Seiko Epson Corporation

Seiko Corporation

Tomiyoshi Ushiyama

Akitaka Yajima

Kazuhiro Nishida

Yasunori Ogawa

Kiyoshi Miyashita

Shinji Haba

Toshiaki Hashizume

Kazuto Shinohara

Motoyuki Fujimori

Keijiro Naito

Mutsuya Furuhata

Hiroshi Harima

Terunaga Koide

Shohei Fujisawa

Takeshi Takizawa

Kazuo Okawa

Hisashi Iechika

Hisamaro Kato

Makoto Fuse

Taisuke Uehara

Hirotatsu Okubo

Two polarization conversion element arrays are disclosed. Each polarization conversion element array is composed of a plurality of polarization conversion elements for converting light incident upon the polarization conversion element array to a linearly polarized light beam with a predetermined polarization direction. The plurality of polarization conversion elements are disposed opposite to each other with a predetermined space provided between at about the center of the light-outgoing surface of a lens array in the direction of arrangement. Of the light beams (s-polarized+p-polarized light beams) gathered by the lens array, light beam that is not incident upon the polarization conversion element and passes through the predetermined space is a light beam including a predetermined polarized light beam (s-polarized light beam) that is primarily made to leave the arraya and an ineffective polarized light beam (p-polarized light beam). Of the light passing through and leaving the space, the required polarized light beam alone can be made to leave as an effective light beam by providing a polarization plate or the like at the light-outgoing side of the space.

Optical element, polarization illumination device, and projector

At least one of four rectangular prisms in a dichroic prism is made longer than the other rectangular prisms. Parts of the rectangular surfaces of the long rectangular prisms partially protrude from the rectangular surfaces of the other rectangular prisms in the longitudinal direction. The protruding parts of the rectangular surfaces of the long rectangular prisms are not provided with a dichroic film. Such a construction makes it possible to prevent return light, which returns from the light emitting surface side of the dichroic prism and the dichroic prism, from emitting again from the light emitting surface.

Dichroic prism, prism unit, and projection display apparatus

Heat generation is inhibited in a polarized light generating optics system in a projector. A liquid crystal projector includes: lens arraysthat generate partial light beams from a light beam emitted from a light source; and a polarized light generating optics systemthat generates polarized light, which is to be supplied to liquid crystal light valves, from the partial light beams. The polarized light generating optics systemseparates s-polarized light and p-polarized light by polarization separating films. The s-polarized light is reflected from reflecting filmsand is emitted directly. The p-polarized light is converted into s-polarized light by a selective phase difference plateand is emitted therefrom. The polarized light generating optics systemis equipped with light shielding surfacesthat shield light from entering into the reflecting films. The lens arraysare also equipped with light shielding membersthat act similarly as the light shielding surfaces. Disposing the light shielding memberscan inhibit heat generation on the light shielding surfaces

Liquid crystal projector comprising a plurality of light shielding members fixed between the lens array and the polarized light generator

Two polarization conversion element arrays are disclosed. Each polarization conversion element array is composed of a plurality of polarization conversion elements for converting light incident upon the polarization conversion element array to a linearly polarized light beam with a predetermined polarization direction. The plurality of polarization conversion elements are disposed opposite to each other with a predetermined space provided between at about the center of the light-outgoing surface of a lens array in the direction of arrangement. Of the light beams (s-polarized+p-polarized light beams) gathered by the lens array, light beam that is not incident upon the polarization conversion element and passes through the predetermined space is a light beam including a predetermined polarized light beam (s-polarized light beam) that is primarily made to leave the array 320a and an ineffective polarized light beam (p-polarized light beam). Of the light passing through and leaving the space, the required polarized light beam alone can be made to leave as an effective light beam by providing a polarization plate or the like at the light-outgoing side of the space.

A projector includes a first lens plate having a plurality of lenses, a second lens plate having a plurality of lenses, a light valve that modulates an output light beam from the second lens plate, and a light source apparatus. The light-source apparatus has a light-source lamp including an emission tube, a reflective mirror that reflects a divergent light beam from the light-source lamp to output a parallel light beam, the reflecting mirror having a reflective surface, a lamp housing that supports the reflective mirror, and an electrode lead. The electrode lead is led out of an end of the emission tube that is projected forward out of the reflective surface and is connected to an external connection terminal board which is positioned to a rear side of the reflective surface. The electrode lead is routed via the portion of the reflective mirror other than an effective area of the reflective mirror. A portion of the electrode lead positioned on the side of the reflective surface is arranged along a grove of a lens of the plurality of lenses of one of the first and second lens plate.

