JP2002055208A - Lens array unit and illuminating optical system and projector each using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for easily aligning optical components of an illuminating optical system. SOLUTION: The illuminating optical system 100 has a lens array unit 140 with a first lens array 142 having a plurality of first small lenses arranged in a matrix shape, a second lens array 144 having a plurality of second small lenses respectively corresponding to the first small lenses and arranged in a matrix shape, and a light transmitting part 146 which connects the first and second lens arrays so as to guide light from the first lens array to the second lens array.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a projector for projecting and displaying an image, and more particularly to an illumination optical system used for the projector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a projector, light emitted from an illumination optical system is modulated in accordance with image information (image signal) using a liquid crystal light valve or the like, and the modulated light is projected on a screen. Display is realized.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an illumination optical system 900 used conventionally. This illumination optical system 900
Light source device 920 and first and second lens arrays 94
2, 944, a polarization generating optical system 960, and a superimposing lens 9
70. In FIG. 10, the illumination optical system 90
The illumination area LA illuminated by 0 corresponds to a liquid crystal light valve provided in the projector.

The light source device 920 includes a lamp 922 and a reflector 924 having a concave surface in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution. The light emitted from the lamp 922 is reflected by the reflector 92.
4, and a substantially parallel light beam is emitted from the light source device 920.

[0005] The first lens array 942 has a plurality of small lenses 942s arranged in a matrix.
The first lens array 942 divides the substantially parallel light beam emitted from the light source device 920 into a plurality of partial light beams and emits them. The second lens array 944 also has a plurality of small lenses 944s arranged in a matrix. Second
Lens array 944 together with the superimposing lens 970
It has a function of forming an image of each small lens 942s of the first lens array 942 on the illumination area LA. The partial light beam emitted from each small lens 942s of the first lens array 942 passes through the second lens array 944,
The light is collected in the polarization generation optical system 960.

The polarization generating optical system 960 includes a light shielding plate 962
, A polarizing beam splitter array 964, and a selective retardation plate 966. The light-shielding plate 962 is
2b and the opening surface 962a are arranged in a stripe pattern. The polarizing beam splitter array 964 is
A plurality of columnar glass materials 964c having a substantially parallelogram cross section are bonded to each other. Each glass material 964
Polarized light separating films 964a and reflecting films 964b are formed alternately at the interface c. Each partial light beam emitted from the first lens array 942 is transmitted to the aperture surface 9 of the light shielding plate 962.
After passing through 62a, the light enters the polarization separation film 964a. The polarization separation film 964a separates the incident partial light beam into an s-polarized light beam and a p-polarized light beam. The selective retardation plate 966 includes an opening layer 966a and a λ / 2 retardation layer 966b.
Are arranged in a stripe pattern. The aperture layer 966a transmits the incident s-polarized partial beam as it is, and the λ / 2 retardation layer 966b converts the incident p-polarized partial beam into an s-polarized partial beam having orthogonal polarization directions. . As a result, from the polarization generating optical system 960, a partial light beam having substantially one type of polarization direction (s-polarized light) is emitted.

The superimposing lens 970 includes a polarization generating optical system 96.
It has a function of superimposing a plurality of s-polarized partial light beams emitted from 0 on the illumination area LA.

[0008]

By the way, when assembling the illumination optical system, it is necessary to precisely position each optical component. However, such positioning requires a lot of trouble. there were.

[0009] The above problem becomes significant when the size of the illumination optical system is reduced. When the illumination optical system 900 is reduced in size, in other words, when the distance L1 from the first lens array 942 to the second lens array 944 is reduced, each of the small lenses 942s of the first lens array 942 is The magnification of the emitted partial light beam increases. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the enlargement ratio is defined as a distance from the first lens array 942 to the second lens array 944 being L1, and a liquid crystal light valve (illumination area L
Assuming that the distance to A) is L2, it is determined substantially by (L2 / L1). Therefore, the displacement of the first and second lens arrays 942, 944 appears as a displacement of (L2 / L1) times in the liquid crystal light valve. For this reason, when reducing the size of the illumination optical system, the first and second
It is necessary to more accurately perform the alignment of the lens arrays 942 and 944, and the alignment becomes more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of easily aligning optical components of an illumination optical system.

