Patent Application
20240333888
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-057589, filed Mar. 31, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a projector.
In order to perform control of a visible image as a display object, an image display device such as a projector superimposes the visible image and an invisible image such as an infrared image on a screen, and performs the control based on information which can be obtained from the invisible image in some cases. For example, in JP-A-2008-176195, there is disclosed a projector which separates infrared light from the light emitted from a light source to superimpose the infrared light on a projection image via a dedicated light modulation element.
In the device disclosed in JP-A-2008-176195 described above, there is a light modulator for the infrared light as the invisible light in addition to the light modulators for respective colored light beams of red light, green light, and blue light as visible light. Therefore, it is unachievable to directly trace a displacement and a shift of the projection image due to a factor on a light path of each of the colored light beams as the visible light. As a result, there has been a problem that the displacement of the projection image formed of actual visible light and the displacement thus detected fail to coincide with each other, and it is difficult to accurately perform an adjustment of the projection image based on the displacement.
In view of the problems described above, a projector according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a light source device configured to emit light including first light with a first wavelength and second light with a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a light separator configured to separate the light emitted from the light source device into the first light and the second light, a first light modulator configured to modulate the first light, a second light modulator configured to modulate the second light, a light combiner configured to combine light emitted from the first light modulator and light emitted from the second light modulator with each other, a projection optical system configured to project light emitted from the light combiner, a light source configured to emit invisible light, and an optical part configured to combine the first light emitted from the light separator and the invisible light with each other. The first light and the invisible light which are emitted from the optical part enter the first light modulator. The projection optical system projects light including the first light, the second light, and the invisible light.
An embodiment of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described using
As shown in
The illumination device 20 is provided with a light source device 100, a first lens array 70, a second lens array 80, a polarization conversion element 92, and a superimposing lens 94. The light source device 100 emits the white light WL. The configuration of the light source device 100 will be described later.
The white light WL emitted from the light source device 100 is collimated, and then enters the first lens array 70. The first lens array 70 has a plurality of small lenses 71 for dividing the white light WL emitted from the light source device 100 into a plurality of partial light beams. The plurality of small lenses 71 are arranged in a matrix in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis AX100 of the light source device 100.
The second lens array 80 has a plurality of small lenses 81 corresponding respectively to the plurality of small lenses 71 of the first lens array 70. The plurality of small lenses 81 are arranged in a matrix in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis AX100. The second lens array 80 forms an image of each of the small lenses 71 of the first lens array 70 in the vicinity of each of the image forming areas of the light modulators 400R, 400G, and 400B in cooperation with the superimposing lens 94.
The polarization conversion element 92 has a polarization separation layer, a reflecting layer, and a wave plate not shown. The polarization conversion element 92 converts the partial light beams emitted from the second lens array 80 into linearly-polarized light. The polarization conversion element 92 is formed to have a plate shape as a whole. A plate surface of the polarization conversion element 92 is disposed in parallel to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis AX100. The polarization separation layer of the polarization conversion element 92 transmits one of the linear polarization components out of the polarization components included in the partial light beams emitted from the second lens array 80, and reflects the other of the linear polarization components in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis AX100. The reflecting layer of the polarization conversion element 92 reflects the other linear polarization component reflected by the polarization separation layer in a direction parallel to the optical axis AX100. The wave plate of the polarization conversion element 92 converts the other linear polarization component reflected by the reflecting layer into the one linear polarization component.
The superimposing lens 94 collects the partial light beams from the polarization conversion element 92 to thereby superimpose the partial light beams in the vicinity of each of the image forming areas of the light modulators 400R, 400G, and 400B. The first lens array 70, the second lens array 80, and the superimposing lens 94 constitute an integrator optical system. The integrator optical system homogenizes an in-plane light intensity distribution of the white light WL emitted from the illumination device 20 in each of the image forming areas of the light modulators 400R, 400G, and 400B.
The color separation optical system 200 is provided with dichroic mirrors 210, 220, and 450, reflecting mirrors 240, 250, and relay lenses 260, 270. The color separation optical system 200 separates the white light WL emitted from the illumination device 20 into the red light R, the green light G, and the blue light B as visible light beams, and then guides the red light R, the green light G, and the blue light B to the light modulators 400R, 400G, and 400B, respectively. Further, in the color separation optical system 200, there is introduced infrared light I.
