JP2003098475A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To thin a projector device in a projector using an emitting direction control type optical modulator. SOLUTION: A 1st axis being the center axis of a projection optical system is arranged to be parallel with a 2nd axis being the center axis except the light source part of an illumination optical system in either of areas divided by a plane including the 2nd axis. A 3rd axis being the center axis of the light source part crosses with the 2nd axis at a specified point between a collimating lens included in the light source part and a 1st lens array included in the illumination optical system except the light source part. The part of the 3rd axis from a lamp included in the light source part to the specified point is arranged in either area above-mentioned. Then, a deflection optical system deflecting nearly parallel beams emitted from the collimating lens and advancing along the 3rd axis to be nearly parallel beams advancing along the 2nd axis is provided between the collimating lens and the 1st lens array.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a projector (projection display device) for projecting and displaying an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A projector forms image light representing an image from an illuminating light by using an electro-optical device and projects the image light to display the image. As the electro-optical device, an emission direction control type light modulation device that modulates illumination light according to image information (image signal) and emits image light representing an image is used. An example of this optical modulator is a digital micromirror device (registered trademark of Texas Instruments (TI). In the following, "DM
D ". ) Such as a micromirror type optical modulator.

The DMD has a plurality of micromirrors corresponding to a plurality of pixels forming an image. The tilt of each of the plurality of micromirrors changes according to image information, and reflects light according to the tilt of each micromirror.
Of the light reflected by each micromirror, the light reflected in a predetermined direction is used as image light. That is, DM
Reference numeral D is an electro-optical device of a type that controls the reflection direction (emission direction) of light to form image light.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the DMD. As shown in FIG. 6A, a plurality of micromirrors 204 having a substantially square outline are formed in a matrix on the light irradiation surface (light incident surface) 202 of the DMD 200. Each micro mirror 204 is formed to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range with a diagonal line connecting a lower left corner and an upper right corner as a rotation axis 204c. These micro mirrors 20
4 corresponds to each pixel forming the image.

Here, for ease of explanation, the illumination light irradiated to the light irradiation surface 202 is represented by a central ray (incident light ray) IR that represents the illumination light. Also, the illumination light IR
The horizontal axis passing through the incident position on the light irradiation surface 202 and parallel to the x-axis is h, and the vertical axis parallel to the y-axis is v. D
The illumination light IR incident on the MD 200 preferably has an incident surface perpendicular to the rotation axis 204c of each micro mirror 204. That is, the illumination light IR is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the illumination light IR is incident from an obliquely lower right direction so that the inclination θh of the optical path of the illumination light IR projected on the xy plane parallel to the light irradiation surface 202 with respect to the horizontal axis h is about 45 degrees. It is preferable. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The illumination light IR is incident on the light irradiation surface 202 in a plane perpendicular to the light irradiation surface 202 and including the optical path of the illumination light IR.
Is preferably about 20 degrees.

FIG. 8C shows an incident surface including incident light on the micromirror 204 and reflected light thereof, that is, an optical path in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis 204c. The micro mirror 204 is a plane F parallel to the light irradiation surface 202.
With respect to (shown by the broken line in FIG. 8C), the rotating shaft 204c
Rotate about ± (θL / 2) degrees (≈ ± 10 degrees).
Note that the angle along the clockwise direction is positive. Illumination light IR
Is, as described above, from the normal Fn of the plane F to + θL (≈
The light enters the micromirror 204 from a tilted direction (+20 degrees).

The micromirror 204 is + with respect to the plane F.
When the illumination light IR is tilted by (θL / 2), the illumination light IR is tilted by −θL from the illumination light IR, that is, the normal line F.
It is emitted as reflected light RR (+ θL / 2) in a direction parallel to n. When the micro mirror 204 is tilted by − (θL / 2), the illumination light IR is − (3
-The reflected light RR (-θL / 2) is emitted in the direction inclined by θL). In this way, the illumination light IR applied to the micro mirror 204 is reflected and emitted in different directions depending on the rotation angle of the micro mirror 204. For example, when the projection lens is arranged in the direction of the reflected light RR (+ θL / 2), only the reflected light RR (+ θL / 2) is used as the image light. As a result, the micromirror 204 becomes +
In the state where the micro mirror 204 is tilted by (θL / 2), reflected light is projected through the projection lens to realize bright display, and when the micro mirror 204 is tilted by − (θL / 2),
The reflected light is not projected through the projection lens and a dark display is realized. The intermediate gray scale is realized by a method (so-called pulse width modulation) of controlling the ratio of bright and dark display according to the gray scale within a certain time period in which one pixel draws an image.

