Projector

Abstract

An output light from an a light source lamp unit 8 in a projection-type display apparatus illuminates liquid-crystal light valves 925 R, 925 G and 925 B for three colors via an integrator optical system 923. A superimposing lens 930 that is a component of the integrator optical system 923 as a uniform illumination optical system is arranged such that the mounting position of the superimposing lens 930 is fine-adjustable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis 1 a. By fine-adjusting the mounting position of the superimposing lens 930, the position of an illumination area B is adjusted such that the illumination area includes the image forming area A of the liquid-crystal light valve. It is not necessary to assure a wide margin around the image forming area A to cover the offset of the position of the illumination area B. As a result, the utilization of illumination light is heightened and a bright projected image results.

1. A projection-type display apparatus comprising:
 a light source that emits a light beam;    a modulator having an image forming area, the modulator receives the light beam emitted by the light source and outputs a modulated light beam;    a projection lens that projects the light beam modulated by the modulator;    an optical element, disposed in an optical path between the light source and the modulator, the optical element splits the light beam into a plurality of intermediate light beams; and    a superimposor capable of being adjusted to different mounting positions that superimposes each of the intermediate light beams onto the image forming area of the modulator.    
     
     
       2. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflector capable of being adjusted to different mounting angles with respect to an incident optical axis and being provided in the optical path between the light source and the modulator. 
     
     
       3. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a color separating optical system provided between the superimposor and the modulator to separate light output from the superimposor into color light beams;    a plurality of modulators connected with the color separating optical system to produce modulated color light beams;    a color synthesizing optical system that receives the modulated color light beams and outputs enlarged synthesized color light beams which are projected by the projection lens; and    a reflector disposed in an optical path between the color separating optical system and at least one of the plurality of modulators and having an adjustable mounting angle with respect to an incident optical axis.    
     
     
       4. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a mounting angle of the reflector located closest to the modulator is adjustable. 
     
     
       5. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the modulator is a reflection type modulator. 
     
     
       6. A projection-type display apparatus comprising:
 a light source that outputs a light beam;    a first optical element that splits the light beam output from the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams;    a second optical element including a polarization conversion unit that outputs polarized light beams and a superimposor that superimposes light beams output from the polarization conversion unit, the superimposor having an adjustable mounting position, the second optical element arranged in a vicinity of a position where the intermediate light beams are converged, the second optical element separates the intermediate light beams from the first optical element into a p-polarized light beam and an s-polarized light beam, the second optical element aligns a polarization direction of one of the p-polarized light beam and the s-polarized light beam with a polarization direction of the other of the p-polarized light beam and the s-polarized light beam, and the second optical element outputs the resulting light beams;    a modulator that receives and modulates the light beams emitted from the second optical element; and    a projection lens that projects the light beam modulated by the modulator.    
     
     
       7. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a reflector provided in an optical path between the light source and the modulator, the reflector having an adjustable mounting angle with respect to an incident optical axis. 
     
     
       8. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a color separating optical system provided between the superimposor and the modulator to separate light output from the superimposor into color light beams;    a plurality of modulators connected with the color separating optical system to produce modulated light beams;    a color synthesizing optical system that receives the modulated color light beams and outputs enlarged synthesized color light beams which are projected by the projection lens; and    a reflector disposed in an optical path between the color separating optical system and at least one of the plurality of modulators and having adjustable mounting angle with respect to an incident optical axis.    
     
     
       9. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a mounting angle of the reflector located closest to the modulator is adjustable. 
     
     
       10. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the modulator is a reflection type modulator. 
     
     
       11. A projection-type display apparatus comprising:
 a light source that emits a light beam;    a modulator having an image forming area, the modulator modulates the light beam emitted by the light source;    a projection lens that projects the light beam modulated by the modulator and a projector screen;    an optical element, located in an optical path between the light source and the modulator, the optical element splits the light beam emitted from the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams;    a superimposor that superimposes each of the intermediate light beams from the optical element onto the image forming area of the modulator; and    an adjustment mechanism connected with the superimposor to adjust a mounting position of the superimposor.    
     
     
       12. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first adjustment mechanism connected with the superimposor to adjust the mounting position of the superimposor in a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis; and    a second adjustment mechanism connected with the superimposor to adjust the mounting position of the superimposor in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis and the first direction.    
     
     
       13. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a base adjustment plate;    a first adjustment plate slidably movable in the first direction relative to the base adjustment plate; and    a second adjustment plate slidably movable in the second direction relative to the first adjustment plate.    
     
     
       14. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a first slip prevention mechanism that prevents the first adjusting plate from slipping in the second direction and a second slip prevention mechanism that prevents the second adjustment plate from slipping in the first direction. 
     
