Image projection apparatus

• US 9,010,939 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Fujioka, Tetsuya, Tsukioka, Yasutada, Yamada, Masamichi, Ishikawa, Naoyuki, Kanai, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, SULTAN U.
• Application Number:
  US13/665,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20130128234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/37, 353/52, 353/61, 353/79, 353/98, 353/119, 348743-747, 348/787, 348/789, 348/794, 349/5, 349 7- 9
• US Class Current: 353/52
• 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 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2066 Reflectors in illumination beam in projection beam G03B21/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an image projection apparatus includes a light source unit, an image forming unit that forms an image using light from the light source unit, and a heat releasing unit that is provided to the image forming unit and releases heat from the image forming unit, and projecting the image formed by the image forming unit. The image projection apparatus includes a facing member that faces an installation surface on which a main body of the apparatus is installed; and a foot that allows the facing member to support the image forming unit. The heat releasing unit is provided between the facing member and the image forming unit.

Claims

1. An image projection apparatus comprising:

a light source unit;

an image forming unit that forms an image using light from the light source unit, a heat releasing unit that is attached to the image forming unit and releases heat from the image forming unit, a facing member that faces an installation surface on which a main body of the apparatus is installed; and

a foot that allows the facing member to support the image forming unit, wherein a bottom of the foot contacts the facing member so as to provide a space between the facing member and the image forming unit, and the heat releasing unit is provided in the space between the facing member and the image forming unit;

a channel for cooling the heat releasing unit, wherein the heat releasing unit is provided inside of the channel, and the foot is provided outside of the channel;

the channel is disposed in the space and extends in a horizontal direction, the channel being in fluid communication with a blower disposed upstream of the channel via a vertical duct and in fluid communication with a duct downstream of the channel provided to a light source bracket of the light source unit.

2. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foot is provided at a location that does not hamper an airflow for cooling the heat releasing unit.

3. The image projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the foot is provided downstream of the heat releasing unit along the airflow for cooling the heat releasing unit, and at a location that does not hamper an airflow that has cooled the heat releasing unit.

4. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a projecting optical unit that projects the image formed by the image forming unit, wherein

the heat releasing unit, the image forming unit, and the projecting optical unit are arranged in the given order from a side of the installation surface, and

the facing member supports the projecting optical unit.

5. The image projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the projecting optical unit is fixed to the image forming unit.

6. The image projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light source unit, the image forming unit, and the projecting optical unit are provided so that a surface formed by the light source unit, the image forming unit, and the projecting optical unit faces another surface that is provided in a direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, the image formed by the image forming unit being projected on the another surface.

7. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination unit that folds the light from the light source unit to irradiate a digital mirror device of the image forming unit, the illumination unit being support by an illumination bracket including the foot.

8. The image projection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming unit includes a DMD board on which the digital mirror device is mounted on a top surface thereof, and the heat releasing unit is attached to a bottom surface of the DMD board.