IMAGE PROJECTION APPARATUS

• US 20130128234A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hideo Kanai, Masamichi Yamada, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Tetsuya Fujioka, Yasutada Tsukioka
• Inventors: FUJIOKA, Tetsuya, Tsukioka, Yasutada, Yamada, Masamichi, Ishikawa, Naoyuki, Kanai, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 9,010,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 including

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 comprising:

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

the heat releasing unit is provided between the facing member and the image forming unit.

2. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat releasing unit is provided apart with a space from the facing member.

3. 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.

4. The image projection apparatus according to claim 3, 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.

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

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.

6. 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.

7. The image projection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the projecting optical unit is fixed to the image forming unit.

8. The image projection apparatus according to claim 6, 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.