     
       15. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the superimposor is fixed to the second adjustment plate. 
     
     
       16. A projection-type display apparatus comprising:
 a light source that outputs a light beam;    a first optical element that splits a light beam output from the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams;    a second optical element including a polarization conversion unit that outputs polarized light beams and a superimposor that superimposes light beams output from the polarization conversion unit, the second optical element arranged in a vicinity of a position where the intermediate light beams are converged, the second optical element separates the intermediate light beams from the first optical element into a p-polarized light beam and an s-polarized light beam, the second optical element aligns a polarization direction of one of a p-polarized light beam and the s-polarized light beam with a polarization direction of the other of the p-polarized light beam and the s-polarized light beam, and the second optical element outputs the resulting light beams;    a modulator that receives and modulates the light beams emitted from the second optical element;    a projection lens that projects the light beam modulated by the modulator; and    an adjusting mechanism that adjusts a mounting position of the superimposor.    
     
     
       17. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first adjustment mechanism that adjusts the mounting position of the superimposor in a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis; and    a second adjustment mechanism that adjusts the mounting position of the superimposor in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis and the first direction.    
     
     
       18. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a base adjustment plate;    a first adjustment plate slidably movable in the first direction relative to the base adjustment plate; and    a second adjustment plate slidably movable in the second direction relative to the first adjustment plate.    
     
     
       19. The projection-type display apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a first slip prevention mechanism that prevents the first adjustment plate from slipping in the second direction and a second slip prevention mechanism that prevents the second adjustment plate from slipping in the first direction. 
     
     
       20. A projector, comprising:
   a light source that emits a light beam;        an optical element, disposed in an optical path downstream of the light source, that splits the light beam emitted by the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams;        a modulator, disposed in the optical path downstream of the optical element, that outputs a modulated light beam, the modulator having an image forming area;        a lens that outputs the intermediate light beams, at least some of which are guided to the modulator, the lens having been finely adjusted to one of a plurality of mounting positions by a position adjusting mechanism such that all of the guided intermediate light beams overlappingly illuminate the image forming area; and        a projection lens that projects the modulated light beam output by the modulator.     
     
     
       21. The projector of  claim 20 , wherein the modulator has an illumination area that includes the image forming area and a margin area that extends beyond the boundary of the image forming area, and wherein the lens has been finely adjusted to obtain a specific relationship between the image forming area and the illumination area. 
     
     
       22. The projector of  claim 21 , wherein each guided intermediate light beam further illuminates a portion of the margin area, wherein the portion of the margin area illuminated by one guided intermediate light beam may or may not be the same as the portion of the margin area illuminated by any other guided intermediate light beam. 
     
     
       23. The projector of  claim 20 , further comprising:
   a power unit;        an input/output interface circuit;        a video signal processing circuit;        a control circuit; and        an outer casing that accommodates the light source, the optical element, the modulator, the lens, the power unit, the input/output interface circuit, the video signal processing circuit, and the control circuit.     
     
     
       24. The projector of  claim 20 , wherein the optical element comprises one or more lens elements. 
     
     
       25. A projector, comprising:
   a light source that emits a light beam;        an optical element, disposed in an optical path downstream of the light source, that splits the light beam emitted by the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams;        a lens, disposed in the optical path downstream of the optical element, that outputs a white light beam;        a color separating optical system that receives the white light beam output by the lens and separates the received white light beam into a plurality of color light beams;        a plurality of modulators, each of which receives color light beams of a respective color from the color separating optical system and produces corresponding modulated color light beams;        a color synthesizing optical system that receives the modulated color light beams and outputs synthesized color light beams;        a projection lens that enlarges and projects the synthesized color light beams; and        at least one reflector disposed in an optical path between the color separating optical system and at least one of the plurality of modulators, the at least one reflector having an adjustable mounting angle with respect to an incident optical axis.     
     
     
       26. The projector of  claim 25 , wherein a plurality of reflectors are disposed in the optical path of the one of the plurality of color light beams between the color separating optical system and the at least one of the plurality of modulators, a mounting angle of the reflector located closest to the modulator being adjustable. 
     
     
       27. The projector of  claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of modulators is a reflection type modulator. 
     
     
       28. The projector of  claim 25 , further comprising a position adjusting mechanism that holds the lens. 
     
     
       29. The projector of  claim 28 , wherein the position adjusting mechanism comprises:
   a first adjustment mechanism to adjust the mounting position of the lens in a first direction, and        a second adjustment mechanism to adjust the mounting position of the lens in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.     
     
