This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-230903, filed on Oct. 13, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a lamp unit and a video projector including a lamp unit.
A typical projector includes a lamp unit. The lamp unit includes a lamp, a lamp holder, and a connector. The lamp includes an arc tube. The lamp holder holds the lamp. The connector is connected to the lamp by cables and arranged in the lamp holder. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-287812 describes a prior art example of a projector.
The projector described in the above publication includes a light source device. The light source device includes a connector, which is provided with cables, a light source lamp, a reflector, and a lamp housing. The lamp housing includes a connector receptacle and a terminal fastening portion. The connector receptacle accommodates the connector. The cables are fastened by screws to the terminal fastening portion.
To increase the layout freedom of the connector and to facilitate the arrangement of the lamp and the connector in the lamp holder, it is preferable that the cables connecting the lamp and the connector be long and flexible.
However, long and flexible cables may come into contact with the arc tube. A cable tie may be used to bind the cables so that the cables do not contact the arc tube. However, the heat and ultraviolet light generated by the arc tube may deteriorate the cables as well as the cable tie.
One aspect of the present invention is a lamp unit provided with a lamp holder that holds a lamp, which includes an arc tube, and a connector, which includes a cable connected to the lamp to supply power to the lamp. A wall member partitions a space formed between the lamp holder and the arc tube. The cable is arranged between the wall member and the lamp holder.
A further aspect of the present invention is a video projector provided with a lamp including an arc tube, a cable connected to the lamp to supply power to the lamp, a connector including the cable, and a lamp unit. The lamp is used as a light source for displaying an image. The lamp unit includes a lamp holder, which holds the lamp and the connector, and a wall member, which partitions a space formed between the lamp holder and the arc tube. The cable is arranged between the wall member and the lamp holder.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:
A projector 1 serving as one embodiment of a video projector will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the description hereafter, upward and downward directions will be indicated by arrow Z in the drawings. The upward and downward directions are not limited to the vertical direction. Further, forward and rearward directions, which are orthogonal to the upward and downward directions, are indicated by arrow X in the drawings. Further, leftward and rightward directions, which are orthogonal to the upward and downward directions and the frontward and rearward direction, are indicated by arrow Y in the drawings.
Referring to
The lamp cover 11 may be held in an open state as shown in
As shown in
Referring to
A luminous body, which is, for example, a mixture or mercury and a halogen gas or halide, is sealed in the arc tube 31. Electric power is supplied to the lamp 3 to apply high voltage to the luminous body sealed in the arc tube 31. This causes a breakdown in the arc tube 31 and generates an electric discharge. In this manner, when an electric discharge is generated in the arc tube 31, the lamp 3 emits light. The arc tube 31 has a shape that is elongated in the forward and rearward directions. The arc tube 31 is partially fitted into the reflector 32. For example, the arc tube 31 has a central portion and front portion arranged in the reflector 32 and a rear portion projected out of the reflector 32.
The reflector 32 is a reflection mirror, which reflects the light emitted from the arc tube 31, and encompasses the arc tube 31. The reflector 32 is arranged to surround the arc tube 31. Further, the reflector 32 includes an inner surface 32a that reflects the light emitted from the arc tube 31 in the reflector 32 toward the front. The inner surface 32a of the reflector 32 is formed by, for example, a paraboloid or an ellipsoid. The light emitted from the arc tube 31 outside the reflector 32, that is, the light emitted from the rear side of the arc tube 31, is emitted toward the rear of the lamp 3 and not reflected toward the front.
The arc tube support 33 is located outside the reflector 32 and arranged on the rear side of the reflector 32. The arc tube support 33 supports the rear side of the arc tube 31 and fixes the arc tube 31 to the reflector 32.
