Image display apparatus

• US 7,984,994 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sakai, Toshihiko, Yonekubo, Masatoshi, Kamijima, Shunji, Morikuni, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, SULTAN U.
• Application Number:
  US12/805,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 353/47, 353/48, 353/50, 353/64, 353/66, 353/70, 353/71, 353/73, 353/74, 353/81, 353/82, 353/98, 353/99, 353/100, 353/101, 353/119, 359/629, 359/630, 359/632, 359/633, 359/634, 359/635, 359/636, 359/637, 359/638, 359/639, 359/640, 348/41, 348/93, 348/94, 348/202, 348/744, 348/E9.025, 348/E9.027
• US Class Current: 353/99
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0852 having a field corrector only
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/10 Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/62 Translucent screens

Abstract

A projection optical system including a projection lens, a first mirror that reflects a light from the projection lens, and a second mirror that widens an angle of a light from the first mirror by reflecting the light projects a light modulated according to an image signal from an optical engine unit. A third mirror reflects a light from the projection optical system. A screen transmits a light from the third mirror. An optical axis of the projection lens substantially matches an optical axis of the second mirror, and the light from the optical engine unit is shifted to a specific side from the optical axis of the projection lens.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus that displays an image by projecting a light modulated according to an image signal on a surface to be irradiated, the image display apparatus comprising:

a housing; and

a projection optical system that is housed in the housing, and projects the light modulated according to the image signal from an optical engine unit, the projection optical system including;

a projection lens;

a first mirror that reflects a light from the projection lens; and

a second mirror that widens an angle of a light from the first mirror by reflecting the light, wherein

the projection lens and the second mirror are arranged in such a manner that an optical axis of the projection lens substantially matches an optical axis of the second mirror, and shift the light from the optical engine unit to a specific side from the optical axis of the projection lens, the surface to be irradiated is on the outside of the housing, and a light traveling from the projection lens to the first mirror travels in a direction along the surface to be irradiated.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the optical axis of the projection lens and the optical axis of the second mirror are substantially parallel to a normal of the surface to be irradiated.

3. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

an incidence plane of the first mirror and a portion of the second minor on which the light from the first mirror is incident are substantially parallel to each other.

4. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the projection optical system is configured in such a manner that the light from the projection lens, which is deflected at about 90 degrees by the first minor, is incident on the second mirror.

5. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the projection optical system is configured by integrating the projection lens, the first minor, and the second minor.

6. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the optical engine unit includes a spatial light modulator that modulates a light according to the image signal, and

the spatial light modulator is provided in a position on which a light that is shifted to a specific side from the optical axis is incident.

7. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the projection lens is in a shape in which a part of at least one of front-group lenses is removed.