KR100424767B1 - Apparatus for tracing image - Google Patents

Abstract

A projection imaging device is disclosed. The light source emits RGB laser beams having different wavelengths, respectively, and the light transmitting unit is formed of an optical fiber that transmits the laser beam. The surface light source unit uniformly surface-transfers the transmitted laser beam. The surface light source laser beam is incident on each digital micromirror device (DMD) according to the wavelength and is reflected at a predetermined angle. The reflected laser beam is formed in the projection lens unit to implement an image on the display device. Therefore, the imaging apparatus using the three-plate digital micromirror can simplify the optical path by using the optical fiber, and the flexibility of the optical fiber facilitates the arrangement of each component.

Description

Projection Imager {Apparatus for tracing image}

The present invention relates to a projection type imaging device, and more particularly, to a projection type image device for projecting the R, G, B image information transmitted through the optical fiber to the screen.

In LCD projectors, thin film transistors (TFTs), which are used as switching elements, and lines for separating pixel cells are embedded in a liquid crystal panel. As a result, LCD projectors have the disadvantage that the manufacturing process is complicated and the resolution is lowered. On the other hand, in displaying a digital image, a CRT projector needs a signal processing process for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. In addition, the CRT projector has a limitation in miniaturization of the projector due to the volume of the cathode ray tube.

DMD projector was developed to solve this problem. DMD projectors have an aperture ratio of approximately 90% or more, which is significantly higher than conventional LCD projectors and CRT projectors. In addition, since the size of the DMD is less than 1 inch, it is possible to reduce the size of the projector.

DMD is formed by forming a large number of micro aluminum mirrors on a 1-inch silicon chip. The micromirror has a size of about 0.6 μm. In the case of the VGA display DMD, the total number of micromirrors formed on one panel of the DMD is 786,432 (1,024 x 768 = 786,432). Under each micromirror there are two electrodes, and when one electrode is charged, the micromirror tilts in that direction. According to the angle of the micromirror, the RGB image is realized by controlling the light reflection on / off.

Although each pixel of the DMD is only in a black or white state, a stepped color representation is possible. For example, when the display time of one screen is 1/60 second, if the first 1/120 second is set to white and the remaining 1/120 second is black, the eyes are gray with 50% luminance. Will appear. By dividing 1/60 sec by 256 and formulating the angle of the mirror in 1 / 15,360 sec, 256 step display is possible. In addition, a color filter of three colors R, G, and B may be rotated at a high speed on the optical path, and three colors may be incident on one DMD panel to implement an image.

1 is a view showing the basic configuration of a conventional projection-type imaging device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional imaging apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a 'DMD projector') includes a light source 100, a light path unit 110, light incident / ejection prisms 120a and 120b, and color separation / synthesis prisms 130a. 130b, 130c, DMD panels 140a, 140b, 140c, and projection lens 150. In Fig. 1, the optical path of the laser beam is indicated by a dashed line.

The light source 100 generates a laser beam of white light or a gas laser for each of R (red, red), G (green, green), and B (blue, blue). The light path unit 110 has a condenser lens 110a and a dichroic mirror 110b. The condenser lens 110a is provided on the light path generated from the light source 100, that is, the optical path of the laser beam, and condenses the laser beam. The dichroic mirror 110b is installed on the optical path of the laser beam in parallel with the condenser lens 110a, and reflects the laser beam condensed by the condenser lens 110a to the light incident / emitting prism 120a and 120b.

The light incident / emitting prism 120a, 120b receives a laser beam reflected from the dichroic mirror 114, and is composed of two prisms 120a, 120b. The reflected laser beam is refracted by the incident prism 120a into the color separation / synthesis prisms 130a, 130b, 130c. The color separation / synthesis prisms 130a, 130b, 130c direct the laser beam from the incident prism 120a. The laser beam is separated into red, green, and blue laser beams, and sent to the DMD panels 140a, 140b, and 140c. Color separation / synthesis prisms 130 have three prisms 130a, 130b, 130c. The three prisms 130a, 130b, and 130c are a red separation prism 130a, a green separation prism 130b, and a blue separation prism 130c having different reflectance and transmittance. . This allows laser beams with different wavelengths to reflect or transmit at each prism.

The DMD panels 140a, 140b, 140c reflect light incident from the color separation / synthesis prisms 130a, 130b, 130c, and consist of three DMD modules 140a, 140b, 140c. The three DMD modules 140a, 140b and 140c optically modulate the red, green and blue laser beams incident on the respective DMD modules 140a, 140b and 140c. Then, the light-modulated red, green, and blue laser beams are reflected by the red, green, and blue separation prisms 130a, 130b, and 130c.

