JP2009180962A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector that causes no phenomenon of producing shade on a projection screen while having a light adjusting mechanism capable of greatly controlling quantity of light from a light source and that can make an illuminating optical system comparatively small. <P>SOLUTION: With a string SR wound, a light shielding member 71 as a whole rotates around a fixed axis 71c because a rigidity forming section RF of the string SR is engaged with a projection part PB of a first blade member 71a. When the light shielding member 71 becomes a laterally stretched state, the engagement is released by an engagement releasing projection HK, with a force imparted to a second blade member 71b. As a result, the second blade member 71b rotates around a connecting axis 71d. By the movement of rotating the entire light shielding member 71 and by the movement of rotating the second blade member 71b, the light shielding member 71 is elongated to shield illumination light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a projector that incorporates a light modulation unit that modulates light from a light source and a light control mechanism that adjusts the amount of light incident on the light modulation unit from the light source.

As a projector for adjusting the light amount of light source light in an illumination optical system, a projector that shields light by opening and closing a pair of rectangular light shielding plates arranged in the illumination optical system and adjusts the light amount is known. (See Patent Document 1 [0024] paragraph, [0027] paragraph and FIG. 3). In this case, the light shielding amount can be adjusted relatively easily by using a pair of rectangular light shielding plates.
JP 2004-264819 A

However, when adjusting the amount of light by opening and closing a pair of rectangular light shielding plates to shield the light, for example, for a dark color image with a narrow dynamic range of the luminance distribution pattern and a low average luminance Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of illumination light in order to display accurately at the luminance that should be displayed. As described above, in order to reduce the amount of illumination light, that is, to increase the maximum value of the light shielding amount, it is necessary to lengthen the light shielding plate.
There is a possibility that the illumination optical system will be enlarged. Further, when the rectangular light shielding plate is lengthened, a shadow may appear on the projection screen due to the influence of the light shielding plate.

Therefore, the present invention has a dimming mechanism capable of largely adjusting the light amount of the light source light, but does not cause a phenomenon that a shadow is generated on the projection screen, and the illumination optical system is relatively small. It is an object of the present invention to provide a projector that can do this.

In order to solve the above problems, a projector according to the present invention includes (a) an illumination device that uniformizes light from a light source to form illumination light, and (b) light that is illuminated by illumination light from the illumination device. A modulation unit; and (c) a projection optical system that projects the modulated light that has passed through the light modulation unit. (D) The illumination device is formed by connecting a plurality of blade members and facing the system optical axis. And a dimming mechanism for dimming illumination light by driving the pair of light shielding members.

In the projector, the light control mechanism can adjust the light shielding amount of the light source light by driving the pair of light shielding members to open and close. At this time, in particular, the pair of light shielding members are configured to be extendable and contractable by connecting a plurality of blade members to each other. Therefore, the pair of light shielding members can be opened and closed without increasing the size of the illumination optical system even when arranged in the illumination device, and the adjustment range of the light shielding amount of the light source light is increased. it can.

As a specific aspect of the present invention, the lighting device includes a pair of fly-eye lenses for dividing and superimposing light, and the pair of light shielding members is disposed between the pair of fly-eye lenses.
Thereby, the light control mechanism can adjust the light-shielding amount of light source light more effectively.

As a specific aspect of the present invention, the light control mechanism arranges the pair of light shielding members symmetrically with respect to the system optical axis, and drives the pair of light shielding members synchronously. Thereby, light can be shielded while maintaining symmetry with respect to the system optical axis.

As a specific aspect of the present invention, the light control mechanism performs light control by bending a plurality of blade members. Thereby, a pair of light shielding members can be folded small, and the whole light control mechanism can be made small.

As a specific aspect of the present invention, the dimming mechanism has at least one of the plurality of blade members.
At least one of the plurality of blade members is rotated around a rotation shaft provided on the two. In this case, the pair of light shielding members can be easily opened and closed by the rotation operation of the blade member provided with the rotation shaft.

Further, as a specific aspect of the present invention, the pair of light shielding members includes a plurality of blade members (a
1) a first movable member having a rotation shaft on the root side and rotating around the rotation shaft and having a connecting shaft on the tip side; and (b) the first movable member connected to the first movable member on the connection shaft. And a second movable member that rotates around the axis. In this case, the pair of light shielding members can be opened and closed by rotating the at least two movable members.

As a specific aspect of the present invention, the dimming mechanism includes: (a) the first and second movable members while keeping the relative positional relationship between the first movable member and the second movable member constant; First to drive
Many stages of driving, and (b) second stage driving that drives the first and second movable members while changing the relative positional relationship between the first movable member and the second movable member. Drive in stages. In this case, it is possible to shift in a stepwise manner from a state where the light shielding amount by the light control mechanism is a minimum to a state where it is the maximum.

