JP2011180488A - Projector device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector device with a simple configuration and accurately arranged with a second lens array. <P>SOLUTION: The projector device includes: the second lens array 6 including a plurality of small lenses 61 uniformizing light beams emitted from a light source; and a casing for optical components containing the second lens array 6. The casing for optical components includes: a guide groove 741 into which the second lens array 6 is inserted in a loosely fitting manner in the ±Z-direction (first direction) substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the light beams; an abutment which abuts against the second lens array 6 in the first direction; a pair of positioning projections 742 projecting to pinch part of the second lens array 6 in the ±Y-direction (second direction ) substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and to the first direction when the second lens array 6 abuts against the abutment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector that projects image light.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light modulation device that forms image light by modulating a light beam emitted from a light source according to image information, and a projector including a projection lens that projects the image light are known. Also, since the luminous flux emitted from the light source has a luminance unevenness that the brightness is higher as it is closer to the center of the optical axis, so-called integrator illumination that divides the luminous flux into a plurality of luminous fluxes and then superimposes each luminous flux on the light modulator. A projector having an optical system is known. And the technique comprised so that an integrator optical system could be adjusted in order to superimpose a light beam on a light modulation apparatus efficiently is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  The integrator illumination optical system (condensing optical unit) described in Patent Document 1 includes a first integrator lens, a second integrator lens, a frame to which each lens is attached, a frame that supports both sides of each frame, and the like. ing. A long hole is formed in the frame corresponding to each frame, and each frame is fixed to the frame by inserting a fixing screw from the long hole. Each frame is movable with respect to the frame within a range that can be screwed into a fixing screw inserted through the long hole. The position of each lens is adjusted by moving the fixed frame body with respect to the frame.

JP 2000-314919 A

  However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 includes a frame and a fixing screw, there is a problem that the number of parts is large, the manufacturing process becomes complicated, and the operation of adjusting the position of the lens becomes complicated. There is. Further, when the fixing screw is tightened after the adjustment, the frame, that is, the lens may be displaced from the adjusted position by the torque for rotating the fixing screw.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A projector according to this application example includes a lens array having a plurality of small lenses for uniformizing a light beam emitted from a light source, and an optical component housing that houses the lens array. The optical component housing includes a guide groove in which the lens array is inserted in a loosely fitted state in a first direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light beam, and the lens in the first direction. An abutting portion that abuts the array, and a pair of positioning projections that project so as to sandwich a part of the lens array in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and the first direction. It is characterized by that.

According to this configuration, the lens array can be inserted into the guide groove and brought into contact with the contact portion, and a part of the lens array can be positioned between the pair of positioning projections. Accordingly, the lens array can be accurately arranged in the second direction by setting the dimension between the pair of positioning protrusions in consideration of component tolerances and the like.
Therefore, since the lens array is disposed at a position with high accuracy in the second direction, not only fine adjustment in the second direction but also fine adjustment in the first direction and the direction of rotation about the optical axis can be performed. Easy to do. Then, the adjusted lens array can be fixed to the guide groove with an adhesive or the like. Therefore, it becomes possible to arrange the lens array in the optical component casing with high accuracy with a simple configuration and easy adjustment without increasing the number of parts, and the projector can reduce the size of the optical component casing and the manufacturing process. Simplification and cost reduction can be achieved.

  Application Example 2 In the projector according to the application example described above, the lens array includes a side end portion that is inserted into the guide groove outside the plurality of small lenses, and the guide groove is formed on the side end portion. Opposite to the surface on which the small lens is formed, has a reference surface that regulates the inclination of the lens array with respect to the optical axis, and the contact portion is formed in the guide groove facing the reference surface Preferably, the inclined surface is inclined so as to approach the reference surface as it advances in the direction in which the lens array is inserted.

