JP6061043B1 - Package of optical integrator - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical integrator package that suppresses adhesion, scratches, and breakage of foreign matters to the exit surface of an optical integrator that is being conveyed, maintains the performance of the optical integrator, and is capable of being conveyed. An optical integrator has a light incident surface 002, a light emitting surface 003, and side surfaces 004 to 007, and the light is directed from the light incident surface 002 toward the light emitting surface 003. It is an optical integrator 001 that propagates and diffuses light, and at least part of the propagating light is reflected by the side surfaces 004 to 007 and guided to the exit surface 003. The package of the optical integrator 001 is a light integrator. The side surfaces 004 to 007 or the incident surface 002 of the optical integrator 001 have packing members 010 and 011 for packing the integrator 001 and the optical integrator 001 so that the emission surface 003 and the packing member 010 are not in contact with each other. The optical integrator 001 is packed in the packing members 010 and 011 in a state in which the movement of the optical integrator 001 with respect to the packing members 010 and 011 is suppressed or fixed in contact with the packing members 010 and 011. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical integrator package that uniformly mixes light.

In an image projection apparatus for a display device such as a normal projector, an optical system that color-divides a light source of three colors of red, green, and blue by time division is generally used. This colorization technique is a technique generally called field sequential color (hereinafter referred to as FSC).
In order to use FSC, light beams of three colors with high color mixing and homogeneity must be irradiated to a video generation device such as LCOS (Liquid crystal on silicon) or DMD (Digital Mirror Device) mounted in the video projection device. I must.
An image projection apparatus using a transparent rod is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like. Regarding color mixing and homogeneity of light beams from a plurality of light sources, Patent Document 1 describes a method of guiding light beams from a plurality of light sources to a rod with a lens. Patent Document 2 describes a method in which light beams from a plurality of light sources are combined by a dichroic mirror and then guided to a rod.

JP 2004-334083 A JP 2000-131665 A

  In recent years, development of wearable display devices represented by head-mounted displays has been underway. Such a video projection device for a display device is required to be power-saving, bright and compact in order to be worn on the body.

In order to reduce the size of the video projector, when using a multi-chip light source in which a plurality of light sources are mounted in a single housing, assuming the rods used in Patent Documents 1 and 2, color mixing and homogeneity are achieved. In order to satisfy the requirements (in order to fully develop the function as an optical integrator), a long rod optical integrator is required.
Further, as a method of improving the color mixing property and homogeneity and making a small optical integrator, a method of making an optical integrator in which diffusing particles are dispersed in a lot can be considered.

However, in these optical integrators, especially when foreign matter adheres, scratches, breaks, etc. on the exit surface, the average brightness of the light exiting from the optical integrator is reduced or uneven brightness occurs, and the projected image is displayed. A defect that causes a defect occurs. As the optical integrator is further reduced in size, even if foreign matter of the same size is attached, scratched, damaged, etc., the defect area that contributes to the loss of the image increases. Such adhesion, scratches, and breakage of foreign substances may occur not only during the production of the optical integrator but also due to contact with the packaging member during transportation.
An object of the present invention is to provide a package of an optical integrator that suppresses adhesion, scratches, breakage, and the like of foreign matters on the exit surface of the optical integrator during conveyance.

The present invention relates to the following.
(1) A packing body of an optical integrator having an optical integrator that diffuses light and a packing member that packs the optical integrator, the optical integrator including an incident surface on which light is incident, and the light An exit surface that exits, and a side surface that connects the entrance surface and the exit surface, and the light propagates from the entrance surface side toward the exit surface, and at least a part of the propagating light is An optical integrator that is reflected from a side surface and guided to the output surface, wherein the light output surface of the optical integrator and the packing member that packs the optical integrator are in non-contact with each other. An optical integrator in which the side surface of the integrator or the incident surface is in contact with the packing member to suppress or fix the movement of the optical integrator with respect to the packing member, and the optical integrator is packed in the packing member. Container packaging.
(2) Further, the packing member is in contact with the packing member on the side of the optical integrator so that the incident surface of the optical integrator and the packing member for packing the optical integrator are not in contact with each other. The package of the optical integrator according to (1), wherein the movement of the optical integrator relative to is suppressed or fixed, and the optical integrator is packed in the packing member.
(3) The inside of the optical integrator is filled with a light guide member made of a material having a predetermined refractive index, and the light guide member is disposed between the incident surface and the output surface. The package of the optical integrator according to (1) or (2), which is in a state containing scattering particles that scatter the light propagating through the member.
(4) The optical integrator according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the optical integrator is in contact with and fixed to the packing member via a peelable adhesive. Container packaging.
(5) State in contact with the packing member using at least the surface having the smallest surface roughness among the surface constituting the side surface of the optical integrator and the incident surface, or the surface constituting the side surface of the optical integrator The package of the optical integrator according to any one of (1) to (4).

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical integrator package capable of transporting while maintaining the performance of the optical integrator while suppressing adhesion, scratches, and breakage of foreign matters on the exit surface of the optical integrator being transported. Can do.

