Projection type liquid crystal projector

Abstract

A projector for separating white light into three primary colors, forming images with liquid crystal light valves, mixing these images, and projecting an enlarged picture of the mixed images with a projection lens. The projector includes an optical unit having a light source, a plurality of dichroic mirrors for separating the white light into blue, green, and red beams, respective liquid crystal light valves forming images of the blue, green, and red colors. The optical unit has a chassis with a rigid center portion at which one of the liquid crystal light valves is mounted, the other two light valves being mounted symmetrically with respect thereto. An adjustment mechanism is provided for matching pixels of the second and third color valves with those of the first color valve. The red color liquid crystal light valve is disposed midway between the blue and green color liquid crystal light valves and a cooling fan is disposed below the red color liquid crystal light valve.

1. A projector-type liquid crystal projector comprising a light source; a plurality of color separating means for separating light emitted by said light source into beams of blue, green and red colors; optical means including image forming liquid crystal light valves and image synthesizing means for synthesizing images for the respective blue, green and red beams which are arranged in an optical path; and a projection lens,
 said color separating means, said image forming liquid crystal light valves, and said image synthesizing means being secured to a top surface of a box-shaped lower chassis by fixing members,  
 an outer case being secured to side surfaces of said lower chassis separate from said top surface.  
 
     
     
       2. A projector-type liquid crystal projector comprising a light source, a plurality of color separating means for separating light emitted by said light source into beams of blue, green and red colors; optical means including image forming liquid crystal light valves and image synthesizing means for synthesizing images for the respective blue, green and red beams which are arranged in an optical path; and a projection lens,
 a cooling fansfan being positioned in a plane overbelow a surface on which said image forming liquid crystal light valves are secured, said image forming liquid crystal light valves being operatively associated with said cooling fansfan by being positioned directly in the path of cooling air produced by said cooling fansfan, the cooling fan having a peripheral portion and a center portion, the peripheral portion of the cooling fan disposed directly below the image forming liquid crystal light valves for the blue and green beams, and the center portion of the cooling fan being disposed directly below the image forming liquid crystal light valve for the red beam.  
 
     
     
       3. A projector-type liquid crystal projector comprising a light source; a plurality of color separating means for separating light emitted by said light source into beams of blue, green and red colors; optical means including image forming liquid crystal light valves and image synthesizing means for synthesizing images for the respective blue, green and red beams which are arranged in an optical path; and a projection lens,
 said light source including a light tube and a lamp reflector housed in a lamp housing;  
 an exhaust fan being arranged near one side surface of the lamp housing to cover one side surface of the lamp housing and exhaust air at said one side surface,  
 a hole for air suction and exhaust being formed in a second side surface of said housing opposed to said one side surface of said housing,  
 a lamp fan being positioned further forward than an opening of the lamp reflector and laterally of the lamp housing.  
 
     
     
       4. A projector as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising an air regulating plate for controlling air flow to the light tube, said air regulating plate being disposed in the path of flowing air of said lamp fan. 
     
     
       5. A projector comprising:
   a light source;        separation optical elements that separate light emitted by the light source into beams of blue, green and red colors;        liquid crystal light panels that modulate respective ones of the blue, green and red beams separated by the separation optical elements;        a synthesizing optical system that synthesizes the blue, green and red beams modulated by the light panels;        a projection lens that receives the synthesized modulated light from the synthesizing optical system;        a chassis having a first wall and at least one second wall that extends substantially perpendicular to the first wall; the separation optical elements, the light panels and the synthesizing optical system secured so as to be constrained against movement relative to the first wall; and        an outer case attached to the at least one second wall of the chassis.     
     
     
       6. A projector as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of said second walls. 
     
     
       7. A projector as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first wall and the plurality of second walls form an enclosure. 
     
     
       8. A projector as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one second wall includes a projection that extends substantially parallel to the first wall, the projection having a hole. 
     
     
       9. A projector as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the outer case is attached to the chassis via the hole. 
     
     
       10. A projector as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a screw that attaches the outer case to the chassis via the hole. 
     
     
       11. A projector as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the separation optical elements include two dichroic mirrors. 
     
     
       12. A projector as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic surfaces. 
     
     
       13. A projector as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic layers. 
     
     
       14. A projector comprising:
   a light source;        separation optical elements that separate light emitted by the light source into beams of blue, green and red colors;        liquid crystal light panels that modulate respective ones of the blue, green and red beams separated by the separation optical elements;        a synthesizing optical system that synthesizes the blue, green and red beams modulated by the light panels;        a projection lens that receives the synthesized modulated light from the synthesizing optical system; and        a cooling fan positioned in a plane below a surface on which said liquid crystal light panels are secured, said liquid crystal light panels being operatively associated with said cooling fan by being positioned directly in the path of cooling air produced by said cooling fan, the cooling fan having a peripheral portion and a center portion, the peripheral portion of the cooling fan disposed directly below the liquid crystal light panels for the blue and green beams, and the center portion of the cooling fan disposed directly below the liquid crystal light panel for the red beam.     
     
     
       15. A projector as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the separation optical elements include two dichroic mirrors. 
     
     
       16. A projector as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic surfaces. 
     
     
       17. A projector as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic layers. 
     
     
       18. A projector as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising an air deflector arranged to direct the air from the cooling fan toward the liquid crystal panels so as to define the path of cooling air. 
     
     
       19. A projector comprising:
   a light source including a light tube and a lamp reflector housed in a lamp housing;        separation optical elements that separate light emitted by the light source into beams of blue, green and red colors;        liquid crystal light panels that modulate respective ones of the blue, green and red beams separated by the separation optical elements;        a synthesizing optical system that synthesizes the blue, green and red beams modulated by the light panels;        a projection lens that receives the synthesized modulated light from the synthesizing optical system;        an exhaust fan arranged near one side surface of the lamp housing to cover one side surface of the lamp housing and exhaust air at one side surface;        a hole for air suction and exhaust formed in a second side surface of said lamp housing opposed to said one side surface of said lamp housing; and        a lamp fan positioned further forward than an opening of the lamp reflector and laterally of the lamp housing.     
     
     
       20. A projector as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising an air regulating plate that controls air flow to the light tube, said air regulating plate disposed in the path of flowing air of said lamp fan. 
     
     
       21. A projector as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the separation optical elements include two dichroic mirrors. 
     
     
       22. A projector as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic surfaces. 
     
     
       23. A projector as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic layers. 
     
     
       24. A projector as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an air deflector arranged to direct the air from the cooling fan toward the liquid crystal valves so as to define the path of cooling air.