Patent Application
20230418140
This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 202210711994.2 filed on Jun. 22, 2022. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The invention relates to a light-emitting module and an electronic device, and in particular, to an infrared light source module and a projection device.
The use of simulated projectors in military or special fields requires invisible light applications. At present, the applications of invisible light sources for simulated projectors include infrared (IR) laser diodes and IR light-emitting diodes (LED) as the mainstream. In particular, the advantages of IR laser diodes are high collimation of laser light, high power, and good optical light-receiving efficiency, but the disadvantage is that the price is relatively high. On the contrary, the price of IR LEDs is cheap, but the collimation is poor, the power is low, and the optical light-receiving efficiency is poor. Therefore, both have their pros and cons.
The current trend in the industry for the IR wavelength of the invisible light source used by simulated projectors is 740 nm. Because the wavelength of IR light (740 nm) used by simulated projectors is close to the wavelength of visible light, the transmittance is better, and there is no ghosting issue, and therefore the projection lens does not need to be particularly optimized for IR. In the application of IR light with a wavelength of 808 nm, although the brightness of the image projected by the projector may be improved, the projection lens needs to be specially treated with IR optimized coating. However, projection lenses treated with IR optimized coating are expensive and may not be shared with general projection lenses, resulting in the issues of material diversity, high cost, and complicated production and procurement management.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the information disclosed in the Background section does not mean that one or more problems to be resolved by one or more embodiments of the invention was acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The invention provides an infrared (IR) light source module and a projection device that may selectively turn on IR light of different wavelengths in different situations to match different projection modes, thereby improving good optical effects.
Other objects and advantages of the invention may be further understood from the technical features disclosed in the invention.
In order to achieve one or part or all of the above objects or other objects, the invention provides an IR light source module for providing an IR light beam, including at least one circuit substrate, a plurality of first IR light-emitting elements, and a plurality of second IR light-emitting elements. The plurality of first IR light-emitting elements are disposed on the at least one circuit substrate. The plurality of first IR light-emitting elements are used to provide a first light beam. The plurality of second IR light-emitting elements are disposed on the at least one circuit substrate. The plurality of second IR light-emitting elements are used to provide a second light beam. The IR light beam includes at least one of a first light beam and a second light beam, wherein a wavelength of the first light beam is greater than or equal to 700 nm and less than or equal to 780 nm, and a wavelength of the second light beam is greater than 780 nm and less than or equal to 1000 nm.
In order to achieve one or part or all of the above objects or other objects, the invention further provides a projection device including an illumination system, at least one light valve, and a projection lens. The illumination system is used for providing at least one of an illumination light beam and an IR light beam. The illumination system includes a visible light source module and an IR light source module. The visible light source module is used for providing the illumination light beam. The IR light source module is used for providing the IR light beam. The IR light source module includes at least one circuit substrate, a plurality of first IR light-emitting elements, and a plurality of second IR light-emitting elements. The plurality of first IR light-emitting elements are disposed on the at least one circuit substrate. The plurality of first IR light-emitting elements are used to provide a first light beam. The plurality of second IR light-emitting elements are disposed on the at least one circuit substrate. The plurality of second IR light-emitting elements are used to provide a second light beam. The IR light beam includes at least one of the first light beam and the second light beam. The at least one light valve is disposed on a transmission path of the illumination light beam and the IR light beam, and is used for converting the illumination light beam into a visible image light beam and converting the IR light beam into an IR image light beam. The projection lens is disposed on the transmission path of the visible image light beam and the IR image light beam, and is used for projecting at least one of the visible image light beam and the IR image light beam out of the projection device, wherein a wavelength of the first light beam is greater than or equal to 700 nm and less than or equal to 780 nm, and a wavelength of the second light beam is greater than or equal to 780 nm and less than or equal to 1000 nm.
Based on the above, the embodiments of the invention have at least one of the following advantages or efficacies. In the IR light source module and the projection device of the invention, the IR light source module includes the at least one circuit substrate, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements, and the plurality of second IR light-emitting elements used to provide the first light beam and the second light beam with different wavelengths. In particular, the wavelength of the first light beam is greater than or equal to 700 nm and less than or equal to 780 nm, and the wavelength of the second light beam is greater than 780 nm and less than or equal to 1000 nm. In this way, IR light of different wavelengths may be selectively turned on in different situations to match different projection modes, thereby improving the good optical effect.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Similarly, the terms “facing,” “faces” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect facing, and “adjacent to” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass directly and indirectly “adjacent to”. Therefore, the description of “A” component facing “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component directly faces “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Also, the description of “A” component “adjacent to” “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component is directly “adjacent to” “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
In the embodiment, the light valve 60 is, for example, a reflective light modulator such as a liquid crystal on silicon panel (LCoS panel) or a digital micro-mirror device (DMD). In some embodiments, the light valve 60 may also be a transmissive light modulator such as a transparent liquid-crystal panel, an electro-optical modulator, a magneto-optic modulator, or an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The invention does not limit the configuration and the type of the light valve 60. Regarding the method for the light valve 60 to convert the illumination light beam LB into the visible image light beam LI and the IR light beam IR into the IR image light beam LR, the detailed steps and implementations thereof may be adequately taught, suggested, and implemented by general knowledge in the art, and are therefore not repeated herein. In the embodiment, the number of the light valve 60 is one, for example, the projection device 10 using a single digital micro-mirror element, but in other embodiments, there may be a plurality, and the invention is not limited thereto.
