JP4003327B2 - Projector light source aligning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light source aligning device used for manufacturing a light source of a liquid crystal projector for enlarging and projecting an image of a liquid crystal panel or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an apparatus for enlarging and projecting an image of a liquid crystal panel using a light source such as a metal halide has been put on the market. In this case, light emitted from a light source is condensed on a liquid crystal panel via a mirror or the like, and is projected onto a screen through a projection lens.
Recently, high-luminance lamps have emerged so that projected images can be seen on a large screen even in a bright room, and lamps such as metal halide, which is a light source, have been increased in output and point light sources to improve the light utilization rate of optical systems. .
[0003]
As an optical system using these lamps, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is generally used, but in order to further improve the brightness, a projector having an optical system that uses two or more lamps has appeared. Yes.
As a basic configuration of the projection optical system showing these two lamp illuminations, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-29320 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-49569 shown in FIG. 7 have been proposed. Yes.
[0004]
In order to fix the arc tube 20 used as a light source to the reflecting mirror 21, it is common to hold the arc tube in a three-dimensional table and fix the alignment at a predetermined position in the reflecting mirror where the screen luminance is maximized. .
FIG. 8 shows an outline of the lamp alignment apparatus. Since the arc tube 20 is aligned and fixed in the vicinity of the focal point of the reflecting mirror 21 having an elliptical or rectangular surface, X, Y,. It is held by a three-dimensional table 22 (details not shown) that can be finely adjusted in the Z-axis direction.
[0005]
In many cases, the aligning is performed by arranging the parts in a straight line, omitting the parts of the color separation system with almost the same parts as the optical system such as a projector.
That is, the luminous flux from the arc tube passes through the condensing system parts including the first lens array 24 and the second lens array 25 (described later) having an integrator function for uniformly illuminating the field lens 23 and the screen, and the liquid crystal panel 26 or Illuminated by the corresponding aperture,
The arc tube is aligned while measuring the luminance on the screen by a projection lens 27 (which often includes a prism 28) for enlarging and projecting onto the screen. The light source image in the optical system using the first and second lens arrays will be described. The light beam from the arc tube enters the first lens array 24 composed of a plurality of lens arrays and is divided into a large number of minute light beams. .
The luminous flux converges on the corresponding lens of the second lens array 25 constituted by a plurality of lenses. On the second lens array, a large number of images 29 are formed by a light emitter. The shapes of the first and second lens arrays may be the same.
[0006]
FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C show an illumination system portion (a) illuminated with a single lamp, and a light emitter image (c) viewed from the emission side of the second lens array cell (b). This is shown schematically. FIG. 10 shows the case of two lamps (light emitters 29a and 29b).
When the lamp is aligned and fixed, as described above, it is performed at the position where the illuminance of the screen is the highest. At this time, the illuminant image viewed from the emission side of the second lens array is most captured and uniform. It almost coincides with the position (FIGS. 9 and 10).
Further, the same alignment fixing has been conventionally employed in the case of the two lighting systems disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 5-29320 and 5-49569.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the optical system in the case of the two lighting system, as shown in FIG. 10, a light emitter image 29a of the A lamp is formed on the right side of the second lens array, and a light emitter image 29b of the B lamp is formed on the left side. Despite the most efficient arc image of the illumination, in the previous alignment, it was not known whether the illumination was optimal for arranging two lamps only by forming a light source image in the lens array.
For this purpose, the axes of the first and second lens arrays are shifted by several mm in advance so that the illuminant images of the A lamp and the B lamp do not overlap with each other. However, there are many cases where the positions are not optimal. .
In that case, the difference from the optimum position (alignment with the highest illuminance) for the actual machine was reduced by about 5 to 10%.
[0008]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and in a lamp alignment apparatus of a liquid crystal projector having a two-lamp optical system, even when components are arranged straight, it is possible to achieve an optimum positioning for fixing the lamp arc tube to the concave mirror. The present invention provides an apparatus that can be realized by an easy method.
