JP2003262917A - Optical device, and projector having this optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical device which can deal with downsizing and brightness increase and can improve the cooling efficiency and a projection having the same. <P>SOLUTION: The optical device 44 is constituted by being provided with pedestals 445 which are respectively fixed to the top and under surfaces (a pair of end faces approximately orthogonal with a luminous flux incident end face) of a cross dichroic prism 444 in order to cool liquid crystal panels 441 and a polarizing film 443A, a holding frame 446 which holds the respective liquid crystal panels 441 within the frame, a sapphire plate 447 as a transparent member which is arranged to enclose the luminous flux incident end face and luminous flux exit end face of the dichroic prism 444 and is attached to the flanks of the pedestals 445, an elastic member 448 which is interposed between the sapphire plate 447 and the flanks of the pedestals 445 and a spacer 449 which is interposed between the holding frame 446 and the sapphire plate 447. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical device in which a light modulator for modulating color light according to image information and a color combining optical device for combining color light modulated by the light modulator are integrated, and The present invention relates to a projector provided with this optical device.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a light flux emitted from a light source is separated into three primary colors of red, green, and blue by a dichroic mirror, and three liquid crystal panels are used to modulate each color of light according to image information. A so-called three-plate type projector is known in which the modulated color lights are combined by a cross dichroic prism and a color image is enlarged and projected through a projection lens. In such a projector, each liquid crystal panel must always be located at the back focus position of the projection lens. Therefore, in the past, the liquid crystal panel was fixed directly to the light-incident end face of the cross dichroic prism while adjusting its position. A specialized optical device is adopted. As a mounting structure of the liquid crystal panel and the cross dichroic prism in this integrated optical device, for example, as described in JP-A-2000-221588, holes are provided at four corners of a holding frame in which each liquid crystal panel is housed. And a structure in which a pin is inserted into this hole to bond and fix it to the light-incident end face of the cross dichroic prism, or as described in JP-A-10-10994, a holding frame and a cross dichroic prism. There is a structure in which a wedge-shaped spacer is interposed between and to bond and fix to the light flux incident end surface of the cross dichroic prism. To cool the liquid crystal panel in such an integrated optical device, a pin or spacer is used to form a gap between the holding frame and the cross dichroic prism, and cooling air is introduced into the gap using an air cooling fan. It is done by forced cooling.

[0003]

However, in recent years,
The projector is downsized, the brightness is promoted, the optical device itself is downsized, and the gap between the liquid crystal panel and the cross dichroic prism is small, so that cooling air hardly enters the gap, The structure relying only on the forced cooling has a problem that the cooling efficiency is poor and the liquid crystal panel is easily deteriorated. Further, in order to avoid the above problems, it is considered to increase the cooling air amount passing through the gap to improve the cooling efficiency, but this causes a problem that the noise due to the cooling fan is increased. . Furthermore, in order to increase the amount of cooling air,
A larger cooling fan is required. There is a problem that an increase in the size of the fan leads to an increase in the size of the projector itself, which hinders the size reduction of the projector.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical device which can be made compact and have high brightness, and which can improve cooling efficiency, and a projector having the optical device.

[0005]

An optical device of the present invention synthesizes a plurality of light modulators for modulating a plurality of color lights for each color light according to image information and the respective color lights modulated by the light modulator. An optical device integrally provided with a color synthesizing optical device, wherein a plurality of heat-conductive transparent members arranged so as to surround a light flux exit end face and a light flux incident end face of the color synthesizing optical device; And a pedestal made of a heat conductive material fixed to a pair of end faces intersecting the light flux incident end face of the synthesizing optical device, wherein the light modulation device is mounted on the transparent member, and the transparent member is the pedestal side surface. It is characterized by being connected.

According to the present invention as described above, the optical device is
The light modulator including the transparent member and the pedestal is mounted on the transparent member, and the transparent member is connected to the side surface of the pedestal, so that heat of the light modulator due to irradiation of the light flux from the light source is thermally conductive. It is possible to radiate heat to the transparent member, and further to the pedestal made of a heat conductive material, and improve the cooling efficiency of the optical modulator. Further, since the transparent member is arranged so as to surround the light flux exit end surface and the light flux entrance end surface of the color combining optical device, not only the transparent member mounted on the light flux entrance end surface of the color combining optical device but also the light flux exiting member The transparent member mounted on the end face can also function as a heat radiation path for heat generated in the light modulation device due to the irradiation of the light flux from the light source, so that the cooling efficiency of the light modulation device can be further improved. Therefore, by using the cooling fan together, the heat generated in the light modulation device can be cooled by the forced cooling by the cooling fan, the natural air cooling, and the conduction heat dissipation, and the cooling efficiency of the light modulation device is further improved. be able to.

Further, by adopting the cooling structure as described above, it is possible to reduce the number of cooling fans used in combination and further reduce the rotational speed of the cooling fans to cope with weak cooling air. Therefore, noise reduction and size reduction of the projector can be promoted. In addition, since the light modulator is adhesively fixed to the side surface of the pedestal via the transparent member, that is, nothing is adhered to the light flux incident end surface of the color synthesizing optical device. The size can be reduced in the direction in which the pair of pedestals face each other. As a result, the cost can be significantly reduced, and the miniaturization of the projector itself can be promoted along with the miniaturization of the color synthesizing optical device.

In the optical device of the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of transparent members are connected to each other. In such a configuration, since the plurality of transparent members are connected to each other, it is possible to suppress the temperature difference caused by the difference in the amount of heat generated in each light modulation device, and to equalize the heat radiation.

In the optical device of the present invention, it is preferable that the transparent member and the pedestal are connected via a heat conductive elastic member. Here, as the heat conductive elastic member, silicone rubber mixed with metal powder such as aluminum or carbon can be used. When the transparent member and the pedestal are made of different members, when the transparent member and the pedestal are thermally expanded by the heat generated in the light modulator by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source, the transparent member and the pedestal are A large thermal stress will be generated at the interface.
As a result, the thermal stress breaks the connection between the transparent member and the pedestal, and the pixel shift due to the mutual positional shift of the light modulators fixed to the transparent member or the light modulator from the back focus position of the projection lens. It will cause misalignment.

Here, since the transparent member and the pedestal are connected through the heat conductive silicone rubber, the transparent member and the pedestal are heated by the heat generated in the light modulator by the irradiation of the light beam from the light source. When expanded, the thermal stress generated between the transparent member and the pedestal can be absorbed by the silicone rubber, which is an elastic body, and the connection state between the transparent member and the pedestal can be maintained. Alternatively, the focus shift can be prevented. Also, because this silicone rubber has thermal conductivity,
It is possible to maintain the connection state between the transparent member and the pedestal, improve the heat radiation characteristic from the transparent member to the pedestal, and improve the cooling efficiency of the optical modulator. Furthermore, the heat generated in the light modulator by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source also thermally expands the silicone rubber itself, and the thermal expansion of the silicone rubber improves the adhesion between the transparent member and the member on the pedestal.
Good thermal conductivity from the transparent member to the pedestal.

