Abstract:
A light source device includes a light source section adapted to emit excitation light, a lens array adapted to divide the excitation light into a plurality of partial light beams, a light collection optical system adapted to collect the excitation light divided into the plurality of partial light beams, and a light emitting element adapted to emit fluorescence by being excited by the excitation light.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a light source device and a projector. 
     2. Related Art 
     In the past, in the projector field, it has been common that the discharge lamp such as a super-high pressure mercury lamp has been used as the light source. However, the discharge lamp of this kind has a problem that the product life is relatively short, a problem that quick lighting is difficult, a problem that the ultraviolet light emitted from the lamp deteriorates the liquid crystal light valve, and so on. Therefore, there is proposed a projector using a light source of a type used instead of the discharge lamp. 
     For example, in the projector proposed in JP-A-2004-327361 (Document 1), there is used a light source which externally inputs excitation light to a fluorescent body, and then emits the luminescence (fluorescence) thus obtained. Specifically, in Document 1, the light source is proposed as a light source having the total area of the end face of the fluorescent body in the visible light emission direction set to be smaller than the total area of the excitation light emission end face thereof, and capable of emitting intense light from the smaller area than in the case of directly using the light source of the excitation light. According to this structure, there can be realized a bright projector which is high in light efficiency, low in cost, and low in power consumption. 
     However, in the light source described in Document 1, if too much light is collected in the fluorescent body, the amount of luminescence is reduced due to the following reason. 
     That is, if the intensity of the excitation light is high, the proportion of the electrons excited in the fluorescence molecule increases and the electrons (the electrons in the ground state) which can be excited decrease, and therefore, a so-called light saturation phenomenon occurs in which emission corresponding to the light intensity of the excitation light becomes unachievable. Thus, it results in that the luminance efficiency (the proportion of the luminance amount of the fluorescent body with respect to the incident light intensity of the excitation light) is degraded. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a desired light intensity even in the case of using the light source disclosed in Document 1 and increasing the excitation light intensity attempting to obtain the intense light. 
     SUMMARY 
     An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a light source device capable of preventing the degradation of the luminance efficiency to thereby emit the intense (high-intensity) light. Another advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a projector having such a light source device, and capable of high-quality image display. 
     As a result of repeated keen examinations on the problems described above, the inventors reach the knowledge that it is preferable that the light intensity of the excitation light is uniformized in the irradiation area as much as possible in view of the light saturation phenomenon described above. This is because in the case in which the excitation light is applied so that the fluorescent body emits the fluorescence with the light intensity as high as possible, if there is unevenness in the light intensity of the excitation light, then it is not achievable to preferably emit the fluorescence from the entire surface of the fluorescent body irradiated with the excitation light. 
     On the other hand, as the light source of the excitation light for making the fluorescent body preferably emit light, a solid-state light source such as a laser source is generally used, and further, a solid-state light source array using a plurality of solid-state light sources in order for increasing the light intensity is used. However, since the axes of the light beams emitted from the respective solid-state light sources are separate from each other in the solid-state light source array, if the solid-state light source array is used, there occurs the unevenness in the light intensity in the bundle of the light beams of the excitation light thus emitted in the solid-state light source array on the whole, such that the area in the vicinity of the light beam axis corresponding to each of the solid-state light source is bright while the area corresponding to the middle of the solid-state light sources is dark. Therefore, it results in that the efficient luminance becomes difficult such that the fluorescence is emitted from the entire surface of the fluorescent body without causing the light saturation on the fluorescent body. 
     An aspect of the invention is directed to a light source device including a light source section including a plurality of solid-state light sources adapted to emit excitation light, and adapted to emit the excitation light as a parallel beam of light, a lens array adapted to divide the excitation light into a plurality of partial light beams, a light collection optical system adapted to collect the excitation light divided into the plurality of partial light beams, and a light emitting element adapted to emit fluorescence by being excited by the excitation light collected by the light collection optical system. 
     According to this configuration, the excitation light emitted from the plurality of solid-state light sources and having a discrete light intensity distribution overlaps on the light emitting element via the lens array and the light collection optical system, and thus the light intensity distribution is averaged. Therefore, it becomes possible to irradiate the entire light emitting element with the excitation light having the homogenized light intensity, and thus, it becomes easy to control the light intensity of the excitation light so as not to cause the light saturation in the area irradiated with the excitation light. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the light source device capable of easily preventing the degradation of the luminance efficiency to thereby stably emit intense light. 
     Firstly, in the light source device of the above aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the light collection optical system includes a second lens array which the plurality of partial light beams enter, the second lens array forming a pair together with the lens array, and which the partial light beams enter, and an overlapping optical system adapted to make the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the second lens array overlap with each other on the light emitting element, and a lens plane of the lens array and a light irradiation surface of the light emitting element are in a conjugate relationship via the light collection optical system. 
     According to this configuration, since the plurality of partial light beams preferably overlaps on the light irradiation surface of the light emitting element, the light intensity distribution can easily be averaged, and it becomes easy to control the light intensity of the excitation light so as not to cause the light saturation of the light emitting element. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that a planar shape of a small lens constituting the lens array is similar to a planar shape of the light irradiation surface, and a planar area of the light irradiation surface and an irradiation area of the excitation light illuminating a plane parallel to the light irradiation surface at a same spatial position as the light irradiation surface are substantially equal to each other. 
     According to this configuration, since the excitation light can be applied to the light emitting element without waste, the amount of fluorescence taken out with respect to the amount of the excitation light applied can be maximized. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that the light source section includes a collecting lens adapted to collect the excitation light emitted from the plurality of solid-state light sources, and a collimating lens adapted to collimate the excitation light emitted from the collecting lens, and the collimating lens has a concave surface having a shape of a quadric surface of revolution in either one of an entrance surface and an exit surface. 
     According to this configuration, since the degree of parallelization of the excitation light entering the lens array can be enhanced, averaging of the excitation light using the lens array and the light collection optical system is easily controlled as designed, and the degradation of the luminance efficiency can easily be prevented. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that the collimating lens has a spherical convex surface as the entrance surface, and the concave surface as the exit surface. 
     According to this configuration, it is difficult to generate the unevenness in the intensity distribution due to the transmission through the collimating lens in the excitation light entering the lens array, and it is easy to perform the averaging of the excitation light using the lens array and the light collection optical system. Therefore, it becomes easy to make the light emitting element emit light while preventing the light saturation. 
     Secondly, in the light source device of the above aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the light emitting element is disposed so that the light irradiation surface overlaps a focal position of the light collection optical system, and an integrate optical system has a plane, which is conjugate to the light irradiation surface, set to infinity, the integrate optical system having the lens array in one end of the integrate optical system and the light collection optical system in the other end of the integrate optical system. 
     According to this configuration, the excitation light to the light emitting element can be made to overlap by setting the relative position between the light collection optical system and the light emitting element even without precisely setting the relative position between the light collection optical system and the lens array. Further, since the excitation light is not imaged at the focal position, the image of the excitation light blurs, and it is easy to average the light intensity. Therefore, it becomes easy to control the light intensity of the excitation light so as not to cause the light saturation in the light emitting element. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that a planar shape of a small lens constituting the lens array is similar to a planar shape of the light irradiation surface of the light emitting element, and a planar area of the light irradiation surface of the light emitting element is substantially equal to a size of an exit pupil of the integrate optical system. 
     According to this configuration, since the excitation light can be applied to the light emitting element without waste, the amount of fluorescence taken out with respect to the amount of the excitation light applied can be maximized. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that the light source section includes a collecting lens adapted to collect the excitation light emitted from the plurality of solid-state light sources, and a collimating lens adapted to collimate the excitation light emitted from the collecting lens, and the collimating lens has a concave surface having a shape of a quadric surface of revolution in either one of an entrance surface and an exit surface. 
     According to this configuration, since the degree of parallelization of the excitation light entering the lens array can be enhanced, averaging of the excitation light using the lens array and the light collection optical system is easily controlled as designed, and the degradation of the luminance efficiency can easily be prevented. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that the collimating lens has the concave surface as the entrance surface, and a flat surface as the exit surface. 
     According to this configuration, since the degree of parallelization of the excitation light transmitted through the collimating lens can further be enhanced, it is easy to perform the averaging of the excitation light using the lens array and the light collection optical system, and it becomes easy to make the light emitting element emit light while preventing the light saturation. 
     In the light source device of the aspect of the invention described above, it is preferable that assuming that coordinate values in an rθZ cylindrical coordinate system taking an intersecting point between the concave surface and a center axis of the parallel beam of light as an origin, the center axis as a Z axis, and an axis perpendicular to the center axis as an r axis are r and Z, a paraxial curvature is c, and a conic constant is K, the concave surface has a shape represented by Formula (1) below. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Z 
                     - 
                     
