The present disclosure relates to a projection device, and in particular, to a dust-proof structure and a projection device including such a dust-proof structure.
In a typical projection device, an optical engine includes an integration rod where the incident light can undergo multiple total reflections, resulting in a uniform distribution of the light exiting the rod. In the process of assembling the integration rod in the chamber of the optical engine, a manufacturing tolerances inherent at an assembled part of the integration rod or the optical engine or an assembly error during assembly is likely to cause the actual assembly position of the integration rod to deviate from an original default position. As a result, the light cannot be completely incident into the integration rod, leading to reduced brightness of the projection device.
For an integration rod that is skewed or deviated from the original default position, its position is adjusted by displacing a screw penetrating into the base of the optical engine and abutting against the integration rod. However, when the screw is rotated for displacement, it generates debris due to friction with the base of the optical engine. If this debris falls into the chamber where the integration rod is located and adheres to the integration rod or another optical element (such as a lens set) within the optical engine, it is likely to cause dirt or shadow on the projected image, even affecting the display brightness, thus resulting in poor quality of the image projected by the projection device.
The information disclosed in this “BACKGROUND” section is only for enhancement understanding of the background and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the information disclosed in this “BACKGROUND” section does not mean that one or more problems to be solved by one or more embodiments of the disclosure were acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The present disclosure provides a dust-proof structure and a projection device. The dust-proof structure is used to avoid debris falling into a chamber of an optical engine module where a light-homogenizing element is located, thus achieving the dust-proof function for the chamber.
Other advantages and objectives of the disclosure may be further illustrated by the technical features broadly embodied and described as follows.
To achieve one, some, or all of the foregoing objectives or another objective, the dust-proof structure in an embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable to the optical engine module of the projection device. The optical engine module includes a base with a chamber, and the dust-proof structure includes a partition plate, a cavity structure, an adjustment hole, and an adjustment element. The partition plate is one part of the base and a side wall of the chamber. The cavity structure is disposed in the base, and the partition plate is located between the cavity structure and the chamber. The adjustment hole passes through the partition plate and the other part of the base and communicates with the chamber and the cavity structure. A through direction of the adjustment hole is not parallel to an extension direction of the cavity structure. The adjustment element passes through the adjustment hole and partly corresponds to the cavity structure. The adjustment element is suitable for moving relative to the adjustment hole, such that debris generated during the movement of the adjustment element is suitable for falling into the cavity structure.
To achieve one, some, or all of the foregoing objectives or another objective, the projection device in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a light source, an optical engine module, and a projection lens. The light source is suitable for providing a light beam. The optical engine module is disposed on a transmission path of the light beam from the light source, and the optical engine module includes a base, a dust-proof structure, a light-homogenizing element, and a light valve. The base has a chamber, and the light-homogenizing element is disposed in the chamber. The light-homogenizing element receives the light beam and outputs an illumination beam, the adjustment element abuts against the light-homogenizing element, and the adjustment element is suitable for moving and adjusting the position of the light-homogenizing element. The light valve is disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam to convert the illumination beam into an image beam. The projection lens is disposed on a transmission path of the image beam to project the illumination beam out of the projection device.
The dust-proof structure in the embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a cavity structure and an adjustment hole at the base of the optical engine module, and the adjustment hole communicates with the cavity structure. The cavity structure and the chamber where the light-homogenizing element is located are separated using a partition plate. A screw body of the adjustment element of the dust-proof structure is designed to have a non-thread section and a thread section. When the adjustment element is assembled in the adjustment hole, that is, when the thread section of the screw body is threaded with an internal thread of the adjustment hole, debris is generated and falls into the cavity structure as the adjustment element continuously moves toward the light-homogenizing element. And the non-thread section of the screw body does not generate debris when moving relative to the adjustment hole, such that the debris is not brought by the adjustment element into the chamber, thus achieving the dust-proof function for the chamber.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the disclosure will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the disclosure wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this disclosure, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the disclosure.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the disclosure can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “comprising”, or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected”, “coupled”, and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Similarly, the terms “facing”, “faces”, and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect facing, and “adjacent to” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass directly and indirectly “adjacent to”. Therefore, the description of “A” component facing “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component facing “B” component directly or one or more additional components is between “A” component and “B” component. Also, the description of “A” component “adjacent to” “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component is directly “adjacent to” “B” component or one or more additional components is between “A” component and “B” component. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The light-homogenizing element 22 includes a fixing base 34 and an integration rod 36, the integration rod 36 is accommodated and fixed in the fixing base 34, and the integration rod 36 receives the light beam L1 (marked in
In this embodiment, two adjustment holes 30, 30′ are used as an example, but this is not limited thereto. The adjustment hole 30 extends along a first direction D1 and passes through the second portion 262 (that is, the through direction of the adjustment hole 30 is the first direction D1), and the other adjustment hole 30′ extends along a second direction D2 and passes through the first portion 261 (that is, the through direction of the adjustment hole 30′ is the second direction D2). Still referring to
In this embodiment, two cavity structures 28, 28′ are provided to correspond to the quantity of the adjustment holes 30, 30′, which is used as an example but is not limited thereto. The two cavity structures 28, 28′ respectively communicate with the two adjustment holes 30, 30′, and the two cavity structures 28, 28′ can also communicate with each other. In an embodiment, one (the adjustment hole 30) of the two adjustment holes 30, 30′ extending along the first direction D1 is perpendicular to an extension direction of one (the cavity structure 28) of the two cavity structures 28, 28′, and the other one (the adjustment hole 30′) of the two adjustment holes 30, 30′ extending along the second direction D2 is perpendicular to an extension direction of the other one (the cavity structure 28′) of the two cavity structures 28, 28′. In other words, the adjustment holes 30, 30′ are connected to the cavity structures 28, 28′ in corresponding communication therewith, for example, in a T-hole pattern. Specifically, the adjustment hole 30 extending along the first direction D1 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the cavity structure 28 in corresponding communication therewith, and the adjustment hole 30′ extending along the second direction D2 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the cavity structure 28′ in corresponding communication therewith.
