JP6651870B2 - Projector device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a projector device that projects an image or video on a wall surface or the like. The projector modulates a light beam emitted from a light source in accordance with image information to form an optical image, and enlarges and projects the optical image on a screen. In a projector device, since a component such as a light source generates heat, it is general to provide a cooling mechanism (for example, a heat sink) having a cooling fan to cool a heat source. In addition, recently, there is a projector device provided with a heat medium circulation mechanism as a cooling mechanism. For example, in the projector device described in Patent Literature 1, the light source room has a vertical duct structure, and the temperature rise rate in the light source room is reduced by natural convection of the air inside the light source room.

JP 2006-308660 A

  However, since the above-mentioned conventional projector device is provided with a cooling fan and a heat medium circulating mechanism, there is a problem that the projector device becomes large or complicated. In particular, in the configuration including the cooling fan, there is a problem that not only the problem of noise but also that when the device is installed in a place where water is used, such as a bathroom, water or moisture enters inside through a ventilation hole.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a projector apparatus that cools a heat source with a relatively simple configuration to realize low noise and waterproof.

  A projector device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a housing, an optical unit housed in the housing, and having a light source, and for absorbing heat generated by the light source, and storing cooling water. And a heat sink having a water storage section for storing the heat.

  According to the above configuration, by storing the cooling water in the water storage portion of the heat sink, the heat of the heat sink is radiated with a relatively simple configuration without providing a conventional cooling fan or a heat medium circulating mechanism, and the inside of the projector device is discharged. Can be cooled. Further, since no cooling fan is provided, noise reduction can be realized. In addition, since a ventilation opening of the fan is not required, a waterproof structure can be realized.

  The water storage unit may include an opening for injecting the cooling water.

  According to the above configuration, the user can easily inject cooling water from the opening using, for example, a shower facility in a bathroom.

  The optical unit may be disposed in a closed internal space, and the water storage unit may be disposed outside the internal space.

  According to the above configuration, since the water storage portion is disposed outside the internal space in which the optical unit is closed, the cooling water does not enter the inside of the device, and a waterproof structure can be realized. For example, even in a place where water is used, such as a bathroom, the device can be suitably used without causing defects such as water leakage and dew condensation inside the device.

  The projector device may further include a heat insulating material, wherein the heat sink has a protrusion protruding from a surface of the housing, and the heat insulating material may be provided to cover an outer peripheral surface of the protrusion.

  According to the above configuration, since the outer peripheral surface of the heat sink (projection) projecting from the housing surface is covered with the heat insulating material, the user does not directly touch the heated heat sink (projection).

  The projector device may be mounted on the remote control device of a hot water supply system that includes a hot water supply device and a remote control device that is installed in a bathroom and remotely controls the hot water supply device.

  According to the above configuration, since the projector device is mounted on the remote control device in the bathroom, the user can view images and videos while taking a bath.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the projector apparatus of this invention, a heat source can be cooled with a comparatively simple structure, and low noise and waterproof can be realized.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the projector device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the projector device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the projector device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the optical system of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a projector device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of the projector device of FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a hot water supply system having a function of the projector device. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the bathroom remote controller of FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the bathroom of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted. In addition, the drawings schematically show respective components for easy understanding, and the shapes, dimensional ratios, and the like may not be accurately displayed.

(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the projector device according to the first embodiment. The projector device 1 is installed, for example, indoors, modulates a light beam emitted from a light source in accordance with image information, forms an optical image, and enlarges and projects the optical image on a screen. As shown in FIG. 1, the projector device 1 includes a housing 5 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and houses a device main body. The housing 5 is, for example, a case made of a synthetic resin. Further, the projector device 1 includes a projection lens 30 exposed from the front side of the case, and a heat sink 4 opened on the upper surface of the case. The projection lens 30 is configured as a combined lens in which a plurality of types of lenses are accommodated in a cylindrical lens barrel, and enlarges and projects an optical image modulated by the main body of the projector device 1 in accordance with image information.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of the projector device 1. Specifically, a state where the upper part of the case of the housing 5 is removed from the state of FIG. 1 is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body of the projector device 1 is housed inside the housing 5. The projector device 1 includes an optical unit 2 having a light source 21 disposed on the front right side, a circuit board 3 disposed on the rear side, a heat sink 4 as a cooling unit disposed on the front left side of the case, the optical unit 2, A heat radiating plate 45 disposed between the heat sinks 4 and a power supply unit (not shown) for supplying power to the optical unit 2 and the circuit board 3 are provided inside the housing 5.