[0008]

In a projector using a DMD, an optical system such as an illumination optical system is used because of the restriction on the incident angle of the illumination light that illuminates the DMD as described above.
It may be arranged dimensionally. In such a case, a space for arranging the optical system components along the height direction of the device is required, which makes it difficult to reduce the thickness of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for reducing the thickness of a projector using an emission direction control type light modulation device.

[0010]

In order to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, a device of the present invention is a projector for projecting and displaying an image,
An illumination optical system, a reflection mirror that reflects light from the illumination optical system, and light reflected by the reflection mirror is incident, and an emission direction of the incident light is controlled according to a given image signal. And a projection optical system for projecting the image represented by the image light emitted from the emission direction control type light modulation device, and the illumination optical system. The system includes a light source unit that emits a substantially parallel light beam bundle, and a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses for dividing the light beam bundle emitted from the light source unit into a plurality of partial light beam bundles. A second lens having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the plurality of first small lenses, the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the first lens array being arranged in the vicinity thereof An array,
The light source unit includes a lamp, an elliptical reflector having a reflecting surface that reflects and collects light emitted from the lamp, and is disposed in a vicinity position where the light reflected by the reflecting surface is collected. A color filter for cyclically generating a plurality of color lights from the reflected light, and a collimating lens for collimating a bundle of rays passing through the color filter, which is a central axis of the projection optical system. One axis is one region divided by a plane including a second axis which is a central axis excluding the light source unit of the illumination optical system, and is arranged so as to be parallel to the second axis. The third axis, which is the central axis of the light source unit, intersects the second axis at a specific point between the collimating lens and the first lens array, and the third axis The part from the lamp to the specific point is The substantially parallel light, which is arranged in one region and is emitted from the parallelizing lens and progresses along the third axis, is disposed between the parallelizing lens and the first lens array. It is characterized by comprising a deflecting optical system for deflecting so as to become substantially parallel light traveling along the axis of 2.

Here, it is preferable that the deflection optical system is a deflection angle prism.

Further, the illumination optical system is arranged on the exit surface side of the second lens array, and is superposed for superposing the plurality of partial ray bundles on the entrance surface of the exit direction control type light modulation device. It is preferable that the reflecting mirror includes a lens, and the reflecting mirror is a flat mirror having a flat reflecting surface.

Alternatively, the reflecting mirror may be a spherical mirror or an aspherical mirror having a concave reflecting surface.

According to each of the above projectors, it is possible to realize a thin device.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A. First Embodiment: FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing a main part of a projector as a first embodiment of the present invention. This projector 1000
Includes an illumination optical system 100, a DMD 200, a projection lens (projection optical system) 300, and a reflection mirror 400. The DMD 200 and the projection lens 300 are arranged so that their central axes 300ax and 200ax are parallel and coincident with each other in the z direction.

The illumination optical system 100 includes a lamp section 10, a first condenser lens (condenser lens) 20, a color wheel (color filter) 30, a second condenser lens (condenser lens) 40, and a first condenser lens (condenser lens) 40. 1 lens array 50
And a second lens array 60, a superimposing lens 70, and a deflection prism 80. These optical elements 1
0, 20, 30, 40, 80, 50, 60, 70 are sequentially arranged along the central axis 100ax of the illumination optical system 100. Further, the central axis 100axA connecting the first lens array 50 and the superimposing lens 70 is parallel to the z-axis, and with respect to the central axis 300ax of the projection lens 300, −
It is arranged so as to be displaced in the y direction and the −x direction. Also,
A central axis 100axB connecting the lamp unit 10 and the second condenser lens 40 is a point (hereinafter, "intersection point") on the incident surface side surface (light incident surface) 82 of the deflection prism 80 with respect to the central axis 100axA. The portion from the ramp portion 10 to the intersection point 82p is arranged to be inclined in the + y direction so as to intersect at 82p. The central axis 100axB corresponds to the central axis of the light source section, and the central axis 100axA corresponds to the central axis of the illumination optical system excluding the light source section.

