JP2010139611A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector capable of changing size of a projection image by easy operation without requiring independent focus adjustment or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The projector includes: a housing upper part 4 which includes a projection window 8; a housing lower part 6 which is arranged under the housing upper part 4; a moving mechanism which moves the housing upper part 4 in an up-and-down direction; a projection unit which is housed in the housing upper part 4 and the housing lower part 6 and projects the image through the projection window 8; and a focus adjustment mechanism which performs focus adjustment by moving at least a portion of optical members constituting an optical system included in the projection unit in an optical axis direction of the optical system when the housing upper part 4 moves. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projection apparatus that projects an image.

An image projection apparatus that can project an image on an installation surface of the apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-310194 A

  By the way, in the image projection device described in Patent Document 1, in order to change the projection size of the image, it is necessary to adjust the angle of the mirror that reflects the projection image and the height of the hinge that supports the mirror, Further, since it is necessary to adjust the focus of the optical system housed in the apparatus, the operation is complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projection apparatus that can change the size of a projection image with an easy operation without requiring independent focus adjustment or the like.

  The projection apparatus according to the present invention includes an upper part of a casing provided with a projection window, a lower part of the casing disposed below the upper part of the casing, a moving mechanism that moves the upper part of the casing in the vertical direction, A projection unit that is accommodated in the lower part of the casing and projects an image through the projection window, and at least a part of an optical member that constitutes an optical system included in the projection unit when the upper part of the casing moves. And a focus adjustment mechanism that adjusts the focus by moving the optical system in the optical axis direction.

  According to the projection apparatus of the present invention, the size of the projection image can be changed with an easy operation without requiring independent focus adjustment or the like.

  Hereinafter, a projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an image is projected by a projector 2 as a projection apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 2 includes a housing upper part 4 having a projection window 8 for projecting a projection image P onto a projection plane G on the front surface, and a lower part of the housing upper part 4. And a housing lower portion 6 that supports the housing 4. Further, an operation unit 10 for performing function setting of the projector 2 and the like is provided on the upper surface of the housing upper part 4. A projection unit 20 (see FIG. 3) that projects the projection image P through the projection window 8 is accommodated in the housing upper part 4 and the housing lower part 6. The state shown in FIG. 1 is a state in which the projection window 8 is positioned at the lowermost position because the upper portion 4 of the housing is positioned at the lowermost position. In this state, since the projection window 8 is closest to the projection plane G, the size of the projection image P projected on the projection plane G is minimized.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the size of the projection image P is being changed by the projector 2 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part 4 of the projector 2 can slide freely in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the projection plane G with respect to the lower part 6. It is attached as follows. When the housing upper part 4 slides upward, the position of the projection window 8 moves upward, so that the projection position of the projection image P projected from the projection window 8 increases. By increasing the image projection position in this manner, the size of the projection image P formed on the projection plane G can be increased. Further, when the housing upper part 4 is slid downward, the position of the projection window 8 can be moved downward to lower the image projection position. The size of the image P can be reduced.

  Here, when the size of the projection image P is changed due to the movement of the projection position, the focus position of the projection image P is also changed. Therefore, in order to form a clear image, in the projection unit 20 It is necessary to adjust the focus of the optical system housed in the housing. In the projector 2 according to this embodiment, the focus adjustment of the projection image P is executed in conjunction with the movement of the upper portion 4 of the housing by a focus adjustment mechanism described later.

  Next, a projection unit of the projection apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an internal configuration of the projection unit 20 provided in the projector 2 according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the projection unit 20 as viewed from the front, that is, from the front side of the projector 2. Further, for the sake of explanation, the housing upper part 4 and the housing lower part 6 of the projector 2 are also illustrated. In addition, the housing | casing upper part 4 exists in the state located in the lowest part as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the projection unit 20 includes a unit housing 21 that is fixedly provided in the housing upper portion 4. Inside the unit housing 21, as members constituting the projection unit 20, an LED 22, a condenser lens 24, a PBS (polarization beam splitter) 26, a normally black LCOS (reflection type liquid crystal element) 28, a projection lens 30 and a mirror 32 are arranged. The condensing lens 24, the PBS 26, and the projection lens 30 constitute a projection optical system of the projection unit 20.

