JPH11295652A - Image display device and projection image display device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency by dividing light from a light source means into plural optical paths through an optical path dividing means provided between the light source means and a color separating means and composed of plural reflection mirrors. SOLUTION: White light emitted from a light source 106 of a light source part 101 is emitted from a second lens array 110 and made incident on an optical path dividing system 102. The light made incident on the system 102 is divided into two optical paths by dividing mirrors 113 and 114 in rectangular shape. The light reflected on the dividing mirror 113 is made incident through a return mirror 115 to a blue reflection dichroic mirror 116. The light in blue is transmitted through this mirror and light in red and blue is reflected. In the reflected light, the light of a green component is reflected on a green reflection dichroic mirror 117 and light in red is reflected on a reflection mirror 118. Thus, the light in each light transmitted through or reflected on the mirror of the optical path dividing system, the main beams of light in each color are converged to the center of an effective part on a liquid crystal panel 111 by a Fresnel(R) condenser lens 123.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of image display using a light valve, and more particularly to the use of one light valve capable of independently modulating the amount of incident light according to input signals corresponding to red, green and blue. The present invention also relates to a projection type image display device capable of enlarging and projecting an image reproduced by the image display device on a screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, large-screen, high-definition, and high-quality image devices have been realized by using a direct-view or projection-type CRT, but a new large-screen display device can be made thinner and lighter. A liquid crystal projector using a simple liquid crystal panel as a light valve has attracted attention. In particular, it has already created a large market for presentation applications because of its portability and installation.

A liquid crystal projector enlarges and forms an image of a liquid crystal panel (light valve) on a screen using a light source lamp and a condenser / projection lens. The systems currently in practical use can be broadly divided into two types: three-plate type and single-plate type.

In the former three-panel type liquid crystal projector, light from a white light source is separated into three primary color lights of red, green and blue by a color separation optical system, and the light is modulated by three monochrome liquid crystal panels to produce three primary color lights. Form an image. These images are combined by a color combining optical system and projected on a screen by one projection lens. This method has a high light utilization rate because it can use the entire spectrum of the lamp, but it has three liquid crystal panels,
It is relatively expensive because it requires a color separation / color synthesis optical system and a convergence adjustment mechanism between liquid crystal panels.

On the other hand, the conventional single-panel type liquid crystal projector is compact and inexpensive because a liquid crystal panel with a mosaic color filter is simply enlarged and projected on a screen. However, in this method, the desired color is obtained by absorbing unnecessary components of the white light from the light source by the color filter, so that only one-third of the white light incident on the liquid crystal panel is transmitted and the light utilization factor is reduced. Low.
Increasing the brightness of a light source is one method of improving the brightness, but it still has problems with heat generation and light resistance due to light absorption of a color filter, which is a major obstacle to achieving high luminance.

In recent years, as a means of eliminating light loss due to a color filter in this single-panel type, a new configuration has been proposed in which a dichroic mirror and a microlens array are used in place of the color filter to increase the light utilization rate, and commercialized.

[0007]

In view of the market trend, the presentation market described above is mainly used for liquid crystal projectors, and general televisions are becoming more and more popular due to the progress of multimedia. Clearly, a response is required.

When a computer screen is displayed on a liquid crystal panel, one data area for displaying the screen is a square in accordance with the aspect ratio of the screen and the number of data in the aspect ratio. At this time, in the three-panel type liquid crystal projector described above, the pixel shape on the panel is square, but in the single-panel type, this one data area needs to be divided into three in accordance with three color lights. For one color, the aperture is small and the shape is a rectangle with a large aspect ratio.

Although the light transmittance is reduced as it is when the aperture is reduced, it can be improved by measures such as incorporating a micro lens in the liquid crystal panel. However, the problem of the aspect ratio of the aperture shape causes a large light-condensing loss when used in combination with the microlens.

The microlens condenses the light from the light source to a desired opening. At this time, the relationship between the panel opening, the microlens, and the light source opening is such that the image of the light source opening is formed by the microlens at the panel opening. It is desirable to be in such an arrangement as to be formed therein. This is a well-known fact in general lens design knowledge. (However, in practice, the optimum position may be slightly different depending on the influence of aberrations and the light amount distribution of the light source, but there is no problem if this concept is considered to be fundamental.) It can be said from this that the panel opening shape has a large aspect ratio. This means that the light source opening shape should be a rectangle with a large aspect ratio when condensing light with a microlens, since it becomes a rectangle. Of course, there is no problem if the light source opening image by the microlens is sufficiently condensed and fits inside the panel opening with a margin, but the light source opening image actually collects light from the light source efficiently on the panel. Must have a certain size.
Moreover, this size is determined by the size of the light source light emitting portion and the area of the lighting portion, but it is difficult for the microlens to form an image of the light source opening portion in the panel opening portion in the range currently mass-produced.

On the other hand, since the light source basically comprises a lamp and a reflector having a parabolic or elliptical reflection shape, the optical axis in the light emission direction is set as the rotation center axis of the reflector. The circular shape is the basis of the light source opening shape.

As apparent from the above description, in the single-panel type liquid crystal projector, the light from the light source cannot be effectively condensed by using the microlens, and even in the new configuration in which the light utilization is increased by the dichroic mirror and the microlens array. It is more difficult to improve light use efficiency because one pixel shape is a rectangle having a large aspect ratio deviating from a circle as compared with that of the three-plate type.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting white light in one direction; a red light for emitting white light from the light source;
Color separation means for separating green and blue color light, light valve means comprising a large number of pixels each of which can independently modulate incident light with respect to an input signal for each of red, green and blue light with one element, The light valve means comprises a microlens array in which a number of microlenses provided on the incident side are two-dimensionally arranged, and light from the light source means is provided between the light source means and the color separation means. The optical path is divided into a plurality of optical paths by an optical path dividing means including a plurality of reflection mirrors.

At this time, it is preferable that the shape of the effective portion of each pixel of the light valve means for each of red, green and blue light is rectangular.

[0015] Further, in the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side, there is provided a light source device in which an ineffective area through which light does not pass is provided at a boundary portion divided by the optical path dividing means. It is desirable because the optical loss at the time of dividing the optical path can be minimized.

Further, when looking at one of the divided light beams of the light that has passed through the optical path dividing means, the light source device formed by the light before splitting has a shape that is smaller than the shape of the light emitting portion when viewed from the light valve side. By dividing the light from the light source device so as to increase the aspect ratio, it is possible to improve the light collection efficiency to the pixel effective portion on the light valve which is the illuminated portion.

At this time, when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side by the light path dividing means, the light emitting portion is divided into two parts, so that it is practical even in view of the size of the whole device.

Further, when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side through the optical path dividing means, the shape of the light emitting portion is as follows:
The pixel shape and the pixel pitch when viewed from a pixel corresponding to an arbitrary monochromatic light on the light valve means can be configured to be substantially similar to the pixel pitch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display apparatus for emitting white light in one direction, and for decomposing the white light from the light source into red, green, and blue light. Color separation means, light valve means comprising a large number of pixels which can independently modulate incident light with respect to input signals for red, green, and blue light with one element; and provided on the incident side of the light valve means. A microlens array in which a large number of microlenses are two-dimensionally arranged, the shape of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means is rectangular, and the microlens on the microlens array is It is characterized by comprising a plurality of finer microlenses having different centers of curvature in the longitudinal direction of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means.

The number of microlenses on the microlens array is the same as the number of micropixels on the light valve means, which is a set of adjacent one pixels for each of red, green and blue color lights. Can be configured as a feature.

Further, when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side, the shape of the light emitting portion is such that the pixels on the light valve means have a small aspect ratio due to the number of minute micro lenses forming one micro lens. The shape is substantially similar to the shape of a pixel divided in a certain direction.