  The optical unit 2 and the heat sink 4 are in contact via a heat sink 45. The heat radiating plate 45 is a flat copper plate having a curved main surface, and has an L shape in plan view. The inner surface of the curved flat plate contacts the light source 21, and the outer surface of the flat plate contacts the heat sink 4. As described above, the heat radiating plate 45 is configured to efficiently transmit the heat generated by the light source 21 to the heat sink 4.

  Next, a specific configuration of the heat sink 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat sink 4 is a cooling member for absorbing heat generated by the optical unit 2 (light source 21), and has a water storage section 41 for storing cooling water W. The material of the heat sink 4 is aluminum having good heat transfer characteristics, but may be a metal such as iron or copper. The cooling water W may be tap water supplied from a hot water supply facility such as a bathroom or a kitchen. The water storage section 41 has an opening 42 for injecting the cooling water W. The opening 42 has a square shape in plan view (see FIG. 2). The opening 42 is open above the case of the housing 5, but may be open to the side of the case of the housing 5. In the present embodiment, the water storage portion 41 is formed in a cup shape, and a plurality of flat fins 43 are formed inside the water storage portion 41 so as to be separated from each other. The same aluminum as the heat sink 4 is used as the material of the fin 43. Here, the fins 43 are formed integrally with the water storage section 41.

  In the present embodiment, an inner space S is formed by the inner surface of the housing 5 and the outer surface of the heat sink 4, and the inner space S is sealed with an adhesive or a joining member (neither is shown). Other components such as the optical unit 2 and the circuit board 3 are arranged inside the sealed internal space S, and a water storage section 41 is arranged outside the internal space S.

  By the way, it is assumed that the cooling water W stored in the water storage unit 41 evaporates due to the heat absorbed by the heat sink 4 during use of the projector device 1. The projector device 1 has a safety function in such a case. Specifically, the projector device 1 includes the temperature sensor 6 inside the housing 5 and is configured to output a detection result to a control unit mounted on the circuit board 3. The control unit is configured to stop the operation of the projector device 1 when the temperature inside the housing 5 rises to a predetermined temperature.

  Next, a specific configuration of the projector device 1 will be described. The projector device 1 of the present embodiment is a DLP (Digital Light Processing) type projector device using a DMD (Digital Mirror Device). DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the projector device 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the projector device 1 includes an optical unit 2 and a control unit mounted on a circuit board 3.

  The optical unit 2 includes a red, green, and blue light source 21, an optical system 22, and a DMD 23. The DMD 23 is a reflection type light modulation element. It has a plurality of semiconductor mirror elements (not shown) arranged in an array, and changes the angles of the semiconductor mirror elements in synchronization with the light of the red, green, and blue light sources 21. The optical system 22 includes an illumination optical system that irradiates light from the light source 21 to the DMD 23, and a projection optical system that projects light reflected by the DMD 23 onto a screen (not shown).

  The projector device 1 includes a pre-processing unit 31, a control unit 32, a clock generation circuit 33, a timing circuit 34, and a light source driving circuit 35 on a circuit board 3. These circuits constitute a control unit for controlling the optical unit 2.

  The preprocessing unit 31 converts a video signal input via an interface (not shown) into RGB digital video data having the same number of pixels as the DMD 23, and outputs this to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 is configured to control the driving of the light source driving circuit 35 and the DMD 23 based on the digital video data input from the preprocessing unit 31 and the clock signal input from the clock generation circuit 33.