In the optical device of the present invention, the light modulating device includes a light modulating element for performing light modulation, and a holding frame having an opening corresponding to an image forming area of the light modulating element. It is preferably composed of a heat conductive material. Here, as the heat conductive material, a heat conductive resin added with carbon, titanium, aluminum, silicon fluoride or the like can be adopted. Further, as the light modulation element, a liquid crystal panel having a structure in which a drive substrate made of glass or the like and a counter substrate are bonded to each other with a sealing material at a predetermined interval and liquid crystal is injected between both substrates is adopted. can do. In such a configuration, the light modulator is
An optical modulator and a holding frame are provided, and the holding frame is made of a heat conductive resin to which the above-mentioned carbon, titanium, aluminum, silicon fluoride or the like is added, so that the coefficient of linear expansion of the heat conductive resin is glass. It can be made closer to the material, and the thermal expansion deformation of the liquid crystal panel and the holding frame due to the irradiation of the light flux from the light source can be contained in substantially the same degree. Therefore, the thermal stress generated due to the difference in the linear expansion coefficient can be relaxed, the displacement of mutual positions of the liquid crystal panels can be prevented, the pixel displacement of the display image can be avoided, and the liquid crystal panel of the liquid crystal panel due to the thermal stress can be prevented. It is possible to avoid damage and the like.

In the optical device of the present invention, it is preferable that a wedge-shaped spacer made of a heat conductive material is interposed between the holding frame and the transparent member. In such a configuration, since the wedge-shaped spacer is interposed between the holding frame and the transparent member, the position of the wedge-shaped spacer is adjusted in order to adjust the back focus position from the pixel of the projected image or the projection lens. The position of each liquid crystal panel can be adjusted by moving, and the position of each liquid crystal panel can be arranged in an appropriate state. Further, since the wedge-shaped spacer is made of a heat conductive material, the thermal resistance between the light modulation device and the transparent member is reduced, and the heat generated in the light modulation device by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source is radiated. It is possible to improve the characteristics and improve the cooling efficiency of the optical modulator.

In the optical device of the present invention, the spacer is
This spacer, the holding frame, is composed of a translucent member.
It is preferable that the transparent member is fixedly adhered by a photo-curable adhesive interposed therebetween. Here, as the translucent member, sapphire, crystal, fluorite, or the like can be used. In such a configuration, the spacer is composed of a light-transmissive member, and the spacer, the holding frame, and the transparent member are bonded and fixed by a photo-curable adhesive that is interposed therebetween, so that the optical device is During manufacturing, in joining the transparent member and the holding frame, by irradiating the spacer with ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet light is transmitted through the spacer, and the holding frame and the transparent member can be easily joined, To improve the manufacturing efficiency of optical devices.

In the optical device of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of spacers having a length dimension shorter than the total length of the interposed portions are interposed between the holding frame and the transparent member. In such a configuration, since a plurality of spacers having a length dimension shorter than the total length of these interposed portions are interposed between the holding frame and the transparent member, the space between the holding frame and the transparent member is increased. The thermal stress in the spacers is dispersed, the deformation of the outer shape of each spacer can be reduced, and the optical modulator can be reliably held. Therefore, the mutual positional states of the respective light modulators can be secured, and the pixel shift of the projected image can be avoided.

In the optical device of the present invention, the optical parts constituting the optical device are housed and arranged on a predetermined illumination optical axis, and at least a part of them is attached to an optical part housing made of a heat conductive material, When the optical device is mounted on the pedestal, the thermally conductive elastic member comes into contact with the portion of the optical component housing made of the thermally conductive material in a biased state. Is preferably provided. Here, as the thermally conductive elastic member, a stretchable spring silicone rubber can be adopted. In such a configuration, when the optical device is mounted on the optical component housing, the spring silicone rubber that comes into contact with the portion of the optical component housing made of the thermally conductive material in the biased state is provided on the pedestal. By being provided, the heat generated in the light modulator by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source is radiated from the transparent member to the pedestal,
Further, since the heat is radiated from the pedestal to the optical component casing via the spring silicone rubber, it is possible to increase the total amount of heat that can be conducted and radiated from the optical modulator, and further improve the cooling efficiency of the optical modulator. be able to.

In the optical device of the present invention, the holding frame includes:
When the optical device is attached to the optical component casing, a thermally conductive elastic member is provided that abuts a portion of the optical component casing made of a thermally conductive material in a biased state. It is preferable. Here, as the heat conductive elastic member,
Silicone rubber mixed with metal powder such as aluminum or carbon can be used. Usually, a polarizing plate or an optical compensation film that optically processes a light beam emitted from the liquid crystal panel is arranged between the liquid crystal panel and the color synthesizing optical device. Therefore, in the case of radiating the heat generated in the liquid crystal panel by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source, the polarizing plate or the optical compensation film is arranged in the heat radiation path. Etc., the cooling efficiency deteriorates.

Here, in the holding frame, when the optical device is mounted on the optical component casing, a silicone rubber that comes into contact with the portion made of the heat conductive material of the optical component casing in a biased state is provided. Since it is provided, the heat generated in the liquid crystal panel can be radiated from the holding frame to the optical component housing via the silicone rubber, and the heat radiation paths for the heat generated in the liquid crystal panel can be provided in parallel The total amount of heat is increased to improve the cooling efficiency of the liquid crystal panel, and the amount of heat flowing to the normal heat dissipation path is reduced to improve the cooling efficiency of the polarizing plate or the optical compensation film arranged in the heat dissipation path. be able to.

In the optical device of the present invention, it is preferable that the pedestal is made of sapphire, crystal, fluorite, or a heat conductive resin. In such a configuration, the pedestal is made of sapphire, quartz, fluorite, or a thermally conductive resin, so that the thermal expansion coefficient of the pedestal is substantially the same as the thermal expansion coefficient of the transparent member. The thermal stress between the pedestal and the transparent member is reduced, the transparent member is damaged, the liquid crystal panels are displaced from each other due to the damage (pixel displacement), and the back focus position of the projection lens is changed. Positional shift (focus shift) and the like can be avoided.

On the other hand, the projector of the present invention is characterized by including any one of the above-mentioned optical devices in order to achieve the above object. According to the present invention, it is possible to enjoy a projector that exhibits substantially the same actions and effects as those of the optical device described above. Further, by using the above-described optical device, it is possible to easily downsize the projector, and it is possible to reliably cool the optical element inside the projector and prolong the life of the projector.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1. Main Configuration of Projector] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a projector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from above,
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the state of FIG. 1 with the upper case 21 removed. The projector 1 has an outer case 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, a cooling unit 3 for cooling heat accumulated in the projector 1, and an optical image corresponding to image information by optically processing a light beam emitted from a light source. The optical unit 4 to be formed is provided. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 2, a power supply block and a lamp drive circuit are housed in a space other than the optical unit 4 in the outer case 2. The outer case 2 is made of metal, and is made up of an upper case 21 that forms the top, front, and side of the projector 1, and a lower case 22 that forms the bottom, side, and back of the projector 1. ing. These cases 21,
22 are fixed to each other with screws.

The upper case 21 includes an upper surface portion 211,
A side surface portion 212 and a back surface portion 213 provided around the periphery thereof.
And the front part 214. The upper surface portion 211 is provided with an intake port 211A which is located above an optical device to be described later and which sucks cooling air from the outside by the cooling unit 3. An exhaust port 212A for exhausting the air warmed inside the projector 1 by the cooling unit 3 is provided on the side surface portion 212 (right side surface when viewed from the front).

