This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-114923, filed on May 18, 2012 and No.2013-048137, filed on Mar. 11, 2013 in the Japan Patent Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light source apparatus having a plurality of light sources, and an image projection apparatus employing the light source apparatus.
2. Background Art
Screen images of personal computers, video images, and image data stored in memory cards can be transmitted to image projection apparatuses known as projectors that can project images onto a screen. In the projector, light emitted from a light source is focused on a micro mirror display device known as a digital micro mirror device (DMD), or a liquid crystal plate, and then images are displayed as color images on the screen.
In the projector, a high intensity discharge lamp is conventionally used as the light source, but other light sources have been developed. For example, as a light emitting element for light source apparatuses, semiconductor elements such as a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode (LD), or organic electroluminescence (OEL) have been developed as the light source.
The laser diode can be used as the light source for the image projection apparatuses to enhance, for example, color reproduction performance, light emission efficiency, and light use efficiency. Further, because the laser diode is a point light source or projects parallel beams, a lighting system can be designed easily, color lights can be synthesized using a simple configuration, and a projection lens having a small numerical aperture (NA) can be used.
When the laser diode is employed as the light source for the image projection apparatuses, how to secure sufficient light intensity becomes an issue. To secure sufficient light intensity, a number of laser diodes are packed two dimensionally on a plane in a matrix pattern. For example, JP-4711155-B (or JP-2011-13317-A) discloses a configuration in which a plurality of light sources is arranged on a plane in a matrix pattern having rows and columns, and light beams exiting from the plurality of light sources arranged in rows and columns are synthesized using a plurality of rectangular reflection mirrors configured in a step-like structure to narrow the pitch of light beam fluxes emitted from the light sources configuring each row and the pitch of light beam fluxes emitted from the light sources configuring each column.
When a large number of light sources (e.g., laser diodes) are densely disposed on a plane, how to cool the light sources efficiently becomes an issue. The image projection apparatus can be made more compact by disposing multiple laser diodes densely on a plane. However, dissipation of heat of the inner laser diodes becomes difficult compared to the outer laser diodes, thereby requiring a cooling device having greater cooling capacity than necessary. Inadequate cooling can destabilize light emission of the laser diodes and shorten the lifetime of the laser diodes.
Cooling can be improved by setting a greater pitch between the light sources such as laser diodes used for the image projection apparatus. However, as the pitch increases so too does the size of the apparatus, as does a cross-section area of a light beam flux exiting from the light sources thereby necessitating a larger lens to condense the light beam flux. A light intensity equalizing unit such as a rod integrator can be used to equalize light intensity, but if an incidence angle becomes too great a feasible optical system may not be achievable. Further, if a light emission area increases, the etendue increases and a ratio of light not used for projection increases, i.e., light-use efficiency deteriorates.
In JP-4711155-B (or JP-2011-13317-A), a cross-section area of a light beam flux is reduced by synthesizing light beams using a reflection mirror. When high intensity light sources are disposed two dimensionally, a cooling performance of the light sources at the outer side and a cooling performance of the light sources at the inner side surrounded by the outer side become different, by which the output light intensity may become unstable. Further, when a plurality of mirrors is used for synthesizing light beams, it becomes difficult to design positions of each of mirrors and to adjust each of mirrors, and a space for disposing the plurality of mirrors as a step-like structure is required, which may not good for achieving a compact apparatus.
In one aspect of the present invention, a light source apparatus includes a first reflector having a first reflection face; a second reflector having a second reflection face, the first reflection face of the first reflector and the second reflection face of the second reflector disposed opposite each other; and a plurality of light sources being disposed around a periphery of the second reflector. Light beams emitted from the plurality of light sources reflect on the first reflector and then reflect on the second reflector.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict exemplary embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted, and identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.
A description is now given of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, it should be understood that such elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections are not limited thereby because such terms are relative, that is, used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, for example, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
In addition, it should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Thus, for example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover, the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Furthermore, although in describing views shown in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result. Referring now to the drawings, apparatuses or systems according to example embodiments are described hereinafter.
In the following example embodiments, light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources disposed two dimensionally such as a plane can be synthesized, in which the plurality of light sources, a first reflector having a first reflection face, and a second reflector having a second reflection face are disposed. The plurality of light sources is disposed around a periphery of the second reflector. The first reflector and the second reflector are disposed at opposing side with each other. The light beams emitted from the plurality of light sources reflect on the first reflection face and then reflect on the second reflection face.
A description is given of a light source apparatus according to an example embodiment with reference to the drawings.
The light source apparatus 1 includes, for example, a light source assembly, a light source supporter 14, a coupling lens supporter 13, a second reflection mirror 9, a first reflection mirror 10, a reflection mirror supporter 8, a heat sink 15, and an axial flow fan 3.