  The projection light emitted from the LED 22 is converted into parallel light by the condenser lens 24 and then enters the PBS 26, and then enters the polarization separation film 26a provided at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the traveling direction of the incident light. Of the incident projection light, only the S-polarized light is reflected by the polarization separation film 26 a and is emitted downward from the lower surface of the PBS 26, and then enters the LCOS 28 serving as an image display unit installed below the PBS 26. On the other hand, the P-polarized light that has passed through the polarization splitting film 26a is incident on and absorbed by the side surface of the PBS 26 that has been subjected to non-reflective processing such as black processing.

  The light incident on the LCOS 28 is reflected by the LCOS 28 and enters the PBS 26 again. Here, a liquid crystal layer (not shown) constituting the LCOS 28 functions as a phase plate for incident light when a voltage is applied. Therefore, of the light emitted from the LCOS 28, the light transmitted through the pixel region to which a voltage is applied by the liquid crystal layer is converted from S-polarized light to P-polarized light. On the other hand, of the light emitted from the LCOS 28, the light transmitted through the pixel region to which no voltage is applied by the liquid crystal layer proceeds as S-polarized light.

  Of the light emitted from the LCOS 28 and reentering the PBS 26, only the P-polarized light that has passed through the pixel region to which the voltage of the LCOS 28 has been applied passes through the polarization separation film 26a and is separated from the S-polarized light. After the P-polarized light is emitted upward from the PBS 26, the projection lens 30 for projecting the projection optical image and the mirror 32 for deflecting the projection direction of the optical image emitted from the projection lens 30 are provided. Through the projection unit 20 and projected from the projection window 8 provided on the front surface of the upper portion 4 of the projector 2 to the front of the projector 2. The mirror 32 is a curved mirror having a predetermined curvature so that trapezoidal correction can be performed on the projection image P formed on the projection plane G.

  A power supply 44 for supplying power to the LEDs 22 and the like in the unit housing 21 is provided below the housing lower part 6. By disposing such a heavy object below, the projector 2 can be stably placed on the projection surface G as a placement surface.

  Next, a focus adjustment mechanism (hereinafter simply referred to as an adjustment mechanism) and a movement mechanism (hereinafter simply referred to as a movement mechanism) according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Note that, as described above, FIG. 3 shows a state where the housing upper part 4 is located at the lowest position. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the projection unit 20 as viewed from the front, and shows a state when the housing upper part 4 is located at the uppermost position.

  The projection lens 30 of the projection unit 20 is installed in a lens chamber 34, and a lens chamber rack 36 extending in the vertical direction is installed on one side surface of the lens chamber 34. The lens chamber rack 36 is engaged with an adjustment pinion 38 that is rotatably installed with respect to the upper portion 4 of the housing. Therefore, when the adjustment pinion 38 rotates, the lens chamber 34 is moved in the vertical direction, that is, in the optical axis direction of the optical system of the projection unit 20 via the lens chamber rack 36. The lens chamber rack 36 and the adjustment pinion 38 constitute an adjustment mechanism.

  The housing upper part 4 is provided with a housing moving pinion 40 that engages with the adjustment pinion 38 so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing upper part 4. The housing moving pinion 40 is engaged with a housing moving rack 42 installed inside one side surface of the housing lower part 6. Here, for example, when the user of the projector 2 slides and moves the housing upper part 4 to the uppermost position shown in FIG. 4 in order to enlarge the size of the projection image P to the maximum, the housing moving pinion 40 is shown in FIG. , While moving in the clockwise direction (hereinafter, the rotation directions are all defined in the same manner) on the housing moving rack 42 to the uppermost position. Here, the housing upper part 4 is fixed at the position when one of the teeth of the housing moving pinion 40 is engaged with the recess located at the uppermost position of the housing moving rack 42. The housing moving pinion 40 and the housing moving rack 42 constitute a moving mechanism for the housing upper portion 4. Further, a slide rail or the like may be provided to stably slide the housing upper part 4, or other fixing means or the like may be provided to securely fix the housing upper part 4 after the sliding movement to the moving position. Good.