[0011]

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, a lens array unit according to the present invention includes a first lens having a plurality of first small lenses arranged in a matrix. A first lens array, a second lens array corresponding to each of the first small lenses, and having a plurality of second small lenses arranged in a matrix, and the first and second lens arrays. connection,
A light transmitting unit for guiding light from the first lens array to the second lens array.

In the lens array unit of the present invention, the first
Since the second lens array and the second lens array are connected to each other by the light transmitting portion, it is possible to omit the trouble of performing the alignment of the relationship between the first lens array and the second lens array.

Further, if this lens array unit is used, it is only necessary to adjust the relationship between the other optical components of the illumination optical system and the lens array unit, so that the positioning of each optical component of the illumination optical system is facilitated. It becomes possible.

The effect of using the lens array unit of the present invention becomes remarkable when the size of the illumination optical system is reduced.

In the above-mentioned lens array unit, it is preferable that a refractive index of the light transmitting portion is substantially the same as a refractive index of the first and second lens arrays.

With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the reflection of light at the interface between each of the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion.

Alternatively, in the above lens array unit, it is preferable that the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion are integrally formed using a mold.

In this case, the refractive indices of the first and second lens arrays are equal to the refractive index of the light transmitting portion.
In addition, reflection of light at the interface between each of the second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion can be prevented.

In a case where the lens array unit is integrally formed by using a mold, the lens array unit has a substantially hexahedral shape, and the first and second lens arrays are formed by the lens array. Unit 6
It is preferable that each of the two surfaces is formed on two opposing surfaces having a relatively small area.

When the lens array unit is integrally formed using a mold, that is, when the lens array unit is manufactured from molten glass or the like, the lens array unit itself is deformed when the molten glass solidifies. There is. This is because when the inside of the molten glass solidifies, the already solidified glass surface receives a tensile force directed toward the inside. A surface having a relatively small area is less likely to be deformed by a tensile force from the inside than a surface having a relatively large area.
Therefore, according to the above, the deformation of each small lens of the first and second lens arrays can be reduced, and as a result, the lens array unit can exhibit desired optical characteristics.

In the above lens array unit, at least one of the first and second lens arrays may include a decentered small lens.

A first illumination optical system according to the present invention includes a light source device, the lens array unit according to any one of the above, which divides a light beam emitted from the light source device into a plurality of partial light beams, and the lens A superimposing lens for superimposing each partial light beam emitted from the array unit on the predetermined illumination area.

In a second illumination optical system according to the present invention, a light source device and a light beam emitted from the light source device are divided into a plurality of partial light beams, and each of the partial light beams is placed on a predetermined illumination area. Any one of the above-described lens array units for superimposition.

In these illumination optical systems, any one of the above-mentioned lens array units is used, so that it is possible to omit the time and effort for performing the alignment of the relationship between the first lens array and the second lens array. It becomes possible. Further, since it is only necessary to adjust the relationship between the other optical components of the illumination optical system and the lens array unit, it is possible to easily perform the alignment of each optical component of the illumination optical system.

A projector according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described illumination optical systems, an electro-optical device that modulates light from the illumination optical system according to image information, and a modulated light beam obtained by the electro-optical device. And a projection optical system for projecting.

In this projector, since the above-mentioned illumination optical system is used, it is possible to easily perform alignment of each optical component of the illumination optical system.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment: Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a projector to which the present invention has been applied. The projector 1000 includes an illumination optical system 100, a color light separation optical system 200, a relay optical system 220, three liquid crystal light valves 300R, 300G, 300B, a cross dichroic prism 320, and a projection optical system 34.
0.

