline of the holding member 712. With the above arrangement, in the second light source array 720, the angles formed by the plurality of straight lines k1 to k3, m1 to m3 and n1 to n3 connecting the light emission centers of the plurality of semiconductor laser chips 715 are equal to one another. It is. In the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711, the casings 716 of the adjacent semiconductor lasers 711 are in contact with each other at the base 713.

  In the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720, the outer dimensions of the individual semiconductor lasers 711 are all the same. As a result, virtual circles circumscribing the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 b arranged in the peripheral portion have the same diameter in the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the semiconductor laser chip 715. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the semiconductor laser chip 715 has a light emitting area 715a from which light is emitted. The light emitting region 715a has a rectangular planar shape when viewed from the direction of the central axis of the emitted light LB, and has a long side direction W1 and a short side direction W2.

  The light emitted from the semiconductor laser chip 715 is linearly polarized light, and the polarization direction is parallel to the long side direction W1. Further, the divergence angle of light in the short side direction W2 of the light emitting region 715a is larger than the divergence angle of light in the long side direction W1 of the light emitting region 715a. Therefore, the cross section BS perpendicular to the central axis LBc of the light LB is elliptical. That is, the cross-sectional shapes perpendicular to the central axes of the first blue light LB1 and the second blue light LB2 are both elliptical with the major axis direction and the minor axis direction. The major axis direction of the ellipse is the short side direction W2 of the light emitting region 715a. The minor axis direction of the ellipse is the long side direction W1 of the light emitting region 715a.

  Although only the semiconductor laser chips 715 of the first light source array 710 are shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 The long side direction W1 of the light emitting area 715a in the first light source array 710 and the short side direction W2 of the light emitting area 715a in the second light source array 720 when viewed from the central axis direction of the light beams LB1 and LB2 emitted from 720 are They are arranged so that the short side direction W2 of the light emitting area 715a in the first light source array 710 and the long side direction W1 of the light emitting area 715a in the second light source array 720 coincide with each other.

  That is, the first light source array 710 is disposed such that the major axis directions of the blue lights LB1 and LB2 are along the first direction on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the combined light. The second light source array 720 is disposed such that the major axis directions of the blue lights LB1 and LB2 are along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction on the plane.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light combining unit 730 is configured of a polarization separation element 731 arranged to form an angle of 45 ° with each of the optical axis AX0 and the optical axis AX1. The polarization separation element 731 has a characteristic of transmitting P-polarization to the polarization separation element 731 and reflecting S-polarization. In the case of the present embodiment, the light combining unit 730 transmits the plurality of first blue lights LB1 that are P-polarized light, and reflects the plurality of second blue lights LB2 that are S-polarization, to thereby generate a plurality of first plurality of first blue lights LB1. A combined light LB3 in which the blue light LB1 and the plurality of second blue lights LB2 are combined is generated.

  The homogenizer optical system 735 is provided on the optical path of the combined light LB3 between the light combining unit 730 and the condensing optical system 740. The homogenizer optical system 735 includes a first lens array 736 and a second lens array 737. The first lens array 736 has a plurality of lenses for dividing the combined light LB3 into a plurality of partial ray bundles. The plurality of lenses are arranged in a matrix in the YZ plane.

  The second lens array 737 comprises a plurality of lenses corresponding to the plurality of lenses of the first lens array 736. The second lens array 737 forms an image of each lens of the first lens array 736 in the vicinity of the phosphor layer 755 of the wavelength conversion element 750. The plurality of lenses are arranged in a matrix in the YZ plane.

  The condensing optical system 740 is provided on the optical path of the combined light LB3 between the homogenizer optical system 735 and the reflecting mirror 745. The condensing optical system 740 condenses the synthetic light LB3 emitted from the homogenizer optical system 735 at a predetermined condensing position, specifically, in the vicinity of the phosphor layer 755 of the wavelength conversion element 750 described later, and is substantially uniform. An intensity distribution, so-called top hat distribution, is formed. The condensing optical system 740 is composed of one convex lens 741. The condensing optical system 740 may be configured of a plurality of lenses.