Although not specifically shown in the drawing, the rear portion 213 is provided with a connecting portion for connecting a computer and various equipment connecting terminals such as a video input terminal and an audio equipment connecting terminal. Inside the section 213, an interface board on which a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing of video signals and the like is mounted is arranged. In the front part 214,
The lower case 2 has a notch portion 214A formed therein.
A circular opening 2A is formed in a state of being combined with 2, and a part of the optical unit 4 arranged inside the outer case 2 is exposed to the outside from the opening 2A. The optical image formed by the optical unit 4 is emitted through the opening 2A, and the image is displayed on the screen.

The lower case 22 includes a bottom surface portion 221, a side surface portion 222 provided around the bottom surface portion 221, a back surface portion 223,
The front part 224 is formed. Although not shown in the drawing, the bottom surface portion 221 is located below the optical unit 4,
An opening for attaching and detaching a light source device described later is formed,
A lamp cover is fitted in the opening and is detachably provided. A cutout portion 224A is formed in the front surface portion 224, and in a state of being combined with the upper case 21, a circular opening portion 2A is formed continuously with the cutout portion 214A described above.

The cooling unit 3 sends cooling air to a cooling flow path formed inside the projector 1 to cool the heat generated inside the projector 1, and above the optical device 44 of the optical unit 4. Located in the vicinity of the light source device 411 of the optical unit 4 and the axial intake fan 31 that sucks cooling air from the intake port 211A formed in the upper surface portion 211 of the upper case 21, and inside the optical unit 4 and the projector. The air outlet 2 formed in the side surface portion 212 of the upper case 21 by drawing the air inside
Sirocco fan 3 that discharges warm air from 12A
2 and.

The optical unit 4 is a unit for optically processing the light beam emitted from the light source lamp 416 to form an optical image corresponding to image information. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical unit 4 is located on the right side of the lower case 22. It has a substantially L-shape in a plane extending from the side surface 222 to the front surface 214 along the back surface 223 and further along the left side surface 222.
Although not specifically shown, the optical unit 4 is supplied with power through a power cable and is electrically connected to a power supply device for supplying the supplied power to the light source lamp 416 of the optical unit 4. There is. Further, above the optical unit 4, in order to project an optical image according to the image information, the liquid crystal panel 441 which becomes an optical modulation device described later by taking in image information, performing control and arithmetic processing, etc.
A control board that controls R, 441G, and 441B is arranged.

[2. Detailed Configuration of Optical System] FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the optical unit 4 as seen from above. Figure 4
It is a top view which shows the optical system in the optical unit 4 typically. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical unit 4 includes an integrator illumination optical system 41, a color separation optical system 42, a relay optical system 43, an optical device 44, and a projection lens 46. As shown in FIG. 3, these optical components are mounted and fixed in a light guide 47 as a housing for optical components. In FIG. 4, the integrator illumination optical system 41 includes three liquid crystal panels 441 (the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 4 for each of red, green, and blue color lights, respectively) that constitute the optical device 44.
41B), which is an optical system for illuminating the image forming area substantially uniformly, and includes a light source device 411, a first lens array 412, a second lens array 413, a polarization conversion optical element 414, and a superimposing lens 415. It has and.

Of these, the light source device 411 includes a light source lamp 416 that emits a radial ray and an elliptical mirror 417 that reflects the radiation light emitted from the light source lamp 416.
And a collimating concave lens 411A for collimating the light emitted from the light source lamp 416 and reflected by the ellipsoidal mirror 417.
With. A UV filter (not shown) is provided on the plane portion of the parallelizing concave lens 411A. As the light source lamp 416, a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, or a high pressure mercury lamp is often used. Further, a parabolic mirror may be used instead of the ellipsoidal mirror 417 and the parallelizing concave lens 411A.

Further, the first lens array 412, the second lens array 413, and the polarization conversion optical element 414 are integrally combined and installed and fixed in the housing. The first lens array 412 has a configuration in which small lenses having a substantially rectangular contour when viewed in the optical axis direction are arranged in a matrix. Each small lens splits the light flux emitted from the light source lamp 416 into a plurality of partial light fluxes. The contour shape of each small lens is set to be substantially similar to the shape of the image forming area of the liquid crystal panel 441. For example, if the aspect ratio (ratio of horizontal and vertical dimensions) of the image forming area of the liquid crystal panel 441 is 4: 3, the aspect ratio of each small lens is also set to 4: 3.

The second lens array 413 has substantially the same structure as the first lens array 412, and has small lenses arranged in a matrix. This second lens array 412, together with the superimposing lens 415,
The image of each small lens of the lens array 412 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 44.
1 has an image forming function.

The polarization conversion optical element 414 is arranged between the second lens array 413 and the superimposing lens 415 and is unitized with the second lens array 413. Such a polarization conversion optical element 414 converts the light from the second lens array 413 into one type of polarized light, which improves the light utilization efficiency of the optical device 44.

Specifically, each partial light converted into one type of polarized light by the polarization conversion optical element 414 is finally subjected to the superimposing lens 415 and finally the liquid crystal panel 44 of the optical device 44.
Substantially superimposed on 1R, 441G and 441B. Since a projector using a liquid crystal panel of a type that modulates polarized light can use only one type of polarized light, almost half of the light from the light source lamp 416 that emits randomly polarized light cannot be used. Therefore, the polarization conversion optical element 4
By using 14, the light emitted from the light source lamp 416 is converted into almost one type of polarized light, and the light utilization efficiency of the optical device 44 is improved. Such a polarization conversion optical element 414 is introduced in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-304739.

The color separation optical system 42 includes two dichroic mirrors 421 and 422 and a reflection mirror 423. The dichroic mirrors 421 and 422 divide a plurality of partial light beams emitted from the integrator illumination optical system 41 into red and green. , And has a function of separating into three color lights of blue.

The relay optical system 43 includes an incident side lens 43.
1, relay lens 433, and reflection mirrors 432, 4
34, and has a function of guiding the color light and the red light separated by the color separation optical system 42 to the liquid crystal panel 441R.

At this time, the dichroic mirror 421 of the color separation optical system 42 reflects the blue light component of the light beam emitted from the integrator illumination optical system 41 and transmits the red light component and the green light component. The blue light reflected by the dichroic mirror 421 is reflected by the reflection mirror 42.
The light is reflected at 3 and passes through the field lens 418 to reach the blue liquid crystal panel 441B. This field lens 4
Reference numeral 18 converts each partial light flux emitted from the second lens array 413 into a light flux parallel to the central axis (chief ray) thereof. The same applies to the field lens 418 provided on the light incident side of the other liquid crystal panels 441G and 441R.

Of the red light and the green light transmitted through the dichroic mirror 421, the green light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 422, passes through the field lens 418, and reaches the liquid crystal panel 441G for green. On the other hand, the red light passes through the dichroic mirror 422, passes through the relay optical system 43, and further passes through the field lens 418 to reach the liquid crystal panel 441R for red light. The relay optical system 43 is used for red light because the optical path length of red light is longer than the optical path lengths of other color lights, so that the reduction of light utilization efficiency due to light divergence or the like is prevented. This is because. That is, the partial light flux that has entered the incident side lens 431 is directly transmitted to the field lens 418.