     
       30. The projector of  claim 29 , wherein the position adjusting mechanism comprises a base plate, wherein the first adjustment mechanism comprises a first adjustment plate slidably movable in the first direction relative to the base plate, and wherein the second adjustment mechanism comprises a second adjustment plate slidably movable in the second direction relative to the first adjustment plate. 
     
     
       31. The projector of  claim 30 , wherein the position adjustment mechanism further comprises a first slip mechanism that prevents the first adjustment plate from slipping in the second direction, and a second slip mechanism that prevents the second adjustment plate from slipping in the first direction. 
     
     
       32. The projector of  claim 28 , wherein the position of the lens is finely adjusted using the position adjusting mechanism. 
     
     
       33. The projector of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the modulators has an imaging forming area and an illumination area, and the lens is finely adjusted to obtain a specific relationship between the image forming area and the illumination area. 
     
     
       34. The projector of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the modulators has an image forming area, and wherein the position of the lens is finely adjusted to one of a plurality of mounting positions such that all of the color light beams of the respective color of the at least one modulator overlappingly illuminate the image forming area. 
     
     
       35. The projector of  claim 34 , wherein each color light beam of the respective color further illuminates a portion of a margin area that extends beyond the boundary of the image forming area, wherein the portion of the margin area illuminated by one color light beam may or may not be the same as the portion of the margin area illuminated by any other color light beam. 
     
     
       36. The projector of  claim 25 , wherein the optical element comprises one or more lens elements. 
     
     
       37. A projector, comprising:
   a light source that emits a light beam;        a polarization conversion unit that includes:      a first optical element that splits the light beam emitted by the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams, and          a second optical element that spatially separates each of the intermediate light beams into a p - polarized light beam and an s - polarized light beam, converts the p - polarized light beams into s - polarized light beams, and guides the s - polarized light beams, the second optical element including a superimposing lens;      a modulator that receives and modulates the s - polarized light beams output by the second optical element; and          a projection lens that projects the modulated light beams, the superimposing lens having been finely adjusted to one of a plurality of mounting positions such that all of the guided s - intermediate light beams overlappingly illuminate the image forming area.     
     
     
       38. The projector of  claim 37 , further comprising a position adjusting mechanism that holds the superimposing lens. 
     
     
       39. The projector of  claim 38 , wherein the position adjusting mechanism comprises:
   a first adjustment mechanism to adjust the mounting position of the lens in a first direction, and        a second adjustment mechanism to adjust the mounting position of the lens in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.     
     
     
       40. The projector of  claim 39 , wherein the position adjusting mechanism comprises a base plate, wherein the first adjustment mechanism comprises a first adjustment plate slidably movable in the first direction relative to the base plate, and wherein the second adjustment mechanism comprises a second adjustment plate slidably movable in the second direction relative to the first adjustment plate. 
     
     
       41. The projector of  claim 40 , wherein the position adjustment mechanism further comprises a first slip mechanism that prevents the first adjustment plate from slipping in the second direction, and a second slip mechanism that prevents the second adjustment plate from slipping in the first direction. 
     
     
       42. The projector of  claim 38 , wherein the position of the superimposing lens is finely adjusted using the position adjusting mechanism during manufacturing of the projector. 
     
     
       43. The projector of  claim 42 , wherein the modulator has an imaging forming area and an illumination area, and the lens is finely adjusted to obtain a specific relationship between the image forming area and the illumination area. 
     
     
       44. The projector of  claim 37 , further comprising:
   a power unit;        an input/output interface circuit;        a video signal processing circuit;        a control circuit; and        an outer casing that accommodates the light source, the polarization conversion unit, the modulator, the power unit, the input/output interface circuit, the video signal processing circuit, and the control circuit.     
     
     
       45. The projector of  claim 37 , wherein each of the first and second optical elements comprises one or more lens elements. 
     
     
       46. A projector, comprising:
   a light source that emits a light beam;        a polarization conversion unit that includes:      a first optical element that splits the light beam emitted by the light source into a plurality of intermediate light beams, and        a second optical element that spatially separates each of the intermediate light beams into a p - polarized light beam and an s - polarized light beam, converts the p - polarized light beams into s - polarized light beams, and guides the s - polarized light beams, the second optical element including a superimposing lens;          a color separating optical system that separates the s - polarized light beams into a plurality of color light beams;        a plurality of modulators, each of which receives a respective one of the color light beams from the color separating optical system and produces a corresponding modulated color light beam;        a color synthesizing optical system that receives the modulated color light beams and outputs synthesized color light beams;        at least one reflector disposed in an optical path of one of the plurality of color light beams between the color separating optical system and at least one of the plurality of modulators, the at least one reflector having an adjustable mounting angle with respect to an incident optical axis; and        a projection lens that projects the synthesized color light beams.     
     
