Visible laser sources for projection displays

Jansen, M.; Carey, Glen P.; Carico, R.; Dato, Rene; Earman, Allen M.; Finander, M.; Giaretta, G.; Hallstein, S.; Höfler, H.; Kocot, Chris; Lim, S.F.; Krueger, J.; Mooradian, A.; Niven, Greg; Okuno, Y.; Patterson, F. G.; Tandon, Ashish; Umbrasas, Arvydas

doi:10.1117/12.716285

Cited by 25 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These compact devices incorporate either High-Brightness LEDs or lowpower visible lasers as light sources. One approach to the design of the hand-held projector uses single, or dual, MEMS-based micromirror scanners to create a raster video image -similar to that of the common CRT display [1]. While producing a displayed image comparable in size and brightness to a notebook computer, the projector's micromirror scanner uses a silicon mirror about 1 millimeter in diameter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved 2<sup>nd</sup> harmonic rise-time in a thermal-lens-dominated extended-cavity micro-laser

Earman¹,

Polulyakh²,

Stahr³

2009

2009 59th Electronic Components and Technology Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many commercially available compact, micro-cavity diode-pumped solid-state lasers achieve a stable resonator condition following the formation of an intra-cavity thermal lens. Typically, this thermal lens forms as a result of localized thermal expansion in the host material due to the very high optical power of the infrared pump beam. Additionally, most common DPSS host media, such as Nd:YAG and Nd:YVO4 exhibit high dn/dT, change in refractive index with temperature. Thermal lens formation time dominates stable resonator establishment and, thus, the rise-time of the intra-cavity-generated visible secondharmonic output light. Thermal lens formation time may range from 10's of microseconds to several milliseconds, depending on pump power, the host material dn/dT, and the volume and length of the host material. This paper describes a unique approach that improves the second-harmonic risetime -and, thus, the modulation bandwidth -for high-power VECSELs by several orders of magnitude. This approach, while typically used in some laser systems for other purposes, allows direct modulation of high-power VECSELs to greater than 100 megahertz with second-harmonic rise-time of a few nanoseconds. IntroductionHand-held, mobile projectors for the display of video content were first introduced as consumer products two years ago and have since received much attention as the next breakthrough mobile consumer device. These compact devices incorporate either High-Brightness LEDs or lowpower visible lasers as light sources. One approach to the design of the hand-held projector uses single, or dual, MEMS-based micromirror scanners to create a raster video image -similar to that of the common CRT display [1]. While producing a displayed image comparable in size and brightness to a notebook computer, the projector's micromirror scanner uses a silicon mirror about 1 millimeter in diameter. Thus, the optical system pupil is small and requires a very small source size. Laser sources are ideal for this application.Semiconductor, direct-emitting, directly-modulated lasers are readily available in Red (~630nm) and Blue (~460nm) wavelengths for video displays. However, the equivalent Green (~530nm) semiconductor lasers remain far from common availability. Laser developers have concentrated on 2 nd -harmonic Green lasers based on direct 2 nd -harmonic generation of semiconductor, or solid-state lasers. These 2 ndharmonic designs are far more complex than direct-emitting semiconductor lasers and typically cannot achieve the high modulation rates required for real-time video displays. Although, they usually produce better beam quality than their semiconductor counterparts.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved 2<sup>nd</sup> harmonic rise-time in a thermal-lens-dominated extended-cavity micro-laser

Earman¹,

Polulyakh²,

Stahr³

2009

2009 59th Electronic Components and Technology Conference

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…2,3 To address this, Novalux developed frequency-doubled vertical extended-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs, also referred to as Necsels: Novalux extendedcavity surface-emitting lasers). [4][5][6] These lasers emit circular Gaussian beams with 8-10% power conversion efficiencies for blue and green wavelengths. Other wavelengths such as cyan and yellow can be added in the future using the same technology.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel laser sources for large-venue projection markets

