IMAGE PROJECTION APPARATUS

• US 20190049824A1
• Filed: 08/06/2018
• Published: 02/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,303,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0955 Lenses lenses per se G02B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0961 Lens arrays lens arrays per se G02B3/0006
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/10 Beam splitting or combining systems polarising systems G02B27/28; mixing and splitting light signals using optical waveguides G02B6/28; beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, by dividing or superposing multiple light beams G02B27/0905
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1026 for use with reflective spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3025 Polarisers, i.e. arrangements capable of producing a definite output polarisation state from an unpolarised input state G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3105 for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391

Abstract

An image projection apparatus includes a light modulation element, a pixel shift unit that includes an optical element configured to shift an optical path of light from a pixel in the light modulation element and to shift a position on a projection surface of projected pixel formed on the projection surface by a projection optical system with the light, and an attachment portion to which the pixel shift unit is attached. The optical element shifts the optical path by a shift amount in accordance with an attachment angle of the pixel shift unit relative to a plane orthogonal to an optical axis from the light modulation element to the projection optical system. The attachment portion is configured to select a plurality of angles for the attachment angle.

Claims

1. An image projection apparatus comprising:

a light modulation element;

a pixel shift unit that includes an optical element configured to shift an optical path of light from a pixel in the light modulation element and to shift a position on a projection surface of projected pixel formed on the projection surface by a projection optical system with the light; and

an attachment portion to which the pixel shift unit is attached,

wherein the optical element shifts the optical path by a shift amount in accordance with an attachment angle of the pixel shift unit relative to a plane orthogonal to an optical axis from the light modulation element to the projection optical system, and

wherein the attachment portion is configured to select a plurality of angles for the attachment angle.

2. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel shift unit further includes a holding member configured to swingably hold the optical element so as to change an inclination angle of the optical element relative to the plane orthogonal to the optical axis, and

wherein the holding member is attached to the attachment portion.

3. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of angles correspond to different pixel pitches in a plurality of light modulation elements.

4. The image projection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of light modulation elements have an equal size of a light modulation surface.

5. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a plurality of holders configured to selectively hold the pixel shift unit.

6. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a plurality of groove portions,

wherein an inclination angle of each of the plurality of groove portions is different each other.

7. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion includes a rotating member configured to rotate so as to change the attachment angle for the pixel shift unit among the plurality of angles.

8. The image projection apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a controller configured to control the attachment angle to be changed by the rotating member, based on information relating to a resolution of the light modulation element.

9. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel shift unit is commonly used for another image projection apparatus that has a different resolution of the light modulation element, when the pixel shift unit is attached to the other image projection apparatus with a different attachment angle.