Color wheel, light source device and projection device

Abstract

The invention provides a color wheel, a light source device and a projection device, wherein the color purity of primary color is improved, and color development is good. The color wheel includes a first filter bank in which a plurality of color filters having different light transmission characteristics are arranged, and a second filter bank in which a plurality of color filters having different light transmission characteristics are arranged, the first filter bank and the second filter bank being configured such that the plurality of color filters of the first filter bank and the second filter bank are arranged in a circumferential direction. In the first and second filter banks, at least one portion where color filters having the same or similar light transmission characteristics are adjacent to each other is formed in the plurality of color filters arranged in each of the first and second filter banks, and the areas or center angles of each of the different colors of the plurality of color filters arranged in each of the first and second filter banks are unequal. The color area ratio or the angle ratio of the center angles of the plurality of color filters constituting the first filter bank is substantially equal to the color area ratio or the angle ratio of the center angles of the plurality of color filters constituting the second filter bank.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a color wheel, a light source device equipped with the color wheel, and a projection device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a projector using a Digital Light Processing (DLP) system, a technique has been used in which a color wheel having color filters having various transmittance characteristics on a ring shape is rotated, light is transmitted to the color wheel, and thereby red, blue, green, yellow, and the like are outputted by time division (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 to 4, and the like).

[0003] In the case of using the color wheel, the color wheel is generally continuously rotated to generate one frame per one revolution. In addition, a period during which light is simultaneously shot between adjacent different color filters of the color wheel is called spoke time, and since the colors of the plurality of color filters are mixed, the color purity of the light is reduced, and thus the light cannot be processed as a pure color light.

[0004] An increase in the spoke time causes deterioration in color rendering performance due to a reduction in color purity, a reduction in brightness of the projector due to the inability to use the color light of the portion, and the like, and thus it is preferable to be suppressed as much as possible.

[0005] In an image projection device using such a color wheel, a method in which the number of divisions (the number of segments) of the color filters of the color wheel is doubled, two frames are generated by one revolution, for the purpose of increasing the frame rate or improving the image quality by being set to pseudo 4K, and the like, is known.

[0006] However, if the number of segments of the color wheel is doubled, the spoke time is simply doubled.

[0007] In addition, in order to secure the brightness of the projector, a configuration in which two laser light sources and a phosphor module are synthesized and utilized as illumination light is also known. In this configuration, since two light points are arranged on the color wheel, there is also a problem in that the spoke time further increases.

[0008] In addition, even in the conventional one light source system, in the case where the size of the diameter of the light point on the color wheel increases, particularly in the case where the light point becomes elongated in the spoke scanning direction, there is a concern that the spoke time increases.

[0009] The present application is to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a color wheel which reduces the spoke time while increasing the number of segments of the color filter, and improves the color purity.

[0010]

Patent Document

[0011]

Patent Document 1

[0012] [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent No. 6205835

[0013] [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent No. 4281385

[0014] [Patent Document 4] US Patent No. 10634901 SUMMARY

[0015] The color wheel of the present application includes a first filter group arranged with a plurality of color filters having different light transmission characteristics, and a second filter group arranged with a plurality of color filters having different light transmission characteristics. The first filter group and the second filter group are arranged such that the plurality of color filters of the first filter group and the plurality of color filters of the second filter group are arranged in a circumferential direction. The color wheel is characterized in that the first filter group and the second filter group are arranged such that at least one portion where color filters having the same or similar light transmission characteristics are adjacent to each other is formed in the plurality of color filters arranged respectively, and the area or the central angle of each different color of the plurality of color filters arranged respectively of the first filter group and the second filter group is set to be unequal, and the area ratio or the angle ratio of the central angle of each color of the plurality of color filters constituting the first filter group and the area ratio or the angle ratio of the central angle of each color of the plurality of color filters constituting the second filter group are substantially equal.

[0016] According to the present application, it is possible to increase the number of segments of the color filter while reducing the spoke time and improving the color purity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 An example of a configuration of an image projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0018] Figure 2 An example of a module diagram of a control section of an image projection apparatus is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 An outline of a light source apparatus to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied is shown.

[0020] Figure 4 An example of a configuration of a wavelength conversion element is shown. Figure 3 An example of a configuration of a wavelength conversion element is shown.

[0021] Figure 5 An example of a configuration of a wavelength conversion element is shown. Figure 3 An example of a configuration of a color wheel is shown.

[0022] Figure 6 An example of a configuration of a color wheel is shown.

[0023] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the concept of spoke time in a color wheel is shown.

[0024] Figure 8 A diagram of a first modification of Figure 5 is shown.

[0025] Figure 9 A diagram of a second modification of the segmented configuration of the color wheel shown in Figure 5 is shown.

[0026] Figure 10 A diagram of a third modification of the segmented configuration of the color wheel shown in Figure 5 is shown.

[0027] Figure 11 A diagram of a fourth modification of the segmented configuration of the color wheel shown in Figure 5 is shown.

[0028] Figure 12 A diagram of an example of the configuration of the present application applied to a light source device having two light sources is shown.

[0029] Figure 13 A diagram of an example of transmitted light in the color wheel shown in Figure 12 is shown.

[0030] Figure 14 A diagram of an example of two incident lights arranged along the radial direction of the color wheel is shown.

[0031] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of the incident position of the transmitted light of the present application and the optical axis for indicating the effect thereof is shown.

[0032] Figure 16 A schematic diagram of an example of the positional relationship between the incident position of the transmitted light of Figure 15 and the color wheel is shown.

[0033] Figure 17 (a), (b) of are diagrams showing the relationship between the effective period and the central angle in a conventional color wheel.

[0034] Figure 18 A diagram of a comparative example in which the configuration shown in Figure 17 is shown.

