JP2021063942A - projector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a projector that can prevent fluctuations from being easily recognized in a projection image.SOLUTION: A projector comprises: a light source; a light modulator that modulates light emitted from the light source; a projection optical device that projects the modulated light; a first polarization element that is located on a light emission side of the light modulator; a housing that accommodates at least one optical component of the light modulator and the first polarization element, and allows cooling liquid to flow therein; and a flowing device that causes the cooling liquid to flow through the at least one optical component. The at least one optical component has a rectangular cooling area having long sides along a first direction and short sides along a second direction. The cooling area includes a first area and a second area different from the first area in the first direction. The cooling liquid flows through the cooling area along the second direction. The housing has a flow rate adjustment unit that is provided on the upstream side of the cooling area in a flow direction of the cooling liquid, and makes the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the first area and the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the second area different from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a projector.

Conventionally, a liquid crystal display device that projects an image on a screen using a liquid crystal display element is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1 includes a light source, a liquid crystal display device in which red light, green light, and blue light separated from the light source light emitted from the light source are incident, and an image emitted from the liquid crystal display device. It has a projection lens that projects light. The liquid crystal display device includes a red light liquid crystal display unit in which red light is incident, a green light liquid crystal display unit in which green light is incident, a blue light liquid crystal display unit in which blue light is incident, and a three-color liquid crystal display unit. It is composed of a prism for synthesizing the above, a cooling container, a refrigerant sealed in the cooling container, and a plurality of stirring means for circulating the refrigerant. Each liquid crystal display unit is composed of an incident side polarizing element, a liquid crystal panel, and an outgoing side polarizing element.

The cooling container has openings on each side wall facing in all directions, and each of the openings is equipped with incident-side polarizing elements for red, green, and blue, and glass.
Of the side surfaces of the prism installed in the cooling container, a red emitting side polarizing element is provided on the side surface facing the red incident side polarizing element, and between the incident side polarizing element and the emitting side polarizing element. A liquid crystal panel for red light is installed in. An emitting side polarizing element for green is provided on the side surface facing the incident side polarizing element for green, and a liquid crystal panel for green light is installed between the incident side polarizing element and the emitting side polarizing element. An emitting side polarizing element for blue is provided on the side surface facing the incident side polarizing element for blue, and a liquid crystal panel for blue light is installed between the incident side polarizing element and the emitting side polarizing element.

Each of the plurality of stirring means is provided at the corner of the cooling container. Each stirring means produces a flow of refrigerant that merges on the heat generating surfaces of the incident side polarizing element, the liquid crystal panel, and the outgoing side polarizing element. When the flow of the refrigerant is disturbed by the merging of the flows of the refrigerant, the temperature boundary layer becomes thin and the heat transfer coefficient is improved, so that the cooling efficiency of the liquid crystal display unit is increased.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-131737

However, in the liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1, since the refrigerant merges on the heat generating surfaces of the incident side polarizing element, the liquid crystal panel, and the outgoing side polarizing element, the heated refrigerant tends to stay at the merging portion. When the temperature distribution of the refrigerant occurs in the optical path of the colored light, the density distribution of the refrigerant is generated, and thus the refractive index distribution is generated, so that fluctuations can be recognized in the projected image. That is, the image projected on the screen by the liquid crystal display device is deteriorated.

The projector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light source, an optical modulator that modulates the light emitted from the light source, a projection optical apparatus that projects the light modulated by the optical modulator, and the optical modulator. A housing that accommodates a first polarizing element located on the light emitting side, at least one of the optical modulator and the first polarizing element, and allows a cooling liquid to flow inside, and at least one of the optics. The component comprises a flow device for circulating the cooling liquid, and the at least one optical component has a rectangular cooling region having a long side along the first direction and a short side along the second direction. The cooling region includes a first region and a second region different from the first region in the first direction, and the cooling liquid flows to the cooling region along the second direction. The housing is provided on the upstream side of the cooling liquid in the flow direction of the cooling liquid, and has a flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region and a flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second region. It is characterized by having a flow velocity adjusting unit that makes the difference.

In the above aspect, the first region is located at the center of the cooling region in the first direction, and the flow velocity adjusting unit transfers the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region to the second region. It is preferable that the flow velocity is larger than the flow velocity of the circulating cooling liquid.

In the above aspect, the second polarizing element is provided on the light incident side of the optical modulator, and the second polarizing element is housed in the housing and has the cooling region, and the flow velocity adjusting unit. The flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region in the cooling region of the second polarizing element and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second region in the cooling region of the second polarizing element. It is preferable to make them different.

In the above aspect, the flow velocity adjusting unit is included in the end portion in the first direction in the cooling region and the end portion in the cooling region in the direction opposite to the first direction in the direction toward the second direction. It is preferable to have an inclined portion inclined toward one end portion.

In the above aspect, the light modulator is a red light modulator that modulates red light among the light emitted from the light source, and a green light modulation device that modulates green light among the light emitted from the light source. The first polarizing element includes a device and a blue light modulator that modulates blue light among the light emitted from the light source, and the first polarizing element is arranged on the light emitting side of the red light modulator for red. A first polarizing element, a green first polarizing element arranged on the light emitting side of the green light modulator, and a blue first polarizing element arranged on the light emitting side of the blue light modulator. At least one optical component of the red light modulator and the red first polarizing element is targeted for first cooling, and at least one of the green light modulator and the green first polarizing element is included. When the optical component is the second cooling target and at least one of the blue light modulator and the blue first polarizing element is the third cooling target, the cooling liquid flowing to the second cooling target The flow velocity is preferably larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first cooling target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the third cooling target.

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the projector which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the image forming part in 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the cooling apparatus in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical component in the housing according to the first embodiment by the size of an arrow indicating the flow direction of the cooling liquid. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical component in the housing according to the second embodiment by the size of an arrow indicating the flow direction of the cooling liquid. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical component in the housing according to the third embodiment by the size of an arrow indicating the flow direction of the cooling liquid.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Outline configuration of projector]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the projector 1 according to the present embodiment.
The projector 1 according to the present embodiment modulates the light emitted from the light source 41 provided inside to form an image according to the image information, and magnifies and projects the formed image onto a projected surface such as a screen. It is a projection type display device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 1 includes an exterior housing 2 that constitutes the exterior of the projector 1, an image projection device 4 and a cooling device 5 that are housed in the exterior housing 2. Further, although not shown, the projector 1 includes a control device for controlling the operation of the projector 1 and a power supply device for supplying electric power to electronic components included in the projector 1.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the projector 1 will be described in detail.

[Outer housing configuration]
The outer housing 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The exterior housing 2 has a front portion 23, a back portion 24, a left side surface portion 25, and a right side surface portion 26, and although not shown, a top surface portion connecting one end of each surface portion 23 to 26 and each surface portion 23 to 26 It has a bottom surface portion for connecting the other end of the. The bottom surface has a plurality of legs that come into contact with the installation surface on which the projector 1 is installed.
The front portion 23 has an opening 231 that exposes a part of the projection optical device 46 described later.

[Configuration of image projection device]
The image projection device 4 projects an image according to the image information input from the control device. The image projection device 4 includes a light source 41, a homogenization device 42, a color separation device 43, a relay device 44, an image forming device 45, a projection optical device 46, and a housing 47 for optical components.

The light source 41 emits illumination light that illuminates the image forming apparatus 45 to the homogenizing apparatus 42. For example, the light source 41 includes a solid-state light source such as LD (Laser Diode) that emits blue light that is excitation light, and a part of blue light among the blue light emitted from the solid-state light source, including green light and red light. It has a wavelength conversion element that converts wavelength into fluorescence which is yellow light. The light source 41 may have a light source lamp such as an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, and emits red light, green light, and blue light by another solid light source such as an LD or LED (Light Emitting Diode). May be.

The homogenizing device 42 equalizes the illuminance of the luminous flux emitted from the light source 41, and illuminates the image forming apparatus 45 substantially uniformly with the luminous flux emitted from the light source 41. The homogenizing device 42 includes a first lens array 421, a second lens array 422, a polarization conversion element 423, and a superimposing lens 424. The homogenizing device 42 may further include a dimming device that shields a part of the transmitted light beam to adjust the amount of transmitted light.