Jansen¹

2008

SPIE Newsroom

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Efficient blue and green surface-emitting lasers enable highperformance, low-cost light engines for displays.Lamp-based projection sources for use in large venues such as convention halls, theaters, and museums are not easily scalable. These projectors typically combine up to four 200W ultra-highpower lamps in order to provide sufficient projection. As an alternative, xenon lamps of 6000-7000W have been employed in digital cinema projectors. However, the largeétendue (the spread of the light in area and angle) of the lamps makes for inefficient light collection and projection. Moreover, the cost of ownership for such equipment is considerable due to the high electrical consumption associated with operating and cooling the projectors and the high cost of lamp replacements. There is a need in the industry for projection systems with longer lifetimes, lowétendue, and wider color gamuts.New laser-based light sources suitable for large venues are highly desired as they will produce a wide range of colors and are extremely stable. They permit constant power operation over a narrow wavelength emission with no wasted IR or UV spectral content, minimizing the need for color rebalancing. In addition, they allow for faster warm-up times and exhibit low noise compared to lamps. The overall system efficiency and improved thermal performance offer a significant enhancement over lampbased projectors. Lasers would also enable 3D movies since they offer as much as a 60% power advantage over lamp-based systems. Insight Media estimated approximately $7800 in energy savings per year from using laser sources instead of lamps in digital cinema projectors. 1 The green and blue range of visible wavelengths necessary for RGB (red, green, blue) displays have been especially difficult to obtain. 2,3 To address this, Novalux developed frequency-doubled vertical extended-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs, also referred to as Necsels: Novalux extendedcavity surface-emitting lasers). [4][5][6] These lasers emit circular Gaussian beams with 8-10% power conversion efficiencies for blue and green wavelengths. Other wavelengths such as cyan and yellow can be added in the future using the same technology. Continued on next page

show abstract

“…These high performance IR lasers had been realized by using InGaAs quantum wells [1][2][3], InGaAsN quantum wells [4][5][6][7], and mixed Sb-N based quantum wells [8][9][10][11], resulting in very low threshold current density and high output power laser devices. These compact and low-cost IR diode lasers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], which are useful as excitation pumps in up-conversion method, lead to strong motivation for development of various up-conversion methods for realizing practical visible light emitters [12][13][14]. The use of these IR diode lasers had also been used for achieving up-conversion via second harmonic generation [12][13][14], resulting in red / green / blue emitters applicable for laser TV and display technologies [12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These compact and low-cost IR diode lasers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], which are useful as excitation pumps in up-conversion method, lead to strong motivation for development of various up-conversion methods for realizing practical visible light emitters [12][13][14]. The use of these IR diode lasers had also been used for achieving up-conversion via second harmonic generation [12][13][14], resulting in red / green / blue emitters applicable for laser TV and display technologies [12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal dynamics of IR-to-visible up-conversion in LiNbO_3:Er^3+/Yb^3+: a path to phosphors with tunable chromaticity

Marín-Dobrincic¹,

Cantelar²,

Cussó³

2012

Opt. Mater. Express

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:In this work, a study of the temporal dynamical behavior of IRvisible up-conversion in the LiNbO 3 : Er 3+ /Yb 3+ system under modulated IR excitation at 980 nm is presented. It is shown that modulation characteristics, including the relative green-to-red emission ratio (GRR), can be quantitatively explained by using the rate equations formalism. The relevant spectroscopic magnitudes are identified and this provides a general framework to explore the properties of other Er 3+ /Yb 3+ doped up-converting phosphors.

show abstract

Visible laser sources for projection displays

Cited by 25 publications

References 8 publications

Improved 2<sup>nd</sup> harmonic rise-time in a thermal-lens-dominated extended-cavity micro-laser

Improved 2<sup>nd</sup> harmonic rise-time in a thermal-lens-dominated extended-cavity micro-laser

Novel laser sources for large-venue projection markets

Temporal dynamics of IR-to-visible up-conversion in LiNbO_3:Er^3+/Yb^3+: a path to phosphors with tunable chromaticity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About