[0035] Figure 19 A diagram of an example of the arrangement of segments in the color wheel of the present application is shown.

[0036] Figure 20 (a) - (c) of are diagrams showing an example of the rotation and effective period of the configuration shown in Figure 19 is shown.

[0037] Figure 21 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method of calculating a spot diameter according to the present application.

[0038] Figure 22 Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for amplifying a spot diameter.

[0039] Figure 23 Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing an example of a method of calculating a shape of a spot diameter based on light intensity according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figure 1 Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image projection apparatus 100 provided with a light source apparatus 10 as a first embodiment of the present application.

[0041] The image projection apparatus 100 has the light source apparatus 10 which becomes an illumination apparatus; a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) 101 which is a spatial light modulator, modulates illumination light generated by the light source apparatus 10; an illumination optical system 102 which substantially uniformly illuminates light output from the light source apparatus 10 and guides it to the DMD 101; and a projection optical system 103 which enlarges and projects light spatially modulated by the DMD 101 to a projection surface 104.

[0042] The image projection apparatus 100 generates a projection image on the projection surface 104 by this configuration.

[0043] The DMD 101 is a two-dimensional light modulator which reflects an incident light beam by a minute mirror surface arranged on a surface, thereby imparting image information to a light beam emitted from the light source apparatus 10.

[0044] In addition, in the present embodiment, the DMD 101 is used as the two-dimensional light modulator, but other transmissive liquid crystal elements or reflective liquid crystal elements, etc. can be used.

[0045] The projection optical system 103 is an optical system located on a downstream side of the light path from the DMD 101, for projection to the projection surface 104 which is a screen.

[0046] The illumination optical system 102 is an optical system for guiding illumination light from the light source apparatus 10 to the DMD 101. These optical systems are configured by optical elements including lenses and mirrors, and are built in a frame body 105 of the image projection apparatus 100.

[0047] Figure 2A hardware configuration of a control section of the image projection apparatus 100 is shown. The image projection apparatus 100 is provided with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 801, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 802, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 803, a medium I / F (Interface) 807, an operation section 808, a power switch 809, a bus 810, a network I / F 811, an LD (Laser Diode) drive circuit 814, a light source 11, a projection device 816, a projection lens 817, an external device connection I / F 818, a fan drive circuit 819, and a cooling fan 820.

[0048] The CPU 801 controls the overall operation of the image projection apparatus 100. The ROM 802 stores a program for driving the CPU 801. The RAM 803 is used as a work area of the CPU 801.

[0049] The medium I / F 807 controls reading or writing (storing) of data to / from a storage medium 806 such as a flash memory.

[0050] The operation section 808 is provided with various keys, buttons, LEDs, and the like, and is used for various operations other than turning on / off of the power of the image projection apparatus 100 by a user. For example, the operation section 808 receives an instruction operation of an adjustment operation of the size of a projection image, an adjustment operation of a color tone, a focus adjustment operation, a keystone correction adjustment operation, and the like, and outputs the received operation content to the CPU 801.

[0051] The power switch 809 is a switch for switching on / off of the power of the image projection apparatus 100.

[0052] The bus 810 is an address bus or a data bus or the like for electrically connecting each constituent element such as the CPU 801.

[0053] The network I / F 811 is an interface for data communication using a communication network such as the Internet.

[0054] The LD drive circuit 814 controls lighting and extinguishing of the light source 11 under the control of the CPU 801.

[0055] The light source 11 is lit by the control of the LD drive circuit 814, and projects light onto the projection device 816. The light source 11 includes a light emitting element such as a laser diode (LD) module or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) module, a solid-state light source assembly, and constitutes a light source assembly.

[0056] The projection device 816 is a control driver that operates the DMD 101 by spatial light modulation based on image data provided by the I / F 818 and other external devices. The LD drive circuit 814, the light source 11, the projection device 816 and the projection lens 817 together function as a projection unit (projection means) that projects a projected image onto a projection surface based on image data.

[0057] External device connection: The I / F818 connects directly to a personal computer (PC) and obtains control signals and image data from the PC.

[0058] The fan drive circuit 819 is connected to the CPU 801 and the cooling fan 820, and drives / stops the cooling fan 820 according to the control signal from the CPU 801.

[0059] The cooling fan 820, by rotating, exhausts the air inside the image projection device 100, thereby cooling the interior of the image projection device 100.

[0060] Furthermore, when power is supplied, the CPU 801 starts according to the control program pre-stored in the ROM 802 and provides a control signal to the LD drive circuit 814 to illuminate the light source 11. Simultaneously, it provides a control signal to the fan drive circuit 819 to cause the cooling fan 820 to rotate at a specified rated speed. Additionally, when the image projection device 100 begins to receive power from the power circuit, the projection device 816 becomes capable of displaying images, and further, power is supplied from the power circuit to various other components.

[0061] Additionally, when the power switch 809 is turned off, the image projection device 100 sends a power-off signal from the power switch 809 to the CPU 801. Upon detecting the power-off signal, the CPU 801 provides a control signal to the LD drive circuit 814 to turn off the LED light source 11. Then, after a preset time has elapsed, the CPU 801 provides a control signal to the fan drive circuit 819 to stop the cooling fan 820, and the CPU 101 itself terminates its control processing. Finally, it provides an instruction to the power supply circuit to stop the supply of power.

[0062] like Figure 3 As shown, the light source device 10 serves as a light source module, and its function is to provide a uniform illumination light by allowing light to enter the light tunnel 3, which is a light homogenization element.

[0063] The light source device 10 has a light source 11 which is a laser light source as an excitation light source, a collimator lens array 12 which is arranged opposite to the light source 11, a light source optical system 13, a light collecting element 14, a dichroic mirror 15, a wavelength conversion element 17, a first light collecting optical system 16, and a second light collecting optical system 18.

