JP2001093479A - Microwave discharge light source device, and image display device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the luminance path (distance) and the luminance time of electrons generated in an electrodeless lamp. SOLUTION: This microwave discharge light source device 10 comprises a magnetron 17 which generates microwaves, a resonator 11 which resonates the microwave and has an open area 11a1 for outputting light therefrom, an electrodeless lamp 14 which is provided in the resonator 11 and seals a discharge medium 15 therein and is formed long toward the open area side, wherein the discharge medium 15 is discharged by the microwave, and magnetic force generation means 12 and 13 which generate magnetic lines of force 12a and 13a in parallel with the length direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 as well as in parallel with the output direction of light L output from the electrodeless lamp 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microwave discharge light source device for exciting a discharge medium in an electrodeless lamp by microwaves, and an image display device using the microwave discharge light source device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a known microwave discharge light source device having no electrode has been used as a device for irradiating a wide range such as a lighting device, so that there is no problem even if the light emitting portion is wide to some extent. However, in recent years, it has been considered that a microwave discharge light source device is used as a light source for an image display device, and it has become necessary to control the light beam by an optical system. It was not possible to achieve high brightness by converging. As a means for solving this problem, a mask having a small opening area is provided on the side of the emitted light emitted from the lamp. However, since the lamp emits light uniformly as a whole, the amount of light emitted from the opening is one of those. Parts, which are extremely inefficient.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The microwave discharge light source device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3008 is an example of a method using electron cyclotron resonance.

In a microwave discharge light source device 100 as an example of a conventional example shown in FIG. 6, a microwave oscillator 101 for oscillating a microwave, and the microwave oscillator 101
A waveguide 102 for guiding the microwave oscillated by the above, a cylindrical microwave resonance cavity 104 connected to the waveguide 102 through a power supply port 103 and having an opening 104a formed on the front side; A hollow spherical lamp vessel 105 which is provided in a wave resonance cavity 104 and contains therein a discharge luminescent material which is excited by a microwave and emits light by discharge, and a power supply device 106
And a permanent magnet 107 for applying a magnetic field through the magnetic field.

The microwave oscillated from the microwave oscillator 101 travels through the waveguide 102 and is supplied to the power supply port 103.
Is supplied to the inside of the microwave resonant cavity 104 from the electromagnetic magnet or the permanent magnet 107 when the discharge luminescent substance in the lamp vessel 105 is excited by the microwave and discharges light.
The magnetic field lines 107a of the magnetic field due to the magnetic field are generated substantially in parallel with the traveling direction of the microwave, so that the electrons existing in the lamp vessel 105 cause a spiral rotational motion as shown in FIG. That is, so-called electron cycloton resonance occurs. Thereafter, the light emitted and discharged in the lamp vessel 105 has a longer light emission path (distance) and light emission period than the case where no magnetic field is applied, as much as the light rotates in a spiral manner,
The emitted light is applied to the opening 10 of the microwave resonance cavity 104.
4a.

[0006]

By the way, according to the conventional microwave discharge light source device 100 shown in FIG. 6, as described above, the light emission path and the light emission path correspond to the rotational movement of the electrons in the lamp vessel 105. Although the light emission period is prolonged and the chance of light emission is increased, since the shape of the lamp container 105 is a hollow spherical shape, the path of the rotational movement cannot be increased unless the spherical diameter of the lamp container 105 is increased. If the diameter of the sphere of the container 105 is increased, the light emitting portion becomes large,
Will also be large.

Also, since the opening area of the opening 104a opened in front of the microwave resonance cavity 104 is large, it is small enough to be used as a point light source when used in an image display device and the like, and a high-luminance light emitting source is used. There are problems such as being unable to be.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first invention is a magnetron for generating a microwave, and an aperture for resonating the microwave and emitting light. An electrodeless lamp enclosing a resonator having a portion formed therein and a discharge medium provided in the resonator and discharged by the microwave, and having a longitudinal direction elongated toward the opening. And a magnetic force generating means for generating magnetic force lines parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp and the emission direction of light emitted from the electrodeless lamp.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the microwave discharge light source device according to the first aspect, the opening formed in the resonator is opened substantially perpendicularly to the direction of the line of magnetic force. It is a feature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the microwave discharge light source device according to the first or second aspect, the magnetic force generating means generates the magnetic field lines with a permanent magnet. Things.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the microwave discharge light source device according to the first or second aspect, the magnetic force generating means generates the magnetic field lines using an electromagnetic coil. Things.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the microwave discharge light source device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the opening area of the opening formed in the resonator is the same as that of the electrodeless lamp. It is characterized by being smaller than the diameter.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is an image display device using the microwave discharge light source device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects as a projection light source for displaying an image. .

