Projector with sealed light valve

Abstract

A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though the prism, wherein a dust-sealed airspace is provided between an imaging surface of each light valve and the prism for providing air channels to cool respective ones of the light valves.

1 . A projector incorporating a prism and a light valve for modulating light that passes though said prism, the improvement comprising an air channel provided between an imaging surface of said light valve and said prism, wherein said light valve is mounted by a support mechanism and defining said air channel between the light valve and the prism, opposite sides of the air channel being open for airflow to cool and minimize dust from the air channel settling on said light valve.  
   
   
       2 . The projector according to  claim 1  wherein said light valve comprises one of either a DMD or reflective LCD panel, LCOS or D-ILA type light modulation device.  
   
   
       3 . The projector according to  claim 1  wherein said air channel contains an opening adjacent said prism to allow light to pass through said air channel to the light valve.  
   
   
       4 . The projector according to  claim 1  further comprising a fan for blowing air through said air channel over the light valve.  
   
   
       5 . The projector according to  claim 4  further comprising a filter adjacent the fan to reduce dust in the air channel.  
   
   
       6 . The projector according to  claim 4  further comprising a filter capped to at least one end of said air channel to prevent dust from re-entering the light valve when the fan is switched off.  
   
   
       7 . The projector in  claim 1  further comprising a heat sink for radiating heat collected at the light valve.  
   
   
       8 . The projector of  claim 7  further comprising a fan for cooling said heat sink.  
   
   
       9 . A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though said prism, the improvement comprising air channels provided between an imaging surface of each said light valve and said prism, wherein said light valves are mounted by a support mechanism and defining said air channels between the light valves and the prism, opposite sides of each of the air channels being open for airflow to cool and minimize dust from the air channel settling on respective ones of said light valves.