[0064] The light tunnel 3 is provided at the terminal of the light source device 10, and functions as a light mixing element for making the light emitted from the light source 11 uniform and outputting illumination light having uniform illuminance and light intensity distribution.

[0065] The light source 11 is a multi-chip laser diode assembly in which a plurality of light emitting portions 11A are arranged on a two-dimensional plane, and is a laser light source in the present embodiment.

[0066] The collimator lens array 12 is arranged opposite to the light emitting portions 11A, and converts the excitation light emitted from the light emitting portions 11A into a parallel light beam.

[0067] The light source optical system 13 is a lens which collects the excitation light which has become a parallel light by the collimator lens array 12.

[0068] Here, the center portion of the light source 11 generally coincides with the optical axis of the excitation light emitted from the light source 11. Therefore, the light source optical system 13 is disposed so that the center portion of the light source coincides with the position of the optical axis of the light source optical system 13.

[0069] In addition, in the present embodiment, the excitation light emitted by the light source 11 is preferably a blue laser light source having a light emission oscillation wavelength of 440 nm to 465 nm.

[0070] The light collecting element 14 is a lens which is arranged at the rear stage of the light source optical system 13.

[0071] The light beam which has passed through the light collecting element 14 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 15 only for a specific wavelength, and an irradiation light spot is generated on the wavelength conversion element 17 by the first light collecting optical system 16 at a desired position. In other words, the wavelength conversion element 17 is disposed in the vicinity of the irradiation light spot P1.

[0072] The irradiation light spot P1 is an irradiation region having a certain range, and the position thereof substantially coincides with the focal point position of the first light collecting optical system 16.

[0073] The wavelength conversion element 17 is a disc-shaped phosphor wheel as shown in FIG. 2, and the position of the irradiation light spot P1 on the circumference of the wavelength conversion element 17 is moved with time by mounting the wavelength conversion element 17 on a driving motor and rotating it at high speed. Figure 4

[0074] ​In the present embodiment, the wavelength conversion element 17 has a first phosphor region 32 coated with yellow phosphor, an excitation light reflection region 33 that reflects excitation light, and a second phosphor region 34 coated with green phosphor, and the position of the irradiation light spot Pl is configured to be located in any one of the first phosphor region 32, the second phosphor region 34, and the excitation light reflection region 33 by rotation of the wavelength conversion element 17.

[0075] In addition, although an example in which the wavelength conversion element 17 is divided into three regions is shown here, the first phosphor region 32 and the second phosphor region 34 can be handled as one phosphor region, and can be divided into two or more regions as in the present embodiment. In addition, the excitation light reflection region 33 can also be multiple on the wavelength conversion element 17.

[0076] According to this configuration, the wavelength conversion element 17 outputs blue light when the irradiation light spot Pl is located in the excitation light reflection region 33, yellow fluorescent light when the irradiation light spot Pl is located in the first phosphor region 32, and green fluorescent light when the irradiation light spot Pl is located in the second phosphor region 34, for example, when blue light having a center wavelength of 455 nm of the emission intensity is used as excitation light emitted from the light source 11.

[0077] In this way, the wavelength conversion element 17 is able to time-division and irradiate light of a plurality of wavelengths by rotation.

[0078] The light beam reflected by the wavelength conversion element 17 passes through the first condensing optical system 16 again, is condensed by the second condensing optical system 18, then passes through the color wheel 20, and is incident into the light tunnel 3. In addition, since the dichroic mirror 15 transmits fluorescent light, the fluorescent light that is irradiated to the first phosphor region 32 and the second phosphor region 34 of the wavelength conversion element 17 also transmits the first condensing optical system 16 and the second condensing optical system 18, and passes through the color wheel 20 to be incident into the light tunnel 3.

[0079] The color wheel 20, as shown in Figure 5 , is a disc that integrates the filter of each segment divided into a red region R, a blue region B, a green region G, and a yellow region Y, and is an optical member that changes the transmitted light into light that is time-divisioned into red, blue, green, and yellow by passing the incident light Fl from the light source device 10 while rotating.

[0080] The blue region B corresponds to the excitation light reflection region 33 of the wavelength conversion element 17, i.e., the phosphor wheel, as shown in Figure 4 , and the yellow region Y, the red region R, and the green region G are synchronized in a manner corresponding to the phosphor regions 32 of the wavelength conversion element 17, as shown in Figure 4 .

[0081] By disposing the transmissive diffusion plate in the blue region 53D, it is possible to reduce the coherence of the LED light source 11 and reduce speckle on the projection surface 104. The yellow region Y and the green region G allow the wavelength regions of the yellow and green fluorescent light emitted from the 1st phosphor region 32 and the 2nd phosphor region 34, respectively, to be transmitted as they are. In addition, the red region R reflects unnecessary wavelength regions of light from the wavelength of the yellow fluorescent light L2 using a dichroic mirror, and obtains light of a color with high purity.

[0082] The light tunnel 3 homogenizes the color light by reflecting and superimposing the color light of which the purity is improved a plurality of times at the interface inside. In addition, the opening portion of the light tunnel 3 has substantially the same aspect ratio as the aspect ratio of the DMD 101 which is an image forming element, and the light emitted from the exit of the light tunnel 3 is emitted as a form in which the illumination light is projected onto the DMD 101 as shown in FIG. 6. Figure 1

[0083] Thus, the light of each color generated by the wavelength conversion assembly 17 and the color wheel 20 is guided to the DMD 101 by the illumination optical system 102, an image corresponding to each color is formed, and the image is enlarged and projected onto the projection surface 104 by the projection optical system 103.