An image display apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a light source means for emitting white light in one direction, and decomposes white light from the light source means into red, green and blue light. Color separation means, light valve means comprising a large number of pixels which can independently modulate incident light with respect to input signals for red, green, and blue light with one element; and provided on the incident side of the light valve means. A microlens array in which a large number of microlenses are two-dimensionally arranged, the shape of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means is rectangular, and the microlens on the microlens array is A plurality of finer microlenses having different centers of curvature in the longitudinal direction of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means; Configured as characterized in that it is divided into a plurality of optical paths by the optical path splitting means comprising a plurality of reflection mirrors provided between the stage and the color separation means.

At this time, it is desirable that the shape of the effective portion of each pixel for each of the red, green, and blue color lights of the light valve means is rectangular.

Further, the light source device includes a light source device in which an ineffective area through which light does not pass is provided at a boundary portion of the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side, at a boundary divided by the optical path dividing means. With this feature, the loss at the time of splitting the optical path can be suppressed.

Further, looking at one of the split light beams of the light that has passed through the light path splitting means, the light source device formed by the light before splitting has a shape that is smaller than the shape of the light emitting portion when viewed from the light valve side. The light from the light source device is split so as to increase the aspect ratio. Particularly, in practical use, it is most preferable that the light-emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side is divided into two by the optical path dividing means, in consideration of the size of the entire device.

Further, when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side via the light path dividing means, the shape of the light emitting portion is such that a pixel corresponding to an arbitrary monochromatic light on the light valve means is viewed as a pixel. The shape and the pixel pitch are substantially similar to a shape obtained by dividing the shape and the pixel pitch in a direction in which the aspect ratio is reduced by the number of the minute microlenses forming one microlens.

An image display apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a light source means for emitting white light in one direction, and a single element for input signals for red, green and blue light respectively. A light valve means comprising a large number of pixels capable of independently modulating incident light; and a light valve means provided on the light valve or on the light incident side thereof, and each pixel driven by an input signal corresponding to each color light of the light valve means. A color filter that can select only an arbitrary color light that matches the input signal; and a microlens array in which a number of microlenses provided on the incident side of the color filter are two-dimensionally arranged. The light is split into a plurality of optical paths by an optical path splitting unit including a plurality of reflecting mirrors provided between the light source unit and the microlens array. And butterflies.

At this time, the red, green,
The shape of the effective portion of each pixel for each blue color light is rectangular. In addition, it is preferable that an ineffective area through which light does not pass is provided in a portion of the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side, at a boundary portion divided by the optical path dividing means.

Further, looking at one of the light beams obtained by splitting the light that has passed through the optical path splitting means, the light source device formed by the light before splitting is longer and narrower than the light emitting portion when viewed from the light valve side. The light from the light source device is split so as to increase the ratio. At this time, when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side by the optical path dividing means, it is desirable that the light emitting portion is divided into two when considering the set size and the like most.

An image display apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a light source means for emitting white light in one direction, and one element for input signals for red, green and blue light respectively. A light valve means comprising a large number of pixels capable of independently modulating incident light; and a light valve means provided on the light valve or on the light incident side thereof, and each pixel driven by an input signal corresponding to each color light of the light valve means. A color filter that can select only an arbitrary color light corresponding to an input signal; and a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses provided on an incident side of the color filter are two-dimensionally arranged. The shape of the upper pixel effective portion is rectangular, and the micro lens on the micro lens array is a pixel effective portion on the light valve means. Characterized in that it consists of longitudinally a plurality of different center of curvature more minute microlenses.

Further, when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side, the shape of the light emitting portion is such that the pixels on the light valve means have a small aspect ratio by the number of minute micro lenses forming one micro lens. The shape is substantially similar to the shape of a pixel divided in a certain direction.

An image display apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a light source means for emitting white light in one direction and a single element for input signals for red, green and blue light respectively. A light valve means comprising a large number of pixels capable of independently modulating incident light; and a light valve means provided on the light valve or on the light incident side thereof, and each pixel driven by an input signal corresponding to each color light of the light valve means. A color filter that can select only an arbitrary color light corresponding to an input signal; and a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses provided on an incident side of the color filter are two-dimensionally arranged. The shape of the upper pixel effective portion is rectangular, and the micro lens on the micro lens array is a pixel effective portion on the light valve means. An optical path splitting means comprising a plurality of finer microlenses having different centers of curvature in the longitudinal direction, and further comprising a plurality of reflecting mirrors provided between the light source means and the microlens array. Is divided into a plurality of optical paths.

In this case, of the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side, a light source device provided with an ineffective area through which light does not pass is provided at a boundary portion divided by the optical path dividing means. It is also useful as a feature.

Further, looking at one of the light beams obtained by splitting the light having passed through the light path splitting means, the light source device formed by the light before splitting is longer and narrower than the light emitting portion when viewed from the light valve side. The light from the light source device is split so as to increase the ratio. At this time, it is most practical that the light-emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side is divided into two by the optical path dividing means.

When the light source device is viewed from the light valve side through the optical path dividing means, the shape of the light emitting portion is
The shape of the plurality of pixels on the light valve means is substantially similar to the shape in which the arrangement pitch between adjacent pixels is divided by the number of minute microlenses forming one microlens in the direction in which the aspect ratio decreases. It can also be configured as a feature.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in any of the above-mentioned six inventions, the light source device comprises a discharge lamp and a reflector, and the light source device comprises a discharge lamp, a reflector and an integrator optical system. Can be configured.

Further, a converging lens for condensing the light from the light source device on the light valve means can be provided. Further, in any of the six inventions, a projection type image display device can be configured by including a projection lens capable of enlarging and projecting the image on the light valve means.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the present invention, the light-emitting surface of the light source section viewed from the light valve side is formed to have a shape substantially similar to the pixel opening shape on the light valve. A high-efficiency projection-type image display device is provided by composing a light source unit light emitting surface shape image on a pixel aperture by a plurality of microlenses so that the light source unit light emitting surface shape seen from the viewpoint becomes substantially similar. I can do it.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of Embodiment 1. The projection type image display device 100 of the present embodiment includes a light source unit 101 and an optical path splitting optical system 10 along the system optical axis.
2. It comprises a color separation optical system 103, a liquid crystal panel unit 104 as a light valve means, and a projection lens 105.

The white light generated from the light source 106 of the light source 101 is emitted to the opening side by a reflector 107 having a parabolic or elliptical reflecting surface. This light is transmitted to the first lens array 109 of the integrator optical system 108.
And is condensed on the second lens array 110 by the rectangular lens on the first lens array 109. At this light condensing position, the rectangular lens image on the first lens array 109 is positioned approximately at a distance to the liquid crystal panel 111.
A small lens designed to project a size close to the shape of the effective portion 1 is arranged.

The axes of the small lenses are set so that the principal rays of the light beams emitted from the small lenses are parallel. Second lens array 1 formed by these lenses
FIG. 2 shows the exit surface shape of No. 10. Although there are some portions determined by the fact that the opening shape of the reflector 107 is basically circular, the first lens array 109 is formed into a substantially square shape due to a set of rectangular lenses, a support mechanism, and the like. (There is no problem even if this is a circle. Basically, it is desirable to be formed nearly symmetrical with respect to the system optical axis 112.) Light emitted from the second lens array 110 enters the optical path splitting optical system 102. The light incident here is split into two optical paths by rectangular split reflecting mirrors 113 and 114. By dividing at this point, the apparent light emitting surface can be a rectangular shape obtained by dividing the exit surface shape of the second lens array 110 into two. The light reflected by the split reflection mirror 113 enters the blue reflection dichroic mirror 116 via the return mirror 115, whereby blue light is transmitted therethrough, and red and green light are reflected.

Of the reflected light, the green component light is reflected by the green reflecting dichroic mirror 117, and the red light is transmitted therethrough and then reflected by the reflecting mirror 118. On the other hand, the light reflected by the split reflecting mirror 114 is reflected by the turning mirror 11.
When the light enters the blue reflecting dichroic mirror 120 through 9, the blue light is transmitted therethrough, and the red and green lights are reflected. Of the reflected light, the light of the green component is reflected by the green reflecting dichroic mirror 121, and the red light is transmitted therethrough and then reflected by the reflecting mirror 122.