The laser beam reflected from each DMD module is incident on the color separation / synthesis prisms 130a, 130b, 130c and synthesized. The synthesized laser beam is irradiated onto the projection lens 150 through the emission prism 120b. The projection lens 150 is installed to face the light exit surfaces of the light incident / emitting lenses 120a and 120b, and projects an irradiated laser beam toward the screen to implement an image.

However, such a DMD projector has an inconvenience in that an optical system such as a dichroic mirror is provided. Dichroic mirrors require a precise installation location for the transmission of the laser beam when installed inside the projector and take up a lot of space. In addition, the optical path (ie, optical system) must be configured at a precise angle in order to accurately enter the laser beam into each prism. In addition, since the light incident / emitting prism and the color separation / synthesis prism are manufactured in different shapes, there is a problem in that internal assembly is difficult. This makes it difficult to miniaturize the projector and increases the manufacturing cost of the projector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a projection type imaging apparatus that reflects and synthesizes three monochromatic light beams in a simple arrangement of an optical system without a dichroic mirror for synthesizing three monochromatic light beams and a modulator for modulating the three monochromatic light beams.

1 is a view showing the basic configuration of a conventional projection-type imaging device,

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a projection-type imaging device according to the present invention;

3 is a view showing an embodiment of an operating state of a digital micromirror used in the present invention, and

4 is a view showing another embodiment of a projection imaging device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200, 400: Projection type imaging device 210, 410: Light source

222 to 224, 422 to 424: light transmitting unit 220, 430: surface light source

240, 440a, 440b, 440c: DMD 250, 460: Projection lens part

450: light integration part 250a: projection lens

300: digital micromirror 450a: red light reflecting surface

450c: blue light reflecting surface

In order to achieve the above technical problem, a projection imaging apparatus according to the present invention, a light source for emitting a plurality of light rays having different wavelengths; A plurality of light transmission units made of an optical fiber through which the plurality of light rays pass; A plurality of surface light source units for uniformly surface light sources each of the plurality of light beams transmitted from the plurality of light transmitting units; A plurality of digital micromirror panels (DMDs) for receiving each of the surface light sources and reflecting the light rays at a predetermined angle; And a plurality of projection lens units disposed to face the plurality of DMDs, and configured to project the plurality of light rays incident from the DMD onto a screen.

More specifically, each of the surface light sources is arranged such that each of the surface light sources, which have been light source, is incident on each of the DMDs at a predetermined angle. The DMD is composed of a plurality of digital micromirrors, the digital micromirror, the first position to form an optical path so that the incident light beam is incident to the projection lens and the incident light beam is not incident to the projection lens. And a second position forming a light path.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a projection imaging device includes: a light source emitting a plurality of light rays having different wavelengths; A plurality of light transmission units made of an optical fiber through which the plurality of light rays pass; A plurality of surface light source units for uniformly surface light sources each of the plurality of light beams transmitted from the plurality of light transmitting units; A plurality of digital micromirror panels (DMDs) for receiving each of the surface light sources and reflecting the light rays at a predetermined angle; A light integration unit integrating each of the light beams incident from the plurality of DMDs; And a projection lens unit provided to face the light integration unit and receiving the light beams synthesized from the light integration unit and projecting the light beams onto a screen.

Preferably, each of the surface light sources is arranged such that each of the surface light sources, which are surface light sources, is incident on each of the DMDs at a predetermined angle. The plurality of DMDs are spaced apart at a predetermined angle, and one of the plurality of DMDs is disposed to face the light integration unit. In addition, the light integration unit includes a plurality of reflective surfaces for selectively reflecting and / or transmitting the plurality of incident light rays according to a wavelength.

Further, the DMD is composed of a plurality of digital micromirrors, the digital micromirror, the first position to form an optical path so that the incident light beam is incident to the light integration unit and the incident light beam is incident to the light integration unit The second position to form an optical path so as not to flow.

According to the present invention, the optical path through which the R, G, and B laser beams having different wavelengths pass is composed of optical fibers, thereby simplifying the internal structure of an imaging apparatus having three DMD panels. Easy to deploy

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail with respect to the projection-type imaging device according to the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a projection-type imaging device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the projection imaging apparatus 200 according to the present invention includes a light source 210, a plurality of light transmitting units 222 to 224, a plurality of surface light source units 230, a plurality of DMDs 240, and It has a plurality of projection lens unit 250. In Fig. 2, the optical path of the laser beam is shown by a dashed line.

