Projection device

Abstract

This invention provides a projection device, including a housing, a light source module, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, and a fan. The housing has opposing first and second side covers, the first side cover having a first opening and the second side cover having a second opening. The light source module is disposed within the housing to provide an illumination beam. The first heat sink is thermally coupled to the light source module. The second heat sink is thermally coupled to the first heat sink, and the second heat sink is closer to the first side cover than the light source module. The fan has an adjacent exhaust surface and a side surface, and the first heat sink is inclined to the fan and extends to the side surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to optical devices, and more particularly to projection devices and their heat dissipation configurations. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the trend in projectors has been towards thinner, lighter, and smaller designs, employing smaller and longer-lasting solid-state light sources, such as LEDs or laser diodes. As the brightness of solid-state light sources increases, the heat generated by these sources becomes significant. Simultaneously, other optical engine components also generate heat, requiring more effective cooling systems. Maintaining system cooling within limited space presents numerous configuration constraints. For example, in traditional projection devices, the optical engine is located below the laser light source; in miniature systems, the heat sink is typically placed below the optical engine. Therefore, the projection device occupies a considerable amount of space in one direction, which is detrimental to its overall aesthetic design. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a projection device with good heat dissipation.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a projection device comprising: a housing having opposing first and second side covers, the first side cover having a first opening and the second side cover having a second opening; a light source module disposed within the housing for providing an illumination beam; a first heat sink thermally coupled to the light source module; a second heat sink thermally coupled to the first heat sink, the second heat sink being closer to the first side cover than the light source module; and a fan having adjacent exhaust surfaces and side surfaces, the first heat sink being inclined to the fan and extending to the side surface.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet faces the second opening, and ambient air from outside the housing flows into the housing through the first opening, passes through the second heat sink and the first heat sink, is drawn in by the fan, and flows out of the housing through the second opening.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a light valve module and a third heat sink. The light valve module is disposed within the housing, and the third heat sink is thermally coupled to the light valve module and is located between the first opening and the second opening.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, a heat pipe is further included, connected between the first heat sink and the second heat sink.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the fan has an air inlet surface, and there is an air intake space between the second heat sink and the air inlet surface.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the fan also has an axial direction, in which the side of the second heat sink facing the fan has a gap between the air inlet surface and the air inlet surface, the gap being between 3 mm and 5 mm.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the housing further includes opposing third and fourth side covers, with the light valve module being closer to the third side cover than the second heat sink, and the side facing the third side cover.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the housing further includes opposing third and fourth side covers, the orthographic projection of the first heat sink onto the fourth side cover overlapping the orthographic projection of the fan onto the fourth side cover.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the light emission direction of the light source module is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the air outlet axis of the fan, and the light emission direction forms an obtuse angle with the air outlet axis.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the first heat sink has opposing first and second side edges, the first side edge being closer to the second heat sink than the second side edge, and the distance between the first side edge and the second side cover being greater than the distance between the second side edge and the second side cover.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the housing further includes opposing third and fourth side covers, the second side edge being located within the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the third side cover, and the first side edge being located outside the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the third side cover.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the housing further includes opposing third and fourth side covers, the first side edge being located within the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the second side cover; the second side edge being located outside the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the second side cover.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the first heat sink is located between the second heat sink and the fan.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the light valve module is located on the transmission path of the illumination beam to convert the illumination beam into an image beam. The projection device also includes a projection lens disposed within the housing and located on the transmission path of the image beam to project the image beam out of the projection device.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the first heat sink is a copper plate.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the second heat sink is a heat sink fin.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the fan is an axial flow fan.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the light source module includes a laser light source.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the light valve module includes a digital micromirror element.

