JP3318903B2 - Projector equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problem (FIG. 6) Function (FIG. 6) Example (FIGS. 1 to 6) (1) Overall Configuration of Projector Device (FIG. 1 to 5) (2) Projector device of the embodiment (FIG. 6) (3) Other embodiments Effect of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a projector device, and is suitably applied to, for example, an apparatus for projecting a color image.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a projector of this type, there is an apparatus which projects red, green and blue components of video data on three CRTs (cathode ray tubes).
On the front side of the projection type three-tube type projector device, three CRTs in which red, green, and blue color filters and a projection lens are sequentially arranged on the image projection surface side are arranged.

A CRT is designed to project the red, green and blue components of video data directly onto a screen at the time of projection, whereby projection light of the red, green and blue components projected from each CRT on the screen is projected. The images are combined to form one image, and a color image is projected as a whole.

[0005] Instead of a projection type three tube type projector device, there is a reflection type three tube type projector device in which three CRTs are arranged inside a box. In the case of this projector device, the same optical path as that of the projection type three-tube type projector device is reflected by a mirror arranged inside the box and bent, and the projection light is emitted from the back surface to a frosted glass-like translucent screen.

Thus, each CR is displayed on the screen.
The projection light of the red, green, and blue components emitted from T is combined to form one image, and a color image is projected as a whole. In the case of this reflective three-tube type projector device, the optical path is bent to reduce the size and the screen itself is formed integrally, so that a smaller projector device than the projection type three-tube type projector device can be realized. Can be improved.

[0007]

However, in the projection type three-tube type projector device and the reflection type three-tube type projector device having such a configuration, a CRT is used as a light source and an image projected from the CRT is enlarged and displayed on a screen. For this reason, there is a problem that it is unavoidable that the entire device becomes large, and it is difficult to increase the brightness of the displayed image.

In order to solve such a problem, three liquid crystal panel plates are used as a video source instead of the CRT, and red, green and blue components are displayed on each liquid crystal panel plate, and one surface of the liquid crystal panel plate is displayed. There is a so-called liquid crystal projector device which irradiates light from the side and focuses the transmitted light on a screen through red, green and blue color filters, respectively.

In the case of this liquid crystal projector device, the entire device can be made much smaller than a projector device using a CRT because a liquid crystal panel is used. However, the liquid crystal panel plate itself has a low light transmittance and can display a displayed image. In terms of increasing the brightness, it is still insufficient for practical use.

By the way, as a display system, minute mirror elements are arranged in a plane in accordance with pixels, and a mirror-deflection type optical modulator utilizing the reflection of each mirror element (hereinafter referred to as a mirror light valve) is used. Some have been proposed (JP-A-60-179781, JP-A-3-40693, JP-A-3-174112).

If a projector device for enlarging and projecting a color image can be formed by using this mirror light valve as an image source, the configuration of the entire device can be simplified and required to have the same scale as the liquid crystal projector device, It can be considered that the display video can be remarkably increased in brightness by improving the use efficiency of the light source as compared with the case of FIG.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a projector device which can be simplified and miniaturized, and which can increase the brightness of a display image and improve the usefulness remarkably.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mirror-deflection type optical modulator having a plurality of mirror elements arranged according to pixels of video data.
2G and 2B are illuminated with illumination light L1, and the specularly-deflected light modulators 2R to 2B are modulated by video data. In the projector device 40 for displaying a desired image on the display surface, of the light reflected by the mirror-surface-deflection type optical modulators 2R to 2G, light condensing means 41R and 41G for condensing invalid reflected light other than effective reflected light. , 41B, and a solar cell means 42 to which the ineffective reflected light collected by the light collecting means 41R to 41B is applied.

In the present invention, the solar cell means 42
The cooling device 43 that cools the light source 3 that emits the illumination light L1 is driven by using the obtained power.

