Optical device and rear projector

• US 7,188,956 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Otsuka, Nobutoshi, Kosaka, Zenta
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval; Melissa Jan
• Assistant Examiner(s): KONG, ANDREW D
• Application Number:
  US10/950,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 353/54, 353/119, 353/122, 353/100, 353/101, 359/288, 359/245, 349/58
• US Class Current: 353/52
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/10 Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• 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 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3144 Cooling systems cooling of liquid crystal cells in general G02F1/133382; cooling of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/16

Abstract

A heat-conductive frame (448) is provided extending between a holder frame (446) and a fixing member (447) of an optical device (44). Additionally, a heat-conductive member (450) is provided, which abuts on a dust-proof glass on the light-irradiation side of a liquid crystal panel (440) and the fixing member (447). The holder frame (446) and the fixing member (447) are fixed by a heat-conductive agglutinate. Besides, a heat-conductive member (452) is attached extending between a light-irradiation surface of a transparent member (443A) of an irradiation-side polarization plate (443) and the fixing member (447). A heat-radiation fin (449) having a plurality of fin members (449B) is attached to an upper plate body (447C) of the fixing member (447).

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

an optical modulator that modulates a light beam irradiated by a light source in accordance with image information; and

a color-combining optical device that combines the optical image formed by the optical modulator,

wherein the optical modulator is housed in a holder frame having an opening formed corresponding to an image formation area of the optical modulator,

wherein the holder frame housing the optical modulator therein, is fixed to a heat-conductive fixing member attached along a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device,

wherein a heat-radiation fin with platy fin members is provided on an extension of the fixing member, the extension extending along the light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device,

wherein a cooling fluid is flown to the optical modulator, and

wherein a direction in which the fin members of the heat-radiation fin are arranged inclines against a path of the cooling fluid by approximately 45 degrees.

2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat-radiation fin and the fixing member are integrally formed.

3. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat-radiation fin is detachably attached to the fixing member.

4. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the fin members of the heat-radiation fin are treated by anti-reflection treatment so that the light beam will not be reflected.

5. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein a heat-conductive member is provided extending between the holder frame and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

6. The optical device according to claim 5, wherein a heat-radiation fin is formed at the heat-conductive member.

7. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the holder frame housing the optical modulator therein and the fixing member are bonded by a heat-conductive bonding agent.

8. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein a heat-conductive member is provided between a light-irradiation surface of the optical modulator and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

9. The optical device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical conversion plate disposed between a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device and a light-irradiation surface of the fixing member,

wherein the optical conversion plate includes a transparent member made of heat-conductive material, and an optical conversion film attached on the transparent member to convert optical characteristics of the light beam irradiated by the optical modulator, and

wherein a light-incident surface of the transparent member and the light-irradiation surface of the fixing member are fixed by interposing a heat-conductive member therebetween.

10. The optical device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical conversion plate disposed between a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device and a light-irradiation surface of the fixing member,

wherein the optical conversion plate includes a transparent member made of heat-conductive material, and an optical conversion film attached on the transparent member to convert optical characteristics of the light beam irradiated by the optical modulator, and

wherein a heat-conductive member is provided extending between a light-irradiation surface of the transparent member and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

11. An optical device, comprising:

an optical modulator that modulates a light beam irradiated by a light source in accordance with image information; and

a color-combining optical device that combines the optical image formed by the optical modulator,

wherein the optical modulator is housed in a holder frame having an opening formed corresponding to an image formation area of the optical modulator,

wherein the holder frame housing the optical modulator therein, is fixed to a heat-conductive fixing member attached along a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device, and

wherein a heat-conductive member is provided extending between the holder frame and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

12. The optical device according to claim 11, wherein a heat-radiation fin is formed at the heat-conductive member.

13. The optical device according to claim 11, wherein the holder frame housing the optical modulator therein and the fixing member are bonded by a heat-conductive bonding agent.

14. The optical device according to claim 11, wherein a heat-conductive member is provided between a light-irradiation surface of the optical modulator and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

15. The optical device according to claim 11, further comprising:

an optical conversion plate disposed between a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device and a light-irradiation surface of the fixing member,

wherein the optical conversion plate includes a transparent member made of heat-conductive material, and an optical conversion film attached on the transparent member to convert optical characteristics of the light beam irradiated by the optical modulator, and

wherein a light-incident surface of the transparent member and the light-irradiation surface of the fixing member are fixed by interposing a heat-conductive member therebetween.

16. The optical device according to claim 11, further comprising:

an optical conversion plate disposed between a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device and a light-irradiation surface of the fixing member,

wherein the optical conversion plate includes a transparent member made of heat-conductive material, and an optical conversion film attached on the transparent member to convert optical characteristics of the light beam irradiated by the optical modulator, and

wherein a heat-conductive member is provided extending between a light-irradiation surface of the transparent member and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

17. A rear projector, comprising:

an optical device that modulates a light beam irradiated by a light source to form an optical image in accordance with image information;

an image formation section including a projection optical system that projects the optical image in an enlarged manner;

a casing for housing the image formation section; and

a screen provided on the casing in an exposed manner, on which the optical image formed by the image formation section is projected,

the optical device comprising;

an optical modulator that modulates the light beam irradiated by the light source in accordance with the image information; and

a color-combining optical device that combines the optical image formed by the optical modulator,

wherein the optical modulator is housed in a holder frame having an opening formed corresponding to an image formation area of the optical modulator,

wherein the holder frame housing the optical modulator therein, is fixed to a heat-conductive fixing member attached along a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device,

wherein a heat-radiation fin with platy fin members is provided on an extension of the fixing member, the extension extending along the light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device,

wherein a cooling fluid is flown to the optical modulator, and

wherein a direction in which the fin members of the heat-radiation fin are arranged inclines against a path of the cooling fluid by approximately 45 degrees.

18. The rear projector according to claim 17, further comprising:

an optical conversion plate having an optical conversion film that converts optical characteristics of the light beam entering the optical modulator of the optical device and a transparent member, on which the optical conversion film is attached; and

an optical component casing, in which the optical device and the optical conversion plate are housed,

wherein a heat-radiation fin with a plurality of platy fin members is provided on a heat-conductive fixing member, by which the optical conversion plate is fixed to the optical component casing.

19. A rear projector, comprising:

an optical device that modulates a light beam irradiated by a light source to form an optical image in accordance with image information;

an image formation section including a projection optical system that projects the optical image in an enlarged manner;

a casing for housing the image formation section; and

a screen provided on the casing in an exposed manner, on which the optical image formed by the image formation section is projected,

the optical device comprising;

an optical modulator that modulates the light beam irradiated by the light source in accordance with the image information; and

a color-combining optical device that combines the optical image formed by the optical modulator,

wherein the optical modulator is housed in a holder frame having an opening formed corresponding to an image formation area of the optical modulator,

wherein the holder frame housing the optical modulator therein, is fixed to a heat-conductive fixing member attached along a light-incident surface of the color-combining optical device, and

wherein a heat-conductive member is provided extending between the holder frame and the fixing member by abutting on both of them.

20. The rear projector according to claim 19, further comprising:

an optical conversion plate having an optical conversion film that converts optical characteristics of the light beam entering the optical modulator of the optical device and a transparent member, on which the optical conversion film is attached; and

an optical component casing, in which the optical device and the optical conversion plate are housed,

wherein a heat-radiation fin with a plurality of platy fin members is provided on a heat-conductive fixing member, by which the optical conversion plate is fixed to the optical component casing.