  The timing circuit 34 generates a timing pulse signal (R, B, G) synchronized with the clock signal CLK input from the clock generation circuit 33. The pulses of each timing pulse signal (R, G, B) are generated alternately at different timings without overlapping, and output to the light source drive circuit 35. The light source drive circuit 35 turns on each light source 21 at a timing synchronized with each timing pulse signal (R, G, B) input from the timing circuit 34.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the optical system 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical system 22 includes a dichroic prism 25, a condenser lens 26, a reflection mirror 27, a condenser lens 28, a prism 29, and a projection lens 30.

  The dichroic prism 25 is arranged at the center of the three light sources 21. The light source 21 of the present embodiment includes a red light source 21R, a green light source 21G, and a blue light source 21B. The red light source 21R has a red LED and a reflector that arranges the red LED at its focal position and reflects light from the LED as substantially parallel light rays. Similarly, the green light source 21G has a green LED and a reflector, and the blue light source 21B has a blue LED and a reflector.

  The dichroic prism 25 is configured, for example, with a reflective layer interposed between the joining surfaces of a pair of prisms, and separates incident light according to the wavelength. Here, the laser light incident from the blue light source 21B is reflected 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction at the joint surface of the dichroic prism 25 and proceeds, and the laser light incident from the red light source 21R passes through the joint surface of the dichroic prism 25. The laser beam that travels straight and is incident from the green light source 21G is reflected 90 degrees clockwise at the joint surface of the dichroic prism 25 and proceeds, and the light from each light source 21 is all emitted in the same direction.

  A condenser lens 26 of a plano-convex type is arranged in front of the dichroic prism 25. The condenser lens 26 condenses red, green, and blue light sequentially emitted from the dichroic prism 25. The light beam condensed by the condenser lens 26 passes through the reflection mirror 27, the condenser lens 28, and the prism 29 and is applied to the DMD 23. The light reflected by the semiconductor mirror element of the DMD 23 passes through the prism 29 and is enlarged by the projection lens 30. As a result, a color image is displayed on a screen (not shown).

  In the projector device 1 having the above-described configuration, the other components including the light source 21 generate heat during use. According to the present embodiment, by storing the cooling water W in the water storage portion 41 of the heat sink 4 (see FIG. 3), the heat sink 4 is provided with a relatively simple configuration without a conventional cooling fan or a heat medium circulation mechanism. Of the projector device 1 to cool the inside of the projector device 1. Further, since no cooling fan is provided, noise reduction can be realized. In addition, since a ventilation opening of the fan is not required, a waterproof structure can be realized.

  On the other hand, when the cooling water W stored in the water storage unit 41 evaporates with the lapse of time, the temperature inside the housing 5 rises, but the temperature sensor 6 provided inside the housing 5 (see FIG. 3) ), The control unit (for example, the control unit 32 in FIG. 4) can safely stop the operation of the projector device 1 when the temperature inside the housing 5 rises to a predetermined temperature.

  In addition, since the water storage unit 41 includes the opening 42 for injecting the cooling water W (see FIG. 3), the user can easily use the shower equipment in the bathroom to remove the cooling water W from the opening 42. Can be poured into water.

  Further, the optical unit 2 is disposed in the closed internal space S, and the water storage portion 41 is disposed outside the internal space S (see FIG. 3), so that the cooling water W enters the inside of the projector device 1. No problem, and a waterproof structure can be realized. For example, even in a place where water is used, such as a bathroom, the projector can be suitably used without causing a defect of the projector device due to intrusion of water into the inside of the device or dew condensation.

(2nd Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the following, description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only a different configuration will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a projector device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of the projector device of FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. As shown in the drawing, in the projector device 1A of the present embodiment, the heat sink 4 has a protrusion 44 projecting from the surface of the housing 5A and the heat insulating material 7 covers the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 44. It differs from the first embodiment in that it is provided.