  The reflection mirror 745 bends the optical path of the combined light LB3 by 90 ° by reflecting the combined light LB3. In the present embodiment, in order to miniaturize the entire optical system of the projector 10, the reflection mirror 745 is provided and the light path is bent. However, the reflection mirror 745 may not necessarily be provided if it is not necessary.

  The wavelength conversion element 750 converts a part of the blue synthetic light LB3 emitted from the condensing optical system 740 into a yellow fluorescent light LY including the green light LG and the red light LR. The wavelength conversion element 750 includes a phosphor layer 755 and a substrate 752 for supporting the phosphor layer 755. The substrate 752 is made of a light transmitting material such as glass. The wavelength conversion element 750 of the present embodiment is a transmission type wavelength conversion element.

The phosphor layer 755 includes, for example, a phosphor that absorbs blue light having a wavelength of 455 nm as excitation light. The excited phosphor emits, for example, a yellow fluorescence LY having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 500 to 700 nm. The phosphor layer 755 includes, for example, a base material made of an inorganic material, and an activator serving as a luminescent center dispersed in the base material. The phosphor layer 755 is made of, for example, a YAG-based phosphor made of (Y, Gd) ₃ (Al, Ga) ₅ O ₁₂ (YAG: Ce) using Ce as an activator. Further, the blue light LB not absorbed as the excitation light is emitted from the wavelength conversion element 750 together with the fluorescence LY. Therefore, the wavelength conversion element 750 emits white light LW composed of blue light LB and yellow fluorescence LY.

  The pickup optical system 760 substantially collimates the light emitted from the phosphor layer 755 and emits the light toward the downstream integrator optical system 780. The pickup optical system 760 is composed of one convex lens 761. The pickup optical system 760 may be configured of a plurality of lenses.

  The integrator optical system 780 includes a first lens array 781, a second lens array 782, and a superimposing lens 783. The integrator optical system 780 displays the illuminance distribution of the light LW emitted from the wavelength conversion element in each of the image formation regions of the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B. Make it uniform.

  The first lens array 781 has a plurality of lenses 786 for dividing the light LW emitted from the wavelength conversion element into a plurality of partial light beam bundles. The plurality of lenses 786 are arranged in a matrix in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis AX0.

  The second lens array 782 includes a plurality of lenses 787 corresponding to the plurality of lenses 786 of the first lens array 781. The second lens array 782 combines the image of each lens 786 of the first lens array 781 with the superposing lens 783 at the rear stage with the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation. The image is formed at or near the image forming area of each of the apparatuses 400B. The plurality of lenses 787 are arranged in a matrix in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis AX0.

  The superimposing lens 783 condenses each partial light beam from the first lens array 781 and generates an image of each of the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B. They are superimposed on each other at or near the formation region.

  The color separation and light guide optical system 200 includes a dichroic mirror 240, a dichroic mirror 220, a reflection mirror 210, a reflection mirror 230, and a reflection mirror 250. The color separation light guide optical system 200 separates the white light LW emitted from the illumination device 700 into red light LR, green light LG and blue light LB, and red light LR, green light LG and blue light LB The red light modulation device 400R, the green light modulation device 400G, and the blue light modulation device 400B are respectively led.

  A field lens 300R, a field lens 300G, and a field lens 300B are provided between the color separation light guide optical system 200 and the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B. Are arranged respectively.

  The dichroic mirror 240 reflects the blue light LB and transmits the red light LR and the green light LG. The dichroic mirror 220 reflects the green light LG and transmits the blue light LB. The reflection mirror 210 and the reflection mirror 230 reflect the red light LR. The reflection mirror 250 reflects the blue light LB.

  Each of the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B includes a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident color light according to image information to form an image. ing.

  Although illustration is omitted, light is incident between the field lens 300R, the field lens 300G, the field lens 300B, the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B. A side polarizer is arranged. Between the light modulation device for red light 400R, the light modulation device for green light 400G, the light modulation device for blue light 400B, and the combining optical system 500, an emission side polarization plate is disposed.

