KR100800199B1 - Projection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a projection system, and more particularly, to an optical engine assembly structure that improves the assembly structure of an optical engine mounted on a projection television so that overall volume and weight are reduced.

The projection system according to the present invention comprises an optical engine for forming an image of a desired color color using white light emitted from a lamp; And a base coupled to the optical engine at an angle inclined downward from a horizontal plane.

By the projection system according to the present invention, the height of the optical engine is reduced, thereby reducing the overall volume and weight of the projection system.

Projection, optical engine, color wheel

Description

Projection system

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a projection system according to the spirit of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of an optical engine according to the spirit of the present invention.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing the optical engine coupled to the base according to the spirit of the present invention.

4 is a front perspective view illustrating a state in which an optical engine according to the spirit of the present invention is coupled to a base;

5 is a rear perspective view of the optical engine unit according to the spirit of the present invention;

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: projection system 10: optical engine unit

20: optical engine 21: lamp assembly

22: color wheel assembly 23: light tunnel housing

24: light tunnel assembly 25: condensing lens

26: DMD Assembly 27: Actuator

28: reflector case 29: folding mirror

30: total reflection prism 31: projection lens assembly

The present invention relates to a projection system, and more particularly, to an optical engine assembly structure that improves the assembly structure of an optical engine mounted on a projection television so that overall volume and weight are reduced.

Recently, large-screen high-definition display devices have emerged as a major topic, and such large-screen high-definition display devices include CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) televisions, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) televisions, Projection televisions, and Plasma Display Panel (PDP) televisions. It's coming out.

Among them, the demand for the projection television and the development of technology are actively made as one of the display apparatuses that satisfy the requirements of large screen high definition. The projection television includes a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) method using an LCD and a digital light porsessing (DLP) method using a digital micromirror device (DMD).

Recently, low-cost projection TVs using LCDs or DMDs have been in the spotlight. In particular, as the consumer's desire for high quality along with a large screen increases, the demand is increasing year by year, and the trend is particularly popular in the digital television market currently being trial broadcast.

In addition, as the use of computers and presentations using computers have been increasing in recent years, the use of projectors using LCDs or DMDs has also increased.

In general, a projection television adopts a method in which light generated by an optical engine mounted inside a cabinet is reflected and an image is projected on a screen.

In detail, an optical engine using a DMD includes a lamp that emits white light, a color wheel device that separates light emitted from the lamp into red, green, and blue light, an illumination system that collects light passing through the color wheel device; And a DMD for receiving a light passing through the illumination system to create a desired screen, and a projection lens to enlarge and project the image generated from the DMD onto the screen.

Projection systems consisting of such components are generally characterized by being bulky and heavy. In addition, the characteristics of such a projection system are emerging as a disadvantage of a television set.

In detail, an optical path of light in which light passing through the lamp and the illumination system is incident to the DMD is formed parallel to the engine base. In addition, all of the components constituting the optical engine form a structure that is seated on the upper surface of the engine base. As a result, due to the height from the engine base to the top surface of the projection lens, the entire volume of the optical engine becomes large, which limits the overall volume of the television set.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for the appearance of a projection system in which the volume of the entire television set is reduced and the weight is reduced while there is no change in the size of the screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical engine assembly structure which allows the volume of the entire television set to be reduced without changing the size of the screen.

Projection system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an optical engine for forming an image of a desired color using the white light emitted from the lamp; And a part of the optical engine inserted through and seated in a state where a part of the optical engine is seated on an upper surface thereof, such that the optical engine is coupled to be inclined downward from a horizontal plane by a predetermined angle.

In another aspect, a projection system according to the present invention includes a lamp assembly, an illumination system in which light emitted from the lamp assembly is converted into colored light, and a synthesis system in which light passing through the illumination system is reflected or refracted to obtain a desired image. And a projection lens unit configured to project an image transmitted from the synthesis system onto a screen. And a base having the optical engine seated on an upper surface thereof, and having a through hole for penetrating a portion of the illumination system or the synthesis system therein, wherein the portion of the illumination system or the synthesis system penetrates the through hole. It is characterized in that it is coupled to the predetermined angle inclined downward from the horizontal plane.