[0023] Based on the above, in the projection device of the present invention, the first heat sink and the second heat sink are located in the same space. By tilting the first heat sink towards the fan and extending to the side of the fan, the first heat sink can act as a flow channel baffle, effectively utilizing airflow to improve heat dissipation. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a front view of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of the projection device.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To provide a further understanding of the purpose, structure, features, and functions of the present invention, detailed descriptions are provided below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to it. Figure 1 The projector 100 in this embodiment includes a housing 110, a light source module 120, a light valve module 130, and a projection lens 140. The light source module 120 is disposed within the housing 110 and provides an illumination beam LB. The light valve module 130 is disposed within the housing 110 and located in the transmission path of the illumination beam LB, and converts the illumination beam LB into an image beam LI. The projection lens 140 is disposed within the housing 110 and located in the transmission path of the image beam LI, and projects the image beam LI from the projector 100 onto a projection target (not shown), such as a screen or wall; this invention is not limited thereto. Here, the projector 100 is a micro projector, but this invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the projector 100 may also be a commercial projector or a home projector; this invention is not limited thereto.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a front view of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional diagram of the projection device. It should be noted that... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The X, Y, and Z directions are marked to show the configuration relationship of the components in the drawing. The X, Y, and Z directions intersect each other, but are not limited to this. Figure 2 and Figure 3 Some irrelevant structures will be omitted to facilitate the display and identification of the components to be described.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the housing 110 has opposing first side covers 111 and second side covers 112, and opposing third side covers 113 and fourth side covers 114. The first side cover 111 has a first opening A1, and the second side cover 112 has a second opening A2. In this embodiment, the first opening A1 is an air inlet, and the second opening A2 is an air outlet, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0032] In this embodiment, the projection device 100 further includes a first heat sink 150, a second heat sink 160, and a fan 170. The first heat sink 150 is located between the second heat sink 160 and the fan 170. Here, the first heat sink 150 is a heat dissipation backplate, preferably a copper plate, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The second heat sink 160 is a heat dissipation fin, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first heat sink 150 is thermally coupled to the light source module 120, which includes a laser light source, but this invention is not limited thereto. The second heat sink 160 is thermally coupled to the first heat sink 150, and the second heat sink 160 is closer to the first side cover 111 than the light source module 120. Specifically, the projection device 100 further includes a heat pipe 190, which connects the first heat sink 150 and the second heat sink 160. The second heat sink 160 is thermally coupled to the first heat sink 150, for example, through the heat pipe 190, but this invention is not limited thereto.

[0034] In this embodiment, the fan 170 has an adjacent air outlet surface 171 and a side surface 172. Specifically, the air outlet surface 171 faces the second opening A2, and the side surface 172 of the fan 170 corresponds to the third side cover 113, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0035] In this embodiment, ambient air outside the housing 110 flows into the housing 110 through the first opening A1, passes through the second heat sink 160 and the first heat sink 150, is drawn in by the fan 170, and flows out of the housing 110 through the second opening A2.

[0036] Generally, in traditional projection devices, the optical engine is located below the laser light source. For micro-systems, the heat sink is usually positioned below the optical engine. This means that along the Z-axis, the laser light source and the heat sink are separated by the optical engine. Consequently, the projection device as a whole occupies a relatively long space along the Z-axis. The projection device of this invention solves the above problems.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment, the light source module 120 is tilted. The first heat sink 150 is tilted relative to the fan 170. That is, the light source module 120 is located to the right of the light valve module 130, and the light source module 120 is adjacent to the second heat sink 160. Thus, the light source module 120 and the second heat sink 160 are placed in the same space. In the Z-axis direction, the overall height of the projection device 100 can be reduced, allowing for the use of a smaller fan 170, and the first heat sink 150 can also act as a flow channel baffle, enabling effective utilization of airflow.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first heat sink 150 extends to the side 172 of the fan 170. That is, the orthographic projection of the first heat sink 150 onto the fourth side cover 114 overlaps with the orthographic projection of the fan 170 onto the fourth side cover 114.

[0039] In this embodiment, the first heat sink 150 has a first side edge E1 and a second side edge E2, with the first side edge E1 being closer to the second heat sink 160 than the second side edge E2. Specifically, the distance M1 between the first side edge E1 and the second side cover 112 is greater than the distance M2 between the second side edge E2 and the second side cover 112.

[0040] In this embodiment, the second side edge E2 is located within the orthographic projection range of the fan 170 onto the third side cover 113. The first side edge E1 is located outside the orthographic projection range of the fan 170 onto the third side cover 113.

[0041] In this embodiment, the second side edge E2 is located outside the orthogonal projection range of the fan 170 onto the second side cover 112. The first side edge E1 is located within the orthogonal projection range of the fan 170 onto the second side cover 112.

[0042] In detail, in this embodiment, the fan 170 has an air inlet surface 173, and an air intake space S1 is formed between the second heat sink 160 and the air inlet surface 173. The fan 170 also has an axial direction D1 (for example, parallel to the X-axis direction). Here, the fan 170 is axial flow type, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Here, the light emission direction B1 of the light source module 120 is neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the axial direction D1 of the fan 170.