  Here, in the projector 2 according to this embodiment, the focus adjustment of the enlarged projection image P is performed in conjunction with the enlargement process of the projection image P by the upward movement of the housing upper part 4. When the casing movement pinion 40 rotates clockwise as the casing upper portion 4 slides, the adjustment pinion 38 engaged with the casing movement pinion 40 rotates counterclockwise. The rotating adjustment pinion 38 moves the lens chamber 34 downward by a predetermined distance via the engaged lens chamber rack 36, and the projection lens 30 installed in the lens chamber 34 is enlarged. The projection image P is arranged at a position where the focus is optimized. That is, the adjustment pinion 38 moves the projection lens 30 in the lens chamber 34 by a predetermined distance in the optical axis direction of the optical system included in the projection unit 20, so that the focus adjustment of the projection image P is executed. The predetermined distance is a distance set in advance based on the diameters and gear ratios of the adjustment pinion 38 and the housing moving pinion 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4, not only when the housing upper part 4 is moved to the uppermost position but also when the housing upper part 4 is moved stepwise, the moving mechanism and the adjusting mechanism included in the projector 2 are used. The focus adjustment of the projection image P is performed. That is, for example, when the user of the projector 2 moves the casing upper part 4 upward by one step from the position positioned at the lowermost position, it engages with the lowermost recess of the casing moving rack 42. The housing movement pinion 40 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle and is engaged with a concave portion that is one above the concave portion. At this time, according to the rotation of the housing moving pinion 40, the adjustment pinion 38 rotates counterclockwise by a predetermined angle, and moves the lens chamber 34 downward by a predetermined distance via the lens chamber rack 36. . By moving the lens chamber 34 in this manner, the projection lens 30 in the lens chamber 34 is disposed at a position where the focus of the enlarged projection image P is optimized.

  As described above, the teeth of the housing moving pinion 40 are engaged with the respective recesses of the housing moving rack 42 in accordance with the moving operation of the housing upper portion 4, thereby causing the housing upper portion 4 to move in the vertical direction. In addition to realizing stepwise size adjustment of the projection image P based on typical slide movement, focus adjustment at each size of the projection image P is possible.

  Note that the size of the projection image P that is changed in stages in this way is preferably a size determined by the JIS standard or the like. That is, for example, when the housing upper part 4 is at the lowermost position shown in FIG. 1, the size of the projection image P projected onto the projection plane G is A6 size, and the housing upper part 4 is directed upward. It is preferable that the size of the projection image P is changed step by step to B6, A5, B5, and A4 sizes each time it is moved stepwise. Even when the image size is changed stepwise in this way, the focus adjustment of the projection image P at each size can be performed by appropriately setting the diameter and gear ratio of the adjustment pinion 38 and the housing movement pinion 40. Can be performed accurately.

  According to the projector 2 according to this embodiment, when the upper part of the housing is moved stepwise in the vertical direction, the size of the projected image is changed stepwise, and the focus adjustment in each size is changed to the size change. It is done in conjunction. Accordingly, since a separate operation for focus adjustment is not required, the size of the projected image can be changed with an easy operation.

  Next, a second projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the projection unit 120 provided in the projector 102 according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the projection unit 120 as viewed from the front, that is, from the front side of the projector 102. For the sake of illustration, the upper case 104 and lower case 106 of the projector 102 are also shown. Further, the optical member arranged in the projection unit 120, the focus adjustment mechanism, and the movement mechanism that slides the housing upper part 104 in the vertical direction are provided in the projection unit 20 of the projector 2 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the same configuration is omitted and the same reference numerals are used.

