Projector

0001The present invention relates to a projector having a reflection type optical modulator.

0002Hitherto, as such a kind of projector, as shown in Fig. 1, there has been known a projector which is constructed in a manner such that a polarizing beam splitter 3 is arranged on the emission side of a white light which is emitted from a light source 2, plate-shaped first and second dichroic mirrors 4 and 5 are further sequentially arranged in parallel in the reflecting direction of the light by the polarizing beam splitter 3, the dichroic mirrors 4 and 5 are provided for separating the light into the color lights of red, green, and blue, for irradiating the color lights to reflection type first to third liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B to form optical images of the respective color lights, and for synthesizing the color optical images which are emitted from the liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B, and the synthetic images which were synthesized by the first and second dichroic mirrors 4 and 5 are enlargedly projected to a screen (not shown) through a projection lens system 6 (for instance, a projector as disclosed in the JP-A-61-13885).

0003As each of the reflection type liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B mentioned above, a panel of an ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) type can be used and those panels have characteristics such that a polarizing plane of an incident light (S polarizing light) is rotated by 90° by an applied voltage according to the image signal for each color.

0004In the liquid crystal type video projector with the construction as mentioned above, only the S polarizing light in the white light emitted from the light source 2 is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 3, the S polarizing light is separated into the color lights of red, green, and blue by the first and second dichroic mirrors 4 and 5, and the color lights are irradiated onto the first to third liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B corresponding to the color lights. In the light emitted from the light source 2, the P polarizing light which passes through the polarizing beam splitter 3 is directed to a spare liquid crystal panel 10 locating on the emission destination side of the light and is deviated from an optical path. Each of the color lights which are reflected from the liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B is either the light having a P polarizing component in which the polarizing plane was rotated or the light having an S polarizing component in which the polarizing plane is not rotated in accordance with each pixel and the image signal. The color lights are again synthesized by the first and second dichroic mirrors 4 and 5 and, thereafter, they are directed to the polarizing beam splitter 3. In the polarizing beam splitter 3, in each color light, the P polarizing component is transmitted and, after that, it passes through the projection lens system 6 and is projected onto the screen (not shown). The S polarizing component is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 3 and is returned in the direction of the light source 2.

0005Therefore, the polarizing beam splitter 3 has functions of both of a polarizer and an analyzer for each of the liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B. Each of the liquid crystal panels 1R, 1G, and 1B doesn't need a polarizing plate. Thus, a whole construction is further simplified.

0006However, the above conventional technique has a drawback such that in the white light emitted from the light source, the P polarizing component which is first transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter doesn't contribute to the projection of an image at all and a using efficiency of the light from the light source is low.

0007A further projector having a high light use efficiency is known from JP-A-63 168 622. According thereto, a light beam from a light source is divided by a polarizing beam splitter into a P component and an S component. The S component is directed directly to a light modulation unit. A twisted nematic liquid crystal rotates the plane of polarization of the P component by 90 deg. Then the P component is directed to the light modulation unit.

0008Moreover, a projector is known from JP-A-62 240 936. This reference shows a colour modulation arrangement where three light modulators are attached to respective planes of a colour beam splitter cube. This cube has two intersecting planes each of which deflects light of a particular colour and transmits the others.

0009Furthermore, it is known from DD-A-0 152 212 that one polarized component of a light beam split by a polarizing beam splitter can be reflected at a reflection surface and directed to a λ/2-plate which rotates its plane of polarization by 90 deg.

0010It is an object of the present invention to provide a projector which is capable of efficiently using a light beam from a light source.

0011This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

0012Advantageous further developments are set out in the dependent claims.

0013According to the invention, a well-known liquid crystal light bulb which modulates the polarizing plane of an incident light can be used. An optical modulator having a function similar to the above bulb, for instance, an optical modulator which can electrically control a birefringence can be also applied to the invention.

0014According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dichroic mirror system is constructed by cross dichroic mirrors. By using such a construction, the apparatus can be miniaturized.

0015As a phase plate of the invention, various kinds of plates (films) such as well-known half wavelength plate (film), plate having a twisted nematic liquid crystal layer, or the like having a function to rotate the polarizing plane of an incident polarizing beam by almost 90° can be applied.

0016In a certain embodiment of the invention, the phase plate is located in a path of the S polarizing component from the first polarizing beam splitter and the S polarizing component is converted into another P polarizing component, thereby making it coincide with the polarizing direction of the other polarizing component. At this time, a bending mirror is provided for the illuminating system and the P polarizing component and the other P polarizing component are reflected by the bending mirror, thereby leading both of the P polarizing components to the second polarizing beam splitters as an S polarizing beam. According to another form, the phase plate is located in a path of the P polarizing component from the first polarizing beam splitter and the P polarizing component is converted into another S polarizing component, thereby making it coincide with the polarizing direction of the other polarizing component.