It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st aspect of the package of the optical integrator of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd aspect of the package of the optical integrator of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 3rd aspect of the package of the optical integrator of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating an example of the optical integrator used for the package of the optical integrator of this invention.

The optical integrator used for the packaging body of the optical integrator of the present invention includes an incident surface 002 for incident light, an exit surface 003 for emitting light, and a side surface (004 to 007) connecting the incident surface 002 and the exit surface 003. The light propagates in the light guide member from the incident surface 002 side toward the exit surface 003, and at least a part of the propagating light is reflected by the side surfaces (004 to 007) to the exit surface 003. Is an optical integrator guided.
For example, when light from a light source having two or more light emitting points is incident on the incident surface 002 of this optical integrator, the light spreads inside the light guide member, and light with high color mixing and homogeneity is emitted from the output surface 003. It is emitted from. Note that light from a light source having three or more light emitting points may be incident.

  Among the surfaces constituting the optical integrator, particularly when foreign matter adheres, scratches, defects, or the like occurs on the exit surface 003, there occurs a problem that average luminance is reduced or luminance unevenness occurs. This defect appears more prominently than when similar adhesion, scratches, defects, etc. occur on the side surfaces (004 to 007) and the incident surface 002. If foreign matter adheres to the incident surface 002, scratches, defects, etc., the luminance unevenness is eliminated by the function of the optical integrator when the light is guided. Further, when foreign matter adheres, scratches, defects, etc. occur on the side surfaces (004 to 007), the amount of light reflected at the location of occurrence is small relative to the total amount of light. On the other hand, in the case where foreign matter adhesion, scratches, defects, etc. generated on the exit surface 003 occur, the characteristics of the light emitted from the optical integrator are directly affected. For this reason, it is important to suppress adhesion, scratches, defects, and the like of foreign matters on the emission surface 003.

  The packaging body of the optical integrator of the present invention includes a side surface (004 to 007) and an incident surface of the optical integrator so that the exit surface 003 of the optical integrator and the packaging member that packs the optical integrator are not in contact with each other. An optical integrator package in which at least one selected from 002 is in contact with the packing member to suppress or fix the movement of the optical integrator relative to the packing member, and the optical integrator is packed in the packing member. is there.

  “Non-contact” in the present invention means that at least the exit surface 003 (excluding sides and vertices forming the exit surface 003) does not contact all of the members (packaging members) conveyed with the optical integrator, In the package of the optical integrator, it refers to a state where the emission surface 003 is exposed in a space (preferably a closed space) formed by the optical integrator and the packaging member.

  In the present invention, “contact” means that a surface other than the emission surface 003 (including sides and apexes of each surface) is steady during conveyance with at least one of members (packaging members) conveyed together with the optical integrator. This refers to a state of physical touching, either temporarily or temporarily.

By making the exit surface 003 of the optical integrator non-contact as in the present invention, it is possible to effectively suppress foreign matter adhesion, scratches, and defects on the exit surface 003 being conveyed. However, the light characteristics (for example, average luminance and low luminance unevenness) can be maintained.
In addition, at least one selected from the side surface (004 to 007) of the optical integrator and the incident surface 002 is in contact with the packaging member, and is emitted by suppressing or fixing the movement of the optical integrator with respect to the packaging member. The surface 003 is in a non-contact state. As described above, the side surfaces (004 to 007) and the incident surface 002 are good because they have less influence on the light characteristics than the exit surface 003 even if foreign matter adheres, scratches, or defects occur. Can maintain the characteristics of light.

  Below, the structure of the packaging body of the optical integrator packed by making the output surface 003 described in a present Example non-contact is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-3.

The first mode of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a packing body in which an optical integrator is bonded to a packing member. This method has a structure in which the packing member 010 and the optical integrator 001 are bonded, and the packing member 010 is bonded to at least one of the side surfaces (004 to 007) and the incident surface 002 constituting the optical integrator 001. As the adhesive 009, it is preferable to use an adhesive 009 from which the adhesive 009 and the optical integrator 001 can be peeled when the package is opened and the optical integrator 001 is picked up. The adhesive 009 is also regarded as a part of the packaging member. In FIG. 1, among the four side surfaces (004 to 007), the side surface 006 is bonded to the packaging member 010 via the adhesive 009.
Further, a packing member 011 is provided on the side surface 004 facing the bonded side surface 006. The packing member 011 may be a rigid member or a flexible film-like member. In the case of using the packaging member 011 having flexibility, it is preferable that the packaging member 011 has a thickness and elasticity so as not to be deformed and directly touch the emission surface 003. The closed space 016 may be formed by providing an adhesive 009 on a portion of the packing member 010 where the optical integrator 001 is not disposed and bonding the same to the packing member 011. The exit surface 003 is exposed in the closed space 016. Note that the closed space 016 may be formed using a packing member X (for example, a plastic bag or a box) that encloses the packing member 010 and the packing member 011. Thereby, the non-contact state of the emission surface 003 can be maintained, and contamination from foreign matters can be suppressed.
In FIG. 1, the side surfaces 006 are bonded together, but other surfaces other than the emission surface 003 may be used, or two or more surfaces may be used.

