Illumination apparatus

• US 9,348,205 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kasuga, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/692,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20150227033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1313 specially adapted for a particular application
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/206 Control of light source other than position or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

An illumination apparatus having an illumination function and an image projection function includes a light source for illumination, an image projection section including a light source portion having a light source for image projection different from the light source for illumination, an image formation portion that modulates light from the light source portion based on image information to be projected to form an image, and a projection lens that enlarges and projects the image, a connection section electrically connectable to an illumination apparatus fixture, a lamp cover attached to the connection section, accommodating the light source for illumination and the image projection section, and having a light transmissive portion that transmits illumination light from the light source for illumination and the image projected from the image projection section, and a control section having a function of controlling the light source for illumination and the image projection section.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus comprising:

an image projection section including a light source portion for image projection, an image formation portion that modulates light from the light source portion for image projection based on image information to be projected to form an image, and a projection lens that enlarges and projects the image formed by the image formation portion on a projection surface;

a light source portion for illumination different from the light source portion for image projection;

a connection section electrically connectable to an illumination apparatus fixture; and

a control section capable of selectively setting any of at least two operation modes among three operation modes;

a first operation mode in which illumination by using the light source portion for illumination is performed;

a second operation mode in which image projection by using the image projection section is performed; and

a third operation mode in which both the illumination and the image projection are performed,

wherein the light source portion for image projection and the light source portion for illumination emit light by using electric power supplied via the connection section.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control section is capable of selectively setting any of the three operation modes.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the light source portion for illumination includes a plurality of light sources which are disposed so as to surround the optical axis of the image projection section.

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

an operation switch switching the operation mode;

wherein the control section sets the operation mode in accordance with user'"'"'s operation of the operation switch.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lamp cover attached to the connection section, accommodating the light source portion for illumination and the image projection section, and having a light transmissive portion that transmits illumination light from the light source portion for illumination and the image projected from the image projection section.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the lamp cover has a rear end attached to the connection section and the light transmissive portion in an area including a front end facing way from the rear end, and

the image projection section is so disposed that an optical axis thereof coincides with a central axis of the lamp cover that passes through the rear end of the lamp cover and the front end of the lamp cover.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

at least an image transmitting area which is part of the light transmissive portion of the lamp cover and through which the image projected from the image projection section passes is made of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material (PDLC), and an area which is the remainder of the light transmissive portion of the lamp cover and is not made of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material is formed of a light diffusing member capable of diffusing the illumination light from the light source portion for illumination.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the control section further controls the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material in such a way that the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material is made transparent when the image projection section projects an image.

9. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the control section further controls the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material in such a way that the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material diffuses light when the image projection section projects no image.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the connection section is connectable to any of a light bulb attachment socket, a light bulb attachment receptacle, a hooking rosette, and a hooking ceiling.