Projector, projection unit, and interactive board

• US 9,128,365 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Morikuni, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sultan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Danell L
• Application Number:
  US13/428,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 353/98, 353/70, 359/649, 348/744
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/10 Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/147 Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2073 Polarisers in the lamp house peculiar to electronic spatial light modulators H04N9/3197
• 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 projector includes: a main body section including a light source, a display surface irradiated with light from the light source, and an emission optical system capable of emitting the light from the display surface, and once converting the light from the display surface into light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface; and a projection unit projecting the light from the display surface, emitted from the emission optical system, toward an irradiated surface, and having an angle-widening mirror with a concave surface having positive power and reflecting and widening light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface. The main body section or the projection unit includes a variable power optical system varying magnification of the image forming the image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a main body section including

a light source,

a display surface irradiated with light from the light source, and

an emission optical system adapted to emit the light from the display surface, and once converting the light from the display surface into light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface; and

a projection unit adapted to project the light from the emission optical system, which is emitted from the display surface, toward an irradiated surface, and having an angle-widening mirror with a concave surface having positive power and adapted to reflect and widen an angle of light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface,

wherein either one of the main body section and the projection unit includes a variable power optical system adapted to vary magnification of the image forming the image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface, and

wherein the emission optical system is switchable between;

a normal display state in which an image forming the image plane of the display surface parallel to the display surface is imaged within a first range with a relatively long distance along an optical axis, and

a macro display state in which an image forming the image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface is imaged within a second range with a relatively short distance along the optical axis.

2. The projector according to claim 1, wherein:

the variable power optical system is a contraction optical system adapted to relatively contract the image forming the image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface.

3. The projector according to claim 1, wherein:

the projection unit images the image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface on the irradiated surface parallel to the display surface.

5. The projector according to claim 1, wherein:

the main body section is detachably attached to the projector.

6. The projector according to claim 1, wherein:

the emission optical system and the projection unit are arranged so as to have respective optical axes aligned with each other.

7. The projector according to claim 6, wherein:

the emission optical system and the projection unit constitute a shift optical system adapted to cause the light from the display surface to be projected while being shifted from the optical axis.

8. An interactive board comprising:

the projector according to claim 1; and

a screen display section including the irradiated surface, and adapted to allow writing of other information on the irradiated surface,

wherein the main body section including the emission optical system out of the projector is detachably attached.

4. A projector comprising:

a main body section including

a light source,

a display surface illuminated by light from the light source, and

an emission optical system adapted to emit light from the display surface; and

a projection unit adapted to project the light from the emission optical system, which is emitted from the display surface, toward an irradiated surface, and having an angle-widening mirror with a concave surface having positive power and adapted to reflect and widen an angle of light from the display surface,

wherein light forming an image plane of the display surface parallel to the display surface is provided in a first range with a relatively long distance along an optical axis, and light forming an image plane of the display surface tilted with respect to the display surface is provided in a second range with a relatively short distance along the optical axis.

9. The projector according to claim 4, wherein

the main body section is detachably attached to the projector.

10. The projector according to claim 4, wherein

the emission optical system and the projection unit are arranged so as to have respective optical axes aligned with each other.

11. The projector according to claim 10, wherein:

the emission optical system and the projection unit constitute a shift optical system adapted to cause the light from the display surface to be projected while being shifted from the optical axis.

12. An interactive board comprising:

the projector according to claim 4; and

a screen display section including the irradiated surface, and adapted to allow writing of other information on the irradiated surface,

wherein the main body section including the emission optical system out of the projector is detachably attached.