  In the present embodiment, by projecting a part of the heat sink 4 from the surface of the housing 5A as a projecting portion 44, a space in the housing 5A, that is, a lower part of the heat sink 45A extended to the bottom of the heat sink 4 is formed. A part of the circuit board 3 is arranged (see FIGS. 7 and 8). As a result, the size of the housing 5A can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment, and the size of the projector device 1A can be reduced. The temperature of the protruding portion 44 protruding from the surface of the housing 5A is expected to rise due to use. However, since the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 44 is covered with a heat insulating material, the user directly touches the heated heat sink 4. There is nothing.

(Modification)
Next, modified examples of the above embodiments will be described. In the following, description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different configuration will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a bathroom system having the function of the projector device. This bathroom system is a system in which image information is projected on a wall or the like in the bathroom 60 so that a user can enjoy images and videos while taking a bath. As shown in FIG. 9, a hot water supply system 100 is provided, for example, in a house, and performs a hot water supply operation such as a general hot water supply or a bath water heater, and a bathroom 60 installed in a bathroom 60 for remotely controlling the hot water supply apparatus. And a remote controller 70. It should be noted that a kitchen remote control that is provided in a kitchen or the like and that remotely controls the water heater main body 50 may be connected to the water heater main body 50.

  The hot water supply device main body 50 is installed, for example, outdoors in a house, and includes a combustion unit including a heat exchanger for general hot water supply, for reheating a bath, or for hot water heating, various combustors, various valves, and the like (none is shown). ) And a control unit 51 for controlling the overall operation of the hot water supply device main body 50.

  The control unit 51 is formed of, for example, a printed circuit board on which electronic components are mounted, and includes a microcomputer, a storage unit for storing various data as necessary, and a communication unit for performing communication with the bathroom remote controller 70 and the like. Also not shown). The control unit 51 serves as a control center of the water heater main body 50, and includes an operation execution program stored in a ROM (not shown), an operation signal transmitted from a bathroom remote controller 70, a kitchen remote controller and a heating device (not shown), and the like. And controls the combustion state of various combustors and the opening and closing of various valves.

  The water heater main unit 50 and the bathroom remote controller 70 are connected by a two-core wire 8 for supplying power (for example, 15 V) from the water heater main unit 50 to the bathroom remote controller 70. The data signal exchanged in the above is transmitted by being superimposed on the power supply voltage supplied by the two-core wire 8.

  Bathroom remote controller 70 is installed on one wall surface of bathroom 60, and has a function as a remote controller main body and a function as a projector. On the other wall surface of the bathroom 60, a dedicated panel is incorporated corresponding to a portion where an image is projected by a projector. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the bathroom remote controller 70 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the bathroom remote controller 70 includes a housing 70a provided with a waterproof function, and an operation display unit 71 including a panel surface 71a and a display surface 71b, and an operation switch 72 on the front of the housing 70a. These are connected to a control unit (not shown). The bathroom remote controller 70 includes, as projector functions, the projection lens 30 exposed from the front side of the housing 70a, and the heat sink 4 opened on the upper surface of the housing 70a. Further, the bathroom remote controller 70 may be provided with a speaker for outputting a sound corresponding to the video signal of the remote control operation or the projector.

  The operation display section 71 is schematically configured by a panel surface section 71a configured as a so-called touch panel for a user to perform a pressing operation, and a display surface section 71b provided on the rear side of the panel surface section 71a and formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. I have.

  The display surface section 71b displays a set temperature of a general hot water supply, a set temperature of a bath water temperature, an ignition status of a burner (not shown), and the like according to a command from a control section (not shown). It displays a plurality of types of operation screens in which a plurality of types of operation switches indicating operation commands such as start of reheating are displayed. Further, when the user performs an operation related to the projector function, the display surface section 71b may display the content of the operation. Note that the display surface section 71b may be configured by, for example, a fluorescent tube in which a large number of fluorescent substances are arranged in a dot matrix, an electroluminescent display, a plasma display, or the like, instead of the liquid crystal display.