The optical device 44 includes three optical modulators 440.
The liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B as the light modulation elements and the cross dichroic prism 444 as the color synthesizing optical device, which form (FIGS. 8 and 9), are integrally formed. Liquid crystal panels 441R and 441
G and 441B are, for example, those in which a polysilicon TFT is used as a switching element, and the color separation optical system 42
The respective color lights separated by are separated by these three liquid crystal panels 441.
By R, 441G, 441B, and the polarizing plate 442 on the light-incident side and the polarizing plate 443 on the exit side,
An optical image is formed by being modulated according to image information. The liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 44 will be described later in detail.
1B is composed of a driving substrate provided with pixel electrodes in which switching elements of TFTs are arranged in a matrix and a voltage is applied by the switching elements, and an opposite substrate having opposite electrodes corresponding to the pixel electrodes. .

The cross dichroic prism 444 is
The image modulated for each color light emitted from the three liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B is combined to form a color image. In the cross dichroic prism 444, a dielectric multilayer film that reflects red light and a dielectric multilayer film that reflects blue light are formed in a substantially X shape along the interfaces of the four rectangular prisms. Three color lights are combined by the dielectric multilayer film. The color image combined by the prism 444 is projected by the projection lens 46.
And is enlarged and projected on the screen.

[3. Structure of Optical Component Housing] Each of the optical systems 41 to 44 described above is housed in a metal light guide 47 as an optical component housing, as shown in FIG. The light guide 47 is composed of a lower light guide 48 that forms a bottom surface, a front surface, and a side surface, respectively, and a lid-shaped upper light guide 49 that closes the upper opening side of the lower light guide 48.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the lower light guide 48. FIG. 6 shows the light guide 47 to the light source device 411.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the is removed. FIG. 7 is an overall perspective view of the light guide 47 as seen from below. Figure 6
As shown in FIG.
And a light source device housing portion 481 for housing
11A, 412 to 415, 42 to 44 are housed in an optical component housing section 482, and a projection optical system installation section 483 in which the projection lens 46 is installed. As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the light source device housing portion 481 has a box shape having an opening at the bottom and a rectangular opening 481A on the inner side surface.
The light source device 411 is housed in. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the light source device 411 is mounted and fixed on the fixing plate 411B, and is fixed from below the light source device accommodating portion 481.
Along with B, it is stored in the light source device storage portion 481.

The fixing plate 411B has standing pieces 411B1 extending from both end edges of the plate-like body.
11B1 has different height dimensions along the luminous flux emitted from the light source device 411, and the ellipsoidal mirror 417 of the light source device 411.
The height from the center to the front of the light source device 41 is
The height of the ellipsoidal mirror 417 is substantially the same as the height of the light source device 411. When the light source device 411 is housed in the light source device housing portion 481 of the lower light guide 48 together with the fixing plate 411B, the opening 4 formed in the light source device housing portion 481.
81A and the upright piece 411B1 allows the light source device 41
The front part of 1 is in a closed state, and the rear part is in a blow-through state.

The closed state in the front portion of the light source device 411 can prevent the light flux emitted from the light source device 411 from leaking to the outside, and the blow-through state in the rear portion allows the light source device housing portion 481 to be housed inside. The structure is such that the heat generated in the light source device 411 does not stay.

The optical component storage portion 482 is a side surface portion 482A.
And a bottom surface portion 482B. On the inner side surface of the side surface portion 482A, a parallelizing concave lens 411A, a unit including a first lens array 412, a second lens array 413, and a polarization conversion optical element 414, and a superimposing lens 415 are slidable from above. A first groove 482A1 for fitting and a second groove 482A2 for slidingly fitting the incident side lens 431, the reflection mirror 432, and the relay lens 433 from above are formed. In addition, the optical device 4 is provided on the front surface of the side surface portion 482A.
4, a circular hole 482A3 is formed corresponding to the position where the light beam is emitted from the projection lens 4, and the projection lens 4 passes through the hole 482A3.
The image light enlarged and projected in 6 is displayed on the screen.

A first boss portion 482B1 for supporting the dichroic mirror 421 and the second boss portion 482B are provided on the bottom surface portion 482B.
Second boss portion 482 having a groove corresponding to the groove portion 482A2
B2 and the third boss 48 so as to surround the optical device 44.
2B3 is projected from the bottom surface. Also, the bottom portion 48
2B includes an intake port 482B4 for cooling the unit including the polarization conversion optical element 414 and an exhaust port 482B formed corresponding to the position of the liquid crystal panel 441 of the optical device 44.
5 and a hole 482B6 for installing the optical device 44 is formed in a central portion surrounded by the exhaust port 482B5. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, with the lower light guide 48 and the bottom surface portion 221 of the lower case 22 in contact with the back surface of the bottom surface portion 482B, the air discharged from the exhaust port 482B5 is guided to the outside. The duct 482B7 is formed.

The projection optical system installation portion 483 is located in the front portion of the side surface portion 482A of the optical component storage portion 482, is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and is provided integrally with the side surface portion 482A. Holes 483A for installing the projection lens 46 are formed at the four corners of the projection optical system installation portion 483, and are used as positioning when installing the projection lens 46 in the vicinity of two diagonal holes 483A. Protrusion 4
83B is formed. Since the projection optical system installation section 483 is integrally provided in the optical component storage section 482, the weight of the projection lens 46 can be reliably held.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper light guide 49 closes the upper opening of the lower light guide 48 except for the upper portion of the optical device 44.
An optical component that is not supported by the first groove portion 482A1 and the second groove portion 482A2 of the lower light guide 48, the reflection mirror 423, the dichroic mirror 422,
It supports the reflection mirror 434. An adjusting unit 49A is installed at a portion of the upper light guide 49 corresponding to the optical component position. The adjusting unit 49A adjusts the posture of the optical component and adjusts the illumination optical axis of each color light. be able to.

[4. Structure of Optical Device] FIG. 8 is an overall perspective view of the optical device 44 seen from above. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the optical device 44. In FIG. 9, the optical device 44 is disassembled on the liquid crystal panel 441B side and on the luminous flux exit side of the cross dichroic prism 444. The liquid crystal panels 441R and 441G are the liquid crystal panel 44.
Same as 1B.

The optical device 44 modulates the luminous flux emitted from the light source lamp 416 according to the image information, synthesizes the modulated color lights, and projects it as an optical image.
An optical modulator 440 for performing optical modulation, and this optical modulator 44
A cross dichroic prism 444 for combining the respective color lights emitted from 0, a pedestal 445 fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the cross dichroic prism 444 (a pair of end faces substantially orthogonal to the light flux incident end face), and the pedestal 44
The sapphire plate 447 as a transparent member attached to the five side surfaces, the elastic member 448 interposed between the sapphire plate 447 and the side surface of the pedestal 445, and the light modulator 440 and the sapphire plate 447. Wedge-shaped spacer 4
And 49.