                       
                         c 
                         · 
                         
                           r 
                           2 
                         
                       
                       
                         1 
                         + 
                         
                           
                             1 
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   1 
                                   + 
                                   K 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 c 
                                 2 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 r 
                                 2 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   = 
                   0 
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     According to this configuration, the shape of the concave surface can easily be determined. Further, since the spherical aberration can be reduced by using the lens having the aspherical surface determined in accordance with this formula, the degree of parallelization of the light emitted from the light source device can further be enhanced. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a projector including the light source device of any one of the aspects of the invention described above, a light modulation element adapted to modulate light emitted from the light source device, and a projection optical system adapted to project the light modulated by the light modulation element. 
     According to this configuration, since the light source device described above is provided, the light saturation phenomenon is prevented from occurring, and therefore the light intensity of the light emitted from the light source device is stabilized, and thus the projector capable of suppressing the variation in brightness to thereby perform high-quality image display can be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a light source device and a projector according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a light source section included in the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are graphs showing the emission characteristics of the light source and a light emitting element. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the light source section included in the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram showing a behavior of excitation light having entered a lens integrator. 
         FIGS. 6A through 6C  are diagrams showing a calculation result representing the light intensity of the excitation light in a plane perpendicular to a principal ray of the excitation light. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic explanatory diagram of a polarization conversion element. 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9A through 9C  are diagrams showing a calculation result representing the light intensity of the excitation light in a plane perpendicular to a principal ray of the excitation light. 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 11A through 11C  are explanatory diagrams showing a modified example of the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the light source device according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram showing a light source device according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are explanatory diagrams showing a behavior of excitation light having entered a lens integrator. 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are diagrams showing a calculation result representing the light intensity of the excitation light in a plane perpendicular to a principal ray of the excitation light. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, a light source device and a projector according to a first embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 13 . It should be noted that in all of the drawings described below, the sizes and the ratios between the sizes of the constituents are arbitrarily made different from each other in order for making the drawings eye-friendly. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing the light source device  100  and the projector PJ according to the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, the projector PJ includes the light source device  100 , a color separation optical system  200 , a liquid crystal light valve (light modulation element)  400 R, a liquid crystal light valve  400 G, a liquid crystal light valve  400 B, a color combining element  500 , and a projection optical system  600 . 
     The projector PJ generally operates as follows. The light emitted from the light source device  100  is separated by the color separation optical system  200  into a plurality of colored lights. The plurality of colored lights thus separated into by the color separation optical system  200  enters and is then modulated by the corresponding liquid crystal light valves  400 R,  400 G, and  400 B, respectively. The respective colored lights modulated by the liquid crystal light valves  400 R,  400 G, and  400 B enter and are then combined by the color combining element  500 . The light thus combined by the color combining element  500  is projected by the projection optical system  600  on a target projection surface  700  such as a wall or a screen in an enlarged manner, and thus a full-color projection image is displayed. 
     Hereinafter, each of the constituents of the projector PJ will be explained. 
     The light source device  100  has two light sources  10 B (a first light source  10 Ba, a second light source  10 Bb) for emitting the blue light. 
     The light source device  100  has a configuration in which the light source  10 Ba, a collimating optical system  20 , a lens integrator  30 , a light wavelength selecting optical system  40 , an overlapping optical system  50 , a light emitting element  60 , lens array  120 , lens array  130 , a polarization conversion element  140 , and an overlapping lens  150  disposed in this order when viewed along the light path of the light emitted from the light source  10 Ba. 
     Here, the light source  10 Ba and the collimating optical system  20  constitute a light source section in the embodiment of the invention. Further, a second lens array  34  and the overlapping optical system  50  constitute a light collection optical system in the embodiment of the invention. Here, the second lens array  34  is included in the lens integrator  30 . 
     Further, the light source device  100  has a configuration in which the light source  10 Bb, a collimator lens array  22   b , a collecting lens  70 , a diffuser  80 , a collimating lens  90 , the light wavelength selecting optical system  40 , the lens array  120 , lens array  130 , the polarization conversion element  140 , and the overlapping lens  150  disposed in this order when viewed along the light path of the light emitted from the light source  10 Bb. 
     In the light source device  100  having such a configuration, the blue light emitted from the light source  10 Ba is applied to the light emitting element  60 , and is used as the excitation light for making the fluorescence be emitted from the fluorescent body provided to the light emitting element  60 . The fluorescence emitted from the light emitting element  60  is mixed with the blue light emitted from the light source  10 Bb on the light path, and is then emitted from the light source device  100  as a white light L used as the illumination light for the liquid crystal light valves. 
     Hereinafter, each of the constituents will be explained first while explaining the behavior of the light emitted from the first light source  10 Ba, and then each of the constituents will be explained while explaining the behavior of the light emitted from the second light source  10 Bb. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the light source  10 Ba. As shown in the drawing, the light source  10 Ba is a laser source array having laser sources (solid-state light sources)  12  arranged in a 5×5 two-dimensional array (25 in total) so as to form a square shape on a substrate  11 . The laser sources  12  each have a rounded rectangular planar shape, and are arranged so that the long axis directions thereof are the same. 
     The light source  10 Ba emits a blue (having a peak emission intensity at about 445 nm; see  FIG. 3A ) laser beam as the excitation light for exciting the fluorescent material provided to the light emitting element  60 . What is denoted with the symbol B in  FIG. 3A  is a colored light component emitted by the light source  10 Ba as the excitation light. It should be noted that it is also possible to assume that just one laser source is used instead of the laser source array shown in  FIG. 2 . Further, the light source for emitting the colored light having a peak wavelength other than 445 nm can also be adopted providing the light has the wavelength capable of exciting the fluorescent material described later. In  FIG. 1 , the excitation light emitted from the light source  10 Ba is denoted by the reference symbol B. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the light source  10 Ba. As shown in the drawing, the excitation light emitted from the light source  10 Ba is collimated by a first collimator lens array  22   a  included in the collimating optical system  20 . Subsequently, the light beam of the excitation light collected by a collecting lens  24  proceeds toward a focal point F 1  of the collecting lens  24 , and is then collimated again by a collimating lens  26 . By being transmitted through such a collimating optical system  20 , the excitation light is narrowed in the total width of the bundle of the light beams. 
     Here, the collimating lens  26  has an entrance surface  26   a  formed as a convex surface having a spherical shape and an exit surface  26   b  formed as a concave surface having an aspherical shape. In further specific explanation of the shape of the exit surface  26   b , the aspherical shape of the exit surface  26   b  of the collimating lens  26  is arranged to be a shape approximately fulfilling the relationship expressed by Formula (2). Specifically, in the exit surface  26   b , it is arranged that the light with a high degree of parallelization can be emitted by adopting a shape of a quadric surface of revolution as the aspherical shape of the exit surface  26   b . 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Z 
                     - 
                     