  The panel surface portion 71a has a function of detecting the position of the user's pressing operation on the display surface portion 71b using an optical method or a resistive film method using a resistive film. A detection signal of the pressing operation from the panel surface portion 71a is input to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit performs a user operation based on the detection signal of the pressing operation and information on the display position of the operation switch on the display surface portion 71b. The operated switch is determined.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the bathroom 60 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, bathroom remote controller 70 is installed on one wall surface of bathroom 60. Thereby, an image is displayed on the projection surface 80 on the other wall surface. Therefore, according to this modification, since the bathroom remote controller 70 has a projector function, the user can view images and videos while taking a bath. Further, since the bathroom remote controller 70 is installed in the bathroom 60, the user can easily inject or supply the cooling water W from the opening 42 using a shower facility or the like.

  Although the bathroom remote control 70 is installed on one wall surface of the bathroom 60 and an image is displayed on the other wall surface, the bathroom remote control 70 may be installed on the upper edge of the bathtub B, A configuration in which the projection surface is imaged on a bath lid may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the projector function is mounted on the bathroom remote controller. However, the projector function may be mounted on a kitchen remote controller, or may be mounted on an electronic device such as a PC or a portable information terminal. Of course, a portable projector device may be used alone.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above embodiments, the projector device is a DLP system using a DMD. However, any projector device that generates heat by using a light source may be an LCOS projector using a reflective liquid crystal panel, or a transmissive liquid crystal device. A projector may be used.

  In addition, the projector device 1 of each of the above embodiments has the temperature sensor 6 as a safety function inside the housing. Instead, the liquid level sensor and the cooling water W drop to a predetermined water level before the water W runs out. A means for notifying the user of this fact may be provided to prompt the user to supply the cooling water W, or both may be provided. The opening 42 may be provided with a mesh-shaped lid so that a person cannot easily insert his / her finger.

  In addition, although the shape of the water storage part 41 of each said embodiment was cup-shaped, what is necessary is just a shape which can store cooling water. For example, the water storage section 41 may have a rectangular parallelepiped or cubic space inside, or may be a spherical or cylindrical tank.

  Although the shape of the opening 42 in each of the above embodiments is square, any shape may be used as long as it can inject cooling water. For example, the shape of the opening 42 may be a rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a pentagon or more polygon.

  Note that the light source 21 in each of the above embodiments has a configuration having three red, green, and blue LEDs, but may be a combination of a white LED, a one-color color filter, and an LED of another color. The light source 21 may be a lamp as long as it generates heat by use.

  From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are obvious to one skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of its structure and / or function may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an electronic device including a component such as a light source that generates heat when used.

1, 1A projector device, 2 optical unit, 3 circuit board,
4,4A heat sink, 5,5A housing, 6 temperature sensor, 7 heat insulating material,
8 double core wires, 21 light sources (LED),
21R red LED, 21G green LED, 21B blue LED,
22 optical system, 23 light modulation element (DMD), 30 projection lens,
41 water storage part, 42 opening part, 43 heat radiation fin, 44 projecting part,
45, 45A heat sink, 50 water heater main body, 60 bathroom,
70 bathroom remote control, 70a case, 71 operation display unit,
72 operation switch, 80 projection surface, 100 hot water supply system,
B Bathtub, S Internal space, W Cooling water

Claims (3)

A hot water supply device, a hot water supply system installed in a bathroom and including a remote control device for remotely controlling the hot water supply device, a projector device mounted on the remote control device,
A housing,
An optical unit housed in the housing and having a light source;
A heat sink having a water storage portion for absorbing heat generated by the light source and storing cooling water ,
The projector device , wherein the water storage unit is opened above a case of the housing, and has an opening for injecting the cooling water . The optical unit is disposed in a closed internal space,
The projector device according to claim 1 , wherein the water storage unit is arranged outside the internal space. Further equipped with insulation,
The heat sink has a protrusion protruding from the housing surface,
The projector device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat insulating material is provided so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of the protrusion.

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