[0015]

[Function] Mirror-type optical modulator 2R according to video data
When a desired image is displayed on the image display surface with the effective reflected light of 2B, the reflected light other than the effective reflected light among the reflected lights reflected by the mirror-surface deflecting optical modulators 2R to 2B is collected by the condensing means 41.
By condensing light through R to 41B and irradiating the solar cell means 42, invalid reflected light can be effectively used, and further, the power of the illumination light L1 is obtained by using the power obtained from the solar cell means 42. Cooling device 43 for cooling light source 3
Is driven, the usability can be significantly improved.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

(1) Overall Configuration of Projector Device In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes three mirror light valves 2 corresponding to respective red, green and blue image data as a whole.
1 shows a projector device using R, 2G, and 2B. 2 and 3 in which the same reference numerals are assigned to parts corresponding to those in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the projection light L1 emitted from the high-luminance white light source 3 is converted into parallel light through a condenser lens 4 while unnecessary ultraviolet rays are removed by a UV filter (not shown). And a dichroic mirror for separation 6R, 6
G, 6B.

The separating dichroic mirrors 6R, 6G,
6B, the projection light L2 consisting of white light is red,
The light is separated into green and blue lights LR, LG and LB. This red,
The green and blue lights LR, LG, and LB are respectively passed through the beam shaping cylindrical lenses 7R, 7G, and 7B.
Are bent obliquely upward by the reflection mirrors 8R, 8G, and 8B, and are applied to the reflection surfaces of the mirror light valves 2R, 2G, and 2B.

The mirror light valves 2R, 2G and 2B are
A plurality of micro-mirror elements each having a size of, for example, about 17 [μm] are arranged in accordance with the arrangement of pixels of video data (for example, 768 × 576 pixels).
A reflection surface approximately as large as an inch CCD (solid-state imaging device) is formed. The micro-mirror elements are arranged corresponding to the respective memory cells of the frame memory according to the arrangement of the pixels of the video data, and the tilt state of the corresponding micro-mirror elements changes individually according to the state of each memory cell. Has been made.

Actually, each micromirror element is tilted by + 10 ° with respect to the neutral state as shown in FIG. 4A when the memory cell is in the ON state, that is, when the memory cell is effective as a pixel, and conversely, the memory cell is in the OFF state, When it is invalid as a pixel, it is tilted by -10 ° as shown in FIG.
As a result, the reflected light reflected by the mirror surface with respect to the incident light is
Switching is performed so as to have an optical path difference of 20 ° between the effective reflected light and the invalid reflected light necessary to form an image.

In the case of this projector device 1, video data for one frame of red, green and blue is set in the frame memory corresponding to each of the mirror light valves 2R, 2G and 2B, so that the effective reflected light is obtained. Red,
Green and blue image lights are formed. The red, green, and blue image lights are respectively transmitted to the corresponding relay lenses 9R, 9G, and 9B.
Through the synthesis dichroic mirrors 10R, 10G,
10B, the light is synthesized as a color image light, and this is magnified and projected through a projection lens 11 onto a screen (not shown) arranged at a distance outside the projector device 1.

Further, in the case of this projector device 1, the second reflection mirror 8R passes through a high-luminance white light source 3, a condenser lens 4, a first reflection mirror 5, dichroic mirrors 6R to 6B for separation, and cylindrical lenses 7R to 7B. ~
8B, the optical axes of the optical systems of the projection light L1 and L2, the relay lenses 9R to 9B reflected by the mirror light valves 2R to 2B, and the dichroic mirror 10R for synthesis.
-10B, the optical axis of the effective reflected light reaching the projection lens 11 is shifted by a predetermined height, thereby preventing the interference between the projection light and the effective reflected light and the invalid reflected light. Have been made to gain.

Further, in the case of the projector device 1, the beam of the projection light is shaped by the cylindrical lenses 7R to 7B, whereby the second reflection mirror 8 is formed.
Even if the light is reflected obliquely upward by R to 8B, the reflecting surfaces of the mirror light valves 2R to 2B can be irradiated with uniform illuminance.

Here, in this projector device 1, the lower part of the optical unit described above with reference to FIGS.
The circuit portions shown in FIG. In the projector device 1, as a video signal to be displayed, a video signal S1 input as RGB signals from a video device, a video signal S2 transmitted from a personal computer or the like corresponding to VGA (video graphics arrey), and a VGA pattern Video signal S3
It is made to be able to choose.