Each color light transmitted or reflected by the mirror of the optical path splitting optical system in this manner is condensed at the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 111 by the Fresnel condenser lens 123. The light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 123 is collimated by a collimator lens 125 set so that the light from the Fresnel condenser lens 123 on the system axis 124 passing through the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 111 is converted into parallel light. Make up a telecentric optical system.

The collimator lens 125 and the liquid crystal panel 1
An incident side polarizing plate 127 attached to the parallel flat plate 126 is disposed between the two. This transmits only light in one direction of polarization of incident light.

FIG. 3 shows an effective portion (effective display area) of the liquid crystal panel 111, which corresponds to a pixel structure of a spatial light modulator in which color pixels 128 corresponding to input signals corresponding to three primary colors are two-dimensionally arranged. I do. One of the color pixels 128
The unit is composed of a blue pixel region, a green pixel region, and a red pixel region. 129B represents a blue pixel opening, 129G represents a green pixel opening, and 129R represents a red pixel opening. Similarly, for the adjacent color pixels 130, 131B represents a blue pixel opening, 131G represents a green pixel opening, and 131R represents a red pixel opening.

Pixel aperture 129 of effective portion (effective display area)
B, 129G, 129R, 131B, 131G, 131
The region other than R is a region called a black matrix, and a light-blocking layer is formed so that light does not hit the thin film transistor and the signal wiring. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one pixel unit for clarifying the configuration, and does not reflect the actual size and number of pixels. A broken line is a virtual line added for convenience to clarify one unit of the color pixel 128, and symbols B, G, and R are added to indicate a color corresponding to each opening. A blue pixel is a pixel to which a video signal corresponding to a blue optical image is selectively supplied,
It is not necessary to provide a blue filter in the opening. The same is true for green and red.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section of the liquid crystal panel 111 as viewed in a direction along the system axis. The microlens array 132 is provided on the incident side, and the focal point on the exit side of each microlens forming the microlens array 132 is configured to be approximately in the vicinity of the above-described pixel aperture surface. That is, light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 123 and incident on the liquid crystal panel 111 via the collimator lens 125 is collected near the pixel aperture.

As described above, the pixel openings 129B, 129G, 129R, 131B, 131 of the liquid crystal panel 111 are provided.
The polarization direction of the light incident on G, 131R is changed for each pixel in accordance with an external signal, and the transmission axis is set to a direction orthogonal to the incident side polarizing plate 127 provided on the emission surface of the liquid crystal panel 111. The light is incident on the exit-side polarizing plate 133 to modulate the transmittance for each pixel, and an image is displayed.

The light transmitted through the exit-side polarizing plate 133 enters the projection lens 105. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 11
1 is enlarged and projected on a screen 134 (not shown) to realize a large-screen image.

However, according to the above configuration, the microlens array 132, the collimator lens 125, and the Fresnel condenser lens 123 have a conjugate relationship between the emission surface of the second lens array 110 and the pixel aperture surface of the liquid crystal panel 111. Therefore, the apparent size and arrangement of the light exit surface of the second lens array 110 via the optical path splitting optical system and the color separation optical system are determined by the pixel aperture 1
29B, 129G, 129R, 131B, 131G, 1
31R, the magnification of the optical system between them is optimally determined, and the blue light emitted from the apparent blue light-emitting surface via the divisional reflection mirror 113 is reflected by the blue pixel aperture 129B.
The green light emitted from the apparent green light emitting surface is directed to the green pixel opening 129G, the red light emitted from the apparent red light emitting surface is directed to the red pixel opening 129R, and the split reflection mirror 114 The blue light emitted from the apparent blue light emitting surface passes through the blue pixel opening 131B, the green light emitted from the apparent green light emitting surface passes through the green pixel opening 131G, and the apparent red light emitting surface. The red light emitted from the red pixel aperture 131
R can be selectively reached.

With this configuration, even if the effective portion of the second lens array 110 corresponding to the light source unit light emitting surface has a shape close to a circle or a square, the light source image formed on the pixel aperture (the second lens array 110 Since the shape of the image can be made substantially similar to the shape of the pixel aperture, the light use efficiency can be improved.

Here, since the micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 132 are arranged for each color pixel, light from the two micro lenses always enters one pixel. In this way, even if the light source has non-uniform brightness or flicker, the projected image is hardly affected. However, a desired illumination efficiency can be obtained even if one micro lens constituting the micro lens array 132 is arranged for every two color pixels as shown in FIG.

In this case, since the microlenses can be made larger than in the case where the microlenses are arranged for each color pixel as described above, the performance due to the formation of the microlenses such as sagging of the edge portion between the microlenses is reduced. The influence can be suppressed.

More precisely, since the distance from the second lens array 110 to the liquid crystal panel 111 varies depending on each color, the size of the image on each light emitting surface reaching each pixel aperture varies. If the difference in magnification is large, the second lens array 1
Needless to say, it is desirable to set the optical path closest to the distance from the liquid crystal panel 111 to the liquid crystal panel 111 to an optical path of a color (blue in the present embodiment), which tends to be insufficient when white balance is taken.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the light emitting surface, which is the light emitting surface of the light source unit, has a rectangular shape close to a circle or a square, the light emitting surface is divided into the shape of the liquid crystal panel pixel opening by dividing the optical path. Since the apparent light-emitting surface can be formed in a substantially similar rectangular shape to the above, light from the light source can be efficiently used by suppressing shading in the black matrix.

In FIG. 1, the optical path splitting optical system 102 and the color separating optical system 103 are clearly separated. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the optical path splitting optical system 102 and the color separating optical system 103 are partially fused. A similar effect can be obtained even with a different configuration. Various applications are also possible for the color separation optical system and the like, such as a configuration in which dichroic mirrors are arranged orthogonally.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of Embodiment 2. The projection type image display device 200 of this example includes a light source 101 and a color separation optical system 20 along the system optical axis.
1. Liquid crystal panel unit 20 as light valve means
2. It comprises a projection lens 105.

The white light generated from the light source 106 of the light source unit 101 is emitted to the opening side by a reflector 107 having a parabolic or elliptical reflecting surface. This light is transmitted to the first lens array 109 of the integrator optical system 108.
And is condensed on the second lens array 110 by the rectangular lens on the first lens array 109. At this condensing position, the rectangular lens image on the first lens array 109 is placed approximately at a distance from the liquid crystal panel 203 to the liquid crystal panel 20.
A small lens designed to project a size close to the shape of the effective portion of No. 3 is arranged.

The axes of the small lenses are set so that the principal rays of the light beams emitted from the small lenses are parallel. Second lens array 1 formed by these lenses
FIG. 2 shows the exit surface shape of No. 10. Although there are some portions determined by the fact that the opening shape of the reflector 107 is basically circular, the first lens array 109 is formed into a substantially square shape due to a set of rectangular lenses, a support mechanism, and the like. (There is no problem if this is a circle. Basically, it is desirable to be formed symmetrically with respect to the system optical axis 112.) Light emitted from the second lens array 110 enters the color separation optical system 201. The light incident here enters the blue reflection dichroic mirror 204, so that blue light is transmitted therethrough and red and green light are reflected. The green component light of the reflected light is a green reflection dichroic mirror 205.
And the red light is transmitted through here,
06.

As described above, each color light split by the color separation optical system is focused by the Fresnel condenser lens 207 at the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 203. The light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 207 is applied to the liquid crystal panel 2
The telecentric optical system is configured by making the light from the Fresnel condenser lens 207 on the system axis 208 passing through the center of the effective portion 03 incident on the collimator lens 209 set to be emitted as parallel light. .

The collimator lens 209 and the liquid crystal panel 2
An incidence-side polarizing plate 127 attached to the parallel plane plate 126 is disposed between the reference numerals 03. This transmits only light in one direction of polarization of incident light.