The light source 210 emits a plurality of light rays having different wavelengths. The plurality of light rays (hereinafter referred to as 'laser beams') are respective R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) laser beams. The light transmitting units 222 to 224 are composed of an optical fiber 222 through which each laser beam passes and a plurality of microlenses 224 for focusing each laser beam. The microlenses 224 are respectively provided at the input terminals of the optical fiber 222. The laser beam focused on each microlens 224 is transmitted to each surface light source 230 through the optical fiber 222.

The surface light source unit 230 is installed at each output terminal of the optical fiber 222 and uniformly surface-transmits the transmitted laser beam. The surface light source unit 230 has a lens 232 and a light tube 234.

The lens 232 disperses the laser beam to be incident on the light tube 234. The light tube 234 has a hexahedron shape and has a through hole inside. When the laser beam dispersed from the lens 232 is incident into the light tube 234 that is through, the surface light source is formed. The inner four sides of the light tube 234 are mirrors.

The surface light source 230 is arranged such that the R, G, B laser beam is incident on the plurality of DMDs 240 corresponding to the wavelengths of the R, G, B laser beam. The R, G, and B laser beams, each surface-light-sourced, are incident on the DMD 240 at a predetermined angle. DMD 240 consists of three DMD panels 240a, 240b, 240c. In this embodiment, three DMD panels 240a, 240b, 240c are located in a straight line. The three DMD panels 240a, 240b, and 240c modulate the incident laser beams in digital form and then reflect them at a predetermined angle.

3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an operating state of a digital micromirror used in the present invention. In FIG. 3, the incident and reflective paths of the laser beam are indicated by dashed line.

Referring to FIG. 3, the DMD panel 240a includes about 800,000 digital micromirrors 300 and is installed to face the predetermined projection lens 250a. The digital micromirror 300 includes a first position 300a for forming an optical path such that the incident laser beam is reflected from the digital micromirror 300 to the projection lens 250a and the incident laser beam is the digital micromirror 300. It has a second position (300b) to form an optical path so as not to be directed to the projection lens (250a). That is, the digital micromirror 300 is inclined at an angle according to the electrostatic field action of the device disposed in the digital micromirror 300. The digital micromirror 300 tilted at an angle changes the reflection angle of the incident laser beam.

Based on the horizontal state of the digital micromirror 300, the first positions 300a and 300c in which the inclination angle of the digital micromirror 300 is inclined by about -12 ° and the second position 300b inclined by about + 12 ° , 300d). The laser beams incident on the first positions 300a and 300c of the digital micromirror 300 are reflected and incident to the projection lens unit 250 to implement an image on the screen. The laser beams incident on the second positions 300b and 300d of the digital micromirror are not reflected toward the projection lens 250.

The projection lens unit 250 is provided to face the DMD 240. Each laser beam reflected from the DMD panels 240a, 240b, and 240c is incident on the three projection lens units 250 in the on direction. The laser beam is projected onto the screen through the projection lens unit 250 to implement an image.

4 is a view showing another embodiment of a projection imaging device according to the present invention.

In Fig. 4, the optical path of the laser beam is shown by a dashed line. Referring to FIG. 4, the projection type imaging apparatus 400 according to the present invention includes a light source 410, a plurality of light transmitting units 422 to 424, a plurality of surface light source units 430, and DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c. ), A light integration unit 450, and a projection lens unit 460. Specific operations of the light source 410, the light transmitting units 422 to 424), and the surface light source unit 430 of FIG. 4 may include the light source 210, the light transmitting units 222 to 224, and the surface light source unit 230 of FIG. 2. Is the same as

Each of the R, G, and B laser beams generated by the light source 410 is focused by the microlenses 424 of the light transmitting units 422 to 424. The focused laser beam is transmitted to the surface light source unit 430 through the optical fiber 422 which is a movement path of the laser beam.

Each surface light source unit 430 is installed at the output end of each of the light transmission units 422 to 424 to uniformly surface the laser beam transmitted. The surface light source unit 430 is disposed such that the surface light source laser beam is incident on the DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c corresponding to the wavelengths of the laser beams. The surface light source 430 has a lens 432 and a light tube 434. When the laser beam dispersed from the lens 432 is incident into the light tube 434, which is a through hole, surface light is generated.