By such a configuration, the height of the optical engine is reduced, thereby reducing the volume and weight of the entire projection system.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and other embodiments included within the scope of other inventive inventions or the scope of the present invention can be easily made by adding, changing, or deleting other elements. I can suggest.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a projection system according to the spirit of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a projection system 1 according to the present invention includes a cabinet 2 forming an appearance, a screen 4 mounted on the front surface of the cabinet 2, and an optical seat mounted on a lower end of the cabinet 2. An engine unit 10 and a rearview mirror 3 mounted to the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet 2 to reflect the image emitted from the optical engine unit 10 onto the screen 4 are included.

In detail, the image screen formed and projected by the optical engine unit 10 is reflected by the rearview mirror 30. The reflected image is extended and projected onto the screen 4 so that the image screen is recognized by the user.

Hereinafter, the structure and function of each part of the optical engine unit 10 will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is an exploded perspective view of an optical engine according to the spirit of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the optical engine 20 according to the present invention includes a lamp assembly 21 in which white light is generated by a high voltage, and unpolarized light emitted from the lamp assembly 21 in red, green, and blue. The color wheel assembly 22, the light tunnel assembly 24 which makes the light separated by red, green, and blue uniformly while passing through the color wheel assembly 22, and passes through the light tunnel assembly 24. A condensing lens 25 in which uniform and uniform light is collected, a folding mirror 29 reflecting light passing through the condensing lens 25, and a folding mirror 29. By the total reflection prism 30 reflecting the reflected light again by the light reflected by the total reflection prism 30, the DMD assembly 26 to form image information, and is reflected from the DMD assembly 26 Double the number of pixels of light ( An actuator 27 for irradiating and doubling and a projection lens assembly 31 for enlarging the light passing through the actuator 27 are included. Here, the assembly of the lamp assembly 21, the color wheel assembly 22, the light tunnel assembly 24 and the condensing lens 25 is called an illumination system. The aggregate of the folding mirror 29 and the total reflection prism 30 is called a reflectometer, and the aggregate of the reflectometer and the DMD assembly 26 is called a synthetic system.

In more detail, the lamp assembly 21 includes a lamp 212 that emits white light and a lamp case 211 that protects the lamp 212. In addition, the reflector of the lamp 212 is curved to have a predetermined curvature, and serves to change the light emitted from the burner of the lamp 212 to be focused at a predetermined distance, that is, a focal length.

In addition, the color wheel assembly 22 may be divided into red, green, and blue color wheels (also referred to as 221: RGB color filters) and rotate at high speed. A motor 223 driving the wheel 221 and a heat dissipation fin 222 for cooling the motor 223.

In detail, light emitted from the lamp 212 by the reflector of the lamp 212 is focused on the surface of the color wheel 221. The light focused on the color wheel 221 passes through the color wheel 221 and takes on any one color of red, green, and blue. Here, the color wheel 221 has a disk shape having a predetermined diameter, the disk is divided into red, green, blue. Accordingly, the unpolarized light reflected by the reflector has one of red, blue, and green colors due to the color of the color wheel located at the moment of condensing.

In addition, the color wheel assembly 22 and the light tunnel assembly 24 are housed inside the light tunnel housing 23.

In addition, the light tunnel assembly 24 is also called a rod lens, and serves to uniformly make colored light passing through the color wheel 221.

In detail, the light tunnel assembly 24 is formed by joining four small, long rectangular bar mirrors facing each other. The light passing through the color wheel assembly 22 is diffusely reflected while passing through the light tunnel, so that the brightness distribution is uniform.

In addition, the condensing lens 25 performs a function of condensing red, green, and blue light uniformly while passing through the light tunnel assembly 24 to the DMD elements constituting the DMD assembly 26. do.