  The combining optical system 500 combines the image lights emitted from the red light light modulation device 400R, the green light light modulation device 400G, and the blue light light modulation device 400B. The composite optical system 500 is formed of a cross dichroic prism having a substantially square shape in plan view and four right-angled prisms bonded together, and a dielectric multilayer film is provided at a substantially X-shaped interface where the right-angle prisms are bonded together. There is.

  The image light emitted from the combining optical system 500 is enlarged and projected onto the screen SCR by the projection optical system 600.

  In the illumination device 700 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the combined light LB3 emitted from the light combining unit 730 includes the plurality of first blue lights LB1 emitted from the first light source array 710, and the second light source array 720. And a plurality of second blue lights LB2 emitted from the light source are combined lights. Here, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 have a positional relationship in which they are rotated 90 ° with respect to the center of the holding member 712 as a rotation axis. In LB3, the first blue light LB1 and the second blue light LB2 emitted from the semiconductor laser 711 in the periphery of each light source array 710, 720 do not overlap.

The inventor of the present invention has studied the intensity distribution of the combined light LB3 on the incident surface of the first lens array 736 of the homogenizer optical system 735 and the illuminance distribution of the light on the wavelength conversion element 750 in the illumination device 700 of this embodiment. The simulation was done.
FIG. 6 is a simulation result showing the intensity distribution of light incident on the homogenizer optical system 735.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, in a virtual plane perpendicular to the optical axis AX1 between the light combining unit 730 and the first lens array 736, the intensity distribution and the plurality of first blue light LB1s constituting the combined light LB3 And the intensity distribution of the second blue light LB2 do not substantially overlap. More specifically, although the first blue light LB1a and the second blue light LB2a emitted from one semiconductor laser 711a at the central part of each light source array 710, 720 overlap in intensity distribution, each light source array 710, The intensity distribution of the first blue light LB1b and the second blue light LB2b emitted from the six semiconductor lasers 711b around 720 does not overlap.

  As a result, the plurality of blue lights LB1 (LB1a, LB1b) and LB2 (LB2a, LB2b) constituting the combined light LB3 are incident over more lenses of the first lens array 736. Therefore, when a plurality of partial light fluxes by the first lens array 736 are superimposed on the phosphor layer 755, the illuminance distribution of light in the phosphor layer 755 is made more uniform. That is, since the luminous flux distribution does not overlap when the plurality of blue lights LB1 (LB1a, LB1b) and LB2 (LB2a, LB2b) enter the homogenizer optical system 735, the superposition performance of the homogenizer optical system 735 is improved, and the phosphor layer The illumination uniformity at 755 (area to be illuminated) can be enhanced.

FIG. 7 is a simulation result showing the illuminance distribution of light on the phosphor layer 755. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a high illuminance region is spread over a wide region of the square phosphor layer 755. Thus, according to the inventor of the present invention, the illumination device 700 including the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 according to the present embodiment sufficiently uniforms the illuminance distribution of light in the phosphor layer 755. It was confirmed.

  In the illumination device 700 of the present embodiment, as described above, concentration of light density can be suppressed by making the illumination distribution on the phosphor layer 755 uniform. As a result, the conversion efficiency of the excitation light in the wavelength conversion element 750 can be increased, and the luminance can be increased. Further, since the angles formed by the plurality of straight lines k1 to k3, m1 to m3 and n1 to n3 connecting the light emission centers of the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 are mutually equal, the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 in each light source array 710, 720 are Both are arranged inside the imaginary circle. Furthermore, the imaginary circles of the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 have the same diameter, and only by rotating one light source array 710, 720 by 90 °, the light density on the phosphor layer 755 Concentration can be reduced. As described above, since the light emission efficiency of the phosphor layer 755 is improved, there is no need to shift the optical axis between the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720, and a compact and high-intensity lighting device 700 can be provided. .

