JP2008165138A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector that is comparatively inexpensive and less likely to cause image quality degradation such as flickering. <P>SOLUTION: Under the control of a control device 90, a rotating device 40 supports and rotates optical modulation devices 25R, 25G, and 25B for corresponding colors around a rotation axis RA, thereby arranging them to a projecting position in order. Accordingly, image light L2 modulated by the optical modulation devices 25R, 25G and 25B for the corresponding colors can be projected in order by a common projection lens 30. That is, a color image can be projected by using comparatively inexpensive liquid crystal light valves 25R, 25G, and 25B for the corresponding colors and wasteless, single projection lens 30. Further, time margin to write data is produced for operating the liquid crystal light valves 25R, 25G and 25B for the corresponding colors in order. This reduces flickering caused by a writing response speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a projector that displays an image formed on a liquid crystal panel or the like by projection.

As a conventional projector, a projector that projects a color image by incorporating a projection unit of three colors each having a light valve of each color and a projection lens of each color is known (see Patent Document 1).

There is also a projector that separates a light beam from a common light source, guides it to a liquid crystal panel of each color, and combines the images of each color with a combining prism to obtain a color image (see Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, there is also a projector that projects a color image in which images are superimposed in time series by supplying color light of three colors in a time division manner to a projection unit including a liquid crystal panel and a projection lens (see Patent Document 3). ).
FIG. 8 of JP 2004-219900 A JP 2004-69966 A JP-A-8-278512

However, a projector incorporating a three-color projection unit requires three sets of expensive projection lenses, which is wasteful and tends to be expensive. Further, a projector that synthesizes an image formed by each color liquid crystal panel with a synthesis prism requires branching of illumination light, which complicates the light source system, and requires an expensive synthesis prism. Further, a projector of a type that superimposes time-series images tends to cause image quality degradation such as flicker due to the response speed of the liquid crystal panel.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a projector that is relatively inexpensive and is unlikely to deteriorate image quality such as flicker.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a projector according to the present invention includes (a) an illumination device that emits a plurality of colors of illumination light, and (b) each color illumination light emitted from the illumination device according to image information. A light modulation device for each color to be modulated, and (c) a rotation device that sequentially arranges the light modulation device for each color at the projection position by rotating the light modulation device for each color around the rotation axis, (D) When any one of the light modulation devices for each color rotated by the rotation device is disposed at the projection position, the image light of each color modulated by the one light modulation device is projected. A projection optical system, (e) a transfer device that transfers power and signals for operating the light modulation device for each color to the light modulation device for each color, and (f) each color according to the operation of the rotation device Tie of modulation operation of optical modulator And a control device for adjusting the ring.

In the projector described above, the light modulation device for each color is sequentially arranged at the projection position by rotating the light modulation device for each color while supporting the light modulation device for each color around the rotation axis, so that it is modulated by the light modulation device for each color. The image light can be sequentially projected by a common projection optical system. In other words, if the control device adjusts the timing of the modulation operation of the light modulation device for each color corresponding to the operation of the rotation device, the color can be obtained by using a plurality of relatively inexpensive light modulation devices and a single projection optical system. In addition to projecting an image, display flicker due to the response speed of the light modulation device can be reduced. Note that the timing of transfer by the transfer device can be adjusted by the control device as described above.

In a specific aspect or aspect of the present invention, the projector further includes a position sensor that detects a rotation position of the light modulation device for each color that is rotated by the rotation device. In this case, the light modulator for each color can be operated at an accurate timing while confirming the actual position of the light modulator for each color.

In another aspect of the present invention, the control device operates the rotation device intermittently or continuously, and any one of the light modulation devices for each color is arranged at the projection position. On the condition, display operation is performed on the one light modulation device. In this case, the light modulation device is operated while confirming that the light modulation device has periodically moved to the projection position, and the display state by the light modulation device can be easily set according to the projection position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the transfer device includes a power supply device that supplies power for operation to the light modulation device for each color in a contactless manner, and a display drive signal to the light modulation device for each color. And a signal supply device that is supplied by contact. In this case, power for operation and display drive signals can be transmitted in a non-contact manner to the light modulation device for each color, and the rotation of the light modulation device for each color by the rotation device can be prevented. .