[0084] The color wheel 20 in the present embodiment has a 1st filter group 21 which arranges each segment of the red region R, the yellow region Y, the green region G, and the blue region B in a fan shape within a semicircle, and a 2nd filter group 22 which similarly arranges each segment of the red region R, the yellow region Y, the green region G, and the blue region B in a fan shape within a semicircle.

[0085] The 1st filter group 21 is disposed in the order of R, Y, G, and B along the rotation direction 20r, that is, the right-handed direction, when viewed from the incident side of the transmitted light. On the other hand, the 2nd filter group 22 is disposed in the order of B, G, Y, and R along the rotation direction, which is the reverse of the order of the 1st filter group 21.

[0086] Thus, in the present embodiment, the color wheel 20 includes "a 1st filter group in which a plurality of color filters having different light transmission characteristics are arranged, and a 2nd filter group in which a plurality of color filters having different light transmission characteristics are arranged".

[0087] In addition, the plurality of color filters of the 1st filter group 21 and the plurality of color filters of the 2nd filter group 22 are disposed in a manner of being arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0088] The reason for thus using two 1st filter groups 21 and 2nd filter groups 22 will be described.

[0089] In the present embodiment, the color wheel 20 is configured to include the 1st filter group 21 and the 2nd filter group 22. Figure 6 ​In the existing color wheel 300 shown, there is a method of using four colors obtained by rotating in the order of B, Y, R, G for one revolution in the rotation direction as primary colors for color tone reproduction.

[0090] In the case of using Figure 6 In the case of the color wheel 300, in order to generate one frame in one revolution, in the case of increasing the frame rate by speeding up one frame, or in the case of multiplying the number of frames for the purpose of emulating an increase in resolution, the rotation speed needs to be increased.

[0091] However, considering the response speed of the DMD 101 or the wavelength conversion element 17, the durability and precision of the rotation drive section, and the like, such simple increase in rotation speed is limited.

[0092] On the other hand, if the configuration of two filter groups corresponding to each color is prepared as in the present embodiment, two frames of images can be generated by one revolution of the color wheel 20.

[0093] Thus, since the color wheel 20 has a plurality of filter groups, the same number of frames as the filter groups can be generated per one revolution, so the number of frames can be multiplied without increasing the rotation speed.

[0094] In addition, the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 each generate one frame by half a revolution.

[0095] That is, in the present embodiment, the area of the yellow region Y of the first filter group 21 is equal to the area of the yellow region Y of the second filter group 22, and the angle θY of the central angle is also equal. The same relationship holds for each of the green region G, the blue region B, and the red region R. In other words, in the present embodiment, the color wheel 20 has each color filter arranged linearly symmetrically with respect to a line segment that separates the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22.

[0096] Thus, the area ratio or the angle ratio of the central angle of each color of the plurality of color filters that make up the first filter group 21 and the area ratio or the angle ratio of the central angle of each color of the plurality of color filters that make up the second filter group 22 are set to be equal.

[0097] Here, by the angle ratio being substantially equal, specifically, as long as the difference between the central angle of a certain color filter of the first filter group 21 and the central angle of a color filter of the second filter group 22 is within ±5 deg, it can be said that the angle ratio of the central angles is also substantially equal.

[0098] However, the irradiation light spot P2 on the color wheel is irradiated in a limited size, further, in a limited size to the extent of being accommodated in the size of the entrance of the light tunnel 3.

[0099] In such an irradiation spot P2, the irradiation spot P2 sometimes straddles a plurality of regions adjacent to each other, for example Figure 7 depending on the yellow region Y and the green region G shown. This state is called a spoke time.

[0100] In the spoke time, light transmitted through the color wheel enters the light tunnel 3 in a state having both the yellow region Y and the green region G as color components, and thus, if left as it is, becomes light using which the color purity is low.

[0101] Although a solution not using such light with low color purity is also considered, in this case, the utilization efficiency of light in the amount of time of the spoke time decreases. In addition, in order to secure the illuminance of each color light, it is also possible to increase the output of the light source 11, but the peak values of the conversion efficiency of the first phosphor region 32 and the second phosphor region 34 caused by laser light are determined, and there is a problem that light cannot be increased unconditionally.

[0102] Thus, the spoke time occurs at a place where filters of different colors are adjacent to each other, and it is preferable to be suppressed as small as possible. Of course, in the case of using a plurality of filter groups as in the present embodiment, if only a plurality of filter groups are arranged, there is a concern that the spoke time is also multiplied.

[0103] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to reduce the spoke time, in the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22, the plurality of color filters R, G, B, Y arranged in each group are arranged in the order of R, Y, G, B along the right-handed direction as the rotation direction. On the other hand, the second filter group 22 is arranged in the order of B, G, Y, R along the rotation direction, which is opposite to the order of the first filter group 21.

[0104] According to this configuration, at both ends of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 from each other, color filters having the same or similar light transmission characteristics, that is, the red region R of the first filter group 21 and the red region R of the second filter group 22 are adjacent to each other, and the blue region B of the first filter group 21 and the blue region B of the second filter group 22 are adjacent to each other, so the increase in the spoke time is suppressed.

[0105] In addition, if such a configuration is adopted, there are colors that can suppress the spoke time and colors that cannot suppress the spoke time. For example, in the present embodiment, since both the red region R and the blue region B have an effect of reducing the spoke time, there is a case where the color purity rises and the color intensity becomes uneven. Alternatively, the unevenness of the color intensity also occurs due to a difference in the light emission characteristics or a difference in the light amount of the wavelength conversion assembly 17.

[0106] Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 5As shown, the area or central angle of each different color of the plurality of color filters arranged in the first filter group and the second filter group, respectively, is set to be different.

