JP2011113935A - Light source device and image projection device - Google Patents

Abstract

A light source device using a plurality of solid state light emitting elements that is capable of emitting a large amount of light while being compact.
The light source device LU includes a first light emitting unit in which at least one light emitting portion of the first, second and third solid light emitting elements MR, MG and MB is two-dimensionally arranged in a first layer. And the light-emitting portion of the solid-state light emitting element other than the at least one solid-state light-emitting element among the first, second, and third solid-state light-emitting elements from the first light source array with respect to the first layer A second light source array arranged two-dimensionally in the second layer located on the opposite side to the light emission direction. A light passage region is formed between the light emitting units in the first light source array, and light from the second light source array is emitted through the light passage region.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a light source device having a plurality of solid-state light emitting elements arranged two-dimensionally and an image projection device such as a projector that projects an image using light from the light source device.

In a projector, a high-pressure mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp is often used as a light source with a large amount of light to project a bright image. However, in order to further reduce the size of the projector, a light source having a large light amount with a light emitting area smaller than that of the lamp is required. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a light source device in which an array light source in which solid-state light emitting elements are arranged one-dimensionally is stacked as a light source for a projector in the light beam traveling direction that is the optical axis direction.
On the other hand, when the light emitting elements are arrayed, instabilities such as a decrease in output and a wavelength shift due to a temperature increase of each light emitting element occur, and this causes deterioration in image quality. For this reason, in patent document 1, it is set as the structure which laminates | stacks an array light source in the advancing direction of a light beam, and to cool a light emitting element easily.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a cooling structure in which light-emitting element arrays and heat sinks are alternately stacked and a cooling fluid is allowed to flow inside the heat sink.

JP 2004-134797 A JP 2007-73549 A

However, in the light source device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the number of one-dimensional array light sources is increased in order to increase the amount of light, the size of the device increases in the optical axis direction that is the stacking direction.

Further, when the light emitting element array and the heat sink are alternately stacked as in the light source device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the size of the device increases in the stacking direction.
The present invention provides a light source device capable of emitting a large amount of light (stable light emission) while using a plurality of solid state light emitting elements, and an image projection device using the light source device.

A light source device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first solid-state light-emitting element that emits first color light, a second solid-state light-emitting element that emits second color light, and a third solid-state light-emitting element that emits third color light. Have. The light source device includes: a first light source array in which light emitting portions of at least one solid light emitting element among the first, second, and third solid light emitting elements are two-dimensionally arranged in a first layer; Among the second and third solid-state light-emitting elements, the light-emitting portion of the solid-state light-emitting element other than the at least one solid-state light-emitting element is positioned on the side opposite to the light emission direction from the first light source array with respect to the first layer. And a second light source array arranged two-dimensionally in the second layer. A light passage region is formed between the light emitting units in the first light source array, and light from the second light source array is emitted through the light passage region.
A light source device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a light source array in which light emitting units of solid light emitting elements are two-dimensionally arranged, and a cooling structure that supplies a cooling gas or liquid to the light source array. Have. And the opening area | region for letting gas or a liquid pass is formed between the light emission parts in a light source array, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
Note that an image projection apparatus using the light source device also constitutes another aspect of the present invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the small light source device which can light-emit large light quantity using a some solid light emitting element is realizable. And by using this light source device as a light source of an image projection device, it is possible to realize an image projection device that can project a small and bright image.

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a light source device that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a laser array module used in the light source device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view of the light source device according to the first embodiment. 1 is a front view of a light source device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a polarization direction in the light source device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the light source device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the polarization direction in the light source device according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the light source device which is Example 2 of this invention. The side view which shows the structure of the light source device which is Example 3 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a front view of a light source device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modification of the light source device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a modification of the light source device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing another modification of the light source device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another modification of the light source device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image projection apparatus that is Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the image projection apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another modification of the image projection apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another modification of the light source device according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the light source device which is Example 5 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a light source device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modification of the light source device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a laser array module used in the light source device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another modification of the light source device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another modification of the light source device according to the fifth embodiment. The side view which shows the structure of the light source device which is Example 6 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a laser array module holding structure in a light source device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a laser array module holding structure in a light source device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a heat exchange structure provided in an opening region of a light source device according to a fifth embodiment. The side view which shows the structure of the light source device which is Example 6 of this invention.