The second mode of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a packaging body in which the optical integrator 001 is fixed to the packaging member 012. The packing member 012 is provided with a groove into which the optical integrator 001 is fitted, and the optical integrator 001 is pushed into the groove and fixed. The surface used for fixing (contact surface) may be at least one of the side surface (004 to 007) and the incident surface 002. In FIG. 2, two opposing surfaces (side surfaces) among the four side surfaces (004 to 007). 004, side face 006) and fixed to the packing member 012.
Further, a packing member 013 is provided on the side opposite to the packing member 012 as in FIG. The exit surface 003 is exposed in a closed space 016 provided between the packaging member 012 and the packaging member 013. In addition, you may form the closed space 016 using the packaging member X similarly to a 1st aspect. Thereby, the same effect as described above can be obtained.
In FIG. 2, the optical integrator 001 is fixed only by the packing member 012, but a structure in which the optical integrator 001 is sandwiched and fixed by the packing member 012 and the packing member 013 may be used. Moreover, although the surface which is contacting is two surfaces, you may contact and fix three or more surfaces.
In this embodiment, “fixed” means that the relative positional relationship between the optical integrator and the packaging member does not change, that is, the optical integrator does not move from a predetermined position of the packaging member. “Adhesion” as in the first aspect is also included, and “contact”, “fitting” and the like are also included.

The 3rd aspect of a present Example shown in FIG. 3 is the package which suppressed the movement of the optical integrator 001 with respect to a packaging member. The packing member 014 and the packing member 015 form a space, and the optical integrator 001 is stored in the space with a predetermined clearance. The space on the exit surface 003 side has a tapered portion that gradually decreases in width and height with distance from the optical integrator. For this reason, even if the optical integrator 001 moves in the space during conveyance, the exit surface 003 does not directly contact the packaging members (packaging members 014 and 015).
The exit surface 003 is exposed in a closed space 016 provided between the packaging member 014 and the packaging member 015. However, the closed space 016 is formed using the packaging member X as in the first embodiment. It may be formed. Thereby, the same effect as described above can be obtained.
“Suppressing movement” in the present embodiment means that the range in which the relative positional relationship between the optical integrator and the packaging member changes is restricted, that is, as in the third aspect, the emission surface 003 is This means that the amount of movement of the optical integrator relative to the packaging member is limited to a range that does not contact the packaging member.

  In the packaging body according to the first to third aspects of the present embodiment, the optical integrator 001 may be packaged so as to be arranged in a single packaging body. When multiple arrays are used, they can be handled collectively and automatically picked up after opening (when two packing members are used, one packing member is removed and the optical integrator is exposed). To preferred. It is preferable to pack a plurality of arrays in parallel in the X direction and / or the Y direction. More preferably, they are arranged at a constant pitch.

At this time, if at least one side surface of the optical integrator 001 (the side surface 004 in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the side surface 007 in FIG. 2) is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, the side surface is taken as a suction surface from the packing member. It is more preferable because it can be picked up and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of scratches or breakage on the exit surface 003 and the entrance surface 002.
Further, when picking up the optical integrator 001 with tweezers or the like, at least two of the opposing side surfaces in the arrangement direction (side surface 005 and side surface 007 in FIGS. 1 and 3 and side surface 004 and side surface 006 in FIG. 2) are arranged. It is preferable to have a gap 017 into which tweezers or the like enter a part. This is more preferable because the optical integrator 001 can be easily picked up, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of scratches or breakage on the exit surface 003 and further on the entrance surface 002. The gap 017 is provided in FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, the packing member is further brought into contact with the packing member at the side surface (004 to 007) of the optical integrator 001 so that the incident surface 002 and the packing member for packing the optical integrator 001 are not in contact with each other. The movement of the optical integrator 001 with respect to is suppressed or fixed, and the optical integrator 001 is a package of an optical integrator that is packed in a packing member. “Suppressing movement” in the present embodiment means that the amount of movement of the optical integrator relative to the packaging member is limited to a range where the emission surface 003 and the incident surface 002 do not contact the packaging member.

  As described above, when foreign matter adheres, scratches, defects, or the like occurs on the incident surface 002, the luminance unevenness is eliminated by the function of the optical integrator 001 when the light is guided, but the light incident on the optical integrator 001 Therefore, there is a concern that the average luminance may be reduced. For this reason, in addition to the exit surface 003, the entrance surface 002 is preferably non-contact. In the first to third aspects of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the incident surface 002 is also configured to be non-contact. Others are the same as those of the emission surface 003.

  The inside of the optical integrator 001 of this embodiment is filled with a light guide member made of a material having a predetermined refractive index, and the light guide member is interposed between the incident surface 002 and the output surface 003. In the case of a structure containing scattering particles 008 that scatter the light propagating through the inside, the color mixing property and homogeneity are improved, resulting in a compact optical integrator. Even in that case, packaging of the optical integrator is more effective. Become a body.