The dichroic mirror 210 transmits the red light R and reflects the green light G and the blue light B out of the white light WL which enters the dichroic mirror 210. The dichroic mirror 220 reflects the green light G and transmits the blue light B out of the green light G and the blue light B which enter the dichroic mirror 220. The dichroic mirror 450 reflects substantially all of the red light R which enters the dichroic mirror 450. The reflecting mirrors 240, 250 each reflect substantially all of the blue light B which enters the reflecting mirrors 240, 250.
The light source 150 emits the invisible light such as the infrared light I. The light source 150 is an infrared light emitting diode (LED) for emitting the infrared light I. In the light source 150, it is possible to arrange a plurality of the infrared light emitting diodes in a plane perpendicular to a light axis of the infrared light I as shown in the drawing, or it is possible to arrange the infrared light emitting diode as a simple body. The infrared light I emitted from the light source 150 is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 450, and then proceeds on the light path overlapping the red light R reflected by the dichroic mirror 450 in a plan view, in the same direction as that of the red light R thus reflected.
The field lens 300R is disposed between the color separation optical system 200 and the light modulator 400R on the light path of the red light R, the field lens 300G is disposed between the color separation optical system 200 and the light modulator 400G on the light path of the green light G, and the field lens 300B is disposed between the color separation optical system 200 and the light modulator 400B on the light path of the blue light B. The red light R having been reflected by the dichroic mirror 450 is transmitted through the field lens 300R, and then enters the image forming area of the light modulator 400R. The green light G reflected by the dichroic mirror 220 is transmitted through the field lens 300G, and then enters the image forming area of the light modulator 400G. The blue light B reflected by the reflecting mirror 250 is transmitted through the field lens 300B, and then enters the image forming area of the light modulator 400B.
The light modulator 400R is formed of a liquid crystal panel for modulating the red light R entering the light modulator 400R in accordance with image information to form an image, the light modulator 400G is formed of a liquid crystal panel for modulating the green light G entering the light modulator 400G in accordance with the image information to form an image, and the light modulator 400B is formed of a liquid crystal panel for modulating the blue light B entering the light modulator 400B in accordance with the image information to form an image. An operation mode of the liquid crystal panel can be any of a TN mode, a VA mode, a transverse electric field mode, and so on, and is not limited to a specific mode.
The incident-side polarization plate 410R is disposed on the light path of the red light R between the dichroic mirror 210 and the dichroic mirror 450. The incident-side polarization plate 410G is disposed at a light incidence surface side of the light modulator 400G, and the incident-side polarization plate 410B is disposed at a light incidence surface side of the light modulator 400B. The exit-side polarization plate 420R is disposed at a light exit surface side of the light modulator 400R, the exit-side polarization plate 420G is disposed at a light exit surface side of the light modulator 400G, and the exit-side polarization plate 420B is disposed at a light exit surface side of the light modulator 400B.
The cross dichroic prism 500 combines the image light emitted from the light modulator 400R, the image light emitted from the light modulator 400G, and the image light emitted from the light modulator 400B with each other to form a color image. As shown in
The color image emitted from the cross dichroic prism 500 is projected in an enlarged manner by the projection optical system 600 to form an image on a screen SCR.
The imager 710 takes the projection image including the infrared light I and the red light R projected by the projection optical system 600. The imager 710 is, for example, an imaging camera, and can be disposed at a place where the imager 710 does not block the light emitted from the projection optical system 600 in the projector 15, or can be installed at an arbitrary place.
The movement mechanism 720 receives an electric signal from the controller 730, then moves the projection optical system 600 to change the position of the projection image.