     
       47. The projector of  claim 46 , wherein a plurality of reflectors are disposed in the optical path of the one of the plurality of color light beams between the color separating optical system and the at least one of the plurality of modulators, a mounting angle of the reflector located closest to the modulator being adjustable. 
     
     
       48. The projector of  claim 46 , wherein each of the plurality of modulators is a reflection type modulator. 
     
     
       49. The projector of  claim 46 , further comprising a position adjusting mechanism that holds the superimposing lens. 
     
     
       50. The projector of  claim 49 , wherein the position adjusting mechanism comprises:
   a first adjustment mechanism to adjust the mounting position of the lens in a first direction, and        a second adjustment mechanism to adjust the mounting position of the lens in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.     
     
     
       51. The projector of  claim 50 , wherein the position adjusting mechanism comprises a base plate, wherein the first adjustment mechanism comprises a first adjustment plate slidably movable in the first direction relative to the base plate, and wherein the second adjustment mechanism comprises a second adjustment plate slidably movable in the second direction relative to the first adjustment plate. 
     
     
       52. The projector of  claim 51 , wherein the position adjustment mechanism further comprises a first slip mechanism that prevents the first adjustment plate from slipping in the second direction, and a second slip mechanism that prevents the second adjustment plate from slipping in the first direction. 
     
     
       53. The projector of  claim 46 , wherein the position of the superimposing lens is finely adjusted using the position adjusting mechanism during manufacturing of the projector. 
     
     
       54. The projector of  claim 53 , wherein at least one of the modulators has an imaging forming area and an illumination area, and the superimposing lens is finely adjusted to obtain a specific relationship between the image forming area and the illumination area. 
     
     
       55. The projector of  claim 46 , wherein each of the first and second optical elements comprises one or more lens elements. 
     
     
       56. A method of manufacturing a projector, comprising:
   providing at least one modulator;        providing a lens configured to output light beams, which are guided to the at least one modulator;        providing a position adjusting mechanism that holds the lens;        finely adjusting the mounting position of the lens using the position adjusting mechanism to obtain a specific relationship between an image forming area and an illumination area on the at least one modulator; and        fixing the mounting position of the lens where the specific relationship is obtained.     
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 56 , wherein the finely adjusting comprises:
   adjusting the mounting position of the lens in a first direction, and        adjusting the mounting position of the lens in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.     
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 56 , the projector further comprising at least one reflector positioned upstream of the at least one modulator, the method further comprising:
   adjusting the mounting position of the at least one reflector; and        fixing the mounting position of the at least one reflector.     
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 56 , the projector further comprising an intermediate lens, the method further comprising:
   adjusting the mounting position of the intermediate lens; and        fixing the mounting position of the intermediate lens.     
     
     
       60. A method of manufacturing a projector, comprising:
   providing at least one modulator;        providing a lens configured to output light beams, which are guided to the at least one modulator;        providing a position adjusting mechanism that holds the lens;        finely adjusting the mounting position of the lens using the position adjusting mechanism to obtain a specific relationship between a first luminance of a first portion of an image forming area on the at least one modulator and a second luminance of a second portion of the image forming area; and        fixing the mounting position of the lens where the specific relationship is obtained.     
     
     
       61. A method of manufacturing a projector, comprising:
   providing at least one modulator;        providing a lens configured to output light beams, which are guided to the at least one modulator;        providing a position adjusting mechanism that holds the lens;        finely adjusting the mounting position of the lens using the position adjusting mechanism to obtain a specific relationship between a first luminance of a first portion of an area on the screen where the image is or should be projected and a second luminance of a second portion of the area where the image is or should be projected; and        fixing the mounting position of the lens where the specific relationship is obtained.     
     
     
       62. A method of manufacturing a projector, comprising:
   providing at least one modulator;        providing a lens configured to output light beams, which are guided to the at least one modulator;        providing a position adjusting mechanism that holds the lens;        finely adjusting the mounting position of the lens using the position adjusting mechanism such that all of the light beams received by the at least one modulator overlappingly illuminate an image forming area of the at least one modulator; and        fixing the mounting position of the lens where the overlapping illumination of the image forming area is obtained.     
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 62 , wherein each light beam received by the at least one modulator further illuminates a portion of a margin area that extends beyond the boundary of the image forming area, wherein the portion of the margin area illuminated by one received light beam may or may not be the same as the portion of the margin area illuminated by any other received light beam.