As a specific aspect of the present invention, the dimming mechanism drives the first and second movable members at the same time while changing the relative positional relationship between the first movable member and the second movable member. . In this case, it is possible to shift from a state where the light shielding amount by the light control mechanism is minimum to a state where the light is blocked by a series of operations.

Moreover, as a specific aspect of the present invention, the light control mechanism performs light control by sliding and extending a plurality of blade members. Thereby, a pair of light shielding members can be reduced in size, and the whole light control mechanism can be made small. Here, “sliding expansion / contraction” means that the plurality of blade members slide, so that the light shielding members are extended from the overlapping state and vice versa. .

Further, as a specific aspect of the present invention, the plurality of blade members includes (a) a first movable member having a rotation shaft on the base side and rotating around the rotation shaft, and (b) first A second movable member supported by the movable member, and (c) a slide mechanism that slides and expands the second movable member in the distal direction of the first movable member. In this case, the pair of light shielding members can be opened and closed by rotating and sliding the at least two movable members.

[First Embodiment]
The structure of the projector according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the structure of the projector according to the first embodiment. The projector 100 according to this embodiment includes a light source device 10, an illumination optical system 20, a color separation optical system 30, a light modulation unit 40, a cross dichroic prism 50 that is a combining optical system, and a projection lens that is a projection optical system. 60.

In the projector 100, the light source device 10 includes an arc tube 11 that generates light source light,
A reflector 12 that reflects the light beam emitted backward from the arc tube 11 and emits it forward, a secondary mirror 13 that returns the light beam emitted forward from the arc tube 11 to the reflector 12 side, and the reflector 12
And a collimating lens 14 that collimates the light beam direction of the light source light emitted by the reflection at the light source, and illuminates each liquid crystal light valve 40a, 40b, 40c of the light modulator 40 via the illumination optical system 20 or the like. The light source light to be used as the illumination light is generated.

The illumination optical system 20 includes first and second fly-eye lenses 21 and 22 constituting an integrator optical system for equalizing light by dividing and superimposing light, and a polarization conversion element 23 that aligns the polarization state of light. , A superimposing lens 24 that superimposes each light that has passed through the polarization conversion element 23, and a dimming mechanism 70 that performs dimming of illumination light. Form. In the illumination optical system 20, the first and second fly-eye lenses 2
Reference numerals 1 and 22 each include a plurality of rectangular small lenses arranged in a matrix, and the light is divided and condensed individually by the small lenses constituting the first fly-eye lens 21. The split light beam from the first fly-eye lens 21 is emitted at an appropriate divergence angle by the small lens constituting the lens. The polarization conversion element 23 is formed of an array having a PBS, a mirror, a retardation plate, etc. as a set of elements, and the polarization direction of each partial light beam divided by the first fly-eye lens 21 is linearly polarized in one direction. It has a role to align. The superimposing lens 24 appropriately converges the illumination light from the second fly-eye lens 22 that has passed through the polarization conversion element 23 as a whole. That is, the superimposing lens 24 enables superimposing illumination on the illuminated areas provided in the liquid crystal panels 41a, 41b, and 41c described later.

The light control mechanism 70 includes a pair of light shielding members 71 and 72 and a drive unit 79. The pair of light shielding members 71, 72 includes a first blade member 71a, 72a and a second blade member 71b, 7 respectively.
2b. The first blade members 71a and 72a and the second blade members 71b and 72b are
Both have a rectangular shape that matches the width of the small lens SL that constitutes the second fly-eye lens 22. Moreover, although mentioned later in detail, the 1st blade | wing member 71a, 72a and the 2nd blade | wing member 71
b and 72b are connected to each other in a rotatable state, and the first blade members 71a and 71b are connected to each other.
2a itself is also rotatably supported on the root side.

The light control mechanism 70 adjusts the amount of light shielding by controlling the stationary state of each blade member 71a, 72a, 71b, 72b. That is, the light control mechanism 70 is the first fly-eye lens 21.
A pair of light-shielding members 71 and 72 arranged symmetrically about the system optical axis OA between the first fly-eye lens 22 and the second fly-eye lens 22 are driven in synchronism with left and right symmetry to form a small lens constituting the second fly-eye lens 22 Each blade member 71a, 72a, 71b having a shape that matches the size of SL,
The illumination light is dimmed by stopping 72b at a predetermined angle. Each blade member 7
More specifically, the shape of 1a, 72a, 71b, 72b is, for example, the first blade members 71a, 72a are small lenses SL arranged at the end of the rectangular small lenses SL arranged in a matrix. It has a vertically long rectangular shape that covers one row. That is, the first blade member 71
By blocking the light beams a and 72a, it is possible to block all light from the small lenses SL arranged at the end of the small lenses SL. On the other hand, the second blade members 71b and 72b are shaped so as to shield some of the small lenses SL among the small lenses arranged in the second row from the end, for example. Thus, the light shielding members 71 and 7 are determined by appropriately determining the shapes of the second blade members 71b and 72b.
2 can determine the maximum light shielding amount.