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention and an image display device using the microwave discharge light source device will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Embodiment> and <Second Embodiment> will be described in detail in this order.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the microwave discharge light source device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification in which the microwave discharge light source device shown in FIG. 1 is partially modified.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a microwave discharge light source device 10 according to the present invention, a resonator 11 is formed into a stepped cylindrical shape by a small diameter portion 11a and a large diameter portion 11b.
In the embodiment, the resonator 11 is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a simple cylindrical shape or a box shape. The small diameter portion 11a of the resonator 11 is formed with an opening 11a1 having an open end, and a pair of crescent-shaped permanent magnets 12 and 13 having a crescent cross section are formed along the inside diameter of the small diameter portion 11a. It is fixed. In the embodiment, a pair of the permanent magnets 12 and 13 are provided so as to face each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only one of the permanent magnets may be provided. Further, a donut-shaped (ring-shaped) permanent magnet may be used, or an electromagnet may be used instead of the permanent magnet.

An electrodeless lamp 14 is provided in the small-diameter portion 11a of the resonator 11 on the side of the opening 11a1 and a pair of permanent magnets 1 is provided.
It is fixed inside 2 and 13. This electrodeless lamp 1
4 is a transparent quartz glass, both ends of which are formed in a hemispherical shape and whose longitudinal direction is formed in a long cylindrical shape toward the opening 11a1 side, and the inside thereof is hermetically sealed.
Is filled with a discharge medium 15, and as the discharge medium 15, a rare gas such as argon, neon, xenon, and krypton, and a metal halide such as gallium, indium, and thallium, mercury, zinc, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium are used. Etc. are enclosed. Of course, since there is no electrode in the electrodeless lamp 14, the life can be extended. In the embodiment, both ends of the electrodeless lamp 14 are formed in a hemispherical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both ends may be formed flat. But it is good.

At this time, by sintering the dielectric ceramic 16 between the pair of permanent magnets 12 and 13 and the electrodeless lamp 14, the electrodeless lamp 14 is connected to the pair of permanent magnets 12 and 13.
Is fixed to the inside of the small diameter portion 11a of the resonator 11.

When the pair of permanent magnets 12 and 13 are mounted in the small diameter portion 11a of the resonator 11, magnetic lines of force 12a and 13 generated from the pair of permanent magnets 12 and 13 respectively.
The S pole and the N pole of each of the magnets 12 and 13 are set so that the direction of a is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 and the emission direction (arrow direction) of the emitted light L from the electrodeless lamp 14. ing.

A magnetron 17 for generating microwaves is mounted outside the bottom surface 11b1 of the large diameter portion 11b of the resonator 11. In addition, magnetron 17
An antenna 18 for transmitting the microwave generated in the resonator 11 projects into the large diameter portion 11 b of the resonator 11. As a result, the microwave transmitted from the antenna 18 resonates in the large-diameter portion 11b of the resonator 11 and feeds the resonated microwave into the electrodeless lamp 14.

In the electrodeless lamp 14, the noble gas of the discharge medium 15 is discharged by the resonated microwave to be in a plasma state, whereby the electric power entering the electrodeless lamp 14 increases, and the glass of the electrodeless lamp 14 increases. As the temperature of the wall rises, the enclosed metal evaporates, dissociates and condenses in the high-temperature portion to become particles, and the particles emit a spectrum specific to the metal when heated by discharge. These particles move to a low-temperature portion in the electrodeless lamp 14, and after being metallized by reaction with hydrogen and oxygen, repeat evaporation, dissociation, condensation and light emission.

