JP2004226486A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector which is compact, inexpensive and yet has high performance. <P>SOLUTION: The laser array 31 of the projector has, on the same substrate, a plurality of light emitting elements 31a the number of which is smaller than the number of pixels in subscanning direction, and thus the characteristics of each the light emitting elements 31a are easily uniformized compared with the case where a large number of light emitting elements corresponding to the pixels are provided, the laser array 31 is consequently made comparatively inexpensive. Further, a light addressing liquid crystal 20 is scanned with addressing light AB by the use of a scanning device 40 in the main scanning direction and the subscanning direction, and thus an arbitrary image is written in at high speed by the modulation of the addressing light AB and an image write-in part is miniaturized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a projector for projecting an image using an optically addressable spatial light modulator such as an optical addressing liquid crystal for writing information using light.
[Prior art]
As a projector that projects an image using an optical address type spatial light modulator, a CRT is arranged facing the writing side of the spatial light modulator, and an image is formed on the CRT to write an image on the spatial light modulator. There is something to do (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0001]
As a projector that projects an image using a similar spatial light modulator, there is a projector that scans a spot or a line of laser light, which is intensity-modulated by an image signal, onto the writing side of the spatial light modulator ( Patent Document 2).
[0002]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-333337 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-196833 A (FIGS. 5 and 6)
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the projector of the first example has a structure in which the CRT for writing is provided to face the spatial light modulator, not only the size of the optical system for writing is increased, but also the cost is increased.
[0003]
In the case of the projector of the second example in which a spot is made incident on a spatial light modulator, in order to achieve high resolution, high-speed scanning of the spot is required, and the accuracy of the writing position becomes insufficient. It is difficult to achieve high resolution. In the case where the line is made incident on the spatial light modulation element, the scanning or movement of the line can be made slow, but in order to achieve a high resolution, a large number of light emitting elements corresponding to the number of pixels and accompanying Since a driving circuit is required, it is easy to make the characteristics of the respective light emitting elements uniform, and the cost of the light source increases extremely.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a projector that is small, inexpensive, and has high performance.
[0005]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a projector that can easily achieve high resolution.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a projector according to the present invention includes a spatial light modulator in which optical characteristics change at an incident position of addressing light for writing, and a plurality of light emitting units smaller than the number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction on the same substrate. And an array light source for generating a plurality of addressing lights from the plurality of light emitting units, and an array of the plurality of addressing lights from the array light source being allocated so as to avoid duplication in the sub-scanning direction. A biaxial scanning unit for causing the light to be incident on the device and scanning in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction on the spatial light modulator.
[0007]
Here, the "spatial light modulator" is an optical device represented by a liquid crystal light valve for writing information using light such as an optical addressing liquid crystal, and (1) a portion where addressing light enters, that is, addressing. It has a portion whose characteristics are changed by light, and (2) a portion where the reading light is incident, that is, a portion which modulates the reading light. Note that the liquid crystal light valve is sometimes referred to as a spatial light amplifying element, and such a spatial light amplifying element is a concept included in the “spatial light modulator”. The “main scanning direction” is a direction in which scanning is performed at a relatively high speed, and means the horizontal direction of a normal image. The “sub-scanning direction” is a direction in which scanning is performed at a relatively low speed. , Which means the vertical direction of the normal image.
[0008]
In the above projector, since the array light source has a plurality of light-emitting units on the same substrate, the number of which is smaller than the number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction, the characteristics of each light-emitting unit are smaller than when a large number of light-emitting elements corresponding to the number of pixels are provided. It is easy to arrange them, and the array light source can be made relatively inexpensive. Further, since the addressing light is scanned in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction on the spatial light modulator using the scanning means, an arbitrary image can be written at a high speed by modulating the addressing light, and the image writing portion can be written. The size can be reduced. At this time, the scanning means causes the plurality of addressing lights to be incident on the spatial light modulator in a state where they are assigned so as to avoid overlap in the sub-scanning direction. Despite scanning with a movable amount, scanning of the entire screen can be completed quickly.
[0009]
Further, in the specific aspect of the projector, the scanning unit performs the sub-scanning of the plurality of addressing lights by moving the plurality of addressing lights in the sub-scanning direction so as not to overlap the pixel row for which the main scanning has been completed. . In this case, efficient and quick writing can be performed by effectively using each light emitting unit of the array light source.