The color separator 43 separates the red light LR, the green light LG, and the blue light LB from the luminous flux incident from the homogenizing device 42. The color separator 43 is separated into a dichroic mirror 431 that reflects red light LR and green light LG and transmits blue light LB, and a dichroic mirror 432 that transmits red light LR and reflects green light LG. It has a reflection mirror 433 that reflects the blue light LB toward the field lens 451B described later. The green light LG reflected by the dichroic mirror 432 is incident on the field lens 451G.
The relay device 44 guides the red light LR separated by the dichroic mirror 432 to the field lens 451R. The relay device 44 includes an incident side lens 441, a reflection mirror 442, a relay lens 443, and a reflection mirror 444. The image projection device 4 is configured to pass the red light LR through the relay device 44, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the image projection device 4 may be configured to pass the blue light LB.

The image forming apparatus 45 includes field lenses 451R, 451G, 451B provided in the optical path of the red light LR, the optical path of the green light LG, and the optical path of the blue light LB, respectively, and an image forming unit 452.
The field lenses 451R, 451G, and 451B make the incident colored light telecentric.
The image forming unit 452 modulates the red light LR, the green light LG, and the blue light LB incident through the field lenses 451R, 451G, and 451B, and synthesizes the modulated color lights to form an image. The image forming unit 452 outputs the formed image to the projection optical device 46. The configuration of the image forming unit 452 will be described in detail later.

The projection optical device 46 magnifies and projects the image incident from the image forming unit 452 onto the projected surface. That is, the projection optical device 46 projects the light modulated by the light modulation devices 455R, 455G, and 455B described later of the image forming unit 452. The projection optical device 46 is configured as a set lens having a lens barrel and a plurality of lenses arranged in the lens barrel.

The optical component housing 47 holds the homogenizing device 42, the color separating device 43, the relay device 44, and the field lenses 451B, 451G, and 451R.
Here, the image projection device 4 is set with an illumination optical axis Ax, which is a design optical axis. The optical component housing 47 holds the devices 42 to 44 and the field lenses 451B, 451G, and 451R at predetermined positions on the illumination optical axis Ax. The housing 47 for optical components has a space S in which an image forming unit 452 and a plurality of housings 53 included in the cooling device 5 are arranged at positions surrounded on three sides by field lenses 451B, 451G, and 451R.
The light source 41 and the projection optical device 46 are arranged at predetermined positions on the illumination optical axis Ax.

In the following description, the direction from the back surface portion 24 to the front surface portion 23 is defined as the + Z direction. Further, the directions that intersect in the + Z direction and intersect with each other are defined as the + X direction and the + Y direction. Of the + X direction and the + Y direction, the + X direction is the direction from the left side surface portion 25 to the right side surface portion 26, and the + Y direction is the direction from the bottom surface portion to the top surface portion of the exterior housing 2. That is, when the projector 1 is viewed from the + Y direction, the + Z direction is the direction in which the projection optical device 46 projects an image. Although not shown, the opposite direction of the + X direction is the −X direction, the opposite direction of the + Y direction is the −Y direction, and the opposite direction of the + Z direction is the −Z direction.
In this embodiment, the + X direction, the + Y direction, and the + Z direction are defined as directions orthogonal to each other.

[Structure of image forming part]
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an image forming unit 452. In other words, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cross section of the image forming portion 452 along the XZ plane as viewed from the + Y direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 452 includes a red image forming unit 453R, a green image forming unit 453G, a blue image forming unit 453B, and a color synthesizing device 458. Each of the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B modulates the light emitted from the light source 21.

[Structure of red image forming part]
The red image forming unit 453R modulates the red light LR that has passed through the field lens 451R to form a red image. The red image forming unit 453R includes an incident side polarizing element 454R, an optical modulator 455R, a viewing angle compensating element 456R, and an outgoing side polarizing element 457R. That is, the red image forming unit 453R is a liquid crystal light bulb for red light LR.

The incident-side polarizing element 454R is a polarizing element located on the light incident side of the light modulator 455R, and corresponds to a second polarizing element provided in the optical path of the red light LR.
The optical modulator 455R modulates the red light LR that has passed through the incident side polarizing element 454R. That is, the light modulation device 455R is a red light modulation device that modulates the red light LR among the light emitted from the light source 41. The optical modulation device 455R is a transmissive liquid crystal panel.
The viewing angle compensating element 456R is provided on the light emitting side of the optical modulation device 455R. More specifically, the viewing angle compensating element 456R is provided between the optical modulation device 455R and the emitting side polarizing element 457R. The viewing angle compensating element 456R is an optical position generated between normal light and abnormal light due to birefringence of liquid crystal molecules when light is incident at an angle with respect to the normal of the light incident surface of the optical modulator 455R. Compensate for phase differences.
The emitting side polarizing element 457R is a first polarizing element located on the light emitting side of the light modulator 455R, and corresponds to a red first polarizing element provided in the optical path of the red light LR. More specifically, the emitting side polarizing element 457R is provided between the viewing angle compensating element 456R and the light incident surface 458R of the color synthesizer 458.
The incident-side polarizing element 454R, the optical modulator 455R, the viewing angle compensating element 456R, and the outgoing-side polarizing element 457R constitute the cooling device 5, and the red light LR of the housing 53 in which the cooling liquid is sealed therein. It is housed in the red housing 53R provided in the optical path of.

[Structure of green image forming part]
The green image forming unit 453G modulates the green light LG that has passed through the field lens 451G to form a green image. The green image forming unit 453G includes an incident side polarizing element 454G, an optical modulator 455G, a viewing angle compensating element 456G, and an emitting side polarizing element 457G. That is, the green image forming unit 453G is a liquid crystal light bulb for green light LG.

The incident-side polarizing element 454G is a polarizing element located on the light incident side of the optical modulator 455G, and corresponds to a second polarizing element provided in the optical path of the green light LG.
The optical modulator 455G modulates the green light LG that has passed through the incident side polarizing element 454G. That is, the light modulation device 455G is a green light modulation device that modulates the green light LG among the light emitted from the light source 41. The optical modulator 455G is a transmissive liquid crystal panel.
The viewing angle compensating element 456G is provided between the optical modulation device 455G and the emitting side polarizing element 457G. The viewing angle compensating element 456G functions in the same manner as the viewing angle compensating element 456R.
The emitting side polarizing element 457G is a first polarizing element located on the light emitting side of the light modulator 455G, and corresponds to a green first polarizing element provided in the optical path of the green light LG. More specifically, the emitting side polarizing element 457G is provided between the viewing angle compensating element 456G and the light incident surface 458G of the color synthesizer 458.
The incident side polarizing element 454G, the optical modulator 455G, the viewing angle compensating element 456G, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457G constitute the cooling device 5, and among the housing 53 in which the cooling liquid is enclosed, the green light LG It is housed in a green housing 53G provided in the optical path of.

[Structure of blue image forming part]
The blue image forming unit 453B modulates the blue light LB that has passed through the field lens 451B to form a blue image. The blue image forming unit 453B includes an incident side polarizing element 454B, an optical modulator 455B, a viewing angle compensating element 456B, and an outgoing side polarizing element 457B. That is, the blue image forming unit 453B is a liquid crystal light bulb for blue light LB.

The incident-side polarizing element 454B is a polarizing element located on the light incident side of the light modulator 455B, and corresponds to a second polarizing element provided in the optical path of the blue light LB.
The light modulator 455B modulates the blue light LB that has passed through the incident side polarizing element 454B. That is, the light modulation device 455B is a blue light modulation device that modulates the blue light LB among the light emitted from the light source 41. The optical modulation device 455B is a transmissive liquid crystal panel.
The viewing angle compensating element 456B is provided between the optical modulation device 455B and the emitting side polarizing element 457B. The viewing angle compensating element 456B functions in the same manner as the viewing angle compensating element 456R.
The emitting side polarizing element 457B is a first polarizing element located on the light emitting side of the light modulator 455B, and corresponds to a blue first polarizing element provided in the optical path of the blue light LB. More specifically, the emitting side polarizing element 457B is provided between the viewing angle compensating element 456B and the light incident surface 458B of the color synthesizer 458.
The incident-side polarizing element 454B, the optical modulator 455B, the viewing angle compensating element 456G, and the outgoing-side polarizing element 457B constitute the cooling device 5, and the blue light LB of the housing 53 in which the cooling liquid is sealed therein. It is housed in the blue housing 53B provided in the optical path of.