The lamp unit 10 is a lamp 1 as a point light source.
2 and a reflector 14 having a spheroidal concave surface. A high pressure discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp or a high pressure mercury lamp is used as the lamp 12. The lamp 12 is arranged near the first focus on the ellipsoid of revolution of the reflector 14. The light emitted from the lamp 12 is reflected by the reflector 14, and the reflected light advances toward the second focal point of the reflector 14 while being condensed and enters the first condenser lens 20. In addition, the reflector 1
As 4, a parabolic mirror that reflects the emitted light from the lamp 12 and emits it as substantially parallel light may be used. In this case, another condenser lens may be added between the lamp unit 10 and the first condenser lens 20 so that the substantially parallel light is made incident on the first condenser lens 20.

The first condenser lens 20 receives the light from the lamp section 10 in order to reduce the light spot (condensed image) irradiated on the color wheel 30.
It is an optical element for focusing light near 0. The first condenser lens 20 is not always necessary,
It can be omitted.

FIG. 2 shows the color wheel 30 with the lamp unit 1.
It is the front view seen from the 0 side. The color wheel 30 has three transmissive color filters 30R, 30G, and 30B formed in three fan-shaped regions divided along the rotation direction. The first color filter 30R has a function of transmitting light in the red wavelength region (hereinafter referred to as "red light R") and reflecting or absorbing light in other wavelength regions. Similarly, the second and third color filters 30G and 30B respectively transmit light in the wavelength regions of green and blue (hereinafter, referred to as “green light G” and “blue light B”, respectively) and transmit other wavelengths. It has a function of reflecting or absorbing light in the region. The color filter is composed of, for example, a dielectric multilayer film or a filter plate formed by using a dye.

The color wheel 30 is arranged so that the light spot SP condensed by the first condenser lens 20 irradiates a predetermined peripheral position deviated from the central axis 30ax of the color wheel 30. The color wheel 30 is rotated by a motor (not shown) on the rotating shaft 30a.
It rotates at a constant speed around x. At this time, the light spot SP cyclically irradiates the regions of the color filters 30R, 30G, and 30B at regular intervals according to the rotation of the color wheel 30. As a result, the light transmitted through the color wheel 30 is red light R, depending on the rotation of the color wheel 30.
It cyclically changes between green light G and blue light B. The color wheel 30 corresponds to the color filter of the invention.

The second condenser lens 40 of FIG. 1 has a function as a collimating lens for collimating the divergent light transmitted through the color wheel 30.

The lamp section 10, the first condenser lens 20, the color wheel 30, and the second condenser lens 40 correspond to the light source section of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view and side view of the deflection prism 80. In the deflection prism 80, the exit surface side (light exit surface) 84 has a plane parallel to the xy plane, and the + y direction side of the entrance surface side (light entrance surface) 82 is x.
It has a plane inclined in the -z direction with respect to the y plane.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the light incident surface 80 is inclined so that substantially parallel light that emerges from the second condenser lens 40 and advances along the central axis 100axB is incident on the deflection prism 80. It is set so that it is incident on the surface 82 and is deflected into substantially parallel light that travels along the central axis 100axA. The light incident surface 82 is also called a "deflecting surface".

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view, a top view and a side view of the first lens array 50 seen from the incident surface side. Figure 4
As shown in (A), the first lens array 50 has a configuration in which first small lenses 52, which are substantially rectangular concentric lenses, are arranged in a matrix of M rows and N columns. Figure 4
Shows an example in which M = 4 and N = 3. It is also possible to use a decentering lens instead of the concentric lens. "Concentric lens" means a lens in which the geometric center and optical center of the lens coincide. Further, the “eccentric lens” means a lens in which the geometric center and the optical center of the lens do not coincide with each other.