[0010]
Further, in the specific aspect of the projector, when the number of the plurality of light-emitting elements is n and the total number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction is m, each light-emitting unit is separated by a predetermined number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction. The scanning unit is arranged corresponding to the discrete pixel positions, and the scanning unit performs sub-scanning at a distance corresponding to about m / n pixels while moving a plurality of scan addressing lights from the array light source in units of one pixel. In this case, the range such as the angle of the sub-scanning can be reduced to n / m times as compared with the sub-scanning of a single spot, and the scanning means having the target operation performance can be provided simply and inexpensively. .
[0011]
Further, in the specific aspect of the projector, each light emitting section has a light emitting area having a size of about n / m times the pitch which is an interval between adjacent light emitting sections in the sub-scanning direction. In this case, efficient writing can be achieved by efficiently addressing the spatial light modulator.
[0012]
In the specific aspect of the projector, when the number of the plurality of light-emitting elements is n and the total number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction is m, each light-emitting unit is located at a pixel position adjacent and continuous in the sub-scanning direction. The scanning unit is arranged correspondingly, and performs sub-scanning at a distance corresponding to about (mn) pixels while moving a plurality of addressing lights from the array light source in units of n pixels. In this case, the range such as the angle of the sub-scanning can be reduced to about (m-n) / m times as compared with the sub-scanning of the single spot, and the scanning means of the target operation performance can be simply and inexpensively. Can be provided. Further, since the distance between the pixel rows in the main scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction is stable, unevenness is less likely to occur in the written image.
[0013]
In the specific aspect of the projector, each light emitting unit has a light emitting area of a size corresponding to a pitch that is an interval between adjacent light emitting units in the sub-scanning direction. In this case, efficient writing can be achieved by efficiently addressing the spatial light modulator.
[0014]
In the specific aspect of the projector, the total number m of pixels is a multiple of the number n. In this case, the entire screen can be efficiently scanned by sub-scanning divided m / n times.
[0015]
Further, in the specific aspect of the projector, the sequential illumination means for repeatedly inputting the color-separated readout light of each color to the spatial light modulator in time series, the timing of writing by the array light source and the scanning means, and the sequential illumination means Control means for controlling the timing of reading. In this case, the sequential illuminating means repeatedly reads the color-separated readout light of each color into the spatial light modulator in a time series manner, so that not only the projector can be constituted by only a single spatial light modulator but also the addressing. , The color breakup can be reduced.
[0016]
In a specific aspect of the projector, the scanning unit is disposed near the focal point of the lens system, and a lens system for condensing a plurality of addressing lights from the array light source on the spatial light modulator and entering the spatial light modulator. And a scan mirror for deflecting the addressing light from the array light source. In this case, since the scan mirror is arranged near the focal position of the lens system, the size of the scan mirror can be reduced, and the addressing, that is, writing can be speeded up.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating the overall structure of the projector 10 according to the first embodiment. The projector 10 includes an optical addressing liquid crystal 20 that is a spatial light modulator, a light source device 30 that is an array light source, a scanning device 40 that is a scanning unit, an illumination unit 50 that is a sequential illumination unit, a projection lens 60, A control device 70 as control means.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view showing an example of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 shown in FIG. The optical addressing liquid crystal 20 has a holding property for maintaining a written state for a certain period of time, and a photoconductor layer 25, a mirror layer 26 and a liquid crystal are interposed between a pair of flat glass plates 21 and 22 via transparent electrodes 23 and 24. The laminated structure with the layer 27 is sandwiched. Then, an AC voltage is applied between the pair of transparent electrodes 23 and 24.
[0019]
The outline of the fabrication of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 is as follows. First, a transparent electrode 23, a photoconductor layer 25, and a mirror layer 26 are sequentially formed on one flat glass 21, and a transparent electrode 24 is formed on the other flat glass 22. Thereafter, the liquid crystal layer 27 is injected and sealed in a gap between the flat glass plates 21 and 22 with the mirror layer 26 and the transparent electrode 24 facing each other, thereby completing the optical addressing liquid crystal 20.