The total reflection prism 30 may also be referred to as a total internal reflection (TIR) prism, and a prism having a large refractive index and a prism having a relatively small refractive index are bonded to each other. The light irradiated from the condensing lens 25 is totally reflected or transmitted according to the incident angle due to the difference in refractive index.

In detail, each object has a unique refractive index, and the difference in refractive index determines the critical angle at which light is totally reflected or transmitted.

Therefore, light incident at an angle greater than or equal to a critical angle is totally reflected by the total reflection prism 30, and light incident at an angle smaller than or equal to a critical angle passes through the total reflection prism 30.

In addition, the DMD assembly 26 includes a DMD panel (not shown) and a driver board in which the DMD panel is accommodated. In detail, the driver board is a device for controlling the driving of the ballast and the color wheel or controlling the image.

On the other hand, the DMD panel is designed such that the same amount of fine mirrors as the resolution of the display is arranged so as to have a one-to-one correspondence with the screen.

In detail, the DMD panel determines whether the red, green, and blue light transmitted through the total reflection prism 30 is emitted toward the screen or discarded out of the screen. The DMD panel is mounted in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory and driven by a signal transmitted from the CMOS memory.

In more detail, the micromirror constituting the DMD panel is manufactured in the form of a fine diamond-shaped pixel having a width and width of 16 μm, and tilted by ± 10 degrees according to a signal transmitted from the CMOS, thereby reducing the total reflection prism 30. Passing light is either reflected towards the screen or thrown out of the screen.

In addition, the actuator 27 is disposed between the DMD panel and the projection lens assembly 31, and a mirror is mounted at the center portion. In detail, the actuator 27 functions to double the number of pixels of the image signal by refracting and dividing the image signal emitted from the DMD panel by half a frame. Due to the refraction characteristics of the mirror, the resolution of the screen is increased. In addition, the actuator includes a transmission type and a reflection type.

In addition, the projection lens assembly 31 functions to enlarge the image passing through the actuator 27 toward the rearview mirror 3.

In the optical engine 20 having the above-described configuration, the actuator 27, the total reflection prism 30, and the folding mirror 29 are inserted from different surfaces of the reflector case 28 so that one reflectometer may be used. Configure. The color wheel assembly 22 and the light tunnel assembly 24 are accommodated in the light tunnel housing 23 to constitute another assembly. In addition, the lamp assembly 210 forms a separate assembly together with the lamp 212 mounted inside the lamp case 211, and the light tunnel housing 23 is in close contact with the front of the lamp assembly 21. .

As described above, since a plurality of parts form a single assembly, there is an advantage that parts replacement and service are easily performed.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing the optical engine coupled to the base according to the spirit of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the optical engine unit 10 according to the present invention includes an optical engine 20 for generating a desired image screen using light and a base 11 on which the optical engine 20 is mounted. Is done. In addition, the optical engine 20 may be integrally separated from the base 11.

In detail, the optical engine 20 is completely separated from the base 11 by removing only eight fastening members that allow the optical engine 20 to be fixed to the base 11. Therefore, there is an advantage that the service of the optical engine 20 is made easily, and the disassembly and assembly process is very simple.

In addition, in order for the optical engine 20 assembly to be secured to the base 11, it is not necessary to first have the components of the optical engine 20 assembled to the base 11. That is, the optical engine 20 is assembled separately, and then integrally mounted on the base 11.

In addition, in the case of the optical engine 20 according to the present invention, a surface in which the lamp assembly 21 and the light tunnel housing 23 are in close contact is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical plane.