  Further, the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 have the same configuration including the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 and only need to rotate the installation direction by 90 °. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare light source arrays having different specifications for the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

  Conventionally, when combining light of different polarization directions emitted from two light source arrays, a retardation plate is disposed on the optical path of light from one light source array, and the polarization direction of light from one light source array is set to the other Techniques have been used to make the polarization direction of light from the light source array different. When a semiconductor laser is used as a light source, it is necessary to use an expensive retardation plate made of quartz because the semiconductor laser has high luminance, and there is a problem that it is difficult to suppress the cost of the illumination device. In that respect, in the illumination device 700 according to the present embodiment, the polarization directions of the light can be changed only by changing the installation directions of the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720. It is unnecessary. Therefore, the cost of the lighting device 700 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the illumination device 700 of the present embodiment, the angles formed by the straight lines k1 to k3, m1 to m3 and n1 to n3 connecting the light emission centers of the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 are equal to each other. The occupied areas of 710 and 720 can be reduced. The plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged such that the casings 716 abut on each other. Thus, a smaller lighting device 700 can be realized.

  The projector 10 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described illumination device 700. Therefore, the projector 10 is small in size, and can project an image of high luminous flux.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 8 and 9.
The basic configurations of the projector and the illumination device of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the second light source array is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the entire description of the projector and the lighting device is omitted, and only different portions will be described.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the second light source array of the present embodiment.
In FIG. 8, the same components as in FIG. 4 used in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the second light source array 722 includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers 711 (light emitting devices) and a holding member 712 for holding the plurality of semiconductor lasers 711. In the present embodiment, the second light source array 722 includes six semiconductor lasers 711 b. Therefore, light including six second blue lights is emitted as the entire second light source array 722.

  In the second light source array 72, three rows of semiconductor lasers 711 are arrayed in the Z direction, and two semiconductor lasers 711 are arrayed at intervals in the X direction in the center row of the three rows, and the upper row In the lower row, two semiconductor lasers 711 are arranged in contact with each other in the X direction. In other words, the second light source array 722 of the present embodiment has a configuration obtained by removing one semiconductor laser 711 a disposed at the center of the second light source array 720 from the second light source array 720 of the first embodiment. . The other configuration of the lighting device is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The inventor also simulated the intensity distribution of the combined light on the incident surface of the first lens array 736 in the homogenizer optical system 735 also for the illumination device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a simulation result showing the intensity distribution of light incident on the homogenizer optical system 735.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in a virtual plane perpendicular to the optical axis AX1 between the light combining unit 730 and the first lens array 736, the intensity distribution and the plurality of first blue lights LB1 constituting the combined light LW3 And the intensity distribution of the second blue light LB2 do not overlap at all.

  That is, in the case of the first embodiment, although the first light source array 710 and the second light source array 720 are in a positional relationship in which they are rotated 90 ° to each other, the position of the semiconductor laser 711a at the central portion does not change. In the central portion of the first blue light LB1a and the second blue light LB2a overlap. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, since the semiconductor laser 711a is not disposed at the center of the second light source array 722, the first blue light LB1 and the second blue light LB2 at the center of the combined light LW3. And do not overlap.

  As a result, the intensity distribution of the plurality of blue lights LB1 and LB2 constituting the combined light LW3 is equal to that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the illuminance distribution of light in the phosphor layer 755 is further homogenized.

  Also in this embodiment, an effect similar to that of the first embodiment can be obtained such that a small-sized and high-intensity lighting device can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the semiconductor laser 711 a is not disposed at the central portion is applied to the second light source array 722, but may be applied to the first light source array 710.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the illumination device is exemplified in which the first light source array and the second light source array include seven semiconductor lasers, but the number of semiconductor lasers in each light source array is not limited thereto. An example light source array may be provided.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a first light source array of a modification, and FIG. 11 is a front view of a second light source array.
As shown in FIG. 10, the first light source array 718 includes nineteen semiconductor lasers 711 and a holding member 712. In the first light source array 710 according to the first embodiment, six semiconductor lasers 711 b are disposed so as to surround the semiconductor laser 711 a at the central portion in a single layer. On the other hand, in the first light source array 718 of this modification, six semiconductor lasers 711b surround the semiconductor laser 711a in the central portion, and twelve semiconductor lasers 711b are arranged so as to further surround the outside thereof. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the second light source array 728 is installed in a form in which the first light source array 718 is rotated by 90 ° with the center of the holding member 712 as the rotation axis.