Further, in another aspect of the present invention, the rotating device arranges and fixes the light modulation devices for each color at equal intervals along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis, and rotates the turret-shaped member. And a rotary drive device that rotates around the shaft. In this case, it is possible to easily arrange the light modulation device for each color periodically at the projection position, and it is possible to relatively accurately superimpose the images of the respective colors.

FIG. 1A is a plan view illustrating the projector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the projector shown in FIG.

The illustrated projector 10 includes three image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B, a projection lens 30, a rotation device 40, a position sensor 51, a power transfer device 60, and a control device 90.
With. Each of the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B forms image light of each color corresponding to red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The projection lens 30 is the image forming unit 20R.
, 20G, and 20B, the image light formed by any one of the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B arranged at the projection position on the optical axis OA0 is enlarged and projected. The rotation device 40 rotates the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B around the rotation axis RA while keeping the optical axes OA1 parallel to the rotation axis RA. The position sensor 51 can detect which image forming unit 20R, 20G, 20B is at the projection position by detecting the rotational position of the turret-like member 43 that supports the image forming units 20R, 20G, 20B. To do. In the state shown in the drawing, the green image forming unit 20G is at the projection position. The power transfer device 60 receives the image forming units 20R, 20G, 20 from the control device 90.
Used to transfer power to B. The control device 90 is connected to each image forming unit 2.
By controlling the operations of 0R, 20G, and 20B and the rotation device 40, the operation timings of the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B and the rotation device 40 are synchronized. Among the above elements, the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B and the rotating device 40 are
The projection lens 30 is fixed so as to be embedded in the front of the case 75.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the planar structure of the image forming unit 20R. The image forming unit 20R is illuminated by a light source device 21R that generates illumination light, a uniformizing optical system 23R that uniformizes the illumination light L1 emitted from the light source device 21R, and an illumination light L1 from the uniformizing optical system 23R. Liquid crystal light valve 25R. Here, the light source device 21R and the homogenizing optical system 23R constitute an illumination device. The image forming unit 20R wirelessly receives a power supply device 28 that receives power supply from the power transfer device 60 in FIG. 1 and a display driving signal and an operation state control signal from the control device 90 in FIG. Signal processing circuit 2 for performing appropriate processing
9. These light source devices 21R, uniformizing optical system 23R, liquid crystal light valve 25R
The power supply device 28 and the signal processing circuit 29 are housed in a case 27 for the purpose of light shielding and dust prevention. However, the emission surface of the liquid crystal light valve 25 </ b> R is exposed on the front surface of the case 27.

In the above, the light source device 21R is a light source device that generates the red illumination light L1, and includes the light emitting source 21a and the condensing mirror 21b. The light emission source 21a is an individual light emitting element such as an LED, for example, and emits red light with high power and high luminance. The condensing mirror 21b collects the red light emitted from the light emitting source 21a to the surroundings and emits it forward. The light source 21a and the condensing mirror 21b are integrated in an aligned state, and are mounted on a support substrate 21c having a driving circuit, for example. From this light source device 21R, the red illumination light L1 is emitted within an angle range narrowed to some extent.

The uniformizing optical system 23R includes a condenser lens 23a and a rod integrator 23c. The condenser lens 23a collects the illumination light L1 from the light source device 21R and brings the illumination light incident on the rod integrator 23c closer to a parallel light flux. Rod integrator 23
c is formed of a transparent prism, and the inner surface of the side surface functions as a normal mirror or a total reflection mirror. In the rod integrator 23c, the illumination light L1 incident from the incident end surface IP on the condenser lens 23a side is emitted from the emission end surface OP on the liquid crystal light valve 25R side. At this time, the light beam is split and superimposed by reflection on the inner surface of the side surface. To uniformize the illumination light L1 emitted from the emission end face OP.

The liquid crystal light valve 25R is a light modulation device for forming image light from illumination light. The liquid crystal panel 25a on which red illumination light L1 is incident and a set of polarized light disposed so as to sandwich the liquid crystal panel 25a. Filters 25b and 25c are provided. Here, the liquid crystal panel 25a is a non-light-emitting transmissive light modulation device for changing the spatial distribution of the polarization direction of the incident illumination light L1, and the illumination light L1 incident on the liquid crystal panel 25a is a liquid crystal panel. The polarization state of each pixel is adjusted in accordance with the drive signal or image signal input as an electrical signal to 25a.
At that time, the polarization filters 25b and 25c adjust the polarization direction of the illumination light incident on the liquid crystal panel 25a, and extract modulated light having a predetermined polarization direction from the light emitted from the liquid crystal panel 25a. That is, the red image light L2 is emitted from the liquid crystal light valve 25R along the direction of the optical axis OA1.

In the liquid crystal light valve 25R described above, the power supply device 28 is connected to the power transfer device 60 of FIG. 1, and receives power supply from the power transfer device 60 to emit the light source 21a, the signal processing circuit 29, and the liquid crystal panel 25a. Transfer power to etc. The power transfer device 60 can have a charging function, for example. Further, the signal processing circuit 29 wirelessly receives an image signal which is a display driving signal and a control command which is a control signal for operation state control from the signal processing unit 93 provided in the control device 90 of FIG. Works. That is, the signal processing circuit 29 is connected to the control device 90.
The image signal from the image signal can be received and temporarily stored and processed, and the control device 90
The light source device 21R is turned on or off at a predetermined timing corresponding to the instruction of the control command from, and the light modulation corresponding to the image signal, that is, the image display is performed on the liquid crystal panel 25a at the same timing
To do.

Returning to FIG. 1, the green image forming unit 20G has the same structure as the image forming unit 20R, and includes a light source device 21G, a uniformizing optical system 23G, a liquid crystal light valve 25G, and the like. The light source device 21G, the uniformizing optical system 23G, and the liquid crystal light valve 25G are composed of the light source device 21R, the uniformizing optical system 23R, and the red image forming unit 20R in FIG.
The liquid crystal light valve 25R has the same structure as the liquid crystal light valve 25R, and operates under the control of the signal processing circuit 29 that is supplied with power from the power supply device 28. In other words, the green image forming unit 20G receives remote control from the control device 90, and the light source device 2 that emits light at an appropriate timing.
From the liquid crystal light valve 25G emitted from 1G and illuminated by the green illumination light passing through the uniformizing optical system 23G, green image light is emitted along the optical axis OA1 at the timing corresponding to the light emission operation. The light source device 21G and the uniformizing optical system 23G constituting the image forming unit 20G constitute an illumination device that emits illumination light.

The blue image forming unit 20B has the same structure as the image forming unit 20R, and includes a light source device 21B, a uniformizing optical system 23B, a liquid crystal light valve 25B, and the like. The light source device 21B, the uniformizing optical system 23B, and the liquid crystal light valve 25B have the same structure as the light source device 21R, the uniformizing optical system 23R, and the liquid crystal light valve 25R that form the red image forming unit 20R in FIG. And a signal processing circuit 2 that is supplied with power from the power supply device 28.
It operates under the control of 9. That is, the blue image forming unit 20B receives remote control from the control device 90, and is illuminated with blue illumination light emitted from the light source device 21B that emits light at an appropriate timing and passed through the uniformizing optical system 23B. From the liquid crystal light valve 25B,
Blue image light is emitted along the direction of the optical axis OA1 at a timing corresponding to the light emission operation. The light source device 21B and the uniformizing optical system 23B constituting the image forming unit 20B are:
An illumination device that emits illumination light is configured.