[0107] For example, in Figure 5 In the illustrated diagram, the area of the yellow region Y of the first filter group 21 is different from the area of the green region G of the first filter group 21, and similarly, the central angle Θγ is different from the central angle Θg.

[0108] According to this configuration, it is possible to make the unevenness of color intensity due to the arrangement of the filters of the color wheel 20 uniform, and thus, it is easier to ensure the illuminance of the illumination light emitted from the light source device 10, and it is also helpful for the equalization of the illuminance.

[0109] As the first embodiment, the color wheel 20 of the configuration shown in Figure 5 is described, but the arrangement of the red region R, the yellow region Y, the green region G, and the blue region B as the filters in the color wheel 20 is not limited to this configuration, and various modified examples are shown below.

[0110] Figure 8 As a modified example of the first embodiment, an example in which the wavelength characteristics between the red region R of the first filter group 21 and the red region R' of the second filter group 22 are different is shown.

[0111] In addition, the difference in the wavelength characteristics that is allowed is preferably within a range that does not affect the color tone or the gradation of the projected image. Specifically, when the cutoff wavelength of the red region R of the first filter group 21 is 600 nm, if the cutoff wavelength of the red region R' of the second filter group 22 is within a range of 600 nm ± 20 nm, it is possible to make the wavelength characteristics between the red regions of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 different while obtaining the effect of reducing the spoke time.

[0112] Figure 9 The color wheel 20 in the modified example of the first embodiment is an example in which only three colors of the red region R, the green region G, and the blue region B are used to increase the color tone of the primary colors to a vivid image.

[0113] Therefore, even when there are three or more segmented regions according to the wavelength characteristics of the color wheel 20, it is possible to improve the color purity by increasing the number of segments of the color filters and reducing the spoke time.

[0114] Alternatively, as shown in the modified example of the first embodiment, it is also possible to add more segmented regions to the color wheel 20, for example, to add a cyan region C and a magenta region M. Figure 10

[0115] ​In this case, the first filter group 21 forms the segmented regions of each filter along the rotation direction in the order of red region R, magenta region M, yellow region Y, green region G, cyan region C, and blue region B. Similarly, in the second filter group 22, the segmented regions of each filter are formed in the order of blue region B, cyan region C, green region G, yellow region Y, magenta region M, and red region R.

[0116] In addition, such as Figure 11 As shown in the variation, the blue area B and the green area G can also be arranged in an adjacent order.

[0117] Furthermore, as a second embodiment of this embodiment, an example in which light source devices 10 include light source components Md1 and Md2 as two light source modules will be described. Also, in the second embodiment, configurations common to the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are appropriately omitted. Additionally, in this embodiment, where a specific direction needs to be indicated, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is used as the Z-direction, such as... Figure 12 That's how you determine the X and Y directions, which are perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0118] like Figure 12 As shown, the light source device 10 is a device that generally has two light source components, namely a first light source component Md1 and a second light source component Md2. By combining the light emitted from different light sources, namely the first light source component Md1 and the second light source component Md2, with a prism 2 and injecting it into the light homogenization unit, namely the light tunnel 3, uniform illumination light is obtained.

[0119] Prism 2 is an optical element designed to guide the light F1 from the first light source component Md1 in the same direction as the light F2 from the second light source component Md2.

[0120] In this embodiment, the prism 2 is a polyhedron with four or more faces, and the face of the prism 2 into which the light F1 from the first light source component Md1 enters constitutes the reflecting surface 2A.

[0121] In addition, the prism 2 is a means of combining and guiding light from two or more light source components in approximately the same direction, and is not limited to this configuration. Furthermore, in order to combine light from three or more light source components, it can also be a multi-faceted configuration.

[0122] The reflecting surface 2A can be formed, for example, by a triangular prism with the reflecting surface 2A formed as an inclined surface, or it can be formed by a plane mirror formed on one side.

[0123] This embodiment uses at least two light source components. In the case of a lighting device having two light source components, for example, as... Figure 12The present application is used for any two of the at least two light source assemblies, and in the following embodiments, the case where the first light source assembly Md 1 and the second light source assembly Md 2 are particularly described.

[0124] Thus, the present application is used for any two of the at least two light source assemblies, and in the following embodiments, the case where the first light source assembly Md 1 and the second light source assembly Md 2 are particularly described.

[0125] Further, in addition to any two light source assemblies to which the present application is applied, the third, fourth, and the like additional light source assemblies can not necessarily be light sources using a phosphor wheel, and can be light source assemblies that emit monochromatic or multiple wavelengths of light. In addition, the third, fourth, and the like additional light source assemblies other than any two light source assemblies can be provided in a manner installed outside the frame of the light source device 10.

[0126] In addition, the prism 2 can also be provided with a diffusion surface, for example. By thus providing a diffusion surface, color and brightness unevenness of light passing through the diffusion surface can be eliminated. In addition, as a method of eliminating such color or brightness unevenness, a method of additionally providing a diffusion plate can also be cited, and is not particularly limited to the configuration of providing a diffusion surface.

[0127] The prism 2 reflects the light F2 from the first light source assembly Md 1 by this configuration, thereby guiding it toward the light tunnel 3 as a light beam toward substantially the same direction as the light Fl from the second light source assembly Md 2 passing through the prism 2, as a light uniformization unit.

[0128] The function of the light tunnel 3 is as a light mixing element for making incident light uniform and outputting illumination light that makes the illuminance and light intensity distribution of the light Fl, F2 of the two light source assemblies Md 1, Md 2 uniform.

[0129] The light Fl from the first light source assembly Md 1 and the light F2 from the second light source assembly Md 2 are both adjusted at the incident position of the light tunnel 3 to be within the limit of the incident angle of the light tunnel 3 from the exit position of the prism 2 so as to be accommodated therein.

