Patents by Inventor Karl Peter Welna

Karl Peter Welna has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11002414
    Abstract: [Object] External leakage of laser light can be prevented in a reflective type light source device. [Solution] Laser light excites a first surface (21) of a phosphor light-emitting section. (20), and a window portion (30) formed of a transparent member disposed spaced away from the first surface (21) is provided. A light leakage prevention portion (600), which inhibits the laser light reflected at the first surface (21) of the phosphor light-emitting section (20) from leaking to the outside through the window portion (30) is provided to part of the window portion (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Karl Peter Welna
  • Patent number: 10907774
    Abstract: [Object] Collection efficiency of a reflector that reflects a converted beam, which is converted from a pump beam by a phosphor, and projects the resultant as a projection beam is increased. [Solution] An optical member (4) of a light source unit (1) deflects a pump beam (PB) so that a first angle of incidence (?1) of a pump beam (PBX) relative to a surface of a phosphor (3) is larger than a second angle of incidence (?2) of the pump beam (PB), which is incident on the optical member (4), relative to the surface of the phosphor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Mattia Signoretto, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Patent number: 10788190
    Abstract: A light source unit provides enhanced control of a colour shift of white light reflected by a retro-reflector. The light source unit includes a pump light source, which emits laser pump light, a phosphor, which converts the laser pump light into white light, a retro-reflector, which has an output aperture that allows emission of part of the white light, the retro-reflector reflecting another part of the white light back to the phosphor, and scattering particles, which are adjusted to increase a blue light ratio of the white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mattia Signoretto, Karl Peter Welna, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10705280
    Abstract: A light source module includes: a convergent beam generating unit which generates, based on a pump beam emitted from a light source, a convergent pump beam having a beam size that decreases as the convergent pump beam propagates; a light guide body inside which the convergent pump beam, having been generated by the convergent beam generating unit, propagates; an extraction part which causes the convergent pump beam, having propagated inside the light guide body, to exit from the light guide body; and a wavelength conversion element which converts a wavelength of the convergent pump beam, being incident on the wavelength conversion element through the extraction part, and emits, through the light guide body, the convergent pump beam whose wavelength has been converted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet, Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200191342
    Abstract: [Object] Collection efficiency of a reflector that reflects a converted beam, which is converted from a pump beam by a phosphor, and projects the resultant as a projection beam is increased. [Solution] An optical member (4) of a light source unit (1) deflects a pump beam (PB) so that a first angle of incidence (?l) of a pump beam (PBX) relative to a surface of a phosphor (3) is larger than a second angle of incidence (a2) of the pump beam (PB), which is incident on the optical member (4), relative to the surface of the phosphor (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Mattia Signoretto, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20200166197
    Abstract: [Object] To control a colour shift of white light reflected by a retro-reflector. [Solution] A light source unit (1) includes a pump light source (2), which emits laser pump light (11), a phosphor (3), which converts the laser pump light (11) into white light (12), a retro-reflector (4), which has an output aperture (5) that allows emission of part of the white light (12), the retro-reflector (4) reflecting another part of the white light (12) back to the phosphor (3), and scattering particles (7), which are adjusted to increase a blue light ratio of the white light (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Mattia Signoretto, Karl Peter Welna, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet, Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200166687
    Abstract: A light source module includes: a convergent beam generating unit which generates, based on a pump beam emitted from a light source, a convergent pump beam having a beam size that decreases as the convergent pump beam propagates; a light guide body inside which the convergent pump beam, having been generated by the convergent beam generating unit, propagates; an extraction part which causes the convergent pump beam, having propagated inside the light guide body, to exit from the light guide body; and a wavelength conversion element which converts a wavelength of the convergent pump beam, being incident on the wavelength conversion element through the extraction part, and emits, through the light guide body, the convergent pump beam whose wavelength has been converted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10634314
    Abstract: A light source device includes a semiconductor laser that outputs laser light, a polarization rotator that rotates a polarization plane of the light, a polarization splitter that transmits and reflects the light in accordance with the polarization plane, and a fluorescent body that emits light by being excited by the laser light. The light source device controls an amount of the light that excites the fluorescent body by controlling a rotational angle of the polarization plane in the polarization rotator in a time-series fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Karl Peter Welna
