JP2010186040A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector that prevents projected image light from being blocked by a user or belongings thereof or the like. <P>SOLUTION: When enlarged image light is projected to a screen S directly from a projector body 2, the image light passes through an optical path shown by two-dot chain line in figure, and users A4 and A8 near the screen S or belongings thereof are likely to enter the optical path. On the other hand, when the image light is enlarged by an optical device 3, the image light passes through the optical path shown by a broken line in figure, and the optical path leading to the optical device 3 from the projector body 2 can be narrowed, so that the user or the like are prevented from entering the optical path. When a user A9 is near a front side of the screen S for description, the user is prevented from entering the optical path and blocking the projected image light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source.

  A projector magnifies image light formed by a liquid crystal panel or the like with a projection lens, and projects the image light onto a projection object (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen”) such as a screen or a wall surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such projectors, if a user or his / her belongings enter the middle of the optical path from the projection lens to the screen, the projection of the image light will be interrupted, so the user on the projection direction side of the projector Must be careful not to interrupt the projection.

  Here, if a short-focus lens is adopted as the projection lens of the projector, the projector can be installed close to the screen, so that it is possible to prevent the user or the like from entering the optical path.

JP 2002-90880 A

  However, when the projector is arranged in the vicinity of the screen, the position of the user who operates the projector and the position of the device for supplying image information to the projector are limited to the vicinity of the screen, and are located away from the screen. There is a problem that the convenience for the user is deteriorated.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A projector according to this application example includes a housing that forms an exterior, modulates light emitted from a light source to form image light, and emits the image light to the outside of the housing. A projector main body, and an optical device that is arranged with a space from the projector main body and projects the image light emitted from the projector main body in an enlarged manner.

  According to this projector, the optical device for enlarging and projecting the image light is arranged with a space from the projector main body, so that the optical path is narrowed in the space (between the projector main body and the optical device). It becomes possible to keep. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user or his / her belongings from entering the optical path and blocking the projection of the image light. Further, since it is not necessary to bring the projector main body close to the projection object such as a screen, it becomes easy for many users to access the projector main body, and convenience is not impaired.

  Application Example 2 In the projector according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the projector main body emits the formed image light while maintaining or reducing the image light at approximately the same magnification.

  According to this projector, since the projector main body emits the image light at approximately the same magnification or reduced, it is not necessary to increase the size of the optical device.

  Application Example 3 In the projector according to the application example, it is preferable that the projector main body includes a support member that supports the optical device.

  According to this projector, since the projector main body includes the support member for supporting the optical device, it is easy to align the projector main body and the optical device.

  Application Example 4 In the projector according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the support member can be expanded and contracted along an emission direction of the image light.

  According to this projector, since the support member that supports the optical member can be expanded and contracted, the projector can be easily stored and carried.

  Application Example 5 In the projector according to the application example described above, the projector main body includes a projection optical system that magnifies and projects the image light, and the projection optical system is provided between the projector main body and the optical device. It is desirable that a second optical device for further converging at approximately the same magnification while suppressing the expansion of the image light due to is preferably arranged.

  According to this projector, since the projector main body is provided with a projection optical system that projects image light in an enlarged manner, a general projector can be used as it is. And since the 2nd optical apparatus which suppresses expansion of the image light by a projection optical system is provided, it becomes possible to narrow the optical path between a projector main body and an optical apparatus. That is, even when a general projector is used, if the second optical device is provided, it is possible to prevent the user or his / her belongings from entering the optical path.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of a projector, and the figure seen from the front. It is the perspective view which shows schematic structure of a projector, and the figure seen from back. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of a projector main body. It is a figure which shows the usage example of a projector, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view. The side view which shows the usage example of the projector which concerns on a modification. The side view which shows the usage example of the projector which concerns on a modification. (A), (b) is a top view of the projector which concerns on a modification. (A) is a top view which shows the projector main body which concerns on a modification, (b) is a top view which shows the projector which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are perspective views showing a schematic configuration of the projector according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a view seen from the front, and FIG. 2 is a view seen from the rear.
As shown in both drawings, the projector 1 includes a projector main body 2 and an optical device 3.
The projector body 2 has a housing 4 constituting an exterior, and an opening 5 for emitting image light is provided on the front surface 4 f of the housing 4. An input operation unit 6 for giving various instructions to the projector body 2 is provided on the upper surface 4t of the housing 4, and an external image output device (for example, a personal computer) is provided on the rear surface 4r of the housing 4. An input terminal 7 for inputting image information is provided. The projector body 2 forms image light based on image information input to the input terminal 7 and emits the image light toward the optical device 3 from the opening 5. Then, the optical device 3 enlarges the image light emitted from the projector main body 2 and projects it onto a projection object (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen S”) such as a screen or a wall surface.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the projector main body 2, and shows an optical path of light emitted from the light source device 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the projector body 2 includes a light source device 10 as a light source, an integrator optical system 20, a color light separation optical system 30, a relay optical system 40, an image forming unit 50, and the like. 4 is appropriately arranged inside. The image forming unit 50 is provided with a liquid crystal panel 51, and the projector body 2 modulates the light emitted from the light source device 10 with the liquid crystal panel 51 to form image light.