In that case, an arc image can be formed optimally for the second lens array (two images are divided by half each cell), and if the lamp manufactured by the method is used, the brightness is 5-10 compared to the conventional alignment method. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alignment apparatus that can be improved by about%.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a light source aligning device such as a liquid crystal projector according to the present invention includes a reflecting mirror having a concave reflecting surface having an elliptic curve, and an arc tube arranged in the vicinity of the first focal position of the reflecting mirror. , A light-emitting tube support that holds the light-emitting tube in the vicinity of the first focal position and moves in the X, Y, and Z-axis directions; and a first light that divides the reflected light from the reflecting mirror into a plurality of light beams. A lens array, a second lens array configured by a plurality of lenses and receiving light from the first lens array, a liquid crystal panel-sized aperture for enlarging and projecting the plurality of light beams, a quadrangular prism, A light source aligning device such as a liquid crystal projector comprising a projection member composed of a projection lens and the like, and the arc tube, the reflecting mirror, the first and second lens arrays, and a fixed base for holding the projection member. A is at substantially the second focal position vicinity of the reflecting mirror has a configuration that adds a slit plate having a rectangular hole or circular hole of the light beam large that condenses.
[0010]
Also, the second lens array is integrally provided with an aperture grill having the same number of rectangular or circular openings as the lenses in order to shield other than the half of each lens or the size of the arc tube substantially arc image. It was set as the structure provided.
[0011]
Further, a correction lens for correcting the condensed light into substantially parallel light is disposed between the reflecting mirror and the first lens array.
Further, the correction lens for correcting the light to substantially parallel light is formed of aspherical glass or plastic.
Further, the aperture grill is formed by a plate-shaped member before the first lens array.
[0012]
An aligning device that can prevent alignment in the state where unnecessary light components are taken in by two-lamp optical illumination that is folded back in the vicinity of the second focal point of the elliptical mirror to add a slit plate, and that cuts unnecessary light in advance. Can be provided.
Further, by providing an aperture grill having the same number of rectangular or circular openings as the lens in each cell of the second lens array, light in a state where a light source image is correctly arranged in each cell of the second lens array is screened. Alignment to reach up to is possible.
[0013]
Therefore, it is possible to provide an aligning device that can uniformly capture the light source images of the lamp A and the lamp B when two lamps are combined.
In addition, since the elliptical condensed light becomes substantially parallel light by the correction lens that corrects to parallel light, it can be configured with a small optical component.
[0014]
Furthermore, since the light source image can be uniformly formed on the lens array from the periphery to the center by making the correction lens an aspherical surface, vignetting caused by the caliber protruding from the central cell at the time of two lamps may occur. Can provide no equipment.
In addition, since the aperture grill is a simple plate-like component such as stainless steel, it is possible to provide a device that can easily correlate and adjust the straight alignment machine and the actual machine.
As described above, the present invention provides a lamp alignment device such as a liquid crystal projector that performs highly efficient illumination even when two lamps are used.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reflecting mirror having an elliptically curved concave reflecting surface, an arc tube disposed in the vicinity of the first focal position of the reflecting mirror, and the arc tube in the vicinity of the first focal position. An arc tube support that holds the lens and moves it in the XYZ axis direction, a first lens array that includes a plurality of lenses and divides the reflected light from the reflecting mirror into a plurality of light beams, and a plurality of lenses that includes the first lens array. A second lens array for injecting light from one lens array; a projection member composed of a liquid crystal panel large aperture, a quadrangular prism, a projection lens, etc., for enlarging and projecting the plurality of light beams; and the arc tube , A light source aligning device such as a liquid crystal projector comprising the reflecting mirror, the first and second lens arrays, and a fixed base for holding the projection member, in the vicinity of a substantially second focal position of the reflecting mirror Is a collection Since a slit plate having a rectangular hole or a round hole with a large luminous flux is added, for example, in the optical system of a liquid crystal projector with two lamps as in two-lamp illumination, in the vicinity of the second focal point of the elliptical mirror It is possible to prevent alignment in a state where unnecessary light components of the two-lamp optical illumination that is folded back are taken in, and to provide an aligning device that cuts unnecessary light in advance.