Hereinafter, dimming of illumination light will be described. The drive unit 79 provided in the light control mechanism 70 having the above configuration operates the pair of light shielding members 71 and 72 with a predetermined initial position as a reference. For example, in the case of a display operation that requires high luminance (high luminance mode), the pair of light shielding members 7
Reference numerals 1 and 72 are driven and bent by the drive unit 79. Thereby, the amount of illumination light passing between the first and second fly-eye lenses 21 and 22 is maximized, and the brightness of the image projected on the screen is maximized. On the other hand, when not in the high luminance mode, the pair of light shielding members 71 and 72 are driven by the drive unit 79 and stopped at a predetermined angle. Thereby, the passing light amount of the illumination light is adjusted so as to be a light amount corresponding to the luminance of the image to be displayed.
Specifically, the shape and angle of each blade member 71a, 72a, 71b, 72b are appropriately selected, and the amount of passing illumination light, which is passing light, is adjusted in the range of 90% to approximately 0%, for example. And
Thus, when not in the high luminance mode, the passing light amount of the illumination light that is the passing light is appropriately adjusted according to the luminance of the image to be displayed. In particular, in the case of an image with low luminance, darker black can be reproduced by reducing the amount of light passing through the illumination light, and the contrast of the image can be increased. Therefore, by attaching the light control mechanism 70 including the light shielding members 71 and 72, accurate light control can be realized. In particular, the light shielding members 71 and 7 of the light control mechanism 70.
The plurality of wing members 71a, 72a, 71b, and 72b that constitute the component 2 can perform stepwise light control, and the light shielding members 71 and 72 can be made compact.

The color separation optical system 30 includes a first dichroic mirror 31 and a second dichroic mirror 3.
2, a first reflection mirror 33, a second reflection mirror 34 a, a third reflection mirror 34 b, and three field lenses 35 a, 35 b, and 35 c, and the illumination light formed by the illumination optical system 20 is red ( R), green (G), and blue (B) are separated into three colors, and each color light is guided to the liquid crystal light valves 40a, 40b, and 40c in the subsequent stage. More specifically, the first and second dichroic mirrors 31 and 32 first separate the illumination light by reflection and transmission according to a predetermined wavelength region of the visible light wavelength region included in the illumination light. In particular, here, the first dichroic mirror 31 reflects R light and transmits G light and B light among the three colors of RGB. The second dichroic mirror 32 reflects G light and transmits B light out of the two colors of GB. That is, the first dichroic mirror 31 separates the light source light into R light, G light, and B light as predetermined color light. Further, the second dichroic mirror 32 is a first dichroic mirror 31.
Is separated into G light as the other color light and the remaining B light.

Next, in this color separation optical system 30, the R reflected by the first dichroic mirror 31.
The light enters the field lens 35 a for adjusting the incident angle through the first reflecting mirror 33. Further, the second dichroic mirror 32 is transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 31.
The G light reflected by the light enters the field lens 35b for adjusting the incident angle. Further, the B light that has passed through the first and second dichroic mirrors 31 and 32 is transmitted to the relay lens L.
The light enters the field lens 35c for adjusting the incident angle through L1 and LL2 and the second and third reflection mirrors 34a and 34b.

The light modulation unit 40 includes liquid crystal light valves 40a, 40b, and 40c. The liquid crystal light valves 40 a, 40 b, and 40 c are non-light-emitting light modulation devices that modulate the spatial intensity distribution of incident illumination light, and are illuminated corresponding to each color light emitted from the color separation optical system 30. Three liquid crystal panels 41a, 41b, 41c, three first polarizing filters 42a-42c arranged on the incident side of each liquid crystal panel 41a-41c, and each liquid crystal panel 41.
Three second polarizing filters 43a to 43c arranged on the exit sides of a to 41c, respectively. The R light reflected by the first dichroic mirror 31 enters the liquid crystal light valve 40a through the field lens 35a and the like, and illuminates the liquid crystal panel 41a of the liquid crystal light valve 40a. The G light transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 31 and reflected by the second dichroic mirror 32 enters the liquid crystal light valve 40b through the field lens 35b and the like,
The liquid crystal panel 41b of the liquid crystal light valve 40b is illuminated. The B light transmitted through both the first and second dichroic mirrors 31 and 32 enters the liquid crystal light valve 40c via the field lens 35c and the like, and illuminates the liquid crystal panel 41c of the liquid crystal light valve 40c. Each liquid crystal panel 41a-41c changes the spatial polarization state of the incident illumination light, and each liquid crystal panel 4
The three colors of light incident on 1a to 41c are modulated in accordance with drive signals or image signals input as electrical signals to the liquid crystal panels 41a to 41c. At this time, the polarization direction of illumination light incident on the liquid crystal panels 41a to 41c is adjusted by the first polarizing filters 42a to 42c, and the liquid crystal panels 41a to 41c are adjusted by the second polarizing filters 43a to 43c.
Modulated light having a predetermined polarization direction is extracted from the modulated light emitted from 41c. With the above,
Each liquid crystal light valve 40a, 40b, 40c forms image light of each color corresponding to each.

