Lawrence J Larson

US Patent:

20070229683, Oct 4, 2007

Filed:

Apr 4, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/397335

Inventors:

Lawrence E. Larson - Berkeley CA, US
Jerry Gene Gage - Santa Rosa CA, US
Peter C. Egerton - Windsor CA, US
Vonn Sawatzky - Santa Rosa CA, US
Christopher Weiland Hall - Lakeport CA, US
Michael A. Scobey - Santa Rosa CA, US

Assignee:

Bookham Technologies plc - Towcester

International Classification:

H04N 9/04

US Classification:

348269

Abstract:

A color wheel comprises a plurality of light filters mounted on a hub or other mounting surface for rotation. The outer circumferential edge of the filters extend radially beyond the outer circumferential edge of the mounting surface. The mounting surface is beveled at its outer circumferential edge. The filters are mounted by adhesive between each filter and the mounting surface. The adhesive extends into at least a portion of the area between the bevel and the filters. Color wheel assemblies comprise such color wheels mounted to a rotational motor. The outer circumferential edges of the filters are aligned with each other to the same radial distance from the central rotational axis. In certain exemplary embodiments the filters are wedge shaped, having contact with adjacent filters only at their radially outer periphery. An automated method of making a color wheel assembly also is provided, wherein multiple filter segments are positioned on a mounting surface of a hub with UV curable adhesive which extends into at least a portion of the area between the bevel and the filters. An outer circumferential edge of each of the filter segments is aligned with each other to the same radial distance from the central rotational axis. Each of the filters is wedge shaped, having contact with adjacent filters only at their outer periphery. The UV curable adhesive is cured by exposure to UV radiation and the press-fitting the color wheel to a motor.