According to this configuration, the guide groove is provided with the reference surface that regulates the inclination of the lens array, and the inclined surface as the contact portion that is formed to face the reference surface, and the side end portion of the lens array is inserted. Is done. As a result, when the lens array is inserted into the guide groove, the lens array comes into contact with the inclined surface, and moves along the inclined surface and the contacted end side is pressed against the reference surface.
Also, since the lens array is heavy on the side where the small lens is provided in the optical axis direction, when the plurality of small lenses are erected along the vertical direction, that is, the position of the lens array with the optical axis direction being substantially horizontal. When adjusting the lens array, the lens array falls to the small lens side. Since the lens array side is the reference surface side, the lens array is supported by the reference surface without falling down. Therefore, since the tilt with respect to the optical axis can be suppressed by a simple operation of inserting the lens array into the guide groove, the lens array can be arranged in the optical component casing with higher accuracy.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a projector according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows a part of 2nd lens array and lower housing | casing of this embodiment, and is the perspective view which incorporated the 2nd lens array in the lower housing | casing. It is a figure which shows a part of 2nd lens array and lower housing | casing of this embodiment, and is the perspective view which decomposed | disassembled the 2nd lens array from the lower housing | casing. The top view which shows a part of 2nd lens array and lower housing | casing of this embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state in which the 2nd lens array of this embodiment was integrated in the groove part. Sectional drawing which shows the state in which the 2nd lens array of this embodiment was integrated in the groove part. The figure which shows the 2nd lens array supported by the jig | tool of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the projector according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
The projector according to the present embodiment modulates a light beam emitted from a light source according to image information to form image light, and projects the image light on a screen or the like.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a projector according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a projector 1 includes an exterior casing 2 that constitutes an exterior, a control unit (not shown), an optical unit 3 having a light source device 31, and a power supply device that supplies power to the light source device 31 and the control unit. 4 etc. Although illustration is omitted, a cooling fan or the like for cooling the inside of the projector 1 is disposed in the exterior housing 2.

  The control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and functions as a computer, and is related to control of the operation of the projector 1, for example, image projection. Control and so on.

The optical unit 3 optically processes the light beam emitted from the light source device 31 under the control of the control unit, and forms and projects image light according to image information.
As shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the light source device 31, the optical unit 3 includes an integrator illumination optical system 32 as an illumination optical device, a color separation optical device 33, a relay optical device 34, an electro-optical device 35, a projection lens 36, and An optical component housing 5 is provided in which these optical components 31 to 36 are arranged at predetermined positions on the optical path.

  The light source device 31 includes a discharge-type light source 311 including a super-high pressure mercury lamp and a metal halide lamp, a reflector 312 and the like. Then, the light source device 31 aligns the emission direction of the light beam emitted from the light source 311 by the reflector 312 and emits it toward the integrator illumination optical system 32.

The integrator illumination optical system 32 includes a first lens array 321, a second lens array 6, a polarization conversion element 323, and a superimposing lens 324.
The first lens array 321 is an optical element that divides the light beam emitted from the light source device 31 into a plurality of partial light beams, and is matrixed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis L of the light beam emitted from the light source device 31. A plurality of small lenses arranged in a shape.

  The second lens array 6 is an optical element that condenses a plurality of partial light beams divided by the first lens array 321, and in a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis L, like the first lens array 321. A plurality of small lenses 61 (see FIG. 3) arranged in a matrix are provided.

  The polarization conversion element 323 has a function of aligning randomly polarized light emitted from the second lens array 6 with unidirectional linearly polarized light that can be used by a liquid crystal light valve 351 described later.

  The superimposing lens 324 collects a plurality of partial light beams that have passed through the first lens array 321, the second lens array 6, and the polarization conversion element 323, and superimposes them on the surface of the liquid crystal light valve 351.

  In this way, the integrator illumination optical system 32 divides the light beam emitted from the light source device 31 into a plurality of partial light beams, and superimposes the divided partial light beams, thereby making the image forming area of the liquid crystal light valve 351 substantially uniform. Illuminate. The second lens array 6 is adhesively fixed to the optical component casing 5 after the position with respect to the optical axis L is adjusted in order to efficiently irradiate the image forming area of the liquid crystal light valve 351 with a light beam. It is configured as follows. The fixing structure of the second lens array 6 will be described in detail later.

  The color separation optical device 33 includes two dichroic mirrors 331 and 332 and a reflection mirror 333, and the light emitted from the integrator illumination optical system 32 is converted into red light (hereinafter referred to as “R light”) and green light (hereinafter referred to as “R”). G light ”) and blue light (hereinafter referred to as“ B light ”).