The cross dichroic prism 50 combines the modulated lights of the respective colors from the liquid crystal light valves 40a, 40b, and 40c. More specifically, the cross dichroic prism 5
0 has a substantially square shape in plan view in which four right-angle prisms are bonded, and a pair of dielectric multilayer films 51a and 51b intersecting in an X shape are formed at the interface where the right-angle prisms are bonded. . One first dielectric multilayer film 51 a reflects R light, and the other second dielectric multilayer film 51.
b reflects B light. The cross dichroic prism 50 includes a liquid crystal light valve 40a.
R light is reflected by the dielectric multilayer film 51a and emitted to the right in the traveling direction, and G light from the liquid crystal light valve 40b is caused to travel straight through the dielectric multilayer films 51a and 51b and emitted from the liquid crystal light valve 40c. The B light is reflected by the dielectric multilayer film 51b and emitted to the left in the traveling direction. In this way, the R light, the G light, and the B light are combined by the cross dichroic prism 50,
Composite light, which is image light based on a color image, is formed.

The projection lens 60 is a projection optical system, and projects the color image on a screen (not shown) by enlarging the image light by the combined light formed through the cross dichroic prism 50 with a desired magnification.

2A and 2B are views for explaining the operation of the light shielding member 71 in the projector according to the present embodiment. The pair of light shielding members 71 and 72 shown in FIG. 1 are symmetrical with respect to the system optical axis OA, and their operations are also symmetrical. Therefore, FIG.
FIG. 1B is a diagram for showing an open state in which the light shielding member is housed and an extended closed state.
Of the pair of light shielding members 71 and 72, only the light shielding member 71 is shown.

The light shielding member 71 is provided on the base side of the first blade member 71a, the second blade member 71b, and the first blade member 71a, and is a rotation shaft that becomes the center when the entire light shielding member 71 is rotated. A fixed shaft 71c and a connecting shaft 71d serving as a rotation shaft that connects the first blade member 71a and the second blade member 71b and enables the second blade member 71b to rotate are provided. That means
With the fixed shaft 71c and the connecting shaft 71d, the first and second blade members 71a and 72b both function as rotatable movable members. Here, further, a thread SR is attached to the light shielding member 71 in order to perform an opening / closing operation. One end of the thread SR is the second blade member 71b
The other end of the thread SR is connected to a motor (not shown) of the drive unit 79. It is wound around a connected reel RE. Here, the 1st blade | wing member 71a has the projection part PB in the position through which the thread | yarn SR passes. Correspondingly, a part of the thread SR in the vicinity of the protrusion PB is a rigid shape portion RF having rigidity fixed to a sickle shape. When the light shielding member 71 is in the open state, the rigid shape portion RF is in a state of being caught by the protruding portion PB formed on the first blade member 71a. For this reason, when the reel RE is driven and rotated by a motor (not shown), the yarn SR is wound up, and when the yarn SR acts on each member of the light-shielding member 71 in the open state, the light-shielding member 71 is closed. First, a force acts on the protrusion PB, that is, the first blade member 71a by the rigid shape portion RF. A spring S1 having an elastic force is provided between the first blade member 71a and the second blade member 71b for the opening operation of loosening the thread SR and returning it to the original state. Between the one blade member 71a and the fixed plate FB fixed in the projector 100, a spring S having the same elastic force is used.
2 is provided.

Hereinafter, the operation of light shielding by each part of the light shielding member 71 will be described by describing in detail the action of the yarn SR. Here, the action of the yarn SR is changed, so that the light is shielded by a two-stage operation. FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating the operation in the first stage, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the operation in the second stage. First, in the state shown in FIG. 2A, when the yarn SR is wound up in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the reel RE, the rigid shape portion RF of the yarn SR is caught by the projection PB of the first blade member 71a. As a result, a force is applied in the direction of the white arrow in the figure, and the light shielding member 71 as a whole rotates around the fixed shaft 71c. further,
When the rotation operation proceeds, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first blade member 71a of the light shielding member 71 is obtained.
Is in a state of extending sideways, that is, a state of extending substantially parallel to the second fly-eye lens 22. At this time, the rigid shape portion RF is pushed up by the locking release protrusion HK, and the locking with the protruding portion PB is released. As a result, the action of the thread SR on the protruding portion PB is released, and this time, a force is applied from the point SP to the direction of the white arrow in the figure by the thread SR against the second blade member 71b. Thereby, the second blade member 71b rotates around the connecting shaft 71d.
Thereby, it will be in the closed state which the light shielding member 71 extended. As described above, each blade member 71a,
The operation of the first stage in which the entire light shielding member 71 is rotated while the relative positional relationship of 71b remains unchanged, and the second blade member 71b in which the relative positional relationship of each of the blade members 71a and 71b changes is further rotated. The closing operation of extending the light shielding member 71 to shield the illumination light is performed by the second-stage operation of extending the light shielding member 71.