It is possible for the controller 730 to control the movement mechanism 720 in accordance with the imaging result taken by the imager 710. It is possible for the controller 730 to change the area where the image is formed in the image forming area of the light modulator 400R corresponding to the red light beam R in accordance with the imaging result of the imaging performed by the imager 710. The controller 730 is formed of, for example, a computer incorporating processing of drive devices for driving the imager 710, the movement mechanism 720, the light source 150, and the light modulators 400R, 400G, and 400B as a program, or an integrated circuit. In other words, the controller 730 is, for example, a processor. The controller 730 is connected to each of the imager 710, the movement mechanism 720, and the light modulators 400R, 400G, and 400B with wire not shown, or wirelessly.
In the projector 15, it is preferable for a diffractor 501 to be disposed at the light exit side of the light source 150, and to diffract the infrared light I as an example of the invisible light. The infrared light I as the invisible light projected by the projection optical system 600 includes a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is determined in accordance with a surface pattern of the diffractor 501.
The projector 15 can further be provided with a light transmissive member 505 illustrated in
The projector 15 according to a first embodiment described hereinabove is provided with the light source device 100, the dichroic mirror 210 as a light separator, the light modulator 400R as a first light modulator, the light modulators 400G, 400B as a second light modulator, the cross dichroic prism 500 as a light combiner, the projection optical system 600, the light source 150, and the dichroic mirror 450 as an optical part. The light source device 100 emits light including the first light with a first wavelength and second light with a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, namely the white light WL. The red light R corresponds to the first light with the first wavelength. The green light G and the blue light B each correspond to the second light with the second wavelength different from the red light R. The dichroic mirror 210 separates the white light WL which is emitted from the light source device 100 into the red light R, the green light G, and the blue light B. The light modulator 400R modulates the red light R. The light modulator 400G modulates the green light G. The light modulator 400B modulates the blue light B. The cross dichroic prism 500 combines the light emitted from the light modulator 400R, the light emitted from the light modulator 400G, and the light emitted from the light modulator 400B with each other. The projection optical system 600 projects the light emitted from the cross dichroic prism 500. The light source 150 emits the invisible light such as the infrared light I. The red light R out of the white light WL emitted from the light source device 100, and the infrared light I emitted from the light source 150 enter the light modulator 400R. The projection optical system 600 projects light including the red light R, the green light G, the blue light B, and the infrared light I.
The projector 15 according to the first embodiment is provided with the light source 150 for emitting the infrared light I as the invisible light separately from the light source device 100 for forming the projection image. The light source 150 is, for example, an infrared light source such as the infrared light emitting diode for emitting the infrared light I. In the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, the light path of the infrared light I emitted from the light source 150 is overlapped with one of the light paths of the colored light beams in the color separation optical system 200. In the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, for example, the red light R and the infrared light I the light paths of which are overlapped with each other pass through the common light modulator 400R, and the other colored light beams than these colored light beams such as the green light G and the blue light B respectively pass through the light modulators 400G, 400B, and the red light R, the infrared light I, the green light G, and the blue light B are combined with each other to be emitted as the projection light. Therefore, in the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to directly trace the displacement and the shift of the projection image due to a factor on a light path of any one of the colored light beams as visible light. According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, the displacement of the projection image formed of the actual visible light and the displacement thus detected coincide with each other, and it is possible to accurately perform an adjustment of the projection image based on the displacement.
In the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, the dichroic mirror 450 as the optical part reflects the red light R as the first light, and at the same time, transmits the infrared light I as the invisible light. The light source 150 is disposed at an opposite side to the light modulator 400R as the first light modulator with respect to the dichroic mirror 450.
In the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, the light path of the infrared light I emitted from the light source 150 is overlapped with the light path of the red light R as one of the light paths of the colored light beams in the color separation optical system 200. According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, it is possible to directly trace the displacement and the shift of the projection image due to the factor on the light path of the red light R as the first light.