[0130] The first light source assembly Md 1 and the second light source assembly Md 2 both have the same configuration. In addition, the first light source assembly Md 1 and the second light source assembly Md 2 are the same configuration as each element described in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are attached thereto and the description is appropriately omitted.

[0131] As described in the first embodiment, the light beam reflected by the wavelength conversion element 17 passes through the first condensing optical system 16 again, is condensed by the second condensing optical system 18, and if it is the light F2 from the first light source assembly Md 1, is turned back by the reflection surface 2A and enters the light tunnel 3 through the color wheel 20.

[0132] Alternatively, the light F1 from the second light source assembly Md2 is not passed through the prism 2 via the prism 2, but directly passed through the color wheel 20 to the light tunnel 3. Of course, the light F2 from the second light source assembly Md2 is not limited to not passing through the prism 2, but can be partially or entirely transmitted through the prism.

[0133] The color wheel 20, like the first embodiment, is a disc in which filters of red, blue, green, and yellow regions R, B, G, Y are integrated, and by rotating the color wheel 20 while passing the incident light F1, F2 from the light source assemblies Md1, Md2 therethrough, the incident light is converted into light that is time-divisional into red, blue, green, and yellow.

[0134] Thus, by the wavelength conversion assembly 17 and the color wheel 20, the light of each color generated in time is guided to the DMD 101 by the illumination optical system 102, forms an image corresponding to each color, and is enlarged and projected to the projection surface 104 by the projection optical system 103.

[0135] In the present embodiment, the third irradiation light points P3 of the light F1 from the first light source assembly Md1 and the light F2 from the second light source assembly Md2 when the light F1, F2 is irradiated to the color wheel 20 are formed as shown in FIG. 10. Figure 13 In FIG. 10, the third irradiation light point P3 of the light F1 is indicated by a broken line P31, and the third irradiation light point P3 of the light F2 is indicated by a solid line P32. Figure 13

[0136] In addition, the irradiation range that is hypothetically determined in a manner that includes the two third irradiation light points is the third irradiation light point P3, which is roughly a rectangle that includes the broken line P31 and the solid line P32 or an elliptical shape that has the center positions of the irradiation light points P31 of the respective first light source assemblies Md1 and the irradiation light points P32 of the second light source assembly Md2 as focal points. In addition, Figure 13 The third irradiation light point P3 shown in FIG. 10 is an "imaginary ellipse formed in a manner that includes two incident lights".

[0137] However, the light tunnel 3 is an optical member for homogenizing the illuminance of the light that is incident to the entrance and emitting the light to the exit side. Therefore, in order to homogenize the illuminance at the entrance of the light tunnel 3 in as large a range as possible, it is preferable that the fourth irradiation light points P4 of the lights F1, F2 are arranged in a manner that does not overlap each other at the entrance of the light tunnel 3.

[0138] That is, it is preferable that the third irradiation light points P3 in the color wheel 20 of the preceding stage also do not overlap each other.

[0139] ​Further, in the related art, in the case where light F1, F2 from two light source assemblies Md1, Md2 is synthesized, the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 are generally arranged horizontally with respect to the length direction of the light tunnel 3, i.e., the X direction.

[0140] Therefore, in order to form the fourth irradiation light spot P4 in a manner not overlapping each other, it is generally known that the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 are arranged in a manner different in height in the Z direction as the height direction.

[0141] At this time, if the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 are staggered in the Z direction, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the third irradiation light spots P3 on the color wheel 20 is also staggered in the Z direction from each other, and thus the third irradiation light spots P3 of the two lights mostly become a shape in which the long axis is arranged in the radial direction of the color wheel 20. Figure 14

[0142] If this is the case, since the third irradiation light spots P31, P32 of the two lights are arranged in the radial direction of the color wheel 20, it is possible to prevent unnecessary increase in the spoke time. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the long axis direction of the ellipse including the two incident lights is substantially parallel to the radial direction of the color wheel 20, it is possible to prevent unnecessary increase in the spoke time. Further, in the embodiment, in the case where the difference between the angle of the long axis direction of the ellipse of the third irradiation light spot P3 and the radial direction of the color wheel 20 is within ±10 deg, it is considered that they are substantially parallel to each other. Figure 14 Figure 14

[0143] At this time, of course, the fourth irradiation light spot P4 also has the same shape, and thus the opening portion as the entrance of the light tunnel 3 also becomes a rectangular shape surrounding the elliptical third irradiation light spot P3. In other words, as shown in FIG. 8, in the case where it is possible to arrange the opening portion of the light tunnel 3 in a manner that the short side is parallel to the circumferential direction of the color wheel 20, it is also possible to prevent unnecessary increase in the spoke time in the case where a plurality of light source assemblies Md1, Md2 are used. Here, the range of "parallel" can also be as described above, and it is considered that the short side of the opening portion of the light tunnel 3 is "parallel to the circumferential direction" as long as the angle between the short side and the circumferential direction of the color wheel 20 is within ±10 deg. Figure 14

[0144] However, in general, the size and inclination of the opening of the light tunnel 3 are determined by the size of the illumination optical system 102 and the DMD 101 of the rear stage of the light source device 10, and thus it is mostly difficult to arrange only aiming at reduction in the spoke time.

[0145] ​​​​Further, in a case where such light source device 10 is to be made small in its entirety, since the wavelength conversion element 17, which is the color wheel 20, the phosphor wheel, is circular in shape, the closer the optical axis centers of the optical systems of the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 are to the rotation axis center of the color wheel 20, the wavelength conversion element 17, the more the thickness of the device as a whole tends to be suppressed and Z-directional miniaturization tends to be easily performed.

