Seiko Epson Corporation

Takeshi Takizawa

Shinji Haba

Mutsuya Furuhata

Akitoshi Kuroda

Shinsuke Ito

Motoyuki Fujimori

Kiyoshi Miyashita

Hideoki Miyake

Akitaka Yajima

Kazuhiro Nishida

Fumio Koyama

Yasunori Ogawa

Tomiyoshi Ushiyama

Hisashi Iechika

Hisamaro Kato

Toshihiko Nakazawa

The present invention provides a technique for readily changing the design of a projector. A projector comprises: an illumination optical system; a light modulation device; a projection optical system; and a base frame for mounting a plurality of optical components disposed on a light path from the optical illumination system to the projection optical system. The illumination optical systemcomprises: a light sourcea lens arrayand a superimposing lens systemThe base frame includes a positioning section for positioning the superimposing lens systemThe superimposing lens systemincludes at least two lensesandThe first lensis provided at a position nearest to the light source and mainly determines an F-number of the illumination optical system. The second lensis provided at a position furthest from the light source and mainly determines a magnification of the illumination optical system.

Illumination optical system and projector using the same

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

This invention concerns reducing fan noise and preventing a light source, an optical element, and the like from deteriorating in a projector display device. The projection display device includes a light-source lamp unit, an optical system unit having a modulation device, a projection lens for enlarging and projecting an image formed by the optical system, a power supply unit for supplying electric power for driving the device, power supply intake fans, a modulation device intake fan, and exhaust fans. Fan noise can be reduced by driving only the power supply intake fans for a predetermined period after the device is powered on. Furthermore, the light-source lamp, the optical elements, and the like can be prevented from deteriorating by controlling the rotation speeds of the other fans based on detected temperatures detected by temperature sensors.

Projection display device

The invention provides an optical component and a projector in which a light modulation device is reliably fixed relative to a prism, and in which the size of the prism can be reduced to the minimum size required from an optical point of view. Frame members are attached to a cross-dichroic prism, and retaining frames, which retain liquid crystal panels, are fixed to the frame members with fixing pins. Since it is not necessary to fix the fixing pins directly to the cross-dichroic prism, the cross-dichroic prism, having the minimum size required from an optical point of view, may be used. In addition, since a large fixing area is provided between the frame members and the fixing pins, the frame members and the fixing pins are fixed to each other with sufficient fixation strength. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panels may be reliably fixed relative to the cross-dichroic prism.

Optical component with frame members directly attached to a prism block and projector containing the same

In a projection display provided with an optical unit, a power source unit, an external case to store the optical unit and the power source unit, a suction opening ( ) is formed in one end part of the power source unit, a discharge opening ( ) is formed in the other end part, and the suction opening ( ) is arranged in the vicinity of an air inlet in the external case. Because the suction opening ( ) and the discharge opening ( ) are provided, the inside of the power source unit can be independently and efficiently cooled, and the optical unit and the power source unit can be arranged closely to each other.

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.

A projector of the type which uses an optical modulator that modulates light by controlling the emitting direction of light applied to a light illumination surface in accordance with image information is provided with a reduction in size. In the projector a prism has a selective reflection/transmission surface which reflects illumination light emitted from an illumination optical system and impinging thereupon, and causes the illumination light to impinge upon the light illumination surface of an optical modulator at a predetermined angle. The prism allows the modulated light emitted from the optical modulator to be transmitted therethrough and emits the light to the projection optical system. The selective reflection/transmission surface is formed such that when the optical path of the illumination light is projected onto a plane parallel to the light illumination surface, the inclination of the central axis of the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system and impinging upon the selective reflection/transmission surface is different from the inclination of the central axis of the illumination light reflected by the selective reflection/transmission surface and impinging upon the light illumination surface.

Projector and prism used therein

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 projector prevents deterioration in optical characteristics of liquid crystal panels caused by heat generated by polarizers, and sticking of dirt onto the light-outgoing surface of the liquid crystal panels. Polarizers are disposed adjacent to the light-outgoing surfaces of liquid crystal panels, while other polarizers are disposed adjacent to the light-incoming surfaces of the liquid crystal panels. The liquid crystal panels and the two polarizers disposed adjacent to the light-incoming and light-outgoing surface of their corresponding liquid crystal panels, are supported by dust protection members. The area between the light-incoming surface of each liquid crystal panel and its associated polarizer disposed adjacent to the light-incoming surface, and the area between the light-outgoing surface of each liquid crystal panel and its associated polarizer disposed adjacent to the light-outgoing surface thereof are cut off from the outside by the dust protection member associated thereto. By virtue of this structure, it is possible to prevent deterioration in the optical characteristics of each liquid crystal panel, and to prevent dirt from sticking onto the light-outgoing surface of each light valve. Therefore, a high quality image with excellent contrast can be projected.

The invention provides a light source device which can positively arrange a light source lamp at a predetermined position on an optical axis. To this end, the invention provides an alignment reference surface on a reflector to which the light source lamp is attached. More specifically, a light source device of the invention comprises a light source lamp, and a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the light source lamp, the light source lamp being attached to the reflector, wherein an alignment reference surface for aligning and mounting the light source lamp is formed on the reflector. According to the invention, the light source device can be assembled by mounting the light source lamp apart from the alignment reference surface by a predetermined distance with respect to, for example, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. That is, in mounting the light source lamp to the reflector, it is possible to assemble the light source device without fine adjustment of the mounting position of the light source lamp while the light source lamp is lit.

Light source apparatus, light source lamp unit and projector

In a projection display device, a main board that is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by optical axes of an optical unit is allowed to stand aside the optical unit. Therefore, if the main board is designed to have a small vertical size, the vertical size, i.e., the thickness of the projection display device, can be reduced. Therefore, unlike the conventional projection display device in which the main board is disposed above the optical unit, the entire device can be reliably reduced in thickness and size regardless of the thickness of the main board.

Growing community of inventors

Shiojiri, Japan

Takeshi Takizawa