  The projector 102 includes a housing upper part 104 provided with a projection window (not shown) for projecting the projection image P on the projection plane G on the front surface, and a housing that is disposed below the housing upper part 104 and supports the housing upper part 104. And a lower body 106. A projection unit 120 that projects the projection image P is provided in a space formed by the upper case portion 104 and the lower case portion 106. The projection unit 120 includes a unit case upper part 121 fixed to the case upper part 104 and a unit case lower part 122 fixed to the case lower part 106. A projection lens 30 and a mirror 32 constituting the projection unit 120 are arranged in the upper unit casing 121, and an LED 22, a condenser lens 24, a PBS 26, and an LCOS 28 constituting the projection unit 120 are arranged in the lower unit casing 122. Is arranged. Therefore, when the housing upper part 104 moves in the vertical direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the projection plane, only the unit housing upper part 121 fixed to the housing upper part 4 moves in the same direction. Since the unit housing upper part 121 is sufficiently long downward and the unit housing lower part 122 is sufficiently long upward, even when the unit housing upper part 121 moves upward from the state shown in FIG. The projection light traveling in 120 does not leak outside.

  When the user of the projector 102 slides the housing upper part 104 up and down, the position of the projection window provided on the front surface of the housing upper part 104 is similar to the case where the housing upper part 4 in the projector 2 is moved. By moving up and down, the size of the projection image P projected on the projection plane G is changed. At this time, since only the unit casing upper portion 121 moves together with the casing upper portion 104, the load of the sliding operation on the casing upper portion 104 is reduced. Note that, similarly to the moving mechanism in the projector 2 described above, the housing upper portion 104 is rotatable with respect to the housing moving rack 42 and the housing upper portion 104 provided on the inner side of one side surface of the housing lower portion 106. The casing moving pinion 40 is moved in stages and fixed at the moved position. Further, the focus adjustment of the projection image P whose size has been changed is performed by an adjustment pinion 38 provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing upper part 104 and a lens chamber rack 36 provided on one side surface of the lens chamber 34. .

  According to the projector 102 according to this embodiment, when the upper part of the casing is moved, only a part of the projection unit moves, so that the weight of the upper part of the casing is reduced and the operation load by the user is reduced. Is done. Further, since the upper part of the casing is reduced in weight, and heavy objects such as PBS and LCOS of the projection unit are installed in the lower part of the casing, the projector 2 can be stably mounted on the mounting surface.

  Next, another adjusting mechanism according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of another adjustment mechanism according to this embodiment. The adjustment mechanism is different from the above-described adjustment mechanism in that it includes a cam shaft and a cam as the moving means of the lens chamber 34. However, except for this point, the adjustment mechanism has the same configuration as that of the above-described adjustment mechanism. ing. Therefore, in the description of the other adjustment mechanism according to this embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used. In FIG. 6, the housing moving pinion 40 is illustrated for the sake of explanation, and the lens chamber 34 is illustrated by a dotted line.

  One end of the cam shaft 52 is inserted through the center of the adjustment pinion 50 engaged with the housing moving pinion 40. The cam shaft 52 has a cam 54 at the other end, and rotates the cam 54 by rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the adjustment pinion 50. The cam 54 has a protruding shaft 56 on the surface opposite to the surface on which the cam shaft 52 is installed. The protruding shaft 56 is provided on one side surface of the projection lens chamber 34 and has a height (width). It engages with an engagement groove 58 formed substantially the same as the diameter of the protruding shaft 56.

  As described above, when the casing upper part 4 is moved upward by the user of the projector 2 and the casing moving pinion 40 is rotated clockwise, the adjustment pinion 50 is rotated counterclockwise to move the cam shaft 52. Turn in the same direction. When the cam 54 is rotated counterclockwise about the cam shaft 52 by the rotated cam shaft 52, the protruding shaft 56 protruding from the cam 54 pushes the lower surface of the engagement groove 58 to move the lens chamber 34 downward. Move to. By moving the lens chamber 34 downward in this way, the focus adjustment of the projection image P whose size has been enlarged by moving the upper portion 4 of the housing upward is performed.

  When the upper part 4 of the casing is moved downward by the user, the casing moving pinion 40 rotates counterclockwise, so that the cam 54 rotates clockwise about the cam shaft 52. Therefore, the protruding shaft 56 pushes the upper surface of the engagement groove 58 and moves the lens chamber 34 upward. By moving the lens chamber 34 in this way, the focus adjustment of the projection image P whose size has been reduced is also performed.