The light source assembly includes, for example, a plurality of light sources 11-1 to 11-16 arranged in a circle pattern two dimensionally such as a plane, and a plurality of coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 arranged in a circle pattern two dimensionally such as a plane, in which the center of each light source 11-1 to 11-16 and the center of each coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 are aligned. The light source supporter 14 is used as a supporter to support the plurality of light sources 11-1 to 11-16. The coupling lens supporter 13 is attached with the plurality of coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16.
The first reflection mirror 10 used as a first reflector and the second reflection mirror 9 used as a second reflector can be used to set light beams exiting from each of the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 as converging light having reduced its cross-section area with respect to the center of the circle pattern. The heat sink 15 is used as a heat dissipater. The axial flow fan 3 is used as a ventilator. As shown in
The heat sink 15 is made of metal such as aluminum or cupper, and attached to one side face 14a of the light source supporter 14 by contacting a base 15a of the heat sink 15 to the one side face 14a. The axial flow fan 3 is disposed at a heat dissipation portion 15b of the heat sink 15, which is the opposite side of the base 15a of the heat sink 15. In the axial flow fan 3, a drive motor 3a disposed at the center portion is driven to rotate a fan 3b, which is a fin disposed at the outer side of the axial flow fan 3 to generate a wind flow toward the heat dissipation portion 15b, and the wind flow takes heat from the heat dissipation portion 15b. As above described, the heat sink 15 attached to the light source supporter 14 supporting the plurality of light sources, and the axial flow fan 3 that can cool the heat sink 15 by sending air such as a wind may be collectively configured as a cooling device of the light sources.
The light sources 11-1 to 11-16 are, for example, laser elements such as semiconductor lasers. As shown in
Each of the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 is, for example, a convex lens made of glass or plastic material, and is disposed in a through-hole 13c formed for the coupling lens supporter 13. As shown in
The layout of the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 and the light sources 11-1 to 11-16 can be designed, for example, as shown in
By disposing the light sources 11-1 to 11-16 and the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 as above described, as shown in
Further, when the plurality of light sources 11-1 to 11-16 and the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 are disposed while setting the same given angle for the optical axis of exiting light from each of the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 with respect to the first reflection mirror 10 as shown in
The reflection mirror supporter 8, the coupling lens supporter 13, and the light source supporter 14 can be made of, for example, metal such as aluminum, or a mold resin. The reflection mirror supporter 8, the coupling lens supporter 13, and the light source supporter 14 can be formed as an integral part, or can be formed as separate parts and then assembled as one unit.
The other side face 14b of the light source supporter 14 is attached to an attachment face 13d of the coupling lens supporter 13 (
The first reflection mirror 10 is, for example, a parallel plate made of a glass plate, and includes a reflection mirror area indicated as a reflection face 10a, and a light passing area for passing light beams. The reflection face 10a can be formed by depositing an aluminum layer on one face of the first reflection mirror 10. The reflection face 10a may be also referred to the first reflection face 10a. The light passing area may, for example, be an opening part 10b set at the center portion of the first reflection mirror 10, wherein the opening part 10b is formed, for example, as a through-hole. Alternatively, the light passing area can formed without forming an opening such as a through-hole. For example, the light passing area can be formed by depositing an aluminum layer on a glass plate while not depositing aluminum at a position corresponding to the opening part 10b, which means that the aluminum layer is formed with a ring pattern on the glass plate, and the center portion of the ring pattern not formed with the aluminum layer can be used as a transparent portion that can be used as the opening part 10b. As above described, the light passing area can be formed on the transparent plate, or can be formed as a through hole that the light can pass through, in which the transparent plate does not exist at the light passing area.
The second reflection mirror 9 is made of, for example, a glass plate, and a reflection area is formed on one face of the plate by depositing, for example, an aluminum layer, by which the one face can be used as a reflection face 9a, which may be also referred to a second reflection face 9a. The second reflection minor 9 is disposed at the front face 13b of the coupling lens supporter 13 facing the first reflection face 10a. As shown
The light exiting from each of the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 strikes and reflects on the first reflection mirror 10 and then returns toward the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 side. Then, the light reflects on the second reflection mirror 9 disposed in the concave portion 13a that is the center portion (or inner side) of the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16, and then returns toward the first reflection mirror 10. The light reflection is repeated for a given number of times between the first reflection mirror 10 and the second reflection mirror 9, and then the light exits from the light passing area such as the opening part 10b formed at the center portion of the first reflection mirror 10.