As shown in
The debris generated when the adjustment elements 32, 32′ pass through the first spaces 301, 301′ of the adjustment holes 30, 30′ having the internal threads 304, 304′ is brought to the cavity structures 28, 28′ in communication with the second spaces 302, 302′ and falls into the cavity structures 28, 28′ instead of entering the chamber 181 along with the adjustment elements 32, 32′. Because the third spaces 303, 303′ of the adjustment holes 30, 30′ do not have internal threads, the adjustment elements 32, 32′ do not generate debris in the third spaces 303, 303′, thus preventing the debris from entering the chamber 181.
Ends 403, 403′ of the screw bodies 40, 40′ abut against the light-homogenizing element 22 and are away from the thread sections 401, 401′. In an embodiment, the ends 403, 403′ have curved contours. When the non-thread sections 402, 402′ of the adjustment elements 32, 32′ reach entrances of the third spaces 303, 303′ of the adjustment holes 30, 30′, the curved ends 403, 403′ can be used for sliding to the entrances of the third spaces 303, 303′ and correspond to the entrances of the third spaces 303, 303′. That is, cooperation between the curved ends 403, 403′ and the entrances of the third spaces 303, 303′ can enable a guide function to guide the non-thread sections 402, 402′ of the screw bodies 40, 40′ to enter the third spaces 303, 303′, thus abutting against the light-homogenizing element 22. In this embodiment, as two adjustment elements in different directions abut against the light-homogenizing element 22, the position of the light-homogenizing element 22 can be fine-tuned, allowing the light-homogenizing element 22 to receive the light beam L1 accurately, and/or output the light beam L2 to the downstream optical element.
In an embodiment, as shown in
Referring to
Correspondingly, when it is intended to adjust the fixing base 34 to move in the second direction D2, the adjustment element 32′ is moved in the second direction D2 and the fixing base 34 is pushed to move in the second direction D2. The second elastic portion 442 is squeezed by the fixing base 34 to be compressed, thus preventing the push of the adjustment element 32′ from causing the fixing base 34 to directly collide with and damage the base 18. When it is intended to adjust the fixing base 34 to move in a direction opposite to the second direction D2, the adjustment element 32′ is moved in the direction opposite to the second direction D2. The second elastic portion 442 generates an elastic restoring force due to the release of the squeeze pressure to the fixing base 34 and pushes the fixing base 34 to move in the direction opposite to the second direction D2 with the elastic restoring force.
In the projection device of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the base of the optical engine module is provided with a cavity structure, the dust-proof structure includes the partition plate, the adjustment element, the adjustment hole, and the cavity structure, and the partition plate is located between the cavity structure and the chamber where the light-homogenizing element is located. And, because the screw body of the adjustment element of the dust-proof structure includes the non-thread section and the thread section, when the adjustment element is assembled in the adjustment hole, that is, when the thread section of the screw body is threaded with an internal thread of the adjustment hole, debris is generated and falls into the cavity structure as the adjustment element continuously moves toward the light-homogenizing element. And the non-thread section of the screw body does not generate debris when moving relative to the adjustment hole, such that the debris is not brought by the adjustment element into the chamber, thus achieving the dust-proof function for the chamber. This in turn prevents dust or debris from adhering to the light-homogenizing element.
In summary, the dust-proof structure of the embodiment of the present disclosure can avoid the debris generated by friction between the adjustment element and the base falling into the chamber where the light-homogenizing element is located when the adjustment element is rotated for displacement to adjust the position of the integration rod of the light-homogenizing element, thus achieving the dust-proof function for the chamber. This can further prevent the debris from adhering to another optical element (for example, the lens set) in the optical engine module, so as to avoid dirt or shadow on the projected image caused by the debris adhering to the lens, which otherwise affects the display brightness, thus having a good display effect.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the disclosure” is not necessary limited the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the disclosure does not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The disclosure is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Moreover, these claims may refer to use “first”, “second”, etc. following with noun or element. Such terms should be understood as a nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless specific number has been given. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the disclosure. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202410318168.0 | Mar 2024 | CN | national |
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application (No. 63/615,803), filed on Dec. 29, 2023, and China application (No. 202410318168.0), filed on Mar. 20, 2024. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63615803 | Dec 2023 | US |