0017According to the invention, although various constructions can be selected as a construction of the optical system which leads the beam from the radiation source to the first polarizing beam splitter, it is preferable to set the mirrors and lenses so as to obtain a relatively parallel beam from a viewpoint of the characteristics of the polarizing beam splitters. <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional projector;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a comparative example;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a side view showing an embodiment of the invention; and</li><li>Fig. 4 is a plan view of an apparatus of the embodiment of Fig. 3.</li></ul>

0018An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.

0019Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a comparative example of a liquid crystal type video projector.

0020In the comparative example, a polarizing beam splitter 21, a half wavelength plate 22, and a polarizing beam splitter 23 are sequentially closely arranged (or can be also integratedly constructed) on an optical path of a white light emitted from a light source 20. Further, a prism 24 is arranged in the reflecting direction of the white light by each of the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23. The prism 24 has cross dichroic mirrors and has an outer shape of a quadrangular prism. First to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B of the reflection type corresponding to the color lights of red, green, and blue are adhered to three edge surfaces of the prism 24, respectively. The prism 24 separates the white light into the colors of R, G, and B and reflects by the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B, thereby synthesizing the emitted color lights. On the other hand, a projection lens 26 is arranged in the direction opposite to the reflecting direction by the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23 of the white light. The P polarizing component of the synthetic light which was synthesized by the cross dichroic prism 24 is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23 and, after that, it passes through the projection lens 26 and is projected onto a screen (not shown).

0021The cross dichroic prism 24 is constructed by cross dichroic mirrors having four first to fourth dichroic mirrors 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d as shown by diagonal lines of a quadrangular cross section. The cross dichroic prism 24 is constructed in the following manner. That is, the third dichroic mirror 24c having characteristics to reflect only the red light component and the fourth dichroic mirror 24d having characteristics to reflect only the blue light component are sequentially positioned from the side of the polarizing beam splitter 21 in the diagonal portion locating on the optical path of the light component (S₁ in the diagram) which is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 21 and enters the cross dichroic prism 24. The first dichroic mirror 24a having characteristics to reflect only the blue light component and the second dichroic mirror 24b having characteristics to reflect only the red light component are sequentially positioned from the side of the polarizing beam splitter 23 in the diagonal portion locating on the optical path of the light component (S₂ in the diagram) which is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 23 and enters the cross dichroic prism 24. Therefore, the positions of the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B which are adhered to the cross dichroic prism 24 are set as follows. That is, the first liquid crystal panel 25R for the red image is positioned at the surface corresponding to the reflecting direction of the red light component by the second and third dichroic mirrors 24b and 24c. The third liquid crystal panel 26B for the blue image is positioned at the surface corresponding to the reflecting direction of the blue light component by the first and fourth dichroic mirrors 24a and 24d. The second liquid crystal panel 25G for the green image is positioned at the surface corresponding to the transmitting direction of the green light component which was transmitted through the first to fourth dichroic mirrors 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d in the light which had been reflected by the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23.

0022As each of the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B, the reflection type liquid crystal panel of the foregoing ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) type or the 45° TN (45° twisted Nematic) type is used. Each of the liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B has characteristics such that the polarizing plane of the incident light is rotated by 90° every pixel by the applied voltage according to the image signal for each color.

0023The operation of the comparative example will now be described.

0024The parallel white light emitted from the light source 20 having a lamp, a reflector, and a lens is first separated to two linear polarizing lights consisting of an S polarizing light S₁ and a P polarizing light P₂ by the polarizing beam splitter 21. The S polarizing light S₁ in the two linear polarizing lights which were separated by the polarizing beam splitter 21 is perpendicularly reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 21 and directly enters the cross dichroic prism 24. On the other hand, the P polarizing light P₂ which was transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 21 is led to the half wavelength plate 22 locating on the emission destination side, so that the polarizing plane is rotated by 90° and the P polarizing light P₂ is converted into the S polarizing light S₂. After that, the S polarizing light S₂ is perpendicularly reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 23 having a dividing surface which is parallel with the dividing surface of the polarizing beam splitter 21 and enters the cross dichroic prism 24.

0025Therefore, in the case of the comparative example, almost of the lights emitted from the light source 20 enter the cross dichroic prism 24 as an S polarizing light.