                       
                         c 
                         · 
                         
                           r 
                           2 
                         
                       
                       
                         1 
                         + 
                         
                           
                             1 
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   1 
                                   + 
                                   K 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 c 
                                 2 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 r 
                                 2 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     - 
                     
                       ∑ 
                       
                         An 
                         · 
                         
                           r 
                           n 
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   = 
                   0 
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   2 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Here, “r” and “Z” are coordinate values in the rθZ cylindrical coordinate system taking the intersecting point between the exit surface  26   b  of the collimating lens  26  and the center axis  10   ax  of the bundle of the light beams of the excitation light as the origin L 0 , and axisymmetrical about the center axis  10   ax  as shown in  FIG. 4 . It should be noted that in  FIG. 4  the Z direction takes the emission direction of the excitation light as the positive direction. The symbol “r” represents the distance from the origin L 0  in the direction perpendicular to the center axis  10   ax . The symbol “θ” represents the angle with the predetermined r direction, but the aspherical shape does not depend on the angle θ as is understood from Formula (2). 
     Further, in Formula (2), the paraxial curvature c represents the curvature of a spherical shape in the case of assuming that the light beam of the excitation light collected by the collecting lens  24  is converted into a parallel beam of light using a plano-concave lens having the spherical shape. In other words, it results that in the paraxial area (the area adjacent to the rotational axis), the light beam of the excitation light collected by the collecting lens  24  can be converted into a parallel beam of light by using the plano-concave lens having the curvature c. 
     The symbol “K” is a value called a conic constant. The shape of the quadric surface of revolution is limited to a specific shape depending on the value of the conic constant K. Specifically, if the value of the conic constant K fulfills −1&lt;K&lt;0, the aspherical surface becomes an ellipsoid of revolution. Further, if the value of the conic constant K fulfills K=−1, the aspherical surface becomes a paraboloid of revolution. Still further, if the value of the conic constant K fulfills K&lt;−1, the aspherical surface becomes a hyperboloid of revolution. 
     Further, the third term of the left-hand side is a function called a general aspheric term and depending on the distance r, but is a sufficiently small value, and is therefore disregarded in the present embodiment. 
     The shape of the quadric surface of revolution of the aspherical surface of the collimating lens  26  in the present embodiment is determined by the following method based on Formula (3) below in which the third term of the left-hand side in Formula (2) is disregarded. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     Z 
                     - 
                     
                       
                         c 
                         · 
                         
                           r 
                           2 
                         
                       
                       
                         1 
                         + 
                         
                           
                             1 
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   1 
                                   + 
                                   K 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 c 
                                 2 
                               
                               · 
                               
                                 r 
                                 2 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                   = 
                   0 
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   3 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Firstly, the value of the paraxial curvature c is obtained in consideration of the shape of the collecting lens  24 , the curvature of the entrance surface  26   a  of the collimating lens  26 , the refractive index n of the collimating lens  26 , the thickness of the central part of the collimating lens  26 , and the installation location of the collimating lens  26 . 
     Specifically, the shape of the collecting lens  24 , and the curvature of the entrance surface  26   a , the refractive index n, the thickness of the central part, and the installation location of the collimating lens  26  are firstly determined in advance. Further, a concave lens having the curvature of the entrance surface, the refractive index, and the thickness of the central part identical thereto, and at the same time having the spherical exit surface is assumed as an alternative of the collimating lens  26 . Then, the curvature of the exit surface of the concave lens is obtained, with which the transmitted light can be converted into parallel light in the paraxial area (the area adjacent to the rotational axis) in the case in which the concave lens described above is disposed at the installation location of the collimating lens  26  with respect to the collecting lens having the shape identical to the shape determined in advance. 
     The value of the curvature thus obtained is the paraxial curvature c in Formula (3) defining the shape of the exit surface  26   b . Here, if the entrance surface  26   a  of the collimating lens  26  is set to a plane surface, the curvature of the entrance surface  26   a  is set to 0. 
     Then, the conic constant K is obtained. In the light source device  100  of the present embodiment, the conic constant K is set to a condition with which the parallel light is emitted by performing a simulation repeatedly using Formula (3) while varying the value thereof. In this simulation, it is possible to take the case, in which the diameter of a light spot at a focal point becomes the smallest when a bundle of the light beams emitted from the light source device  100  is collected by an ideal lens without aberration, as the condition of emitting the approximately parallel light. 
     By using the collimating lens  26  designed in such a manner as described above, it is possible to make the excitation light transmitted through the collimating optical system  20  to be the light with a high degree of parallelization. 
     The excitation light transmitted through the collimating optical system  20  enters the lens integrator  30 . The lens integrator  30  has a first lens array  32  and the second lens array  34 , these lens arrays are arranged on the light path in this order. The first lens array  32  and the second lens array  34  are for homogenizing the brightness distribution of the light emitted from the collimating optical system  20 . 
     The excitation light transmitted through the lens integrator  30  enters the light wavelength selecting optical system  40 . The light wavelength selecting optical system  40  has a dichroic mirror  42  and a dichroic mirror  44 . The dichroic mirrors  42 ,  44  are each formed by, for example, stacking a dielectric multilayer film on a glass surface. 
     The dichroic mirrors  42 ,  44  have the wavelength selectivity of selectively reflecting the colored light in the wavelength band of the excitation light, and transmitting the colored light in the other wavelength band. Specifically, the dichroic mirror  42  reflects the blue light, and transmits the light (e.g., the light with the wavelength longer than 480 nm) with the wavelength longer than the blue light. On the other hand, the dichroic mirror  44  transmits the blue light, and reflects the light (e.g., the light with the wavelength longer than 480 nm) with the wavelength longer than the blue light. Here, the excitation light is transmitted through the dichroic mirror  44 , and at the same time reflected by the dichroic mirror  42 . 
     The excitation light reflected by the dichroic mirror  42  enters the overlapping optical system  50 , and is then imaged on the light emitting element  60 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the behavior of the excitation light until the excitation light (the blue light B) having entered the lens integrator  30  is applied to the light emitting element  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first lens array  32  includes a plurality of first small lenses  32   a , and the second lens array  34  includes a plurality of second small lenses  34   a . Further, the planar shape of the first small lense  32   a  and the planar shape of the second small lense  34   a  are arranged to be roughly similar to the planar shape of a light irradiation surface  60   a  of the light emitting element  60 . 
     In the first lens array  32  and the second lens array  34 , one of the first small lenses  32   a  and one of the second small lenses  34   a  correspond to each other in a one-to-one manner. The light emitted from the collimating optical system  20  enters the plurality of first small lenses  32   a  while being spatially separated, and each of the first small lenses  32   a  images the incident light on corresponding one of the second small lenses  34   a . Thus, the secondary light source image is formed in each of the second small lenses  34   a.    
     Further, the light emitted from each of the second small lenses  34   a  is collected by the overlapping optical system  50  configured including a first lens  52  and a second lens  54  via the dichroic mirror  42 , and is then imaged on the light emitting element  60 . In other words, the light collection optical system configured including the second lens array  34  and the overlapping optical system  50  images the incident light on the light irradiation surface  60   a  of the corresponding light emitting element  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the light emitting element  60  has a plate like substrate  61  and a fluorescent layer  62  formed on the excitation light entrance side surface of the substrate  61 . The fluorescent layer  62  is formed to have, for example, a roughly square shape of 1 mm×1 mm in a plan view, and has fluorescent particles  621  for emitting fluorescence. Such a fluorescent layer  62  has a function of absorbing the excitation light (the blue light) and converting it into yellow (having the peak emission intensity at about 550 nm; see  FIG. 3B ) fluorescence. 
     The component indicated by the reference symbol R in  FIG. 3B  is a colored light component available as the red light out of the yellow light emitted by the fluorescent layer  62 , and the component indicated by the reference symbol G is a colored light component available as the green light similarly. In  FIG. 1 , the red light is denoted by the reference symbol R, the green light is denoted by the reference symbol G, and the fluorescence including the red light R and the green light G is denoted by the reference symbol RG. 
     In such a configuration, the optical system configured including the second lens array  34  and the overlapping optical system  50  is preferably configured so that the lens plane of the first lens array  32  and the light irradiation surface  60   a  of the light emitting element  60  are in a conjugate relationship. Specifically, it is preferable that it is configured so that the object plane of the optical system configured including the second lens array  34  and the overlapping optical system  50  coincide with the lens plane of the first lens array  32 , and the image plane thereof coincide with the light irradiation surface  60   a  of the light emitting element  60 . Thus, it results that the light irradiation surface  60   a  is irradiated with the excitation light having the homogenized intensity distribution. 
     Here, “the lens plane of the first lens array  32 ” denotes an imaginary plane connecting the valleys between the first small lenses  32   a  provided to the first lens array  32 . 