These video signals S1, S2, S3 are:
Each is input to and selected by the video select circuit 21, and the resulting video signal S 4 is converted into a digital video signal S 5 by the analog-to-digital conversion circuit 22.
It is input to the gamma correction circuit 23. The gamma correction circuit 23 receives a test pattern signal S6 generated by the test pattern generation circuit 24 as needed. Thereby, the gamma correction circuit 23 performs gamma correction on the digital video signal S5 or the test pattern signal S6 according to the set gamma correction parameter S7, and sends the resulting digital video signal S8 to the reformatt circuit 25.

The reformat circuit 25 includes a video signal S1 input as RGB signals and video signals S2 and S of VGA.
The digital video signal S8 corresponding to 3 is, for example, mirror light valves 2R to 2B composed of 768 pixels × 576 lines.
And a digital video signal S9 of red, green, and blue components obtained as a result.
R, S9B and S9G are sent to the corresponding frame memories 26R, 26G and 26B, respectively.

The frame memories 26R to 26B correspond to the mirror light valves 2R to 2B, respectively. In response to the control signal S10 input from the timing control circuit 27, the frame memories 26R to 26B are sequentially turned on for each frame.
6B is written into the mirror light valves 2R to 2B, whereby red, green, and blue image lights are respectively formed as effective reflected light.

In the case of the projector 1, the timing control circuit 27 receives the input video signals S1 to S3.
Using the system clock S12 generated by the clock generation circuit 28 in response to the phase control signal S11 based on the
2B is generated.

In the projector 1, when a power switch (not shown) is turned on, an AC power supply S13 is supplied to the power supply circuit 30 and the lamp drive circuit 31. The power supply circuit 30 supplies a predetermined DC power supply S14 to each circuit unit to start the operation of the projector 1. Further, the lamp drive circuit 31 drives the high-luminance white light source 3 to be turned on, whereby the white light source 3 emits the projection light L1.

According to the configuration of the projector device 1,
Mirror light valves 2R, 2G, and 2B corresponding to red, green, and blue, respectively, are used as image sources. These mirror light valves 2R to 2B are driven by red, green, and blue video signals, respectively, and white light is respectively emitted. By irradiating red, green, and blue projection light separated by color, and combining the effective reflected light into a color and projecting it in an enlarged manner, it can be compared with a conventional projector using a CRT. Projector device 1 with a significantly smaller, lighter and simpler configuration
Can be realized.

Since the mirror light valves 2R to 2B reflect the projection light,
Compared with the liquid crystal projector device, the use efficiency of light can be remarkably improved, and thus a projector device can be realized which can be reduced in size and weight and can increase the brightness of a displayed image.

(2) Projector Apparatus of Embodiment In FIG. 6, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are assigned the same reference numerals, reference numeral 40 designates a projector apparatus according to the present invention as a whole, and the projector described above with reference to FIGS. Apparatus 1
Mirror light valves 2R, 2G, 2B
Out of the reflected light reflected by the third reflecting mirrors 41R and 41R, which are invalid to form an image.
The light is bent at G and 41B and condensed on the light receiving surface of the solar cell.

The electric power generated by the solar cell 42 in response to the ineffectively reflected light drives the cooling fan 43 disposed near the high-luminance white light source 3, whereby the white light source 3
The heat generated can be effectively cooled.

According to the above configuration, of the reflected light reflected by the mirror light valves 2R to 2B, the invalid reflected light which is invalid for forming an image is bent by the reflecting mirrors 41R to 41B and received by the solar cell 42. By condensing on the surface, the ineffective reflected light is compared to a case where a sponge with a rough surface roughness is painted black or a resin or metal material with uneven surface is absorbed by a black painted part As a result, a fan for cooling the absorbing component itself may be unnecessary.

Thus, even if the mirror light valves 2R to 2B having a high reflectivity are used, the generation of heat can be reduced, and power consumption and noise can be reduced by eliminating the necessity of a fan for an ineffective reflected light absorbing component. Thus, the projector 40 which can greatly improve the usefulness with a simple configuration can be realized.