  • Publication number: 20200049317
    Abstract: [Object] External leakage of laser light can be prevented in a reflective type light source device. [Solution] Laser light excites a first surface (21) of a phosphor light-emitting section. (20), and a window portion (30) formed of a transparent member disposed spaced away from the first surface (21) is provided. A light leakage prevention portion (600), which inhibits the laser light reflected at the first surface (21) of the phosphor light-emitting section (20) from leaking to the outside through the window portion (30) is provided to part of the window portion (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: KOJI TAKAHASHI, KARL PETER WELNA
  • Publication number: 20190301708
    Abstract: A light source device includes a semiconductor laser that outputs laser light, a polarization rotator that rotates a polarization plane of the light, a polarization splitter that transmits and reflects the light in accordance with the polarization plane, and a fluorescent body that emits light by being excited by the laser light. The light source device controls an amount of the light that excites the fluorescent body by controlling a rotational angle of the polarization plane in the polarization rotator in a time-series fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: KOJI TAKAHASHI, KARL PETER WELNA
  • Patent number: 10422514
    Abstract: A light source module includes a plurality of light sources mounted in at least one block. The block includes a mating surface for mating the at least one block to an adjacent block, and a plurality of mounting pads for respectively mounting the plurality of light sources, said mounting pads occupying multiple planes in a direction normal to a direction of light emission from the light sources. The mating surface is parallel to the direction of light emission from the light sources. Multiple blocks may be combined by joining the mating surface of a first block with a protrusion extending beyond the mating surface of an adjacent block. When the blocks are combined in this fashion, the mounting pads positioned in the multiple planes overlap in a viewpoint direction along an axis normal to the mounting pads. In this manner, light sources do not impede light emission from adjacent light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jacob Thomas Barrett, Karl Peter Welna
  • Publication number: 20190265583
    Abstract: A light source device includes a laser device emitting primary light, a wavelength converter including an illuminated region to which the primary light is applied, and performing wavelength conversion from the primary light to secondary light, and a light output portion through which the secondary light is taken out, wherein an area of the illuminated region is larger than an area of the light output portion, and the area of the light output portion is not larger than 7 mm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: KOJI TAKAHASHI, HIDENORI KAWANISHI, KARL PETER WELNA
  • Publication number: 20190186717
    Abstract: A light source module includes a plurality of light sources mounted in at least one block. The block includes a mating surface for mating the at least one block to an adjacent block, and a plurality of mounting pads for respectively mounting the plurality of light sources, said mounting pads occupying multiple planes in a direction normal to a direction of light emission from the light sources. The mating surface is parallel to the direction of light emission from the light sources. Multiple blocks may be combined by joining the mating surface of a first block with a protrusion extending beyond the mating surface of an adjacent block. When the blocks are combined in this fashion, the mounting pads positioned in the multiple planes overlap in a viewpoint direction along an axis normal to the mounting pads. In this manner, light sources do not impede light emission from adjacent light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Jacob Thomas BARRETT, Karl Peter WELNA
  • Patent number: 10270218
    Abstract: A laser device includes a light source that emits a source light having a first peak wavelength. A nonlinear optical component performs a frequency conversion process that converts the source light into output light having a second peak wavelength. A stabilization component minimizes a mismatch error constituting a difference between the first peak wavelength and a wavelength for which the frequency conversion process in the nonlinear optical component has a maximum value. The stabilization component may include a housing that is thermally conductive between the light source and the nonlinear optical component to minimize a temperature difference between the light source and the nonlinear optical component. The laser device may include a focusing optical component that focuses the source light to have a convergence half angle that is larger than a convergence half angle that gives maximum output power, thereby increasing an acceptable range of the mismatch error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Edward Andrew Boardman, Tim Michael Smeeton, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20180145477
    Abstract: A laser device includes a light source that emits a source light having a first peak wavelength. A nonlinear optical component performs a frequency conversion process that converts the source light into output light having a second peak wavelength. A stabilization component minimizes a mismatch error constituting a difference between the first peak wavelength and a wavelength for which the frequency conversion process in the nonlinear optical component has a maximum value. The stabilization component may include a housing that is thermally conductive between the light source and the nonlinear optical component to minimize a temperature difference between the light source and the nonlinear optical component. The laser device may include a focusing optical component that focuses the source light to have a convergence half angle that is larger than a convergence half angle that gives maximum output power, thereby increasing an acceptable range of the mismatch error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Edward Andrew Boardman, Tim Michael Smeeton, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Patent number: 9927679