The projector 15 according to the first embodiment is further provided with the incident-side polarization plate 410R as a first polarizer, and the exit-side polarization plate 420R as a second polarizer. The incident-side polarization plate 410R is disposed between the dichroic mirror 210 as a light separator and the light modulator 400R as a first light modulator, and is specifically disposed between the dichroic mirror 210 and the dichroic mirror 450. The red light R emitted from the dichroic mirror 210 enters the incident-side polarization plate 410R. The exit-side polarization plate 420R is disposed between the light modulator 400R and the cross dichroic prism 500 as the light combiner. The red light as the first light and the infrared light I as the invisible light emitted from the light modulator 400R enter the exit-side polarization plate 420R. The infrared light I is unpolarized light. The incident-side polarization plate 410R emits red S-polarized light as the first light with a first polarization direction. The light modulator 400R emits light the including infrared light I as the unpolarized light, and at least one of the red S-polarized light and red P-polarized light as the first light with a second polarization direction different from the first polarization direction. The exit-side polarization plate 420R emits infrared P-polarized light as the invisible light with the second polarization direction and the red P-polarized light. According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, the polarization state of the red light R as an example of the first light and the infrared light I is clearly switched, and it is possible to suppress the loss of the red light R and the infrared light I, and at the same time, it is possible to make the projection image clear.
In the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, the first light is the red light R, and the invisible light is the infrared light I. The dichroic mirror 450 as the optical part combines the red light R and the infrared light I with each other to emit the result. The red light R has a wavelength the closest to that of the infrared light I out of the colored light beams of the three primary colors for forming the projection image. According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, it is possible to make the polarization state of the red light R and the infrared light I act in good condition.
In the projector 15 according to the first embodiment, the first light is the blue light B, and the invisible light is ultraviolet light. The optical part combines the blue light B and the ultraviolet light with each other to emit the result. The blue light B has a wavelength the closest to that of the ultraviolet light out of the colored light beams of the three primary colors for forming the projection image. According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, it is possible to make the polarization state of the blue light B and the ultraviolet light act in good condition.
The projector 15 according to the first embodiment can further be provided with the diffractor 501 which is disposed at the light exit side of the light source 150, and diffracts the infrared light I as an example of the invisible light. The infrared light I as the invisible light projected by the projection optical system 600 includes the predetermined pattern.
The projector 15 according to the first embodiment can further be provided with the light transmissive member 505 which is disposed at one of the light incident side and the light exit side of the light modulator 400R. The light transmissive member 505 has the shield part 511 for reflecting the invisible light and transmitting the red light R as an example of the first light, and the transmission part 512 for transmitting both of the infrared light I as the invisible light and the red light R as the first light. The infrared light I as the invisible light projected by the projection optical system 600 includes the predetermined pattern.
According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, the invisible light, namely the infrared light I, having the predetermined pattern is projected on the projection surface such as the screen SCR, and by detecting the position information and so on of the predetermined pattern, it is possible to accurately detect the displacement of the projection image constituted by the actual visible light.
The projector 15 according to the first embodiment is further provided with the imager 710, the movement mechanism 720, and the controller 730. The imager 710 takes the projection image including the infrared light I as the invisible light and the red light R as the first light projected by the projection optical system 600. The movement mechanism 720 moves the projection optical system 600 to change the position of the projection image. The controller 730 controls the movement mechanism 720 in accordance with the imaging result taken by the imager 710.
According to the projector 15 related to the first embodiment, it is possible to accurately move the projection optical system 600 to an optimum position using the controller 730.
The projector 15 according to the first embodiment is further provided with the imager 710, and the controller 730. The imager 710 takes the projection image including the infrared light I as the invisible light and the red light R as an example of the first light projected by the projection optical system 600. The controller 730 changes the area where the image is formed in the image forming area of the light modulator 400R in accordance with the imaging result taken by the imager 710.
The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are hereinabove described in detail, but the present disclosure is not limited to such specific embodiments, and there can be adopted a variety of deformations and modifications within the scope or the spirit of the present disclosure set forth in the appended claims. Further, the constituents of the plurality of embodiments can arbitrarily be combined with each other.
For example, the first light can be the blue light B, and the invisible light can be the ultraviolet light. In that case, the optical part combines the blue light B and the ultraviolet light with each other to emit the result.
Hereinafter, the conclusion of the present disclosure will supplementarily be noted.