The projection lens 30 is a projection optical system having an optical axis OA0 extending in the Y-axis direction. The projection lens 30 is an image formed at a position on one side of the optical axis OA0 and facing the incident end 31.
The image can be enlarged and projected on a screen disposed on the other side of the optical axis OA0 and in the extending direction of the emission end 32.

The rotating device 40 includes a motor unit 41 and a turret-like member 43. The motor unit 41 is a rotary drive device that rotates the turret-like member 43 intermittently or continuously around the rotation axis RA. Specifically, the rotating device 40 includes, for example, a DC motor, a step motor, and the like. The turret-like member 43 is a disc-like support member, and the image forming unit 2
0R, 20G, and 20B are held and fixed in such a state that the optical axis OA1 is arranged along the rotation axis RA. The rotation device 40 is adjusted by adjusting the rotation angle of the turret-like member 43.
The image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B for each color are sequentially arranged at the projection position. That means
In the state shown in the figure, the green image forming unit 20G is at the projection position. In this case, the optical axis OA1 of the image forming unit 20G coincides with the optical axis OA0 of the projection lens 30, and the projection lens 30 The green image light modulated by the unit 20G is projected. From this state, by rotating the turret-like member 43 clockwise by 120 ° by driving the motor unit 41, the red image forming unit 20R can be disposed at the projection position. In this case, the optical axis OA1 of the image forming unit 20R coincides with the optical axis OA0 of the projection lens 30, and the projection lens 30 projects the red image light modulated by the image forming unit 20R. Further, the turret-like member 43 is rotated 120 ° clockwise by driving the motor unit 41.
By rotating, the image forming unit 20R for blue can be arranged at the projection position. In this case, the optical axis OA1 of the image forming unit 20B coincides with the optical axis OA0 of the projection lens 30, and the projection lens 30 projects the blue image light modulated by the image forming unit 20B.

The turret-like member 43 can be rotated at a constant speed, but in order to make the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B stay at the projection position for a long time, intermittent rotation that stops at the projection position for a certain period is performed. desirable.

The position sensor 51 includes an encoder 51a and a photocoupler 51b, and is used for feedback control for monitoring the rotation angle of the turret-like member 43, for example, for adjusting the driving amount of the motor unit 41 provided in the rotating device 40. . The encoder 51a is a slit pattern composed of a large number of slits periodically formed around the disc-shaped turret-like member 43, and shields light emitted from the light-emitting elements constituting the photocoupler 51b. The photocoupler 51b
A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element facing the light-emitting element are included, and the output is turned on / off depending on whether light is blocked by the slit of the encoder 51a, and the position of the turret-like member 43 can be detected by counting on / off. The position sensor 51 determines whether or not each of the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B on the turret-like member 43 is disposed at the projection position, and which image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B are disposed at the projection position. Is output to the signal processing unit 93 of the control device 90. The position sensor 51 is not limited to a photocoupler or photointerrupter, and various detection devices can be employed. For example, the rotating device 4
When the motor unit 41 provided at 0 is a step motor, a position signal can be obtained from a drive pulse supplied to the step motor.

The power transfer device 60 includes an annular movable portion 61 provided on the turret-like member 43 of the rotating device 40, and a fixed portion 63 that is fixed by means (not shown) while facing at least a part of the movable portion 61. . The movable portion 61 is configured by, for example, an electromagnetic induction circuit including a coil or a core, and receives an electric power supply from the power supply portion 91 of the control device 90 and exerts an electromagnetic field on the movable portion 61. The movable part 61 is composed of a plurality of electromagnetic induction circuits each composed of a coil, a core, and the like, and generates electric power by induced electromotive force generated by an electromagnetic field from the fixed part 63. Such electric power is supplied to each image forming unit 20R using a relay or a switch built in the movable portion 61.
, 20G, and 20B are allocated, for example, by time division.

Note that the power transfer device 60 is not limited to electromagnetic induction, and various contactless power transmission methods can be employed. For example, a method of transmitting and receiving microwaves can be used. Further, the movable portion 61 is not limited to an annular shape, and is attached to each of the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B.
It can be arranged behind each image forming unit 20R, 20G, 20B.