FIG. 8 shows an effective portion (effective display area) of the liquid crystal panel 203, which corresponds to a pixel structure of a spatial light modulator in which color pixels 210 corresponding to input signals corresponding to three primary colors are two-dimensionally arranged. I do. One of the color pixels 210
The unit is composed of a blue pixel region, a green pixel region, and a red pixel region. 211B represents a blue pixel opening, 211G represents a green pixel opening, and 211R represents a red pixel opening. Pixel openings 211B, 211G, 21 of the effective part (effective display area)
The region other than 1R is a region called a black matrix, and a light-shielding layer is formed so that light does not hit the thin film transistor and the signal wiring. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of one pixel unit for clarifying the configuration, and does not reflect the actual size or number of pixels.

A broken line is a virtual line added for convenience in order to clarify one unit of the color pixel 210.
The G and R symbols are appended to indicate the corresponding color of each aperture. A blue pixel is a pixel to which a video signal corresponding to a blue optical image is selectively supplied, and it is not necessary to provide a blue filter in the opening. The same is true for green and red.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cross section of the liquid crystal panel 203 viewed in a direction along the system axis. The microlens array 212 is provided on the incident side, and the outgoing focal point of each microlens forming the microlens array 212 is configured to be approximately in the vicinity of the above-described pixel aperture surface. That is, light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 207 and incident on the liquid crystal panel 202 via the collimator lens 209 is collected near the pixel aperture.

As described above, the polarization direction of the light incident on the pixel openings 211B, 211G, 211R of the liquid crystal panel 203 is changed for each pixel according to an external signal.
Incident side polarizing plate 1 provided on the exit surface of liquid crystal panel 203
The light is incident on the exit-side polarizing plate 133 whose transmission axis is set to be orthogonal to the transmission axis 27, whereby the transmittance is modulated for each pixel, and an image is displayed.

The light transmitted through the exit-side polarizing plate 133 enters the projection lens 105. This allows the liquid crystal panel 20
The image formed on 2 is enlarged and projected on a screen 134 (not shown) to realize a large-screen image.

As shown in FIG. 8, two micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 212 are arranged for one color pixel in the longitudinal direction of the pixel aperture shape. The center of curvature is shifted toward the center of the pixel opening with respect to the lens opening, and the two micro lenses are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the pixel opening.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, the exit surface of the second lens array 110 and the pixel aperture surface of the liquid crystal panel 203 have a conjugate relationship with the micro lens array 212, the collimator lens 209, and the Fresnel condenser lens 207. The apparent size and arrangement of the light exit surface of the second lens array 110 via the color separation optical system are determined by the pixel openings 211B and 211B.
If the longitudinal dimension of G and 211R is made to be similar to the shape obtained by dividing the longitudinal direction into two, and the magnification of the optical system therebetween is optimally determined, the blue light emitted from the apparent blue light emitting surface becomes blue pixel aperture 2
11B, the green light emitted from the apparent green light emitting surface is selectively transmitted to the green pixel opening 211G, and the red light emitted from the apparent red light emitting surface is selectively transmitted to the red pixel opening 211R. I can do it.

Strictly speaking, since the distance from the second lens array 110 to the liquid crystal panel 203 differs for each color, the size of the image on each light emitting surface reaching each pixel aperture differs. If the difference in magnification is large, the second lens array 1
Needless to say, it is desirable to set the optical path closest to the distance from 10 to the liquid crystal panel 203 to an optical path of a color (blue in the present embodiment), which tends to be insufficient when white balance is taken.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the light emitting surface, which is the light emitting surface of the light source unit, has a rectangular shape close to a circle or a square, the longitudinal dimension of the rectangular liquid crystal panel pixel opening shape is divided into two. Since an apparent light emitting surface having a substantially similar shape to the above shape may be formed, for example, when the aspect ratio of the pixel opening shape is 2: 1, the effective part shape of the second lens array 110 that is the apparent light emitting surface is Since it can be said that a square shape is sufficient, it is possible to suppress the shading in the black matrix and efficiently use the light from the light source.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the color separation optical system is configured by arranging the dichroic mirrors in parallel, but it goes without saying that various applications are possible, such as by arranging the dichroic mirrors orthogonally. In the above description, two microlenses are used for the pixel aperture. However, if necessary, a larger number of microlenses may be used based on the same concept.

(Third Embodiment) A schematic configuration of a third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The projection type image display apparatus 300 of this example includes a light source unit 101, an optical path splitting optical system 102, a color separation optical system 103, a liquid crystal panel unit 301 as light valve means, and a projection lens 10 along the system optical axis.
Consists of five.

The white light generated from the light source 106 of the light source 101 is emitted to the opening side by a reflector 107 having a parabolic or elliptical reflecting surface. This light is transmitted to the first lens array 109 of the integrator optical system 108.
And is condensed on the second lens array 110 by the rectangular lens on the first lens array 109. At this light condensing position, the rectangular lens image on the first lens array 109 is positioned approximately a distance from the liquid crystal panel 302 to the liquid crystal panel 30.
A small lens designed to be able to project with a size close to the shape of the effective portion 2 is arranged.

The axes of the small lenses are set so that the principal rays of the light beams emitted from the small lenses are parallel. Second lens array 1 formed by these lenses
FIG. 2 shows the exit surface shape of No. 10. Although there are some portions determined by the fact that the opening shape of the reflector 107 is basically circular, the first lens array 109 is formed into a substantially square shape due to a set of rectangular lenses, a support mechanism, and the like. (There is no problem even if this is a circle. Basically, it is desirable to be formed nearly symmetrical with respect to the system optical axis 112.) Light emitted from the second lens array 110 enters the optical path splitting optical system 102. The light incident here is split into two optical paths by rectangular split reflecting mirrors 113 and 114. By dividing at this point, the apparent light emitting surface can be a rectangular shape obtained by dividing the exit surface shape of the second lens array 110 into two. The light reflected by the split reflection mirror 113 enters the blue reflection dichroic mirror 116 via the return mirror 115, whereby blue light is transmitted therethrough, and red and green light are reflected. Of the reflected light, the green component light is reflected by the green reflecting dichroic mirror 117, and the red light is transmitted through the green reflecting dichroic mirror 117.
8 is reflected.

On the other hand, the light reflected by the split reflecting mirror 114 is incident on the blue reflecting dichroic mirror 120 via the return mirror 119, whereby the blue light is transmitted therethrough.
Red and green light are reflected. Of the reflected light, the light of the green component is reflected by the green reflecting dichroic mirror 121, and the red light is transmitted therethrough and then reflected by the reflecting mirror 122.

As described above, each color light transmitted or reflected by the mirror of the optical path splitting optical system is focused on the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 301 by the Fresnel condenser lens 123. Light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 123 is collimated by a collimator lens 305 set so that light from the Fresnel condenser lens 304 on the system axis 303 passing through the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 302 is converted into parallel light. Make up a telecentric optical system.

The collimator lens 305 and the liquid crystal panel 3
An incidence side polarizing plate 127 affixed to the parallel plane plate 126 is disposed between the two. This transmits only light in one direction of polarization of incident light.

The effective part (effective display area) of the liquid crystal panel 302 will be described below with reference to FIG. The effective portion (effective display area) corresponds to a pixel structure of a spatial light modulator in which color pixels 306 corresponding to input signals corresponding to three primary colors are two-dimensionally arranged. One unit of the color pixel 306 is composed of a blue pixel region, a green pixel region, and a red pixel region.
307B represents a blue pixel opening, 307G represents a green pixel opening, and 307R represents a red pixel opening.

Similarly, the adjacent color pixel 308 has a blue pixel opening 309B and a green pixel opening 309G.
09R represents a red pixel aperture, respectively. Pixel openings 307B, 307G, 307R, and 3 of the effective portion (effective display area)
Areas other than the areas 09B, 309G, and 309R are areas called a black matrix, and a light-blocking layer is formed so that light does not hit a thin film transistor or a signal wiring.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of one pixel unit for clarifying the configuration, and does not reflect the actual size and number of pixels. In addition, broken lines indicate color pixels 306,
308 is an imaginary line added for convenience to clarify one unit, and symbols B, G, and R are added to indicate the corresponding color of each opening. A blue pixel is a pixel to which a video signal corresponding to a blue optical image is selectively supplied, and it is not necessary to provide a blue filter in the opening. The same is true for green and red.