[Configuration of color synthesizer]
The color synthesizer 458 synthesizes the color lights LR, LG, and LB emitted from the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B, and emits the combined color light to the projection optical device 46. The color light synthesized by the color synthesizer 458 forms an image projected by the projection optical device 46. The color synthesizer 458 is composed of a cross-dichroic prism having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The color synthesizer 458 projects an image with a light incident surface 458R on which red light LR is incident, a light incident surface 458G on which green light LG is incident, and a light incident surface 458B on which blue light LB is incident. It has a light emitting surface 458E that emits light to 46.
The red housing 53R, the green housing 53G, and the blue housing 53B are held on the light incident surfaces 458R, 458G, and 458B by holding members (not shown), respectively.

[Cooling device configuration]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cooling device 5.
The cooling device 5 cools the image forming unit 452, which is one of the cooling targets in the projector 1. More specifically, the cooling device 5 cools the image forming unit 452 by circulating the cooling liquid through each housing 53 in which the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B are housed. To do.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling device 5 includes a heat radiating unit 51, a plurality of distribution units 52, a plurality of housings 53 and a storage unit 54, and a plurality of connecting members 55 for connecting the cooling liquid so that the cooling liquid can flow. To be equipped.
As the cooling liquid, an inert liquid that does not affect the operation of the optical modulation devices 455R, 455G, and 455B, which are driven by supplying power and image information, can be used. The inert liquid is preferably a fluorine-based inert liquid, and for example, Fluorinert (trademark of 3M) or NOVEC (registered trademark of 3M) can be adopted.

[Structure of connecting member]
The plurality of connecting members 55 include a first connecting member 551, a second connecting member 552, a third connecting member 553, a fourth connecting member 554, a fifth connecting member 555, and a sixth connecting member 556.
The first connecting member 551 connects the heat radiating unit 51 and the distribution unit 52. The first connecting member 551 has a diversion pipe 5511 and a branch pipe 5512, 5513, 5514.
One end of the diversion pipe 5511 is connected to the heat radiating portion 51, and the other end is connected to the branch pipes 5512, 5513, 5514. The diversion pipe 5511 diverts the cooling liquid flowing from the heat radiating portion 51 into the branch pipes 5512 to 5514.
The branch pipe 5512 distributes the cooling liquid separated by the distribution pipe 5511 to the red distribution unit 52R of the distribution unit 52. The branch pipe 5513 distributes the cooling liquid separated by the distribution pipe 5511 to the green distribution unit 52G of the distribution unit 52. The branch pipe 5514 distributes the cooling liquid separated by the distribution pipe 5511 to the blue distribution unit 52B of the distribution unit 52.

The second connecting member 552 connects the red distribution unit 52R and the red housing 53R of the housing 53.
The third connecting member 553 connects the green distribution unit 52G and the green housing 53G of the housing 53.
The fourth connecting member 554 connects the blue distribution unit 52B and the blue housing 53B of the housing 53.

The fifth connecting member 555 connects the housings 53R, 53G, 53B and the storage unit 54. The fifth connecting member 555 includes branch pipes 5551, 5552, 5553 and a merging pipe 5554.
The branch pipe 5551 is connected to the red housing 53R, the branch pipe 5552 is connected to the green housing 53G, and the branch pipe 5535 is connected to the blue housing 53B.
One end of the merging pipe 5554 is connected to the branch pipes 5551 to 5535, and the other end is connected to the storage portion 54. The merging pipe 5554 merges the cooling liquids flowing in from the branch pipes 5551 to 5553 and distributes them to the storage unit 54.
The sixth connecting member 556 connects the storage unit 54 and the heat radiating unit 51.

[Structure of heat dissipation part]
The heat radiating unit 51 is a heat exchanger. The heat radiating unit 51 receives heat from the cooling liquid flowing from the storage unit 54 via the sixth connecting member 556, and radiates the received heat to the outside to cool the cooling liquid. The cooling liquid cooled by the heat radiating unit 51 is distributed to the red distribution unit 52R, the green distribution unit 52G, and the blue distribution unit 52B via the first connecting member 551. The cooling device 5 may include a cooling fan that cools the heat radiating unit 51 by circulating cooling air through the heat radiating unit 51.

[Composition of distribution department]
The distribution unit 52 is a distribution device that distributes the cooling liquid cooled by the heat dissipation unit 51 to the optical components of the image forming unit 452. The plurality of distribution units 52 include a red distribution unit 52R, a green distribution unit 52G, and a blue distribution unit 52B. Here, the optical components of the image forming unit 452 are the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, 454B, the optical modulators 455R, 455G, 455B, the viewing angle compensating elements 456R, 456G, 456B, and the emitting side polarizing elements 457R, 457G, 457B. including.
The red distribution unit 52R distributes the cooling liquid to the red housing 53R via the second connecting member 552. The green distribution unit 52G distributes the cooling liquid to the green housing 53G via the third connecting member 553. The blue distribution unit 52B distributes the cooling liquid to the blue housing 53B via the fourth connecting member 554.
Of the red distribution unit 52R, the green distribution unit 52G, and the blue distribution unit 52B, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid sent by the green distribution unit 52G and circulating in the green housing 53G is the red distribution unit. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid circulating in the red housing 53R by the 52R and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid circulating in the blue housing 53B by the blue distribution unit 52B.

[Case configuration]
Three housings 53 are provided in the cooling device 5.
Of the three housings 53, one housing 53 is a red housing 53R that houses the optical components constituting the red image forming unit 453R. The other housing 53 is a green housing 53G that houses the optical components that make up the green image forming unit 453G. The remaining one housing 53 is a blue housing 53B that houses the optical components constituting the blue image forming unit 453B. That is, each housing 53 includes optical components of the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, 454B, the optical modulators 455R, 455G, 455B, the viewing angle compensating elements 456R, 456G, 456B, and the emitting side polarizing elements 457R, 457G, 457B. To accommodate each.
The cooling liquid flows from the red distribution unit 52R inside the red housing 53R. The cooling liquid circulating in the red housing 53R circulates along each optical component of the red image forming unit 453R and cools them. The same applies to the green housing 53G and the blue housing 53B.
The configuration of such a housing 53 will be described in detail later.

[Configuration of storage unit]
The storage unit 54 is a so-called tank, and temporarily stores the cooling liquid that flows in from the housings 53R, 53G, and 53B via the fifth connecting member 555. The storage unit 54 also has a function of removing air bubbles from the cooling liquid by storing the cooling liquid.
The cooling liquid stored in the storage unit 54 is supplied to the heat dissipation unit 51 via the sixth connecting member 556.

[Detailed configuration of housing]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the red housing 53R will be described in detail. The configurations of the green housing 53G and the blue housing 53B are the same as the configurations of the red housing 53R shown below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the red housing 53R has an incident side translucent member 531 and an outgoing side translucent member 532, and also has a plurality of flow paths 533 inside.
The incident side translucent member 531 is provided on the light incident side of the red housing 53R, and the exit side translucent member 532 is provided on the light emitting side of the red housing 53R. In the red housing 53R, the red light LR that has passed through the field lens 451R passes through the incident side translucent member 531 and is incident on the incident side polarizing element 454R. The red light LR that has passed through the light emitting side polarizing element 457R passes through the light emitting side translucent member 532 and is incident on the light incident surface 458R of the color synthesizer 458. That is, the red housing 53R is configured to allow colored light corresponding to the direction from the field lens 451R toward the color synthesizer 458 to pass through.

The plurality of flow paths 533 are formed so that the cooling liquid flowing from the flow unit 52 via the connecting member 55 can flow in one direction. The plurality of flow paths 533 include a first flow path 5331, a second flow path 5332, a third flow path 5333, a fourth flow path 5334, and a fifth flow path 5335.