  A slide rail or the like may be provided as appropriate in order to stabilize the movement of the lens chamber 34 in the vertical direction. Further, instead of the cam shaft 52, the cam 54, or the like, for example, a mechanism that moves the lens chamber to a predetermined position in conjunction with the movement of the upper portion of the housing using a lever or a link mechanism may be configured.

  Next, a third projector according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the adjusting mechanism and the moving mechanism provided in the third projector according to this embodiment. The projector 202 according to this embodiment includes an adjustment mechanism and a movement mechanism that have different configurations from those of the projector 2 described above, but has the same configuration as that of the projector 2 except for this point. I have. Therefore, in the description of the projector 202 according to this embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that of the above-described embodiment is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the projector 202 is provided with a housing upper part 204 having a projection window (not shown) for projecting the projection image P onto the projection surface G on the front surface, and a lower part of the housing upper part 204. A housing lower part 206 that supports the body upper part 204 is provided. The unit housing 21 of the projection unit 20 that projects the projection image P is installed inside the housing upper portion 204, and the inside of one side surface of the housing lower portion 206 has a plurality of recesses. A joint 60 is installed. An engagement claw 62 that engages with each recess of the engagement portion 60 is provided on one side surface of the upper portion 204 of the housing. When the housing 204 is moved in the vertical direction, the engagement claw 62 engages with the concave portion of the engaging portion 60, whereby the housing upper portion 204 is moved stepwise and is fixed at the position after the movement.

  A detecting portion 64 is connected to the engaging claw 62, and the position of the concave portion of the engaging portion 60 with which the engaging claw 62 is engaged is detected. The detected position information is output to the control unit 66 connected to the detection unit 64. Based on the received position information, the controller 66 drives the motor 68 to change the length of the arm 70 and moves the lens chamber 34 to a predetermined position.

  When the user moves the housing upper part 204 to a desired position (height) in order to change the size of the projection image P, the position of the recess of the engaging part 60 with which the engaging claw 62 engages is detected. Thus, the position of the housing upper part 204 is detected. Therefore, the control unit 66 optimizes the focus of the projection image P whose size has been changed by driving the motor 68 and moving the lens chamber 34 to a predetermined position based on the detected position information. be able to.

  As described above, according to the projector 202 according to this embodiment, the position of the upper part of the housing is detected, and the projection lens chamber is moved to a predetermined position by the motor, thereby adjusting the focus of the projection image whose size has been changed. Can be electrically controlled to perform highly accurate adjustment.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which is projecting the image with the projector which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which is changing the size of a projection image with the projector which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure inside the projection unit which concerns on embodiment. It is another sectional view showing the internal configuration of the projection unit according to the embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure inside the other projection unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the other adjustment mechanism which concerns on embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure inside the other projector which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2,102,202 ... Projector, 4,104,204 ... Upper part of housing | casing, 6,106,206 ... Lower part of housing | casing, 8 ... Projection window, 20,120 ... Projection unit, 21 ... Unit housing | casing, 30 ... Projection lens 34 ... Lens chamber, 36 ... Lens chamber rack, 38, 50 ... Adjustment pinion, 40 ... Housing moving pinion, 42 ... Housing moving rack, 52 ... Cam shaft, 54 ... Cam, 62 ... Engaging claw, 64 ... Detection unit, 66 ... control unit, 68 ... motor, 121 ... upper unit casing, 122 ... lower unit casing, G ... projection plane, P ... projection image

Claims (4)

An upper part of the housing with a projection window;
A housing lower part disposed below the upper part of the housing;
A moving mechanism for moving the upper part of the housing in the vertical direction;
A projection unit that is housed in the housing upper part and the housing lower part and projects an image through the projection window;
A focus adjustment mechanism that performs focus adjustment by moving at least a part of an optical member constituting an optical system included in the projection unit in the optical axis direction of the optical system when the upper part of the housing moves. Projection device characterized.   The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism moves the upper part of the housing stepwise.   The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism moves the upper part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a projection plane on which the image is projected.   The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjustment mechanism moves at least a part of the projection unit in a direction perpendicular to the projection plane.

Images