Light-source lamp unit, light-source device and projection-type display apparatus

An optical component casing () that houses a plurality of optical components including a reflection mirror () and disposes the plurality of optical components on a planarly defined illumination optical axis (L) has a holder () that holds the reflection mirror () and a housing main body () that houses the other optical components. A bulging portion () bulging in an out-plane direction of the reflection mirror () is formed on a side of the holder () opposite to the side on which the reflection mirror () is attached, the bulging portion () pivotally moving on the inner surface of the housing main body () to rotate the holder () relative to the housing main body (), where a rotation center (P) of the holder () is substantially coincident with an intersecting point (Q) of the illumination optical axis (L) and a reflection surface (A) of the reflection mirror ().

Optical component casing, optical device and projector

The invention provides a circuit to drive a light source capable of lengthening the life span of the light source and of coping with both a rated power mode and a power saving mode. A circuit to drive a light source includes a control device to drive the light source, which is composed of a discharge tube, and to switch the light source to a plurality of lighting modes including a rated power mode and a power saving mode. The control device includes a lighting mode setting unit to set the lighting mode to one of the plurality of lighting modes, and a rated power supplying unit to supply a rated power to the light source at the lighting starting time of the light source until a halogen cycle of the discharge tube is stabilized. The control device switches the light source to the lighting mode set by the lighting mode setting unit after the halogen cycle of the discharge tube is stabilized.

Circuit for driving light source, projector, method for controlling lighting of light source, and computer readable program for executing the same

The invention achieves a reduction in size of a projector by shortening a length of an optical path of an illuminating optical system in a projector using an emitting direction control-type optical modulation device as compared to that of a conventional illuminating optical system, and thus, improves the illumination efficiencies of the illuminating optical system. An illuminating optical system includes a light source, a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses for dividing light emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial light beam fluxes, and a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the plurality of first small lenses. In addition, the illuminating optical system includes an optical element such that an outline shape of an emitting surface is a quadrilateral having first and second diagonal lines of different lengths. The quadrilateral of the optical element is set so that the ratio of two diagonal lines of a quadrilateral illumination region to which the illumination light is applied comes closer to 1 than the ratio of the lengths of the first and second diagonal lines.

Projector

A light-source lamp unit includes a light-source lamp unit detachably mounted, and a CPU constituting a drive and controller for the light-source lamp unit. The CPU senses lamp information obtained by a lamp-information storing block in the light-source lamp unit, pertaining to a lamp power rating, lamp life and whether a lamp is new or not, and starts counting operation time when the lamp is lit. The CPU compares the lamp life sensed and the operation time count, and forces the lamp to extinguish when the life of the light-source lamp expires. Prior to this action, the CPU gives a warning display before the life expiration of the lamp by a fixed duration of time, to warn that lamp replacement is needed. Because the lamp-information storing block in the light-source lamp unit stores the information about the lamp type and characteristics of the lamp, the light-source device can properly drive the lamp to light it and determine the lamp life even when a light-source lamp unit of a different type is used.

The invention accurately sets a polarization direction of a polarization element, and prevents deterioration of the usage efficiency of the light and a reduction in image contrast. Field lenses are provided on a projection display device. A polarizer is placed on a flat surface of a field lens. The flat surface of the field lens is provided with a reference shape to place the polarizer at the end thereof. The reference shape may be one or more planes provided on the end of the field lens. In addition, the reference shape may be a straight line drawn on the flat surface of the field lens.

Projection display device

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 concerns achieving an increase in illumination efficiency of an illumination optical system in a projector using an optical modulation device. A projector may include an optical modulation device for controlling a direction of emission of illumination light applied to a substantially rectangular light application surface, including a plurality of pixels, for each pixel according to image information to thereby emit image light representing an image, an illuminating optical system for emitting the illumination light so that the central axis of the illumination light applied to the light application surface enters the light application surface at a predetermined angle, and a projection optical system for projecting the image light emitted from the optical modulation device. The illuminating optical system may include a light source, and a light-transmitting rod through which the light emitted from the light source passes. At least a part of the light passes while being repeatedly reflected by an inner surface of the light-transmitting rod. The light-transmitting rod has a shape such that a sectional area perpendicular to the central axis of the light-transmitting rod monotonically increases from the incident side to the emitting side.

Growing community of inventors

Minowa-machi, Japan

Tomiyoshi Ushiyama