A projector including a light source device configured to emit light including first light with a first wavelength and second light with a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a light separator configured to separate the light emitted from the light source device into the first light and the second light, a first light modulator configured to modulate the first light, a second light modulator configured to modulate the second light, a light combiner configured to combine light emitted from the first light modulator and light emitted from the second light modulator with each other, a projection optical system configured to project light emitted from the light combiner, a light source configured to emit invisible light, and an optical part configured to combine the first light emitted from the light separator and the invisible light with each other, wherein the first light and the invisible light emitted from the optical part enter the first light modulator, and the projection optical system projects light including the first light, the second light, and the invisible light.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 1, the displacement of the projection image formed of the actual visible light and the displacement thus detected coincide with each other, and it is possible to accurately perform an adjustment of the projection image based on the displacement.
The projector described in Supplementary Note 1, wherein the optical part is configured to reflect the first light and transmit the invisible light, and the light source is disposed at an opposite side to the first light modulator with respect to the optical part.
Due to Supplementary Note 2, it is possible to directly trace the displacement and the shift of the projection image due to the factor on the light path of the first light.
The projector described in one of Supplementary Note 1 and Supplementary Note 2, further including a first polarizer which is disposed between the light separator and the first light modulator, and which the first light emitted from the light separator enters, and a second polarizer which is disposed between the first light modulator and the light combiner, and which the first light and the invisible light emitted from the first light modulator enter, wherein the invisible light is unpolarized light, the first polarizer emits the first light with a first polarization direction, the first light modulator emits light including the invisible light as the unpolarized light, and at least one of the first light with the first polarization direction and the first light with a second polarization direction different from the first polarization direction, and the second polarizer emits the invisible light with the second polarization direction, and the first light with the second polarization direction.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 3, it is possible to suppress the loss of the first light and the invisible light, and at the same time, it is possible to make the projection image clear.
The projector described in Supplementary Note 3, wherein the first light is red light, the invisible light is infrared light, and the optical part is configured to combine the red light and the infrared light with each other to emit the red light and the infrared light combined with each other.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 4, it is possible to make the polarization state of the infrared light and the red light, which has a wavelength closer to that of the infrared light than those of the visible light beams of other colors, act in good condition.
The projector described in Supplementary Note 3, wherein the first light is blue light, the invisible light is ultraviolet light, and the optical part is configured to combine the blue light and the ultraviolet light with each other to emit the blue light and the ultraviolet light combined with each other.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 5, it is possible to make the polarization state of the ultraviolet light and the blue light, which has a wavelength closer to that of the ultraviolet light than those of the visible light beams of other colors, act in good condition.
The projector described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 through Supplementary Note 5, further including a diffractor which is disposed at a light exit side of the light source, and which is configured to diffract the invisible light, wherein the invisible light projected by the projection optical system includes a predetermined pattern.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 6, the invisible light having the predetermined pattern is projected, and by detecting the position information and so on of the predetermined pattern, it is possible to accurately detect the displacement of the projection image constituted by the actual visible light.
The projector described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 through Supplementary Note 5, further including a light transmissive member disposed at one of a light incident side and a light exit side of the first light modulator, wherein the light transmissive member includes a shield part configured to reflect the invisible light and transmit the first light, and a transmission part configured to transmit both of the invisible light and the first light, and the invisible light projected by the projection optical system includes a predetermined pattern.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 7, the invisible light having the predetermined pattern is projected, and by detecting the position information and so on of the predetermined pattern, it is possible to accurately detect the displacement of the projection image constituted by the actual visible light.
The projector described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 through Supplementary Note 7, further including an imager configured to take a projection image including the invisible light and the first light projected by the projection optical system, a movement mechanism configured to move the projection optical system to change a position of the projection image, and a controller configured to control the movement mechanism in accordance with an imaging result taken by the imager.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 8, it is possible to accurately move the projection optical system to an optimum position using the controller.
The projector described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 through Supplementary Note 7, further including an imager configured to take a projection image including the invisible light and the first light projected by the projection optical system, and a controller configured to change an area where an image is formed in an image forming area of the first light modulator in accordance with an imaging result taken by the imager.
Due to the configuration in Supplementary Note 9, it is possible to accurately move the relative position of the image in the image forming area of the first light modulator to an optimum position using the controller.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-057589 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |
