Seiko Epson Corporation

Other

Shinsuke Ito

Takeshi Takizawa

Masaaki Handa

Yasunori Ogawa

Hirohisa Nakano

Haruyoshi Yamada

Toshio Matsumiya

Hiroaki Shinha

Hitoshi Hasegawa

Hisashi Tasaka

Yukitsugu Hata

A light source device () has a lamp body (A) including a light source lamp, a reflector () and an anti-explosion glass (), and a lamp housing (B) for accommodating the lamp body (A). A plurality of projections (B) protruding along an optical axis of a light beam irradiated by the light source lamp are formed on the lamp housing (B). Further, the reflector () has an approximately concave cross section and a positioning surface (C) that touches the projections (B) of the lamp housing (B) to locate the lamp body (A) relative to the lamp housing (B) is provided on a distal side of the concave section. The positioning surface (C) is continuously flush.

Light source device and projector

An exhaust sirocco fan exhausts the air inside the projector outside. An inlet of the exhaust sirocco fan is disposed along the plane orthogonal to the optical path plane formed by the optical unit, i.e. along the thickness direction of the projector. In other words, the optical unit or the exhaust sirocco fan need not be disposed in the thickness direction of the projector in an overlapping manner. Therefore, by efficiently sucking the inside air, the exhaust efficiency can be enhanced and calmness can be ensured in the projector.

Projector exhaust fan

The invention provides a projector that is capable of efficiently cooling an outer case along with a light source device. The projector includes an outer case that accommodates a light source device and a cooling passage that is formed in the vicinity of the light source device to cool the outer case. Therefore, the inside of the outer case and the vicinity of the light source device are cooled by the cooling passage so as to cool the outer case efficiently. Also, since the cooling passage is arranged in the vicinity of the light source device, the light source device can also efficiently be cooled. As a result, a temperature rise in the light source device can be restrained so as to cool the outer case more efficiently.

Projector having a cooling passage that cools the light source and outer case

An optical device () has a holding frame () that holds a liquid crystal panel () as an optical modulator and has an opening (C) at a part corresponding to an image formation area of the liquid crystal panel (), and a panel fixing plate () disposed between the holding frame () and a cross dichroic prism (). The panel fixing plate () is made of a component having a thermal expansion coefficient lying midway between the thermal expansion coefficients of the holding frame () and the cross dichroic prism (). The liquid crystal panel () is fixed on a side of the cross dichroic prism () through the holding frame () and the panel fixing plate (). Accordingly, a thermal stress generated on the boundaries between the panel fixing plate (), and the holding frame () and the cross dichroic prism () are reduced, thereby preventing the position shift of the liquid crystal panel ().

Optical device and projector

The invention provides a polarization-converting unit capable of being sufficiently cooled even when polarization-converting elements and a lens array are unitized together. Polarization-converting elements and a second lens array are held by a holding frame and a flow-inlet-side opening is arranged under the holding frame, and a flow-outlet-side opening is arranged over the holding frame so as to form a polarization-converting unit. Therefore, cooling air can be allowed to vertically flow through a clearance between the polarization-converting elements and the second lens array, thereby sufficiently cooling the polarization-converting elements and the second lens array from the faces thereof opposing each other. Therefore, in particular, the thermal effect to phase-difference plates pasted to the opposing faces of the polarization-converting elements can be reduced, and thereby the phase-difference plates are prevented from being peeled off so as to maintain the sufficient image quality.

Polarization-converting unit and projector using the same

The invention provides a projector capable of cooling a light-source lamp efficiently and suppressing noises as well. In a first cooling system, the base side of a light-source lamp, which reaches a high temperature, is intensively cooled by a first sirocco fan. An axial-flow exhaust fan is provided close to the light-source lamp so that cooling air is allowed to quickly flow while cooling the light-source lamp. Therefore, even when the first sirocco fan, in which the air pressure of cooling air is liable to be reduced, is used, heat generated in the light-source lamp can be smoothly radiated, thereby efficiently cooling the light-source lamp. Since the first sirocco fan is remarkably quiet as compared to an axial-flow fan, noises are suppressed to a low level.