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

1 and 3 show the configuration of a light source device that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. LU is a light source device. MR is a red laser array module composed of rod-shaped semiconductor laser elements (first solid-state light emitting elements) in which a plurality of light emitting portions emitting red light (first color light) RL are one-dimensionally arranged. MG is a green laser array module composed of rod-shaped semiconductor laser elements (second solid-state light emitting elements) in which a plurality of light emitting portions emitting green light (second color light) GL are one-dimensionally arranged. MB is a blue laser array module composed of rod-shaped semiconductor laser elements (third solid-state light emitting element group) in which a plurality of light emitting portions emitting blue light (third color light) BL are one-dimensionally arranged.
A plurality of green laser array modules (at least one solid-state light emitting element) MG extending in the horizontal direction are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction in the first layer. Thereby, the 1st light source array by which the light emission part which emits green light on the 1st layer is arranged two-dimensionally is constituted.
The red and blue laser array modules (solid light emitting elements other than the solid light emitting elements arranged in the first layer) MR, MB extending in the vertical direction are light emission directions from the first light source array with respect to the first layer. Are arranged alternately in the vertical direction on the second layer located on the opposite side (back side). Thereby, the 2nd light source array by which the light emission part which emits red light and blue light is arranged two-dimensionally in the 2nd layer is constituted. In the present embodiment, a space is provided between the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB.
Here, in the first light source array, the region of the space provided between the adjacent green laser array modules MG (between the light emitting units) is light through which red light and blue light emitted from the second light source array pass. Used as a passing area. In particular, the semiconductor laser element is a solid-state light emitting element having high directivity of emitted light. For this reason, even if the second light emitting element array is stacked on the back side of the first light emitting element array, light passes through the light from the second light emitting element array almost without being blocked by the first light emitting element array. It can be ejected through the area. However, the solid state light emitting element is not limited to the semiconductor laser element, and other solid state light emitting elements such as LEDs can be used.
In addition, a high-density light-emitting element array can be configured by using a surface emitting semiconductor laser array module as the laser array module.
Each laser array module is held by a holding member (not shown) (refer to FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 showing Example 5 described later), and the applied voltage of each laser array module is controlled by a controller (not shown). Thus, light emission is controlled. Further, in each laser array module, a micro condensing lens (not shown) is disposed in the vicinity of the opening of each light emitting section, and a parallel light beam is emitted by the action of the micro condensing lens. The emitted light beam can be made into a convergent light beam or a divergent light beam by changing the power of the minute condenser lens in accordance with the illumination optical system of the projector described later.
Further, the laser array module shown in FIG. 1 is formed in a rod shape in which light emitting portions are arranged one-dimensionally, but a rod-shaped laser array module in which light emitting portions are arranged two-dimensionally as shown in FIG. 2 may be used. .

FIG. 4 shows the light source device LU shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the light emission direction. As described above, since each color light is converted into a parallel light flux, a light source device equivalent to a configuration in which a plurality of light emitting portions of three color lights are arranged substantially in the same plane as shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained. Actually, since each laser beam is composed of a separate laser array module, the semiconductor manufacturing process is easy, and since each laser array module has a large surface area, it is advantageous in heat dissipation performance.
FIG. 5 shows the polarization direction of each color light emitted as linearly polarized light from each laser array module. “−P” represents P-polarized light, and “−S” represents S-polarized light. In this embodiment, a plurality of green laser array modules MG extending in the horizontal direction are arranged in the vertical direction, and a red laser array module MR and a blue laser array module MB extending in the vertical direction are arranged in the horizontal direction. For this reason, even if the polarization direction of the light from each laser array module coincides with the longitudinal direction of the laser array module, only the green light can be polarized by 90 degrees different from the other color light. Thereby, the polarization directions of the light from the red, green, and blue laser array modules can be matched with the longitudinal direction of the laser array modules, and the manufacturing process of these laser array modules can be simplified.

