Application of Semiconductor Lasers as a Projector Light Source

Abstract

High power semiconductor lasers are expected as a light source with high brightness which is used in wide gamut projection display systems. A red high power laser array is developed for a Grating Light Valve (GLV) display at a wavelength of 643nm. To apply semiconductor laser arrays as a light source for display systems, there are three subjects: high power, long device lifetime and uniform beam profile.
This paper introduced our study of light source for projection display and recent research activities of broad area red high power lasers. Now, red laser arrays demonstrate good laser characteristics; the operating current is 6.80A at the optical output power of 3W under CW operation, the uniform beam profile which is suitable for the laser display, and the estimated life time is longer than 10000 hours. Obtaining high power and high energy conversion efficiency for both blue and green lasers are the next subjects.