Next, an opening operation for returning the light shielding member 71 from the light shielded state to the open state before the light shielding is performed will be described. In this case, as shown by a dotted arrow in the reel RE of FIG. 2B, an operation of loosening the yarn SR in the direction opposite to the direction of winding is performed. At this time, the elastic force of the springs S1 and S2 acts, and the first and second blade members 71a and 71b work in the directions indicated by the dotted arrows.
Thereby, the light shielding member 71 returns to the original folded open state before the light shielding.

In FIG. 1, the dimming mechanism 70 performs adjustment for blocking the illumination light in a desired state by operating the above operation in a symmetrical manner by synchronizing the pair of light blocking members 71 and 72. Can do. As described above, the projector 100 according to the present embodiment can adjust the light amount of the light source light greatly by having the light control mechanism 70, but without causing a phenomenon that a shadow is generated on the projection screen. In addition, the light shielding members 71 and 72, that is, the illumination optical system 20 can be reduced in size.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the structure and the like of the projector according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the light source device and the illumination device in the projector according to the present embodiment. Note that the configuration of the projector subsequent to the illumination device is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus description and illustration thereof are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light source device 10 and the illumination device 120 constituting the projector in the present embodiment have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the dimming mechanism 170. That is, the light control mechanism 170 has the guide plates 173 and 174 corresponding to the pair of light shielding members 171 and 172, respectively.
The light source device 10 and the illuminating device 120 have the same configuration as the light source device 10 and the illuminating device 20 of FIG. 1 except that the light source device 10 and the illuminating device 120 have a driving unit 179 for driving the guide plates 173 and 174.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the structure of the guide plate 173 of the light control mechanism 170. The guide plate 174 has the same configuration as the guide plate 173. The guide plate 173 has guide holes CTa and CTb on the board surface 173a, and is joined to a drive member 175 extending from the drive part 179 by a joint part 175a. The driving member 175 slides in the AB direction on the left and right sides of the paper, and the entire guide plate 173 moves in the AB direction.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the light shielding member 171 and the guide plate 173 are combined. Here, the light shielding member 171 includes a first blade member 171a, a second blade member 171b,
A fixed shaft 171c serving as a rotation shaft for rotating the entire light shielding member 171 along the board surface 173a;
The first blade member 171a and the second blade member 171b are connected to each other, and a connecting shaft 171d serving as a rotation shaft that enables the second blade member 171b to rotate is provided. The fixed shaft 171c is
The position on the base side of the first blade member 171a is fixed and rotated along the board surface 173a. Therefore, the position of the fixed shaft 171c itself does not move. Furthermore, the first and second blade members 171a and 171b have protrusions 171e and 171f, respectively. Among these, the protrusion 171e provided on the first blade member 171a is fitted in the guide hole CTa, and the protrusion 171f provided on the second blade member 171b is the guide hole CTb.
It is inserted in. The protrusions 171e and 171f are both slidable with respect to the guide holes CTa and CTb, or are in a rotatable state so that they can slide smoothly along the guide holes CTa and CTb. It is like that. That is, the guide plate 1
By sliding 73 in the AB direction, the protrusion 1 along the guide holes CTa and CTb.
As a result of the sliding of 71e and 171f, the light shielding member 171 performs an opening / closing operation.
6 (a), 6 (b) and FIGS. 7 (a), 7 (b) are diagrams showing the operation of the light shielding member 171. FIG. Among these, FIGS. 6A and 6B show the operation of the light shielding member 171 when viewed from the position of moving together with the guide plate 173. FIG. In contrast, FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b)
The actual operation | movement of the light-shielding member 171 seen from the standstill is shown. That is, as a result of moving the guide plate 173 in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 6A or FIG.
f moves in the guide holes CTa and CTb along the directions of arrows B1 and B2 shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). As a result, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, the light shielding member 171 is in a state of extending horizontally from the folded open state, that is, the first blade member 171a is the second fly-eye lens 22 as shown in FIG. It becomes the state extended substantially in parallel. Further, as the second stage, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the second blade member 171b extends by rotating around the axis 171d, and the light shielding member 1
71 will be in the extended closed state.

On the other hand, in order to return the light shielding member 171 to the bent open state, the guide plate 173 is slid in the reverse direction, that is, moved in the B → A direction in FIG. Thereby, the protrusion 171e,
171f moves backward in the guide holes CTa and CTb, that is, the arrow B1 in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b),
Proceeding in the opposite direction to B2, the light shielding member 171 returns to the folded open state of FIG. 6 (a) or FIG. 7 (a).