Light emitted from the illumination optical system 100 is separated into three color lights of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) in a color light separation optical system 200. The separated color lights are modulated in the liquid crystal light valves 300R, 300G, and 300B according to image information. Here, the liquid crystal light valves 300R, 300G, and 300B include a liquid crystal panel corresponding to the electro-optical device of the present invention, and polarizing plates disposed on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side. A drive unit (not shown) for supplying image information to and driving the liquid crystal panel is connected to each liquid crystal light valve. Liquid crystal light valve 300R,
The modulated light beam modulated according to the image information in 300G and 300B is applied to the cross dichroic prism 320.
At the screen SC by the projection optical system 340.
Projected above. As a result, an image is displayed on the screen SC. The configuration and function of each part of the projector as shown in FIG.
JP-A-10-32595 disclosed by the present applicant
Since it is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4 (Kokai) No. 4, a detailed description is omitted in this specification.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the illumination optical system 100 of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. The illumination optical system 100 includes a light source device 120, an ultraviolet filter 130, a lens array unit 140, a polarization generation optical system 160, and a superposition lens 170. Each optical component is arranged with reference to the system optical axis 100ax. Here, the system optical axis 100ax is the central axis of the light beam emitted from the light source device 120. In FIG. 2, the illumination area LA illuminated by the illumination optical system 100 corresponds to the liquid crystal light valves 300R, 300G, and 300B in FIG.

The light source device 120 includes a lamp 122, a reflector 124 having a spheroidal concave surface, and a parallelizing lens 126. The lamp 122 is arranged near the first focal point on the spheroid of the reflector 124. The light emitted from the lamp 122 is reflected by the reflector 12
4 and the reflected light travels while being collected toward the second focal point of the reflector 124. Parallelizing lens 12
6 converts the incident condensed light into light substantially parallel to the system optical axis 100ax.

As the light source device 120, a reflector having a concave surface in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution may be used. In this case, the light reflected by the reflector is the system optical axis 1
Since it is almost parallel to 00ax, the collimating lens 126 can be omitted. In the present embodiment, a plano-concave lens having a concave surface on the light source device 120 side is used as the parallelizing lens 126, but a plano-concave lens having a flat surface on the light source device 120 side may be used.

The ultraviolet removing filter 130 is a light source device 1
This is a filter for removing ultraviolet rays from the light emitted from the lamps 122. This makes it possible to reduce deterioration of an optical component using an organic material (for example, a polarizing plate provided in a liquid crystal light valve) due to ultraviolet rays.

FIG. 3 shows the lens array unit 14 of FIG.
FIG. The lens array unit 140 includes a first lens array 142 and a second lens array 144.
And a light transmitting part 146. The lens array unit 140 of the present embodiment is integrally formed using a mold, as described later.

The first lens array 142 has a plurality of small lenses 142s arranged in a matrix.
Each small lens 142s is a plano-convex lens, and its external shape when viewed from the x direction is set to be similar to the illumination area LA (liquid crystal light valve). The first lens array 142 divides the substantially parallel light beam emitted from the light source device 120 into a plurality of partial light beams and emits them.

The second lens array 144 has a plurality of small lenses 144s arranged in a matrix.
It is almost the same as the first lens array 142. The second lens array 144 has a function of aligning the respective central axes of the partial light beams emitted from the first lens array 142 substantially in parallel with the system optical axis 100ax. Further, the second lens array 144, together with the superimposed lens 170, each small lens 142 of the first lens array 142
It has a function of forming an image of s on the illumination area LA.

The light transmitting section 146 connects the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144, and the first lens array 1
It has a function as a light guide path for guiding a plurality of partial light beams emitted from the second lens array 144 to the second lens array 144.

Incidentally, the conventional illumination optical system 900 (FIG. 1)
0), the first and second lens arrays 94
2, 944 are provided independently, and an anti-reflection film for reducing the reflection of light at the interface between the lens array and air is formed on the light incident surface and the light exit surface of each lens array 942, 944. Have been. In the lens array unit 140 of this embodiment, the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144 and the light transmitting unit 146 are integrally formed, and the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144 and the light transmitting unit 146 are formed. Are equal. At this time, there is no light reflection at the interface between each of the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144 and the light transmitting portion. Therefore, when the lens array unit 140 is used, the loss of light between the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144 can be reduced, and the first lens array 142 can be reduced.
There is an advantage that it is sufficient to form an antireflection film only on the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the second lens array 144.

Each small lens 1 of the first lens array 142
As shown in FIG. 2, the partial light beam emitted from the second lens array 144 passes through each small lens 144 s of the second lens array 144, and is located in the vicinity thereof, that is, the polarization generating optical system 16.
It is collected within 0.