Here, the directions of the magnetic lines of force 12a and 13a generated from the pair of permanent magnets 12 and 13 respectively correspond to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 and the emission direction (arrow direction) of the emitted light L from the electrodeless lamp 14. Since they are parallel, electron cyclotron resonance occurs due to the direction of the magnetic force lines 12a and 13a, and electrons generated in the electrodeless lamp 14 are directed toward the emission direction on the opening 11a side formed in the small diameter portion 11a of the resonator 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the light L is helically rotated, so that the emitted light L is emitted from the opening 11 a formed in the small-diameter portion 11 a of the resonator 11. At this time, the rotation radius (Larmor radius) of the electrons generated in the electrodeless lamp 14 is sufficiently smaller than the lamp diameter φD of the electrodeless lamp 14, and the light emission path (distance) and the light due to the spiral rotation of the electrons. The emission period can be very long, and the distance before electrons collide with the lamp wall and lose energy can be lengthened. When electrons move freely, they collide with the lamp wall and are consumed The energy of the microwaves that have been used can be used efficiently.

Since the higher the magnetic flux density, the more easily electron cyclotron resonance occurs, a pair of permanent magnets 12 and 13 are sandwiched between the electrodeless lamp 14 so that lines of magnetic force parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 are formed. With the arrangement, the magnetic flux density increases near the center of the electrodeless lamp 14 in the longitudinal direction, and the columnar lamp 14 emits light strongly in a columnar shape. The emitted light is extracted from the hemispherical end of the electrodeless lamp 14 as emitted light L. Here, the small diameter portion 11 of the resonator 11
By opening the opening 11a formed in the vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the lines of magnetic force 12a and 13a, the opening 11a has a substantially vertical cross-section to the light flux of the emitted light L.
Is bright, and a point light source with a small area is obtained.

Next, a modified example in which the microwave discharge light source device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is partially modified will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the microwave discharge light source device 10 described above, and the following description is different from the microwave discharge light source device 10 described above. Will be described only.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the microwave discharge light source device 20 of the modified example, the opening 11a1 opened at the tip of the small diameter portion 11a of the resonator 11 has a diameter sufficiently smaller than the lamp diameter φD of the electrodeless lamp 14. Center hole 2 of approximately 1 mm or less
By attaching the lid 21 having the hole 1a, the emitted light L emitted from the central hole 21a can be obtained as a clearer point light source, and the emitted light L can be efficiently extracted even if the opening area of the central hole 21a is small. I can do it. Also, the center hole 21a
By using a metal material for the lid 21 having the holes or by using a combination of a wire netting and a light shielding member, an effect of preventing microwaves from leaking to the outside can be obtained.

The microwave discharge light source device 1 having the above configuration
0 (or 20) means that the life of the electrodeless lamp 14 can be prolonged, and the lines of magnetic force 12a and 13a parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 and the direction of emission of the light L emitted from the electrodeless lamp 14 are eliminated. By increasing the light emission path (distance) and the light emission period of the light given to the electrode lamp 14, the discharge efficiency is increased in the emission direction of the emitted light L, the brightness is increased, and the emitted light L is emitted from a small area. The light L emitted from the electrodeless lamp 14 can be used as a point light source.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a transmission type image display device using a microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a case of a reflection type as an image display device using the image display device.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmission type image display device 30 is the same as the microwave discharge light source device 1 described above.
The light L emitted from the electrodeless lamp 14 constituting 0 (or 20) is applied to the transmission type liquid crystal plate 32 by the lens 31. The transmissive liquid crystal plate 32 displays a desired image according to an image signal from the liquid crystal drive circuit 33. The image light G transmitted through the transmissive liquid crystal plate 32 is enlarged by a projection lens 34 and is enlarged and projected on a screen 35.

Therefore, in the microwave discharge light source device 10 (or 20) described above, the life can be extended by the electrodeless lamp 14, and the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 and the output from the electrodeless lamp 14 can be improved. By applying magnetic lines of force 12a and 13a parallel to the emission direction of the emitted light L to the electrodeless lamp 14 to extend the light emission path (distance) and the light emission period, the discharge efficiency is increased with respect to the emission direction of the emitted light L. By emitting the emitted light L from a small area with reduced brightness, the emitted light L from the electrodeless lamp 14 can be used as a point light source, so that the power consumption is low as the projection light source of the transmission type image display device 30, and The image can be enlarged and projected with high brightness / high image quality / high definition.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, in the reflection type image display device 40, one surface 41a of the light address type spatial modulation element 41 is irradiated with the writing light W corresponding to the image signal, and the optical information is written. Written and this optical information is amplified internally.