  In the case of the optical integrator 001 containing the scattering particles 008 inside the optical integrator 001, light is diffused in the optical integrator 001, so that the incident surface 002 and the outgoing surface 003 from the same visual field direction are simultaneously displayed. Inspection is difficult. For this reason, it becomes possible to simplify the inspection by suppressing adhesion, scratches, defects, etc. of foreign matters.

  In the packaging body of the optical integrator of the present embodiment, the optical integrator 001 is in contact with and fixed to the packaging member via an adhesive having peelability as in the first aspect of FIG. It would be better if A pressure-sensitive adhesive is exemplified as the adhesive having releasability.

  Thereby, for example, since the foreign material that drops off from the contact portion of the optical integrator 001 due to chipping or the like is held by the adhesive, scattering of chipping or the like can be effectively suppressed. Further, in the case of the optical integrator 001 containing the scattering particles 008 inside the optical integrator 001, there is a concern that the light integrator 001 is more likely to be chipped due to the weakness of the optical integrator 001, and that the aggregated scattering particles 008 fall off. However, it is possible to effectively suppress these scattering and to prevent the light from adhering to the exit surface 003 and the entrance surface 002.

  In the present embodiment, when only the exit surface 003 is not contacted, the packaging member uses at least the surface constituting the side surface (004 to 007) of the optical integrator 001 and the surface having the smallest surface roughness among the entrance surfaces 002. It is good that it is the package of the optical integrator which is in the state which contacted. When the exit surface 003 and the entrance surface 002 are not in contact with each other, a state in which the surface having the smallest surface roughness among the surfaces constituting the side surfaces (004 to 007) of the optical integrator 001 is used at least in contact with the packaging member It is good that it is the package of the optical integrator.

  By selecting a surface with a small surface roughness and making it a surface that comes into contact with the packaging member, friction between the optical integrator 001 and the packaging member can be reduced, and the generation of foreign matter can be suppressed. Moreover, when an adhesive is used, good re-peeling is possible. When there are a plurality of surfaces having the same surface roughness, it may be performed on any one surface, and when the movement is suppressed or fixed by contact with a plurality of surfaces, the surface having a small surface roughness is used. What is necessary is just to use it as a contact surface in order.

Below, the optical integrator used for the package of the optical integrator of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.
The optical integrator 001 has a shape of a rectangular column having a length L, a height H, and a width W, and the inside thereof is filled with a medium 1 having a predetermined refractive index N1 having a high transparency. The optical integrator 001 has an incident surface 002, an exit surface 003, and side surfaces 004 to 007.
The incident surface 002 and the emission surface 003 are a surface on which light is incident and a surface on which light is emitted.

  From Snell's law, it is known that a light beam having an incident angle larger than the critical angle cannot travel from a medium having a high refractive index to a medium having a low refractive index, and undergoes internal reflection (hereinafter referred to as TIR). For this reason, in this embodiment, all of the side surfaces function as side surfaces that are internally reflected.

The light integrator 001 is randomly filled with scattering particles 008 filled with a highly transparent medium 2 having a refractive index 2 different from that of the medium 1. According to Snell's law, light rays are emitted at an angle different from the incident angle when passing through media having different refractive indexes. The scattering particle 008 has a function of scattering by changing the angle of the traveling light beam using the principle.
When the difference between the refractive index 1 and the refractive index 2 is increased, a larger diffusion function can be obtained in accordance with Snell's law.
The scattering particles may be spherical or other shapes. From the viewpoint of cost, it is desirable to use a spherical product that is a general-purpose product.

When the scattering particles are spherical, the smaller the particle size (particle diameter), the larger the angle at which the light beam is bent, and high scattering performance can be obtained. The particle diameter is preferably larger than the wavelength of incident light and not more than 10 times the wavelength.
When the diameter of the scattering particles is smaller than the wavelength, large scattering can be obtained. However, since the probability that light rays hit the scattering particles is reduced, the filling rate of the scattering particles is increased in order to ensure homogeneity, but a reduction in efficiency becomes a problem.
Conversely, when the particle diameter is 10 times or more of the wavelength, the angle at which the angle of the traveling light beam can be changed becomes small, and the optical integrator 001 is lengthened to obtain the desired color mixing property and homogeneity. Can not contribute to downsizing.
If the scattering particles are other than spherical and the surface of the scattering particles is not uneven, the same can be said about the above.
Of course, a fine structure of wavelength order may be provided on the surface of the scattering particles. In this case, it can be expected that a large scattering effect can be obtained even if the shape is arbitrarily set and the maximum particle diameter of the scattering particles is increased.
In consideration of the above viewpoint, the shape, size, and volume ratio of the scattering particles may be appropriately adjusted.
As in this embodiment, for example, when the width W is 1.05 mm and the height H is 1.05 mm, the length is 4.15 mm, the particle size of the scattering particles 008 is about 2 μm, and the refractive index 1 is 1. 48 When the refractive index 2 is 1.58, the total volume of the medium 2 of the scattering particles 008 with respect to the total volume of the medium 1 is preferably set in the range of 0.5% to 1.0%.
Further, it is desirable that the incident surface 002 and the exit surface 003 are substantially parallel. Light can enter and exit while maintaining the average angle of vertically incident light, which is desirable in terms of efficiency.
Further, it is desirable that the entrance surface 002 and the exit surface 003 have the same shape. Light leakage at the side surface can be reduced, efficient reflection at the side surface can be performed, and loss can be reduced.