[0016]
Further, the second invention provides a reflecting mirror having a concave reflecting surface of an ellipse or a rectangular object, an arc tube arranged in the vicinity of the focal position of the reflecting mirror, and holding the arc tube in the vicinity of the focal position to hold XYZ. An arc tube support that moves in the axial direction, a first lens array that is composed of a plurality of lenses and divides the reflected light from the reflecting mirror into a plurality of light beams, and a plurality of lenses that are composed of the first lens array. A second lens array for incident light, a projection member composed of a liquid crystal panel large aperture, a quadrangular prism, a projection lens, etc., for enlarging and projecting the plurality of light beams, the arc tube, the reflecting mirror, A liquid crystal composed of the first and second lens arrays and a fixed base for holding the projection member, wherein the second lens array has a size of a substantially half of each lens or a substantially arc image of the arc tube. To shield everything Since the aperture grille having the same number of rectangular or circular openings as the lens is integrally provided, each cell of the second lens array has the second aperture grille having the same number of rectangular or circular openings as the lens. It is possible to provide an alignment apparatus that allows light to reach the screen in a state where a light source image of two-light illumination is correctly arranged in each cell of the lens array.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a slit plate having a rectangular hole or a round hole with a large condensed light beam is added near the second focal position of the elliptical reflecting mirror, and the reflecting mirror and the first lens are added. By installing a correction lens that corrects the condensed light to approximately parallel light before the array, it is possible to align the elliptical condensed light into substantially parallel light while cutting unnecessary light, increasing accuracy. And the apparatus can be configured with small optical components.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the correction lens for correcting substantially parallel light is formed of aspheric glass or aspheric plastic so that a light source image is uniformly formed from the periphery to the center as described later. Therefore, it is possible to provide a device that does not cause vignetting due to the caliber protruding from the center cell during two lamps. Furthermore, since the aperture grill is configured by a simple plate-like component such as stainless steel, it is possible to provide an apparatus having a configuration in which the correlation and adjustment between the straight alignment machine and the actual machine can be easily performed with fine adjustment of only the plate.
Hereinafter, a light source aligning device for a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS.
[0019]
Example 1
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an entire light source aligning apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a plan view of FIG.
2 is a plan view showing the shape of the slit plate disposed in the vicinity of the second focal position of the reflecting mirror in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view, (b) a side view of the lens array constituting FIG. C) It is a bottom view.
FIG. 4 is a model diagram showing a light emitter image of the lens array of FIG.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 17, in the light source, the arc tube 1 is fixed with cement or the like in the vicinity of the first focal position of the elliptical concave reflecting mirror 2.
The arc tube 1 is detachably held by a commercially available three-axis variable device 3 (details not shown) that can be finely adjusted in the three-axis (x, y, z) directions, so that a light beam can be generated in the vicinity of the second focal position. It is fixed at the correct position. This operation is called aligning.
Actually, the optical parts of the optical system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 17 are aligned with the positions of the optical parts of the projector (excluding color separation parts) and fixed at the position where the illuminance is highest while observing the illuminance balance on the screen. The
[0021]
Each optical component has a slit plate 4 provided with a predetermined hole 4a in the vicinity of the second focal position, a condenser lens 5 that makes the diverging light substantially parallel, and a uniform illumination from the center to the periphery of the liquid crystal panel. Lens array 7, lens array 8 corresponding to the lens array 7, liquid crystal panel or aperture 9 corresponding thereto, prism 10, and projection lens 11 for enlarging and projecting onto the screen are held by holding bases 12, 13, 14, and 15, respectively. Mount on the fixed base 16 with the axial direction aligned.
[0022]
With the above configuration, the arc image of the arc tube 1 is incident on each cell of the lens array 7 in a state where unnecessary light is cut by the holes of the slit plate 4, and is divided into a large number of minute light beams and corresponding cells of the lens array 8. Converge on top.
The lens arrays 7 and 8 described later may have the same shape. FIG. 4 schematically shows a light-emitting body image viewed from the exit surface side of the second lens array. In this case, the lamp and the lens array have an optical axis of a predetermined amount A in order to match the two-lamp illumination described later. Are shifted (3 to 4 mm in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 17), and an arc image can be formed in the cell of the lens array B for both lamps.
[0023]
(Example 2)
FIGS. 14A and 14B show an apparatus in which the aperture grill 18 having the same number of rectangular or circular openings as each lens array is held in the lens array 8 in the configuration of FIG. 1 before or after (a) a plan view and (b). It is a front view and (c) is a side view.
The alignment apparatus for each light source is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. The arc image of the arc tube is formed on the lens array 8 by the lens array 7 as in the first embodiment.
Since the hole 18a of the aperture grill 18 is opened only at a position where the arc is connected, the alignment can be performed by narrowing down to a large arc (rectangular or circular).
