Image projection apparatus

• US 9,304,381 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• 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:
  US14/659,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20150192842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 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: 1/1
• 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 optical unit, comprising:

an outer cover;

an image generator to form an image;

a projecting optical unit to project the image formed by the image generator, a structure block comprising at least the image generator and the projecting optical unit; and

a support, different from the outer cover, to support the structure block on an installation surface on which the optical unit is installed so that the image generator and the projecting optical unit are arranged in this order in the structure block from the installation surface,

wherein the structure block and the support are both disposed within the outer cover.

2. The optical unit according to claim 1, wherein the support includes a foot.

3. The optical unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the projecting optical unit includes a curved mirror having a reflection surface facing a projection surface, and

the support includes at least three feet that are arranged so that a number of feet farther from the projection surface is larger than a number of feet nearer to the projection surface.

4. An image projection apparatus, comprising:

an outer cover;

an image generator to form an image;

a projecting optical unit to project the image formed by the image generator, a structure block comprising at least the image generator and the projecting optical unit;

a facing member that faces an installation surface on which a main body of the apparatus is installed; and

a support, different from the outer cover of the apparatus, to support the structure block on the facing member so that the image generator and the projecting optical unit are arranged in this order in the structure block from the facing member,

wherein the structure block and the support are both disposed within the outer cover.

5. The image projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the support includes a foot.

6. The image projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the projecting optical unit includes a curved mirror having a reflection surface facing a projection surface, and

the support includes at least three feet that are arranged so that a number of feet farther from the projection surface is larger than a number of feet nearer to the projection surface.