  Also in this modification, as in the second embodiment, any one of the first light source array 718 and the second light source array 728 may have a configuration in which the semiconductor laser 711 a at the central portion is removed.

  In the said embodiment, the example of the illuminating device with which white light containing yellow fluorescence and blue light which was not wavelength-converted by the wavelength conversion element was inject | emitted from the wavelength conversion element was mentioned. Instead of this configuration, all the blue light incident on the wavelength conversion element is converted into yellow fluorescence and emitted to generate green light and red light, and a semiconductor laser that emits blue light separately from the path A lighting device provided with a may be used. In this case, the projector separates the fluorescence into green light and red light and guides it to the light modulation device for green light and the light modulation device for red light, while diffusing the blue light emitted from the semiconductor laser with the diffusion plate Then, it may be configured to lead to the blue light light modulation device.

  Further, the number, the arrangement, the shape, the material, the dimensions, and the like of the respective components of the illumination device and the projector exemplified in the above embodiment can be appropriately changed.

  Although the projector including the three light modulation devices is illustrated in the above embodiment, it is also possible to apply to a projector which displays a color image by one light modulation device. In addition, a digital mirror device may be used as the light modulation device.

  Moreover, although the example which applies the illuminating device which concerns on this invention to a projector was shown in the said embodiment, it is not restricted to this. The lighting device according to the invention can also be applied to lighting devices such as automotive headlights.

  10: Projector, 400 B: Light modulator for blue light, 400 G: Light modulator for green light, 400 R: Light modulator for red light, 600: Projection optical system, 700: Lighting device, 710, 718: First light source array 711: semiconductor laser (light emitting device) 712: holding member 715: semiconductor laser chip (light emitting element) 715a: light emitting area 716: casing: 720, 722, 728: second light source array 730: light combining portion 731: polarization separation element 740: condensing optical system 750: wavelength conversion element.

Claims (7)

A first light source array comprising a plurality of light emitting devices each having a light emitting element for emitting a first light and a housing for housing the light emitting element therein;
A second light source array comprising a plurality of light emitting devices each having a light emitting element for emitting a second light, and a case for housing the light emitting element therein;
A light combining unit configured to generate combined light in which the first light and the second light are combined by transmitting the first light and reflecting the second light;
A condensing optical system that condenses the combined light at a predetermined condensing position;
A wavelength conversion element that generates fluorescence by using at least a part of the combined light collected by the collection optical system as excitation light;
Equipped with
The sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the first light and the sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis of the second light both have a major axis direction and a minor axis direction,
The first light source array is disposed such that the major axis direction is along a first direction on a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the combined light.
The second light source array is disposed such that the major axis direction is along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction on the plane,
An illuminating device, wherein in each of the first light source array and the second light source array, angles formed by a plurality of straight lines connecting light emission centers of a plurality of light emitting elements are equal to each other. The light combining unit is composed of a polarization separation element,
The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light is P-polarization with respect to the polarization separation element, and the second light is S-polarization with respect to the polarization separation element.   In the first light source array and the second light source array, one light source array includes the light emitting device at a central portion, and the other light source array does not include the light emitting device at a central portion. Or the illuminating device of Claim 2.   4. The first light source array and the second light source array according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein imaginary circles in contact with the light emitting devices disposed at the periphery have equal diameters. The lighting device described in.   The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light emitting devices of the first light source array and the second light source array are both composed of semiconductor lasers. The semiconductor laser has a rectangular light emitting area, and the divergence angles of the first light and the second light along the short side direction of the light emitting area are along the long side direction of the light emitting area. Greater than the divergence angle of the first light and the second light,
When the first light source array and the second light source array are viewed from the central axis direction of the first light and the second light, respectively, the long side direction and the second light source in the first light source array The invention is characterized in that the short side direction in the array coincides, and the short side direction in the first light source array and the long side direction in the second light source array coincide. The lighting device according to 5. A lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A light modulation device that forms image light by modulating light from the lighting device according to image information;
A projection optical system that projects the image light;
A projector characterized by comprising.