A cross section of the liquid crystal panel 302 viewed in a direction along the system axis will be described with reference to FIG. The microlens array 310 is provided on the incident side, and the focal point on the exit side of each microlens forming the microlens array 310 is configured to be approximately in the vicinity of the above-described pixel aperture surface. That is, light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 304 and incident on the liquid crystal panel 302 via the collimator lens 305 is collected near the pixel aperture.

As described above, the pixel openings 307B, 307G, 307R, 309B, 309 of the liquid crystal panel 302 are provided.
The polarization direction of the light incident on G, 309R is changed for each pixel in response to an external signal, and the transmission axis is set to a direction orthogonal to the incident side polarizing plate 127 provided on the exit surface of the liquid crystal panel 302. The light is incident on the exit-side polarizing plate 133 to modulate the transmittance for each pixel, and an image is displayed.

The light transmitted through the exit-side polarizing plate 133 enters the projection lens 105. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 30
The image formed on 2 is enlarged and projected on a screen 134 (not shown) to realize a large-screen image.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, two micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 310 are arranged in a longitudinal direction of a pixel opening shape for one color pixel, and this micro lens is a micro lens. The center of curvature is shifted toward the center of the pixel opening with respect to the lens opening, and the two micro lenses are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the pixel opening.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, the microlens array 310, the collimator lens 305, and the Fresnel condenser lens 304 have a conjugate relationship between the emission surface of the second lens array 110 and the pixel aperture surface of the liquid crystal panel 302. Accordingly, the apparent size and arrangement of the exit surface of the second lens array 110 via the color separation optical system are determined by the pixel openings 307B and 307.
If the longitudinal dimension of G, 307R, 309B, 309G, and 309R is made to be similar to the shape obtained by dividing into two, and the magnification of the optical system between them is optimally determined, the apparent blue light emitting surface through the divided reflecting mirror 113 The emitted blue light is emitted to the blue pixel opening 307B, the green light emitted from the apparent green light emitting surface is emitted to the green pixel opening 307G, and the red light emitted from the apparent red light emitting surface is red. The blue light emitted from the apparent blue light-emitting surface through the divided reflection mirror 114 to the pixel opening 307R of the blue light is emitted to the blue pixel opening 309B, and the green light emitted from the apparent green light-emitting surface is green. Pixel aperture 309
G, the red light emitted from the apparent red light emitting surface can selectively reach each of the red pixel openings 309R.

Here, since each micro lens constituting the micro lens array 310 is arranged for each color pixel, light from two micro lenses always enters one pixel. In this way, even if the light source has non-uniform brightness or flicker, the projected image is hardly affected. However, a desired illumination efficiency can be obtained even if one micro lens constituting the micro lens array 310 is arranged for every two color pixels as shown in FIG. In this case, since the microlenses can be configured to be larger than in the case where the microlenses are arranged for each color pixel as described above, the effect on the performance due to the formation of the microlenses such as sagging of the edge portion between the microlenses is suppressed. I can do it.

More precisely, since the distance from the second lens array 110 to the liquid crystal panel 302 differs for each color, the size of the image on each light emitting surface reaching each pixel aperture differs. If the difference in magnification is large, the second lens array 1
Needless to say, it is desirable to set the optical path closest to the distance from the liquid crystal panel 302 to the liquid crystal panel 302 to be an optical path of a color (blue in the present embodiment), which tends to be insufficient when white balance is taken.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the light emitting surface, which is the light emitting surface of the light source unit, has a rectangular shape close to a circle or a square, the light emitting surface is divided into the shape of the opening of the liquid crystal panel pixel. The apparent light emitting surface can be formed in a substantially similar rectangular shape, and this can be formed in a substantially similar shape by dividing the longitudinal dimension of the rectangular liquid crystal panel pixel opening into two. Therefore, for example, when the aspect ratio of the pixel opening shape is 4: 1, it can be said that the effective portion shape of the second lens array 110, which is the apparent light emitting surface, may be a square. The light from the light source can be used efficiently.

In FIG. 1, the optical path splitting optical system 102 and the color separating optical system 103 are clearly separated, but as shown in FIG. 6, the optical path splitting optical system 102 and the color separating optical system 103 are partially fused. A similar effect can be obtained even with a different configuration. In addition, it is apparent that various applications are possible for the color separation optical system and the like, such as a configuration in which dichroic mirrors are arranged orthogonally.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of Embodiment 1. The projection type image display device 400 of this example includes a light source unit 101 and an optical path dividing optical system 4 along the system optical axis.
01, liquid crystal panel unit 40 as light valve means
2. It comprises a projection lens 105.

The white light generated from the light source 106 of the light source 101 is emitted to the opening side by a reflector 107 having a parabolic or elliptical reflecting surface. This light is transmitted to the first lens array 109 of the integrator optical system 108.
And is condensed on the second lens array 110 by the rectangular lens on the first lens array 109. At this condensing position, the rectangular lens image on the first lens array 109 is placed approximately at a distance from the liquid crystal panel 403 to the liquid crystal panel 40.
A small lens designed to project a size close to the shape of the effective portion of No. 3 is arranged.

The axis of the small lens is set so that the principal rays of the light beams emitted from the small lenses are parallel. Second lens array 1 formed by these lenses
FIG. 2 shows the exit surface shape of No. 10. Although there are some portions determined by the fact that the opening shape of the reflector 107 is basically circular, the first lens array 109 is formed into a substantially square shape due to a set of rectangular lenses, a support mechanism, and the like. (There is no problem if this is a circle. Basically, it is desirable to be formed nearly symmetrical with respect to the system optical axis 112.) Light emitted from the second lens array 110 enters the optical path splitting optical system 401. The light incident here is split into two optical paths by rectangular split reflecting mirrors 404 and 405. By dividing at this point, the apparent light-emitting surface can be made a rectangular shape obtained by dividing the exit surface shape of the second lens array 110 into two. The light reflected by the split reflection mirror 404 is reflected by the return mirror 406. On the other hand, the light reflected by the split reflection mirror 405 is
07.

The respective light beams reflected by the mirrors of the optical path splitting optical system are focused by the Fresnel focusing lens 408 at the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 403. The light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 408 passes through the center of the effective part of the liquid crystal panel 403 and passes through the system axis 409.
A collimator lens 410 set so that light from the upper Fresnel condenser lens 408 is collimated and emitted.
Make up a telecentric optical system.

Collimator lens 410 and liquid crystal panel 4
An incidence-side polarizing plate 127 attached to the parallel plane plate 126 is disposed between the reference numerals 03. This transmits only light in one direction of polarization of incident light.

FIG. 14 shows an effective portion (effective display area) of the liquid crystal panel 403, which corresponds to a pixel structure of a spatial light modulator in which color pixels 411 corresponding to input signals corresponding to three primary colors are two-dimensionally arranged. I do. One unit of the color pixel 411 includes a blue pixel region, a green pixel region, and a red pixel region, 412B represents a blue pixel opening, 412G represents a green pixel opening, and 412R represents a red pixel opening.

Pixel opening 412 of effective portion (effective display area)
Areas other than B, 412G, and 412R are areas called a black matrix, and a light-blocking layer is formed so that light does not hit a thin film transistor or a signal wiring. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of one pixel unit for clarifying the configuration, and does not reflect the actual size and number of pixels.

A broken line is an imaginary line added for convenience to clarify one unit of the color pixel 411.
The G and R symbols are appended to indicate the corresponding color of each aperture. A blue pixel is a pixel to which a video signal corresponding to a blue optical image is selectively supplied, has a blue filter in an opening, and selectively transmits blue light from incident light. Similarly, green and red filters are provided in the openings for green and red.

