PROJECTOR

• US 20120182529A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: OTANI, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 9,146,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/38
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0215 the surface having a regular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31

Abstract

A projector includes: a light source which emits laser light; a first diffusing section which diffuses the laser light emitted from the light source to emit a first diffused light; and a light modulation device which modulates the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section. The light modulation device includes a second diffusing section which diffuses the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section to emit a second diffused light, and diffusion intensity distribution of the second diffused light emitted from the second diffusing section is distribution which is consecutive around a central axis of the second diffused light.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a light source which emits laser light;

a first diffusing section which diffuses the laser light emitted from the light source to emit a first diffused light; and

a light modulation device which modulates the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section,

wherein the light modulation device includes a second diffusing section which diffuses the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section to emit a second diffused light, and

wherein diffusion intensity distribution of the second diffused light emitted from the second diffusing section is distribution which is consecutive around a central axis of the second diffused light.

2. The projector according to claim 1,

wherein the diffusion intensity distribution of the second diffused light emitted from the second diffusing section is further distribution which includes a flat portion around the central axis of the second diffused light.

3. The projector according to claim 1,

further comprising a collimating lens which emits the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section toward the light modulation device as a parallel light beam.

4. The projector according to claim 3,

wherein the second diffusing section is a lens array which is disposed on a side of the light modulation device from which the first diffused light is emitted.

5. The projector according to claim 3,

wherein the second diffusing section includes a first lens array, a second lens array and a third lens array,

wherein the first lens array concentrates the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section and emits the concentrated light toward the second lens array,

wherein the second lens array emits the first diffused light emitted from the first lens array toward the third lens array as a parallel light beam,

wherein the third lens array diffuses the first diffused light emitted from the second lens array to emit the second diffused light,

wherein an incident polarizing plate is disposed on an optical path of the first diffused light between the collimating lens and the first lens array, and

wherein an emission polarizing plate is disposed on the optical path of the first diffused light between the second lens array and the third lens array.

6. The projector according to claim 3,

wherein the second diffusing section is a lens array which is disposed on a side of the light modulation device on which the first diffused light is incident.

7. The projector according to claim 3,

wherein the light modulation device has a configuration in which a liquid crystal layer is interposed between a pair of substrates,

wherein a reflection film which includes a reflection surface of a concave or convex shape and reflects the first diffused light is formed on one of the pair of substrates which is disposed on a side opposite to a side on which the first diffused light is incident, and

wherein the reflection film functions as the second diffusing section.

8. The projector according to claim 3,

wherein the light modulation device is a micromirror device which includes a plurality of movable micromirrors and modulates the light,

wherein each micromirror includes a reflection surface of a concave or convex shape which reflects the first diffused light, and

wherein the micromirror functions as the second diffusing section.

9. The projector according to claim 1,

further comprising a driving device which temporally changes a region of the first diffusing section which is irradiated by the laser light.

10. The projector according to claim 9,

wherein the driving device includes a motor which rotates the first diffusing section around a predetermined rotational axis.

11. The projector according to claim 1,

wherein the first diffusing section is a hologram device.

12. The projector according to claim 1,

wherein the first diffusing section is a diffusing plate in which diffusing particles which diffuse light are dispersed therein.