Each flow path 5331 to 5335 in the red housing 53R will be described.
The first flow path 5331 is formed between the incident side translucent member 531 and the incident side polarizing element 454R. The cooling liquid flowing through the first flow path 5331 circulates in the + Y direction along the light incident side surface of the incident side polarizing element 454R, and cools the light incident side surface of the incident side polarizing element 454R.
The second flow path 5332 is formed between the incident side polarizing element 454R and the optical modulation device 455R. The cooling liquid flowing through the second flow path 5332 flows in the + Y direction along the light emitting side surface of the incident side polarizing element 454R and the light incident side surface of the optical modulation device 455R to cool each surface. To do.

The third flow path 5333 is formed between the optical modulation device 455R and the viewing angle compensating element 456R. The cooling liquid flowing through the third flow path 5333 circulates in the + Y direction along the surface on the light emitting side of the optical modulation device 455R and the surface on the light incident side of the viewing angle compensating element 456R to cool each surface. To do.
The fourth flow path 5334 is formed between the viewing angle compensating element 456R and the emitting side polarizing element 457R. The cooling liquid flowing through the fourth flow path 5334 circulates in the + Y direction along the surface of the viewing angle compensating element 456R on the light emitting side and the surface of the emitting side polarizing element 457R on the light incident side, and flows through each surface. Cooling.
The fifth flow path 5335 is formed between the light emitting side polarizing element 457R and the light emitting side translucent member 532. The cooling liquid flowing through the fifth flow path 5335 circulates in the + Y direction along the light emitting side surface of the emitting side polarizing element 457R, and cools the light emitting side surface of the emitting side polarizing element 457R.
The same applies to the flow paths 5331 to 5335 in the green housing 53G and the flow paths 5331 to 5335 in the blue housing 53B.

[Distribution direction of cooling liquid with respect to the cooling region of optical components]
As described above, in each of the flow paths 5331 to 5335, the cooling liquid flows in one direction while the heat is transferred from the optical component, so that the cooling liquid flowing to the portion downstream in the flow direction of the cooling liquid in the optical component The temperature is higher than the temperature of the cooling liquid circulating in the portion upstream of the flow direction of the optical component.
Here, when the temperature of the cooling liquid changes, the density of the cooling liquid changes, and thus the refractive index of the cooling liquid changes. Therefore, when the temperature of the cooling liquid flowing through the portion downstream in the distribution direction becomes higher than the predetermined temperature, fluctuations due to the change in the refractive index of the cooling liquid are easily recognized in the projected image projected by the projection optical device 46. ..
Further, as the temperature of the cooling liquid rises, bubbles are likely to be generated in the cooling liquid, and in this case as well, the projected image is deteriorated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical component CM in the red housing 53R by the size of an arrow indicating the flow direction of the cooling liquid. In FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6 described later, a large arrow indicates a high flow rate of the cooling liquid, and a small arrow indicates a low flow rate of the cooling liquid. The optical component CM shows one of the incident side polarizing element 454R, the optical modulation device 455R, the viewing angle compensating element 456R, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457R. Further, the optical component CM is a cooling target and has a cooling region cooled by a circulating cooling liquid.
In response to these problems, the housing 53 according to the present embodiment circulates the cooling liquid in the direction along the short side of the cooling region in the cooling target.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the traveling direction of the colored light with respect to the optical component CM is the + D1 direction, and although not shown, the opposite direction of the + D1 direction is the −D1 direction. Of the two directions orthogonal to the + D1 direction and orthogonal to each other, the left direction when the optical component CM is viewed from the −D1 direction is the + D2 direction, and the upward direction is the + D3 direction. Further, the opposite direction of the + D2 direction is defined as the −D2 direction, and the opposite direction of the + D3 direction is defined as the −D3 direction.
The cooling region CM1 of the optical component CM is a region through which the corresponding colored light, that is, the red light LR passes, and through which the cooling liquid flows. In the present embodiment, the shape of the cooling region CM1 is a rectangle having a long side along the + D2 direction, which is the first direction, and a short side along the + D3 direction, which is the second direction.

For example, when the optical component CM is the optical modulation device 455R, the cooling region CM1 corresponds to the modulation region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the optical modulation device 455R, and the shape of the cooling region CM1 is the red image forming unit 453R. It has a rectangular shape having a long side along the + Z direction corresponding to the + D2 direction in the above and a short side along the + Y direction corresponding to the + D3 direction in the red image forming unit 453R. Then, the cooling liquid circulating in the red housing 53R circulates in the + Y direction.
The same applies when the optical component CM is any one of the incident side polarizing element 454R, the viewing angle compensating element 456R, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457R of the red image forming unit 453R.

Further, for example, when the optical component CM is the optical modulator 455B, the shape of the cooling region CM1 in the optical modulator 455B is formed by forming a blue image with a long side along the + Z direction corresponding to the + D2 direction in the blue image forming unit 453B. The portion 453B has a rectangular shape having a short side along the + Y direction corresponding to the + D3 direction. Then, the cooling liquid circulating in the blue housing 53B circulates in the + Y direction.
The same applies when the optical component CM is any one of the incident side polarizing element 454B, the viewing angle compensating element 456B, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457B of the blue image forming unit 453B.

Further, for example, when the optical component CM is the optical modulator 455G, the shape of the cooling region CM1 in the optical modulator 455G has a long side along the + X direction corresponding to the + D2 direction in the green image forming unit 453G and a green image forming. The portion 453G has a rectangular shape having a short side along the + Y direction corresponding to the + D3 direction. Then, the cooling liquid circulating in the green housing 53G circulates in the + Y direction.
The same applies when the optical component CM is any one of the incident side polarizing element 454G, the viewing angle compensating element 456G, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457G of the green image forming unit 453G.

As described above, the cooling liquid flows to the cooling region CM1 along the + D3 direction, which is the second direction along the short side of the cooling region CM1. As a result, the temperature of the cooling liquid flowing in the portion upstream of the flow direction of the cooling liquid in the cooling region CM1 and the temperature of the cooling liquid flowing downstream in the flow direction in the cooling region CM1 are compared with the case where the cooling liquid flows in the direction along the long side. The difference from the temperature of the cooling liquid flowing through the part can be reduced. That is, the difference between the temperature of the cooling liquid in the portion in the −D3 direction in the cooling region CM1 and the temperature of the cooling liquid in the portion in the + D3 direction in the cooling region CM1 can be reduced. Therefore, the difference between the refractive index of the cooling liquid at the portion in the + D3 direction in the cooling region CM1 and the refractive index of the cooling liquid at the portion in the −D3 direction in the cooling region CM1 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for fluctuations to be recognized in the projected image, and it is possible to suppress the generation of bubbles in the cooling liquid, so that deterioration of the projected image can be suppressed.

[Flow rate of cooling liquid for each part in the cooling region]
As described above, the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B are incident with the colored lights LR, LG, and LB whose illuminance is substantially made uniform by the homogenizing device 42, respectively. However, the intensity of each color light LR, LG, LB incident on the central portion of each optical component of each image forming unit 453 is higher than the intensity of each color light LR, LG, LB incident on the outer portion of each optical component. Also tends to grow. Therefore, the temperature of the central portion of each optical component tends to be higher than the temperature of the outer portion of each optical component.
For example, in the optical component CM shown in FIG. 4, the cooling region CM1 has a first region CM11 located at the center in the direction along the long side of the cooling region CM1 and a first region CM11 in the direction along the long side of the cooling region CM1. It is assumed that the second regions CM12 and CM13 are located at different locations from the above. In this case, the temperature of the first region CM11 tends to be higher than the temperature of the second regions CM12 and CM13.

On the other hand, the red housing 53R has an inflow portion 534 and a flow velocity adjusting portion 535. Although not shown, each of the green housing 53G and the blue housing 53B also has an inflow unit 534 and a flow velocity adjusting unit 535.
The inflow portion 534 is provided in the red housing 53R in the −D3 direction, which is the upstream side in the flow direction of the cooling liquid with respect to the optical component CM. More specifically, the inflow portion 534 is located in the −D3 direction with respect to the central portion on the long side of the optical component CM. The size of the inflow portion 534 along the + D2 direction is smaller than the size of the cooling region CM1 along the + D2 direction.
The cooling liquid flowing through the optical component CM flows into the inflow section 534 from the flow section 52 via the connecting member 55. The cooling liquid sent from the red distribution unit 52R flows into the inflow portion 534 of the red housing 53R via the second connecting member 552. The same applies to the inflow portion 534 of the green housing 53G and the inflow portion 534 of the blue housing 53B.