In detail, the front surface of the lamp case 211, that is, the surface closely contacting the light tunnel housing 23 is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle θ in the direction in which light is emitted. Preferably it is formed to be inclined at an angle within the range of approximately 10 to 13 degrees, more preferably to be formed to be inclined to about 11 degrees. In addition, since the lamp 212 is coupled to the front surface of the lamp case 211, the light path of the light emitted from the lamp 212 is also inclined about 11 degrees downward from the horizontal plane. In addition, a combination of the light tunnel assembly 24 and the condensing lens 25 to allow the light emitted from the lamp 212 to pass is inclined about 11 degrees downward from the horizontal plane.

Meanwhile, a through hole 111 is formed inside the base 11 to assemble the condensing lens 25 assembled to be inclined at a predetermined angle from a horizontal plane, and the reflection assembled to an end side of the condensing lens 25. The bottom part of the system case 28 is inserted through. As a result, the height of the projection lens assembly 31 is lower than in the prior art.

4 is a front perspective view illustrating a state in which an optical engine according to the spirit of the present invention is coupled to a base, and FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the optical engine unit according to the spirit of the present invention.

4 and 5, as described above, when the optical engine 20 is seated on the base 11, a portion of the condensing lens 25 and the bottom of the reflectometer case 28 are described. A part is inserted into the through hole 111.

In detail, light emitted obliquely from the lamp 212 toward the bottom passes through the light tunnel 24 and the condensing lens 25 and then strikes the folding mirror 29 mounted on the reflectometer case 28. Will be hit. Light hitting the folding mirror 29 is reflected by the total reflection prism 30. In addition, the light reflected by the total reflection prism 30 is totally reflected at the refractive surface of the total reflection prism 30, and is concentrated on a DMD panel coupled to the front surface of the DMD assembly 26. The light condensed on the DMD panel is reflected and passes through the actuator 28 to undergo a pixel doubling process, and then proceeds to the projection lens assembly 31.

By this configuration, since the optical path of the light emitted from the lamp 212 is formed to be inclined approximately 11 degrees from the horizontal line to the bottom, the folding mirror 29 is also coupled to the position close to the base 11 . That is, a portion of the lower end of the reflector case 28 is inserted into the through hole 111, whereby the height of the upper surface of the projection lens assembly 31 is lower than in the related art.

As a result, the height of the inner space of the projection television in which the optical engine unit 10 is accommodated, i.e., the lower space of the screen 4, is reduced. Thus, there is an advantage that the total volume of the projection television is reduced while the size of the screen 4 does not change.

By the projection system according to the present invention having the above configuration, by reducing the height of the optical engine, there is an advantage that the overall volume and weight of the projection system is reduced.

In detail, there is an effect that the overall volume of the projection television set is reduced while the screen specification of the projection system is maintained.

Such, through the reduction of the overall volume and weight of the product, there is an additional effect of increasing customer satisfaction.

Claims (6)

An optical engine for forming an image of a desired color color using white light emitted from the lamp; And a base, through which a part of the optical engine is inserted through and seated in a state in which a part of the optical engine is seated on an upper surface thereof, so that the optical engine is coupled to be inclined downwardly from a horizontal plane by a predetermined angle. The method of claim 1, The optical path of the light traveling into the optical engine is inclined in the range of 10 to 13 degrees downward from the horizontal plane. The method of claim 1, A part of the optical engine is inserted through a through hole formed inside the base. A lamp system, an illumination system in which light emitted from the lamp assembly is converted into colored light, a synthesis system for reflecting or refracting light passing through the illumination system, and a image transmitted from the synthesis system to be projected onto a screen. An optical engine including a projection lens unit; And a base having the optical engine seated on an upper surface thereof, and having a through hole for penetrating a portion of the illumination system or the synthesis system therein. And a part of the illumination system or the synthesis system penetrates the through-hole, so that the optical engine is coupled to be inclined downward by a predetermined angle from a horizontal plane . The method of claim 4, wherein The illumination system includes a light tunnel and a condensing lens, A lower portion of the condensing lens is inserted into the through hole. The method of claim 4, wherein The optical path of the light from the lamp assembly to the synthesis system is inclined 11 degrees downward from the horizontal plane.

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