As described above, in this case, the light shielding member 171 can be easily opened and closed by sliding the drive member 175 in the left-right direction on the paper surface.

[Third Embodiment]
The structure of the projector according to the third embodiment will be described below. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the light shielding member of the light control mechanism in the projector according to the present embodiment. Note that the overall configuration of the projector is the same as that of the first embodiment and the like, and description and illustration thereof are omitted. Also in this embodiment, since the pair of light shielding members operate symmetrically, only the operation of one light shielding member of the light control mechanism will be described.

The light control mechanism 270 includes a light shielding member 271 and a rotation mechanism 273. The rotating mechanism 273 includes a rotating disk 273a and a driving member 273b. The light shielding member 271 includes a first blade member 271a, a second blade member 271b, a fixed shaft 271c serving as a rotation shaft for rotating the light shielding member 171 as a whole, a first blade member 271a, and a second blade member 271b. And a connecting shaft 271d. The turntable 273a rotates around the rotation axis CT by a motor (not shown) provided in the drive unit 79 of FIG. The drive member 273b is attached to the turntable 273a by a connecting shaft 273c so as to be rotatable along the surface of the turntable 273a, and is similarly rotatable by the connecting shaft 273d along the surface of the turntable 273a. The light shielding member 271 is connected to the second blade member 271b.

Hereinafter, the operation of the light control mechanism 270 will be described. First, before the turntable 273a operates, the light shielding member 271 is in an open state that is bent so as to be positioned on the right side in the drawing. In the first stage, when the turntable 273a rotates clockwise, the drive member 273 is moved.
Power is transmitted to the light shielding member 271 through b, the light shielding member 271 rotates about the fixed shaft 271c, and the first blade member 271a extends substantially parallel to the second fly-eye lens 22 by the stopper SP. Stop. Furthermore, if the turntable 273a continues to rotate clockwise,
As a second stage, power is transmitted to the second blade member 271b via the driving member 273b, while the first blade member 271a does not move and the first blade member 271a remains extended. Become. As a result, the second blade member 271b is rotated about the connecting shaft 273d, and the light shielding member 271 is expanded.

On the contrary, in order to return the light shielding member 271 to the folded open state, the rotating disk 273a may be rotated in the reverse direction, that is, counterclockwise.

As described above, in this case, the light shielding member 27 can be easily obtained by rotating the rotating disk 273a forward and backward.
1 can be opened and closed.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The structure of the projector according to the fourth embodiment will be described below. 9 (a) and 9
(B) is a figure for demonstrating the light control mechanism among the projectors which concern on this embodiment. Note that the overall configuration of the projector is the same as that of the first embodiment and the like, and description and illustration thereof are omitted. Also in this embodiment, since the pair of light shielding members operate symmetrically, only the operation of one light shielding member of the light control mechanism will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the light control mechanism 370 includes a light shielding member 371 and a rotation mechanism 373. The light shielding member 371 includes a first blade member 371a, a second blade member 371b, a fixed shaft 371c serving as a rotation shaft for rotating the light shielding member 371 as a whole, and a first blade member 371a.
And a connecting shaft 371d that connects the second blade member 371b. The rotation mechanism 373 is
Gears 373a, 373b, 373c, 373d and a spring 373e are provided. Gear 373
Each of a and 373c can be rotated around a rotation axis perpendicular to the paper surface by a motor or the like provided in the drive unit 79 of FIG. The gear 373b shares a rotating shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface with the fixed shaft 371c, and is fixed to the fixed shaft 371c. Accordingly, when the gear 373b rotates in the first stage, the entire light shielding member 371 rotates about the fixed shaft 371c. Here, the gear 373b meshes with the gear 373a. That is, as a result of the rotation of the gear 373a and the rotation of the gear 373b, the light shielding member 371 is fixed to the fixed shaft 37.
Rotate around 1c. By the rotation of the gear 373a, the light shielding member 371 rotates 90 ° as shown in FIG. 9B. At this time, the gear 373d attached to the connecting shaft 371d of the light shielding member 371 meshes with the gear 373c, and the gear 373b is rotated by the rotation of the gear 373a.
This stops the rotation operation, and thereby determines the position of the first blade member 371a. Next, as a second stage, the gear 373d is rotated by the rotation operation of the gear 373c. As a result, only the second blade member 371b rotates around the connecting shaft 371d. As a result, the second blade member 371b rotates and stops at the position where the first and second blade members 371a and 371b extend straight.