[0146] Figure 15 is a diagram that focuses on the optical axes of the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2, and that schematically represents an attempt at such miniaturization. In addition, Figure 15 The optical axes are schematically represented, and the positional relationship with each optical element and the like is not taken into account.

[0147] The color wheel 20 is also a component that is circular in shape and has a considerable area, and thus, from Figure 15 it is known that, if the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 are configured in such a way that the difference in height in the Z-direction between the respective optical axes of the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 and the rotation axis of the color wheel 20 is small, Z-directional miniaturization of the light source device 10 can be further achieved.

[0148] In a case where such a configuration is targeted, and as described above, in a case where the purpose is to make the illuminance of the opening portion of the light tunnel 3 uniform over a wide range, the third irradiation light points P31, P32 of the light of the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2, as Figure 16 indicated in the diagram, are preferably configured to be substantially parallel to the circumferential direction of the color wheel 20.

[0149] In other words, the opening portion of the light tunnel 3 that has a rectangular shape with a long side and a short side is configured such that the long side of the light tunnel 3 is along the arrangement direction of the third irradiation light points P31, P32 of the light source light points, and the direction of the long side is orthogonal to the radial direction of the color wheel 20. In Figure 16 addition, in the diagram, the imaginary ellipse is not described in consideration of the visual recognition of the diagram, but an imaginary ellipse that includes both of the incident lights can also be considered in the same way as in Figure 13 , Figure 14

[0150] In this way, in a case where the third irradiation light points P31, P32 of the light of the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the color wheel 20, as has been described, the problem of an increase in spoke time tends to easily occur.

[0151] Thus, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 of the color wheel 20 are configured such that, among the plurality of color filters that are arranged respectively, at least a portion where color filters having the same or similar light transmission characteristics are adjacent to each other is formed.​

[0152] According to this configuration, even if the first light source component Md1 and the second light source component Md2 are configured in a way that easily increases the spoke time of the color wheel 20 due to various constraints, the increase in spoke time can be suppressed by the configuration of each color filter of the color wheel 20.

[0153] Thus, the present invention is particularly effective when the major axis of the imaginary ellipse formed in a manner that includes two incident lights is approximately parallel to the circumferential direction of the color wheel 20, thereby suppressing the increase in the spoke time of the color wheel 20.

[0154] In addition, in this embodiment, the area or center angle of each color of the multiple color filters arranged in the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 is set to be non-uniform, and is set to make the area ratio or center angle ratio of the various colors of the multiple color filters constituting the first filter group 21 approximately equal to the area ratio or center angle ratio of the various colors of the multiple color filters constituting the second filter group 22.

[0155] Based on this configuration, it is possible to increase the number of segments in the color filter while reducing the spoke time and improving color purity.

[0156] The relationship between the color wheel, incident light, and spoke time will now be explained in detail.

[0157] Figure 17 It means that it is in Figure 6 In the color wheel 300 of the existing example shown, the time variation of the projection of the incident light, which is a light source point, onto the color wheel 300 is represented by the projection of the light onto the color wheel 300 as the 5th illumination point P5. Figure 17 (a) and Figure 17 (b) is a diagram showing the positional relationship of incident light from the start to the end of color processing in each color filter. In color wheel 300, the available time of incident light refers to the time from when the 5th irradiation point P5, represented by an ellipse, is completely contained on a specific color filter of color wheel 300. Figure 17 Starting from state (a), such as Figure 17 As shown in (b), the blue region B, which is one color interval, ends at the moment when part of the fifth illumination point P5 crosses the boundary line with other colors. This period is set as the valid period.

[0158] As described above, the light source device 10 performs color processing on each color filter during the effective period. However, since there is no mixing of other colors during the effective period, it can perform pure color processing on the color filters. Therefore, it can express colors that are brighter and have better grayscale as the effective period is longer.

[0159] The effective period is the time obtained by subtracting the time required for the incident light to travel in the circumferential direction (spoke time) from the angle of the filter. Figure 17 In the equation, the angular velocity ω of the color wheel 300 is constant. Then the spoke time is the time taken for the spoke to scan the fifth irradiated light point P5, represented by θα, so it is θα / ω.

[0160] That is, the effective period T of the color processing time in the color wheel 300 can be represented by the angle θX of any color filter of the color wheel 300 and the spoke time Ts, as follows.

[0161] Equation 1

[0162] That is, the effective period (color processing time) = filter angle (time) - spoke time (time).

[0163] It can be clearly seen from Equation 1 that the effective period is uniquely determined by each filter angle.

[0164] like Figure 2 As shown, the effective period is executed in the projection device 816 such that it is long enough to perform sufficient color processing on the spatial light modulator. The effective period required for processing is determined by the angles of the filters in the color wheel 300 of the projection device 816. Therefore, when designing the color wheel, the spoke time and filter angles need to be considered in order to calculate the required effective period.

[0165] In most cases, the angles of the color filters are not equally spaced; the filter for the blue region B, which has the least impact on brightness among the three primary colors of light, is set to the narrowest angle.

[0166] In this way, by narrowing the filter of the blue region B, which has the least impact on brightness, the angle that Y, G, and R can be allocated is expanded, thus increasing the degree of freedom in setting the brightness and color temperature of each color.

[0167] As an example of an embodiment of the present invention Figure 18 This shows setting the number of filters to twice the normal value, so that while maintaining the same level of performance as before... Figure 17 When the total angles of all colors on the color wheel 300 shown are equal, it achieves a speed-doubled drive.

[0168] That is, relative to Figure 17 The four-color filter shown, with red region R, blue region B, green region G, and yellow region Y, in Figure 18The filter consists of eight color filters, including a first filter group 21 and a second filter group 22. The first filter group 21 has a red region R, a blue region B, a green region G, and a yellow region Y. The second filter group 22 also has a red region R, a blue region B, a green region G, and a yellow region Y.