The control device 90 is composed of electronic parts such as a microcomputer, and each of the image forming units 20R, 20
A power supply unit 91 for supplying power to G and 20B, and the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B.
A signal processing unit 93 that wirelessly transmits an image signal to be supplied to the control unit and a control command including operation timings of the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B, and a rotation control unit 95 that controls the rotation state of the rotating device 40. With. The power supply unit 91, the signal processing unit 93, and the rotation control unit 95 are directly connected to the movable unit 61 of the power transfer device 60, the motor unit 41 of the rotation device 40, and the photocoupler 51b of the position sensor 51, respectively. However, the signal processing unit 93 includes a wireless communication device, and the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B for the respective colors.
Data and commands are transmitted / received to / from the signal processing circuit 29 provided in. That is, the signal processing unit 93 functions as a signal supply device, that is, a transfer device, in cooperation with the signal processing circuit 29. Specifically, the signal processing unit 93 outputs an image signal obtained by appropriately processing a video signal received from the outside, and a control command for instructing a video signal display timing and a light source lighting timing for each color image forming unit. It transmits by radio to the signal processing circuit 29 in 20R, 20G, 20B. Here, the signal transmission / reception between the signal processing unit 93 and the signal processing circuit 29 is a short-range transmission method in which the signal is modulated by a radio carrier, but various other methods can be employed. Specifically, instead of wireless communication, for example, various types of communication using infrared communication or electromagnetic induction are possible.

The control device 90 supplies the image signals of the respective colors obtained by separating the image signals corresponding to the original color image to the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B for the corresponding colors. Transmit individually to 20B.

FIG. 3 is a chart for explaining timing control by the control device 90. FIG.
3 (C) shows the operation timing of the blue image forming unit 20B. Of these, FIG.
3A shows power supply to the image forming unit 20B, FIG. 3B shows transmission of image signals and control commands, and FIG. 3C shows lighting of the light source device 21B and the liquid crystal light valve 25.
The image projection by B is shown. Similarly, FIGS. 3D to 3F show the operation timing of the green image forming unit 20G, and FIG. 3D shows the power supply to the image forming unit 20G. 3 (E) shows transmission of an image signal and a control command, and FIG.
Indicates lighting of the light source device 21G and image projection by the liquid crystal light valve 25G. Similarly,
3 (G) to 3 (I) show the operation timing of the image forming unit 20R for red, and FIG. 3 (G) shows the power supply to the image forming unit 20R, and FIG. ) Shows transmission of an image signal and a control command, and FIG. 4I shows lighting of the light source device 21R and image projection by the liquid crystal light valve 25R. 4J shows the detection output of the position sensor 51, and it can be seen that the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B are sequentially arranged at the projection positions.

FIG. 4 is a chart for explaining a modification of the timing control of FIG. In this case, it is assumed that power is always supplied to the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B of the respective colors. 4A and 4B show the operation timing of the image forming unit 20B for blue. Among these, FIG. 4A shows the transmission of image signals and control commands to the image forming unit 20B. Data rewriting of the liquid crystal light valve 25B is shown, and FIG. 4B shows lighting of the light source device 21B and image projection by the liquid crystal light valve 25B. Similarly, FIGS. 4C and 4D show the operation timing of the green image forming unit 20G. Of these, FIG.
Transmission of image signals and control commands to the image forming unit 20G, and the liquid crystal light valve 25
FIG. 4 (D) shows the lighting of the light source device 21G and the liquid crystal light valve 25.
The image projection by G is shown. Similarly, FIGS. 4E and 4F show the operation timing of the image forming unit 20R for red, and FIG. 4E shows the image forming unit 20R.
FIG. 4F shows the lighting of the light source device 21R and the image projection by the liquid crystal light valve 25R. FIG. 4G shows the detection output of the position sensor 51. In the above operation example, data transmission to the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B and the liquid crystal light valves 25R and 25G are performed.
, 25B, sufficient time can be ensured.