FIG. 15 shows a cross section of the liquid crystal panel 403 viewed in a direction along the system axis. A microlens array 413 is provided on the incident side, and the outgoing focal point of each microlens forming the microlens array 413 is configured to be approximately in the vicinity of the above-described pixel aperture surface. That is, light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 408 and incident on the liquid crystal panel 403 via the collimator lens 410 is collected near the pixel aperture.

In this manner, the light incident on the pixel openings 412B, 412G, and 412R of the liquid crystal panel 403 has its polarization direction changed for each pixel according to an external signal.
Incident side polarizing plate 1 provided on the exit surface of liquid crystal panel 403
The light is incident on the exit-side polarizing plate 133 whose transmission axis is set to be orthogonal to the transmission axis 27, whereby the transmittance is modulated for each pixel, and an image is displayed.

The light transmitted through the exit-side polarizing plate 133 enters the projection lens 105. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 40
The image formed on 3 is enlarged and projected on a screen 134 (not shown) to realize a large screen image.

However, according to the above configuration, the microlens array 413, the collimator lens 410, and the Fresnel condenser lens 408 have a conjugate relationship between the exit surface of the second lens array 110 and the pixel aperture surface of the liquid crystal panel 403. Therefore, the apparent size and arrangement of the exit surface of the second lens array 110 via the optical path dividing optical system are determined by the pixel openings 412B and 412.
G and 412R, a shape similar to the shape and arrangement of a set of two, and if the magnification of the optical system between them is determined optimally, the light emitted from the apparent light-emitting surface via the split reflecting mirrors 403 and 404 Are the pixel openings 412B, 412G, 412
R can be selectively reached.

In FIG. 14, the micro lens array 4
Each of the microlenses 13 is provided with 1.5 microlenses corresponding to one color pixel (one for two single-color pixel apertures). For each color pixel, 0.5 microlenses (one for each single-color pixel opening) can be arranged and configured correspondingly. In the former case, the microlens can be made large, so that processing problems such as sagging in the peripheral part can be hardly affected on the performance. In the latter case, since the light enters from one microlens into one pixel aperture, uneven brightness of the light source and flicker etc. There is a feature that can improve the problem of.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the single-panel projection type image display apparatus having a single liquid crystal panel having no color separation optical system, the light emitting surface which is the light source unit emission surface is a circle or a rectangle close to a square. Even if it is a shape, by performing optical path division, the light emitting surface shape can form an apparent light emitting surface in a rectangle substantially similar to the shape of the liquid crystal panel pixel opening, so that the shading in the black matrix is suppressed, The light from the light source can be used efficiently.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment. The projection type image display apparatus 500 of this example has a light source unit 101, a liquid crystal panel unit 1501 as light valve means, and a projection lens 105 along the system optical axis.
Consists of

The white light generated from the light source 106 of the light source 101 is emitted to the opening side by a reflector 107 having a parabolic or elliptical reflecting surface. This light is transmitted to the first lens array 109 of the integrator optical system 108.
And is condensed on the second lens array 110 by the rectangular lens on the first lens array 109. At this condensing position, the rectangular lens image on the first lens array 109 is positioned approximately at a distance from the liquid crystal panel 502 to the liquid crystal panel 50.
A small lens designed to be able to project with a size close to the shape of the effective portion 2 is arranged.

The axis of the small lens is set so that the principal rays of the light beam emitted from each of the small lenses are parallel. Second lens array 1 formed by these lenses
FIG. 2 shows the exit surface shape of No. 10. Although there are some portions determined by the fact that the opening shape of the reflector 107 is basically circular, the first lens array 109 is formed into a substantially square shape due to a set of rectangular lenses, a support mechanism, and the like. (There is no problem even if this is a circle. Basically, it is desirable to be formed nearly symmetrical with respect to the system optical axis 112.) The light emitted from the second lens array 110 is The chief ray is focused on the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 502. The light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 503 passes through the center of the effective part of the liquid crystal panel 502, and the Fresnel condenser lens 5 on the system axis 504 passes through.
The telecentric optical system is configured by making the light from the part 03 into a collimator lens 505 set to be emitted as parallel light.

Collimator lens 505 and liquid crystal panel 5
An incidence side polarizing plate 127 affixed to the parallel plane plate 126 is disposed between the two. This transmits only light in one direction of polarization of incident light.

FIG. 17 shows an effective portion (effective display area) of the liquid crystal panel 502, which corresponds to a pixel structure of a spatial light modulator in which color pixels 506 corresponding to input signals corresponding to three primary colors are two-dimensionally arranged. I do. One unit of the color pixel 506 is composed of a blue pixel region, a green pixel region, and a red pixel region, 507B represents a blue pixel opening, 507G represents a green pixel opening, and 507R represents a red pixel opening. Pixel openings 507B, 507G, and 5 in the effective portion (effective display area)
The region other than 07R is a region called a black matrix, and a light-blocking layer is formed so that light does not hit a thin film transistor or a signal wiring.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of one pixel unit for clarifying the configuration, and does not reflect the actual size and number of pixels. A broken line is a virtual line added for convenience to clarify one unit of the color pixel 506, and symbols B, G, and R are added to indicate a color corresponding to each opening. A blue pixel is a pixel to which a video signal corresponding to a blue optical image is selectively supplied, and includes a blue filter in an opening to select transmitted light. Similarly, green and red filters have green and red filters in the openings.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a cross section of the liquid crystal panel 502 viewed in a direction along the system axis. The microlens array 508 is provided on the incident side, and the focal point on the outgoing side of each microlens forming the microlens array 508 is configured to be approximately in the vicinity of the above-described pixel aperture surface. That is, light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 503 and incident on the liquid crystal panel 502 via the collimator lens 505 is collected near the pixel opening.

As described above, the light incident on the pixel openings 507B, 507G, and 507R of the liquid crystal panel 502 has its polarization direction changed for each pixel according to an external signal.
Incident side polarizing plate 1 provided on the exit surface of liquid crystal panel 502
The light is incident on the exit-side polarizing plate 133 whose transmission axis is set to be orthogonal to the transmission axis 27, whereby the transmittance is modulated for each pixel, and an image is displayed.

The light transmitted through the exit-side polarizing plate 133 enters the projection lens 105. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 50
The image formed on 2 is enlarged and projected on a screen 134 (not shown) to realize a large-screen image.

Here, as shown in FIG. 17, two micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 508 are arranged for each pixel in the longitudinal direction of the pixel opening shape for one pixel, and this micro lens is a micro lens. The center of curvature is shifted toward the center of the pixel opening with respect to the opening, and the two microlenses are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the pixel opening.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, the microlens array 508, the collimator lens 505, and the Fresnel condenser lens 503 have a conjugate relationship between the exit surface of the second lens array 110 and the pixel aperture surface of the liquid crystal panel 502. Therefore, the apparent shape of the exit surface of the second lens array 110 is made similar to the shape obtained by dividing the longitudinal direction of the pixel opening 507B, 507G, or 507R into two, and the magnification of the optical system therebetween is optimally determined. The light emitted from the surface is the pixel opening 507B or 507G or 5
07R can be made to penetrate into each area divided into two in the longitudinal direction.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the light emitting surface, which is the light source unit emitting surface, has a rectangular shape close to a circle or a square, the longitudinal dimension of the rectangular liquid crystal panel pixel opening shape is divided into two. Since an apparent light emitting surface having a substantially similar shape to the above shape may be formed, for example, when the aspect ratio of the pixel opening shape is 2: 1, the effective part shape of the second lens array 110 that is the apparent light emitting surface is Since it can be said that a square shape is sufficient, it is possible to suppress the shading in the black matrix and efficiently use the light from the light source.

In the above description, two microlenses are used for the pixel aperture. However, if necessary, a larger number of microlenses may be used based on the same concept.

(Embodiment 6) A schematic configuration of Embodiment 6 will be described below with reference to FIG. The projection type image display apparatus 600 of this example includes a light source unit 101, an optical path splitting optical system 601, a color separation optical system 103, a liquid crystal panel unit 602 as light valve means, and a projection lens 10 along the system optical axis.
Consists of five.