The flow velocity adjusting unit 535 is located between the inflow unit 534 and the optical component CM in the + D3 direction. That is, the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 is located in the −D3 direction, which is the upstream side in the flow direction of the cooling liquid with respect to the cooling region CM1 of the optical component CM, and is connected to the inflow unit 534.
The flow velocity adjusting unit 535 makes the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region CM11 different from the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second regions CM12 and CM13. Specifically, the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 makes the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region CM11 larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second regions CM12 and CM13. More specifically, the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 adjusts the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region CM11 to the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second region CM12 located in the + D2 direction with respect to the first region CM11. The flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second region CM13 located in the −D2 direction with respect to the first region CM11 is made larger than the flow velocity.

Such a flow velocity adjusting portion 535 has inclined portions 5351 and 5352 provided at positions sandwiching the inflow portion 534 in the + D2 direction.
The inclined portion 5351 located in the + D2 direction is inclined toward the end in the cooling region CM1 in the + D2 direction from a position corresponding to the center on the long side of the cooling region CM1 toward the downstream side in the flow direction of the cooling liquid. There is. In other words, the inclined portion 5351 is inclined toward the end portion in the cooling region CM1 in the + D2 direction, which is the first direction, from the inflow portion 534 toward the + D3 direction, which is the second direction. Therefore, a part of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the inflow portion 534 flows in the + D2 direction and the + D3 direction along the inclined portion 5351.

The inclined portion 5352 located in the −D2 direction is inclined toward the end in the −D2 direction in the cooling region CM1 from a position corresponding to the center on the long side of the cooling region CM1 toward the downstream side in the flow direction of the cooling liquid. doing. In other words, the inclined portion 5352 is directed from the inflow portion 534 toward the end in the −D2 direction, which is the opposite direction to the + D2 direction, which is the first direction in the cooling region CM1, from the inflow portion 534 toward the + D3 direction. It is tilted. Therefore, the other part of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the inflow portion 534 flows in the −D2 direction and the + D3 direction along the inclined portion 5352.
In the present embodiment, the inclined portion 5351 is inclined by 45 ° in the + D2 direction with respect to the + D3 direction, and the inclined portion 5352 is inclined by 45 ° in the −D2 direction with respect to the + D3 direction.

Among the flow velocities of the cooling liquid flowing to each part of the cooling region CM1 via the flow velocity adjusting part 535, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing from the inflow part 534 in the + D3 direction is the largest. Then, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid inclined from the inflow portion 534 in the + D2 direction or the −D2 direction decreases as the inclination angle in the flow direction with respect to the + D3 direction increases.
For example, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F11 flowing from the inflow portion 534 in parallel with the + D3 direction is the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F12 flowing in the + D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F11 and −D2 with respect to the cooling liquid F11. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F13 that circulates inclined in the direction. Further, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F12 is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F14 which is inclined in the + D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F12, and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F13 is inclined in the −D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F13. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F15 that is circulated.
Therefore, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11 is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second regions CM12 and CM13. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11, where the temperature tends to be high, can be made larger than the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the second region CM12 and the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the second region CM13. , The first region CM11 can be effectively cooled. Therefore, the entire cooling region CM1 and thus the optical component CM can be effectively cooled.

In the present embodiment, in the red image forming unit 453R, each of the incident side polarizing element 454R, the optical modulator 455R, the viewing angle compensating element 456R, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457R is cooled by the cooling liquid, which is an optical component to be cooled. It is a CM. Then, the cooling liquid flowing through each of the flow paths 5331 to 5335 is circulated as described above to cool the incident side polarizing element 454R, the optical modulator 455R, the viewing angle compensating element 456R, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457R. ..
The same applies to the incident side polarizing element 454G, the optical modulator 455G, the viewing angle compensating element 456G, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457G, which constitute the green image forming unit 453G and are housed in the green housing 53G, respectively. The same applies to the incident side polarizing element 454B, the optical modulation device 455B, the viewing angle compensating element 456B, and the outgoing side polarizing element 457B, which form the blue image forming unit 453B and are housed in the blue housing 53B, respectively.

[Flow velocity of cooling liquid flowing through the green image forming part]
As described above, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing from the green distribution unit 52G to the green housing 53G is the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing from the red distribution unit 52R to the red housing 53R, and the blue distribution unit. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing from 52B to the blue housing 53B. Therefore, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through each optical component CM constituting the green image forming section 453G is the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through each optical component CM constituting the red image forming section 453R, and the blue image forming section. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through each optical component CM constituting the 453B. In other words, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through each flow path 5331 to 5335 of the green housing 53G is the flow velocity of each flow path 5331 to 5335 of the red housing 53R and each flow path 5331 to 5335 of the blue housing 53B. It is larger than the flow velocity of each circulating cooling liquid.

For example, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second flow path 5332, which is the light emitting side of the incident side polarizing element 454G and is the flow path on the light incident side of the light modulator 455G, is the light emission of the incident side polarizing element 454R. The flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second flow path 5332, which is the flow path on the light incident side of the optical modulator 455R, and the light emitting side of the incident side polarizing element 454B, and the optical modulator 455B. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second flow path 5332, which is the flow path on the light incident side of the above.
Further, for example, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the fourth flow path 5334, which is the flow path on the light emitting side of the viewing angle compensating element 456G and on the light incident side of the emitting side polarizing element 457G, is determined by the viewing angle compensating element 456R. The flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the fourth flow path 5334, which is the flow path on the light incident side of the light emitting side polarizing element 457R, and the light emitting side of the viewing angle compensating element 456B. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the fourth flow path 5334, which is the flow path on the light incident side of the side polarizing element 457B.
The same applies to the first flow path 5331, the third flow path 5333, and the fifth flow path 5335 provided in the optical path of the green light LG.

In other words, if the optical modulator 455R is the first cooling target, the optical modulator 455G is the second cooling target, and the optical modulator 455B is the third cooling target, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the second cooling target is It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first cooling target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the third cooling target.
Further, when the emitting side polarizing element 457R is the first cooling target, the emitting side polarizing element 457G is the second cooling target, and the emitting side polarizing element 457B is the third cooling target, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the second cooling target. Is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first cooling target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the third cooling target.
Further, when the incident side polarizing element 454R is the first cooling target, the incident side polarizing element 454G is the second cooling target, and the incident side polarizing element 454B is the third cooling target, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the second cooling target. Is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first cooling target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the third cooling target.

As described above, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the flow paths 5331 to 5335 located in the optical path of the green light LG is the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the flow paths 5331 to 5335 located in the optical path of the red light LR, and the blue color. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the flow paths 5331 to 5335 located in the optical path of the optical LB. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling liquid that cools each optical component of the green image forming unit 453G, the flow rate of the cooling liquid that cools each optical component of the red image forming unit 453R, and each optical component of the blue image forming unit 453B are controlled. It can be larger than the flow rate of the cooling liquid to be cooled. Therefore, each optical component of the green image forming unit 453G, which has a large amount of incident light and tends to have a high temperature, can be effectively cooled.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
The projector 1 according to the present embodiment described above has the following effects.
The projector 1 includes a light source 41, optical modulators 455R, 455G, 455B, a projection optical device 46, an emission side polarizing element 457R, 457G, 457B as a first polarizing element, a housing 53, and a distribution device. It includes a distribution unit 52.
The optical modulators 455R, 455G, and 455B modulate the light emitted from the light source 41. The projection optical device 46 projects the light modulated by the light modulation devices 455R, 455G, 455B. The emitting side polarizing elements 457R, 457G, 457B are located on the light emitting side of the optical modulators 455R, 455G, 455B. The red housing 53R included in the housing 53 accommodates the optical modulation device 455R and the emitting side polarizing element 457R, and is configured so that the cooling liquid can flow inside. The same applies to the green housing 53G and the blue housing 53B included in the housing 53. The distribution unit 52 distributes the cooling liquid to the optical modulation device 455R and the light emitting side polarizing element 457R provided in the housing 53.