       FIGS. 6A through 6C  show the calculation result representing the light intensity of the excitation light on a plane perpendicular to the principal ray of the excitation light, wherein  FIG. 6A  is a distribution chart showing the light intensity of the excitation light entering the first lens array  32 , and  FIG. 6B  is a distribution chart showing the light intensity of the excitation light entering the light irradiation surface  60   a . In  FIGS. 6A and 6B , it is arranged that the higher the light intensity of the place is, the brighter the place is, and the lower the light intensity of the place is, the darker the place is to thereby display the light intensity in correspondence with the luminance of the area. 
     Further,  FIG. 6C  is a graph showing the light intensity in the area passing through the origin and along the x axis and the y axis in the distribution chart of  FIG. 6B . The horizontal axis of  FIG. 6C  represents the location (the coordinate) on the x axis or the y axis in the area shown in  FIG. 6B , and the vertical axis thereof represents the light intensity (the irradiance). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , in the spatial position before entering the first lens array  32 , bright sections and dark sections exist discretely in the light intensity distribution of the excitation light in accordance with the light source  10 Ba shown in  FIG. 2 . In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 6B , in the spatial position before entering the light irradiation surface  60   a , the excitation light is formed to have an approximately square shape of 1 mm×1 mm, and has a continuous light intensity distribution approximating the light intensity distribution of a so-called top hat profile in which the light intensity is roughly uniform throughout the entire area of the light irradiation surface  60   a  as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
     The light emitting element  60  is irradiated with the excitation light having the light intensity distribution approximating the homogenized distribution compared to that of the excitation light before transmitting through the lens integrator  30  as described above. Further, the excitation light applied thereto is formed to have a shape roughly the same as the planar shape of the light emitting element  60 . Therefore, it becomes easy to irradiate the entire area of the light irradiation surface  60   a  of the light emitting element  60  so as not to cause the light saturation inside the surface thereof. Therefore, the light emitting element  60  can be used as the secondary light source for preferably emitting the fluorescence RG from the entire area of the light irradiation surface  60   a.    
     The overlapping optical system  50  functions as a pickup optical system with respect to the fluorescence RG emitted from the light emitting element  60 . Therefore, the fluorescence RG enters the light wavelength selecting optical system  40  after collimated by the overlapping optical system  50 . In the light wavelength selecting optical system  40 , the fluorescence RG is reflected by the dichroic mirror  44 , and then emitted toward the lens array  120 . 
     Then, each of the constituents will be explained while explaining the light emitted from the second light source  10 Bb. 
     The light source  10 Bb has substantially the same configuration as that of the light source  10 Ba shown in  FIG. 2 , and is formed of a laser source array for emitting the blue light. The blue light emitted from the light source  10 Bb is collimated by the second collimator lens array  22   b , and is then collected by the collecting lens  70 . 
     The diffuser  80  is disposed at the focal position of the collecting lens  70 . The diffuser  80  has a function of scattering the light transmitted therethrough. The blue light, which is coherent light, emitted from the light source  10 Bb is scattered by the diffuser  80  to thereby provide a light path difference in the blue light, and thus the coherency is lowered. Therefore, it becomes difficult to cause the interference pattern called speckle when projected on the target projection surface  700 . 
     The blue light transmitted through the diffuser  80  enters and is then collimated by the collimating lens  90 , then enters the light wavelength selecting optical system  40 , and is then reflected by the dichroic mirror  42  to thereby be emitted toward the lens array  120 . Therefore, the light emitted from the light wavelength selecting optical system  40  becomes the white light L obtained by mixing the fluorescence RG including the red light and the green light mixed with each other and emitted from the light emitting element  60 , and the blue light B emitted from the light source  10 Bb. 
     It should be noted that although it is assumed in the present embodiment that the light source  10 Bb is the laser source array, the light source  10 Bb is not required to be the laser source array providing the light source  10 Bb can emit the blue light used for display. 
     The lens arrays  120 ,  130  are for homogenizing the luminance distribution of the white light L emitted from the light wavelength selecting optical system  40 . The lens array  120  includes a plurality of first small lenses  122 , and the lens array  130  includes a plurality of second small lenses  132 . In the lens array  120  and the lens array  130 , the first small lenses  122  and the second small lenses  132  correspond to each other in a one-to-one manner. The light L emitted from the light wavelength selecting optical system  40  enters the plurality of first small lenses  122  while being spatially separated, and each of the first small lenses  122  images the incident light on corresponding one of the second small lenses  132 . Thus, the secondary light source image is formed in each of the second small lenses  132 . It should be noted that the outer shape of the first small lenses  122  and the second small lenses  132  is arranged to be roughly similar to the outer shape of the image forming areas of the respective liquid crystal light valves  400 R,  400 G, and  400 B. 
     The polarization conversion element  140  is for aligning the polarization state of the light L emitted from the lens arrays  120 ,  130 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the polarization conversion element  140  includes a plurality of polarization conversion cells  141 . The polarization conversion cells  141  correspond to the second small lenses  132  in a one-to-one manner. The light L from the secondary light source image formed on each of the second small lenses  132  enters an entrance area  142  of corresponding one of the polarization conversion cells  141 . 
     Each of the polarization conversion cells  141  is provided with a polarization beam splitter film  143  (hereinafter referred to as a PBS film  143 ) and a retardation plate  145  so as to correspond to the entrance area  142 . The light L having entered the entrance area  142  is split by the PBS film  143  into P-polarized light L 1  and S-polarized light L 2  with respect to the PBS film  143 . One (here the S-polarized light L 2 ) of the P-polarized light L 1  and the S-polarized light L 2  is reflected by a reflecting member  144 , and then enters the retardation plate  145 . The S-polarized light L 2  having entered the retardation plate  145  is converted in the polarization state into the polarization state of the other polarized light (here the P-polarized light L 1 ) by the retardation plate  145  to thereby become P-polarized light L 3 , and is then emitted together with the P-polarized light L 1 . 
     The overlapping lens  150  is for making the lights emitted from the polarization conversion element  140  overlap with each other in the illuminated area. The light emitted from the light source device  100  is spatially divided and then overlapped to thereby be homogenized in the luminance distribution, and enhanced in the axisymmetric property around the light beam axis  100   ax.    
     The color separation optical system  200  includes dichroic mirrors  210 ,  220 , mirrors  230 ,  240 , and  250 , field lenses  300 R,  300 G, and  300 B, and relay lenses  260 ,  270 . The dichroic mirrors  210 ,  220  are each formed by, for example, stacking a dielectric multilayer film on a glass surface. The dichroic mirrors  210 ,  220  have the property of selectively reflecting the colored light in a predetermined wavelength band, and transmitting the colored light in the other wavelength band. Here, the dichroic mirror  210  reflects the green light and the blue light, and the dichroic mirror  220  reflects the green light. 