[0020]
When writing to the optical addressing liquid crystal 20, the addressing light AB from the scanning device 40 shown in FIG. 1 is incident on the surface of the plate glass 21 on the writing side, and the photosensitive layer 25 is conductive in the incident area of the addressing light AB. . As a result, a voltage is applied to the corresponding region of the liquid crystal layer 27 behind this region, and the polarization characteristics of this corresponding region are switched. At this time, if the photoreceptor layer 25 and the liquid crystal layer 27 have a certain holding property, the state of the liquid crystal layer 27, that is, the polarization characteristics, can be maintained for a certain time or more after the addressing light AB passes. At the time of reading from the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 thereafter, the colored illumination light CL from the illumination unit 50 of FIG. The light is modulated at 27 and emitted as image light IL.
[0021]
Returning to FIG. 1, the light source device 30 includes a laser array 31 extending in a line in the Z direction. The laser array 31 is an array light source composed of a surface emitting laser or the like integrally formed on a semiconductor substrate using a semiconductor manufacturing process, and is modulated according to the luminance of a pixel being written in an image to be projected. The generated plurality of laser lights are generated as addressing light. The wavelength of the addressing light generated from the laser array 31 is appropriately selected in consideration of the spectral characteristics of the photoconductor layer 25 provided on the optical addressing liquid crystal 20.
[0022]
The scanning device 40 includes a lens 41 for enlarging the laser light from the light source device 30 and projecting the laser light on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20, a two-axis drive type scan mirror 42 for reflecting the laser light passing through the lens 41, And an actuator 43 for adjusting the angle of the scan mirror 42 with respect to the two axes XY. The actuator 43 is appropriately driven by a drive unit 48 that operates based on an instruction from the control device 70. The drive unit 48 also has a role of controlling the operation of the light source device 30, and modulates the intensity of each addressing light AB emitted from the laser array 31 according to the luminance distribution of the image of each color of RBG. At this time, the drive unit 48 can operate the light source device 30 and the actuator 43 in synchronization with each other, and modulate the intensity of the addressing light AB according to the pixel position where the addressing light AB is incident on the writing surface 20a every moment. I do.
[0023]
Here, the scan mirror 42 is a biaxial tilt mirror device, and can be configured by, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) element formed integrally with the actuator 43 by using a known thin film manufacturing process on a semiconductor substrate. . The scan mirror 42 can cause the addressing light AB from the light source device 30 to be incident in an array at an appropriate pixel position on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20, thereby enabling high-speed scanning of the addressing light AB. .
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement relationship and the like of elements constituting the light source device 30 and the scanning device 40. The laser array 31 included in the light source device 30 has a large number of light emitting units 31a. These light emitting portions 31a are arranged in a straight line at equal intervals in the Z direction. The addressing light AB emitted from each light emitting unit 31a passes through the lens 41 and is incident on the scan mirror 42 while being converged, and forms an enlarged image of the laser array 31 on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20. In a specific embodiment, the magnification of the projected image of the laser array 31 is doubled by adjusting the arrangement of the laser array 31 and the like. In this system, since the scan mirror 42 is disposed at the rear focal position of the lens 41, the addressing light AB emitted in the front direction (-Y direction) of each light emitting unit 31a is all at the center of the scan mirror 42. The incident light almost coincides. By adopting such a telecentric arrangement, the scan mirror 42 can be made the minimum size, so that the responsiveness of the scan mirror 42, that is, the scanning speed can be increased.
[0025]
Here, the number n of the light emitting units 31a is appropriately determined according to conditions such as the resolution of the projected image. For example, when the total number m of pixels in the sub-scanning direction, that is, the Y direction is 1080, the number of the light emitting units 31a is “1 / (arbitrary natural number)” (specifically, 54, 108, 216, etc.). Is preferable from the viewpoint of efficient writing, that is, addressing without waste.
[0026]
The scan mirror 42 scans the writing surface 20a side of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 in units of pixels by gradually performing scanning in the sub-scanning direction Y while repeating scanning in the main scanning direction X using the addressing light AB. . By such scanning, writing of one screen, that is, writing of a frame of a certain color is completed. Here, the relatively slow sub-scan is performed by moving the projection position of the laser array 31 by one pixel in the Y direction on the writing surface 20a immediately after one main scan is completed. The total sub-scanning distance on the writing surface 20a is (m / n) pixels where m is the total number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction Y. That is, the sub-scanning, that is, the scanning of the entire screen is completed by moving the pixel by one pixel (m / n-1) times in the Y direction. Here, the width or diameter W1 in the Z direction of the light emitting region formed in each light emitting unit 31a is defined as P1 which is the pitch between the light emitting units 31a.