The white light generated from the light source 106 of the light source unit 101 is emitted to the opening side by a reflector 107 having a parabolic or elliptical reflecting surface. This light is transmitted to the first lens array 109 of the integrator optical system 108.
And is condensed on the second lens array 110 by the rectangular lens on the first lens array 109. At this condensing position, the rectangular lens image on the first lens array 109 is placed approximately at a distance from the liquid crystal panel 603 to the liquid crystal panel 60.
A small lens designed to project a size close to the shape of the effective portion of No. 3 is arranged.

The small lens axis is set so that the principal rays of the light beam emitted from each of the small lenses are parallel. Second lens array 1 formed by these lenses
FIG. 2 shows the exit surface shape of No. 10. Although there are some portions determined by the fact that the opening shape of the reflector 107 is basically circular, the first lens array 109 is formed into a substantially square shape due to a set of rectangular lenses, a support mechanism, and the like. (There is no problem if this is a circle. Basically, it is desirable to be formed symmetrically with respect to the system optical axis 112.) Light emitted from the second lens array 110 enters the optical path splitting optical system 601. The light incident here is split into two optical paths by rectangular split reflecting mirrors 604 and 605. By dividing at this point, the apparent light emitting surface can be a rectangular shape obtained by dividing the exit surface shape of the second lens array 110 into two. The light reflected by the split reflection mirror 604 is reflected by the return mirror 606. On the other hand, the light reflected by the split reflecting mirror 605 is reflected by the turning mirror 6.
07.

The light beams reflected by the mirrors of the optical path splitting optical system are focused by the Fresnel condenser lens 608 at the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 603. The light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 608 passes through the center of the effective portion of the liquid crystal panel 603 and passes through the system axis 609.
A collimator lens 610 set so that light from the upper Fresnel condenser lens 608 is converted into parallel light and emitted.
Make up a telecentric optical system.

The collimator lens 610 and the liquid crystal panel 6
An incidence-side polarizing plate 127 attached to the parallel plane plate 126 is disposed between the reference numerals 03. This transmits only light in one direction of polarization of incident light.

The effective portion (effective display area) of the liquid crystal panel 603 will be described below with reference to FIG. The effective portion (effective display area) corresponds to a pixel structure of a spatial light modulator in which color pixels 611 corresponding to input signals corresponding to three primary colors are two-dimensionally arranged. One unit of the color pixel 611 includes a blue pixel area, a green pixel area, and a red pixel area.
612B represents a blue pixel opening, 612G represents a green pixel opening, and 612R represents a red pixel opening. Pixel openings 612B, 612G, 61 of the effective portion (effective display area)
The region other than the 2R is a region called a black matrix, and a light-blocking layer is formed so that light does not hit a thin film transistor or a signal wiring.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of one pixel unit for clarifying the configuration, and does not reflect the actual size or number of pixels. A broken line is a virtual line added for convenience to clarify one unit of the color pixel 611, and symbols B, G, and R are added to indicate a corresponding color of each opening. A blue pixel is a pixel to which a video signal corresponding to a blue optical image is selectively supplied, and it is not necessary to provide a blue filter in the opening. The same is true for green and red.

A cross section of the liquid crystal panel 603 viewed in a direction along the system axis will be described with reference to FIG. A microlens array 613 is provided on the incident side, and the outgoing focal point of each microlens forming the microlens array 613 is configured to be approximately in the vicinity of the above-described pixel aperture surface. That is, light emitted from the Fresnel condenser lens 608 and incident on the liquid crystal panel 603 via the collimator lens 610 is collected near the pixel aperture.

As described above, the light incident on the pixel openings 612B, 612G, and 612R of the liquid crystal panel 603 has its polarization direction changed for each pixel according to an external signal.
Incident side polarizing plate 1 provided on the exit surface of liquid crystal panel 603
The light is incident on the exit-side polarizing plate 133 whose transmission axis is set to be orthogonal to the transmission axis 27, whereby the transmittance is modulated for each pixel, and an image is displayed.

The light transmitted through the output side polarizing plate 133 enters the projection lens 105. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel 60
The image formed on 3 is enlarged and projected on a screen 134 (not shown) to realize a large screen image.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, two micro lenses constituting the micro lens array 613 are arranged for one color pixel and are divided in the longitudinal direction of the pixel aperture shape. The center of curvature is shifted toward the center of the pixel opening with respect to the lens opening, and the two micro lenses are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the pixel opening.

Thus, according to the above configuration, the micro lens array 613, the collimator lens 610, and the Fresnel condenser lens 608 have a conjugate relationship between the exit surface of the second lens array 110 and the pixel aperture surface of the liquid crystal panel 301. Therefore, the apparent shape and arrangement of the exit surface of the second lens array 110 are set as two adjacent pixel openings among the pixel openings 612B, 612G, and 612R, and the longitudinal dimension of this set is set to 2
If the shape is similar to the divided shape and the magnification of the optical system therebetween is optimally determined, for example, the light emitted from the apparent light-emitting surface via the divided reflection mirror 604 will be emitted from the pixel aperture 612B.
Is divided into two regions in the longitudinal direction of
Light emitted from the apparent light-emitting surface through the light-transmitting region 05 can selectively reach each of four regions obtained by dividing the longitudinal direction of the pixel opening 612G into two.

In FIG. 18, each of the microlenses constituting the microlens array 613 has a total of two microlenses, one in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to two monochromatic pixel apertures. The lens can be configured even if a total of two microlenses are arranged corresponding to one monochrome pixel opening one by one in the longitudinal direction. In the former case, the microlens can be made large, so that processing problems such as sagging in the peripheral part can be hardly affected on the performance. In the latter case, since the light enters from one microlens into one pixel aperture, uneven brightness of the light source and flicker etc. There is a feature that can improve the problem of.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the light emitting surface, which is the light emitting surface of the light source unit, has a rectangular shape close to a circle or a square, the light emitting surface is divided into the shape of the liquid crystal panel pixel opening by dividing the optical path. The apparent light emitting surface can be formed in a substantially similar rectangular shape, and this can be formed in a substantially similar shape by dividing the longitudinal dimension of the rectangular liquid crystal panel pixel opening into two. Therefore, for example, when the aspect ratio of the pixel opening shape is 4: 1, it can be said that the effective portion shape of the second lens array 110, which is the apparent light emitting surface, may be a square. The light from the light source can be used efficiently.

In the above six embodiments, it is not always necessary to use an integrator optical system for the light source section. In this case, if the effective surface (apparent light emitting surface) of the second lens array is treated as the reflector emission surface, the problem will be raised. Absent. Also, the integrator means can be configured by decentering the small lenses constituting each lens array.

When an optical path splitting optical system is used, there is a possibility that light cannot be effectively taken in because a boundary portion where the optical path is split hits the end face of the optical path splitting mirror. In this case, the area where light is not guided to the effective surface (apparent light emitting surface) of the second lens array by decentering the small lenses constituting each lens array by the integrator means corresponds to the end surface of the optical path dividing mirror. It can be solved by making it in part.

In the case where the optical path splitting optical system is used, the configuration in which the effective surface (apparent light emitting surface) of the second lens array is divided into two has been described. However, if necessary, the number of divisions can be increased. is there. Although the condenser lens is a Fresnel lens in the above embodiment, it is not always necessary, and it goes without saying that a spherical lens can be used. The microlens array on the liquid crystal panel entrance side is composed of a combination of materials with different refractive indices, whether it is actually a set of microlenses with a spherical shape or a partially changed refractive index. There is no problem if it functions as a lens.

The transmission type TN (twisted nematic) liquid crystal of a normally white (white display when no signal is applied) mode has been described as an image display device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is needless to say that normally dimming can be performed according to an input signal, so that it can be applied to normally black, vertical light distribution, dispersion type, and the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the projection type image display device for enlarging and projecting the image on the liquid crystal panel with the projection lens has been described. However, the image display device for directly viewing the image on the liquid crystal panel without using the projection lens is described. It goes without saying that you can do it.