As is apparent from the above chart, in the projector 10, the corresponding image forming unit 2 is provided only during the period in which the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B are arranged at the projection positions.
The light source devices 21R, 21G, and 21B of 0R, 20G, and 20B are intermittently turned on, and each image forming unit 20R, 20G, and 20B can project an image only when facing the projection lens 30, Projected images from the image forming units 20R, 20G, and 20B can be accurately superimposed on the screen. That is, the projector 10 can project a color image on the screen. At this time, each image forming unit 20R,
Regarding the data writing to the liquid crystal light valves 25R, 25G, and 25B of 20G and 20B, a time margin is given by the projection time of the other liquid crystal light valves by controlling the timing as shown in FIG. Slow liquid crystal light valve 25R, 25G, 25B
Even so, the display state can be stabilized with a sufficient margin. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the adverse effects such as flickering of the projected image by the projector 10.

As is apparent from the above description, in the projector 10 according to the present embodiment, the rotation device 40 supports the light modulation devices 25R, 25G, and 25B for each color around the rotation axis RA under the control of the control device 90. Since these are rotated and sequentially arranged at the projection positions, the image light L2 modulated by the light modulators 25R, 25G, and 25B for the respective colors can be sequentially projected by the common projection lens 30. That is, the relatively inexpensive liquid crystal light valves 25R, 2 for each color
A color image can be projected by 5G, 25B and the single projection lens 30 without waste. In addition, since there is a time margin in data writing as much as the liquid crystal light valves 25R, 25G, and 25B for the respective colors are sequentially operated, flickering of the projected image due to the response speed of writing can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the projector according to the second embodiment will be described. The projector according to the second embodiment is a partial modification of the projector according to the first embodiment, and parts that are not particularly described have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the projector according to the second embodiment. In the projector 110 of the present embodiment, the image forming units 120R, 120G, and 120B for the respective colors do not have individual illumination systems, and the illumination system that shares the illumination device 27 including the light source device 21 and the uniformizing optical system 23 is used. Utilize as. Here, the red image forming unit 20 </ b> R includes a liquid crystal light valve 25 </ b> R that is illuminated by illumination light from the illumination device 27. Similarly, the image forming unit 20G for green is the liquid crystal light valve 2 illuminated by the illumination light from the illumination device 27.
The blue image forming unit 20 </ b> B has a liquid crystal light valve 25 </ b> B by illumination light from the illumination device 27. Among the common lighting devices 27, the light source device 21 is red, green,
In addition, LED chips of three colors of blue and blue are incorporated as light emission sources, and image light of each color of red, green, and blue can be emitted while being switched. The homogenizing optical system 23 is the same as the homogenizing optical system 23R of FIG. The illumination device 27 includes image forming units 120R and 120G.
, 120B and is fixed to the fixing member side of the rotating device 40 by means (not shown).

In the projector 110 of the present embodiment, when the red image forming unit 120R is arranged at the projection position by the rotating device 40, the optical axis OA2 of the illumination device 27, the optical axis OA1 of the image forming unit 120R on the right side of the drawing, The optical axis OA0 of the projection lens 30 coincides.
That is, the image forming unit 120R is illuminated by the illumination device 27, and the image light formed by the red image forming unit 120R is projected onto a screen (not shown) by the projection lens 30. At this time, red illumination light is emitted from the illumination device 27. Similarly, when the image forming unit 120G for green is arranged at the projection position, the optical axis OA of the illumination device 27
2, the optical axis OA1 of the image forming unit 120G in the center of the drawing, and the optical axis OA of the projection lens 30
0 matches. That is, the image forming unit 120G is illuminated by the illumination device 27,
The image light formed by the green image forming unit 120G is projected onto a screen (not shown) by the projection lens 30. At this time, green illumination light is emitted from the illumination device 27. Further, when the blue image forming unit 120B is arranged at the projection position, the optical axis OA2 of the illumination device 27, the optical axis OA1 of the image forming unit 120B on the left side of the drawing, and the optical axis OA0 of the projection lens 30 are coincident. To do. That is, the image forming unit 12 is illuminated by the illumination device 27.
0B is illuminated, and image light formed by the blue image forming unit 120B is projected onto a screen (not shown) by the projection lens 30. At this time, blue illumination light is emitted from the illumination device 27.