The second lens array 60 includes second small lenses 62 corresponding to the respective first small lenses 52 of the first lens array 50. When the first lens array 50 is composed of concentric lenses, it is preferable that the second lens array 60 is also composed of concentric lenses. Further, when it is composed of a decentering lens, it is preferably composed of a decentering lens. However, only one of the first lens array 50 and the second lens array 60 may be configured with a decentered lens.

The first lens array 50 has a function of splitting a substantially parallel light beam bundle emitted from the deflection prism into a plurality of partial light beam bundles and emitting them. The partial light flux emitted from each small lens 52 of the first lens array 50 is condensed at a position near each small lens 62 of the second lens array 60, as shown in FIG.

The second lens array 60 has a function of aligning the central axes of the partial light beam bundles emitted from the first lens array 50 with the central axis 100axA substantially in parallel. In addition, the second lens array 60 displays the image of each small lens 52 of the first lens array 50 on the illumination area (DMD).
Light irradiation surface).

The outer shape of the first small lens 52 when viewed from the x direction is substantially similar to the illumination area (the light irradiation surface of the DMD) and is divided by the first lens array 50. It is set to efficiently illuminate the illumination area by each of the partial light ray bundles.

Further, the second small lens 62 of the second lens array 60 can have any shape as long as the partial ray bundle emitted from the first lens array 50 can be incident. is there. In this embodiment, a lens array that differs from the first lens array 50 only in the orientation of the lens surface (convex surface) is used.

The superimposing lens 70 includes the second lens array 6
It has a function of superposing a plurality of partial ray bundles emitted from 0 on the light irradiation surface 202 of the DMD 200.

The plurality of partial ray bundles emitted from the first lens array 50 pass through the second lens array 60 and the superimposing lens 70, are reflected by the reflection mirror 400,
The light irradiation surface 202 of the DMD 200 is illuminated. Thereby, even when the light emitted from the lamp unit 10 has an illuminance distribution, the light irradiation surface 202 is uniformly illuminated.

The reflection mirror 400 has a central axis 40 for reflected light.
0ax is relative to the central axis 200ax of the DMD 200,
The reflecting surfaces are set so that they intersect at a predetermined angle (an angle that satisfies the constraint of the incident angle described in the conventional example). Specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, since the light irradiation surface 202 of the DMD 200 is arranged parallel to the xy plane, the reflection mirror 400 has the center axis 400ax of the reflected light projected on the light irradiation surface 202. The inclination with respect to the x-axis is set to about 45 degrees. In addition, the central axis 400ax of the reflected light
The angle of incidence on the light irradiation surface 202 is about 2 in the plane including
It is set to be 0 degree.

The DMD 200 reflects the image light representing the image toward the projection lens 300 by reflecting the illumination light applied to the light irradiation surface 202 by the micro mirror corresponding to each pixel according to the image signal (image information). It is a light modulation device (light emission direction control type light modulation device) that emits light to the. The image light emitted from the DMD 200 is projected through the projection lens 300 to display an image.

As described above, in the projection display apparatus 1000 of this embodiment, the optical elements 10, 20, 30, 40 on the preceding stage side with the deflection prism 80 of the illumination optical system 100 interposed therebetween are provided.
X (the light source section) includes the central axis 100axA of the optical element 50, 60, 70 (illumination optical system excluding the light source section) on the rear side.
It is characterized in that it is arranged along a central axis 100axB inclined in the + y direction with respect to a plane parallel to the y plane.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a projector of a comparative example. The projector 1000A of the comparative example is different from the projector 1000 of the present embodiment in that it does not have the deflection prism 80, and the central axis 100axB connecting the lamp unit 10 and the second condenser lens 40 has the first lens array 50. It shows a case in which it is arranged so as to coincide with the central axis 100axA connecting the superimposing lens 70 and the superimposing lens 70.