The light modulator 440 is a liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 441B for modulating the luminous flux emitted from the light source lamp 416 according to image information, and each liquid crystal panel 44.
Holding frame 446 for storing and holding 1R, 441G, 441B
And is configured. As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid crystal panel 441B includes a drive substrate (eg, TFT substrate) 441.
A liquid crystal is sealed between D and a glass substrate which is a counter substrate 441E thereof, and a control cable 441C extends from between these glass substrates. Further, on the drive substrate 441D and / or the counter substrate 441E, the liquid crystal panel 44 is usually arranged from the back focus position of the projection lens 46.
A light-transmissive dustproof plate is attached to displace the position of the panel surface of No. 1 to make the dust that is optically attached to the panel surface inconspicuous. Here, as the light-transmissive dustproof plate, sapphire or quartz is used. A plate body having good thermal conductivity is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holding frame 446 holds and fixes the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B, and each of the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B.
And a support plate 446B that presses and fixes the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B that are engaged with and housed in the storage body 446A. Further, the holding frame 446 is formed by the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B.
The outer periphery of the light-transmitting dustproof plate fixed to the counter substrate 441E of the liquid crystal panel 441 is held in the housing 446A.
It is assumed that R, 441G, 441B are housed, and an opening 446C is provided at a position corresponding to the panel surface of each housed liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 441B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the housing 446A and the support plate 446B are fixed by hooks 446B1 provided on the left and right sides of the support plate 446B and hook engagements provided at corresponding positions of the housing 446A. This is performed by engaging with the portion 446A1. Here, each liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 4
41B is exposed at the opening 446C of the holding frame 446, and this portion becomes the image forming area. That is, the respective colored lights R, R, 441G, 441B,
G and B are introduced, and an optical image is formed according to the image information.

Further, slopes 446D are formed at the left and right edges of the end face on the light exit side of the housing 446A.
The spacer 449 is arranged to face 46D. The left and right edges of the support plate 446B also have a shape corresponding to the slope 446D. Further, a light-shielding film (not shown) is provided on the end faces of the housing 446A and the support plate 446B on the light exit side to further reflect the light reflected by the cross dichroic prism 444 to the cross dichroic prism 444 side. To prevent the deterioration of contrast due to stray light. The holding frame 446 as described above is made of carbon, titanium, aluminum,
It is made of a heat conductive resin to which silicon fluoride or the like is added.

The pedestal 445 is fixed to both upper and lower surfaces of the cross dichroic prism 444, and fixes the optical device 44 to the light guide 47. The pedestal 445 is made of aluminum having a high thermal conductivity, and the outer peripheral shape is the cross dichroic prism 444. It is almost the same. Although not specifically shown, the lower light guide 48 described above is installed on the lower surface of the pedestal 445 located below the cross dichroic prism 444 in order to install the integrated optical device 44 in the light guide 47. Positioning protrusions and holes for fixing are respectively provided corresponding to the holes 482B6 formed in the bottom surface portion 482B of the above, and are fixed by screws or the like. The pedestal 445 is made of aluminum,
The material is not limited to this, and may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as magnesium alloy or copper, or sapphire, crystal, fluorite, thermally conductive resin, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sapphire plate 447 holds and holds the holding frame 446 in which the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G and 441B are housed, and the pedestal 445 is fixed to the cross dichroic prism 444. It has a substantially same outer shape and is formed in a plate shape. The sapphire plates 447 are respectively arranged on the light-incident-side end surface and the light-beam-exit side end surface of the cross dichroic prism 444, and are connected and fixed to the side surface of the pedestal 445.

A polarizing film 443A is attached to a substantially central portion of the sapphire plate 447. That is, in addition to the function of holding and fixing the holding frame 446 accommodating the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B, the polarizing film 443A is attached and also functions as the polarizing plate 443 on the light beam emission side. Here,
Although a sapphire plate is used as the transparent member, quartz, quartz glass, fluorite, or the like may be used.

As shown in FIG. 9, the elastic member 448 is interposed between the sapphire plate 447 and the side surface of the pedestal 445 to relieve the thermal stress generated at the joint between the sapphire plate 447 and the pedestal 445. It is possible to employ a material which is formed of a silicone rubber having good thermal conductivity and elasticity and which has been subjected to a surface treatment for increasing the crosslinking density of the surface layer on both sides or one side. For example, Sarcon GR-d series (trademark of Fuji Polymer Co., Ltd.) can be adopted. Here, since the end surface is subjected to the surface treatment, the optical device 4
When assembling 4, the elastic member 448 can be easily positioned on the pedestal 445.

As shown in FIG. 9, the spacer 449 is interposed between the holding frame 446 and the sapphire plate 447 to adjust the position of the holding frame 446, has a substantially triangular cross section, and is made of sapphire. It consists of Two spacers 449 are arranged in each holding frame 446 (six pieces in total), contact the inclined surface 446D of the holding frame 446, move the holding frame 446 by the movement of the spacer 449, and move from the projection lens 46. The position of each liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 441B is adjusted to the back focus position. Details of this position adjustment will be described later. Here, the spacer 449 is made of sapphire, but not limited to sapphire, it may be made of quartz, quartz glass, fluorite, or the like.

[5. Manufacturing Method of Optical Device] Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of the optical device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. First, the polarizing film 44 is attached to the sapphire plate 447.
3A is attached, and the prism unit is assembled by the steps shown in the following (a), (b) and (c). (A) The pedestal 445 is bonded and fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the cross dichroic prism 444 using a thermosetting adhesive having good thermal conductivity. (B) The elastic member 448 is bonded and fixed to the side surface of the pedestal 445 by using a thermosetting adhesive having good thermal conductivity. (C) The sapphire plate 447 to which the polarizing film 443A is attached is connected via the elastic member 448 so as to surround the light flux incident end surface and the light flux exit end surface of the cross dichroic prism 444, and thermosetting with good thermal conductivity. Adhesive fixing is performed using a thermosetting adhesive or a photocurable adhesive.

Next, the holding frame 446 is assembled by the steps shown in (d) and (e) below, and attached to the prism unit. (D) Each liquid crystal panel 4 is placed in the housing 446A of the holding frame 446.
41R, 441G, 441B are housed and the counter substrate 4
Positioning is performed by using the outer periphery of the light-transmitting dustproof plate fixed to 41E, and further, a housing 44 is formed by using a heat conductive adhesive.
6A and each liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 441B are fixed. Then, the support plate 446B of the holding frame 446 is attached from the liquid crystal panel insertion side of the housing 446A, and the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B are pressed and fixed and held. The support plate 446B can be attached to the storage body 446A by engaging the hook 446B1 of the support plate 446B with the hook engagement portion 446A1 of the storage body 446A. (E) The end surface on the support plate 446B side of the holding frame 446 accommodating and holding the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B is brought into contact with the sapphire plate 447.

Next, the positions of the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G and 441B are adjusted by the step shown in (f) below. (F) Slope 446D of holding frame 446 and sapphire plate 44
Spacer 4 coated with a photo-curable adhesive between the end face of 7
49 and insert this spacer 44 along the slope 446D.
The holding frame 446 is positioned at the back focus position from the projection lens 46 while moving 9. A specific position adjusting method will be described later. (G) After that, the adhesive is cured to fix each member. The optical device is manufactured by the above-described process procedure.

