Projection apparatus

• US 6,676,280 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Susumu, Shinoda, Makoto, Takatsuka, Hiroshi, Ono, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, GUIYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/662,770
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 362/269, 362/271, 362/287, 362/375, 362/428, 353/87
• US Class Current: 362/372
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/20 Lamp housings

Abstract

In a projection apparatus projecting an image by using light of a light source contained in a housing, there is provided a light source mounting device in which when the light source in the housing is replaced, the light source is mounted and the light source is raised from a position of an opening used for taking in and out a light source to a normal position to make positioning, so that the light source in the housing can be simply replaced.

Claims

1. An apparatus for projecting an image by using light of a light source within a housing comprising:

a liquid crystal projection self-contained in said housing which projects an image by using light from said light source within said housing;

a light source mounting device for inserting the light source into a light source holder so that the light source is mounted in the light source holder and is raised from a position from which the light source is inserted to a normal position;

said light source mounting device further including means for completely removing said light source from said light source holder for rapid replacement of the light source.

2. A projection apparatus according to claim 1, and further including a case for supporting the light source holder movably in a vertical direction, and a member having a cam for raising the light source holder when the case is inserted and for positioning the light source to the normal position.

3. A projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the light source holder includes at least two pins protruding from both sides and two ribs protruding from both the sides,

the ribs are inserted into first long grooves provided at both sides of the supporting case and hold a posture of the light source holder in a constant direction, and

the pins are inserted in second long grooves provided at both the sides of the supporting case, and ends of the pins are brought into contact with the cam and move up and down along a cam shape.

4. A projection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the light source holder includes a positioning pin provided vertically to an opening surface through which the light source radiates, and

when the light source holder reaches the normal position, the pin is inserted in a positioning hole provided at an attachment surface of an opposite optical block so that positioning is made.

5. A projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source mounting device includes a link mechanism portion for raising the light source holder by moving the light source holder and for positioning the light source to the normal position.

6. A projection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the light source mounting device includes two link members attached to the housing and rotatable at roughly a center portion,

the light source holder is detachably and rotatably attached to one end of each of the link members through pins provided at both sides of the light source holder, and

the other end of each of the link members includes a long groove, one end of the lever for rotating the link member is rotatably attached through the long groove, and the link member is rotated by moving the one end of the lever horizontally or vertically, so that the light source holder attached to the one end of the link member is moved.

7. A projection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the light source holder includes a positioning pin provided vertically to an opening surface through which the light source radiates, and

when the light source holder reaches the normal position, the pin is inserted in a positioning hole provided at an attachment surface of an opposite optical block so that positioning is made.

8. A projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source mounting device includes a rotation operating portion for positioning the light source by rotating the light source holder around an axis orthogonal to an optical axis of the light source to move the light source to the normal position.

9. A projection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the light source holder includes two pins near an opening through which light is radiated and at a lower portion of both sides, and

the light source holder is detachably and rotatably attached to one end of each of support members provided at the housing of the projection apparatus through the pins.

10. A projection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the light source holder includes a positioning pin provided vertically to an opening surface through which the light source radiates, and

when the light source holder reaches the normal position, the pin is inserted in a position hole provided at an attachment surface of an opposite optical block so that positioning is made.

11. A projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light source mounting device includes a rotation operating portion for positioning the light source by rotating the light source holder around an axis parallel to an optical axis of the light source to move the light source to the normal position.

12. A projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source mounting device includes a case for supporting the light source holder movably in a direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction, and a member having a cam for raising the light source holder in the direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction when the case is inserted and for positioning the light source to the normal position.

13. A projection apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the member having the cam forms a duct of air, and the light source holder includes an air flow path for supplying cooling air through the member having the cam.