As above described, the light beams emitted from the plurality of light sources 11-1 to 11-16 and exiting from the coupling lenses 12-1 to 12-16 reflect for a given number of times, for example, a plurality of times between the first reflection mirror 10 and the second reflection mirror 9, and then synthesized as a light beam flux K while reducing its cross-section area, by which the light density of the light beam flux K can be increased, and thereby the light beam flux K having high light intensity can be emitted.
Further, the light beam emitted from each of the light sources 11-1 to 11-16 enters the first reflection mirror 10, which is a glass plate made of a mirror material with a given angle, and then reflects from the first reflection mirror 10. Because the light beams come closer to the center portion of the first reflection mirror 10 when the light beams reflect on the first reflection mirror 10, the light beams can be synthesized with a shorter distance. Further, by using the glass plate made of mirror material, a processing cost of the first reflection face 10a to reflect the light beams can be reduced.
In the above description shown in
In the above-described example embodiment, the light source can be a combination of a laser element and a collimator lens, wherein the collimator lens converts the light emitted from the laser element to a parallel light or converging light. In this configuration, the light beams emitted from the light sources 11-1 to 11-16 can be focused at one portion without using a condensing lens, and thereby the number of parts can be reduced.
As show in
As above described, in the configuration of the first example embodiment, heat dissipation performance can be further enhanced, and a cross-section area of the light beams exiting from a plurality of light sources can be reduced, by which a compact light source apparatus can be devised. Further, the light source apparatus 1 of the first example embodiment can implement the above described effects, and has a design freedom, by which the light source apparatus 1 can be used various needs. The light source apparatus 1 of the first example embodiment can be applied to, for example, an image projection apparatus such as a projector.
A description is given of other example embodiments of the light source apparatus with reference to
Further, as shown in
The configuration of
The configuration of
In the above described example embodiments, the light beam reflects for a plurality of times between the first reflection mirror 10 and the second reflection mirror 9, but the number of reflection times between the first reflection mirror 10 and the second reflection mirror 9 can be set one time as shown in
The lights exiting from the rod integrator 16 enter the relay lens 17, and then radiate the image generation panel 18. Then, an image is projected onto a screen using the projection lens 19. In the image projection apparatus 2, the image generation panel 18 may be a pass-through type panel that generates images based on modulation signals, but other devices such as a reflection type panel or a micro-mirror device panel can be used. Further, the rod integrator 16 is an example of the light intensity equalizing unit, and other light intensity equalizing units can be used. Further, the relay lens 17 is one example of the light transmission optical system, and the projection lens 19 is one example of the projection optical system. Further, the light source apparatus 1, the rod integrator 16, the relay lens 17, and the image generation panel 18 can be collectively used as a display apparatus or device.
By employing the above described light source apparatus 1 for the image projection apparatus 2, the light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources can be synthesized as the light beam flux K having high light intensity and reduced its cross-section area, and the incidence angle to the rod integrator 16 can become smaller. Therefore, an area of the light radiating on the image generation panel 18 can be reduced, by which the projection lens 19 having a smaller numerical aperture (NA), which means a greater F-number lens, can be used. Therefore, the projection lens 19 can be designed and manufactured easily, and imaging performance can be maintained at a good enough level easily. The image projection apparatus 2 can use a plurality of light sources while enhancing the heat dissipation performance and the performance of equalizing the light intensity.
In the above described light source apparatus 1, the light beams reflected by the first reflection mirror 10 and the second reflection mirror 9 exit from the center portion of the first reflection mirror 10 as the light beam flux K, but the exit position (i.e., light passing area, opening part 10b) is not limited to the center portion of the first reflection mirror 10. Further, the position of the second reflection mirror 9 is not limited to the center portion of the coupling lens supporter 13, but can be changed depending on an exit direction and angle of light.
In the above described example embodiments, a plurality of light sources can be disposed around the periphery of the second reflector such as the second reflection mirror 9 and a pitch of the light sources can be set greater, by which heat interference from other light sources can be suppressed. Further, the cooling air can directly hit the plurality of light sources effectively and efficiently, by which the heat dissipation performance can be enhanced. Further, because the light beams emitted from the plurality of light sources are reflected between a plurality of mirrors facing each other to synthesize the light beams, a distance for synthesizing the light beams can become shorter, by which the light source apparatus can be designed into compact. In the above described example embodiments, the plurality of light sources are arranged two dimensionally such as a plane with a given pitch, and the heat dissipation performance can be enhanced. Further, a cross-section area of the light beam flux composed of lights exiting from the plurality of light sources can be reduced, by which a compact light source apparatus and a compact image projection apparatus having the compact light source apparatus can be devised.
Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. For example, elements and/or features of different examples and illustrative embodiments may be combined each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-114923 | May 2012 | JP | national |
2013-048137 | Mar 2013 | JP | national |