The polarization generating optical system 160 includes two polarization generating element arrays 160A and 160B and a connecting member 1 for connecting the two polarization generating element arrays 160A and 160B.
60C. The first and second polarization generating element arrays 160A and 160B are provided with a system optical axis 100ax.
Are arranged symmetrically with respect to.

FIG. 4 shows the polarization generating element array 160 of FIG.
It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows A. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the first polarization generating element array 160A, and FIG. 4B is a plan view when viewed from the + z direction. The polarization generating element array 160A includes a light shielding plate 162,
The polarization beam splitter array 164 includes a plurality of λ / 2 retardation plates 166 selectively disposed on the light exit surface of the polarization beam splitter array 164. The second
The same applies to the polarization generating element array 160B.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the polarizing beam splitter array 164 is formed by laminating a plurality of columnar glass members 164c having a substantially parallelogram cross section. Polarized light separating films 164a and reflecting films 164b are alternately formed on the interface between the glass materials 164c. Note that a dielectric multilayer film is used as the polarization separation film 164a, and a dielectric multilayer film or a metal film is used as the reflection film 164b.

The light-shielding plate 162 is configured such that an opening surface 162a and a light-shielding surface 162b are arranged in a stripe shape. The opening surface 162a and the light shielding surface 162b are provided corresponding to the polarization separation film 164a and the reflection film 164b, respectively. As a result, the partial light beam emitted from the first lens array 142 (FIG. 2) is transmitted through the aperture surface 162a to the polarization splitting film 1 of the polarization beam splitter array 164.
The light is incident only on 64a and not on the reflective film 164b.
As the light-shielding plate 162, a light-shielding film (for example, a chromium film, an aluminum film, a dielectric multilayer film, or the like) selectively formed on a flat transparent body (for example, a glass plate) can be used. . Alternatively, a light-shielding flat plate such as an aluminum plate provided with a stripe-shaped opening may be used. Further, a light-shielding film may be directly formed on the glass material 164c of the polarization beam splitter array 164.

The principal ray (center axis) of each partial ray bundle emitted from the first lens array 142 (FIG. 2) is shown in FIG.
As shown by the solid line in (B), the light enters the opening surface 162a of the light shielding plate 162 almost in parallel with the system optical axis 100ax.
The partial light beam that has passed through the aperture surface 162a is
At 64a, the s-polarized partial light beam and the p-polarized partial light beam are separated. The p-polarized partial light beam passes through the polarization splitting film 164a, and enters the polarization beam splitter array 1
Emitted from 64. On the other hand, the partial beam of s-polarized light is reflected by the polarization splitting film 164a and further reflected by the reflection film 164b, and then the polarization beam splitter array 16
Injected from 4. Note that, on the light exit surface of the polarization beam splitter array 164, the p-polarized partial light beam and the s-polarized partial light beam are substantially parallel to each other.

The λ / 2 retardation plate 166 is a part of the light exit surface of the polarization beam splitter array 164,
It is formed only on the light exit surface of the p-polarized partial light beam transmitted through 4a. The λ / 2 retardation plate 166 has a function of converting incident linearly polarized light into linearly polarized light whose polarization direction is orthogonal. Therefore, the p-polarized partial ray bundle is
The λ / 2 phase difference plate 166 converts the s-polarized light beam into a partial light beam and emits it. Thereby, the partial light beam (s + p) without polarization incident on the polarization generating element array 160A.
Is converted into an s-polarized light beam and emitted. Note that λ / λ is applied only to the light exit surface of the s-polarized partial light beam.
By arranging the two phase difference plates 166, the partial light beam incident on the polarization generating element array 160A can be converted into a p-polarized partial light beam and emitted.

The plurality of partial light beams emitted from the first lens array 142 are coupled to the polarization generating optical system 1 as described above.
At 60, each partial light beam is separated into two partial light beams, and is converted into almost one type of linearly polarized light having a uniform polarization direction. The plurality of partial light beams having the same polarization direction are superimposed on the illumination area LA by the superimposing lens 170 shown in FIG. At this time, the intensity distribution of the light illuminating the illumination area LA is substantially uniform.