  In addition, polarization that is necessary when a reflective liquid crystal panel is used in a projector by changing the polarization direction of at least one color light of red light, green light, and blue light by 90 degrees from the polarization direction of the other color light. A conversion element can be dispensed with.

The arrangement of the red, green, and blue laser array modules in the first layer or the second layer can be arbitrarily selected, and the polarization direction of each color light can be selected in accordance with this. As shown in FIG. 6, the polarization directions may be different for each color light in the same layer (for red light and blue light).
In addition, the number of light emitting units for each color light and the number of laser array modules can be arbitrarily selected according to the required light quantity and color balance. Furthermore, the arrangement interval of the light emitting units in the laser array module and the interval between the laser array modules can be arbitrarily selected according to specifications such as the F number of the illumination optical system of the projector.
In the light source unit LU shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the case where the number of stacks of the laser array modules is two has been described. However, the number of stacks is not limited to this and may be three or four. FIG. 14 shows an example in which the number of layers is three.
In the example of FIG. 14, the first light source array is configured by arranging a plurality of green laser array modules MG extending in the horizontal direction in the first layer on the foremost side in the vertical direction. Further, the second light source array is configured by arranging the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB extending in the vertical direction in the second layer on the back side in the horizontal direction. The light from the second light source array is emitted through a light passage region between the green laser array modules MG in the first light source array.
Furthermore, when the layers of the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB are the first layer (first light source array), the green extending in the lateral direction is formed on the second layer (third layer) on the back side. A plurality of laser array modules MG are arranged in the vertical direction to constitute a second light source array. The light from the second light source array passes through the light passage region between the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB in the first light source array, and further between the green laser array module MG on the front side. Eject through.
In the light source unit LU shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the case where the second light source array on the back side is configured by arranging the rod-like red and blue laser array modules MR and MB extending in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the second light source array may be constituted by a semiconductor laser element integrally formed in a rectangular shape. In FIG. 7, the first light source array on the front side is configured by arranging bar-shaped red and blue laser array modules MR and MB extending in the horizontal direction at intervals (forming a light passage region) alternately in the vertical direction. ing. The second light source array on the back side is constituted by a green laser array module MG integrally formed in a rectangular shape.
Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the first light source array LU1 in which the light emitting portions are two-dimensionally arranged on the integrally formed rectangular solid light emitting element, and the integrally formed rectangular shape disposed on the back side thereof. The second light source array LU2 in which the light emitting units are two-dimensionally arranged on the solid light emitting element may be used. In this case, a light passage region HO as a hollow region or a transmission region for allowing the light from the second light source array LU2 to pass is formed between the light emitting portions of the first light source array LU1.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light source arrays are arranged in a stacked manner, and light from the light source array on the back side is emitted through the light passage region formed in the light source array on the front side. However, a light source device capable of emitting a large amount of light can be realized. This also applies to Examples 2 to 4 described later.
Further, in particular, each light source array is configured by arranging the laser array modules formed in a bar shape at intervals, which is more advantageous in heat dissipation and wiring than in the case of using an integrally formed rectangular light source array.
In the present embodiment, the case where the first to third color lights are a combination of red light, green light, and blue light has been described. However, the combination of one or two of these with other color lights and the three are different from each other. A combination of colored lights may be used.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a light source device that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 8, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are given to the same components and colored light in FIG.
In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the laser array module in the first layer and the longitudinal direction of the laser array module in the second layer are the same. Actually, the dimension of the light emitting part is very small with respect to the outer dimension of each laser array module. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the laser array modules are stacked so as to overlap each other, so that the light emitting unit is compared with the case where all the laser array modules are arranged in the same plane (same layer). Can be densified. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a light source device capable of emitting a large amount of light while being small.
In this embodiment, when the polarization direction of each color light is unified in the longitudinal direction of each laser array module or the direction orthogonal thereto, the light source device is used for a projector that does not need to change the polarization direction for each color light. Is suitable.

