JP2005037689A - Projector apparatus, liquid crystal panel, and optical system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the whole projector apparatus small-sized and to reduce a production cost. <P>SOLUTION: The projector apparatus is provided with a liquid crystal display part 12 having a liquid crystal panel 23 for light R having a near-infrared light transmission region 30 for transmitting near-infrared light Ir to project a test pattern on a projection surface provided on the outer peripheral side of a display region 26 displaying an image projected on the projection surface, a lamp 31 for emitting white light, an elimination filter 32 removing ultra-violet light and far-infrared light from the white light emitted from the lamp 31, an optical system 13 having a separation mirror 33 for light R and a separation mirror 35 for light B for introducing the near-infrared light Ir transmitted through the elimination filter 32 to the near-infrared light transmission region 30, and a test pattern detecting device 6 having an imaging element 47 for imaging the test pattern projected on the projection surface by the near-infrared light Ir. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is, for example, a test pattern for adjusting a focal distance by detecting a projection distance between a projection lens and a projection surface such as a screen, or for adjusting a distortion by detecting an inclination on the projection surface. The present invention relates to a projector device provided with detection means, a liquid crystal panel provided in the projector device, and an optical system.

  As a conventional liquid crystal projector, the projection distance between the projection lens and the projection surface is obtained by irradiating a test pattern with infrared light on the projection surface and photographing the test pattern irradiated on the projection surface with an image sensor. A configuration has been proposed in which automatic focus adjustment for adjusting the focus by detecting the image, and automatic distortion correction for adjusting the distortion by detecting the inclination of the image on the projection surface are proposed.

  This type of conventional liquid crystal projector has a test pattern irradiation unit that irradiates a test pattern with near-infrared light on the projection surface and a test pattern irradiated on the projection surface by the test pattern irradiation unit in order to perform automatic focus adjustment. And a test pattern detection unit for detecting a pattern.

  A conventional three-plate liquid crystal projector includes a projection device for projecting an image on a projection surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the projection apparatus includes a projection lens 111 for projecting an image on a projection surface, a liquid crystal display unit 112 that displays an image to be projected, and red (R) on the liquid crystal display unit 112. , Green (G), and blue (B) light, and an optical system 113 for projecting each light.

  The liquid crystal display unit 112 transmits the B light liquid crystal panel 121, the G light liquid crystal panel 122, the R light liquid crystal panel 123, and the liquid crystal panels 121, 122, and 123, which are provided corresponding to the RGB lights. And a combining prism 124 for combining the respective lights.

  The optical system 113 includes a lamp 131 that emits white light, an invisible light removal filter 132 that removes invisible light that is ultraviolet light and infrared light from white light, and an R that transmits and separates only R light from white light. The light separation mirror 133 and the reflection mirror 134 that totally reflects the R light transmitted by the R light separation mirror 133 and guides it to the R light liquid crystal panel 121.

  The optical system 113 includes a B light separation mirror 135 that transmits and separates only B light from the G light and B light reflected by the R light separation mirror 133, and the B light separation mirror 135. A reflection mirror 136 that totally reflects the transmitted B light, a condensing lens 137 for condensing the B light totally reflected by the reflection mirror 136, and the B light condensed by the condensing lens 137 And a reflection mirror 138 that totally reflects and guides the light to the B liquid crystal panel 122. Therefore, the optical system 113 is specialized for visible light.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the liquid crystal panels 121, 122, and 123 included in the conventional liquid crystal display unit includes a display area 126 that has pixels for displaying an image and that can adjust the amount of transmitted visible light. A black mask 127 for shielding light that does not transmit light at all is provided on the outer peripheral side of the display region 126, and a frame 128 provided so as to cover the black mask 127.

Further, as a focus adjustment device provided in a conventional liquid crystal projector, a configuration in which a light receiving region is provided on a liquid crystal panel and focus adjustment is performed by reflected light from a projection surface is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-197014 (FIG. 1)

  As described above, in a conventional liquid crystal projector that projects an image by visible light on a projection surface, as a method for projecting a test pattern by near-infrared light, a configuration in which a light emitting element such as a diode is provided outside is a simple method. Though conceivable, this configuration has the disadvantage of increasing manufacturing costs.

  In addition, since the conventional liquid crystal projector needs to secure a space including a test pattern irradiation device having a light emitting element, it is difficult to reduce the size of the entire liquid crystal projector.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a projector device that can reduce the size of the entire device and reduce the production cost.

In order to achieve the above-described object, a projector device according to the present invention projects a test pattern on a projection surface by transmitting near-infrared light to the outer peripheral side of a display area that displays an image projected on the projection surface. A liquid crystal display unit having a liquid crystal panel provided with a near infrared light transmission region for
A light source that emits white light, a removal filter that removes ultraviolet light and far-infrared light from the white light emitted from this light source, and the near-infrared light transmitted through the removal filter through the near-infrared light of the liquid crystal panel An optical system having an optical element for guiding to the area;
And a test pattern detecting unit having an image pickup device for picking up an image of a test pattern irradiated on the projection surface by near infrared light.

  In the projector device according to the present invention configured as described above, the near infrared light transmission region is provided on the liquid crystal panel, so that the test pattern by the near infrared light is irradiated onto the projection surface. Therefore, according to the projector device of the present invention, it becomes possible to irradiate a test pattern with near-infrared light using an optical system having a light source for projecting an image on a projection surface. There is no need to provide a test pattern irradiation means for irradiating the pattern independently.

  The optical element in the present invention refers to a reflection mirror, a separation mirror that selectively transmits an arbitrary wavelength, a lens, and the like, and an optical path is configured by these optical elements.

  The liquid crystal panel according to the present invention is a liquid crystal panel used in a projector apparatus having a liquid crystal display unit for displaying an image and an optical system for projecting the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit onto a projection surface. Thus, a near-infrared light transmission region for transmitting near-infrared light and projecting a test pattern on the projection surface is provided on the outer peripheral side of the display region for displaying an image.

  An optical system according to the present invention is an optical system used in a projector apparatus having a liquid crystal display unit that displays an image and an optical system that projects an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit onto a projection surface. A light source that emits white light, a removal filter that removes ultraviolet light and far-infrared light from the white light emitted from the light source, and near-infrared light that has passed through the removal filter is guided to the liquid crystal display unit. And an optical element.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the near infrared for transmitting the near infrared light and projecting the test pattern on the projection surface on the outer peripheral side of the display area for displaying the image projected on the projection surface. A liquid crystal display unit having a liquid crystal panel provided with a light transmission region is provided, and a removal filter that removes ultraviolet light and far infrared light from white light emitted from a light source, and near infrared light that has passed through the removal filter By providing an optical system having an optical element for guiding to an infrared light transmission region, it becomes possible to irradiate a test pattern with near infrared light onto the projection surface, thereby reducing the size of the entire projector apparatus. , Production costs can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal projector of this embodiment is a so-called three-plate type liquid crystal projector including three liquid crystal panels.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal projector of an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the liquid crystal projector.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal projector 1 detects a projection device 5 having a projection lens 11 for projecting an image on a projection surface such as a screen, and a projection distance between the projection lens 11 and the projection surface. A test pattern detection device 6 for controlling the CPU, a central processing unit (CPU) 7 for controlling the projection device 5 and the test pattern detection device 6, and a housing 8 for covering the devices 5, 6 and the CPU 7, respectively. Yes.

  The projection device 5 includes a projection lens 11 for projecting an image on a projection surface, a liquid crystal display unit 12 that displays an image to be projected, and red (R), green (G), blue ( The optical system 13 includes a lamp 31 for projecting each light of B), and an image control unit 14 that controls an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the projection lens 11 is provided on one side surface of the casing 8 that forms a quadrangle. Although not shown, the projection lens 11 may be composed of a plurality of lenses and optical elements.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of each liquid crystal panel and optical system of the projection apparatus. FIG. 4 is a front view of a liquid crystal panel provided with a near infrared light transmission region.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display unit 12 is disposed at a position adjacent to the projection lens 11, and is provided corresponding to each light of RGB, which is the three primary colors of light, for the B light liquid crystal panel 21. The liquid crystal panel 22 for G light, the liquid crystal panel 23 for R light, and the combining prism 24 for combining the lights transmitted through the liquid crystal panels 21, 22, 23.

