Self correcting projector

• US 5,800,032 A
• Filed: 05/13/1997
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Arima, Hirobumi, Uchiyama, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWLING, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US08/855,115
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 353/69, 353/70, 353/119, 353/34, 353/37, 353/122, 353/31
• US Class Current: 353/69
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

A projector for projecting images onto a screen which includes automatically adjusting the image to correct for horizontal slant. The projector includes a spatial light modulation element and a projection optical system including an optical axis. The spatial light modulation element is automatically rotated about the optical axis to correct for horizontal positioning of the projected image. In a first embodiment the spatial light modulation element is rotated about the optical axis utilizing a gravitational weight. In another embodiment the spatial light modulation element is rotated about the optical axis in response to a sensor signal. The projector also includes the ability to convert the image from a horizontal projection to a vertical projection in response to a changeover signal.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a spatial light modulation element; and

a projection optical system having an optical axis, wherein the spatial light modulation element automatically rotates about an axis parallel to the optical axis in response to an external parameter.

2. A projector as recited in claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulation element is retained by a retaining member so as to freely rotate about the optical axis of said projection optical system, and the orientation in the horizontal direction is achieved by providing the spatial light modulation element with a gravitational member therein providing automatic leveling.

3. A projector as recited in claim 2, wherein the gravitational member is a weight.

4. A projector as recited in claim 2, wherein the gravitational member is the light source.

5. A projector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light source, wherein the light source, the spatial light modulation element and the projection optical system are maintained in a housing,

wherein the optical axis of the projection optical system coincides with the center of the spatial light modulation element and the housing is retained by a retaining member so as to freely rotate about the optical axis, the housing further including a gravitational member which provides orientation in the horizontal direction of the housing.

6. A projector as recited in claim 5, wherein the gravitational member is a weight.

7. A projector as recited in claim 5, wherein the gravitational member is the light source.

8. A projector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting orientation of the spatial light modulation element about the optical axis and means for rotating the spatial light modulation element to provide a horizontal projected image.

9. A projector comprising an optical unit wherein the optical unit is positionally arranged within a housing, wherein the optical unit comprises a light source, a spatial light modulation element and a projection optical system including an optical axis, wherein the optical axis coincides with the center of the spatial light modulation element and wherein the optical unit is retained by the housing so as to freely rotate about the optical axis, and wherein the orientation in the horizontal direction of the optical unit is adjusted by a gravitational member coupled to the optical unit.

10. A projector as recited in claim 9, wherein the gravitational member is a weight.

11. A projector as recited in claim 9, wherein the gravitational member is the light source.

12. A projector that accommodates a light source, a spatial light modulation element, and a projection optical system within a housing, wherein, the optical axis of said projection optical system coincides with the center of said spatial light modulation element, wherein said housing is retained via a retaining member so as to freely rotate about an axis parallel to the optical axis, and the orientation in the horizontal direction of the housing is corrected by providing the housing with an automatic leveling function via a gravitational member.

13. A projector as recited in claim 12, wherein the gravitational member is a weight.

14. A projector as recited in claim 12, wherein the gravitational member is the light source.

15. A projector comprising a light source, a mount into which film is loaded, and a projection optical system wherein, the mount is retained by a retaining member so as to freely rotate about an optical axis of the projection optical system, and the orientation in the horizontal direction of the mount is corrected by providing the mount with an automatic leveling function via a gravitational member.

16. A projector as recited in claim 15, wherein the gravitational member is a weight.

17. A projector as recited in claim 15, wherein the gravitational member is the light source.

18. A projector comprising a spatial light modulation element, an automatic leveling mechanism that retains the spatial light modulation element so that it freely rotates about an optical axis of a projection optical system, a sensor which detects slant in the horizontal direction of the spatial light modulation element and automatically corrects the slant.

19. A projector as recited in claim 18, further comprising a vertical forward/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

20. A projector as recited in claim 19, wherein the image position controller, while simultaneously controllably driving the actuator via a signal from the vertical/horizontal image surface changeover switch, controls a drive circuit of the spatial light modulation element.

21. A projector as recited in claim 20, further comprising means to output a status signal of the vertical/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

22. A projector as recited in claim 18, wherein the automatic leveling mechanism comprises an actuator that rotates the spatial light modulation element about the optical axis and an image position controller that controllably drives the actuator in response to a signal from the sensor.

23. A projector as recited in claim 22, further comprising a vertical forward/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

24. A projector as recited in claim 23, further comprising means to output a status signal of the vertical/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

25. A projector as recited in claim 18, wherein the automatic leveling mechanism comprises an actuator that rotates the optical block about the optical axis and an image position controller that controllable drives the actuator in response to a signal from the sensor.

26. A projector as recited in claim 25, further comprising a vertical forward/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

27. A projector as recited in claim 26, further comprising means to output a status signal of the vertical/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

28. A projector comprising a dichroic mirror that resolves and composes polarized light waves, divided via a polarized beam splitter into the respective light colors of red, green, and blue, and a spatial light modulation element that, via picture image signals, modulates the respective colors of light resolved via the dichroic mirror and an automatic leveling mechanism that integrates the spatial light modulation element and dichroic mirror to form an optical block wherein the optical block rotates freely about an optical axis of a projection optical system wherein slant in the horizontal direction of the optical block is automatically corrected in response to signals from a sensor.

29. A projector as recited in claim 28, further comprising a vertical forward/horizontal image surface changeover switch.

30. A projector as recited in claim 29, wherein the image position controller, while simultaneously controllably driving the actuator via a signal from the vertical/horizontal image surface changeover switch, controls a drive circuit of the spatial light modulation element.

31. A projector as recited in claim 30, further comprising means to output a status signal of the vertical/horizontal image surface changeover switch.