Projection apparatus

• US 7,911,411 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohta, Yusuke, Yoshikawa, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar; Srilakshmi K
• Application Number:
  US11/716,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 345/32, 345/30, 353/20, 353/72, 353/73, 353/77, 359/212.1, 359/214.1
• US Class Current: 345/32
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/008 using micromirror devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/208 Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light

Abstract

A projection apparatus for inexpensively adjusting the irradiating region of light on an image forming device to irradiate the light to the entire image forming surface of the image forming device is provided.

The projector including a light tunnel for passing the light emitted from a lamp and changing the light to condensed uniform light, a mirror for reflecting the light passed through the light tunnel, a DMD for reflecting the light at an image forming surface irradiated with the light reflected by the mirror and forming an image, a lens for projecting the image formed with the DMD, and a frame for attaching these components of an image projection optical system; further includes a rotation adjustment fixing mechanism for fixing the light tunnel to the frame with the rotation angle having the axis of the light tunnel as substantially the center adjusted with an incident port of light of the light tunnel facing the lamp and an exit port facing the mirror.

Claims

1. A projection apparatus comprising:

a light tunnel of square tube shape configured to pass light emitted from a light source and change the light to condensed uniform light;

a mirror configured to reflect the light passed through the light tunnel;

a DMD (Digital Micro-mirror Device) configured to reflect the light at an image forming surface irradiated with the light reflected by the mirror and form an image;

a lens configured to project the image formed with the DMD;

a frame on which the light tunnel, the mirror, the DMD, and the lens are supported; and

a rotation adjustment fixing mechanism comprising;

a base rotatably supported on a supporting part formed on the frame at one surface side of the base so that, when an incident port of the light tunnel faces the light source and an exit port faces the mirror, a rotation axis of the base is aligned with a central axis of the light tunnel, the light tunnel being fixed at an opposite surface side at the center of the base with a fixture;

a plurality of pins configured to swingably support one end of the base, each of the plurality of pins being passed through a plurality of holes formed at the one end of the base in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the light tunnel and attached to the frame;

a spring arranged around each pin and configured to press an inclined surface of the base formed so as to incline in an axial direction of the light tunnel around each hole of the base towards the supporting part side of the frame;

a first screw passed through a hole formed on the other end of the base in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the light tunnel and screwed into a screw hole formed on the frame, the first screw being configured to press the other end of the base towards the supporting part of the frame with a head; and

a second screw screwed into a screw hole formed on the other end of the base to be passed through the base so that an inclined part formed at a distal end of the second screw engages with an inclined surface formed on the frame, the inclined part formed at the distal end of the second screw being parallel to the inclined surface of the frame, and the second screw being configured to press the base against a side wall of the frame in the axial direction of the light tunnel, wherein

the rotation adjustment fixing mechanism adjusts a rotation angle of the base and fixes the light tunnel to the frame by changing the screw-fit depth of the first screw with respect to the screw hole of the frame and screwing the second screw into the screw hole of the base so as to engage with the inclined surface of the frame.

2. A projection apparatus comprising,

a light tunnel configured to pass light emitted from a light source and change the light to condensed uniform light;

a mirror configured to reflect the light passed through the light tunnel;

an image forming device configured to reflect the light at an image forming surface irradiated with the light reflected by the mirror and form an image;

a lens configured to project the image formed with the image forming device;

a frame on which the light tunnel, the mirror, the image forming device, and the lens are supported; and

a rotation adjustment fixing mechanism configured to adjust a rotation angle of the light tunnel and fix the light tunnel to the frame while an incident port of the light tunnel faces the light source and an exit port faces the mirror,

wherein the rotation adjustment fixing mechanism comprises;

a base rotatably supported on a supporting part formed on the frame at one surface side of the base with the incident port of light of the light tunnel facing the light source and the exit port facing the mirror, the light tunnel being fixed at an opposite surface side at the center of the base with a fixture;

a pin configured to swingably support one end of the base, the pin being passed through a hole formed at the one end of the base in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the light tunnel and attached to the frame;

a spring configured to bias the one end of the base towards the supporting part of the frame;

a first screw passed through a hole formed on the other end of the base in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the light tunnel and screwed into a screw hole formed on the frame, the first screw being configured to press the other end of the base towards the supporting part of the frame with a head; and

a second screw screwed into a screw hole formed on the base to pass through the base and engage with an inclined surface formed on the frame so as to incline in an axial direction of the light tunnel, the second screw being configured to press the base against a side wall of the frame in the axial direction of the light tunnel.

3. The projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spring contacts one surface of the base and presses the one end towards the supporting part of the frame, and an inclined surface is formed at the area contacting the spring of the base so that the inclined surface inclines in an opposite direction to the inclined surface of the frame.