As described above, the illumination optical system 100 (FIG. 1)
Emits illumination light (s-polarized light) having a uniform polarization direction, and illuminates the liquid crystal light valves 300R, 300G, and 300B via the color light separation optical system 200 and the relay optical system 220.

Incidentally, the lens array unit 140 of this embodiment (FIG. 3) is integrally formed using a mold as described above. FIG. 5 shows the lens array unit 140.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a simplified manufacturing apparatus. The manufacturing apparatus 800 includes a stage 810, two fixing members 821 and 822 fixed to the stage 810, two X-direction moving members 831 and 832 movable in the X direction, and a Z direction movable in the Z direction. And a moving member 840. Lens molding dies 831a and 832a for forming the lens surfaces of the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144 are formed on the first and second moving members 831 and 832, respectively.

When manufacturing the lens array unit 140, first, molten glass heated to about 1000 ° C. is placed near the center of the stage 810, that is, two fixing members 821 and 822 and two X-direction moving members 831 and 821. 832
Place between. Next, the two X-direction moving members 83
1, 832 is moved toward the center of the stage 810, and the Z-direction moving member 840 is lowered. By moving the three moving members 831, 832, 840 in this manner, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped mold is formed.
That is, the molten glass is press-formed by a forming die. Each moving member 831, 832, 840 is stopped until the molten glass is substantially solidified. Thereafter, the moving members 831, 832, and 840 are moved in the opposite directions, and the solidified glass body (lens array unit) is moved to the stage 81.
Remove from 0. As described above, the lens array unit 140 is obtained by integrally molding using a substantially rectangular parallelepiped mold.

By the way, when the molten glass solidifies,
The lens array unit 140 may be deformed due to internal distortion. Internal distortion occurs because the surface of the glass body solidifies first and the inside of the glass body solidifies with a delay. That is, the molten glass solidifies first from the vicinity of the surface of the glass body in contact with the substantially cubic mold. On the other hand, the inside of the glass body solidifies with a delay since the temperature is kept relatively high. Since glass has the property of reducing its volume when solidified, the surface of the glass body receives a tensile force directed inward. As a result, the glass body is deformed (the surface of the glass body is depressed toward the inside).

It is assumed that the first and second lens arrays 14
If the surface (lens surface) constituting 2,144 is deformed, the lens array unit cannot exhibit desired optical characteristics. Therefore, in this embodiment, the lens surface unit is devised so as to reduce the deformation of the lens surface. That is, in this embodiment, lens surfaces are formed on two opposing surfaces having relatively small areas among the six surfaces of the lens array unit 140 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A surface having a relatively small area is stronger against a pulling force from the inside than a surface having a relatively large area, in other words, is less likely to be deformed. Therefore, if the lens surfaces are formed on two opposing surfaces having a relatively small area as in the present embodiment, the deformation of the lens surfaces can be reduced, and as a result, the lens array unit has a desired shape. It is possible to exhibit optical characteristics.

As described above, the illumination optical system 100 of the present embodiment includes the first and second lens arrays 142, 1
44 includes a lens array unit 140 connected by a light transmitting unit 146. In this way, when assembling the illumination optical system 100, the trouble of performing position adjustment such as axis alignment with respect to the first and second lens arrays 142 and 144 can be omitted. Also,
When the lens array unit 140 is used, since it is only necessary to adjust the relationship between the other optical components of the illumination optical system 100 and the integrated lens array unit 140, the alignment of each optical component of the illumination optical system 100 is performed. Can be easily performed.

The effect of using the lens array unit 140 becomes more remarkable when the illumination optical system 100 is downsized. That is, as described above, when miniaturizing the illumination optical system 100, it is necessary to more accurately align the two lens arrays 142 and 144, but the relationship between the two lens arrays 142 and the lens array 144 is required. Since there is no need to perform alignment, the illumination optical system 10
The alignment of the optical components 0 can be performed quite easily.

The optical components of the projector 1000 (FIG. 1) are usually mounted on a base frame for mounting each optical component, and are assembled while being sequentially aligned.
A base frame for mounting only the illumination optical system 100 may be separately provided. In this case, the illumination optical system 100
When assembling, the alignment of each optical component can be performed more easily.