0026The S polarizing light S₁ which entered the cross dichroic prism 24 as mentioned above is first separated into a red light component R_s, a green light component G_s, and a blue light component B_s of the S polarizing light by the third dichroic mirror 24c. The red light component R_s which is reflected by the third dichroic mirror 24c is used as an illumination light of the first liquid crystal panel 25R. The green light component G_s and blue light component B_s which were transmitted through the third dichroic mirror 24c are thereafter separated by the fourth dichroic mirror 24d. The blue light component B_s which is reflected by the fourth dichroic mirror 24d is used as an illuminating light of the third liquid crystal panel 25B. The green light component G_s which is transmitted through the fourth dichroic mirror 24d is used as an illumination light of the second liquid crystal panel 25G.

0027On the other hand, in the cross dichroic prism 24, the S polarizing light S₂ is first separated into the blue light component B_s, red light component R_s, and green light component G_s of the S polarizing light by the first dichroic mirror 24a. The blue light component B_s which is reflected by the first dichroic mirror 24a is used as an illumination light of the third liquid crystal panel 25B. The red light component R_s and green light component G_s which were transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 24c are thereafter separated by the second dichroic mirror 24b. The red light component R_s which is reflected by the second dichroic mirror 24b is used as an illumination light of the first liquid crystal panel 25R. The green light component G_s which is transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 24b is used as an illumination light of the second liquid crystal panel 25G.

0028In the case where the color light components R_s, G_s, and B_s serving as illumination lights of the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B as mentioned above are transmitted in the pixels (liquid crystal portions) corresponding to the bright portions of the color image signals and are reflected in the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B, their polarizing planes are rotated and those color light components are emitted as color light components R_p, G_p, and B_p of the P polarizing light. On the other hand, in the case where the color light components R_s, G_s, and B_s are transmitted in the pixels corresponding to the dark portions of the color image signals and are reflected, their polarizing planes are not rotated and the color light components R_s, G_s, and B_s of the S polarizing light are emitted as they are.

0029The reflected image light components R_p, G_p, B_p, R_s, G_s, and B_s of the colors which were reflected and emitted from the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B are again synthesized by the first to fourth dichroic mirrors 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d. At this time, the synthetic light which was synthesized by the first and second dichroic mirrors 24a and 24b is again led to the polarizing beam splitter 23. The synthetic light which was synthesized by the third and fourth dichroic mirrors 24c and 24d is again led to the polarizing beam splitter 21. In the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23, the P polarizing components R_p, G_p, and B_p corresponding to the bright portions of the color images which were modulated by the first to third liquid crystal panels 25R, 25G, and 25B are transmitted and led to the projection lens system 26. However, the S polarizing components R_s, G_s, and B_s corresponding to the dark portions of the color images are reflected and deviated from the projection optical path and are returned in the direction of the light source 20 having an optical axis which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the projection lens system.

0030Therefore, the synthetic lights P₁ and P₂ of the P polarizing components R_p, G_p, and B_p corresponding to the bright portions of the color images are emitted from the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23, respectively. The synthetic lights P₁ and P₂ pass through the projection lens system 26 and are projected to the screen (not shown).

0031As mentioned above, according to the comparative example, since the light emitted from the light source is converted into the linear polarizing lights having the aligned polarizing planes without any loss, a using efficiency of the light is fairly improved. Since the cross dichroic prism is used as separating and synthesizing means of the color lights, a back focal distance of the projection lens can be remarkably reduced as compared with that of such a kind of conventional apparatus. A degree of freedom in designing of the projection lens is widened. In addition, since the arrangement of the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23 and the half wavelength plate 22 also functions as an analyzer, another analyzer is unnecessary and the whole construction is compact.

0032The half wavelength plate is formed by an ordinary birefringence plate (film) or a plate having a 90° twisted nematic liquid crystal layer.

0033As modifications of the comparative example of Fig. 2, there are considered: a form in which an arrangement of the dichroic mirrors as mentioned in the conventional technique is used in place of the cross dichroic prism 24; a form in which a single polarizing beam splitter 3 is located in a manner similar to the conventional technique in place of the arrangement of the polarizing beam splitters 21 and 23 and the half wavelength plate and the arrangement (21, 22, 23) is positioned on the optical path between the polarizing beam splitter 3 and the light source 20 and the polarizing beams S₁ and S₂ are directed to the polarizing beam splitter 3; a combination of the above two forms; and the like.

0034A form in which the arrangement of the dichroic mirrors as mentioned in the conventional technique is used in place of the cross dichroic prism is also effective as a modification, which will be explained hereinlater.

0035An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

0036Figs. 3 and 4 are a side view and a plan view showing a construction of the embodiment, respectively.

