Projection device particle-containment shield

Abstract

A particle-containment shield is provided. The particles-containment shield includes a containment structure that defines an air inlet to receive air heated by a projection lamp from the outlet of the projection-lamp module and defines an air outlet to vent air heated by the projection lamp away from the projection lamp. The containment structure is sealed intermediate the air inlet and the air outlet such that air heated by the projection lamp that enters through the air inlet exits the containment structure through the air outlet. The containment structure defines a length, a width, and a height of the particle-containment shield. The particle-containment shield includes one or more deflection members is arranged in the containment structure to collectively block all straight line paths from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to inhibit projection lamp particles from exiting the air outlet upon projection lamp rupture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particle-containment shield configured to be connected to an outlet of a projection-lamp module of a projection device to inhibit projection lamp particles from exiting the projection device upon projection lamp rupture, comprising:
 a containment structure that defines an air inlet to receive air heated by a projection lamp from the outlet of the projection-lamp module and defines an air outlet to vent the air heated by the projection lamp away from the projection lamp, the containment structure being sealed intermediate the air inlet and the air outlet such that the air heated by the projection lamp that enters through the air inlet exits the containment structure through the air outlet; and   one or more deflection members arranged in the containment structure to collectively block all straight line paths from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to inhibit the projection lamp particles from exiting the air outlet upon the projection lamp rupture, wherein the one or more deflection members form a first serpentine air-flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet and a second serpentine air-flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior wall of the containment structure that forms at least one edge of the air outlet extends at least a majority of a height of the containment structure. 
     
     
         3 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 2 , wherein the air outlet spans substantially an entire width of the exterior wall. 
     
     
         4 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one second deflection member, which extends substantially an entire interior width of the containment structure. 
     
     
         5 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 4 , wherein the second deflection member extends from an interior ceiling surface of the containment structure or an interior floor surface of the containment structure at least to an opposing floor or ceiling edge of the air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 5 , wherein the second deflection member is perpendicular relative to the interior ceiling surface or the interior floor surface. 
     
     
         7 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 5 , wherein the second deflection member is oblique relative to the interior ceiling surface or the interior floor surface. 
     
     
         8 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior wall forming at least one edge of the air outlet includes a section that protrudes into the containment structure in a direction of the air inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 8 , wherein the section of the exterior wall that protrudes into the containment structure forms a rounded scoop. 
     
     
         10 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of third deflection members that extend an interior width of the containment structure, at least some of the third deflection members being chevron-shaped, positioned proximate to the air inlet, and being spaced apart along a height of the inlet, and at least some of the third deflection members being positioned proximate to the outlet, each of the third deflection members being aligned with a height of the containment structure and being spaced apart along the length of the particle-containment shield. 
     
     
         11 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 2 , wherein the air outlet extends substantially an entire height of the containment structure. 
     
     
         12 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one fourth deflection member, which extends substantially an entire interior height of the containment structure. 
     
     
         13 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 1 , wherein the serpentine air-flow paths are oriented such that corners of the serpentine air-flow paths are oriented along an interior width of the containment structure. 
     
     
         14 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 1 , wherein the serpentine air-flow paths are oriented such that corners of the serpentine air-flow paths are oriented along an interior height of the containment structure. 
     
     
         15 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 1 , wherein the serpentine air-flow paths are oriented such that corners of the serpentine air-flow paths are oriented along an interior length of the containment structure. 
     
     
         16 . The particle-containment shield of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one sixth, chevron-shaped deflection member having two angled segments that meet at a point, and the sixth deflection member being oriented such that the point points to the air inlet or the air outlet, and the two angled segments collectively spanning at least as wide as edges of the air inlet or the air outlet. 
     
     
         17 . A projection lamp module comprising:
 a lamp to generate light for projection of an image;   a blower to circulate air heated by operation of the lamp;   a cooling channel configured to receive the air circulated by the blower and direct the air to an outlet positioned away from the lamp to dissipate heat away from the lamp; and   a particle-containment shield configured to be connected to the outlet of the cooling channel to inhibit projection lamp particles from exiting the projection lamp module upon projection lamp rupture, including:
 a containment structure that defines an air inlet to receive air heated by a projection lamp from the outlet of the projection-lamp module and defines an air outlet to vent the air heated by the projection lamp away from the projection lamp, the containment structure being sealed intermediate the air inlet and the air outlet such that the air heated by the projection lamp that enters through the air inlet exits the containment structure through the air outlet; 
 a plurality of deflection members arranged in the containment structure to collectively block all straight line paths from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to inhibit the projection lamp particles from exiting the air outlet upon the projection lamp rupture, wherein the deflection members form a first serpentine air-flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet and a second serpentine air-flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet. 
   
     
     
         18 . A projection device to project an image to a remote projection screen comprising:
 a projection lamp module including:
 a lamp to generate light for projection of an image; 
 a blower to circulate air heated by operation of the lamp; 
 a cooling channel configured to receive the air circulated by the blower and direct the air to an outlet positioned away from the lamp to dissipate heat away from the lamp; and 
 a particle-containment shield configured to be connected to the outlet of the cooling channel to inhibit projection lamp particles from exiting the projection device upon projection lamp rupture, including:
 a containment structure that defines an air inlet to receive air heated by a projection lamp from the outlet of the projection-lamp module and defines an air outlet to vent the air heated by the projection lamp away from the projection lamp, the containment structure being sealed intermediate the air inlet and the air outlet such that the air heated by the projection lamp that enters through the air inlet exits the containment structure through the air outlet; and 
 one or more deflection members arranged in the containment structure to collectively block all straight line paths from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to inhibit the projection lamp particles from exiting the air outlet upon the projection lamp rupture, wherein the one or more deflection members form a first serpentine air-flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet and a second serpentine air-flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet; and 
 
   an imaging system configured to receive light generated by the projection lamp module, the imaging system configured to utilize the light to generate a rendered image to be projected from the projection device.