Assuming that at least one of the optical components of the optical modulator and the first polarizing element is an optical component CM, the optical component CM has a long side along the + D2 direction as the first direction and a + D3 direction as the second direction. It has a rectangular cooling region CM1 having a short side. The cooling region CM1 includes a first region CM11 and second regions CM12 and CM13 that are different from the first region CM11 in the + D2 direction. The cooling liquid circulated in the housing 53 circulates in the cooling region CM1 along the + D3 direction. The housing 53 is provided in the −D3 direction, which is the upstream side of the cooling liquid in the flow direction with respect to the cooling region CM1, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region CM11, and the cooling flowing in the second regions CM12 and CM13. It has a flow velocity adjusting unit 535 that makes the flow velocity of the liquid different from that of the liquid.

According to such a configuration, the cooling liquid flowing in the cooling region CM1 flows in the + D3 direction along the short side of the cooling region CM1. As a result, the temperature and refraction of the cooling liquid flowing to the portion upstream of the cooling liquid flow direction in the cooling region CM1 as compared with the case where the cooling liquid flows in the + D2 direction or the −D2 direction along the long side of the cooling region CM1. The difference between the rate and the temperature and refractive index of the cooling liquid flowing downstream in the cooling liquid flow direction in the cooling region CM1 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for fluctuations to be recognized in the projected image, and it is possible to suppress the generation of bubbles in the cooling liquid, so that deterioration of the projected image can be suppressed.
Further, the flow rate adjusting unit 535 sets the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11, which tends to increase in temperature, to the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the second region CM12, and the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the second region CM13. It can be larger than the flow rate, and the first region CM11 can be effectively cooled. Therefore, the entire cooling region CM1 and thus the optical component CM can be effectively cooled.

The first region CM11 is located in the center of the cooling region CM1 in the + D2 direction. The flow velocity adjusting unit 535 makes the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region CM11 larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second regions CM12 and CM13.
According to such a configuration, as described above, the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11 where the temperature tends to be high can be increased, and the first region CM11 can be effectively cooled. Therefore, the entire cooling region CM1 and thus the optical component CM can be effectively cooled.

The projector 1 includes incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, 454B as a second polarizing element located on the light incident side of the optical modulation devices 455R, 455G, 455B. The incident-side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, and 454B are the optical component CMs housed in the housings 53R, 53G, and 53B, and have a cooling region CM1. The flow velocity adjusting unit 535 includes the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11 in the cooling region CM1 of the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, 454B and the second region in the cooling region CM1 of the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, 454B. The flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through CM12 and CM13 is made different.
According to such a configuration, the temperature is high in the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, 454B as in the case where the optical component CM is the optical modulator 455R, 455G, 455B or the emitting side polarizing elements 457R, 457G, 457B. The flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11, which is likely to become polarized, can be increased, and the first region CM11 can be effectively cooled. Therefore, the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, and 454B can be effectively cooled.

The flow velocity adjusting unit 535 has an end portion in the cooling region CM1 in the + D2 direction and inclined portions 5351 and 5352 inclined toward the end portion in the −D2 direction in the cooling region CM1 toward the + D3 direction.
According to such a configuration, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first region CM11, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second region CM12, and the cooling flow through the second region CM13 by the inclined portions 5351 and 5352. The flow velocity of the liquid can be different. Therefore, the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 can be easily configured.

The image forming unit 452 includes, as optical modulation devices, an optical modulation device 455R which is a red light modulation device, an optical modulation device 455G which is a green light modulation device, and an optical modulation device 455B which is a blue light modulation device. Has. The optical modulator 455R modulates the red light LR of the light emitted from the light source 41, the optical modulator 455G modulates the green light of the light emitted from the light source 41, and the optical modulator 455B is the light source. Of the light emitted from 41, blue light is modulated.
The image forming unit 452 is arranged on the light emitting side of the light emitting side polarizing element 457R as the first polarizing element for red and the light emitting side of the light modulator 455G, which are arranged on the light emitting side of the light modulator 455R as the first polarizing element. It has an emitting side polarizing element 457G as a green first polarizing element and an emitting side polarizing element 457B as a blue first polarizing element arranged on the light emitting side of the light modulator 455B.

When the optical modulator 455R is the first cooling target, the optical modulator 455G is the second cooling target, and the optical modulator 455B is the third cooling target, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the second cooling target is the first cooling. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the third cooling target.
Further, when the emitting side polarizing element 457R is the first cooling target, the emitting side polarizing element 457G is the second cooling target, and the emitting side polarizing element 457B is the third cooling target, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing to the second cooling target. Is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first cooling target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the third cooling target.
According to such a configuration, the green image forming unit 453G including the optical modulator 455R and the emitting side polarizing element 457R in which the green light LG having a larger amount of light than the red light LR and the blue light LB is incident and the temperature tends to rise. Each optical component can be effectively cooled.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The projector according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the projector 1 according to the first embodiment, but the inclination angle of the inclined portion constituting the flow velocity adjusting portion is different. In the following description, parts that are the same as or substantially the same as those already described will be designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the housing 56 constituting the cooling device included in the projector according to the present embodiment. In other words, FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical component CM in the housing 56 by the size of an arrow indicating the flow direction of the cooling liquid.
The projector according to the present embodiment has the same configuration and functions as the projector 1 except that it has a housing 56 shown in FIG. 5 instead of the housing 53. That is, the cooling device according to the present embodiment has the same configuration and function as the cooling device 5 except that it has three housings 56 instead of the three housings 53 (53R, 53G, 53B).

Of the three housings 56, one housing 56 is a red housing, the other housing 56 is a green housing, and the remaining one housing 56 is a blue housing. .. Each housing 56 accommodates the optical components of the corresponding image forming unit among the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B. For example, the housing 56, which is a red housing, accommodates an incident side polarizing element 454R, an optical modulation device 455R, a viewing angle compensating element 456R, and an outgoing side polarizing element 457R.
The housing 56 has the same configuration and function as the housing 53, except that it has a flow velocity adjusting unit 565 instead of the flow velocity adjusting unit 535.

The flow velocity adjusting unit 565 has the same configuration and function as the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 of the first embodiment, and is located in the −D3 direction, which is the upstream side in the flow direction of the cooling liquid with respect to the optical component CM, and the inflow unit 534. Is connected to. The flow velocity adjusting portion 565 is provided at a position where the inflow portion 534 is sandwiched in the + D2 direction, and has inclined portions 5651 and 5652 inclined with respect to the + D3 direction.
The inclined portion 5651 located in the + D2 direction is inclined toward the end in the + D2 direction in the cooling region CM1 from the inflow portion 534 toward the + D3 direction. Therefore, a part of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the inflow portion 534 flows in the + D2 direction and the + D3 direction along the inclined portion 5651.
The inclined portion 5652 located in the −D2 direction is inclined toward the end in the −D2 direction in the cooling region CM1 from the inflow portion 534 toward the + D3 direction. Therefore, the other part of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the inflow portion 534 flows in the −D2 direction and the + D3 direction along the inclined portion 5652.

Therefore, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F21 flowing from the inflow portion 534 in parallel with the + D3 direction is the cooling liquid F22 flowing in the + D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F21 and the -D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F21. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F23 that circulates at an angle of. Further, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F22 is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F24 which is inclined in the + D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F22, and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F23 is inclined in the −D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F23. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F25 that is circulated.

Here, the inclined portion 5351 of the first embodiment is inclined by 45 ° in the + D2 direction with respect to the + D3 direction, whereas the inclined portion 5651 is inclined by 65 ° in the + D2 direction with respect to the + D3 direction. .. Similarly, the inclined portion 5352 of the first embodiment is inclined by 45 ° in the −D2 direction with respect to the + D3 direction, whereas the inclined portion 5652 is inclined by 65 ° in the −D2 direction with respect to the + D3 direction. ing. That is, the inclination angle of the inclined portions 5651 and 5652 with respect to the + D3 direction is larger than the inclination angle of the inclined portions 5351 and 5352 with respect to the + D3 direction.