  The material and manufacturing method of the optical integrator described above are not particularly limited, but can be easily obtained by using the material and manufacturing method described below.

<Medium 1>
First, as the material of the medium 1, a highly transparent material is selected from the viewpoint of propagating light. In this embodiment, an acrylic photo-curing resin is used, but there is no particular limitation as long as the material is highly transparent. For example, an epoxy-based thermosetting resin, a thermoplastic resin such as an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin, or glass Etc. may be used.
When a photocurable resin is used, it is easy to mix with the medium 2 when the solid medium 2 is used, and since a process such as cooling and drying is not required after curing, a viewpoint of improving work efficiency, a predetermined It is more preferable from the viewpoint of easily obtaining an optical integrator of the shape. In addition, it is more preferable to use an acrylic material because the transmittance is high and the light use efficiency can be increased.

<Medium 2>
The optical integrator having the medium 2 can be efficiently obtained by mixing particles (medium 2) having a refractive index different from that of the medium 1 in the medium 1. In this embodiment, crosslinked polystyrene fine particles are used as the material of the medium 2, but other materials such as plastic particles and glass particles of other materials may be used as long as the materials are highly transparent.
However, since it is important to have a refractive index difference in order to scatter light, it is desirable that the refractive index difference between the medium 1 and the medium 2 is 0.005 or more. In the range of 0.005 or more and 0.015 or less, the specific gravity of the medium 1 and the medium 2 can be easily brought close to each other, and the medium 2 can be easily mixed with the medium 1 and the reduction in efficiency is suppressed. It is more preferable from the viewpoint that a scattering effect is easily obtained. Here, when the refractive indexes of the medium 1 and the medium 2 are compared, either refractive index may be large. The refractive index difference in the present invention is the difference between the refractive index of the medium 1 or the medium 2 having a high refractive index and the refractive index of the material 2 or the medium 1 having a low refractive index. The calculated value.

<Particle size>
The average particle diameter of the medium 2 is desirably 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less. This is because, as described above, if the particle size is small, light is scattered too much and the light extraction efficiency decreases, and if the particle size is large, light is difficult to scatter. Further, although it is desirable that the particle diameter is substantially uniform, there is no problem because 90% or more of the particles are included in the above average particle diameter range because the effect is obtained. The average particle diameter is a volume that can be measured by a laser beam method (dynamic laser light scattering) using Microtrac UPA (particle size analyzer, manufactured by Lees & Northrup, “MICROTRAC” and “UPA” are registered trademarks). Mean average particle size (d50 value).

<Manufacturing method>
As a method of integrating the medium 1 and the medium 2, for example, there is a method in which a liquid medium 1 is prepared, and then the medium 1 and the medium 2 are mixed and then photocured into a predetermined shape. It can be manufactured by other methods such as pressing, injection molding, and machining. Among these, the use of the liquid medium 1 is more preferable because the medium 2 can be easily mixed, and the state in which the medium 2 is mixed with the medium 1 is also more preferable because it is easy to process into a predetermined shape. .
At the time of product shape production, after manufacturing the product height plate, the outer periphery may be cut to the product size, or the mold with the product size space is produced, and the resin is poured into the mold and cured. May be.

<Surface roughness>
The surface roughness (Ra; arithmetic average roughness) of the optical integrator of the present embodiment is desirably reduced on the side surface. This is because when the light hits the side surface, if the side surface is rough, the light escapes from the side surface beyond the critical angle. In addition, with respect to the incident surface and the emission surface, since the effect of increasing the diffusion of light can be expected, the surface may have roughness in a range that does not adversely affect the emission of light. From the above viewpoint, the surface roughness of the side surface is preferably 0 μm to 2.0 μm, more preferably 0 μm to 1.0 μm, and even more preferably 0 μm to 0.5 μm.
The surface roughness of the entrance surface and the exit surface is equal to or greater than the surface roughness of the side surface, preferably 0.01 μm to 10 μm, more preferably 0.5 μm to 5 μm, and 0.5 μm to 3 μm. And even better. Here, the surface roughness Ra means the arithmetic average roughness in JIS B 0601 (2001).

  In this embodiment, the optical integrator is exemplified by the shape of a square pillar, but is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the entrance surface and / or the exit surface may be a rectangle, circle, ellipse, triangle, n-gon (n> 5), the side surface may be a curved surface, and the shape of the entrance surface and the exit surface. May be different.

  In the embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 3 describe a method of packing three optical integrators arranged in the Y direction in a lump, but one, two, four or more may be arranged. Two or more rows may be arranged in the X direction. When arranging in the X direction, it is necessary to arrange so that the exit surface of the optical integrator does not come into contact with the adjacent optical integrator.