     The light L emitted from the light source device  100  enters the dichroic mirror  210 . The red light R out of the light L enters the mirror  230  after passing through the dichroic mirror  210 , and is then reflected by the mirror  230 , and further enters the field lens  300 R. The red light R is collimated by the field lens  300 R, and then enters the liquid crystal light valve  400 R. 
     The green light G and the blue light B out of the light L are reflected by the dichroic mirror  210 , and then enter the dichroic mirror  220 . The green light G is reflected by the dichroic mirror  220 , and then enters the field lens  300 G. The green light G is collimated by the field lens  300 G, and then enters the liquid crystal light valve  400 G. 
     The blue light B having passed through the dichroic mirror  220  passes through the relay lens  260  and is then reflected by the mirror  240 , and then further passes through the relay lens  270  and is then reflected by the mirror  250  to thereby enter the field lens  300 B. The blue light B is collimated by the field lens  300 B, and then enters the liquid crystal light valve  400 B. 
     The liquid crystal light valves  400 R,  400 G, and  400 B are each formed of a light modulation device such as a transmissive liquid crystal light valve. The liquid crystal light valves  400 R,  400 G, and  400 B are electrically connected to a signal source (not shown) such as a PC for supplying an image signal including the image information, and perform spatial modulation on the incident light pixel-by-pixel based on the image signal supplied thereto to thereby form the red image, the green image, and the blue image, respectively. The colored lights (the images thus formed) modulated by the respective liquid crystal light valves  400 R,  400 G, and  400 B enter the color combining element  500 . 
     The color combining element  500  is formed of a dichroic prism or the like. The dichroic prism has a structure having four triangular prisms bonded to each other. The surfaces bonded to each other in the triangular prisms form the internal surfaces of the dichroic prism. A mirror surface for reflecting the red light R and transmitting the green light G and a mirror surface for reflecting the blue light B and transmitting the green light G are formed perpendicular to each other in the internal surfaces of the dichroic prism. The green light G having entered the dichroic prism passes through the mirror surfaces, and is emitted directly. The red light R and the blue light B having entered the dichroic prism are selectively reflected or transmitted on the mirror surfaces, and then emitted in the same direction as the emission direction of the green light G. In such a manner as described above, the three colored lights (images) are overlapped to thereby be combined with each other, and the colored light thus combined is projected by the projection optical system  600  on the target projection surface  700  in an enlarged manner. 
     In the projector PJ according to the present embodiment, the image display is performed in such a manner as described above. 
     According to the light source device  100  having such a configuration as described above, since the light saturation phenomenon is prevented from occurring in the light emitting element  60 , the light intensity is stabilized, and the light source with higher luminance efficiency compared to the related art can be obtained. 
     Further, according to the projector PJ having such a configuration as described above, since the light saturation phenomenon is prevented from occurring, the light intensity of the light emitted from the light source device is stabilized, and the variation in brightness is suppressed to thereby make it possible to perform high-quality image display. 
     It should be noted that although it is assumed in the present embodiment that the exit surface  26   b  has the aspherical shape in the collimating lens  26 , it is also possible to assume that the lens having the entrance surface shaped like an aspherical surface is used. 
     A collimating lens  27  shown in  FIG. 8  is a plano-convex lens having an entrance surface  27   a  formed to have the quadric surface of revolution fulfilling the relationship of Formula (3), and an exit surface  27   b  formed as a plane surface. By using such a collimating lens  27 , an advantage that the light beam is highly parallelized can easily be obtained compared to the case of using the collimating lens  26  described above. 
     Specifically, the bundle of the light beams emitted from the collimating lens  26  described above is changed in the proceeding direction twice due to the refraction in the entrance surface  26   a  and the refraction in the exit surface  26   b  of the collimating lens  26 , and is then emitted therefrom. On the other hand, the bundle of the light beams emitted from the collimating lens  27  is collimated by the refraction on the entrance surface  27   a  of the collimating lens  27 , and is therefore changed in the proceeding direction only once, and then emitted. Therefore, it is difficult for the disturbance in parallelization due to the molding error of the lens to occur. Therefore, by using the collimating lens  27 , it becomes possible to obtain the light beam with a higher degree of parallelization. 
     On the other hand, the bundle of the light beams emitted from the collimating lens  27  described above has the light intensity distribution shown in  FIGS. 9A through 9C .  FIGS. 9A through 9C  show the calculation result representing the light intensity of the excitation light in a plane perpendicular to the principal ray of the excitation light in the case of using the collimating lens  27 , and correspond to  FIGS. 6A through 6C , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9A , if the collimating lens  27  is used, the light intensity distribution of the excitation light is discretely disposed, and the pincushion distortion is caused therein at the spatial position before entering the first lens array  32 . This is because in the collimating lens  27  a substantial difference in the incident angle of the incident light beam is caused between the center (reference symbol α) and the periphery (reference symbol β) of the collimating lens  27  as shown in  FIG. 8 , and therefore, the intensity distribution in which the intensity is high in the central part and low in the periphery is apt to occur in the bundle of the light beams emitted from the collimating lens  27 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 9B and 9C , at the spatial position before entering the light irradiation surface  60   a , the excitation light has the light intensity distribution less homogeneous than the light intensity distribution shown in  FIGS. 6B and 6C  although approximating the light intensity distribution shaped like a top hat homogenous in the area having the roughly square shape of 1 mm×1 mm. That may be attributed to the consequence of reflecting the unevenness (see  FIG. 9A ) of the light intensity before entering the first lens array  32 . 
     The quadric surface of revolution of the aspherical surface of such a collimating lens  27  is determined by the following process based on Formula (3). 
     Specifically, the shape of the collecting lens  24 , and the refractive index n, the thickness of the central part, and the installation location of the collimating lens  27  are firstly determined in advance. Further, a concave lens having the curvature of the entrance surface, the refractive index, and the thickness of the central part identical thereto, and at the same time having the spherical exit surface is assumed as an alternative of the collimating lens  27 . Then, the curvature of the entrance surface of the concave lens is obtained, with which the conversion into parallel light is possible if no spherical aberration exists in the case in which the concave lens described above is disposed at the installation location of the collimating lens  27  with respect to the collecting lens having the shape identical to the shape determined in advance. The value of the curvature obtained in such a manner is used as the paraxial curvature c. 