B. Second Embodiment FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an illumination optical system 400 used in the second embodiment. The illumination optical system 400 of the present embodiment is different from the illumination optical system 10 of the first embodiment.
0 (FIG. 2), except that the lens array unit 440 has been modified. Also, with this change, the polarization generation optical system 460 has been changed.

FIG. 7 shows the lens array unit 44 of FIG.
FIG. In the lens array unit 440, the outer dimensions of the first lens array 442 viewed in the x direction are set smaller than the outer dimensions of the second lens array 444. Note that the outer dimensions of the light transmitting portion 446 as viewed in the x direction are set substantially equal to the outer dimensions of the second lens array 444.

First and second lens arrays 442, 4
Reference numeral 44 includes a plurality of decentered small lenses 442s and 444s, as shown in FIG. As shown, the first small lens 442s and the second small lens 444
For s, decentered lenses having different decentering methods are used. Specifically, the outermost small lens 442s of the first lens array 442 is decentered so that the principal ray of the divided partial light beam advances obliquely with respect to the system optical axis 100ax. The outermost small lens 444s of the second lens array 444 is decentered such that the principal ray of the partial light beam obliquely incident on the system optical axis 100ax is substantially parallel to the system optical axis 100ax. . That is, each partial light beam emitted from the second lens array 444 is substantially the same as each partial light beam emitted from the second lens array 144 of the first embodiment.

The polarization generating optical system 460 of this embodiment is used.
Has two polarization generating element arrays 460A and 460B arranged symmetrically with respect to the system optical axis 100ax, similarly to the polarization generating optical system 160 shown in FIG. 3, but the connection member 160C in FIG. 3 is omitted. Have been.

FIG. 8 shows the lens array unit 44 of FIG.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of 0. Also in this lens array unit 440A, the external dimensions of the first lens array 442 viewed from the x direction are the same as those of the second lens array 444.
Is set to be smaller than the external dimensions. However, the shape of the light transmitting portion 446 is changed. That is, the lens array unit 440 of FIG. 7 uses the substantially rectangular parallelepiped light transmitting portion 446, but the lens array unit 440A of FIG. 8 uses the first and second lens arrays 44.
Light transmitting portion 4 having a substantially truncated pyramid shape corresponding to the outer shape of 2,444
47 are used. This makes it possible to remove a portion of the glass through which light does not pass, thereby reducing the weight of the lens array unit.

In FIG. 8, lens surfaces are formed on two opposing surfaces having relatively small areas among the six surfaces of the lens array unit 440A having a substantially truncated pyramid shape. That is, in general, it is preferable that the first and second lens arrays have lens surfaces formed on two opposing surfaces having relatively small areas among the six surfaces of the hexahedral lens array unit.

When the lens array units 440 and 440A as shown in FIGS.
When assembling the 00, it is possible to save the trouble of performing position alignment with respect to the first and second lens arrays 442 and 444. The lens array unit 44 integrated with other optical components of the illumination optical system 400
Since it is only necessary to adjust the relationship with 0,440A, it is possible to easily perform alignment of each optical component of the illumination optical system 400.

The lens array units 440 and 440A shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be manufactured by changing the members constituting the mold shown in FIG. However, FIG.
About the lens array unit 440, the lens forming dies 831a and 832a of the X-direction moving members 831 and 832.
Only needs to be changed in accordance with the shapes of the two lens arrays 442 and 444. However, for the lens array unit 440A in FIG.

C. Third Embodiment FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an illumination optical system 500 used in the third embodiment. The illumination optical system 500 of the present embodiment is different from the illumination optical system 10 of the first embodiment.
0 (FIG. 2), except that the lens array unit 540 has been modified. In addition, the superimposing lens 170 in FIG. 2 is omitted due to this change.

The lens array unit 540 of this embodiment
Also include first and second lens arrays 542 and 544 and a light transmitting unit 546. First lens array 542
Are not decentered, but the second lens array 544 includes decentered small lenses 544s. As shown in FIG. 9, by decentering the second small lens 544s, the second lens array 544 becomes
Each partial light beam emitted from the first lens array 542 can be superimposed on the illumination area LA. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the superimposing lens 170 of FIG. 2 is omitted. In FIG. 9, the lens array unit 540
The principal rays of the respective partial light beams emitted from the optical axis are incident on the polarization generation optical system 160 at an angle to the system optical axis 100ax. In such a case, it is preferable to change the film structure of each polarization separation film 164a of the polarization beam splitter array 164 according to the incident angle of the principal ray. This makes it possible to efficiently separate light in the polarization separation film 164a.