The same rectangular hole 18 a is provided corresponding to each lens array cell of the aperture grill 18, and is attached to the lens array 8 by the holding member 19.
Although the shape of each cell hole 18a is rectangular in the figure, the same result was obtained even when a circular hole was opened at the same position. As described above, since the optical axis is shifted by a predetermined amount, only about half of the lens array 8 is imaged.
[0024]
By the said structure, the light utilization factor improved about 5 to 10% compared with the aligning in case the said aperture grill 18 is not provided.
This can be said to be an optimal alignment using half of each cell in an optical system using two lamps.
[0025]
A second lens array showing the illuminant image is shown in FIG. When alignment is achieved, the first lamp arc image is on the left side of each cell, and the second lamp arc image is on the right side of each cell. It has been demonstrated as described above.
This alignment can also be applied to another two-lamp composition method in which the illuminant images are arranged on the second lens array.
[0026]
Next, a typical two-lamp composite optical configuration using the above-described aligned lamp will be described.
FIG. 11 shows the entire optical system used in the two-lamp combining embodiment, and FIG. 12 shows only the two-lamp combining section.
An example of a conventional two-light illumination is also shown in FIG. FIG. 13 shows a model diagram for forming the two-lamp composite arc image, and FIG. 15 shows a model diagram of the arc image including polarization conversion.
[0027]
In the conventional configuration, the lamps 20 and 21 (a: arc tube, b: reflector) are arranged in parallel, and the luminous body image is divided by the two large lens arrays 22 and 23. In this case, the aligning device is used. In addition, the optical system becomes large and impractical, and it is necessary to change the alignment with the left and right lamps.
However, in the system shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the lamps 1A and 2A are reflected by the combining prism 35 in a right angle direction, are made substantially parallel light by the collimator lens 27, and enter the small first lens array 25. As described above, the illuminant image is formed on the left and right of each cell of the second lens array 26.
[0028]
Thereafter, the mirrors 28, the field lens 29, the combining prism 30, and the projection lens 31, which are color separation systems, are almost the same as the conventional projector optical system.
The principle diagram of the illuminant image of one lamp is as shown in FIG. 9, and in FIG. 13, it is two lamps. (Light-emitting body image: ●, see also the first and apertured lens array block with aperture grill in FIG. 14)
In the two-lamp illumination performed, the same first lens array and second lens array were used.
Further, FIG. 15 shows a model diagram of the two-lamp state when the polarization conversion element 17 passes through the optical path next to the lens array 8.
In FIG. 15, when the light source images of the lamps A and B are further PS-divided in the vertical direction when viewed from the direction of the projection lens, four light emitter images appear to be arranged on one cell of the lens array.
The light is converted into light in either the P or S vibration direction to illuminate the liquid crystal surface.
[0029]
(Example 3)
10A and 10B show the arc shape of the second lens array when the correction lens 5 of FIG. 1 is not aspherical.
In this case, the arc image connected to each cell becomes smaller as it goes from the center to the periphery, the light seems to protrude from the cell at the center, and the periphery is insufficiently captured.
As shown in FIG. 4, when an aspherical lens having a predetermined design is used as the shape of the correction lens 5, the efficiency is improved by 5 to 10% and the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained and an optimum aligning device can be provided.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent alignment in a state in which unnecessary light components are captured in the two-lamp optical illumination that is folded back in the vicinity of the second focal point of the elliptical concave mirror in order to add the slit plate. An aligning device that cuts unnecessary light can be provided.
Further, by providing an aperture grill having the same number of rectangular or circular openings as the lens in each cell of the second lens array, light in a state where a light source image is correctly arranged in each cell of the second lens array is screened. Alignment to reach up to is possible.
Therefore, it is possible to provide an aligning device that can uniformly capture the light source images of the first lamp and the second lamp when two lamps are combined.
In addition, since the elliptical condensed light becomes substantially parallel light by the correction lens that corrects to parallel light, it can be configured with a small optical component.
Furthermore, since the light source image can be uniformly formed on the lens array from the periphery to the center by making the correction lens an aspherical surface, vignetting caused by the caliber protruding from the central cell at the time of two lamps may occur. Can provide no equipment.
In addition, since the aperture grill is a simple plate-like component such as stainless steel, it is possible to provide a device that can easily correlate and adjust the straight alignment machine and the actual machine.