Therefore, in the housing 56, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F21 mainly flowing in the first region CM11 is mainly the cooling liquid flowing in the second region CM12, as in the case of the housing 53 of the first embodiment. It is larger than the flow velocity of F24 and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F25 mainly distributed in the second region CM13. Since the inclination angle of the inclined portions 5651 and 5652 with respect to the + D3 direction is larger than the inclination angle of the inclined portions 5351 and 5352 with respect to the + D3 direction, the cooling liquid flowing from the inflow portion 534 to the optical component CM is in the + D2 direction and-. It becomes easy to spread in the D2 direction.
As a result, when the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing into the inflow portion 534 is the same between the housing 56 and the housing 53, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F21 is smaller than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F11, while being smaller. The flow velocity of the cooling liquids F24 and F25 is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquids F14 and F15. Therefore, since the second region CM12 and CM13 can be easily cooled by the cooling liquids F24 and F25, the optical component may be used when the difference between the temperature of the first region CM11 and the temperature of the second region CM12 and CM13 is small. CM can be cooled effectively.

[Effect of the second embodiment]
The projector according to the present embodiment described above can exhibit the same effect as the projector 1 according to the first embodiment.
As described above, the inclination angle of the inclined portion constituting the flow velocity adjusting portion with respect to the + D3 direction can be appropriately changed.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The projector according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the projectors according to the first and second embodiments, except that the housing further includes a direction changing portion. In the following description, parts that are the same as or substantially the same as those already described will be designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the housing 56 constituting the cooling device included in the projector according to the present embodiment. In other words, FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical component CM in the housing 57 by the size of an arrow indicating the flow direction of the cooling liquid.
The projector according to the present embodiment has the same configuration and functions as the projector shown in the second embodiment, except that the projector has the housing 57 shown in FIG. 6 instead of the housing 56. That is, the cooling device according to the present embodiment has the same configuration and function as the cooling device 5 except that it has three housings 57 instead of the three housings 56.

Of the three housings 57, one housing 57 is a red housing, the other housing 57 is a green housing, and the remaining one housing 57 is a blue housing. .. Each housing 57 accommodates the optical components of the corresponding image forming unit among the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B. For example, the housing 57, which is a red housing, accommodates an incident side polarizing element 454R, an optical modulation device 455R, a viewing angle compensating element 456R, and an outgoing side polarizing element 457R.
Similar to the housing 56, the housing 57 has an incident side translucent member 531, an exit side translucent member 532, a flow path 533 (5331 to 5335), an inflow portion 534, and a flow velocity adjusting portion 565, as well as directions. It has a change unit 576.

The direction changing unit 576 is a direction in which the cooling liquid flowing outward in the cooling region CM1 is directed toward the inside of the cooling region CM1 among the cooling liquids flowing along the inclined portions 5651 and 5652 of the flow velocity adjusting unit 565. Change to. The direction changing portion 576 has bent portions 5761,5764 provided at positions sandwiching the optical component CM in the + D2 direction.

The bent portion 5761 located in the + D2 direction with respect to the optical component CM has a first inclined surface 5762 and a second inclined surface 5763.
The first inclined surface 5762 extends in the + D2 direction from the end of the inclined portion 5651 in the + D3 direction toward the + D3 direction. The end of the first inclined surface 5762 in the + D3 direction is located in the −D3 direction from the end of the optical component CM in the + D3 direction.
The second inclined surface 5763 extends in the −D2 direction from the end of the first inclined surface 5762 in the + D3 direction toward the + D3 direction, and is connected to the fifth connecting member 555.

The bent portion 576 located in the −D2 direction with respect to the optical component CM has a first inclined surface 5765 and a second inclined surface 5766.
The first inclined surface 5765 extends in the −D2 direction from the end of the inclined portion 5652 in the + D3 direction toward the + D3 direction. The end of the first inclined surface 5765 in the + D3 direction is located in the −D3 direction from the end of the optical component CM in the + D3 direction.
The second inclined surface 5766 extends in the + D2 direction from the end of the first inclined surface 5765 in the + D3 direction toward the + D3 direction, and is connected to the fifth connecting member 555.

[Flow velocity of cooling liquid in the cooling region]
Even in such a housing 56, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F31 flowing in parallel with the + D3 direction from the inflow portion 534 toward the first region CM11 is inclined in the + D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F31. It is larger than the flow velocity of F32 and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F33 that is inclined in the −D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F31. Further, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F32 is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F34 which is inclined in the + D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F32, and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F33 is inclined in the −D2 direction with respect to the cooling liquid F33. It is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F35 that is distributed. In other words, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F31 flowing through the first region CM11 is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F34 flowing through the second region CM12 and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid F35 flowing through the second region CM13.

[Action of direction change part]
The cooling liquid that flows from the inflow portion 534 to the vicinity of the end in the ± D2 direction in the cooling region CM1 flows along the bent portions 5761, 5764 of the direction changing portion 576, so that the end in the ± D2 direction in the cooling region CM1. It circulates inside.
For example, the cooling liquid F34 flows along the first inclined surface 5762 and then flows along the second inclined surface 5763, so that the cooling liquid F34 flows in the −D2 direction toward the + D3 direction. As a result, the cooling liquid can easily flow in the + D2 direction and the + D3 direction in the cooling region CM1.
Further, for example, the cooling liquid F35 circulates along the first inclined surface 5765 and then flows along the second inclined surface 5766, so that the cooling liquid F35 circulates in the + D2 direction toward the + D3 direction. As a result, the cooling liquid can easily flow in the −D2 direction and the + D3 direction in the cooling region CM1.
As a result, the cooling liquid can be easily circulated throughout the cooling region CM1, and the cooling efficiency of the cooling region CM1, that is, the cooling efficiency of the optical component CM can be improved.

[Effect of Third Embodiment]
The projector according to the present embodiment described above can exhibit the same effect as the projector 1 according to the first embodiment.
It is assumed that the housing 57 has the same flow velocity adjusting unit 565 as the housing 56 of the second embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the housing 57 may include the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 of the first embodiment instead of the flow velocity adjusting unit 565. That is, the inclination angle of the inclined portion of the flow velocity adjusting portion located in the + D2 direction with respect to the inflow portion 534 with respect to the + D3 direction can be appropriately changed as long as the extending direction of the inclined portion is in the + D2 direction and the + D3 direction. Similarly, the inclination angle of the inclined portion of the flow velocity adjusting portion located in the −D2 direction with respect to the inflow portion 534 with respect to the + D3 direction can be appropriately changed as long as the extending direction of the inclined portion is in the −D2 direction and the + D3 direction. is there.

[Modification of Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the range in which the object of the present invention can be achieved are included in the present invention.
In each of the above embodiments, the cooling liquid is used to provide the incident side polarizing element, the optical modulator, the viewing angle compensating element, and the outgoing side polarizing element of each of the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B. It was used as an optical component CM to be distributed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the optical component CM housed in the housing 53 and through which the cooling liquid sent out from the distribution unit 52 flows may be an optical component of at least one of the optical modulator and the emitting side polarizing element. .. In other words, the incident side polarizing element and the viewing angle compensating element do not necessarily have to be cooling targets cooled by the cooling liquid flowing as described above.
Further, the optical component of at least one of the red image forming unit 453R, the green image forming unit 453G, and the blue image forming unit 453B may be cooled by the cooling liquid flowing as described above. In this case, the optical component cooled by the cooling liquid may be housed in the housing 53, and the optical component not to be cooled by the cooling liquid may not be housed in the housing 53.