W1 ≒ (n / m) × P1
It has become. By setting the light emitting unit 31a to such a size, the addressing light AB can be scanned on the writing surface 20a without any corners.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is a diagram specifically illustrating scanning of the addressing light AB by the scanning device 40. An image PA of the laser array 31 shown in FIG. 3 is projected on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20. That is, the incident positions of the addressing lights AB1, AB2,..., ABn correspond to the arrangement of the respective light emitting units 31a provided on the laser array 31. The addressing light beams AB1, AB2,..., ABn are main-scanned at a high speed in the ± X direction and sub-scanned at a low speed in the Y direction as described above, while maintaining their positional relationship. As a result, as shown by the trajectories TR, TR2,..., TRn of the addressing lights AB1, AB2,..., ABn, the writing can be performed on the entire writing surface 20a when the entire scanning is completed. At this time, the incident position of the addressing light AB1, AB2,..., ABn is determined based on the total number m of pixels in the vertical direction of the writing surface 20a with reference to (m / n) pixels in the sub-scanning direction Y ((m / n in the illustrated example). / N) = 10). Correspondingly, the sub-scanning is repeated (m / n) times as a whole while moving in units of one pixel, so that the distance of the sub-scanning is the distance corresponding to the (m / n) pixels as a whole. It has become. That is, the sub-scanning distance is sufficient for (1 / n) of the screen width.
[0028]
Returning to FIG. 1, the illumination unit 50 efficiently converts the three light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, 51c, which are solid state light emitting elements, and the illumination light emitted from the light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, 51c into linearly polarized light. It includes a polarization conversion element 52 and a drive unit 53 that appropriately emits light from each of the light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, and 51c based on an instruction from the control device 70. Here, the light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, and 51c respectively generate RGB colors. The illumination light CLa, CLb, CLc of each color from the light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, 51c is made uniform distribution through an optical system (not shown) built in or external to them, and the polarization conversion element 52 and the polarization filter The light passes through 65 and is uniformly incident on the reading surface 20b of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20. The drive unit 53 controls the operation of each of the light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, 51c to adjust the light emission timing of the illumination light CLa, CLb, CLc. That is, the drive unit 53 synchronizes with the addressing light AB from the scanning unit 40 or the like incident on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20, and sets the reading surface 20b of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 in the three primary colors of RGB in a color sequential manner. Light up. Note that, during writing by irradiating the addressing light AB, it is preferable that the illumination light CLa, CLb, and CLc are not made incident, and that the illumination light CLa, CLb, and CLc are made incident after the writing is completed and reading is performed from the viewpoint of image writing stability. However, it is also possible to control to perform writing and reading simultaneously in parallel.
[0029]
The image light IL reflected by the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 and passing through the polarizing filter 65 is modulated in accordance with the luminance distribution of the image of each color, is projected on the screen SC via the projection lens 60, and is RGB Is formed by combining the three primary colors.
[0030]
The control device 70 is a computer for generally controlling the operation of the projector 10. The control device 70 appropriately processes an externally input video signal, supplies appropriate control signals to the drive units 48 and 53, and performs readout and readout. The writing timing and the like are controlled to cause the screen SC to display a color moving image corresponding to the video signal.
[0031]
[Second embodiment]
Hereinafter, a projector according to the second embodiment will be described. The projector according to the second embodiment is a modification of the projector according to the first embodiment, and has the same structure as a whole. Therefore, only different parts will be described.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is a front view of the laser array 131 incorporated in the projector of the embodiment. In the laser array 131, light emitting portions 131a are formed in a staggered arrangement. Here, as in the first embodiment, the number n of the light emitting units 131a is appropriately determined according to conditions such as the resolution of the projected image, and is equal to one-nth of the natural number m of the total number of pixels m in the sub-scanning direction. Is preferable from the viewpoint of efficient addressing.