[0136]

As described above, according to the present invention, the shape of the light emitting surface of the light source section viewed from the light valve side is substantially similar to the shape of the pixel opening on the light valve. The light-collecting efficiency can be improved by composing a light-emitting-part light-emitting surface shape image on a pixel aperture by a plurality of microlenses so that the light-source-part light-emitting surface shape seen from the light valve side is substantially similar. It is possible to provide a single-panel type high-efficiency projection-type image display device including a single liquid crystal panel. Therefore it is relatively inexpensive in the market,
Products that can obtain bright images can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a second lens array according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid crystal panel pixel structure according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid crystal panel and a microlens array according to the first embodiment (1)

FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid crystal panel and a microlens array according to the first embodiment (2).

FIG. 6 is another overall configuration diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid crystal panel and a microlens array according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid crystal panel pixel structure according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid crystal panel and a microlens array according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an overall configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid crystal panel pixel structure according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid crystal panel and a microlens array according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an overall configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid crystal panel and a microlens array according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an overall configuration diagram of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a pixel structure of a liquid crystal panel according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600
Projection image display device 101 Light source unit 102, 401, 601 Optical path splitting optical system 103, 201 Color separation optical system 104, 202, 301, 402, 501, 602 Liquid crystal panel unit 105 Projection lens 106 Light source 107 Reflector 108 Integrator optical system 109 First lens array 110 Second lens array 111, 203, 302, 403, 502, 603 Liquid crystal panel 112, 124, 208, 303, 409, 504, 6
09 System optical axis 113, 114, 404, 405, 604, 605 Divided reflection mirror 115, 119, 122, 206, 406, 407, 6
06, 607 Folding mirror 116, 120, 204 Blue transmission dichroic mirror 117, 121, 205 Green reflection dichroic mirror 118 Reflection mirror 123, 207, 304, 408, 503, 608 Fresnel condenser lens 125, 209, 305, 410, 505 , 610 Collimator lens 126 Parallel plane plate 127 Incident side polarizing plate 128, 130, 210, 306, 308, 411, 5
06, 611 color pixels 129B, 131B, 211B, 307B, 309B,
412B, 507B, 612B Blue pixel apertures 129G, 131G, 211G, 307G, 309G,
412G, 507G, 612G Green pixel aperture 129R, 131R, 211R, 307R, 309R,
412R, 507R, 612R Red pixel aperture 132, 212, 310, 413, 508, 613 Micro lens array

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 9/31 H04N 9/31 C

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A light source means for emitting white light in one direction, a color separation means for separating white light from the light source means into red, green, and blue light, and red, green, and blue by one element. A light valve means comprising a large number of pixels which can independently modulate incident light with respect to an input signal for each color light, and a large number of microlenses provided on the incident side of the light valve means are two-dimensionally arranged. The light from the light source means is divided into a plurality of optical paths by an optical path dividing means comprising a plurality of reflection mirrors provided between the light source means and the color separation means. Image display device. 2. A light source means for emitting white light in one direction, a color separation means for separating white light from the light source means into red, green, and blue light, and red, green, and blue by one element. A light valve means comprising a large number of pixels which can independently modulate incident light with respect to an input signal for each color light, and a large number of microlenses provided on the incident side of the light valve means are two-dimensionally arranged. And the shape of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means is rectangular, and the micro lens on the micro lens array has a center of curvature in the longitudinal direction of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means. Image display device comprising a plurality of finer microlenses different in size 3. A light source means for emitting white light in one direction, a color separation means for separating white light from the light source means into red, green and blue light, and red, green and blue with one element. A light valve means comprising a large number of pixels which can independently modulate incident light with respect to an input signal for each color light, and a large number of microlenses provided on the incident side of the light valve means are two-dimensionally arranged. And the shape of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means is rectangular, and the micro lens on the micro lens array has a center of curvature in the longitudinal direction of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means. And light from the light source means comprises a plurality of reflection mirrors provided between the light source means and the color separation means. An image display device which is divided into a plurality of optical paths by an optical path dividing unit. 4. A light comprising a light source means for emitting white light in one direction and a plurality of pixels which can modulate incident light independently of input signals for red, green and blue light with one element. A valve means and a color filter provided on the light valve or on the light incident side thereof and capable of selecting only an arbitrary color light corresponding to the input signal for each pixel driven by an input signal corresponding to each color light of the light valve means. And a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses provided on the incident side of the color filter are two-dimensionally arranged, and light from the light source means is provided between the light source means and the microlens array. An image display device, wherein the image is divided into a plurality of optical paths by an optical path dividing means including a plurality of reflecting mirrors. 5. A light comprising a light source means for emitting white light in one direction and a plurality of pixels which can modulate incident light independently of input signals for red, green and blue light with one element. A valve means and a color filter provided on the light valve or on the light incident side thereof and capable of selecting only an arbitrary color light corresponding to the input signal for each pixel driven by an input signal corresponding to each color light of the light valve means. A microlens array in which a large number of microlenses provided on the incident side of the color filter are two-dimensionally arranged, and the shape of a pixel effective portion on the light valve means is rectangular, and The microlens on the microlens array includes a plurality of finer microlenses having different centers of curvature in the longitudinal direction of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means. Image display device characterized by comprising 6. A light comprising a light source means for emitting white light in one direction, and a plurality of pixels capable of modulating incident light independently of input signals for red, green and blue light with one element. A valve means and a color filter provided on the light valve or on the light incident side thereof and capable of selecting only an arbitrary color light corresponding to the input signal for each pixel driven by an input signal corresponding to each color light of the light valve means. A microlens array in which a large number of microlenses provided on the incident side of the color filter are two-dimensionally arranged, and the shape of a pixel effective portion on the light valve means is rectangular, and The microlens on the microlens array includes a plurality of finer microlenses having different centers of curvature in the longitudinal direction of the pixel effective portion on the light valve means. And light from the light source means is split into a plurality of light paths by an optical path splitting means comprising a plurality of reflection mirrors provided between the light source means and the microlens array. Image display device. 7. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said light source device comprises a discharge lamp and a reflector. 8. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein said light source device comprises a discharge lamp, a reflector and an integrator optical system. 9. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a condenser lens for condensing light from said light source device on a light valve means. 10. A light source device, wherein a light-emitting portion of the light-emitting portion when viewed from the light valve side has an ineffective area through which light does not pass at a boundary portion divided by an optical path dividing means. 7. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein: 11. Looking at one of the split beams of the light that has passed through the optical path splitting means, the light source device formed by the light before splitting has a shape that is smaller than the shape of the light emitting portion when viewed from the light valve side. The light from the light source device is split so that the aspect ratio is increased.
The image display device as described in the above. 12. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from a light valve side is divided into two by the optical path dividing means. 13. The shape of a light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from a light valve side via the light path dividing means is a pixel when viewed from a pixel corresponding to an arbitrary monochromatic light on the light valve means. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display device is substantially similar in shape and pixel pitch. 14. The shape of the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side is such that the pixels on the light valve means have a small aspect ratio due to the number of minute micro lenses forming one micro lens. 6. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the image display device has a shape substantially similar to a pixel shape divided in a certain direction. 15. The shape of the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side via the light path dividing means is a pixel when viewed from a pixel corresponding to an arbitrary monochromatic light on the light valve means. 4. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein the shape and the pixel pitch are substantially similar to a shape obtained by dividing the shape and the pixel pitch in a direction in which the aspect ratio is reduced by the number of minute microlenses forming one microlens. 16. The shape of the light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from the light valve side via the light path dividing means is a shape of a plurality of pixels on the light valve means and an arrangement pitch between adjacent pixels. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the image display device has a substantially similar shape. 17. The shape of a light emitting portion when the light source device is viewed from a light valve side via the light path dividing means is a shape of a plurality of pixels on the light valve means and an arrangement pitch between adjacent pixels. 7. A shape substantially similar to a shape divided in a direction in which the aspect ratio is reduced by the number of minute micro lenses forming one micro lens.
The image display device as described in the above. 18. An image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a projection lens capable of enlarging and projecting an image on said light valve means.