Each of the R, G, and B laser beams subjected to the surface light source is incident on the DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c at a predetermined angle. Whether the laser beams incident on the DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c is incident on the light integration unit 450 according to the angle of the digital micromirror. The DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c are composed of three R, G, and B DMD panels 440a, 440b, and 440c. The DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c modulate the incident laser beam in a digital form and then reflect the light at a predetermined angle. The DMD panels 440a, 440b, and 440c are arranged such that the laser beam reflected at the first position (eg, 300a of FIG. 3) is incident on the light integration unit 450.

The light integrating unit 450 combines the respective R, G, and B laser beams incident from the DMDs 440a, 440b, and 440c into one. That is, the light integrating unit 450 includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces 450a and 450c for selectively reflecting and / or transmitting the R · G · B laser beam, and reflecting and / or transmitting the R · G · B laser. Synthesize the beam. The R laser beam incident from the DMD panel 440a is reflected at the R reflecting surface 450a. The B laser beam incident from the DMD panel 440b is reflected at the B reflecting surface 450c. The light integrating unit 450 is formed by bonding four triangular prisms in a rectangular shape. The R, G, and B laser beams incident on the three R, G, and B prisms are synthesized by the photosynthetic prism and incident on the projection lens unit 460.

The DMD panels 440a and 440b are disposed to face each other, and the DMD panel 440c and the projection lens unit 460 are also disposed to face each other. The light integration unit 450 is disposed on a straight line of the DMD panel 440c and the projection lens unit 460. In an embodiment, in FIG. 4, the three DMD panels 440a, 440b, 440c and the projection lens 460 are arranged in a cross shape. The laser beam synthesized by the light integration unit 450 is projected onto the screen through the projection lens unit 460.

According to the projection type imaging apparatus according to the present invention, by using the optical fiber, it is possible to form a simple optical path without having a lens requiring a precise arrangement such as a dichroic mirror. In addition, it is possible to easily adjust the incident angle of the laser beam incident on the DMD panel by transmitting the respective R, G, B laser beams using the optical fiber. When synthesizing a laser beam using a prism, it becomes easy to arrange the DMD panel for aligning the angle of the laser beam incident on the prism. In addition, the DMD panel does not need to include a modulator such as an acoustic-optic-modulator (AOM) by optically modulating the incident laser beam. Therefore, the internal structure of the imaging device is simplified, manufacturing convenience is enhanced, and the arrangement of the optical path and the DMD panel is facilitated.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the embodiments described above. Will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

Claims (10)

A light source emitting a plurality of light rays having different wavelengths; A plurality of light transmission units made of an optical fiber through which the plurality of light rays pass; A plurality of surface light source units for uniformly surface light sources each of the plurality of light beams transmitted from the plurality of light transmitting units; A plurality of digital micromirror panels (DMDs) for receiving each of the surface light sources and reflecting the light rays at a predetermined angle; And And a plurality of projection lens units disposed to face the plurality of DMDs, and configured to project the plurality of light beams incident from the DMD onto a screen, respectively. The method of claim 1, And each of the surface light sources is arranged such that each of the surface light sources, the light beams incident on the DMD, is incident at a predetermined angle. The method of claim 1, The DMD consists of a plurality of digital micromirrors, The digital micromirror is movable to a first position that forms an optical path such that the incident light beam is incident on the projection lens and to a second position that forms an optical path such that the incident light beam is not incident on the projection lens. Projection type imaging device characterized by. delete A light source emitting a plurality of light rays having different wavelengths; A plurality of light transmission units made of an optical fiber through which the plurality of light rays pass; A plurality of surface light source units for uniformly surface light sources each of the plurality of light beams transmitted from the plurality of light transmitting units; A plurality of digital micromirror panels (DMDs) for receiving each of the surface light sources and reflecting the light rays at a predetermined angle; A light integration unit integrating each of the light beams incident from the plurality of DMDs; And And a projection lens unit provided opposite to the light integration unit and configured to receive the light beams synthesized from the light integration unit and project the light beams onto a screen. The method of claim 5, And each of the surface light sources is arranged such that each of the surface light sources, the light beams incident on the DMD, is incident at a predetermined angle. The method of claim 5, And a plurality of the DMDs are spaced apart at a predetermined angle, and one of the plurality of DMDs is disposed to face the light integration unit. The method of claim 5, And the light integration unit includes a plurality of reflective surfaces for selectively reflecting and / or transmitting the plurality of incident light rays according to wavelengths. The method of claim 5, The DMD consists of a plurality of digital micromirrors, The digital micromirror may be movable to a first position that forms an optical path such that the incident light beam is incident on the light integration part and to a second position that forms an optical path such that the incident light beam is not incident on the light integration part. Projection type imaging device characterized by. delete