9 and 10 show the configuration of a light source device that is Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 9 and 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are assigned to the same components and colored light in FIG.
Currently, it is difficult to realize a high-power semiconductor laser that emits green light. Therefore, there is a method in which light having a wavelength twice that of light to be extracted is incident on the nonlinear optical crystal, and the second harmonic is extracted as light having a wavelength that is ½ of the incident light.
In the present embodiment, the green laser array module MG emits infrared light having a wavelength of 1064 nm which is twice that of the light to obtain light having a wavelength of 532 nm as green light to be emitted from the light source device. This infrared light is incident on the nonlinear optical crystal SHG. The second harmonic emitted from the nonlinear optical crystal SHG becomes green light having a wavelength 532 nm which is half of the incident light.
The wavelength conversion characteristic of the nonlinear optical crystal is better as the incident angle width of incident light is smaller. For this reason, a beam collimating element such as a micro condensing lens is arranged between the green laser array module MG and the incident surface of the nonlinear optical crystal SHG, and the incident light to the nonlinear optical crystal SHG is converted into a collimated beam in advance. Good.

  9 and 10, the nonlinear optical crystals SHG are arranged in parallel corresponding to the green laser array modules MG arranged in the first layer on the front side. Then, only the light emitted from the green laser array module MG passes through the nonlinear optical crystal SHG, and the light emitted from the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB arranged in the second layer on the back side is the nonlinear optical crystal SHG. Do not pass through.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 11, the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB are arranged in the first layer, and the green laser array module MG is arranged in the second layer. The red and blue laser array modules MR and MB are disposed between the green laser array module MG and the nonlinear optical crystal SHG. Also in this case, the nonlinear optical crystal SHG can be disposed corresponding to the green laser array module MG as shown in FIG.

  Further, in order to suppress fluctuations in characteristics due to temperature changes of the nonlinear optical crystal SHG, the nonlinear optical crystal SHG may be disposed away from the laser array module in the light emission direction.

Further, as another arrangement example of the nonlinear optical crystal SHG, as shown in FIG. 13, a green laser array module MG arranged in the second layer and a red and blue laser array module MR arranged in the first layer, A nonlinear optical crystal SHG can also be arranged between the MB.
In the present embodiment, the case where the nonlinear optical crystal SHG is used to obtain green light as the second harmonic has been described. However, a nonlinear optical crystal may be used to obtain red light or blue light. Even when red light or blue light is obtained as the second harmonic of the nonlinear optical crystal, light having a wavelength twice that wavelength may be incident on the nonlinear optical crystal from the laser array module. Further, depending on the characteristics of the nonlinear optical crystal, not only the double wavelength but also an integer multiple wavelength may be incident.