By operating the light shielding member 371 as described above and stopping the blade members 371a and 371b in a state of extending straight, the predetermined light shielding amount is reduced. Further, in order to perform the opening operation for increasing the light shielding amount, the reverse operation, that is, the gear 373c and the gear 373a are operated in the reverse procedure to return to the open state. In the above operation, the light shielding member 371 in the open state can be folded in a compact manner by appropriately adjusting the elastic force of the spring 373e.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The structure of the projector according to the fifth embodiment will be described below. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of the light source device and the illumination device in the projector according to the present embodiment. In addition,
Since the configuration of the projector subsequent to the illumination device is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description and illustration are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the light source device 10 and the illumination device 420 constituting the projector in the present embodiment have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the light control mechanism 470. That means
The light control mechanism 470 includes a pair of different types of light shielding members 471 and 472 and light shielding members 471 and 47.
2 and the light source device 10 and the illumination device 4 except that the light source device 10 and the illumination device 4 are provided.
Reference numeral 20 denotes the same configuration as the light source device 10 and the illumination device 20 of FIG. Also in this embodiment, since the pair of light shielding members 471 and 472 operate symmetrically, only the operation of one light shielding member 471 in the light control mechanism 470 will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the light shielding member in an example of the light control mechanism in the projector according to the present embodiment.

The light control mechanism 470 includes a light shielding member 471 and a drive mechanism 473. The light shielding member 471 includes the first blade member 471a, the second blade member 471b, and the light shielding member 471 as the driving mechanism 4.
73, a first blade member 471a and a second blade member 4 for mounting to the shaft 73
A connecting shaft 471d, which is a rotating shaft that connects 71b and can rotate both;
A fixed shaft 471e for fixing and rotating the position of the base side of the blade member 471a. The drive mechanism 473 includes a rotation shaft 473a and a connecting member 473b. The rotating shaft 473a can be rotated by a motor or the like provided in the driving unit 479. Further, threading with a constant pitch is formed on the side surface 473c of the rotating shaft 473a. Connecting member 473
b is a member that connects the rotating shaft 473a and the light shielding member 471, and has a threaded surface 473d with a constant pitch. It is in the state. Also, the connecting member 473
b is connected to the second blade member 471b by a mounting shaft 471c in a rotatable state. Accordingly, when the rotation shaft 473a rotates, the connecting member 473b slides in the AB direction on the left and right sides of the paper. As a result, the light shielding member 471 extends. That is, the second blade member 4
71b is extended by the connecting member 473b, and at the same time, the second is connected by the connecting shaft 471d.
The first blade member 471a connected to the blade member 471b also extends by rotating around the fixed shaft 471e. That is, the entire light shielding member 471 moves like a scale insect in a plane parallel to the paper surface. By continuing this operation, the light shielding member 471 is in an extended closed state.

On the contrary, in order to return the light shielding member 471 to the bent open state, the rotating shaft 473a may be rotated in the reverse direction.

In the above case, the relative positional relationship between the blade members 471a and 471b is changed. Whether the light shielding member 471 moves in the extending direction or in the contracting direction is determined by the rotating direction of the rotating shaft 473a. As described above, the light shielding member 471 can be easily opened and closed by rotating the rotary shaft 473a.

[Sixth Embodiment]
The structure of the projector according to the sixth embodiment will be described below. FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of the light source device and the illumination device in the projector according to the present embodiment. In addition,
Since the configuration of the projector subsequent to the illumination device is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description and illustration are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, the light source device 10 and the illumination device 520 constituting the projector in the present embodiment have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the dimming mechanism 570. That means
Except for the light control mechanism 570 having a pair of light shielding members 571 and 572 and a drive unit 579 for driving the pair of light shielding members 571 and 572, the light source device 10 and the illumination device 520 are provided.
These are the same structures as the light source device 10 and the illuminating device 20 of FIG. Also in this embodiment, since the pair of light shielding members 571 and 572 operate symmetrically, only the operation of one light shielding member 571 of the light control mechanism 570 will be described.

The light shielding member 571 includes a first blade member 571a, a second blade member 571b, and a fixed shaft 571c for fixing and rotating the position of the root side of the first blade member 571a.
The second blade member 571b is supported by the first blade member 571a, and is slidable and expandable in the distal direction of the first blade member 571a by a slide mechanism. First, as a first-stage operation, the light control mechanism 570 rotates the entire light shielding member 571 around the fixed shaft 571c by a motor (not shown) provided in the drive unit 579. That is, the light shielding member 571 is rotated about 90 ° from the position indicated by the dotted line to the position indicated by the solid line. Next, as a second stage operation, the second blade member 571b is slid substantially parallel to the second fly-eye lens 22. That is, the light shielding member 571 slides and expands. As described above, the light control mechanism 570 performs the opening operation and the closing operation to adjust the light shielding amount. In this case, the light shielding amount can be adjusted stepwise by the rotation operation that is the first step operation and the slide movement operation that is the second step operation.

The present invention is not limited to the first to sixth embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible. is there.

First, in the above embodiment, all of the light control mechanisms 70, 170, 270, 370, 470,
570 is installed between the first and second fly-eye lenses 21 and 22, but the light control mechanism 70,
170, 270, 370, 470, 570 can be installed in other places in the illumination devices 20, 120, 420, 520, for example, the second fly's eye lens 22 and the polarization conversion element 23.
Or between the polarization conversion element 23 and the superimposing lens 24.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it has the structure which has two blade members per one light shielding member, it is also possible to comprise one light shielding member by three or more blade members.