Here, the movement of the spacer 449 is performed by utilizing the surface tension of the photo-curable adhesive applied to the surface of the spacer 449. As a method of fixing the holding frame 446, the sapphire plate 447, and the spacer 449, for example, first, spot temporary fixing is performed with a photo-curable adhesive, and then heat conduction is performed in a gap between the holding frame 446 and the sapphire plate 447. It can be fixed by filling with an adhesive. It should be noted that this position adjustment includes both focus adjustment and alignment adjustment.

The liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G,
The attachment of the 441B to the cross dichroic prism 444 does not necessarily have to be performed in the above order, and the state shown in FIG. 8 may be finally obtained. Then, the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441 integrated as described above.
B and the cross dichroic prism 444 include a pedestal 44 located below the cross dichroic prism 444.
The lower light guide 4 with the positioning protrusion formed on the lower surface of
No. 482B6 on both sides formed in the bottom surface portion 482B of FIG.
(Fig. 7), position it by inserting it into the center hole 482B.
6 (FIG. 7) and the fixing holes of the pedestal 445 are fixed with screws or the like.

Here, the optical device 44 is used as the lower light guide 4
10, the elastic member 50 is interposed between the left and right end surfaces of the holding frame 446 of the optical device 44 and the third boss portion 482B3 of the lower light guide 48, as shown in FIG. . The elastic member 50 may be made of elastic silicone rubber having good thermal conductivity, and both surfaces or one surface of which has been subjected to a surface treatment to increase the crosslinking density of the surface layer. For example, Sarcon GR-d series (trademark of Fuji Polymer Co., Ltd.) can be adopted.

[6. Liquid crystal panel position adjusting method] Liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 44 for the cross dichroic prism 444 in the position adjusting step (f) above
The three-dimensional position adjustment of 1B is performed by adjusting the slope 44 of the holding frame 446.
A spacer 449 coated with a photo-curable adhesive is inserted between the 6D and the sapphire plate 447, and the following procedure is performed with the adhesive uncured. First, the liquid crystal panel 441G directly facing the projection lens 46 is aligned and adjusted using the joint surface of the sapphire plate 447 and the spacer 449 as a sliding surface, and the joint portion of the holding frame 446 and the spacer 449, that is, the spacer 449 is held. The focus is adjusted by moving along the slope 446D of the frame 446. Projection lens 4
After adjusting the liquid crystal panel 441G to a predetermined position from 6, the photocurable adhesive is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to be cured and fixed. Here, the ultraviolet rays pass through the spacer 449 and are applied to the photocurable adhesive, and the photocurable adhesive is cured. Next, the liquid crystal panel 44 which is cured and fixed after the position adjustment is performed.
With 1G as the reference, the liquid crystal panel 441R,
The position of 441B is adjusted and fixed.

[7. Cooling structure by cooling unit] Fig. 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cooling flow path of the panel cooling system A. Figure 1
2 is a sectional view showing a cooling structure for cooling the optical device 44 by the panel cooling A. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cooling flow path of the light source cooling system B. The projector 1 of this embodiment includes a panel cooling system A that mainly cools the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B and a light source cooling system B that mainly cools the light source device 411. In panel cooling system A,
As shown in FIG. 11, an axial flow intake fan 31 arranged above the optical device 44 is used. The cooling air sucked from the intake port 211 </ b> A formed in the upper surface portion 211 of the upper case 21 by the axial flow intake fan 31 is guided to above the optical device 44. Here, since the upper light guide 49 is installed on the upper surface of the lower light guide 48 so that the upper surface of the optical device 44 is exposed, the cooling air sucked by the axial intake fan 31 is directed to the light guide 47. Can be taken in.

As shown in FIG. 12, the cooling air taken into the light guide 47 cools the upper surface of the pedestal 445, and the gap between the sapphire plate 447 formed by the spacer 449 and the holding frame 446, Or holding frame 44
The liquid crystal panels 441R and 4
41G, 441B light exit side and light entrance side, holding frame 446, sapphire plate 447, and polarizing film 4
43A is cooled, and the bottom surface portion 482B of the lower light guide 48 is
It is discharged to the outside of the light guide 47 through the exhaust port 482B5 formed in the.

The air that has passed through the exhaust port 482B5 formed in the bottom surface portion 482B of the lower light guide 48 is formed with the lower light guide 48 in contact with the bottom surface portion 221 of the lower case 22, as shown in FIG. Duct 482B
7 and is blown to the front side of the optical unit 4. As shown in FIG. 11, the air that cools the optical device 44 and is blown to the front side of the optical unit 4 through the duct 482B7 is finally drawn to the sirocco fan 32 arranged near the light source device 411. Upper case 2
The exhaust gas is discharged through the exhaust port 212A formed in the side surface portion 212 of No. 1.

Here, the cooling air by the panel cooling system A not only plays a role of cooling the optical device 44, but is also blown onto the surfaces of the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G and 441B to remove dust and the like adhering to the panel surface. It also has the role of blowing off. Liquid crystal panel 4 by panel cooling system A
Since the surfaces of 41R, 441G, and 441B can be always cleaned, the projector 1 can project an optical image of stable image quality on a screen or the like.

In the light source cooling system B, as shown in FIG.
Sirocco fan 32 provided near the light source device 411
Is used. The intake port of the sirocco fan 32 has a rectangular shape formed by an opening 481A formed in the side surface of the light source device housing 481 of the lower light guide 48 and a standing piece 411B1 of a fixing plate 411B for mounting and fixing the light source device 411. Are arranged to face each other.

The cooling air that has entered the light guide 47 by the panel cooling system A is as shown in FIG.
The bottom part 4 of the lower light guide 48 is cooled by cooling the optical device 44.
In addition to being discharged to the outside of the light guide 47 through the exhaust port 482B5 formed in 82B, the sirocco fan 32 pulls the light through the inside of the light guide 47 toward the rear side of the light source device 411. In the process of being drawn by the sirocco fan 32, the first lens array 412, the second lens array 413, and the polarization conversion optical element 414, which are integrated, are cooled and then enter the inside of the light source device 411 to cool the light source lamp. 416 and elliptical mirror 417 are cooled.

The air used to cool the light source device 411 and the like is
A sirocco fan passes through a rectangular gap formed by an opening 481A formed in the side surface of the light source device housing 481 of the lower light guide 48 and a standing piece 411B1 of a fixing plate 411B for mounting and fixing the light source device 411. 32 is aspirated,
It is discharged through an exhaust port 212A formed in the side surface portion 212 of the upper case 21.

[8. Heat Dissipation Structure of Optical Device] FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a thermal circuit network for explaining a heat radiation path of the optical device 44. In the projector 1 of the present embodiment, in cooling the optical device 44, not only the forced cooling by the cooling fan but also the heat dissipation path is secured by the structure of the optical device 44. The heat dissipation path of the optical device 44 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 14.

By irradiating the luminous flux from the light source device 411,
Liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441 of the optical device 44
Heat is generated in B and the polarizing film 443A on the light beam emission side. As shown in FIG. 14, the liquid crystal panel 441 is connected to the internal air in the light guide 47 and the holding frame 446, and the heat generated in the liquid crystal panel 441 is exchanged with the cooling air by the panel cooling system A. The heat is radiated to the holding frame 446 that is stored and held. Further, the polarizing film 443A on the light beam exit side has the same internal air inside the light guide 47 as the liquid crystal panel 441 and the sapphire plate 44.
7 and the heat generated in the polarizing film 443A is
Along with heat exchange with the cooling air by the panel cooling system A, heat is radiated to the sapphire plate 447.

