Image display element holding mechanism, prism unit, and projector

• US 9,885,944 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Inventors: Haga, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): HOWARD, RYAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/894,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 349 5, 349 7, 349 8, 349 9, 349 10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1805 for prisms G02B7/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/006 using LCD's
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/008 using micromirror devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/142 Adjusting of projection optics
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/147 Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2066 Reflectors in illumination beam in projection beam G03B21/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/06 by additive-colour projection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/12 using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53

Abstract

A holding mechanism for holding an image display element to a prism includes: a first fixing member fixed to the prism by an adhesive; and a second fixing member, which is fixed to the first fixing member using a screw, and which has the image display element directly or indirectly fixed to the second fixing member. A protruding section is provided at the periphery of a hole to be used for the purpose of fixing using the screw, and at the time of fixing the second fixing member to the first fixing member using the screw, the first fixing member and the second fixing member are directly or indirectly brought into contact with each other at the protruding section such that deformation due to screwing of the screw does not generate within a bonding region of the first fixing member.

Claims

1. An image display element holding mechanism for holding an image display element on a prism, comprising:

a first fixing member that is fixed to a prism with an adhesive agent; and

a second fixing member that is fixed to the first fixing member with a screw, and to which an image display element is directly or indirectly fixed, wherein

a protrusion is formed around a hole that receives the screw,

the first fixing member and the second fixing member contact each other directly or indirectly at the protrusion, and

the protrusion prevents distortion in an adhesion area of the first fixing member generated by tightening of the screw when fixing the first fixing member to the second fixing member after the first fixing member is fixed to the prism.

2. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is integrally formed with at least one of the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

3. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is constituted by a spacer detachable from the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

4. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a height that is equal to or larger than a sum of a flatness of a surface of the first fixing member and a flatness of a surface of the second fixing member, the surface of the first fixing member and the surface of the second fixing member facing each other, such that the surface of the first fixing member and the surface of the second fixing member facing each other are prevented from contacting each other at positions other than a position at which the first fixing member and the second fixing member are fixed to each other with the screw.

5. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed so as to circularly surround the hole used for the fixing with the screw.

6. A prism unit, wherein the image display element and the prism are integrated with each other with the image display element holding mechanism according to claim 1.

7. A projector comprising the prism unit according to claim 6.

8. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion has a height that is equal to or larger than a sum of a flatness of a surface of the first fixing member and a flatness of a surface of the second fixing member, the surface of the first fixing member and the surface of the second fixing member facing each other, such that the surface of the first fixing member and the surface of the second fixing member facing each other are prevented from contacting each other at positions other than a position at which the first fixing member and the second fixing member are fixed to each other with the screw.

9. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion has a height that is equal to or larger than a sum of a flatness of a surface of the first fixing member and a flatness of a surface of the second fixing member, the surface of the first fixing member and the surface of the second fixing member facing each other, such that the surface of the first fixing member and the surface of the second fixing member facing each other are prevented from contacting each other at positions other than a position at which the first fixing member and the second fixing member are fixed to each other with the screw.

10. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is disposed so as to circularly surround the hole used for the fixing with the screw.

11. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is disposed so as to circularly surround the hole used for the fixing with the screw.

12. An image display element holding mechanism for holding an image display element on a prism, comprising:

a first fixing member that is fixed to the prism with an adhesive agent; and

a second fixing member that is fixed to the first fixing member with a screw, and to which the image display element is directly or indirectly fixed,

wherein the first fixing member includes a buffer portion that absorbs bending stress in an adhesion area of the first fixing member generated by tightening of the screw when fixing the second fixing member to the first fixing member after the first fixing member is fixed to the prism.

13. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the first fixing member includes a gap or a cut disposed between an adhesion surface of the first fixing member with respect to the prism and a position at which the tightening of the screw is received, and the buffer portion is formed by providing the gap or the cut.

14. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the first fixing member includes a thin-walled portion formed by providing a recess between an adhesion surface of the first fixing member with respect to the prism and a position at which the tightening of the screw is received, and the buffer portion is constituted by the thin-walled portion.

15. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 12, wherein a relative position of the image display element with respect to the prism is adjustable by performing the tightening of the screw against biasing force between the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

16. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 13, wherein a relative position of the image display element with respect to the prism is adjustable by performing the tightening of the screw against biasing force between the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

17. The image display element holding mechanism according to claim 14, wherein a relative position of the image display element with respect to the prism is adjustable by performing the tightening of the screw against biasing force between the first fixing member and the second fixing member.

18. A prism unit, wherein the image display element and the prism are integrated with each other with the image display element holding mechanism according to claim 12.

19. A projector comprising the prism unit according to claim 18.

20. A method of manufacturing a prism unit, the method comprising:

fixing a prism on a first fixing member with an adhesive agent; and

fixing, after fixing the prism on the first fixing member, a hole of a second fixing member that holds an image display element and a hole of the first fixing member with a screw,

wherein

the hole of the first fixing member is located outside of an adhesion surface of the first fixing member,

a protrusion is formed around the hole of the first fixing member or the hole of the second fixing member,

the first fixing member and the second fixing member contact each other directly or indirectly at the protrusion,

the protrusion prevents distortion in an adhesion area of the first fixing member generated by tightening of the screw when fixing the first fixing member to the second fixing member after the first fixing member is fixed to the prism.