The cover glass 34 is arranged at the front side of the reflector 32 to cover the reflector 32 and the arc tube 31. When the arc tube 31 breaks, the cover glass 34 arranged in front of the arc tube 31 prevents fragments of the arc tube 31 from being scattered. Further, as shown in
Cables 36 are connected to the lamp 3 to supply the lamp 3 with power from a power supply circuit (not shown) arranged in the case 10 shown in
When the lamp unit 2 is placed in the case 10, the connector 37 is connected to a connector (not shown) arranged in the case 10. This electrically connects the power supply circuit in the case 10 to the cables 36 and allows power to be supplied to the lamp 3 to generate electric discharge in the arc tube 31. Although not shown in the drawings, the arc tube 31 includes an electrode, which is used to generate an electric discharge, and an electrode wire, which is connected to the electric wires of the cables 36.
Referring to
The structure of the walls 41 to 45 of the lamp housing 4 will now be described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The lamp housing 4 functions as a lamp holder that fastens and holds the lamp 3 therein. As shown in
As shown in
The procedures for assembling the lamp unit 2 will now be described with reference to
Referring to
As shown in
When the lamp 3 is accommodated in the lamp housing 4, the circulation port 42a of the lamp housing 4 shown in
As shown in
The deflectors 63, or the deflection plates 63a, are formed from metal plates. Each deflection plate 63a extends into the lamp 3 through the corresponding inlet 35. In the present embodiment, the deflection plates 63a arranged on opposite sides of the lamp 3 guide cooling air into the lamp 3 through the left and right inlets 35 of the lamp 3.
In the same manner as the deflectors 63, the outer frame member 5 is also formed from a metal plate. The outer frame member 5 includes a basal portion 51, a right frame portion 52, a left frame portion 53, and a tetragonal frame portion 54. The basal portion 51 is formed by a flat plate member extending in the leftward and rightward directions. The right frame portion 52 is connected to the right end of the basal portion 51 and bendable relative to the basal portion 51. The left frame portion 53 is connected to the left end of the basal portion 51 and bendable relative to the basal portion 51.
The tetragonal frame portion 54 is connected to the front end of the basal portion 51 and bent upward from the basal portion 51. The tetragonal frame portion 54 has an upper end bent rearward to form hooking sections 54a. The hooking sections 54a are hooked to outer frame hooking projections 43b arranged on the front side of the upper wall 43 of the lamp housing 4.
As shown in
A grid 55 is arranged in each of the openings 51b, 52a, and 53a. The grid 55 is formed, for example, from a metal mesh, and fixed to the outer frame member 5 by performing spot welding. When the arc tube 31 breaks, the grid 55 prevents fragments of the arc tube 31 from scattering outside the lamp unit 2.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The partition 81, which extends in the upward and downward directions, partitions the interior the lamp housing 4 in the leftward and rightward directions. A cross-section parallel to the leftward and rightward directions shows the cables 36 arranged in a space formed at the right side of the partition 81 and the arc tube 31 arranged in a space formed at the left side of the partition 81. In this manner, the wall member 8 partitions the space between the lamp housing 4 and the arc tube 31, and the cables 36 are arranged in the space formed between the wall member 8 and the inner wall of the lamp housing 4.
The projector 1 that includes the lamp unit 2 uses the lamp 3 to display an image. For example, the projector 1, which includes liquid crystal panels, passes the light emitted from the lamp 3 through the liquid crystal panels to generate an image and project the image onto a screen or the like for display. When the life of the lamp 3 ends and the lamp 3 can no longer be illuminated, the lamp unit 2 is replaced with a new one to replace the lamp 3 with a new one.
In the present embodiment, as shown in
When the fan 9 is driven, negative pressure is produced in the lamp housing 4. This draws ambient air into the lamp housing 4 through the opening 43c. The air flows along the wall member 8 and produces a current that positively cools the cables 36.
The fan 9 is driven to cool the cables 36. The fan 9 also positively discharges cooling air out of the lamp 3 through the lower inlet 35. The fan 9 also sends some of the air drawn through the opening 43c into the lamp housing 4 to the rear side of the lamp 3 for cooling. The wall member 8 defines the space in which the lamp 3 is arranged in the lamp housing 4. Thus, the wall member 8 improves the cooling efficiency of the lamp 3.
