Apparatus for positioning and adjusting a light pipe

• US 20030053787A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Hung-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 6,773,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3616 Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench supporting carriers of a microbench type G02B6/3648; micromanipulators B25J7/00; cassettes, bobbins G02B6/4439

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning and adjusting a light pipe includes a bracket that is formed by folding a metallic plate. When the metallic plate is folded to form the bracket, a first end and a second end of the metallic plate perpendicularly press against each other to form a close space for accommodating the light pipe. The apparatus for positioning and adjusting a light pipe further includes a clip device for positioning the bracket. A first adjustment screw has a front end pressing against the side surface of the bracket. A second adjustment screw has a front end pressing against the bottom surface of the bracket. The horizontal position of the light pipe is modified by adjusting the first adjustment screw. The vertical position of the light pipe is modified by adjusting the second adjustment screw.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning and adjusting a light pipe, said light pipe including a top glass, a bottom glass, a right glass and a left glass, said light pipe being installed on an optical engine of a projector, said apparatus comprising:

a bracket formed by a metallic plate, said metallic plate comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said bracket is formed by folding said metallic plate, and wherein said first end and said second end substantially perpendicularly press to each other to form a space to accommodate said light pipe, said bracket having at least a protrusion, said protrusion contacting with said light pipe at a lateral-side surface;

a clip device for positioning said bracket; and

a first adjustment screw having a front end, said front end of said first adjustment screw pressing against a side surface of said bracket, a horizontal position of said light pipe being adjusted by said first screw and said protrusion; and

a second adjustment screw having a front end, said front end of said second adjustment screw pressing against a bottom surface of said bracket, a vertical position of said light pipe being adjusted by said second screw and said protrusion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said metallic plate is made of stainless steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protrusion contacts with a lateral-side surface of said top glass.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protrusion contacts with a lateral-side surface of said bottom glass.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protrusion contacts with a lateral-side surface of said right glass.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said protrusion contacts with a lateral-side surface of said left glass.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bracket further comprises:

a first protrusion and a second protrusion respectively contacting with a left lateral-side surface of said bottom glass and a bottom surface of said left glass;

a third protrusion and a forth protrusion respectively contacting with a right lateral-side surface of said bottom glass and a bottom surface of said right glass;

a fifth protrusion and a sixth protrusion respectively contacting with a left lateral-side surface of said top glass and a top surface of said left glass; and

a seventh protrusion and an eighth protrusion respectively contacting with a right lateral-side surface of said top glass and a top surface of said right glass.

8. An apparatus for positioning and adjusting a light pipe, said light pipe being installed on an optical engine, said light pipe including a top glass, a bottom glass, a right glass, and a left glass, said top glass comprising a left lateral-side surface of said top glass and a right lateral-side surfaces of said top glass, and said bottom glass comprising a left lateral-side surface of said bottom glass and a right lateral-side surface of said bottom glass, said apparatus comprising:

a clip device fixed on said optical engine to form a space between said clip device and said optical engine;

a bracket disposed in said space, said bracket including at least a protrusion, said protrusion contacting with said glass at a lateral-side surface;

a horizontal adjustment device disposed on and being movable horizontally with said optical engine, said horizontal adjustment device pressing against a side surface of said bracket, a horizontal position of said light pipe being adjusted by said horizontal adjustment device and said protrusion; and

a vertical adjustment device disposed on and being movable vertically with said optical engine, said vertical adjustment device pressing against a bottom surface of said bracket, a vertical position of said light pipe being adjusted by said vertical adjustment device and said protrusion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said protrusion further comprises an upper left protrusion and an upper right protrusion, said upper left protrusion contacting with said left lateral-side surface of said top glass, and said upper right protrusion contacting with said right lateral-side surface of said top glass.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said protrusion further comprises a lower left protrusion and a lower right protrusion, said lower left protrusion contacting with said left lateral-side surface of said bottom glass, and said lower right protrusion contacting with said right lateral-side surface of said bottom glass.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said right glass comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, said upper right protrusion contacting with said top surface and said right lateral-side surface, and said lower right protrusion contacting with said bottom surface and said right lateral-side surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said left glass comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, said upper left protrusion contacting with said top surface and said left lateral-side surface, said lower left protrusion contacting with said bottom surface and said left lateral-side surface.