As described above, the present invention has been described according to the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. Such modifications are also possible.

In the above embodiment, the case where solid light emitting elements such as LEDs are used as the light source devices 21R, 21G, 21B, and 121 has been described. However, the light source devices 21R, 21G, and 21B can be replaced with lamp light sources that emit light similarly.

In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal light valves 25R, 25G, and 25B are formed of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 25a. However, the same usage method is possible even with a reflective liquid crystal panel.

For the liquid crystal light valves 25R, 25G, and 25B, a digital micromirror device can be used instead of the liquid crystal panel 25a.

Also, the present invention can be applied to a front projection type projector that projects from the side that observes the projected image, and also to a rear projection type projector that projects from the side opposite to the side that observes the projected image. Is possible. Specifically, the present invention can be applied to a rear projection type television and a gaming machine having a rear projection type display unit.

In the above embodiment, each image forming unit 20R,
The power is transmitted to 20G and 20B in a non-contact manner and the data signal is transmitted wirelessly. However, if the turret-like member 43 of the rotating device 40 is rotated forward and backward by, for example, ± 120 ° from the reference position, the non-rotation There is no need to transmit power or data signals by contact.

(A), (B) is the top view and back view explaining the projector which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a planar structure of an image forming unit. FIG. (A)-(J) is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the projector shown in FIG. (A)-(G) is a flowchart explaining the modification of FIG. It is a top view explaining the projector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... projector, 20R, 20G, 20B ... image forming unit, 21R, 21
G, 21B: light source device, 23R, 23G, 23B ... homogenizing optical system, 23c: rod integrator, 25R, 25G, 25B ... liquid crystal light valve, 25a ... liquid crystal panel 28 ... power supply device, 29 ... signal processing circuit, 30 ... Projection lens, 40 ... Rotating device,
40 ... Rotating device, 41 ... Motor part, 43 ... Turret-shaped member, 51 ... Position sensor,
51a ... encoder 60 ... power transfer device 61 ... movable part 63 ... fixed part 9
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 ... Control apparatus, 91 ... Power supply part, 93 ... Signal processing part, 95 ... Rotation control part, L1 ... Illumination light, L2 ... Image light, RA ... Rotation axis

Claims (5)

An illumination device that emits illumination light of multiple colors;
A light modulation device for each color that modulates the illumination light of each color emitted from the illumination device according to image information;
A rotation device that sequentially arranges the light modulation device for each color at a projection position by rotating the light modulation device for each color around a rotation axis; and
When any one of the light modulation devices for each color rotated by the rotation device is disposed at the projection position, the image light of each color modulated by the one light modulation device is projected. A projection optical system;
A transfer device that transfers power and signals for operating the light modulation device for each color to the light modulation device for each color;
A control device that adjusts the timing of the modulation operation of the light modulation device for each color according to the operation of the rotation device;
A projector comprising: The projector according to claim 1, further comprising a position sensor that detects a rotation position of the light modulation device for each color that is rotated by the rotation device. The control device operates the rotating device intermittently or continuously, on the condition that any one light modulation device among the light modulation devices for each color is disposed at the projection position. The projector according to claim 2, wherein one light modulation device performs a display operation. The transfer device includes a power supply device that supplies power for operation to the light modulation device for each color in a contactless manner, and a signal supply device that supplies a display drive signal to the light modulation device for each color in a contactless manner. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising: The rotating device includes a turret-like member that fixes the light modulators for the respective colors arranged at equal intervals along a circumferential direction around the rotation axis, and rotates the turret-like member around the rotation axis. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a rotation driving device.

Images