[0043] In this embodiment, along the axial direction D1, there is a gap G1 between the side F1 of the second heat sink 160 facing the fan 170 and the air inlet surface 173. The gap G1 is between 3 mm and 5 mm, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that... Figure 4 The relative positions of the components are shown only schematically, along with the gas flow direction. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 4 In one embodiment, the orthographic projection of the first heat sink 150 of the projection device 100B onto the fourth side cover 114 does not overlap with the orthographic projection of the second heat sink 160B onto the fourth side cover 114. The gap G2 between one side F2 of the second heat sink 160B and the air inlet surface 173B is greater than... Figure 2 The gap G1. However, the design of the gap can be appropriately adjusted as needed, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0044] In conventional projection devices, the laser light source and heat sink are separated by the optical engine. Airflow through the heat sink is difficult to reach the copper heat sink plate of the laser light source, thus the copper heat sink plate does not function as a windbreak or airflow guide. However, in this embodiment, the design of the gap G1 allows airflow to pass through the second heat sink 160 without being directly carried away by the fan 170. Furthermore, the inclined first heat sink 150 guides airflow, allowing the airflow passing through the second heat sink 160 to reach the first heat sink 150, thus carrying away its heat and effectively utilizing airflow to improve heat dissipation.

[0045] In addition, please refer to Figure 3 In this embodiment, the projection device 100 further includes a third heat sink 180, which is thermally coupled to the light valve module 130 and located between the first opening A1 and the second opening A2. The light valve module 130 is closer to the third side cover 113 than the second heat sink 160. Here, the third heat sink 180 is a heat dissipation fin, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The light valve module 130 includes a digital micromirror device (DMD), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0046] In summary, in the projection device of the present invention, the light source module is configured at an angle, so that the first heat sink, which is thermally coupled to the light source module, is also configured at an angle. By having the first heat sink angled relative to the fan and extending to the side of the fan, the overall height of the projection device can be reduced, and a smaller fan can be used. Furthermore, a gap exists between the second heat sink and the fan; this gap design prevents airflow from being directly carried away by the fan after passing through the second heat sink. By guiding airflow through the angled first heat sink, the airflow passing through the second heat sink can flow back to the first heat sink to remove its heat, effectively utilizing airflow and improving heat dissipation.

[0047] The present invention has been described in the above-described embodiments; however, these embodiments are merely examples for implementing the present invention. It must be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. Conversely, any modifications and refinements made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A projection device, characterized in that, include: The housing has opposing first side covers and second side covers, the first side cover having a first opening and the second side cover having a second opening; A light source module, located inside the housing, is used to provide an illumination beam; The first heat sink is thermally coupled to the light source module; The second heat sink is thermally coupled to the first heat sink, and the second heat sink is closer to the first side cover than the light source module; as well as The fan has an adjacent exhaust surface and a side surface, and the first heat sink is inclined to the fan and extends to the side surface; the light emission direction of the light source module is not parallel and not perpendicular to the exhaust axis of the fan, and the light emission direction is at an obtuse angle to the exhaust axis. The air outlet faces the second opening. Ambient air from outside the housing flows into the housing through the first opening, passes through the second heat sink and the first heat sink, is drawn in by the fan, and flows out of the housing through the second opening.

2. The projection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a light valve module and a third heat sink. The light valve module is disposed inside the housing, and the third heat sink is thermally coupled to the light valve module. The third heat sink is located between the first opening and the second opening.

3. The projection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a heat pipe connected between the first heat sink and the second heat sink.

4. The projection device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The fan has an air inlet surface, and there is an air intake space between the second heat sink and the air inlet surface.

5. The projection device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The fan also has an axial direction, in which the side of the second heat sink facing the fan has a gap between the air inlet surface and the air inlet surface, the gap being between 3 mm and 5 mm.

6. The projection device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat sink has a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge being closer to the second heat sink than the second side edge, and the distance between the first side edge and the second side cover being greater than the distance between the second side edge and the second side cover.

7. The projection device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The housing also includes opposing third and fourth side covers, with the second side edge located within the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the third side cover, and the first side edge located outside the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the third side cover.

8. The projection device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The housing also includes opposing third and fourth side covers, with the first side edge located within the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the second side cover; and the second side edge located outside the orthographic projection range of the fan onto the second side cover.

9. The projection device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat sink is located between the second heat sink and the fan.

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