[0033]
The addressing light emitted from the light emitting unit 131a of the laser array 131 is scanned in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction using a scan mirror similar to the scan mirror 42 shown in FIG. The sub-scan is performed by moving the projection position of the laser array 131 by n pixels in the sub-scan direction on the writing surface 20a immediately after one main scan is completed. The total sub-scanning distance on the writing surface 20a is (mn) pixels (m-n = 1080-10 = 1070 in a specific embodiment), where m is the total number of pixels in the Y direction. That is, the sub-scanning, that is, the scanning of the entire screen is completed by moving the pixel by n pixels (m / n-1) times in the sub-scanning direction. Here, the width or diameter W2 in the Z direction of the light emitting region formed in each light emitting unit 31a is defined as P2, where P2 is the pitch between the light emitting units 31a.
W2 ≒ P2
It has become. Thus, the addressing light AB can be scanned on the writing surface 20a without any corners.
[0034]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating scanning of addressing light in the second embodiment. The image PA of the laser array 131 shown in FIG. 5 is projected on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20. That is, the incident positions of the addressing lights AB1, AB2,..., ABn correspond to the respective light emitting units 131a provided on the laser array 131. The addressing light beams AB1, AB2,..., ABn are main-scanned at high speed in the ± X direction and sub-scanned at low speed in the Y direction while maintaining their positional relationship. As a result, as shown by the trajectories TR, TR2,..., TRn of the addressing lights AB1, AB2,. At this time, the incident positions of the addressing lights AB1, AB2,..., ABn are adjacent to each other with a shift of one pixel in the sub-scanning direction Y. The sub-scan is repeated m / n times in total on the basis of the total number m of pixels in the vertical direction of the writing surface 20a while moving in units of n pixels (n = 10 in the illustrated example). As a result, the sub-scanning distance is a distance corresponding to (mn) pixels as a whole. That is, the sub-scanning distance is sufficient by (mn) / m of the screen width.
[0035]
[Third embodiment]
Hereinafter, a projector according to the third embodiment will be described. The projector according to the third embodiment is obtained by partially changing the first embodiment and the second embodiment. In this case, by changing the optical design of the scanning device 40 in FIG. 1, the addressing light is reduced and projected on the optical addressing liquid crystal 20. Further, a color hole is used instead of the light emitting diodes 51a, 51b, 51c and the driving unit 53 of FIG.
[0036]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the overall structure of the projector according to the third embodiment. As is clear from the figure, a reduced image PA of the laser array 231 is projected on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20. In this case, the scan mirror 242 is arranged at the front focal position of the lens 241 and the size of the scan mirror 242 can be reduced. Laser array 231 This reduced image PA is adjusted in its incident position on the writing surface 20a by a scan mirror 242, and in the example shown in the figure, scanning of the type shown in FIG. 6 is performed. Thus, scanning of the type shown in FIG. 4 can be performed.
[0037]
The illumination unit 250 includes a white light source 255 such as a lamp that generates illumination light, a color wheel 256 that emits light from the white light source 255 as illumination light CL that is color-separated in time series, and transmitted through the color wheel 256. A polarization conversion element 252 for efficiently converting the converted illumination light into linearly polarized light, a lens 258 for converting the illumination light into a desired beam size and entering the readout surface 20b of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20, a white light source 255, and the like from the control device 70. And a drive unit 253 that is operated appropriately based on the instruction. The color wheel 256 is driven by a motor (not shown) that operates in synchronization with the light source device 30 and the scanning device 40 under the control of the control device 70, and rotates at a constant speed.
[0038]
FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the structure of the color wheel 256. As is clear from the figure, the color wheel 256 is formed with three filter regions 256a, 256b, 256c corresponding to three colors of RGB. Between these filter regions 256a, 256b, 256c, a light-shielding body such as an ND filter or three light-shielding portions 256d of the same shape made of a reflection mirror and the like are formed. Each light-shielding portion 146d is arranged so as to coincide with the writing timing using the scanning device 40. The filter regions 256a, 256b, 256c of the color wheel 256 sequentially pass through the front of the white light source 255 at the timing of reading using the illumination light CL of each color of RGB. As a result, it becomes possible to perform reading by illuminating the reading surface 20b of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20 with the three primary colors of RGB in a color sequential manner while synchronizing with writing by the addressing light AB incident on the writing surface 20a of the optical addressing liquid crystal 20.