  The light source device 10 includes a discharge-type light source lamp 11 made of an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like, and a reflector 12 made of a parabolic mirror, an ellipsoidal mirror, or the like. The radial light beam emitted from the light source lamp 11 is reflected by the reflector 12 disposed so as to cover the light source lamp 11 to become a substantially parallel light beam, and is emitted to the integrator optical system 20.

  The integrator optical system 20 includes a first lens array 21, a second lens array 22, a polarization conversion element 23, and a superimposing lens 24. The integrator optical system 20 determines the luminance distribution of a light beam emitted from the light source device 10. It has a uniform function. Each of the first lens array 21 and the second lens array 22 has a configuration in which minute lenses 21 a and 22 a are arranged in a matrix, and a light beam incident from the light source device 10 is the first lens array 21. Is divided into a number of minute partial light beams. The second lens array 22 and the superimposing lens 24 are provided so that each of the divided partial light beams irradiates the entire liquid crystal panel 51 to be illuminated. For this reason, each partial light beam is superimposed on the liquid crystal panel 51, and the whole liquid crystal panel 51 is illuminated substantially uniformly.

  The polarization conversion element 23 has a function of aligning polarized light having a specific polarization direction so that the light from the light source device 10 can be efficiently used by the liquid crystal panel 51. The polarized light emitted from the integrator optical system 20 enters the color light separation optical system 30.

  The color light separating optical system 30 includes a first dichroic mirror 31, a first reflecting mirror 32, and a second dichroic mirror 33, and the light emitted from the integrator optical system 20 has a different wavelength range. Separate into three colors of light. The first dichroic mirror 31 reflects substantially red light (red light R) and transmits light having a shorter wavelength than the red light R. The red light R reflected by the first dichroic mirror 31 is further reflected by the first reflecting mirror 32 and is collimated by the collimating lens 25 to illuminate the liquid crystal panel 51R for red light of the image forming unit 50.

  The second dichroic mirror 33 transmits substantially blue light (blue light B) and reflects light having a longer wavelength than the transmitted light. For this reason, of the light transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 31, substantially green light (green light G) is reflected by the second dichroic mirror 33, collimated by the collimating lens 25, and image forming unit 50. The green liquid crystal panel 51G is illuminated. Further, the blue light B passes through the second dichroic mirror 33 and enters the relay optical system 40. Then, after passing through the relay optical system 40, it is collimated by the collimating lens 25 and illuminates the liquid crystal panel 51B for blue light of the image forming unit 50.

  In addition, since the path | route of blue light B becomes long compared with the path | route of other color lights, in order to suppress that the illumination efficiency to the liquid crystal panel 51 falls in the path | route of blue light B by the divergence of a light beam. In addition, a relay optical system 40 is provided. The relay optical system 40 includes an incident side lens 41, a second reflection mirror 42, a relay lens 43, and a third reflection mirror 44. The blue light B incident on the relay optical system 40 is incident on the relay optical system 40. The side lens 41 converges in the vicinity of the relay lens 43 and diverges toward the collimating lens 25.

  The image forming unit 50 includes three liquid crystal panels 51 (a liquid crystal panel 51R for red light, a liquid crystal panel 51G for green light, and a liquid crystal panel 51B for blue light) as light modulators, and an incident side of each liquid crystal panel 51. And an incident-side polarizing plate 52 and an emitting-side polarizing plate 53 disposed on the emission side, a cross dichroic prism 54 as a color synthesis optical system, and a relay lens 55, respectively.