Various lamps such as a high-pressure mercury lamp and a metal halide lamp are conceivable as lamps used for the arc tube 11 that generates light source light incorporated in the light source device 10.

Further, although the projector 100 uses the polarization conversion element 24 that converts the light from the light source device 10 into a specific direction of polarization, the present invention is also applicable to a projector that does not use such a polarization conversion element 24. is there.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a transmissive projector has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a reflective projector. here,"
"Transmission type" means that the liquid crystal light valve including the liquid crystal panel is a type that transmits light, and "Reflective type" means that the liquid crystal light valve is a type that reflects light is doing. In the case of a reflection type projector, the liquid crystal light valve can be constituted only by a liquid crystal panel, and a pair of polarizing filters is unnecessary. The light modulation unit is not limited to a liquid crystal panel or the like, and may be a light modulation unit using a micromirror, for example.

The projector includes a front projector that projects an image from the direction of observing the projection surface and a rear projector that projects an image from the side opposite to the direction of observing the projection surface. The projector configuration shown in FIG. Is applicable to both.

In the above embodiment, the projector 10 using the three liquid crystal panels 41a to 41c.
Although only an example of 0 is given, the present invention can also be applied to a projector using only one liquid crystal panel, a projector using two liquid crystal panels, or a projector using four or more liquid crystal panels. .

In the above embodiment, the color separation optical system 30 and the liquid crystal light valves 40a, 40b, 40
The light modulation of each color is performed using c or the like, but instead, for example, the color wheel illuminated by the light source device 10 and the illumination optical system 20 and the light transmitted through the color wheel constituted by the pixels of the micromirror are used. By using a combination with a device to be irradiated, color light modulation and synthesis can be performed.

It is a conceptual diagram explaining the projector which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a light-shielding member. It is a conceptual diagram about a part of projector according to a second embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a guide plate. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the guide plate was integrated in the light shielding member. (A), (b) is a figure which shows operation | movement of a light-shielding member. (A), (b) is a figure which shows operation | movement of a light-shielding member. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the light-shielding member of the projector which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. (A), (b) is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the projector which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram about a part of projector which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a light-shielding member. It is a conceptual diagram about a part of projector which concerns on 6th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Light source device 20, 120, 420, 520 ... Illumination optical system 21, 22 ... Fly eye lens, 23 ... Polarization conversion element, 24 ... Superimposition lens, 70, 170, 270,
370, 470, 570 ... light control mechanism, 71, 72 ... light shielding member, 71a, 71b ... blade member, 30 ... color separation optical system, 40a, 40b, 40c ... liquid crystal light valve, 41a
, 41b, 41c ... liquid crystal panel, 50 ... cross dichroic prism, 60 ... projection lens, 100 ... projector, OA ... system optical axis

Claims (10)

An illumination device that uniformizes light from the light source to form illumination light;
A light modulator illuminated by the illumination light from the illumination device;
A projection optical system that projects the modulated light that has passed through the light modulator,
The illuminating device includes a pair of light shielding members formed by connecting a plurality of blade members and facing each other across the system optical axis, and driving the pair of light shielding members allows the illumination light to be transmitted. A projector having a light control mechanism for performing light control. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device includes a pair of fly-eye lenses for dividing and superimposing light, and the pair of light shielding members are disposed between the pair of fly-eye lenses. 3. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the dimming mechanism arranges the pair of light shielding members symmetrically with respect to the system optical axis and drives the pair of light shielding members in synchronization with each other. . The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light control mechanism performs light control by bending the plurality of blade members. The light control mechanism rotates at least one of the plurality of blade members around a rotation axis provided on at least one of the plurality of blade members.
The projector according to any one of the above. The pair of light shielding members include a first movable member having the rotation shaft on the base side and rotating around the rotation shaft as the plurality of blade members, and having a connection shaft on the tip side, and the connection The projector according to claim 5, further comprising: a second movable member that is connected to the first movable member on a shaft and rotates around the connection shaft. The dimming mechanism includes a first stage drive for driving the first and second movable members while keeping a relative positional relationship between the first movable member and the second movable member constant; While changing the relative positional relationship between the first movable member and the second movable member, the first and second
The projector according to claim 6, wherein the driving is performed in multiple stages including a second stage driving for driving the movable member. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the light control mechanism simultaneously drives the first and second movable members while changing a relative positional relationship between the first movable member and the second movable member. . The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light control mechanism performs light control by sliding and extending the plurality of blade members. The plurality of blade members include a first movable member that has the rotation shaft on a base side and performs a rotation operation around the rotation shaft, a second movable member supported by the first movable member, The projector according to claim 5, further comprising a slide mechanism that slides and expands the second movable member in a distal direction of the first movable member.

Images