  1 to 3, the straight line connecting the centers of the entrance surface 002 and the exit surface 003 is in the direction parallel to the XY plane and in the Y direction (the X direction may also be arranged as described above). If they are in a range that satisfies the characteristics of the present invention, the straight line connecting the centers of the entrance surface 002 and the exit surface 003 is perpendicular to the XY plane, in the X direction and / or the Y direction. May be arranged in

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples unless it exceeds the gist.

Example 1
[Production of optical integrator]
The optical integrator 001 has a rectangular column shape with a length of 4.15 mm, a height of 1.05 mm, and a width of 1.05 mm. The inside is filled with the medium 1 having a high refractive index of 1.49. The light integrator 001 is randomly filled with scattering particles 008 of the medium 2 having a high refractive index of 1.59. The volume of the scattering particles is 0.5% with respect to the volume of the optical integrator 001. As the medium 1, Hitachi Chemical 9501 (trade name, “Hitaroid” is a registered trademark) manufactured by Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. is used. This is a urethane acrylate-based photo-curing resin. Further, as the medium 2, Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd. Techpolymer SSX-302ABE (trade name, “Techpolymer” is a registered trademark) is used. This is a fine particle made of a crosslinked polystyrene resin, which is a monodisperse particle having a spherical shape and an average particle diameter of 2 μm, and approximately 95% of the particles are within a difference of 0.5 μm from the average particle diameter.

The optical integrator was manufactured as follows. First, 0.5% of the total volume of fine particles is placed in a photo-curing resin and stirred for about 10 minutes with a stirring rod. Defoaming will occur sufficiently by allowing it to stand for 4 hours or more after stirring. By enclosing the bottom and side surfaces with a metal plate, a gap having a length of 50 mm, a width of 7 mm, and a depth of 1.05 mm is formed, a resin is poured into the gap, and a glass plate is covered from above. At this time, air should be prevented from entering inside. Then, UV (Ultra Violet) lamp is irradiated through glass, and resin is fully hardened. Thereafter, the product was taken out and attached to a dicing tape (adhesive thickness: 30 μm, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) film thickness: 100 μm laminate), and a width of 1.05 mm and length was measured with a dicer (DAC552, manufactured by Disco Corporation). 4. When cutting a side surface with a dicer, cutting to 15 m, the blade is fed in parallel to the length direction. The side surface was processed using a # 5000 dicing blade, rotating speed: 30,000 rpm (30,000 min ⁻¹ ), cutting speed: 0.5 mm / s. Using a dicing blade with a diameter of # 3000, processing was performed under the conditions of a rotational speed of 30,000 rpm (30,000 min ⁻¹ ), a cutting speed of 0.5 mm / s. The surface roughness of the side surface 005 and the side surface 007 which is a cutting surface is Ra = 1.0 μm, the surface roughness of the side surface 004 and the side surface 006 which is a non-cut surface is Ra = 0.5 μm, the incident surface 002 and the output surface 003. The surface roughness of Ra was 2.0 μm.

[Evaluation of optical characteristics of optical integrator]
One of the produced optical integrators 001 was removed from the dicer tape, and the light characteristics were measured. As the incident light source, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) (LTRAM R8SF manufactured by OSRAM) is used. Three LEDs of red, green, and blue are mounted on one LED, and an improvement in color reproducibility can be expected compared to a white LED. The LED is placed in close contact with the center of the incident surface 002 of the optical integrator 001, the anode is shared, a resistor of 1 kΩ is placed between the ground and the red chip, and a resistor of 150 Ω is placed between the blue chip and a voltage of 2.7 V is applied to the LED. The light was emitted, and the front luminance, uniformity, and color mixing property of the exit surface 003 of the optical integrator 001 were evaluated. As the luminance meter, CA-1500 (trade name) manufactured by Konica Minolta Co., Ltd. was used. With respect to the emission surface 003, luminance, chromaticity x, and chromaticity y data were measured in 121 divisions in the width direction and 11 divisions in the height direction, and average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing were calculated as follows.
Average luminance: average value of front luminance at 121 points of measurement Uniformity: minimum / maximum value of front luminance at 121 points of measurement Color mixing: maximum value-minimum value of chromaticity at 121 points of measurement. 400cd / m ² , uniformity 90.7%, chromaticity x color mixing 0.020, chromaticity y color mixing 0.024, ensuring sufficient brightness and achieving uniform light It was.