[0039]
[Fourth embodiment]
FIG. 9A is a front view of a laser array 331, which is a main part of the projector according to the fourth embodiment. In the laser array 331, a pair of light emitting units 331a is formed at a constant period. In this case, a pair of pixel rows adjacent to each other in the sub-scanning direction are simultaneously written, so that the movement of the optical addressing liquid crystal on the writing surface in the sub-scanning direction is in units of two pixels. The light emitting units 331a are periodically arranged at a pixel interval of 2 m / n (2 m / n = 10 in the illustrated example), where m is the total number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction, and n is the number of light emitting units 331a. The sub-scanning is repeated m / n times in units of two pixels.
[0040]
On the other hand, FIG. 9B is a front view in which the arrangement of the laser array 131 shown in FIG. 5 is modified. In the laser array 431, a set of five light emitting units 431a is repeatedly arranged with a constant inclination in the sub-scanning direction.
[0041]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as the optical addressing liquid crystal 20, a liquid crystal having a photovoltaic layer instead of the photoconductor layer can be used. Further, instead of the laser array 31, the light source device 30 can be configured by an array light source made of an organic EL or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a projector according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of an example of an optical addressing liquid crystal.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement relationship and the like of a light source device and a scanning device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating specific scanning of addressing light.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a laser array constituting the device of the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating specific scanning of addressing light.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a projector according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the structure of a color wheel.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Projector 20 Optical addressing liquid crystal 30 Light source device 31 Laser array 40 Scanning device 41 Lens 42 Scan mirror 43 Actuator 48 Drive unit 50 Illumination unit 51a, 51b, 51c Light emitting diode 52 Polarization conversion element 60 Projection lens 65 Polarization filter 70 Control unit AB Addressing Light CLa, CLb, CLc Illumination light IL Image light

Claims (9)

A spatial light modulator in which the optical characteristics change at the point of incidence of the addressing light for writing,
An array light source that has a plurality of light emitting units smaller than the number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction on the same substrate, and generates a plurality of addressing lights from the plurality of light emitting units,
The plurality of addressing lights from the array light source are incident on the spatial light modulator in an array assigned to avoid overlap in the sub-scanning direction, and the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning on the spatial light modulator. A two-axis type scanning means for scanning in a direction. The scanning unit performs sub-scanning of the plurality of addressing lights by moving the plurality of addressing lights in the sub-scanning direction such that the plurality of addressing lights do not overlap with a pixel row for which main scanning has already been completed. Item 3. The projector according to Item 1. When the number of the plurality of light-emitting elements is n and the total number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction is m, each light-emitting unit corresponds to a discrete pixel position separated by a predetermined number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction. Each of the plurality of scan addressing lights arranged from the array light source performs sub-scanning at a distance corresponding to about m / n pixels while moving the plurality of scan addressing lights from the array light source in units of one pixel. 3. The projector according to claim 1 or claim 2. 4. The projector according to claim 3, wherein each light-emitting unit has a light-emitting area having a size of about n / m times a pitch that is an interval between adjacent light-emitting units in the sub-scanning direction. When the number of the plurality of light-emitting elements is n and the total number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction is m, each light-emitting unit is arranged corresponding to a pixel position adjacent and continuous in the sub-scanning direction, and The scanning means performs sub-scanning corresponding to a distance of about (mn) pixels while moving the plurality of addressing lights from the array light source in units of n pixels. Item 3. The projector according to any one of Items 2. The projector according to claim 5, wherein each light emitting unit has a light emitting area having a size corresponding to a pitch that is an interval between adjacent light emitting units in the sub-scanning direction. 7. The projector according to claim 3, wherein the total number m of pixels is a multiple of the number n. A sequential illuminating means for repeatedly inputting the read light of each color in the spatial light modulator in a time-series manner, and controlling a writing timing by the array light source and the scanning means and a reading timing by the sequential illuminating means; The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a control unit that performs control. The scanning unit is a lens system that collects and inputs the plurality of addressing lights from the array light source to the spatial light modulator, and is disposed near a focal position of the lens system and receives light from the array light source. 9. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising a scan mirror for deflecting the addressing light.

Images