  The relay optical device 34 includes an incident side lens 341, a relay lens 343, and reflection mirrors 342 and 344, and has a function of guiding the R light separated by the color separation optical device 33 to the liquid crystal light valve 351R for R light. The optical unit 3 has a configuration in which the relay optical device 34 guides the R light. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the optical unit 3 may have a configuration that guides the B light.

  The electro-optical device 35 includes a liquid crystal light valve 351 as a light modulation device and a cross dichroic prism 352 as a color synthesis optical device, modulates each color light separated by the color separation optical device 33 according to image information, and outputs image light. Form.

  The liquid crystal light valve 351 is provided for each of the three color lights (the liquid crystal light valve for R light is 351R, the liquid crystal light valve for G light is 351G, and the liquid crystal light valve for B light is 351B). Each has a transmission-type liquid crystal panel and an incident-side polarizing plate and an emitting-side polarizing plate arranged on both sides thereof.

  The liquid crystal light valve 351 has a rectangular pixel area in which minute pixels (not shown) are formed in a matrix, and each pixel is set to a light transmittance corresponding to a display image signal so that a display image is displayed in the pixel area. Form. Each color light separated by the color separation optical device 33 is modulated by the liquid crystal light valve 351 and then emitted to the cross dichroic prism 352.

  The cross dichroic prism 352 has a substantially square shape in plan view in which four right angle prisms are bonded together, and two dielectric multilayer films are formed on the interface where the right angle prisms are bonded together. The dielectric multilayer film reflects the color light modulated by the liquid crystal light valves 351R and 351B and transmits the color light modulated by the liquid crystal light valve 351G to synthesize each color light. In this way, the electro-optical device 35 forms image light representing a color image by combining the color lights modulated by the liquid crystal light valve 351 by the cross dichroic prism 352.

  The projection lens 36 is configured as a combined lens in which a plurality of lenses are combined, and enlarges and projects the image light formed by the electro-optical device 35 on the screen.

  The optical component housing 5 is formed in a box shape extending long in the direction of the optical axis L, and has an opening on one side, and a lower housing 7 (see FIG. 2) for housing the optical components described above, And an upper housing (not shown) that closes the opening. The lower housing 7 will be described in detail later.

Here, the fixing structure of the second lens array 6 will be described in detail.
First, the second lens array 6 will be described in detail.
2 to 4 are views showing a part of the second lens array 6 and the lower housing 7. Specifically, FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the second lens array 6 is incorporated in the lower housing 7, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the second lens array 6 from the lower housing 7, and FIG. It is the top view seen from.

  In the following, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the light beam is emitted from the light source device 31 is orthogonal to the + X direction, the direction in which image light is projected from the projection lens 36 is orthogonal to the + Y direction, the X direction, and the Y direction. The top in the drawing is described as the + Z direction (upward direction). Further, the ± Z direction corresponds to the first direction, and the ± Y direction corresponds to the second direction. That is, the ± X direction is the optical axis L direction, and the first direction and the second direction are directions orthogonal to the optical axis L.

The second lens array 6 is molded from molten glass and includes a base portion 62 and a plurality of small lenses 61 as shown in FIG.
The base portion 62 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view, and has a surface 62A on the side on which the light beam enters and a surface (lens forming surface 62B) on the side on which the light beam exits. The plurality of small lenses 61 are provided at a substantially central portion of the base portion 62, and are formed so as to bulge from the lens forming surface 62B. Each small lens 61 is formed in a matrix that is arranged in parallel in the ± Z direction (first direction) and the ± Y direction (second direction).

  The outer base portion 62 of the small lens 61 is formed as a side end portion 621. The second lens array 6 is disposed in the optical component housing 5 with the side ends 621 on the + Y side and the −Y side inserted into a groove 74 described later.

Next, the lower housing 7 will be described in detail.
The lower housing 7 is made of a high heat-resistant material such as BMC (Bulk Molding Compound), and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bottom surface portion 71 disposed along the bottom surface of the exterior housing 2, and a bottom surface portion The light source attachment part 73 to which the light source device 31 is detachably attached is formed at the −X side end part.

  A plurality of grooves that are recessed along the ± Z direction (first direction) are formed on the inner surface of the side surface portion 72, and optical components such as the first lens array 321 and the second lens array 6 are arranged at the side end portions. Is inserted and disposed in the groove. Although not shown, the electro-optical device 35 is screwed to the bottom surface portion 71 via a holding member, and the projection lens 36 is screwed to the side surface portion 72.