The holding frame 446 is similar to the liquid crystal panel 441 in that the internal air in the light guide 47 and the holding frame 44 are kept.
6 is connected to the sapphire plate 447 via the two spacers 449 abutting against the inclined surface 446D and the light guide 47 via the elastic members 50 installed at the left and right end edges of the holding frame 446, and is transmitted to the holding frame 446. The generated heat is radiated to the sapphire plate 447 and the light guide 47 together with the heat exchange with the cooling air by the panel cooling system A.

The sapphire plate 447 is used for the liquid crystal panel 4 described above.
Similar to 41, the internal air in the light guide 47 is connected to the pedestal 445 fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the cross dichroic prism 444, and the heat transferred to the sapphire plate 447 is cooled by the panel cooling system A. The heat is radiated to the upper and lower pedestals 445 together with the heat exchange. Pedestal 44 fixed above the cross dichroic prism 444
5 is connected to the internal air in the light guide 47, and the heat transferred to the pedestal 445 fixed above is exchanged with the cooling air by the panel cooling system A.

The pedestal 445 fixed below the cross dichroic prism 444 is connected to the bottom portion 482B of the lower light guide 48, and the heat transferred to the pedestal 445 fixed below is radiated to the light guide 47. It The light guide 47 is connected to the internal air in the projector 1, and the heat transferred to the light guide 47 exchanges heat with the internal air in the projector 1 and is discharged to the outside by the sirocco fan 32. .

As described above, the optical device 4 is constructed by connecting the respective members constituting the optical device 44 and the cooling unit 3.
4 is cooled.

[9. Effects of Embodiment] According to the present embodiment as described above, there are the following effects. (1) The optical device 44 includes the pedestal 445 and the sapphire plate 44.
7, and liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B
The holding frame 446 accommodating the liquid crystal panel 441 is bonded and fixed to the side surface of the base 445 through the sapphire plate 447, so that the liquid crystal panel 441 is irradiated by the light flux from the light source device 411.
The heat of R, 441G, 441B can be radiated to the sapphire plate 447 and further to the pedestal 445, and the cooling efficiency of the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B can be improved. (2) Since the sapphire plate 447 is connected and mounted so as to surround the light flux exit end surface and the light flux entrance end surface of the cross dichroic prism 444, the difference in the amount of heat generated in each liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 441B is eliminated. It is possible to suppress the temperature difference caused and to equalize heat dissipation.

(3) Cross dichroic prism 44
No. 4 sapphire plate 447 mounted on the light emitting surface
Can also function as a heat radiation path for heat generated in the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B due to the irradiation of the light flux from the light source device 411.
The cooling efficiency of R, 441G, and 441B can be further improved. (4) The holding frame 446 accommodating the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B is adhesively fixed to the side surface of the pedestal 445 via the sapphire plate 447, that is,
Since nothing is attached to the light-incident end surface of the cross dichroic prism 444, the size of the cross dichroic prism 444 can be reduced in the direction in which the pair of pedestals 445 face each other. As a result, a significant cost reduction can be achieved, and the cross dichroic prism 44
The miniaturization of the projector 1 itself is promoted in accordance with the miniaturization of the projector 4.

(5) Since the elastic member 448 having good thermal conductivity is interposed between the pedestal 445 and the sapphire plate 447, the liquid crystal panels 441R and 441G are irradiated by the luminous flux from the light source device 411. , 441B when the sapphire plate 447 and the pedestal 445 are thermally expanded, the elastic member 448 can absorb the thermal stress generated between the sapphire plate 447 and the pedestal 445. Since the connection state with the 445 can be maintained, pixel shift or focus shift can be prevented.

(6) Since the elastic member 448 has a good thermal conductivity, the sapphire plate 447 and the pedestal 4 are
The connection state with 45 is maintained, and the sapphire plate 4
It is possible to improve the heat dissipation characteristic from 47 to the pedestal 445 and improve the cooling efficiency of the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B. (7) The elastic member 448 itself thermally expands due to the heat generated in the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 441B by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source device 411, and the thermal expansion of the elastic member 448 causes the sapphire plate 447 and the pedestal 445 to be formed. Adhesion between members is improved, and sapphire plate 447 to pedestal 4
The thermal conductivity to 45 can be good.

(8) The optical device 44 includes a holding frame 446, and the holding frame is made of a heat conductive resin containing carbon, titanium, aluminum, silicon fluoride, etc. The coefficient of linear expansion can be made close to that of the glass material, that is, the liquid crystal panels 441R and 44
The linear expansion coefficients of the drive substrate 441D and the counter substrate 441E that form the 1G and 441B can be brought close to each other, and the liquid crystal panel 441 by the irradiation of the light flux from the light source device 411.
The thermal expansion deformations of the R, 441G, 441B and the holding frame 446 can be accommodated to substantially the same extent. Therefore, the thermal stress generated due to the difference in the coefficient of linear expansion can be relaxed, the displacement of the mutual positions of the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B can be prevented, and the displacement of the pixels of the display image can be avoided and the thermal Liquid crystal panel 441 due to stress
It is possible to avoid damage to the R, 441G, and 441B.

(9) A third boss portion 482B3 is formed on the lower light guide 48, and the holding frame 446 and the third boss portion 4 are formed.
Since the elastic member 50 is interposed between the liquid crystal panels 82B3 and 82B3, heat radiation paths for heat generated in the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B are provided in parallel to increase the total amount of heat that can be radiated to increase the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G. , 441B by improving the cooling efficiency and reducing the amount of heat flowing to the polarizing film 443A side.
The cooling efficiency of can be improved. (10) Since the optical device 44 includes the spacer 449, the spacer 4 is provided to adjust the back focus position from the pixel of the projected image or the projection lens.
By moving the position of 49, each liquid crystal panel 441
Position adjustment of R, 441G, 441B can be performed,
The position of each liquid crystal panel 441R, 441G, 441B can be arranged in an appropriate state.

(11) Since the spacer 449 is made of sapphire which transmits ultraviolet rays, the sapphire plate 447 and the holding frame 44 accommodating the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G and 441B are manufactured when the optical device 44 is manufactured.
When a spacer 449 coated with a photo-curing adhesive is used in the joining with 6, the light is transmitted through the spacer 449, and the holding frame 446 and the sapphire plate 447 can be joined easily. The manufacturing efficiency of 44 is improved. (12) Since the sapphire plate 447 and the spacer 449 are made of the same material (sapphire), the amount of dimensional change (expansion, contraction) due to heat is the same, so that functional reliability is improved.

(13) The projection optical system installation portion 483 is located in the front portion of the side surface portion 482A of the optical component storage portion 482, and is integrally provided with the side surface portion 482A. It is possible to reliably hold its own weight. (14) Forced cooling of the heat generated in the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B and the polarizing film 443A by the panel cooling system A, natural air cooling by the internal air in the projector 1, and conduction between the members forming the optical device 44. Since it can be performed by heat dissipation, the liquid crystal panel 4
41R, 441G, 441B and polarizing film 443
The cooling efficiency of A can be further improved.