     Then, the conic constant K is obtained. Here, in the collimating lens  27 , the entrance surface  27   a  has the aspherical shape set based on Formula (3), and therefore, the excitation light entering the collimating lens  27  is changed in the proceeding direction to the roughly parallel direction due to the refraction on the entrance surface  27   a , and is hardly subjected to the refraction on the exit surface  27   b . As a result, the relationship between the refractive index n and the conic constant K of the collimating lens  27  becomes constant. It should be noted that the conic constant K of the aspherical surface of the reflecting surface of the collimating lens  27  is roughly determined by K=−n 2 . 
     Therefore, in the present modified example, the conic constant K can be obtained by K=−n 2 , and there is no need to perform the simulation required in the case of using the collimating lens  26 . The conic constant K of the aspherical surface of such a collimating lens  27  is in a range of −2.1&gt;K&gt;−3.8. Therefore, in the case of adopting the aspherical shape as the entrance surface  27   a , it is preferable to adopt a hyperboloid of revolution as the entrance surface  27   a.    
     Further, although in the present embodiment it is assumed that the light source  10 Ba shown in  FIG. 2  is used as the light source of the excitation light, it is also possible to use the light source section shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11A through 11C  described below. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing a light source device  101 . In the light source device  101 , a light source  13  is used as the light source for emitting the excitation light instead of the light source  10 Ba described above. There is adopted a configuration in which the blue light B emitted from the light source  13  is collimated by a collimator lens array  28 , and is then reflected by a reflecting section  29  including a plurality of reflecting mirrors  29   a  to thereby enter the collecting lens  24 . 
     The reflecting mirrors  29   a  are disposed so as to correspond to the blue lights B emitted from the respective laser sources  12 , and have a function of changing the pitch of the principal rays from W 1  to W 2  (W 1 &gt;W 2 ). The reflecting mirrors  29   a  are disposed at a distance of W 3 , and have a configuration of reflecting the lights by the respective reflecting mirrors  29   a  to thereby change the pitch of the principal rays. 
       FIG. 11A  is a plan view of the light source  13  provided to the light source device  101 . As shown in  FIG. 11A , the light source  13  is a laser source array having laser sources  12  arranged in a 10×5 two-dimensional array (50 in total) so as to form a rectangular shape on a substrate  11 . The laser sources  12  each have a rectangular planar shape, and are arranged so that the long axis directions thereof are the same. Further, the laser sources  12  are arranged in the short axis direction at the pitch W 1 . 
     In such a light source  13 , the laser beams (the blue lights B) emitted from the respective laser sources  12  become to have the pitch of the principal rays corresponding to the arrangement pitch W 1  of the laser sources  12  as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
     Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 11C , the laser beams (the blue lights B) reflected by the reflecting sections  29  become to have the pitch W 2  of the principal rays, and the light intensity of the whole of the bundle of the light beams increases. 
     In the light source device  101  having such a configuration, since the density of the light emitted from the light source  13  can be increased, there can be obtained the light source device capable of increasing the light intensity of the light applied to the light emitting element  60  to thereby emit the high-intensity fluorescence. 
     Further, although in the present embodiment it is assumed that the red light R and the green light G are included in the fluorescence RG emitted by the light emitting element  60 , this is not a limitation. It is also possible to assume that the fluorescence including the green light G alone is emitted as in the case of, for example, a light emitting element  63  of a light source device  102  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     On this occasion, it is preferable that a light source  10 R for emitting the red light is prepared besides the light source  10 Bb for emitting the blue light used for the display as shown in  FIG. 12 . Specifically, it is preferable to adopt the configuration of disposing the a dichroic mirror  46  for reflecting the blue light and transmitting the other light on both of the light paths of the blue light B emitted from the light source  10 Bb and the red light R emitted from the light source  10 R to thereby mix the blue light and the red light on the light paths, and then guiding the light thus mixed to the collecting lens  70 . The light source  10 R can be a laser source array or have a different configuration providing the light source  10 R can emit the red light. 
     Further, although in the present embodiment there is adopted the light emitting element  60  having the reflective configuration of emitting the fluorescence to the side where the excitation light enters, it is also possible to assume that there is adopted the transmissive configuration of emitting the fluorescence to the surface opposed to the surface where the excitation light enters. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram of a light source device  103  having a transmissive light emitting element  64 . 
     As shown in the drawing, in the light source device  103 , the excitation light (the blue light B) emitted from the light source  10 B enters one (an entrance surface  64   a ) of the surfaces of the light emitting element  64  via the collimating optical system  20 , the lens integrator  30 , and the overlapping optical system  50 . In the light emitting element  64 , a part of the excitation light is absorbed, and is then converted into the fluorescence RG including the red light and the green light, and the rest of the excitation light is transmitted therethrough without being absorbed. Therefore, the white light L obtained by mixing the excitation light (the blue light B) not absorbed and the fluorescence RG is emitted from the other (an exit surface  64   b ) of the surfaces of the light emitting element  64 . 
     The light L emitted from the light emitting element  64  is prevented from spreading by a pickup optical system  59  including first and second pickup lenses  56 ,  57 , and is then emitted via the lens arrays  120 ,  130 , the polarization conversion element  140 , and the overlapping lens  150 . 
     Since the light intensity of the excitation light emitted from the light source  10 B is averaged by the lens integrator  30 , and then the excitation light is made to enter the fluorescent layer provided to the light emitting element  64 , even such a light source device  103  can be made to have high luminance efficiency. 
     Further, although in the present embodiment, the collecting lens  24  and the collimating lens  26  included in the collimating optical system  20  form an afocal optical system of a so-called Galileo type, it is also possible to assume that a convex lens is used instead of the collimating lens  26  to thereby form an afocal optical system of a so-called Kepler type. 
     Further, although in the present embodiment it is assumed that the lens plane of the first lens array  32  and the light irradiation surface  60   a  of the light emitting element  60  are in a conjugate relationship via the light collection optical system, the advantage obtained by overlapping the excitation light via the first lens array  32  can be expected even if the excitation light is not imaged on the light irradiation surface  60   a , and the light intensity of the excitation light tends to be averaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light saturation phenomenon in the light emitting element  60  to thereby obtain a light source with high luminance efficiency. 