  Each of the B light liquid crystal panel 21, the G light liquid crystal panel 22, and the R light liquid crystal panel 23 includes a display area 26 for displaying an image, a light shielding mask 27 provided on the outer peripheral side of the display area 26, and the light shielding. And a frame 28 provided so as to cover the mask 27. The light shielding mask 27 blocks visible light and near infrared light incident from the optical system 13.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the R liquid crystal panel 23 is provided with a near-infrared light transmission region 30 that transmits only the near-infrared light Ir on the outer periphery of the display region 26. The near-infrared light transmission region 30 is formed in a rectangular frame shape. When the near-infrared light Ir is incident by the optical system 13, the near-infrared light Ir is transmitted to the projection surface. A frame-shaped test pattern is displayed on the top.

  The near-infrared light transmission region 30 is provided with a near-infrared light transmission filter (not shown) on the outer peripheral side of the display region 26. By cutting out the part into a frame shape, the near-infrared light transmission filter is exposed in a frame shape.

  Further, the near-infrared light transmission region 30 may be configured such that a near-infrared light transmission filter (not shown) is provided in a slit (not shown) provided in the frame 28, for example.

  Further, as another specific configuration in which the near-infrared light transmission region 30 is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the display region 26 of the R light liquid crystal panel 23, for example, a liquid crystal panel whose display standard is XGA (eXtended Graphics Array) is used. Preliminary pixels of 2 dots are provided on the top, bottom, left, and right of the display area of 1024 × 768 dots, respectively, and actually have a displayable area of 1028 × 772 dots. Therefore, a test pattern using near-infrared light Ir may be displayed in a 2-dot frame-like region constituted by these spare pixels.

  The combining prism 24 is provided integrally with the liquid crystal panel 21 for B light, the liquid crystal panel 22 for G light, and the liquid crystal panel 23 for R light, and each light of R light, G light, B light, and near infrared light. It has a reflecting surface that reflects and combines Ir.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical system 13 includes a lamp 31 that emits white light, a removal filter 32 that removes ultraviolet light and far-infrared light from white light, and R light and near-infrared light Ir from white light. The R light separating mirror 33 that transmits and separates the R light, and the R light and the near infrared light Ir transmitted by the R light separating mirror 33 are totally reflected and guided to the R light liquid crystal panel 21. And a reflection mirror 34.

  The optical system 13 includes a B light separation mirror 35 that transmits and separates only B light from the G light and B light reflected by the R light separation mirror 33, and the B light separation mirror 35. The reflecting mirror 36 that totally reflects the transmitted B light, the condensing lens 37 for condensing the B light totally reflected by the reflecting mirror 36, and the B light condensed by the condensing lens 37 And a reflection mirror 38 that totally reflects and guides the light to the B liquid crystal panel 22.

  By the way, the optical system 13 raises the temperature of the R light liquid crystal panel 23 when the near infrared light Ir reaches the display region 26 of the R light liquid crystal panel 23. As a countermeasure, the reflection mirror 34 positioned in front of the R light liquid crystal panel 23 is partially provided with an antireflection region that does not reflect the near infrared light Ir on the reflection surface. This antireflection region is provided by covering, for example, an antireflection film or a reflection attenuation film. As described above, by selectively irradiating the near-infrared light transmitting region 30 with the near-infrared light Ir, the temperature rise of the R light liquid crystal panel 23 is minimized. Although not shown, the liquid crystal projector 1 includes a cooling mechanism for controlling the temperature inside the housing 8, the temperature is monitored by the CPU 7, and the inside of the housing 8 is controlled to a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the R light liquid crystal panel 23 is satisfactorily air-cooled by the cooling mechanism without being adversely affected by the temperature rise caused by the near-infrared light Ir.