On the other hand, the emitted light L emitted from the electrodeless lamp 14 constituting the microwave discharge light source device 10 (or 20) described above passes through the infrared cut filter 42, the lens 43, and the wavelength filter 44, and polarizes. The incident light enters the localization beam splitter 45 and is reflected by the transflective film 45 a of the polarization beam splitter 45, and the reflected light is reflected by the other surface 41 of the optically addressed spatial modulation element 41.
b, and is reflected by the other surface 41b as readout light R including image information. After that, the readout light R including the image information is transmitted through the semi-transmissive reflection film 45a of the polarization beam splitter 45, and
The image is enlarged by 6 and projected on the screen 47.

Therefore, in the microwave discharge light source device 10 (or 20) described above, the life can be extended by the electrodeless lamp 14, and the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp 14 and the output from the electrodeless lamp 14 can be improved. By applying magnetic lines of force 12a and 13a parallel to the emission direction of the emitted light L to the electrodeless lamp 14 to extend the light emission path (distance) and the light emission period, the discharge efficiency is increased with respect to the emission direction of the emitted light L. The emission light L from the electrodeless lamp 14 can be used as a point light source by emitting the emission light L from a small area with reduced luminance, so that the power consumption is low as the projection light source of the reflection type image display device 40, and The image can be enlarged and projected with high brightness / high image quality / high definition.

[0033]

According to the microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention described in detail above, the life can be extended by the electrodeless lamp, and the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp and the distance from the electrodeless lamp can be improved. By giving a line of magnetic force parallel to the emission direction of the emitted light to the electrodeless lamp to increase the light emission path (distance) and the light emission period, the discharge efficiency is increased in the emission direction of the emitted light, the brightness is increased, and the area is reduced By emitting the emitted light, the emitted light from the electrodeless lamp can be used as a point light source.

Further, according to the image display device using the microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention, the point light source based on the performance of the above-described electrodeless lamp is used as the projection light source for image display. It can contribute to the low power consumption of the device, and can enlarge and project an image with high brightness / high image quality / high definition by the microwave discharge light source device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining rotational movement of electrons generated in an electrodeless lamp under the influence of a magnetic field in the microwave discharge light source device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a modification in which the microwave discharge light source device shown in FIG. 1 is partially modified.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a transmission type image display device using the microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a reflection type image display device using the microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a microwave discharge light source device as an example of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a rotational movement of electrons existing in a lamp vessel under the influence of a magnetic field in the microwave discharge light source device shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention, 11: Resonator 11, 11a: Small diameter portion, 11a1 ... Opening, 11b
... Large-diameter portion, 12,13 ... Permanent magnet, 12a, 13a ... Lines of magnetic force, 14 ... Electrode lamp, 15 ... Discharge medium, 17 ... Magnetron, 20 ... Microwave discharge light source device of a modification according to the present invention, 21 ... Lid, 21a: central hole, 30: transmission type image display device using microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention, 40: reflection type image display device using microwave discharge light source device according to the present invention, L ... Outgoing light.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A magnetron for generating a microwave; a resonator having an opening for emitting the light while resonating the microwave; and a resonator provided in the resonator and discharged by the microwave. An electrodeless lamp in which the longitudinal direction is elongated toward the opening side, and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeless lamp and the emission direction of emitted light from the electrodeless lamp. A microwave discharge light source device comprising: a magnetic force generating means for generating magnetic lines of force. 2. The microwave discharge light source device according to claim 1, wherein said opening formed in said resonator is opened substantially perpendicular to the direction of said line of magnetic force. 3. The microwave discharge light source device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic force generating means generates said lines of magnetic force by a permanent magnet. 4. The microwave discharge light source device according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic force generating means generates said lines of magnetic force by means of an electromagnetic coil. 5. The microwave discharge according to claim 1, wherein an opening area of the opening formed in the resonator is smaller than a lamp diameter of the electrodeless lamp. Light source device. 6. An image display device using the microwave discharge light source device according to claim 1 as a projection light source for image display.