  The liquid crystal panel 51 is a liquid crystal sealed between a pair of transparent substrates, and a transparent electrode (pixel electrode) on the inner surface of the transparent substrate capable of applying a driving voltage for each minute region (pixel) to the liquid crystal. Are formed in a matrix. The incident-side polarizing plate 52 and the exit-side polarizing plate 53 can each transmit only polarized light having a specific polarization direction, and the incident-side polarizing plate 52 transmits polarized light having the polarization direction aligned by the polarization conversion element 23. It is possible. For this reason, most of each color light irradiated toward the liquid crystal panel 51 passes through the incident-side polarizing plate 52 and enters the liquid crystal panel 51.

  Here, when a drive voltage based on the image information input to the input terminal 7 (see FIG. 2) is applied to each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 51, the light incident on the liquid crystal panel 51 is modulated according to the drive voltage. Thus, polarized light having a different polarization direction for each pixel is obtained. Of this polarized light, only the polarization component that can be transmitted through the exit-side polarizing plate 53 is emitted from the exit-side polarizing plate 53. That is, the liquid crystal panel 51 and the emission side polarizing plate 53 transmit incident light with different transmittances for each pixel according to image information, so that image light having a gradation is formed for each color light. The image light composed of each color light emitted from the emission side polarizing plate 53 enters the cross dichroic prism 54.

  The cross dichroic prism 54 is provided with a dielectric multilayer film that reflects red light and a dielectric multilayer film that reflects blue light in a substantially X shape along the interface of four right-angle prisms. The image light of each color emitted from the side polarizing plate 53 is synthesized by these dielectric multilayer films. The image light synthesized by the cross dichroic prism 54 is emitted from the exit surface 54 x as color image light and enters the relay lens 55.

  Here, in a general projector, a projection lens is provided on the exit surface 54x side of the cross dichroic prism 54, and the image light formed by the image forming unit 50 is enlarged and projected by the projection lens. However, in the projector main body 2 of the present embodiment, the relay lens 55 is provided instead of the projection lens, and the image light formed by the image forming unit 50 is emitted at substantially the same magnification. The image light emitted from the relay lens 55 is emitted to the outside of the housing 4 through the opening 5 (see FIG. 1), and is applied to the optical device 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) arranged with a space therebetween. Incident.

  The optical device 3 is constituted by one or a plurality of lenses, and enlarges the image light emitted from the projector main body 2 and projects it onto the screen S. The projector main body 2, the optical device 3, and the screen S are aligned (position adjustment) so that image light is appropriately projected onto the screen S.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of use of the projector 1, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view. In FIG. 4B, the illustration of a user or the like is partially omitted.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the projector main body 2 is installed at the approximate center of a rectangular table TB, and a plurality of users A1 to A9 are located around the table TB. A personal computer PC of one user A5 is connected to the input terminal 7 of the projector main body 2 via a cable, and the projector main body 2 abbreviates image light based on image information input from the personal computer PC. Inject in a horizontal direction. The image light emitted from the projector main body 2 enters the optical device 3 installed at the end of the table TB, is enlarged by the optical device 3 and is projected onto the screen S.

  Here, assuming that the image light is directly enlarged and projected on the screen S from the projector main body 2, the image light passes through the optical path indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It becomes easy for the users A4 and A8 and their belongings to enter the optical path. On the other hand, in the configuration that is enlarged by the optical device 3 as in the present embodiment, the image light passes through the optical path indicated by the broken line in the drawing, and the optical path from the projector body 2 to the optical device 3 is reduced. Since it can be narrowed, it is suppressed that a user etc. approach into an optical path. Further, when the description is performed near the front side of the screen S as in the case of the user A9 in FIG. 4A, the user is prevented from blocking the projection of the image light.

  As described above, according to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, since the optical device 3 for enlarging and projecting image light is arranged with a space from the projector main body 2, Between the main body 2 and the optical device 3), the optical path of the image light can be narrowed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user or his / her belongings from entering the optical path and blocking the projection of the image light. In addition, since it is not necessary to bring the projector body 2 close to the screen S, many users can access the projector body 2 (operating the input operation unit 6 or the like, or connecting a cable to the input terminal 7). It becomes easy and convenience is not impaired. Furthermore, according to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, since the image light formed by the image forming unit 50 is emitted to the optical device 3 with substantially the same magnification, there is no need to increase the size of the optical device 3.