The above-mentioned lens array unit 540 can be manufactured by changing the members constituting the mold of FIG. Specifically, the second X-direction moving member 832
Of the lens mold 832a of the second lens array 5
What is necessary is just to change according to the shape of 44.

Even when such a lens array unit 540 is used, when assembling the illumination optical system 500,
It is possible to omit the trouble of performing position alignment with respect to the relationship between the first and second lens arrays 542 and 544. In addition, since it is only necessary to adjust the relationship between the lens array unit 540 integrated with other optical components of the illumination optical system 500, it is possible to easily perform alignment of each optical component of the illumination optical system 500. Become.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above examples and embodiments, but can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the invention.
For example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) In the first to third embodiments, the lens array units 140, 440, 440A, 540
Is manufactured by integrally molding a molten glass, but may be manufactured by etching an existing glass block using hydrofluoric acid or by grinding.

In the lens array unit, the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion may be individually prepared and integrated by bonding. In addition,
At this time, it is preferable that the refractive index of the light transmitting portion is substantially equal to the refractive indexes of the first and second lens arrays. This makes it possible to reduce the reflection of light at the interface between each of the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion. Further, between each of the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion, an optical adhesive having a refractive index substantially equal to the refractive index of the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting portion is used. Preferably, they are adhered.

(2) The illumination optical systems 100 and 400 of the first and second embodiments are composed of a light source device 120 and a light source device 1
Lens array units 140 and 440 for dividing the light beam emitted from the lens array 20 into a plurality of partial light beams, and a superimposing lens 170 for superimposing each of the partial light beams emitted from the lens array unit on the illumination area LA. And On the other hand, the illumination optical system 500 according to the third embodiment divides a light source device 120 and a light beam emitted from the light source device 120 into a plurality of partial light beams, and divides each of the partial light beams into an illumination area LA.
And a lens array unit 540 for superimposing on top. That is, when the lens array unit 540 has a superposition function as in the third embodiment, the superposition lens 170 of the first and second embodiments can be omitted.

As described above, the illumination optical system of the present invention includes the light source device and the lens array unit having at least a function of dividing the light beam emitted from the light source device into a plurality of partial light beams. It is sufficient that a member having a function of superimposing each partial light beam on the illumination area LA (a second lens array of a lens array unit, a superimposed lens, or the like) is provided.

(3) In the illumination optical system of the above embodiment, the ultraviolet removing filter 130 is provided independently, but the lens array units 140, 440, 440A and 540 are provided.
May be formed using ultraviolet absorbing glass. In this case, since the ultraviolet rays are absorbed in the lens array unit, the ultraviolet light removing filter 130 can be omitted.

(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a transmissive projector is described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a reflective projector. Here, “transmissive” means that the electro-optical device as light modulating means transmits light, such as a transmissive liquid crystal panel, and “reflective” means reflective liquid crystal. This means that an electro-optical device as a light modulating means, such as a panel, is of a type that reflects light. When the present invention is applied to a reflection type projector, the same effect as that of a transmission type projector can be obtained.

(5) In the above embodiment, the projector 10
00 has a liquid crystal panel as an electro-optical device, but may instead have a micromirror type light modulator. For example, a DMD (digital micromirror device) (trademark of TI) can be used as the micromirror light modulation device. In general, any electro-optical device may be used as long as it modulates incident light in accordance with image information.