[Packaging of optical integrator]
Of the optical integrator 001 obtained above, except for three consecutively arranged, they were peeled off from the dicer tape. The entrance surface 002, the exit surface 003, and the side surfaces 004 to 007 of the three optical integrators 001 were not attached with foreign matter, scratched, or damaged. In this embodiment, the dicer tape is used as the packing member 010. From the three optical integrators 001 side, a non-processed surface of a PET film (“Cosmo Shine A1517” manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., thickness: 16 μm, “Cosmo Shine” is a registered trademark) is used as the packing member 011, and the optical integrator 001 is used. Was attached to the adhesive layer (adhesive) 009 of the packaging member 010 in the portion without the optical integrator. At this time, the entrance surface 002, the exit surface 003, the side surface 005, and the side surface 007 are not in contact with the packaging member 010 and the packaging member 011, and the optical integrator 001 is packaged in a closed space formed by them. It was. The light incident surface 002 and the light emitting surface 003 are exposed in the closed space 016.
Further, the packing member 010 and the optical integrator 001 contained in the packing member 011 are put in an A4 size envelope (packing member X), and the envelope is put in a cardboard (packing member X) together with a cushioning material (packing member X). An optical integrator package was obtained.

[Transport]
The package of the optical integrator produced above was conveyed.

[Inspection]
When the package of the optical integrator was opened and the packaging member 011 was removed, all of the optical integrator 001 was adhered to the packaging member 010. Since they are arranged at a predetermined pitch and have a gap 017, pick-up by suction and pick-up by tweezers are easy, and pick-up by an automatic machine is also possible. When the appearance of the picked-up optical integrator 001 was inspected, there was no adhesion, scratch, breakage, or the like of foreign matter on the incident surface 002 and the exit surface 003. Similarly to the above, it was confirmed that the average luminance, the uniformity, and the color mixing property were confirmed, and the same values as before packaging were shown.

Example 2
In Example 1, the same method is used except that the molding member (material: PET subjected to antistatic treatment) having a recess at the position where the optical integrator 001 is accommodated as shown in FIG. An optical integrator package was prepared. The depth of the recess is 1.25 mm, and the side surface 004 is not in contact with the packing member 010 and the packing member 011 in addition to the incident surface 002, the emission surface 003, the side surface 005, and the side surface 007. The light incident surface 002 and the light emitting surface 003 are exposed in the closed space 016. Otherwise, an optical integrator package was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

  When the package of the optical integrator was transported in the same manner as in Example 1 and the light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing) of the optical integrator before and after transport were compared, it was satisfactory without any change. There was no adhesion, scratch or breakage of foreign matter on the entrance surface 002 and the exit surface 003.

Example 3
In Example 1, instead of the packing member 010, a packing member 012 having a groove into which the optical integrator 001 as shown in FIG. 2 is fitted (material: PET subjected to antistatic treatment) is used. Instead, a packaging member 013 (material: PET subjected to antistatic treatment) as shown in FIG. 2 was used. Further, the optical integrator 001 was fitted into the groove so that the side surface in contact with the groove was the side surface 004 and the side surface 006 which are the side surfaces having the smallest surface roughness. Note that the packing member 012 and the packing member 013 are fitted with a concave portion provided in the packing member 012 and a convex portion provided in the packing member 013 on the outer periphery.
In the packed optical integrator 001, the entrance surface 002, the exit surface 003, the side surface 005, and the side surface 007 are not in contact with each other. The light incident surface 002 and the light emitting surface 003 are exposed in the closed space 016. Otherwise, an optical integrator package was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

  When the package of the optical integrator was transported in the same manner as in Example 1 and the light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing) of the optical integrator before and after transport were compared, it was satisfactory without any change. There was no adhesion, scratch or breakage of foreign matter on the entrance surface 002 and the exit surface 003.

  In addition, when the packaging member 013 was removed when opening the package of the optical integrator, the optical integrator 001 was all stored in the packaging member 012. Since they are arranged at a predetermined pitch and have a gap 017, pick-up by suction and pick-up by tweezers are easy, and pick-up by an automatic machine is also possible.

Example 4
In Example 1, instead of the packing member 010, a packing member 014 having a recess in which the optical integrator 001 as shown in FIG. 3 is housed (material; antistatic treated PET) is used. Instead, a packaging member 015 (material: PET subjected to antistatic treatment) as shown in FIG. 3 was used. The recess in which the optical integrator 001 is accommodated is provided with a tapered portion that gradually decreases in width in the Y direction and the Z direction on the incident surface 002 and emission surface 003 side, and the optical integrator 001 includes the packing member 014 and Even if it moves with respect to the packaging member 015, it is the shape which does not contact. Note that a clearance is provided so that the amount of movement of the optical integrator 001 with respect to the packaging member 014 and the packaging member 015 is 50 μm in all of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction.
In the packed optical integrator 001, the entrance surface 002, the exit surface 003, the side surface 005, and the side surface 007 are not in contact with each other. The light incident surface 002 and the light emitting surface 003 are exposed in the closed space 016. Otherwise, an optical integrator package was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

  When the package of the optical integrator was transported in the same manner as in Example 1 and the light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing) of the optical integrator before and after transport were compared, it was satisfactory without any change. There was no adhesion, scratch or breakage of foreign matter on the entrance surface 002 and the exit surface 003.

  When the packaging body of the optical integrator was opened, the packaging member 015 was removed, and all of the optical integrator 001 was stored in the packaging member 014. Since they are arranged at a predetermined pitch and have a gap 017, pick-up by suction and pick-up by tweezers are easy, and pick-up by an automatic machine is also possible.