(15) Further, by adopting the cooling structure as described above, the number of cooling fans used together is reduced, and further, the rotation speed of the cooling fans is reduced to cope with weak cooling air. Therefore, noise reduction and size reduction of the projector can be promoted. (16) As a transparent member, a sapphire plate 44 having high hardness
By using 7, the polarizing film 443A can be made to function as the polarizing plate 443 on the light emitting side in a state where the polarizing film 443A is attached to the substantially central portion of the sapphire plate 447, and an extra member can be omitted to reduce the cost. Can be achieved.

[10. Modification of Embodiment] The present invention is
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes the following modifications. For example, in this embodiment, the cooling unit 3 includes an axial intake fan 31, and the axial intake fan 31 is installed above the optical device 44.
Although the cooling air is configured to flow downward from above the optical device 44, the invention is not limited to this, and the axial intake fan 31 is installed below the optical device 44 so that the cooling air flows through the optical device 44. It may be configured to flow from below to above. Here, the cross dichroic prism 444
It is preferable to interpose a thermally conductive member such as a stretchable spring silicone rubber between the pedestal 445 fixed above and the upper light guide 49 or the upper case 21.

With such a configuration, the liquid crystal panel 441R,
The heat generated in 441G and 441B is sapphire plate 44.
7 is radiated to the pedestal 445, and the upper light guide 49 is radiated from the pedestal 445 through the spring silicone rubber.
Alternatively, since the heat is radiated to the upper case 21, it is possible to increase the total amount of heat that can be radiated from the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B or the light flux emission side polarization plate 443, and the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 441B.
Alternatively, the cooling efficiency of the light beam emission side polarization plate 443 can be further improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, the spacer 4
Although 49 is made of sapphire, it is not limited to this and may be made of a metal member. With such a configuration, the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 4
The liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, 44 are reduced by reducing the thermal resistance between the holding frame 446 accommodating 41B and the sapphire plate 447 and irradiating the luminous flux from the light source device 411.
1B or the luminous flux exit side polarization plate 443, the heat radiation characteristic of the heat generated is improved, and the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G, and 44 are provided.
It is possible to further improve the cooling efficiency of the polarizing plate 443 on the 1B or light beam exit side.

Further, in the above embodiment, the spacer 4
Although 49 is composed of two left and right bodies and is installed on the slopes 446D formed on the left and right edges of the holding frame 446, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the left and right spacers are each a length dimension of the edges of the holding frame 446. A smaller size may be used, and a plurality of spacers may be used on each of the left and right edges of the holding frame 446. With such a configuration, the thermal stress between the holding frame 446 and the sapphire plate 447 is dispersed by the plurality of spacers, the deformation of the outer shape of the spacers can be reduced, and the holding frame 446 can be reliably held. can do. Therefore, the liquid crystal panels 441R, 441G,
It is possible to secure the mutual positional state of the 441B and avoid the pixel shift of the projected image.

Further, in the above embodiment, only the example of the projector using the three light modulating devices is given, but the present invention uses the projector using only one light modulating device and the two light modulating devices. The present invention can be applied to a projector or a projector using four or more light modulation devices.

Further, in the above embodiment, the liquid crystal panel is used as the light modulation device, but a light modulation device other than the liquid crystal, such as a device using a micromirror, may be used.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transmissive light modulator having the light incident surface and the light exit surface different from each other is used, but the reflective light modulator having the same light incident surface and the light exit surface is used. Good.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, only the example of the front type projector which projects from the direction of observing the screen is given, but the present invention projects the rear from the side opposite to the direction of observing the screen. It is also applicable to any type of projector.

[0093]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is an effect that the cooling efficiency of the optical device can be improved in response to downsizing and high brightness of the projector.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a projector according to the present embodiment as seen from above.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the projector in the embodiment, specifically, an exploded perspective view in which an upper case is removed from FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the optical unit in the above embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing an optical system of the projector in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view showing a structure of a lower light guide in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view in which the optical device is removed from the optical unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an overall perspective view of the light guide in the above embodiment as seen from below.

FIG. 8 is an overall perspective view of an optical device in which the liquid crystal panel and the prism in the embodiment are integrated, as seen from above.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of an optical device in which the liquid crystal panel and the prism in the embodiment are integrated.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure for mounting the optical device on the light guide in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a cooling flow path of the panel cooling system A in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a cooling structure of an optical device by the panel cooling system A in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cooling flow path of a light source cooling system B in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a thermal circuit network representing a heat transfer path between constituent members of the optical device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Projector 44 Optical Device 47 Light Guide (Case for Optical Parts) 50 Elastic Member 440 Light Modulating Device 441, 441R, 441G, 441B Liquid Crystal Panel (Light Modulating Element) 444 Cross Dichroic Prism (Color Combining Optical Device) 445 Base 446 Holding Frame 447 Sapphire plate (transparent member) 448 Elastic member 449 Spacer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H088 EA14 EA15 EA18 FA30 HA28                       MA20                 2H089 HA40 JA10 QA16 TA18 UA05

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of light modulators for modulating a plurality of color lights for each color light according to image information, and a color combining optical device for combining the respective color lights modulated by the light modulator are integrally provided. A plurality of thermally conductive transparent members arranged so as to surround the light flux exit end surface and the light flux entrance end surface of the color combining optical device, and a pair that intersects the light flux entrance end surface of the color combining optical device. A pedestal made of a heat conductive material fixed to an end surface of the optical modulator, the optical modulator being mounted on the transparent member, the transparent member being connected to the pedestal side surface. . 2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transparent members are connected to each other. 3. The optical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transparent member and the pedestal are connected via a heat conductive elastic member. 4. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the light modulation device includes a light modulation element for performing light modulation, and an opening corresponding to an image forming area of the light modulation element. An optical device comprising: a holding frame having: a holding frame made of a heat conductive material. 5. The optical device according to claim 4, wherein a wedge-shaped spacer made of a heat conductive material is interposed between the holding frame and the transparent member. 6. The optical device according to claim 5, wherein the spacer is composed of a light-transmissive member, and the spacer, the holding frame, and the transparent member are interposed by a photo-curable adhesive. An optical device characterized in that it is adhesively fixed by. 7. The optical device according to claim 5, wherein between the holding frame and the transparent member, a plurality of spacers having a length dimension shorter than the total length of these interposing portions are provided. An optical device characterized by being interposed. 8. The optical device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein optical components constituting the optical device are housed and arranged on a predetermined illumination optical axis, and at least a part is made of a heat conductive material. When the optical device is mounted on the pedestal, and the optical device is mounted on the pedestal, the pedestal is made of a heat conductive material of the optical component housing. An optical device, characterized in that a heat conductive elastic member that abuts on the formed portion is provided. 9. The optical device according to claim 8, wherein when the optical device is mounted on the holding frame, the heat conduction of the optical component housing is urged. An optical device, characterized in that a thermally conductive elastic member that abuts on a portion made of a conductive material is provided. 10. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the pedestal is made of sapphire, quartz, fluorite, or a heat conductive resin. Optical device. 11. A projector comprising the optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.