  Regarding the optical system 13 configured as described above, the optical path of each light included in the white light emitted from the lamp 31 will be described.

  The white light emitted from the lamp 31 is subjected to removal of ultraviolet light and far infrared light by the removal filter 32, and R light, G light, B light and near infrared light Ir enter the R light separation mirror 33. , G light and B light, and R light and near infrared light Ir.

  The R light and the near-infrared light Ir separated by the R-light separation mirror 33 are totally reflected by the reflection mirror 34, and the R light is applied to the display region 26 of the R-light liquid crystal panel 23, so that the near-infrared light is irradiated. Ir is applied to the near-infrared light transmission region 30 of the liquid crystal panel 23 for R light. The R light applied to the display area 26 is reflected by the reflecting surface of the combining prism 24, is combined with other G light and B light, is incident on the projection lens 11, and is projected onto the projection surface. The near-infrared light Ir enters the near-infrared light transmission region 30, is reflected by the combining prism 24, enters the projection lens 11, and is projected onto the projection surface.

  The G light reflected by the R light separation mirror 33 is reflected by the B light separation mirror 35 and is applied to the display region 26 of the G light liquid crystal panel 22. The G light applied to the display area 26 is combined with other B light and R light by the combining prism 24, is incident on the projection lens 11, and is projected onto the projection surface.

  The B light transmitted by the B light separation mirror 35 is totally reflected by the reflection mirror 36, condensed by the condenser lens 37, and applied to the reflection mirror 38. The B light totally reflected by the reflection mirror 38 is applied to the display area 26 of the B light liquid crystal panel 21. The B light applied to the display area 26 is combined with other G light and R light by the combining prism 24, is incident on the projection lens 11, and is projected onto the projection surface.

  Therefore, in the optical system 13, the invisible light removal filter 132 of the conventional optical system 113 described above is replaced with the removal filter 32, whereby the near-infrared light Ir blocked by the invisible light removal filter 132 is converted into an R light liquid crystal panel. It leads to 23.

  And according to the liquid crystal projector 1, when the image by visible light is projected on the projection surface by the projection apparatus 5, the test pattern by near infrared light is always projected on the outer peripheral side of an image.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the test pattern detection device 6 is provided to perform automatic focus adjustment, and an imaging unit 41 for imaging a test pattern irradiated on the projection surface by the projection device 5, and this A distance calculation unit 42 for calculating a projection distance based on the test pattern imaged by the imaging unit 41.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging unit 41 includes an optical system 45 having an imaging lens 46 and an imaging element 47. As the image sensor 47, for example, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor or the like is applied. The image sensor 47 detects a test pattern using the near-infrared light Ir, and the distance calculation unit 42 calculates the projection distance based on the position of each test pattern on the light receiving region.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an imaging lens 46 and a projection lens 11 are provided on one side of the housing 8.

  Further, the liquid crystal projector 1 includes an automatic focus adjustment unit (not shown) for performing automatic focus adjustment based on the projection distance detected by the test pattern detection device 6.

  A state in which the test pattern detection device 6 detects the projection distance of the liquid crystal projector 1 configured as described above will be described.

  When detecting the projection distance, the test pattern detection device 6 included in the liquid crystal projector 1 irradiates the projection surface with a frame-like test pattern by the near infrared light Ir emitted from the lamp 31 of the projection device 5. The test pattern is imaged by the image sensor 47.

  In the test pattern detection device 6, the image sensor 47 detects a position on the light receiving region that receives the test pattern irradiated on the projection surface by the near infrared light Ir entering the angle of view, and based on this position. The distance calculation unit 42 calculates the projection distance. In the liquid crystal projector 1, automatic focus adjustment is performed according to the projection distance calculated by the distance calculation unit 42.

  As described above, according to the liquid crystal projector 1, the R light liquid crystal panel 23 provided with the near infrared light transmission region 30 that transmits the near infrared light Ir that is the test pattern, and the R light liquid crystal panel 23. Since it is not necessary to provide a test pattern irradiation device for irradiating a test pattern separately from the projection device 5 by including the optical system 13 that forms an optical path for guiding the near-infrared light Ir. The entire liquid crystal projector 1 can be reduced in size, and the production cost can be reduced.

  In the liquid crystal projector 1 according to the present invention, the test pattern detection device is configured to detect the projection distance based on the test pattern. However, the distortion is adjusted by detecting the inclination of the image on the projection surface. Of course, it may be configured. In the case of this configuration, for example, by projecting a dot-like test pattern with near infrared light to two points separated in the horizontal direction and two points separated in the vertical direction on the projection surface, the image on the projection surface is projected. It becomes possible to detect the inclination. Specifically, near-infrared light is applied to a total of three points at the three corners of the R light liquid crystal panel 23, and a total of four points: two points above and two points below the vertical direction of the R light liquid crystal panel 23. A transmissive region 30 is arranged.

  In addition, the liquid crystal projector 1 according to the present invention employs a three-plate method, but a single-plate method may be employed. In this case, optical elements such as a separation mirror 33 for R light, a separation mirror 35 for B light, and the like. Is no longer necessary.

It is a schematic diagram showing a liquid crystal projector according to the present invention. It is a front view which shows the said liquid crystal projector. It is a schematic diagram which shows a liquid crystal panel and an optical system. It is a front view which shows the said liquid crystal panel. It is a schematic diagram which shows the liquid crystal panel and optical system with which the conventional liquid crystal projector is provided. It is a front view which shows the conventional liquid crystal panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal projector 5 Projection apparatus 6 Test pattern detection apparatus 7 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Case 11 Projection lens 12 Liquid crystal display part 13 Optical system 14 Image control part 21 B light liquid crystal panel 22 G light liquid crystal panel 23 R light liquid crystal panel 24 Synthetic prism 26 Display area 27 Shading mask 28 Frame 30 Near infrared Light transmission region 31 Lamp 32 Removal filter 33 Separation mirror for R light 35 Separation mirror for B light 37 Condensing lens

Claims (8)

A liquid crystal panel provided with a near-infrared light transmission region for transmitting near-infrared light and projecting a test pattern on the projection surface on the outer peripheral side of a display region for displaying an image projected on the projection surface A liquid crystal display unit having
A light source that emits white light, a removal filter that removes ultraviolet light and far-infrared light from the white light emitted from the light source, and near-infrared light that has passed through the removal filter is converted into the near-infrared light of the liquid crystal panel. An optical system having an optical element for guiding to the light transmission region;
A projector apparatus comprising: a test pattern detection unit having an image sensor that captures an image of a test pattern irradiated onto the projection surface by near infrared light. The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the near infrared light transmission region transmits only near infrared light. The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display unit includes three liquid crystal panels including the liquid crystal panel. The said near-infrared-light transmissive area | region irradiates the said test pattern of the frame shape which makes a dotted | punctate shape, a linear shape, and a rectangle with a near-infrared light on any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3. The projector apparatus described in 1. A liquid crystal panel used in a projector device having a liquid crystal display unit for displaying an image and an optical system for projecting an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit onto a projection surface,
A liquid crystal panel, wherein a near-infrared light transmission region for transmitting near-infrared light and projecting a test pattern on the projection surface is provided on an outer peripheral side of a display region for displaying an image. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 5, wherein the near infrared light transmission region transmits only near infrared light. 7. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 5, wherein the near-infrared light transmission region irradiates the projection surface with any one of a dot shape, a straight line shape, and a quadrangular frame shape test pattern by near infrared light. An optical system used in a projector apparatus having a liquid crystal display unit for displaying an image and an optical system for projecting an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit onto a projection surface,
A light source that emits white light, a removal filter that removes ultraviolet light and far-infrared light from the white light emitted from the light source, and a near-infrared light that has passed through the removal filter is guided to the liquid crystal display unit And an optical element.

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