The projection lens 70 includes, for example, a combination of one or a plurality of optical lenses having a diopter, including, for example, various combinations of a non-planar lens such as a biconcave lens, a lenticular lens, a concave-convex lens, a convex-concave lens, a plano-convex lens, a plano-concave lens, and the like. In an embodiment, the projection lens 70 may further include a flat optical lens projecting at least one of the visible image light beam LI and the IR image light beam LR from the light valve 60 to a projection target in a reflective manner. The invention does not limit the configuration and the type of the projection lens 70.
In the embodiment, the illumination system 100 further includes a focusing element 120, a light splitting element 130, and a light homogenizing element 140. The focusing element 120 is, for example, a focusing lens disposed on the transmission path of the IR light beam IR, and is used for optically focusing the IR light beam IR. The light splitting element 130 is disposed on the transmission path of the illumination light beam LB and the IR light beam IR for reflecting at least one of the illumination light beam LB and the IR light beam IR and allowing the other one of the illumination light beam LB and the IR light beam IR to pass through. In the embodiment, the light splitting element 130 is, for example, an IR light splitter used to reflect the IR light beam IR and allow the illumination light beam LB to pass through. In particular, in the embodiment, the focusing lens 120 is, for example, located between the IR light source module 200 and the light splitting element 130, and the light splitting element 130 is, for example, located between the visible light source module 110 and the light homogenizing element 140.
The light homogenizing element 140 is disposed on the transmission path of the illumination light beam LB and the IR light beam IR and located between the light splitting element 130 and the light valve 80, and is used for adjusting the shape of the light spot of the illumination light beam LB and/or the IR light beam IR, so that the shape of the light spot of the illumination light beam LB and/or the IR light beam IR may match the shape of the effective imaging area of the light valve 60 (for example, a rectangle), and the light spot may have consistent or similar light intensity everywhere, and the light intensity of the illumination light beam LB and/or the IR light beam IR is uniform. In the embodiment, the light homogenizing element 140 is, for example, an integral column, but in other embodiments, the light homogenizing element 140 may also be an optical element of other suitable types, such as a lens array (fly eye lens array), but the invention is not limited thereto.
In the embodiment, the projection device 10 may optionally include a collimating lens group 80 and a total reflection prism 90, for example, disposed on the transmission path of the illumination light beam LB and/or the IR light beam IR from the light homogenizing element 140. The collimating lens group 80 is, for example, a combination of a plurality of optical lenses for collimating the illumination light beam LB and the IR light beam IR. The total reflection prism 90 is, for example, a total internal reflection prism (TIR prism or RTIR prism) used to guide the illumination light beam LB and/or the IR light beam IR to transmit to the light valve 60 and to guide the visible image light beam LI and the IR image light beam LR to the projection lens 70. However, the invention does not limit the type or form of the projection device 10, and the detailed structure and implementation thereof may be adequately taught, suggested, and implemented by common knowledge in the art, and thus are not repeated herein.
The plurality of first IR light-emitting elements 220 may be, for example, IR light-emitting diodes or IR laser diodes, and the plurality of second IR light-emitting elements 230 may be IR laser diodes or IR light-emitting diodes, but the invention is not limited thereto. In particular, the wavelength of the first light beam L1 is greater than or equal to 700 nm and less than or equal to 780 nm, and the wavelength of the second light beam L2 is greater than 780 nm and less than or equal to 1000 nm. It is worth mentioning that the first light beam L1 and the second light beam L2 may have different characteristics according to different types of configurations.
For example, in the embodiment, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements 220 adopt IR light-emitting diodes with a wavelength of 730 nm to 740 nm. However, in different embodiments, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements 220 may be reconfigured as IR laser diodes, and the invention is not limited thereto. Moreover, the plurality of second IR light-emitting elements 230 are IR laser diodes with a wavelength of 808 nm. However, in different embodiments, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements 220 may also be reconfigured as IR light-emitting diodes, and the invention is not limited thereto. In this way, IR light beams with different wavelengths may be turned on selectively or at the same time in different situations to match different projection modes, thereby enhancing good optical effects.
Please refer further to
For example, in the embodiment, the projection device 10 has a first night vision mode and a second night vision mode. In a situation where the projected image is of a normal size, the first night vision mode may be adopted. In the first night vision mode, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements 220 are turned on and the plurality of second IR light-emitting elements 230 are turned off, so as to achieve the effect of high optical quality by an IR light beam with a wavelength of 700 nm to 780 nm. Moreover, in a situation where the projected image is of a large size, the second night vision mode may be adopted. In the second night vision mode, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements 220 and the plurality of second IR light-emitting elements 230 are turned on, and the effect of high luminous intensity is achieved by an IR light beam with a wavelength of 780 nm to 1000 nm and an IR light beam with a wavelength of 700 nm to 780 nm. In particular, the first night vision mode and the second night vision mode are, for example, night vision goggles (NVG) simulation projection modes, but the two modes need different projection screen sizes and different optical requirements.
Moreover, please refer further to
Based on the above, in the IR light source module and the projection device of the invention, the IR light source module includes the at least one circuit substrate, the plurality of first IR light-emitting elements, and the plurality of second IR light-emitting elements used to provide the first light beam and the second light beam with different wavelengths. In particular, the wavelength of the first light beam is greater than or equal to 700 nm and less than or equal to 780 nm, and the wavelength of the second light beam is greater than 780 nm and less than or equal to 1000 nm. In this way, IR light of different wavelengths may be selectively turned on in different situations to match different projection modes, thereby improving the good optical effect.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the invention” or the like does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Moreover, these claims may use “first”, “second”, etc. followed by a noun or element. Such terms should be understood as nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless a specific number has been given. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202210711994.2 | Jun 2022 | CN | national |