In each of the above embodiments, the shape of the cooling region CM1 when viewed from the light incident side or the light emitting side is a rectangular shape having a long side along the + D2 direction and a short side along the + D3 direction. That is, the shape of the cooling region CM1 of the optical component CM constituting the red image forming portion 453R is a long side along the + Z direction in the red image forming portion 453R and + Y in the + D3 direction in the red image forming portion 453R. It was assumed to be rectangular with short sides along the direction. Further, the shape of the cooling region CM1 of the optical component CM constituting the green image forming unit 453G is a long side along the + X direction in the green image forming unit 453G and + Y in the + D3 direction in the green image forming unit 453G. It was assumed to be rectangular with short sides along the direction.
However, not limited to this, the long side of the cooling region CM1 may be along the + D3 direction, and the short side of the cooling region CM1 may be along the + D2 direction. Even in this case, the flow direction of the cooling liquid flowing in the cooling region CM1 may be a direction along the short side of the cooling region CM1, and the flow velocity adjusting unit is on the upstream side of the cooling liquid flow direction with respect to the cooling region CM1. It suffices if it is located in. At this time, the flow direction of the cooling liquid may be any direction as long as it is along the short side of the cooling region CM1. Similarly, in each of the above embodiments, the cooling liquid may flow in the −D3 direction with respect to the cooling region CM1.

In each of the above embodiments, the first region CM11 in which the cooling liquid having a flow rate larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second regions CM12 and CM13 flows is the center in the + D2 direction which is the direction along the long side in the cooling region CM1. It was supposed to be located in. However, not limited to this, the position of the first region CM11 does not necessarily have to be the center in the + D2 direction in the cooling region CM1.

In the first embodiment, the flow velocity adjusting unit 535 has inclined portions 5351 and 5352, and in the second and third embodiments, the flow velocity adjusting unit 565 has inclined portions 5651 and 5652. However, not limited to this, the configuration of the flow velocity adjusting unit is not limited to the above as long as the flow velocities of the cooling liquids flowing in each of the plurality of regions in the direction along the long side of the cooling region CM1 can be made different.

In each of the above embodiments, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical modulation device 455G is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical modulation device 455R and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical modulation device 455B. Further, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the exit-side polarizing element 457G is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the exit-side polarizing element 457R and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the exit-side polarizing element 457B. However, not limited to this, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical components constituting the green image forming section 453G is the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the optical components constituting the red image forming section 453R and the blue image forming section 453B, respectively. It does not necessarily have to be greater than the flow velocity.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the cooling device 5 has three distribution units 52R, 52G, 52B as distribution devices, and the same applies to the cooling devices in the second and third embodiments. There was. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cooling device may be configured to have one distribution device instead of the three distribution units 52R, 52G, 52B.
In this case, in the cooling device, for example, in FIG. 3, three distribution units 52R, 52G, 52B are omitted, the branch pipe 5512 and the second connecting member 552 are connected, and the branch pipe 5513 and the third connecting member 553 are connected. The branch pipe 5514 and the fourth connecting member 554 may be connected to each other, and a distribution unit, which is one distribution device, may be provided in one of the distribution pipe 5511 and the merging pipe 5554.
In the cooling device having such a configuration, at least one of the pipe diameters of the branch pipes 5512 to 5514 of the first connecting member 551 and the pipe diameters of the branch pipes 5551 to 5535 of the fifth connecting member 555 is adjusted. Then, the flow velocity and the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the red housing 53R, the green housing 53G, and the blue housing 53B may be adjusted.

In each of the above embodiments, the image forming unit 452 includes viewing angle compensating elements 456R, 456G, and 456B. However, not limited to this, the image forming unit 452 does not have to include the viewing angle compensating elements 456R, 456G, and 456B. In this case, the light incident side of the emitting side polarizing elements 457R, 457G, 457B as the first polarizing element may be regarded as the light emitting side of the light modulators 455R, 455G, 455B.
Further, the image forming unit 452 is provided with incident-side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, and 454B as the second polarizing element. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the incident side polarizing elements 454R, 454G, and 454B may not be provided, and may not be the cooling target through which the cooling liquid flows in the cooling device.

In each of the above embodiments, the projector includes three optical modulation devices 455B, 455G, and 455R, each of which is composed of a liquid crystal panel. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a projector provided with two or less or four or more optical modulation devices.
In each of the above embodiments, the image projection device 4 illustrates a configuration having the layout and optical components shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image projection device 4 having another layout and optical components may be adopted.

In each of the above embodiments, the optical modulation devices 455R, 455G, and 455B are configured to be composed of a transmissive liquid crystal panel in which the light incident surface and the light emitting surface are different. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the optical modulation devices 455R, 455G, and 455B may have a structure having a reflective liquid crystal panel in which the light incident surface and the light emitting surface are the same. Further, if it is an optical modulation device capable of forming an image according to image information by modulating an incident light beam, a device using a micromirror, for example, a device using a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) or the like, other than liquid crystal An optical modulator may be used.

1 ... Projector, 41 ... Light source, 454B, 454G, 454R ... Incident side polarizing element (second polarizing element), 455B ... Light modulator (blue optical modulator), 455G ... Optical modulator (green optical modulator) 455R ... Optical modulator (light modulator for red), 457B ... Emission side polarizing element (first polarizing element, first polarizing element for blue), 457G ... Emitting side polarizing element (first polarizing element, first for green) Polarizing element), 457R ... Exiting side polarizing element (1st polarizing element, 1st polarizing element for red), 52 ... Distribution unit (distribution device), 52B ... Blue distribution unit, 52G ... Green distribution unit, 52R ... Red Distribution section, 53, 56, 57 ... Housing, 53B ... Blue housing, 53G ... Green housing, 53R ... Red housing, 513 ... Incident side translucent member, 532 ... Outgoing side translucency Member 533 (5331, 5332, 5333, 5334, 5335) ... Flow path, 534 ... Inflow part, 535, 565 ... Flow rate adjusting part, 5351, 5352, 5651, 5652 ... Inclined part, CM ... Optical parts, CM1 ... Cooling Region, CM11 ... 1st region, CM12, CM13 ... 2nd region, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35 ... Cooling liquid.

Claims (5)

Light source and
An optical modulator that modulates the light emitted from the light source,
A projection optical device that projects light modulated by the light modulator,
The first polarizing element located on the light emitting side of the light modulator and
A housing that houses at least one of the optical modulators of the optical modulator and the first polarizing element and allows the cooling liquid to flow inside.
A distribution device for distributing the cooling liquid to at least one of the optical components is provided.
The at least one optical component has a rectangular cooling region having a long side along the first direction and a short side along the second direction.
The cooling area is
The first area and
A second region different from the first region in the first direction is included.
The cooling liquid circulates in the cooling region along the second direction.
The housing is provided on the upstream side of the cooling liquid in the flow direction of the cooling liquid, and has a flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region and a flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second region. A projector characterized by having a flow velocity adjusting unit that makes the difference. In the projector according to claim 1,
The first region is located in the center of the cooling region in the first direction.
The flow velocity adjusting unit is a projector characterized in that the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region is made larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the second region. In the projector according to claim 1 or 2.
A second polarizing element located on the light incident side of the photomodulator is provided.
The second polarizing element is housed in the housing and has the cooling region.
The flow velocity adjusting unit includes the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing in the first region in the cooling region of the second polarizing element and the cooling liquid flowing in the second region in the cooling region of the second polarizing element. A projector characterized by having different flow velocities. In the projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The flow velocity adjusting unit is directed toward the second direction, and is one of an end portion of the first direction in the cooling region and an end portion of the cooling region in a direction opposite to the first direction. A projector characterized by having an inclined portion inclined toward. In the projector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The optical modulator is
A red light modulator that modulates red light among the light emitted from the light source, and
A green light modulator that modulates green light among the light emitted from the light source, and
Includes a blue light modulator that modulates blue light out of the light emitted from the light source.
The first polarizing element is
The first polarizing element for red, which is arranged on the light emitting side of the light modulator for red,
The first polarizing element for green, which is arranged on the light emitting side of the light modulator for green,
The blue first polarizing element arranged on the light emitting side of the blue light modulator is included.
At least one optical component of the red light modulator and the red first polarizing element is the first cooling target, and at least one optical component of the green light modulator and the green first polarizing element is included. When the second cooling target is the optical modulator for blue and at least one optical component of the first polarizing element for blue is the third cooling target, the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the second cooling target is determined. A projector characterized in that it is larger than the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the first cooling target and the flow velocity of the cooling liquid flowing through the third cooling target.

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