(6) In the above embodiment, the projector 1000 for displaying a color image has been described as an example, but the same applies to a projector for displaying a monochrome image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a projector to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the illumination optical system 100 of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lens array unit 140 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the polarization generating element array 160A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified apparatus for manufacturing the lens array unit 140.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an illumination optical system 400 used in a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lens array unit 440 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the lens array unit 440 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an illumination optical system 500 used in a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventionally used illumination optical system 900.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 Projector 100ax System optical axis 120 Light source device 122 Lamp 124 Reflector 126 Parallelizing lens 130 Ultraviolet removal filter 140 Lens array unit 142, 144 Lens array 142s, 144s Small lens 146 Light transmitting unit 160: polarization generation optical system 160A, 160B: polarization generation element array 160C: connection member 162: light shielding plate 162a: opening surface 162b: light shielding surface 164: polarization beam splitter array 164a: polarization separation film 164b: reflection film 164c: glass material 166 ... Λ / 2 phase difference plate 170... Superimposing lens 200... Color light separation optical system 220... Relay optical system 300R, 300G, 300B... Liquid crystal light valve 320... Cross dichroic prism 340. 440, 440A ... lens array units 442, 444 ... lens arrays 442s, 444s ... small lenses 446 ... translucent section 447 ... translucent section 460 ... polarization generating optical system 460A, 460B ... polarization generating element array 500 ... illumination optical system 540 ... Lens array unit 542, 544 ... Lens array 542s, 544s ... Small lens 546 ... Translucent part 800 ... Manufacturing apparatus 810 ... Stage 821, 822 ... Fixed member 831 and 832 ... X direction moving member 831a, 832a ... Lens molding die 840 ... Z-direction moving member 900: illumination optical system 920: light source device 922: lamp 924: reflector 942, 944: lens array 942s, 944s: small lens 960: polarization generating optical system 962: light shielding plate 962a: aperture surface 962b: light shielding surface 964 … Polarized beam Splitter array 964a ... Polarization separation film 964b ... Reflection film 964c ... Glass material 966 ... Selection phase difference plate 966a ... Aperture layer 966b ... λ / 2 phase difference layer 970 ... Superimposed lens LA ... Illumination area SC ... Screen

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G02F 1/13357 G03B 21/14 Z 5G435 G03B 21/00 G09F 9/00 360D 21/14 H04N 5/74 A G09F 9/00 360 9/31 C H04N 5/74 G02B 27/00 V 9/31 G02F 1/1335 530 (72) Inventor Takeshi Takezawa 3-5 Yamato 3-chome, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture F Seiko Epson Corporation F Term (reference) 2H052 BA02 BA03 BA09 BA14 2H088 EA15 HA12 HA13 HA14 HA15 HA18 HA20 HA21 HA24 HA25 HA28 MA20 2H091 FA02Y FA05X FA11Z FA14Z FA26Z FA29X FA34Z FA41Z FB08 FD13 LA12 LA15 5C058 EA02 EA12 EA12 EA12 EA12 EA13 GB HC01 HC16 HC19 JB06 5G435 AA00 AA04 AA19 BB12 BB15 BB17 CC12 DD05 EE25 FF02 FF05 FF08 FF12 GG02 GG04 GG08 GG16 G G23 GG28 KK07 LL15

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A lens array unit, comprising: a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses arranged in a matrix; and a matrix arranged corresponding to each of the first small lenses. A second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses, and connecting the first and second lens arrays,
A light transmitting unit for guiding light from the lens array to the second lens array. 2. The lens array unit according to claim 1, wherein a refractive index of said light transmitting portion is substantially the same as a refractive index of said first and second lens arrays. 3. The lens array unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lens arrays and the light transmitting unit are
A lens array unit that is integrally molded using a mold. 4. The lens array unit according to claim 3, wherein the lens array unit has a substantially hexahedral shape, and wherein the first and second lens arrays are formed of six of the lens array units. A lens array unit formed on two opposing surfaces having relatively small areas among the surfaces. 5. The lens array unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second lens arrays includes a decentered small lens. . 6. An illumination optical system, comprising: a light source device; and a lens array unit according to claim 1, which divides a light beam emitted from the light source device into a plurality of partial light beams. A superimposing lens for superimposing each partial light beam emitted from the lens array unit on the predetermined illumination area. 7. An illumination optical system, comprising: a light source device; a light beam emitted from the light source device, divided into a plurality of partial light beams; An illumination optical system, comprising: the lens array unit according to claim 1. 8. An illumination optical system according to claim 6 or 7, an electro-optical device that modulates light from the illumination optical system according to image information, and a modulation obtained by the electro-optical device. A projection optical system for projecting a light beam.