Furthermore, the part where the second lens array 6 of the lower housing 7 is disposed will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a groove portion 74 in which the second lens array 6 is disposed is provided on the side surface portion 72 in the + X direction of the light source mounting portion 73, and the second lens array 6 is provided on the bottom surface portion 71. Is provided with a jig hole 75 below.

The groove 74 is formed to face the inner surface of the side surface 72 on both sides of ± Y, and has a guide groove 741 and a positioning projection 742 (see FIG. 6).
The guide groove 741 is formed so that the side end 621 of the second lens array 6 can be inserted in a loosely fitted state. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the + Y side guide groove 741 protrudes in the −Y direction from the inner surface 72A of the side surface portion 72 and the inner surface 72A, and has a predetermined dimension in the ± X direction and is spaced apart. Portions 7411 and 7412 are formed. Similarly, the −Y side guide groove 741 is formed by an inner surface 72A of the side surface portion 72 and projecting portions 7413 and 7414 that protrude from the inner surface 72A in the + Y direction and have a predetermined dimension in the ± X direction. Yes.

5 and 6 are views showing a state in which the second lens array 6 is incorporated in the groove 74, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view seen from the + Y direction, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view seen from the + X direction. is there.
As shown in FIG. 5, the guide groove 741 has an inner surface 741A on the + X side, a bottom surface 741B, an inclined surface 74T, and an inner surface 741C on the −X side. The inner surfaces 741A and 741C are formed along the YZ plane.

  The inclined surface 74T is formed between the bottom surface 741B and the inner surface 741C so as to face the inner surface 741A, and is inclined so that the lower end approaches the inner surface 741A from the upper end. That is, the inclined surface 74T is inclined so as to approach the inner surface 741A as it proceeds in the direction in which the second lens array 6 is inserted. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the inclined surface 74T is formed so that the lower end of the side end portion 621 contacts.

  The inner surface 741A is a surface facing the lens forming surface 62B of the second lens array 6, and serves as a reference surface that regulates the inclination of the second lens array 6 with respect to the optical axis L. The inclined surface 74T corresponds to a contact portion that contacts the second lens array 6 in the ± Z direction (first direction).

  The guide groove 741 is formed with a gap in which the inner surfaces 741A and 741C can be bonded and fixed to the side end portion 621 of the second lens array 6. The inner surface 72A is formed with a gap so that the direction in which the second lens array 6 rotates about the optical axis L can be adjusted. In addition, recesses are formed on the inner surfaces 741A and 741C so that the adhesive can be easily injected.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning protrusion 742 is provided at the bottom of the guide groove 741. The positioning protrusions 742 protrude from the inner surfaces 72A on both sides of the ± Y so as to sandwich the lower part of the side end 621 of the second lens array 6 in the ± Y direction (second direction). The dimension between the pair of positioning projections 742 takes into account the dimensional tolerance of the second lens array 6 and the like, and the second lens array 6 is as far as possible with respect to the optical axis L in the ± Y direction (second direction). It is set to be placed with high accuracy.

Here, a procedure for fixing the second lens array 6 to the groove 74 will be described.
When the second lens array 6 is inserted from above the guide groove 741, the lower end abuts on the inclined surface 74T. When the second lens array 6 abuts on the inclined surface 74T, the second lens array 6 moves along the inclined surface 74T, and the abutted lower end side is pressed against the inner surface 741A. Since the second lens array 6 is heavy on the side where the small lens 61 is provided in the optical axis L direction, that is, on the lens forming surface 62B side, a force to tilt in the + X direction is applied, and as shown in FIG. The surface 62B is supported by the inner surface 741A and stands up.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower end portion of the second lens array 6 is sandwiched between the pair of positioning projections 742, and as described above, the second lens array 6 is accurately arranged in the ± Y direction (second direction). . That is, the second lens array 6 is temporarily positioned and disposed in the lower housing 7.

The second lens array 6 is finely adjusted with respect to the optical axis L using a jig after provisional positioning.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the second lens array 6 supported by the jig 10.
As shown in FIG. 7, the second lens array 6 is supported by the jig 10 inserted from the jig hole 75 and moved upward. Specifically, the second lens array 6 is spaced from the positioning projection 742 in a state where the position in the ± Y direction (second direction) is maintained and the lens forming surface 62B is supported by the inner surface 741A (see FIG. 5). It is moved until. Further, a non-slip member (not shown) is provided on the surface of the jig 10 that comes into contact with the second lens array 6 so that the second lens array 6 does not deviate from the jig as long as the second lens array 6 is adjusted. Yes.