FIG. 15A shows the configuration of a projector (image projection apparatus) that is Embodiment 4 of the present invention. This projector uses the light source device LU described in the first to third embodiments as a light source. FIG. 15B shows the configuration of the illumination optical system in the projector.
The red light, the green light, and the blue light emitted from the light emitting unit of the light source device LU through the minute condenser lens pass through the first condenser lens CL1 and enter the first fly-eye lens FL1. The powers of the micro condensing lens and the first condenser lens CL1 are set so that the central ray from each light emitting part is condensed toward the center of the first fly-eye lens FL1, as shown in FIG. 15B. Has been. Further, the light from each light emitting unit is superimposed on the first fly eye lens FL1 with a certain spread. For this reason, the light from the light source device LU is divided into a plurality of light beams by the first fly-eye lens FL1, passes through the second fly-eye lens FL2 and the second condenser lens CL2, and enters the dichroic mirror DM. . The dichroic mirror DM transmits red light and separates them by reflecting green light and blue light.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that in the light source device LU, red light is set to P-polarized light, green light is set to S-polarized light, and blue light is set to P-polarized light.
The red light (P-polarized light) that has passed through the dichroic mirror DM passes through the first polarizing beam splitter PBS1 and becomes circularly polarized light at the λ / 4 plate R4, and is reflected on the red reflective liquid crystal panel (image forming element) RP. Incident. The reflected light modulated by the red original image formed on the red reflective liquid crystal panel RP is again subjected to polarization conversion by the λ / 4 plate R4 to become S-polarized light. The red light that has become S-polarized light is reflected by the first polarizing beam splitter PBS1 and the third polarizing beam splitter PBS3 and enters the projection optical system PL.

  On the other hand, the green light (S-polarized light) reflected by the dichroic mirror DM is reflected by the second polarization beam splitter PBS2, is circularly polarized by the λ / 4 plate R4, and enters the green reflective liquid crystal panel GP. . The reflected light modulated by the green original image formed on the green reflective liquid crystal panel GP is again converted into P-polarized light by the λ / 4 plate R4, and the second polarized beam splitter PBS2 and the third polarizing beam splitter PBS2 The light passes through the polarization beam splitter PBS3 and enters the projection optical system PL.

  Further, the blue light (P-polarized light) reflected by the dichroic mirror DM passes through the second polarization beam splitter PBS2, is made circularly polarized by the λ / 4 plate R4, and enters the blue reflective liquid crystal panel BP. . The reflected light modulated by the blue original image formed on the blue reflective liquid crystal panel BP is again converted to S-polarized light by the λ / 4 plate R4 and reflected by the second polarizing beam splitter PBS2. . Between the second polarizing beam splitter PBS2 and the third polarizing beam splitter PBS3, a color selective phase plate CS having an action of rotating only the polarization direction of blue light by 90 degrees is disposed. For this reason, the S-polarized blue light reflected by the second polarizing beam splitter PBS2 is converted to P-polarized light by the color selective phase plate CS, passes through the third polarizing beam splitter PBS3, and enters the projection optical system PL. To do.

The projection optical system PL enlarges and projects the red light, green light, and blue light combined by the third polarization beam splitter PBS3 onto a projection surface (screen or the like) (not shown), and displays a color image.
FIG. 16 shows a configuration of a projector using two reflective liquid crystal panels. In FIG. 16, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 15A are attached to the same components and colored light in FIG.
In order to obtain high brightness, green light is always guided to the green reflective liquid crystal panel GP, and red light and blue light are alternately guided to the same reflective liquid crystal panel RP / BP in a time-division manner.
In this projector, the dichroic mirror DM shown in FIG. 15A can be eliminated, and the number of polarization beam splitters can be reduced to one, so that a smaller projector can be realized.
FIG. 17A shows the configuration of a projector that does not use the fly-eye lenses FL1 and FL2 shown in FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 16 are assigned to the same components and colored light in FIG.
The red light, the green light, and the blue light emitted from the light emitting unit of the light source device LU through the minute condenser lens are transmitted through the first condenser lens CL1. As shown in FIG. 17 (b), the power of the minute condenser lens and the first condenser lens CL1 is such that the central ray from each light emitting portion is the center of the reflective liquid crystal panel RP / BP (and the reflective liquid crystal panel GP). It is set to condense toward. That is, it is set so that Koehler illumination is performed. Whether or not the fly-eye lens is used depends on how much the illuminance unevenness on the reflective liquid crystal panel is reduced.
In any of the light source devices LU according to the first to third embodiments, it is not necessary to perform color synthesis in the light source device LU, and the polarization direction of each color light can be set in the light source device LU in advance, so that the projector optical system is conventionally used. Can be made smaller. Then, coupled with the miniaturization of the light source device LU itself, the entire projector can be miniaturized. Further, a projector capable of projecting a bright image can be realized by increasing the light amount of the light source device LU.