In the projector 1000A of the comparative example, the reflector 14 of the lamp section 10 has the illumination optical system 100.
Compared to the other optical components of A, it protrudes in the -y direction,
It can be seen that a large space is required in the height direction (y direction) of the device, which is a bottleneck for thinning. Further, it can be seen that the + y direction side of the illumination optical system 100A has a dead space DSP in which no optical component is arranged. Therefore, the projector 1000 of this embodiment
In FIG. 1, by arranging the deflection prism 80 between the second condenser lens 40 and the first lens array 50, the central axis connecting the lamp unit 10 and the second condenser lens 40 ( Center axis of light source) 100axB
Of the above, the part from the lamp 10 to the intersection 82p is inclined in the + y direction, and the optical element (light source part) from the lamp part 10 to the second condenser lens 40 is dead space D.
It is arranged to be shifted to the SP side. As a result, the reflector 14 of the lamp unit 10 can be arranged so as not to project in the y direction as compared with the other optical components. Therefore, the projector 1000 of the present embodiment is the projector 10 of the comparative example.
The device can be made thinner than that of 00A.

B. Second Embodiment: FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing a main part of a projector as a second embodiment of the present invention. This projector 1000B has a first
Deflection prism 8 in projector 1000 of the embodiment
0 is changed to the deflection angle prism 80B. Further, on the central axis 100axB of the light source unit, an intersection point 82 from the lamp unit 10 on the light incident surface (deflection surface) 82B of the deflection prism 80B.
The portion up to Bp is arranged so as to be inclined not only in the + y direction but also in the + x direction with respect to the central axis 100axA of the illumination optical system 100B excluding the light source unit. The other parts of the projector 1000B of the second embodiment are the same as the projector 1000 of the first embodiment.

Light incidence surface (deflection surface) 82B of the deflection angle prism
Is not only the + y direction with respect to the central axis 100axA, but +
It is set so as to deflect the substantially parallel light traveling along the central axis 100axB that is also inclined in the x direction and proceed along the central axis 100axA.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the device can be made thinner.

C. Third Embodiment: FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a main part of a projector as a third embodiment of the invention. This projector 1000C is the same as the projector 1000 (FIG. 1) of the first embodiment except that the reflecting mirror 400 is changed to a reflecting mirror 400C having a concave reflecting surface and the superimposing lens 70 is omitted.

The reflecting mirror 400C reflects the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the second lens array 60 by the concave reflecting surface and superimposes them on the light irradiation surface 202 of the DMD 200, and at the same time, the first embodiment. Similarly, the central axis 400ax of the reflected light is set to intersect the central axis 200ax of the DMD 200 at a predetermined angle (an angle that satisfies the constraint of the incident angle described in the conventional example). In addition,
The reflecting surface may be spherical or aspherical. However, in order to suppress the aberration generated in the optical system, the aspherical surface is more advantageous.

The reflecting mirror 400C DMDs the plurality of partial ray bundles emitted from the second lens array 60.
In order to realize the function of overlapping on the light irradiation surface 202, the size is slightly larger than that of the reflection mirror 400 (FIG. 1) in the first embodiment. Therefore, the space in the height direction is slightly larger than that of the projector 1000 according to the first embodiment. However, the projector 1000A of the comparative example
Compared to (FIG. 5), the device can be made thinner as in the first embodiment.

D. Modifications: The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

D1. Modification 1 In the first embodiment, the light incident surface (deflection surface) 82B of the deflection prism is the lamp unit 1.
0, the first condenser lens 20, and the color wheel 30
The central axis 100axB of the light source unit including the second condenser lens 40 and the second condenser lens 40 is arranged to be inclined in the + y direction with respect to the central axis 100axA of the illumination optical system 100 excluding the light source unit. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the central axis 100axB of the light source unit is arranged so as to be inclined in the + y direction and the + x direction with respect to the central axis 100axA of the illumination optical system 100B excluding the light source unit. That is, in the projector of the present invention, the central axis (first axis) of the projection lens (projection optical system) is divided by the plane including the central axis (second axis) excluding the light source section of the illumination optical system. Is arranged so as to be parallel to the second axis, and the central axis (third axis) of the light source section is between the condenser lens corresponding to the collimating lens and the first lens array. ,
It suffices that the second axis intersects with the specific point, and the portion of the third axis from the ramp to the specific point is arranged in one region.