    Abstract: A wavelength separating element is provided for separating a converted beam from a fundamental beam in an NLFC device, wherein the converted beam has a wavelength different from a wavelength of the fundamental beam. The wavelength separating element includes a first mirror surface and a second mirror surface opposite to the first mirror surface. The first and second mirror surfaces may have a high reflectivity of the converted beam relative to a reflectivity of the fundamental beam, and the first and second mirror surfaces are configured such that the fundamental and converted beams undergo multiple reflections between the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface to separate the converted beam from the fundamental beam. The fundamental and converted beams undergo at least three reflections at the first and second mirror surfaces, and/or undergo at least two reflections at one of the first mirror surface or the second mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Tim Michael Smeeton, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Patent number: 9859676
    Abstract: A laser device includes a light source that emits a source light having a first peak wavelength. A nonlinear optical component performs a frequency conversion process that converts the source light into output light having a second peak wavelength. A stabilization component minimizes a mismatch error constituting a difference between the first peak wavelength and a wavelength for which the frequency conversion process in the nonlinear optical component has a maximum value. The stabilization component may include a housing that is thermally conductive between the light source and the nonlinear optical component to minimize a temperature difference between the light source and the nonlinear optical component. The laser device may include a focusing optical component that focuses the source light to have a convergence half angle that is larger than a convergence half angle that gives maximum output power, thereby increasing an acceptable range of the mismatch error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Edward Andrew Boardman, Tim Michael Smeeton, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20170179674
    Abstract: A laser device includes a light source that emits a source light having a first peak wavelength. A nonlinear optical component performs a frequency conversion process that converts the source light into output light having a second peak wavelength. A stabilization component minimizes a mismatch error constituting a difference between the first peak wavelength and a wavelength for which the frequency conversion process in the nonlinear optical component has a maximum value. The stabilization component may include a housing that is thermally conductive between the light source and the nonlinear optical component to minimize a temperature difference between the light source and the nonlinear optical component. The laser device may include a focusing optical component that focuses the source light to have a convergence half angle that is larger than a convergence half angle that gives maximum output power, thereby increasing an acceptable range of the mismatch error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Edward Andrew Boardman, Tim Michael Smeeton, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20170160622
    Abstract: A wavelength separating element is provided for separating a converted beam from a fundamental beam in an NLFC device, wherein the converted beam has a wavelength different from a wavelength of the fundamental beam. The wavelength separating element includes a first mirror surface and a second mirror surface opposite to the first mirror surface. The first and second mirror surfaces may have a high reflectivity of the converted beam relative to a reflectivity of the fundamental beam, and the first and second mirror surfaces are configured such that the fundamental and converted beams undergo multiple reflections between the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface to separate the converted beam from the fundamental beam. The fundamental and converted beams undergo at least three reflections at the first and second mirror surfaces, and/or undergo at least two reflections at one of the first mirror surface or the second mirror surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Karl Peter Welna, Tim Michael Smeeton, Valerie Berryman-Bousquet
  • Patent number: 9405169
    Abstract: A light source includes a light emitting element configured to emit a non-diffraction limited input light beam, a nonlinear frequency conversion (NLFC) component that exhibits walkoff and performs second harmonic generation whereby at least a portion of an output beam outputted by the NLFC component has twice a frequency of the input beam, and an optical component positioned to receive the input light beam and configured to converge the non-diffraction limited input beam into the NLFC component. The light emitting element emits the input light beam having a beam quality factor in at least one plane of the input beam that is greater than 2 (M2>2). Furthermore, the light emitting element is a laser diode including AlyInxGa1-x-yN (0?x?1, 0?y?1) semiconductor materials, and one dimension of an emission region of the laser diode is at least 5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tim Michael Smeeton, Edward Andrew Boardman, Karl Peter Welna