Further, according to the above configuration, the cooling fan 43 of the white light source 3 is driven by using the electric power generated by the solar cell 42 in response to the ineffective reflected light. Thus, it is possible to realize the projector device 40 which can effectively reduce the light energy thus conventionally absorbed by the absorbing component and realize energy saving.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the case where the fan for cooling the white light source is driven by the power generated by the solar cell has been described. Alternatively, in addition to this, even if the power is used as another power such as a power supply for display, the effect of energy saving can be obtained as in the above-described embodiment.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case where a mirror-surface-deflection type optical modulator in which 768 × 576 micro-mirror elements are arranged on the reflection surface in accordance with the arrangement of pixels of video data, respectively, is used. As described above, the arrangement of the micromirror elements is not limited to this, and may be variously selected. Further, the arrangement of the micromirror elements is not limited to a two-dimensional arrangement, and the micromirror elements may be arranged one-dimensionally, and the projection light may be scanned and imaged. The same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be realized even in the case of forming.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, red, green,
A case has been described in which a mirror-deflection type optical modulator driven according to a blue image is irradiated with red, green, and blue projection light, respectively, and the effective reflected light is synthesized and enlarged for display. Instead, a single mirror-deflection type optical modulator is sequentially driven in a time-division manner according to the red, green, and blue images, and in synchronization with this, the red, green, and blue projection lights are sequentially and time-division-irradiated. The same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be realized even with the projector device.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a desired image is displayed on an image display surface with the effective reflected light of the mirror-surface-deflection type optical modulator according to the image data, the mirror-surface-deflection type optical modulator is used. The reflected light other than the effective reflected light is condensed through the light condensing means out of the reflected light, and the reflected light is irradiated to the solar cell means, so that the invalid reflected light can be effectively used. . Further, by driving the cooling device that cools the light source of the illuminating light by using the power obtained from the solar cell means, it is possible to obtain the effect of energy saving, and thus to significantly improve the usefulness. A projector device can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall configuration of a projector device using a mirror-surface deflection type optical modulator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view for explaining an optical system of the projector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view for describing an optical system of the projector device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a mirror element of a mirror-surface deflection optical modulator.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the projector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view for describing an optical system of a projector device according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1, 40 Projector device 2, Mirror light valve 3, High-intensity white light source 4, Condenser lens 5, First reflection mirror 6, Dichroic for separation Mirror, 7: Cylindrical lens for beam shaping, 8: Second reflecting mirror, 9: Relay lens, 1
0 ... dichroic mirror for synthesis, 11 ... projection lens, 21 ... video select circuit, 22 ...
... Analog-to-digital conversion circuit, 23 ... Gamma correction circuit, 24 ... Test pattern generation circuit, 25 ... Reformat circuit, 26 ... Frame memory, 27 ... Timing control circuit, 28 ... Clock generation circuit, 30 ...
Power supply circuit, 31 ... Lamp drive circuit, 41 ... Third
, A reflection mirror, 42 ... solar cell, 43 ... cooling fan.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsuneo Yamazaki 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (56) References JP-A-1-292395 (JP, A) JP-A Heisei JP-A-4-73733 (JP, A) JP-A-4-250438 (JP, A) JP-A-6-118373 (JP, A) JP-A-6-160851 (JP, A) JP-A-6-175128 (JP, A A) JP-A 2-107183 (JP, U) JP-A 3-101807 (JP, U) (58) Fields studied (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 21/16 G02F 1/13 G02F 1 / 13357 H04N 5/74

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An illumination light is applied to a mirror-surface-deflection type light modulator having a plurality of mirror-surface elements arranged according to pixels of image data, and the mirror-surface-deflection type light modulator is modulated by the image data. A projector device for displaying a desired image on an image display surface with effective reflected light of the specularly polarized light modulator according to the image data, wherein the reflected light reflected by the specularly polarized light modulator is A projector device comprising: a condensing means for condensing invalid reflected light other than the effective reflected light; and a solar cell means for irradiating the invalid reflected light condensed by the condensing means. 2. The projector according to claim 1, wherein a cooling device for cooling the light source for emitting the illumination light is driven by using the electric power obtained from the solar cell means.