     Further, although in the present embodiment it is assumed that the excitation light thus collected is formed to have a roughly square shape with the irradiation area of 1 mm×1 mm, and the size thereof is roughly equal to the planar area of the fluorescent layer  62 , even if it is assumed, for example, that the irradiation area of the excitation light is slightly larger than the fluorescent layer  62 , the light saturation in the light emitting element  60  can be prevented, and therefore, the improvement in the luminance efficiency can be expected. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, it is arranged that the planar shape of a small lens of the first and second lens arrays  32 ,  34  and the planar shape of the light irradiation surface  60   a  are roughly similar to each other. However, although a part of the excitation light is wasted if they are not similar to each other, improvement in the luminance efficiency is expected since the light saturation in the light emitting element  60  is prevented. 
     Further, although it is assumed in the present embodiment that the concave surface of the collimating lens  26  is designed using Formula (3) described above, it is also possible to use other generally known design methods of the aspherical surface. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 14  is an explanatory diagram of a light source device according to a second embodiment of the invention. In the following explanation, the constituents common to the present embodiment and the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the detailed explanation therefor will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , a configuration of a light source device  104  is partially common to the light source device  100  according to the first embodiment. The difference is that the lens integrator does not form a pair, and the first lens array  32  is used alone. In the present embodiment, the overlapping optical system  50  functions as the light collection optical system of the embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  are explanatory diagrams showing the function of the first lens array  32  and the overlapping optical system  50 . In  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the overlapping optical system  50  is schematically illustrated as a single convex lens for the sake of simplification. It is assumed that the overlapping optical system  50  has no spherical aberration, or the spherical aberration thereof is reduced by correction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15A , in the optical system configured including the first lens array  32  and the overlapping optical system  50 , there is adopted a configuration in which the excitation light (the blue light B) entering the first lens array  32  is parallelized, and the principal rays of the excitation lights transmitted through the first lens array  32  and the overlapping optical system  50  pass through a focal point F 2  of the overlapping optical system  50 . In other words, in the optical system having the first lens array  32  in one end of the optical system and the overlapping optical system  50  in the other end of the optical system, the object plane is set to infinity. In other words, it is arranged that the optical system configured including the first lens array and the overlapping optical system  50  is object-side telecentric. In such an optical system, the incident excitation light (the blue light B) enters the overlapping optical system  50  after transmitted through the first lens array  32 , and the excitation light emitted from the overlapping optical system  50  passes through an exit pupil P with a certain width related to the overlapping optical system  50 . 
     In such a configuration, the width of the exit pupil P is determined to be a certain size in accordance with the numerical aperture NA and the focal distance Lb of the overlapping optical system  50 . Further, the shape of the exit pupil P becomes similar to the small lense  32   a  constituting the first lens array  32 . In other words, the width of the exit pupil P is always constant independently of the distance La between the overlapping optical system  50  and the first lens array  32 . For example, the exit pupil P is designed to have a roughly square shape of 1 mm×1 mm. 
     Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 15B , by disposing the light emitting element  60  having the same size as the exit pupil at the position of the focal point F 2  of the overlapping optical system  50 , and setting the plane conjugate to the light irradiation surface  60   a  to infinity, it becomes possible to reduce (eliminate the second lens array shown in  FIG. 1 ) the number of lens arrays used compared to the case of the light source device  100  of the first embodiment. As a result, it is possible to average the light intensity of the excitation light with a small number of components, and irradiate the light emitting element  60  with the excitation light. 
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  show the calculation result representing the light intensity of the excitation light in a plane perpendicular to the principal ray of the excitation light in the light source device  104 , and correspond to  FIGS. 6B and 6C , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16B , in the spatial position before entering the light emitting element  60 , the excitation light is formed to have an approximately square shape of 1 mm×1 mm, and has a continuous light intensity distribution approximating the light intensity distribution of a so-called top hat profile in which the light intensity is roughly uniform throughout the entire area as shown in  FIG. 16C . 
     In the light source device  104 , since the excitation light divided by the first lens array  32  into a plurality of light beams is collected by the overlapping optical system  50 , the light intensity distribution is averaged. In addition, since the excitation light is not imaged in the exit pupil P shown in  FIG. 15A , the image of the excitation light blurs, and the light intensity is easily averaged. Therefore, it becomes possible to preferably average the light intensity distribution even in the discrete light source such as the light source  10 Ba. 
     According to the light source device  104  having such a configuration as described above, since the light saturation phenomenon is prevented from occurring, the light intensity is stabilized, and the light source with higher luminance efficiency compared to the related art can be obtained. 
     It should be noted that although in the present embodiment the explanation is presented assuming that the collimating lens  26  is used, it is also possible to assume that the collimating lens  27  shown in  FIG. 8  is used. The collimating lens  27  having a concave entrance surface and a flat exit surface is capable of further enhancing the degree of parallelization of the excitation light transmitted through the collimating lens  27  than in the case of the collimating lens  26 . Therefore, it becomes easier to perform averaging of the excitation light using the first lens array  32  and the overlapping optical system  50  (the light collection optical system). 
     Further, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the planar area of the light irradiation surface  60   a  of the light emitting element  60  is roughly equal to the size of the exit pupil P. However, even in the case, for example, in which the exit pupil P is larger, improvement in the luminance efficiency is expected since the light saturation in the light emitting element  60  is prevented although a part of the excitation light is wasted. 
     Further, although it is assumed in the present embodiment that the light irradiation surface  60   a  is disposed so as to overlap the focal point F 2  of the overlapping optical system  50  (the light collection optical system), even if the light irradiation surface  60   a  is displaced from the focal point F 2 , the advantage obtained by overlapping the excitation light via the first lens array  32  can be expected, and the light intensity of the excitation light tends to be averaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light saturation phenomenon in the light emitting element  60  to thereby obtain a light source with high luminance efficiency. 
     Although the explanation is hereinabove presented regarding the preferable embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The various shapes and combinations of the constituents presented in the embodiments described above are provided for exemplification only, and can be modified in various ways within the spirit or scope of the invention in accordance with design needs and so on. 
     The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-265165, filed on Nov. 29, 2010 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.