Projector

The invention provides a projector capable of reducing costs and promoting miniaturization while also being dust-proof. A second sirocco fan with an air-inlet opposing a projection lens is used, and an air-inlet of an outer case is formed on a side face thereof. Thereby, it is difficult for dust to be sucked therein compared with an air-inlet formed on the bottom or top face of the outer case, enabling the projector to be dust-proof without any filter. Since the filter is not required, the number of parts is reduced, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, the second sirocco fan is placed by utilizing a space under the projection lens, which is liable to be a dead space, enabling the arrangement space to be efficiently used thereby promoting miniaturization of a projector.

A data-imprinting apparatus for preventing the imprinting of incorrect dates in a lens-equipped film unit that lacks a monitor display unit for the confirmation of the date display. The lens-equipped film unit contains a built-in data module that lacks an external display unit that allows the confirmation of the date display from the outside. The data module contains a transmission-type liquid crystal display unit that automatically updates and displays dates based upon a pre-stored calendar. In the liquid crystal display unit external light enters from the light collection window on the front cover , thus creating a beam of data light. The data light, acting in concert with the shutter release operation, is guided into a dark box. The image-forming optical system that is provided in the dark box forms an image of the data light on a part of the photographic film. When a temporary disruption of the power supply from the battery occurs due to vibrations, for example, the power supply monitoring circuit that is incorporated in the data module detects the event, transmits the off-mode signal to the LCD driver , and causes the display on the liquid crystal display unit to enter into a non-display state.

Data-imprinting apparatus for a lens-equipped film unit

A data-projection device particularly suited for disposable cameras that offers high reliability without the need for a dedicated monitoring device affixed thereto. A dedicated battery is embedded in this data-projection device and an associated battery terminal extends over the entire surface of the data-projection device. One of the circuit board surfaces securing the electrical components of the data-projection device is covered with an anti-electrostatic copper foil pattern which is connected to the battery, thus providing a shield effect with the battery terminal and the copper foil pattern strobe. Further, preferably, the strobe unit and the data-projection device are separated from each other by at least 2 mm. To reduce noise effects from introducing data display errors in the liquid crystal display spring area provided in the battery terminal and is fastened as the receiving area for the guide frame of the main body of the disposable camera to absorb impacts and a dedicated backup capacitor is installed to provide backup in the event the battery contacts are separated from the battery when the data-projection device or the camera it is attached to is jarred or dropped.

Data-projection device for disposable cameras

A data recording device 10 for a camera 1 uses a collecting plate 11 formed of a light transmitting resin with a fluorescent substance dispersed therein as a collecting element for collecting external light. The collecting plate 11 includes a vertically elongated flat light receiving portion 21 and a flat light emitting portion 22 protruding at a right angle from the back side of the light receiving portion, the end portion of the light emitting portion 22 constituting a light emitting surface 22a. External light incident on a surface 21a of the light receiving portion 21 enters the light receiving portion and is absorbed by the fluorescent substance, which generates fluorescence. The fluorescence is propagated through the collecting plate as it is reflected by the interface between the ambient air and the collecting plate before it is applied to a liquid crystal panel 12 for data recording from the light emitting surface 22a of the light emitting portion 22. Unlike a collective lens, the collecting plate is capable of efficiently collecting scattered light, so that it is possible to effect data recording with a sufficient quantity of light.

Data recording device for a disposable camera

A data-projection device for a camera which always projects both a data pattern and its background clearly without the need for a photometer or similar mechanism. This data-projection device includes a data-projection module positioned on the reverse side of a frame of photographic film housed in a camera body and a filter plate positioned between the film and the camera lens. In this filter plate, the light transmittance of central area corresponding to the path of the photographing light entering the data-projection area of the film is set so that the received light reduction rate of the photographing light falls within the range of 40% to 80% in this data-projection area. The photographing light passing through the central area is projected onto the photographic film in a sufficiently recognizable state, and at the same time, the data pattern is also always clearly projected because the brightness of the subject image which passes through the central area and is projected onto the photographic film appropriately diminishes.

Camera data-projection device

In data projection device, a liquid crystal display panel which forms a data pattern, such as the date, as a translucent area, is positioned in the middle of an optical path located between an ambient light inlet and a photographic film. A data projection shutter which can work in conjunction with a photographic shutter, is positioned on the side of the film relative to a liquid crystal display panel. Manual projection optical path switching device is arranged in a data projection shutter and switches between the state in which the data projection shutter operates in conjunction with the photographic shutter and a state in which an interlock between the data projection shutter and the photographic shutter is released.

Growing community of inventors

Shiojiri, Japan

Shinsuke Ito