Projection optical system and image display apparatus

• US 9,983,394 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Tatsuno, Hibiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkney, Dawayne A
• Application Number:
  US14/607,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 359292, 359291, 359290, 359736, 359455, 359627, 359457, 359460, 359471, 359479, 359634, 359640, 359630-633, 348743-747, 348798, 348 E5139, 348 E5142, 348 E5143, 353 30, 353 34, 353 37, 353 38, 353 94, 353 99, 353101, 349 5, 349 7- 9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• 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

Abstract

A projection optical system for use in an image display apparatus having an illumination optical system applying light from a light source, and an image display device receiving the light from the illumination optical system to form a projection image includes a projector lens composed of plural lenses, a first mirror, and a second mirror formed of a concave mirror. The projection optical system is configured to project the projection image onto a projection surface. A projection luminous flux passing through the projector lens to be incident on the first mirror is a luminous flux exhibiting divergence. The projection luminous flux reflected off the second mirror after having reflected off the first mirror is converged once, and the once converged projection luminous flux is projected onto the projection surface. A lens surface of a lens located closest to the first mirror among the lenses of the projector lens is convex.

Claims

1. A projection optical system for an image display apparatus including an image display device and configured to project a projection image formed by the image display device onto a projection surface, comprising:

a refractive optical lens system having a positive refractive power and including a plurality of lenses;

a first mirror; and

a second mirror formed of a concave mirror, wherein

the refractive optical lens system includes one optical axis shared by all lenses of the plurality of lenses, and the optical axis is parallel to the projection surface,

a lens surface located closest to the first mirror is convex, and

a first light beam which reaches a position closest to an image display surface of the image display device on the projection surface and a second light beam which reaches a position farthest from the image display surface of the image display device on the projection surface are reflected by the second mirror, and then intersect at a position closer to the first mirror than the second mirror in a plane including the optical axis and perpendicular to the projection surface.

2. The projection optical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the first mirror is a plane mirror.

3. The projection optical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a position at which the first light beam and the second light beam intersect is adjacent to a virtual reflection plane extended from a reflection plane of the first mirror.

4. An image display apparatus comprising:

the projection optical system as claimed in claim 1;

an illumination optical system configured to apply light emitted from a light source; and

the image display device configured to receive the light applied from the illumination optical system to form the projection image.

5. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein

each of angles formed between rays of light incident on an image projected onto the projection surface at a center in a horizontal direction and a normal line of the projection surface has a same sign.

6. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein

an end of one of the lenses of the refractive optical lens system located closest to the first mirror is protruded more toward a first mirror side than a side end of a lens barrel holding the refractive optical lens system.

7. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein

one of the lenses of the refractive optical lens system located closest to the first mirror is an atypical lens partially having a cutout part.

8. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the image display device is a reflection image display device that includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged micromirrors, and wherein

emission of reflected light is switched on or off by changing an angle of each of the micromirrors to be in an ON state or an OFF state.

9. A projection optical system for an image display apparatus including an image display device and configured to project a projection image formed by the image display device onto a projection surface, comprising:

a refractive optical lens system having a positive refractive power and including a plurality of lenses;

a first mirror; and

a second mirror formed of a concave mirror, wherein

the refractive optical lens system includes one optical axis shared by all lenses of the plurality of lenses, and the optical axis is parallel to the projection surface,

a lens surface located closest to the first mirror is convex, and

a first light beam which is corresponding to a pixel closest to the optical axis in a plane including the optical axis and perpendicular to the projection surface and a second light beam which is corresponding to a pixel farthest from the optical axis in the plane are reflected by the second mirror, and then intersect at a position closer to the first mirror than the second mirror in the plane.

10. The projection optical system as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the first mirror is a plane mirror.

11. The projection optical system as claimed in claim 9, wherein

a position at which the first light beam and the second light beam intersect is adjacent to a virtual reflection plane extended from a reflection plane of the first mirror.

12. An image display apparatus comprising:

the projection optical system as claimed in claim 9;

an illumination optical system configured to apply light emitted from a light source; and

the image display device configured to receive the light applied from the illumination optical system to form the projection image.

13. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein

each of angles formed between rays of light incident on an image projected onto the projection surface at a center in a horizontal direction and a normal line of the projection surface has a same sign.

14. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein

an end of one of the lenses of the refractive optical lens system located closest to the first mirror is protruded more toward a first mirror side than a side end of a lens barrel holding the refractive optical lens system.

15. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein

one of the lenses of the refractive optical lens system located closest to the first mirror is an atypical lens partially having a cutout part.

16. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the image display device is a reflection image display device that includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged micromirrors, and wherein

emission of reflection light is switched on or off by changing an angle of each of the micro mirrors to be in an ON state or an OFF state.