D2. Modification 2: In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the deflection prism is applied as the deflection optical system has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to configure the deflection optical system with one or more reflection mirrors. That is, the substantially parallel light traveling along the central axis of the light source section that is inclined with respect to the central axis of the illumination optical system excluding the light source section is deflected so that it travels along the central axis of the illumination optical system excluding the light source section. Any deflection optical system that deflects light may be used.

D3. Modification 3: DMD2 in each of the above embodiments
As shown in FIG. 8, the DMD used as 00 is such that the central axis of the illumination light projected on the xy plane parallel to the light irradiation surface 202 is directed obliquely to the lower right about 45 degrees with respect to the x axis. And the light irradiation surface 20 including the central axis of the illumination light
The case where the angle of incidence on the light irradiation surface 202 is about 20 degrees in the plane perpendicular to 2 is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
There may be a case where the central axis of the illumination light has a constraint that the central axis of the illumination light is directed obliquely downward to the right with a larger inclination or a smaller inclination than about 45 degrees. Further, there may be a case where there is a constraint that the incident angle to the light irradiation surface is smaller or larger than about 20 degrees in a plane including the central axis of the illumination light and perpendicular to the light irradiation surface. In such a case, the reflection mirror that reflects the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system is used as the light irradiation surface 20 of the DMD 200.
The illumination light for illuminating 2 may be set so as to satisfy the constraint of the incident angle described above.

D4. Modification 4: In each of the above embodiments, DM
Although the case where the D200 is arranged parallel to the xy plane has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and the D200 may be arranged inclined with respect to the xy plane. In such a case, a reflection mirror that reflects the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system is provided on the light irradiation surface 202 of the DMD 200.
The illumination light for illuminating the light may be set so as to satisfy the constraint of the incident angle described above.

D5. Modification 5: In each of the above embodiments, an example is shown in which the central axis 300ax of the projection lens 300 is arranged so as to match the central axis 200ax of the DMD 200, but the present invention is not limited to this. Projection lens 30
The central axis 300ax of 0 is the central axis 200a of the DMD 200.
You may make it arrange | position and it shifts from x. In this way, tilted projection can be realized.

D6. Modified Example 6 In each of the above-described embodiments, as the color wheel 30, three transmissive color filters 30R, 30G, are provided in a fan-shaped region that is divided into three equal parts along the rotation direction.
Although the example in which 30B is formed is shown, it is not limited to this. For example, the area to be divided may be changed according to the color balance instead of being divided into three equal parts. Further, instead of three divisions, six divisions of red, green, blue, red, green and blue may be used. Alternatively, it may be divided into four, and one of them may be colorless and transparent. In this case, the rotation of the color wheel is stopped so that the light from the lamp section 10 passes through only the colorless and transparent area, so that a monochrome image can be displayed. Further, instead of the three color filters of red, green and blue, color filters capable of displaying a color image, for example, three color filters of cyan, magenta and yellow may be used. Also, a plurality of color filters may be formed in a plurality of annular zones. In the present invention, the “color filter” is not limited to one having a function of transmitting light in a specific wavelength region and reflecting or absorbing light in another wavelength region,
Those having a function of transmitting light in each wavelength region (a function of a transparent region) are also included.

D7. Modification 7: In each of the above embodiments, the color wheel 30 is provided to display a color image, but the color wheel 30 may be omitted to display a monochrome image. In this case, the first
It is also possible to omit the condenser lens 20 and the second condenser lens 40. At this time, the lamp unit 10
The reflector 14 may be a parabolic mirror so that substantially parallel light is emitted from the lamp unit 10. Alternatively, a concave lens may be provided to convert the condensed light emitted from the lamp unit 10 into substantially parallel light.

D8. Modification 8: Each optical element 20, 40,
The orientations of the lens surfaces (convex surface or concave surface) of 50, 60, 70 and the deflection surfaces of the deflection angle prisms 80, 80B are as shown in FIGS.
The orientation is not limited to that shown in. The directions can be reversed, and the combination of the directions is arbitrary. In addition, each optical element 20, 40, 50,
Each of 60, 70, and 300 can be configured by a compound lens that is a combination of a plurality of lenses. Further, adjacent optical elements may be attached to each other to be integrated. For example, the second lens array 60 and the superposing lens 70 in FIG.
It is also possible to attach and to integrate them. It is also possible to replace a plurality of optical elements with one optical element. For example, the second lens array 60 of FIG. 1 can be provided with the function of the superimposing lens 70, and the superimposing lens 70 can be omitted.

