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,
 cooling fans being positioned in a plane over 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 fans by being positioned directly in the path of cooling air produced by said cooling fans.   
     
     
       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 liquid crystal projector, comprising:
 a light source including a light tube and a lamp reflector housed in a lamp housing;   a plurality of color separators that separate light emitted by the light source into beams of blue, green and red colors;   image forming liquid crystal light valves;   an image synthesizer that synthesizes images for the blue, green and red beams respectively;   a projection lens;   an exhaust fan arranged near a first side surface of the lamp housing;   a lamp fan positioned further forward than an opening of the lamp reflector and laterally of the lamp housing; and   an opening through which air is blown into the lamp housing by the lamp fan, the opening being formed in a second side surface of the lamp housing.    
     
     
       6. 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 separated blue, green and red beams;   a synthesizing optical system that synthesizes the modulated blue, green and red beams;   a projection lens that receives the synthesized light from the synthesizing optical system;   a chassis having a bottom member, wherein the separation optical elements, the liquid crystal light panels and the synthesizing optical system are secured so as to be constrained against movement relative to the bottom member; and   an outer case to which the chassis is secured.    
     
     
       7. A projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chassis further comprises a plurality of walls, each of which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the bottom member.  
     
     
       8. A projector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer case is secured to the bottom member or any of the plurality of walls.  
     
     
       9. A projector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bottom member and the plurality of walls form an enclosure.  
     
     
       10. A projector as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one wall includes a projection that extends substantially parallel to the bottom member.  
     
     
       11. A projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the separation optical elements include two dichroic mirrors.  
     
     
       12. A projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic surfaces.  
     
     
       13. 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 separated blue, green and red beams;   a synthesizing optical system that synthesizes the modulated blue, green and red beams;   a projection lens that receives the synthesized modulated light from the synthesizing optical system;   an exhaust fan arranged near a first side surface of the lamp housing;   a lamp fan positioned further forward than an opening of the lamp reflector and laterally of the lamp housing; and   an opening through which air is blown into the lamp housing by the lamp fan, the opening being formed in a second side surface of the lamp housing.    
     
     
       14. A projector as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an air regulating plate that controls air flow to the light tube, the air regulating plate being disposed in a path of flowing air generated by the lamp fan.  
     
     
       15. A projector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the separation optical elements include two dichroic mirrors.  
     
     
       16. A projector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic surfaces.  
     
     
       17. A projector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the synthesizing optical system includes two dichroic layers.  
     
     
       18. A projector, comprising:
 a lamp housing having first and second side surfaces;   a light source including a light tube and a lamp reflector housed in the housing;   a light valve that modulates light emitted by the light source;   a projection lens that receives the modulated light from the light valve;   an exhaust fan arranged near the first side surface of the lamp housing;   a lamp fan positioned further forward than an opening of the lamp reflector and laterally of the lamp housing; and   an opening through which air is blown into the lamp housing by the lamp fan, the opening being formed in the second side surface of the lamp housing.    
     
     
       19. A projector as claimed in claim 18, the exhaust fan being an axial flow fan. 
     
     
       20. A projector as claimed in claim 18, the lamp fan being a scirocco fan. 
     
     
       21. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 an air regulating section that guides air to a region surrounded by a reflection surface of the lamp reflector.   
     
     
       22. A projector as claimed in claim 21, the air regulating section being disposed in the lamp housing. 
     
     
       23. A projector as claimed in claim 21, the air regulating section being disposed between the lamp housing and the lamp fan. 
     
     
       24. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 an air regulating section that controls air flow to the light tube.   
     
     
       25. A projector as claimed in claim 24, the air regulating section being disposed in a path of flowing air generated by the lamp fan. 
     
     
       26. A projector as claimed in claim 18, the exhaust fan having blades with an outer diameter that is equal to or larger than a diameter of the opening of the lamp reflector. 
     
     
       27. A projector as claimed in claim 18, the lamp fan being smaller than a diameter of the opening of the lamp reflector. 
     
     
       28. A projector as claimed in claim 18, the lamp fan being smaller than an outer diameter of blades of the exhaust fan. 
     
     
       29. A projector as claimed in claim 26, the exhaust fan being an axial flow fan. 
     
     
       30. A projector as claimed in claim 27, the lamp fan being a scirocco fan. 
     
     
       31. A projector as claimed in claim 28, the exhaust fan being an axial flow fan. 
     
     
       32. A projector as claimed in claim 28, the lamp fan being a scirocco fan. 
     
     
       33. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 an air regulating section that guides air to a region surrounded by a reflection surface of the lamp reflector,   the exhaust fan having blades with an outer diameter that is equal to or larger than a diameter of the opening of the lamp reflector.   
     
     
       34. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 an air regulating section that guides air to a region surrounded by a reflection surface of the lamp reflector,   the lamp fan being smaller than an outer diameter of blades of the exhaust fan.   
     
     
       35. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 an air regulating section that controls air flow to the light tube, the air regulating section being disposed in a path of flowing air generated by the lamp fan,   the exhaust fan having blades with an outer diameter that is equal to or larger than a diameter of the opening of the lamp reflector.   
     
     
       36. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 an air regulating section that controls air flow to the light tube, the air regulating section being disposed in a path of flowing air generated by the lamp fan,   the lamp fan being smaller than an outer diameter of blades of the exhaust fan.   
     
     
       37. A projector as claimed in claim 18, the exhaust fan being an axial flow fan, and the lamp fan being positioned further forward than an axis of the exhaust fan. 
     
     
       38. A projector as claimed in claim 26, the exhaust fan being an axial flow fan, and the lamp fan being positioned further forward than an axis of the exhaust fan. 
     
     
       39. A projector as claimed in claim 28, the exhaust fan being an axial flow fan, and the lamp fan being positioned further forward than an axis of the exhaust fan. 
     
     
       40. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 a power unit,   the lamp fan being disposed in a path of air flowing from the power unit to the light source.   
     
     
       41. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 a power unit being located on the air intake side of the lamp fan.   
     
     
       42. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 a power unit, and   an optical unit including an optical part,   the lamp fan being disposed between the power unit and the optical unit.   
     
     
       43. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 a lamp stabilizing unit that stabilizes the light emitted by the light source,   the lamp fan being disposed in a path of air flowing from the lamp stabilizing unit to the light source.   
     
     
       44. A projector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
 a lamp stabilizing unit that stabilizes the light emitted by the light source, and   an optical unit including an optical part,   the lamp fan being disposed between the lamp stabilizing unit and the optical unit.