0037In the case of the embodiment, a cube-shaped cross dichroic prism 34 in which first to third liquid crystal panels 35R, 35G, and 35B are attached to three surfaces is used in a manner similar to the above embodiment. Further, a prism 37 having a parallelogram shape is arranged over the cross dichroic prism 34 on the emission destination side of the parallel while light which is emitted from a light source 30. A polarizing beam splitter 31 is formed on the interface of the prism 37 on the side of the light source 30 serving as an incident portion of the white light. In the prism 37, a dividing surface of the polarizing beam splitter 31 is parallel with an air interface (reflecting surface) 38 which faces the dividing surface of the polarizing beam splitter 31, so that an optical axis of the light source 30 is perpendicularly bent by both of the surfaces. Therefore, the reflecting direction of the light by the polarizing beam splitter 31 is the same as the reflecting direction of the light which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 31 and is reflected by the air interface 38. A total reflection mirror 33 to downwardly reflect the reflection lights by 90° is arranged in the above direction on the optical path of each of the reflection lights. In the case of the reflection by the total reflection mirror 33, when considering that the optical axis from the light source 30 and the reflection optical axis by the polarizing beam splitter 31 and the air interface 38 of the prism 37 exists on the same plane, the reflection optical axis by the total reflection mirror 33 is vertical to such a plane. Therefore, when reflecting by the total reflection mirror 33, the polarizing plane of each light is rotated by 90°.

0038A polarizing beam splitter 39 is arranged in the reflecting direction of the light by the total reflection mirror 33. The light reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 39 enters the cross dichroic prism 34 and the light is separated and synthesized by the cross dichroic prism 34 in a manner similar to the case of the foregoing embodiment. In the light emitted from the cross dichroic prism 34, the light which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 39 passes through a projection lens 36 and is projected to a screen (not shown).

0039The operation of the embodiment will now be described.

0040The parallel white light emitted from the light source 30 is first separated into two linear polarizing lights consisting of the S polarizing light S₁ which is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 31 formed at the interface of the prism 37 and the P polarizing light P₂ which is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 31. The S polarizing light S₁ in the linear polarizing lights is reflected by the beam splitter 31 and, thereafter, the polarizing plane is rotated by 90° by a half wavelength plate 32, so that the S polarizing light S₁ is converted to a P polarizing light P₁ and is led to the total reflection mirror 33. The P polarizing light P₂ is transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 31 and, thereafter, it is reflected by the prism 37 at the air interface 38 which faces the polarizing beam splitter 31 and is similarly led to the total reflection mirror 33. Since the total reflection mirror 33 rotates the polarizing plane of each polarizing light by 90° and reflects as mentioned above, the P polarizing lights P₁ and P₂ are converted to the S polarizing lights S₁ and S₂ and are reflected. After that, the S polarizing lights are reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 39 and enter the cross dichroic prism 34.

0041Therefore, in the case of the embodiment as well, almost of the lights emitted from the light source 30 are similarly converted into the S polarizing lights and enter the cross dichroic prism 34.

0042The S polarizing lights S₁ and S₂ which entered the cross dichroic prism 34 as mentioned above are separated to the color lights by the third and fourth dichroic mirrors 34c and 34d and by the first and second dichroic mirrors 34a and 34b and are used as illumination lights of the first to third liquid crystal panels 35R, 35G, and 35B corresponding to the color lights in a manner similar to the case of the foregoing embodiment. The reflection image lights of the colors which were reflected and emitted from the first to third liquid crystal panels 35R, 35G, and 35B are also similarly synthesized by first to fourth dichroic mirrors 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d and emitted from the cross dichroic prism 34. The synthetic light is led to the polarizing beam splitter 39 locating on the emission destination side. In the polarizing beam splitter 39, the S polarizing component corresponding to the dark portion of each color image in the synthetic light is reflected and returned in the direction of the light source 30 along the same optical path as the foregoing incident optical path. On the other hand, in the synthetic light, the P polarizing components P₁ and P₂ corresponding to the bright portions of the color images are transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 39 and, after that, they pass through the projection lens system 36 and are enlargedly projected to a screen (not shown).

0043In the comparative example shown in Fig. 2 mentioned above, the half wavelength plate 22 is located at the center of the optical path regions of two synthetic lights in parallel with the optical paths. However, in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the half wavelength plate 32 is located out of the region of the projection optical path of the synthetic light, so that a fairly good video image can be obtained.

0044According to the projector described above, after the light emitted from the light source was converted into the polarizing lights having the aligned polarizing planes, they are input to the cross dichroic mirrors and the color separation and color synthesis are executed. Thus, a using efficiency of the light of the light source is improved and a luminance can be raised.

0045Since the color separation and color synthesis are executed by using the cross dichroic mirror, the whole construction is simplified and the apparatus can be miniaturized, and the back focal distance is reduced, so that a degree of freedom in designing of the projection lens is improved.