(Modification)
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the projector main body 2 and the optical device 3 are installed on the table TB. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the projector main body 2 and the optical device 3 are attached to the ceiling CE or the like. Is also possible. Even in this case, the projection of the image light by the user A9 located on the front side of the screen S is suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the optical device 3 configured with a lens is used. However, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to use an optical device 3 configured with a curved mirror. In the example shown in FIG. 6, image light is emitted from the projector body 2 attached to the ceiling CE and travels horizontally. This image light is magnified by being reflected by the convex reflecting surface of the curved mirror (optical device 3) installed on the wall surface WL, and projected onto the back surface of the transmissive screen TS. Since the screen TS is a transmissive type, the projected image light is viewed from the front side of the screen TS. In such an aspect, since the image light is projected from the back side of the screen TS, the projection of the image light is not blocked by the user A9 located on the front side of the screen TS.

  In the above embodiment, the projector main body 2 and the optical device 3 are separated from each other. However, as shown in FIG. 7A, the projector main body 2 is provided with a support member 8 for supporting the optical device 3. Thus, the position of the optical device 3 with respect to the projector body 2 may be regulated. With such a configuration, the projector main body 2 and the optical device 3 can be easily aligned. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, if the support member 8 is configured to be extendable or a part of the support member 8 is configured to be accommodated inside the housing 4, The projector 1 can be easily stored and carried.

  In the above embodiment, the projector main body 2 is configured to emit the image light with approximately the same magnification. However, the image light may be emitted after being reduced. Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, a configuration may be provided that includes a projection lens 60 that magnifies and projects the image light formed by the image forming unit 50. That is, as the projector main body 2, a general projector that projects an enlarged image light can be used. However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, on the exit side of the projector body 2 (projection lens 60), on the incident side of the optical device 3, the expansion of the image light by the projection lens 60 is suppressed, It is necessary to provide the second optical device 9 for converging the image light at substantially the same magnification. The second optical device 9 must be disposed immediately after the projection lens 60 because the size of the second optical device 9 must be increased as the distance from the projection lens 60 increases.

  In the above embodiment, the three-plate projector 1 using the three liquid crystal panels 51R, 51G, and 51B as the light modulation device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to adopt a mode in which image light is formed by one liquid crystal panel including sub-pixels that can transmit R light, G light, and B light in each pixel.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmissive liquid crystal panels 51R, 51G, and 51B are used as the light modulation device. However, it is also possible to use a reflection light modulation device such as a reflection liquid crystal panel. In addition, it is possible to use a micromirror array device that modulates light emitted from a light source by controlling the emission direction of incident light for each micromirror as a pixel.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light source device 10 is configured by the discharge-type light source lamp 11, but a solid light source device including an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source or the like, or other light source devices can also be used. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Projector, 2 ... Projector main body, 3 ... Optical apparatus, 4 ... Housing | casing, 5 ... Opening part, 6 ... Input operation part, 7 ... Input terminal, 8 ... Support member, 9 ... 2nd optical apparatus, 10 ... Light source device, 11 ... light source lamp, 12 ... reflector, 20 ... integrator optical system, 21 ... first lens array, 22 ... second lens array, 23 ... polarization conversion element, 24 ... superimposing lens, 25 ... parallelizing lens , 30 ... color light separation optical system, 31 ... first dichroic mirror, 32 ... first reflection mirror, 33 ... second dichroic mirror, 40 ... relay optical system, 41 ... incident side lens, 42 ... second reflection Mirror, 43 ... Relay lens, 44 ... Third reflection mirror, 50 ... Image forming unit, 51, 51R, 51G, 51B ... Liquid crystal panel, 52 ... Incident side polarizing plate, 53 ... Emission side polarizing plate, 54 ... Loss dichroic prism, 54x ... exit surface, 60 ... projection lens, S, TS ... screen, A1 to A9 ... user, PC ... personal computer, TB ... table, CE ... ceiling, WL ... wall surface, R ... red light, G ... Green light, B ... Blue light.

Claims (5)

A projector body that includes a housing constituting an exterior, modulates light emitted from a light source to form image light, and emits the image light to the outside of the housing;
An optical device that is arranged with a space from the projector main body, and that magnifies and projects the image light emitted from the projector main body;
A projector characterized by comprising: The projector according to claim 1,
The projector main body emits the formed image light at a substantially equal magnification or reduced. The projector according to claim 1 or 2,
The projector main body includes a support member that supports the optical device. The projector according to claim 3,
The projector is characterized in that the support member can be expanded and contracted along the image light emitting direction. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The projector body includes a projection optical system that magnifies and projects the image light,
A projector further comprising a second optical device arranged between the projector main body and the optical device for suppressing the enlargement of the image light by the projection optical system and converging at approximately the same magnification.

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