Optical device and projector

Abstract

An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modulation devices, plurality of optical elements, and a prism having a plurality of luminous flux incidence surfaces positioned on a luminous flux irradiation-side of each optical element. The optical device includes a holding member which holds at least one of the plurality of optical modulation devices and a pair of light-transmissive substrates. In one implementation, an irradiation-side substrate disposed on the luminous flux irradiation-side of the optical element has a dimension larger than that of the optical element, and the irradiation-side substrate is secured to the luminous flux incidence surface of the prism, an aperture is formed in the holding member, and the holding member is attached to the irradiation-side substrate so as to cover the optical element. Detailed information is provided in the Description of Exemplary Embodiments below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a projector according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an optical device main body in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of the optical device main body in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a situation in which a holding member and a pair of light-transmissive substrates in the embodiment are attached to a prism.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the situation in which the holding member and the pair of light-transmissive substrates in the embodiment are attached to the prism.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a holding member provided in a projector according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising: a plurality of optical modulation devices which modulate an incident luminous flux in accordance with image information;a plurality of optical elements provided on a luminous flux irradiation-side of each optical modulation device which optically converts a luminous flux emerging from each of the optical modulation devices;a prism having a plurality of luminous flux incidence surfaces positioned on a luminous flux irradiation-side of each optical element which forms an optical image by synthesizing a luminous flux emerging from each optical element;a holding member which holds at least one of the plurality of optical modulation devices; anda pair of light-transmissive substrates, disposed on a luminous flux incident-side and the luminous flux irradiation-side of the optical element on which the luminous flux emerging from the optical modulation device held by the holding member falls incident, which sandwiches the optical element, wherein,the pair of light-transmissive substrates, an irradiation-side substrate disposed on the luminous flux irradiation-side of the optical element has a dimension larger than that of the optical element,the irradiation-side substrate is secured to the luminous flux incidence surface of the prism,an aperture through which the luminous flux emerging from the optical modulation device held by the holding member passes is formed in the holding member, andthe holding member is attached to the irradiation-side substrate in such a way as to cover the optical element.

2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation-side substrate is secured in such a way as to extend from the prism in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of a luminous flux which falls incident on the irradiation-side substrate, andthe holding member is attached in a position on a luminous flux incident-side surface of the irradiation-side substrate corresponding to a portion extending from the prism.

3. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein a gap of a predetermined size is provided between, of the pair of light-transmissive substrates, an incident-side substrate disposed on the luminous flux incident-side of the optical element and the optical modulation device held by the holding member.

4. A projector which forms an optical image by modulating a luminous flux emitted from a light source in accordance with image information, and projects the formed optical image, comprising: the optical device according to claim 1, whereinthe optical modulation device is disposed on the optical axis of the luminous flux emitted from the light source.

5. The projector according to claim 4, wherein the irradiation-side substrate is secured in such a way as to extend from the prism in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of a luminous flux which falls incident on the irradiation-side substrate, andthe holding member is attached in a position on a luminous flux incident-side surface of the irradiation-side substrate corresponding to a portion extending from the prism.

6. The projector according to claim 4, wherein a gap of a predetermined size is provided between, of the pair of light-transmissive substrates, an incident-side substrate disposed on the luminous flux incident-side of the optical element and the optical modulation device held by the holding member.