As described above, it is possible to obtain a lamp alignment device such as a liquid crystal projector that performs highly efficient illumination even when two lamps are used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a side view of a light source aligning device for a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan perspective view showing the shape of a slit plate in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 (a) is a front view of the lens array in FIG. And (b) left side view and (c) right side view. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a light emitter image of the lens array of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional one-lamp optical layout. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another conventional two-lamp optical layout. FIG. 8 is a front view of a conventional alignment apparatus. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the lens array of FIG. FIG. 10B is a front view showing the first lens array, and FIG. 10C is a front view showing the second lens array and the light emitter. FIG. 10B is a front view showing a light emitter image on the second lens array where the correction lens is not aspheric. FIG. 11: Two-lamp optics using a lamp aligned with the apparatus of the present invention FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a two-light combining unit in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a model of the position of an arc in the two-light combining unit in FIG. (A) Plan view, (b) Front view and (c) Side view incorporating an aperture grill and a lens array [FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is a model diagram showing the polarization conversion unit and the second lens array of FIG. FIG. 17 is a plan view showing another two-lamp optical layout. FIG. 17 is a plan view of a light source aligning device for a projector according to an embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light emission tube 2 Reflecting mirror 4 Slit plate 5 Aspherical surface correction lens 7 1st lens array 8 2nd lens arrays 12-15 Holding stand 16 Fixing stand 17 Polarization conversion element 18 Aperture grill 29 Luminescent body image 35 Synthetic prism

Claims (11)

A light source aligning device for a projector having a two-lamp optical system, comprising: a concave reflecting mirror; a light emitting tube disposed in the vicinity of a first focal position of the concave reflecting mirror; An arc tube support that moves in the Y- and Z-axis directions, a first lens array that divides the reflected light from the concave reflecting mirror into a plurality of light beams, and a second light that enters the light from the first lens array a lens array, a projection member for enlarging and projecting the plurality of light beams, the light emitting tube, the concave reflector, the first, second lens array is composed of a fixing table for holding the projection member further collecting light aligning device of the projector, wherein a slit plate is disposed substantially second near the focal point of the concave reflector having an opening of optical light beam size. Projection members is at least aperture, rectangular prism of the prism, Ri consists projection lens, the light source aligning device of the projector according to claim 1, wherein Rukoto mounted on fixing stand together the axial direction. The opening of the slit plate, a light source aligning device of the projector according to claim 1, characterized in that a either of rectangular or circular light beam size that condenses. Concave reflector and a light source of a projector aligning device according to claim 1, wherein substantially that were provided with the correction lens for correcting the parallel light condensing light between the first lens array.   5. The light source aligning device for a projector according to claim 4, wherein the correction lens is an aspherical lens. A light source aligning device for a projector having a two-lamp optical system, wherein a concave reflecting mirror, a light emitting tube disposed near a focal position of the concave reflecting mirror, and holding the light emitting tube, X, Y, Z An arc tube support that moves in the axial direction, a first lens array that divides the reflected light from the concave reflecting mirror into a plurality of light beams, and a second lens array that receives light from the first lens array a projection member for enlarging and projecting the plurality of light beams, the light emitting tube, the reflecting mirror, the first, second lens array is composed of a fixing table for holding the projection member further of each lens array A light source aligning device for a projector, wherein an aperture grill having a plurality of openings corresponding to the cells is integrally attached to the second lens array . Projection members is at least aperture, rectangular prism of the prism, Ri consists projection lens, the light source aligning device of the projector according to claim 6, wherein attached to the fixed stand on the combined the axial direction, characterized in Rukoto. 7. The light source aligning device for a projector according to claim 6 , wherein the opening of the aperture grill is either a rectangular shape or a circular shape that shields a portion other than the size of the arc image. It provided substantially second near the focal point of the concave reflector, and a slit plate having either one of the light beams sized rectangular aperture or a circular opening for condensed, collecting between said concave reflection mirror and the first lens array 9. The light source aligning device for a projector according to claim 8, further comprising a correction lens that corrects the light into substantially parallel light.   The projector light source aligning device according to claim 9, wherein the correction lens is an aspherical lens. 7. The light source aligning device for a projector according to claim 6, wherein the aperture grill is formed of a plate-shaped member in front of the second lens array.

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