  In this embodiment, the case where a reflective liquid crystal panel is used as an image forming element has been described. However, a transmissive liquid crystal panel or a micromirror array may be used as an image forming element. The number of image forming elements may be one or more.

19 and 20 show the configuration of a light source device that is Embodiment 5 of the present invention. The light source device LU of the present embodiment is provided with cooling fans F1, F2, and F3 as cooling structures in the light source device LU of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are assigned to the same components and colored light in FIG.

A1 and A2 are cooling air (cooling gas) supplied by cooling fans F1 and F2 disposed on the side surface and the upper surface of the light source device LU, respectively. A3 is cooling air (cooling gas) supplied by the cooling fan F3 disposed on the back side of the light source device LU. The cooling air A1 flows into the first layer from one side surface of the first layer (first light source array), flows between the green laser array modules MG, and the other side surface of the first layer. Discharged to the side.
The cooling air A2 flows into the second layer from the upper surface side of the second layer (second light source array), flows between the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB, and then the lower surface of the second layer. Discharged to the side.
The cooling air A3 flows in from the back side of the second layer, and passes through an opening region formed between the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB (between the light emitting portions) in the second layer. Further, the cooling air A3 that has passed through the opening region of the second layer passes through the opening region formed between the green laser array modules MG (between the light emitting units) in the first layer, and is in front of the light source device LU. Discharged to the side. The opening area formed between the green laser array modules MG is an area adjacent to the light passage area described in the first embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the greatest feature is that the cooling air A3 can flow in the light emission direction, that is, the direction orthogonal to the first and second layers. By flowing the cooling air A3, the laser array modules in each layer can be efficiently cooled together with the cooling air A1 and A2 flowing in parallel with the first and second layers.
In this embodiment, since the rod-shaped laser array modules are arranged at intervals, the light emitting portions can be arranged substantially two-dimensionally and a large surface area around each light emitting portion is ensured. Can do. And by this surface area and the cooling air A1-A3 mentioned above, the high cooling efficiency with respect to each laser array module can be obtained.
If the cooling air A3 is present, the cooling air A1, A2 (that is, the cooling fans F, F2) may not be provided. In addition, as shown in FIG. 21, cooling air may be supplied by a cooling fan F from an oblique direction from the back side of each layer.
26 and 27 show a holding member CH that holds each laser array module. The holding member CH is formed with a vertical groove portion and a horizontal groove portion for incorporating each laser array module, and a rectangular tube portion having an opening region HO formed therein.
As shown in FIG. 26, first, the red and blue laser array modules MR and MB are alternately inserted into the longitudinal grooves of the holding member CH. Next, as shown in FIG. 27, the green laser array module MG is inserted into the lateral groove portion of the holding member CH.
In the open region HO, as shown in FIG. 28, a heat exchange structure for increasing the surface area and improving the heat exchange efficiency may be incorporated.
Further, as shown in FIG. 22, each laser array module M may be configured by sandwiching a semiconductor laser element LD in which light emitting units EM are arranged with a heat sink HS via an insulating member IN. The heat sink HS may have a concavo-convex structure in order to increase the surface area, or may form a liquid channel for flowing a cooling liquid inside.
Further, as shown in FIG. 23, in the light source array in which the light emitting portions of the red light RL, the green light GL, and the blue light BL are two-dimensionally arranged on the same surface (same layer), an opening region as a hollow region between the light emitting portions HO may be formed. And the periphery of the light emission part of a light source array can be efficiently cooled by sending the cooling air A3 through the opening area | region HO from the back side of a light source array.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 24, the laser array modules MR, MG, and MB may be sequentially arranged in the same layer with the opening region HO interposed therebetween, and the heat exchange structure may be arranged in the opening region HO.