D9. Modification 9: In each of the above embodiments, only the main part of the optical system that constitutes the projector is shown.
Other optical components such as a reflection mirror and a lens may be appropriately arranged.

D10. Modification 11: In each of the above embodiments,
Although the projector using the DMD is described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and by controlling the emission direction of the illumination light irradiated to each pixel according to the image information,
The present invention can be applied to a projector using various emission direction control type light modulation devices that emit image light representing an image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing a main part of a projector as a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the color wheel 30 as viewed from the lamp section 10 side.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view and side view of a deflection prism 80.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view, a top view, and a side view of the first lens array 50 seen from the incident surface side.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a projector of a comparative example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing a main part of a projector as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a main part of a projector as a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a DMD.

[Explanation of symbols]

1000 ... Projector 1000A ... Projector 1000B ... Projector 1000C ... Projector 100 ... Illumination optical system 100A ... Illumination optical system 100B ... Illumination optical system 100C ... Illumination optical system 100ax ... central axis 100axA ... central axis 200axB ... central axis 200 ... DMD 200ax ... central axis 300 ... Projection lens 300ax ... central axis 400, 400C ... Reflective mirror 400ax ... central axis 10 ... Lamp part 12 ... Lamp 14 ... Reflector 20 ... Condenser lens 30 ... Color wheel 30R, 30G, 30B ... (Transmission type) color filter 30ax ... central axis (rotating axis) 40 ... Second condenser lens 50, 60 ... Lens array 52, 62 ... Small lens 70 ... Superimposing lens 80, 80B ... Deflection prism 82, 82B ... Light incident surface 82p, 82Bp ... intersection 84 ... Light exit surface DSP ... Dead Space SP ... light spot

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/74 H04N 5/74 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A projector for projecting and displaying an image, comprising: an illuminating optical system; a reflecting mirror for reflecting light from the illuminating optical system; and light reflected by the reflecting mirror. And an image light emitted from the emission direction control type light modulation device, which controls the emission direction of the incident light according to the image signal to generate image light representing an image. A projection optical system for projecting an image represented by, the illumination optical system splits the light bundle emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial light bundles, and a light source emitting a substantially parallel light bundle. A first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses for, and a plurality of first small arrays arranged in the vicinity of where a plurality of partial ray bundles emitted from the first lens array are condensed. Multiple corresponding to the lens A second lens array having a second small lens, wherein the light source unit includes a lamp, an elliptical reflector having a reflecting surface that reflects and collects light emitted from the lamp, and the reflecting surface. A color filter that is arranged in the vicinity where the light reflected by the light is condensed and that cyclically generates a plurality of color lights from the reflected light; and a collimating lens that collimates the light flux that has passed through the color filter. , A first axis that is a central axis of the projection optical system is one region divided by a plane including a second axis that is a central axis excluding the light source unit of the illumination optical system, and The third axis, which is arranged so as to be parallel to the second axis, is the central axis of the light source unit, and is between the parallelizing lens and the first lens array, and is the second axis. Intersect at a specific point, the third axis The portion from the lamp to the specific point is disposed in the one area, and is emitted from the collimating lens between the collimating lens and the first lens array and A projector comprising: a deflection optical system that deflects substantially parallel light traveling along a third axis into substantially parallel light traveling along the second axis. 2. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the deflection optical system is a deflection prism. 3. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system is arranged on the exit surface side of the second lens array, and the plurality of partial light beam bundles are controlled in the exit direction. A projector, comprising: a superimposing lens for superimposing on an incident surface of the optical modulator, wherein the reflecting mirror is a plane mirror having a plane reflecting surface. 4. The projector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reflection mirror is a spherical mirror or an aspherical mirror having a concave reflection surface.