Comparative Example 1
[Fabrication of optical integrator package]
The optical integrator 001 produced in the first embodiment has three optical integrators in a SUS (Stainless Used Steel) 304 case having a space of 4.5 mm in the X direction, 4.0 mm in the Y direction, and 1.5 mm in the Z direction. 001 was stored, packed in a cushioning material and cardboard in the same manner as in Example 1, and transported.

When the package of the above-mentioned optical integrator was opened, there was a thing in which the optical integrators 001 were in contact with each other, and the pitch was not constant. For this reason, picking up using an automatic machine by suction is difficult, and individual picking up by tweezers is impossible.
In addition, there are optical integrators in which foreign matters are attached to the incident surface 002, the outgoing surface 003, and the side surfaces 004 to 007, and optical integrators with scratches or damage.

[Evaluation]
When light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing) of an optical integrator having foreign matter (diameter of about 0.1 mm) attached only to the emission surface 003 were evaluated, the average luminance was 33,400 cd / m ² and the uniformity was 67. The uniformity was particularly deteriorated with .6%, a color mixing property of chromaticity x of 0.019, and a color mixing property of 0.025. The exit surface 003 had a black spot where no light was output. In addition, it has been confirmed that the optical characteristics before packing are good as in the first embodiment.

Comparative Example 2
Among the optical integrators packed and transported in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, the light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing) of the optical integrator in which only the incident surface 002 was damaged (about 0.1 mm in diameter) As a result of evaluation, the uniformity was particularly deteriorated, with an average luminance of 33,700 cd / m ² , a uniformity of 82.2%, a chromaticity x color mixing of 0.020, and a chromaticity y of 0.024. The exit surface 003 had a black spot where no light was output. In addition, it has been confirmed that the optical characteristics before packing are good as in the first embodiment.

Experimental example 1
Of the optical integrator packed and transported in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, the light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity and color mixing) of the optical integrator in which foreign matter (diameter of about 0.1 mm) adhered only to the incident surface 002 are shown. As a result of evaluation, the uniformity was good, with an average luminance of 33,500 cd / m ² , a uniformity of 90.5%, a chromaticity x color mixing of 0.018, and a chromaticity y of 0.025. In addition, it has been confirmed that the optical characteristics before packing are good as in the first embodiment.

Experimental example 2
Evaluation of light characteristics (average luminance, uniformity, and color mixing) of the optical integrator with foreign matter (diameter of about 0.1 mm) attached to only the side surface 005 among the packed and transported optical integrators as in Comparative Example 1. As a result, the measurement results were almost the same as before conveyance. As a result, the average luminance was 34,100 cd / m ² , the uniformity was 90.6%, the chromaticity x was 0.020, and the chromaticity y was 0.024. There was no problem. In addition, it has been confirmed that the optical characteristics before packing are good as in the first embodiment.

  The present invention is an optical integrator package capable of transporting while maintaining the performance of the optical integrator while suppressing the adhesion, scratches, and breakage of foreign matters to the exit surface of the optical integrator, and the optical integration employing this The device can be applied to a wide range of fields such as a light source unit, illumination, a head-up display, a head-mounted display, a viewfinder, an image projection device, and various optical devices.

001. Optical integrator 002. Incident surface 003. Output surface 004-007. Side 008. Scattering particles 009. Adhesive 010-015. Packing member 016. Space (closed space)
017. gap

Claims (5)

A package of an optical integrator having an optical integrator that diffuses light and a packing member that packs the optical integrator,
The optical integrator has an incident surface on which light is incident, an exit surface that emits the light, and a side surface that connects the incident surface and the exit surface, and the light is emitted from the incident surface side. An optical integrator that propagates in a surface direction and reflects at least a part of the propagating light on the side surface and is guided to the exit surface;
The side surface of the optical integrator or the incident surface is in contact with the packing member so that the exit surface of the optical integrator and the packing member that packs the optical integrator are not in contact with each other. The state where the movement of the optical integrator is suppressed or fixed, and the optical integrator is packed in the packing member,
The said packaging member consists of a film-like member which has flexibility, and is a packaging body of an optical integrator containing the packaging member arrange | positioned so that an optical integrator may be coat | covered .   Further, the light incident surface of the optical integrator is in contact with the packing member on the side of the optical integrator so that the packing member for packing the optical integrator is not in contact with the light to the packing member. The package of the optical integrator according to claim 1, wherein the integrator is packed in the packing member in a state where movement of the integrator is suppressed or fixed. The inside of the optical integrator is filled with a light guide member that is a material having a predetermined refractive index,
The light according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light guide member includes scattering particles that scatter the light propagating through the light guide member between the incident surface and the exit surface. Integrator packaging.   The package of the optical integrator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical integrator is in contact with and fixed to the packaging member via an adhesive having peelability.   Among the surfaces constituting the side surfaces of the optical integrator and the incident surface, or the surfaces constituting the side surfaces of the optical integrator, at least the surface having the smallest surface roughness is in contact with the packing member. The package of the optical integrator as described in any one of Claims 1-4.

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