The second lens array 6 separated from the positioning projection 742 rotates about the ± Z direction (first direction), the ± Y direction (second direction), and the optical axis L while observing the emitted light beam. Fine adjustment of the direction to be performed is performed. The adjusted second lens array 6 is fixed to the guide groove 741 with an adhesive or the like.
As described above, the second lens array 6 is inserted into the guide groove 741 and is accurately arranged in the ± Y direction (second direction), and then finely adjusted by the jig 10 and fixed.

As described above, according to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The second lens array 6 can be accurately arranged in the ± Y directions (second directions) by a simple operation of inserting the second lens array 6 into the guide groove 741. Since the second lens array 6 is accurately arranged in the ± Y direction (second direction), the second lens array 6 is separated from the positioning projection 742 by the jig 10 so that the second lens array 6 is moved in the ± Y direction (second direction). In addition to fine adjustment, fine adjustment in the ± Z direction (first direction) and the direction of rotation about the optical axis L can be easily performed. Accordingly, the second lens array 6 can be accurately arranged in the optical component casing 5 with a simple configuration and easy adjustment without increasing the number of components. Miniaturization, simplification of manufacturing process and cost reduction can be achieved.

  (2) Since the second lens array 6 can be fixed to the optical component casing 5 without using other members, the design freedom of the optical component casing 5 can be improved and the projector 1 can be reduced in weight.

  (3) Since the guide groove 741 is formed with an inner surface 741A as a reference surface provided on the small lens 61 side and an inclined surface 74T as a contact portion, the second lens array 6 is formed in the guide groove 741. By a simple operation of inserting, the inclination with respect to the optical axis L can be suppressed, and the second lens array 6 can be arranged in the optical component casing 5 with higher accuracy.

(Modification)
In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The jig according to the embodiment is configured to support the second lens array 6 from below, but may be configured to support from the side in the ± Y direction or the upper side.

  In the second lens array 6 of the above embodiment, the small lens 61 is formed on the light emission side, but may be formed on the light incident side.

  In the embodiment, the second lens array 6 is adjusted. However, the first lens array 321 may be adjusted with the same configuration.

  The projector 1 according to the embodiment uses the transmissive liquid crystal light valve 351 as the light modulation device, but may use a reflective liquid crystal light valve.

  The light source device 31 of the embodiment employs a discharge-type light source 311, but is configured by various solid light emitting elements such as a laser diode, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element, and a silicon light emitting element. May be.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Projector, 3 ... Optical unit, 5 ... Optical component housing | casing, 6 ... 2nd lens array, 7 ... Lower housing | casing, 10 ... Jig, 31 ... Light source device, 32 ... Integrator illumination optical system, 35 ... Electricity Optical device, 61 ... small lens, 62 ... base part, 62B ... lens forming surface, 74 ... groove part, 74T ... inclined surface, 75 ... jig hole, 311 ... light source, 321 ... first lens array, 351, 351B, 351G, 351R ... liquid crystal light valve, 352 ... cross dichroic prism, 621 ... side end, 741 ... guide groove, 741A ... inner surface, 742 ... positioning projection, L ... optical axis.

Claims (2)

A projector including a lens array having a plurality of small lenses for uniformizing a light beam emitted from a light source, and an optical component housing that houses the lens array,
The optical component casing is:
A guide groove in which the lens array is inserted in a loose fit in a first direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light beam;
A contact portion that contacts the lens array in the first direction;
A pair of positioning projections projecting so as to sandwich a part of the lens array in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and the first direction;
The projector characterized by having. The projector according to claim 1,
The lens array has a side end portion that is inserted into the guide groove outside the plurality of small lenses,
The guide groove has a reference surface that faces a surface of the side end portion on which the small lens is formed and regulates an inclination of the lens array with respect to the optical axis,
The projector is characterized in that the abutting portion is an inclined surface that is formed in the guide groove facing the reference surface, and is inclined so as to approach the reference surface as the lens array is inserted.

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