The lamp unit 2 of the embodiment has the advantages described below.
(1) The lamp unit 2 is provided with the lamp 3, which includes the arc tube 31, the connector 37, which includes the cables 36 connected to the lamp 3 to supply power to the lamp 3, and the lamp housing 3, which holds the lamp 3 and the connector 37. The wall member 8 partitions the space formed between the lamp housing 4 and the arc tube 31. This arranged the cables 36 between the wall member 8 and the lamp housing 4. In this structure, the wall member 8 reduces deterioration of the cables 36 that would be generated by the heat and ultraviolet light generated by the arc tube 31. The wall member 8 also prevents the cables 36 from coming into contact with the arc tube 31.
(2) The wall member 8 is fastened to the lamp housing 4 in a removable manner. The wall member 8 is fixed to the lamp housing 4 and prevented from being separated from the lamp housing 4.
(3) The wall member 8 is fastened by the screw 8a to the lamp housing 4. This rigidly fastens the wall member 8 to the lamp housing 4. Further, by unfastening the screw 8a, the wall member 8 can be removed from the lamp housing 4.
(4) The lamp housing 4 includes the openings 41c and 43c, which extend through the lamp housing 4. The wall member 8 covers the openings 41c and 43c. Thus, the wall member 8 prevents the light emitted from the arc tube 31 from leaking out of the lamp housing 4 through the openings 41c and 43c.
(5) The projector 1, which is a video projector, includes the lamp unit 2, which is used as a light source for displaying an image. When the life of the lamp 3 ends and the lamp 3 can no longer be illuminated, the lamp unit 2 can be replaced with a new one.
(6) The projector 1 includes the fan 9, which produces a flow of air. The wall member 8 forms a passage for the flow of air produced by the fan 9. This effectively cools the cables 36 as compared to when the wall member 8 is eliminated. In particular, the lamp housing 4 of the present embodiment includes the opening 43c. Further, the temperature in the lamp housing 4 is high. Thus, by drawing air into the lamp housing 4 through the opening 43c, the cables 36 are further effectively cooled.
(7) The wall member 8 defines the space in which the lamp 3 is arranged in the lamp housing 4. The wall member 8 also improves the cooling efficiency of the lamp 3. This effectively cools the cables 36 as compared to when the wall member 8 is eliminated.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the present invention may be embodied in the following forms.
The shape of the wall member 8 may be changed. For example, as shown in
Further, the shape of the lamp housing 4 may be changed as shown in
In this manner, the structure used to couple the wall member 8 to the lamp housing 4 may be changed. Further, the screw 8a does not have to be used as longs as the wall member 8 can be fastened to the lamp housing 4.
In the above embodiment, the wall member 8 covers the openings 41c and 43c to prevent light emitted by the arc tube 31 from leaking out of the lamp housing 4. However, the wall member 8 may cover just one of the openings 41c and 43c formed in the lamp housing 4 as long as the light emitted from the arc tube 31 can be prevented from leaking out of the lamp housing 4.
The shape of the wall member 8 may be changed as long as deterioration of the cables 36 caused by the heat and ultraviolet light produced by the arc tube 31 can be prevented and contact of the cables 36 with the arc tube 31 can be prevented. For example, the shape of the wall member 8 may be changed in accordance with the location of the arc tube 31 in the lamp housing 4, the shape of the lamp housing 4, the location at which the connector 37 is accommodated, and the locations of the openings formed in the lamp housing 4.
In the above embodiment, the lamp housing 4 is box-shaped to accommodate the lamp 3 and the connector 37. However, the lamp holder does not have to be box-shaped. In other words, the lamp holder does not necessarily have to accommodate the lamp 3 as long as it can hold the lamp 3.
The video projector is not limited to the projector 1, which generates an image by passing light through liquid crystal panels. For example, the present invention may be applied to a projector that generates an image by selectively reflecting light using a digital micromirror device (DMD).
The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2010-230903 | Oct 2010 | JP | national |