  In FIG. 25, the structure of the light source device which is Example 6 of this invention is shown. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a cooling gas (or liquid) cooled by the heat exchanger R by an air flow from the cooling fan F is guided to an opening area formed in each light source array (each layer) by a pipe AP. ing. Also in the present embodiment, each laser array module can be efficiently cooled as in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 29 shows a cooling structure of a light source device that is Embodiment 7 of the present invention. The present embodiment is a modification of the fifth embodiment. LU is the light source device, and CH is the holding member shown in FIGS. M1 is a laser array module arranged in the first layer, and M2 is a laser array module arranged in the second layer. L is the light emitted from the laser array module.
HS is a heat sink layer HS provided in the wall of the rectangular tube portion (portion in which the opening region HO is formed inside) of the holding member CH and in the peripheral portions of the vertical groove portion and the horizontal groove portion. In the heat sink layer HS, the liquid discharged from the pump P flows as shown by the arrows, and cools the laser array modules M1 and M2. The cooling air A supplied from the cooling fan F flows in the opening region HO. The cooling air A cools the liquid flowing in the heat sink layer HS. Thus, the holding member CH is a holding member for the laser array modules M1 and M2, and also has a role as a heat exchanger.
According to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the light source device including the cooling structure as compared with the case where a heat exchanger is provided outside the light source device. In particular, since the liquid flowing in the heat sink layer HS can be cooled by the cooling air A flowing in each opening region HO while flowing in the heat sink layer HS, high cooling efficiency can be obtained while being small. Therefore, a light source device that is small and can stably obtain a large amount of light can be realized.

The light source devices LU of the fifth to seventh embodiments described above can also be used as the light source of the projector described in the fourth embodiment. As a result, it is possible to realize a small projector that can stably project a bright image.
Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

  It is possible to provide a small light source device capable of emitting a large amount of light and a small and bright image projection device using the light source device.

MR Red laser array module MG Green laser array module MB Blue laser array module RL Red light GL Green light BL Blue light LU Light source device SHG Nonlinear optical crystal F, F1 to F3 Cooling fan

Claims (7)

A light source device having a first solid state light emitting element that emits first color light, a second solid state light emitting element that emits second color light, and a third solid state light emitting element that emits third color light,
A first light source array in which light emitting portions of at least one of the first, second and third solid state light emitting elements are two-dimensionally arranged in a first layer;
Of the first, second and third solid state light emitting elements, light emitting portions of solid state light emitting elements other than the at least one solid state light emitting element emit light from the first light source array to the first layer. A second light source array arranged two-dimensionally in a second layer located opposite to the direction,
A light passage region is formed between the light emitting units in the first light source array;
The light source device, wherein light from the second light source array is emitted through the light passage region. The first, second and third color lights are each linearly polarized light;
2. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein a polarization direction of at least one color light of the first, second, and third color lights is different from a polarization direction of at least one other color light.   3. The light source according to claim 1, further comprising a nonlinear optical crystal that receives at least one color light of the first, second, and third color lights and emits a second harmonic of the color light. apparatus. A cooling structure for supplying a cooling gas or liquid to the first and second light source arrays;
4. The opening region for passing the gas or liquid is formed between the light emitting units in the first and second light source arrays. 5. Light source device. A light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The first, second, and third color lights emitted from the light source device are guided to an image forming element that forms an original image, and the first, second, and third color lights from the image forming element are projected. An image projection apparatus comprising: an optical system that projects onto a surface. A light source array in which the light emitting portions of the solid state light emitting elements are two-dimensionally arranged;
A cooling structure for supplying a cooling gas or liquid to the light source array,
An opening region for passing the gas or liquid is formed between the light emitting units in the light source array. The light source device according to claim 6;
An image projection apparatus comprising: an optical system that guides light emitted from the light source device to an image forming element that forms an original image and projects the light from the image forming element onto a projection surface.