[0169] In this way, by making the total angle of each color on the color wheel consistent and thus doubling the number of blocks, the color changes twice per cycle, so speed can be easily achieved without increasing the rotation speed.

[0170] In this color wheel 20, the sum of the angles of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 is set to be consistent with the color wheel 300. That is, the total angle of each color filter in each revolution of the color wheel is consistent. However, in only... Figure 18 With eight color filters as shown, the spoke time doubles as the number of filter blocks increases to eight. Furthermore, since the effective period described above is calculated per color filter, there is an inherent problem that the effective period for each color processing will decrease.

[0171] In this way, speed-up can be easily achieved simply by using a filter with only eight colors. On the other hand, due to the increase in spoke time, which is detrimental to color processing, and the accompanying reduction in effective period, a color wheel with poor color reproducibility will be produced.

[0172] Therefore, in Figure 19 In order to solve this problem, the color wheel 20 is shown to have a configuration with a first filter group 21 and a second filter group 22. The first filter group 21 is arranged in a manner that switches along the rotation direction 20r in the order of blue region B, green region G, yellow region Y, and red region R. The second filter group 22 is arranged along the rotation direction 20r in the reverse order of the first filter group 21, that is, in the order of red region R, yellow region Y, green region G, and blue region B.

[0173] If such a configuration is adopted, then at the respective positions of the red region R and the blue region B adjacent to the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22, since there is no boundary line between R / R, they can be treated as one color, and therefore there is no spoke time.

[0174] Therefore, the effective period required for color processing can be fully ensured, thus enabling the achievement of a bright color wheel with excellent grayscale.

[0175] Figure 20 The specific actions of this configuration are shown.

[0176] Figure 20The dotted line a shown is a dotted line that hypothetically indicates the boundary of the filters of the adjoining first filter group 21 and second filter group 22.

[0177] The color wheel 20 is rotated to the right as indicated by the arrow of the rotational direction 20r, and color processing by the filter shown as the blue region B is performed during a period from the time indicated by (a) to the time indicated by (c) in FIG. 6. Figure 20 Figure 20 The color wheel 20 is rotated to the right as indicated by the arrow of the rotational direction 20r, and color processing by the filter shown as the blue region B is performed during a period from the time indicated by (a) to the time indicated by (c) in FIG. 6. Figure 20

[0178] Further, at any timing between (a) to (c) in FIG. 6, the timing at which the filter passes through the dotted line a that is the boundary line of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 is indicated as (b) in FIG. 6. Figure 20 Figure 20

[0179] The processing of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 is different from each other, but in the timing of (b) in FIG. 6, the blue region B and the red region R are adjacent to each other in the same color, or in similar colors, between the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22. Therefore, the filters adjacent to each other can be color-processed as one filter. Figure 20

[0180] According to this configuration, the spoke time does not occur in the timing indicated by (b) in FIG. 6, the effective period required for color processing can be sufficiently ensured, and thus a color wheel that is bright and excellent in color gradation can be realized. Figure 20

[0181] Further, the size of the light spot that is incident to the color filter and the central angle of the filter are further described.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, a case in which the projection of the incident light that is incident to the color filter is schematically indicated by a sixth irradiation light spot P6 is considered. Figure 21 In the sixth irradiation light spot P6, the length of the light spot in the direction in which the length along the circumferential direction of the color wheel 20, or the boundary line of the color filter is scanned is assumed to be a. The central angle a corresponding to the circumferential direction length a of the sixth irradiation light spot P6 is assumed to be a. The central angle a is, in other words, the largest angle formed by the lines passing through the sixth irradiation light spot P6 when the lines are drawn radially from the center of rotation O of the color wheel 20 to the sixth irradiation light spot P6.

[0183]

[0184] ​​​​​​​When comparing the central angle θα with the central angles θR, θB, θG, and θY of each color filter, the smaller one is advantageous because it provides a longer effective period. Conversely, when the central angle θX of any color filter is less than θα, it is unsuitable, as can be seen from Equation 1, because an effective period cannot be obtained.

[0185] Here, in the adjacent red region R of filter banks 21 and 22, the center angle θR of the red filters is essentially the sum of the red filters of filter banks 21 and 22. Therefore, it is insufficient to only consider the condition θα < θR, for example, including the formation of encountering the dashed line a while leaving the color filter boundary. Figure 21 , Figure 22 As shown, in adjacent color filters, 2θα<θR and 2θα<θB do not hold true, so a valid period cannot be obtained.

[0186] Thus, in the adjacent red region R and blue region B of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22, the center angle θX of the color filter is set to θα < 2θX.

[0187] That is, in this embodiment, the combined center angles θR and θB of two adjacent color filters are characterized by being more than twice the center angle θα corresponding to the diameter of the light spot incident on the plurality of color filters. With this configuration, a color wheel that can further extend the effective period and perform bright color processing with rich color grayscale can be provided.

[0188] In addition, Figure 22 In this context, the size (spot diameter) of the sixth illumination spot P6 in the direction orthogonal to the boundary scan direction is denoted as β. This β is the spot diameter in the direction perpendicular to the scan direction, and is the radial length of the sixth illumination spot P6 along the color wheel 20.

[0189] In this embodiment, when the circumferential length of the sixth irradiation point P6 is α and the radial length is β, it is set to β>α.

[0190] Thus, when the lengths of α and β are different, i.e. anisotropic, it is preferable to adjust the irradiation direction of the sixth irradiation point P6 so that the length β of the direction orthogonal to the direction of the color filter boundary scan is greater than the length α of the direction of the color filter boundary scan.

[0191] according to Figure 22 Such a configuration can shorten the time spent passing through the color filter boundary, thus shortening the spoke time and ensuring a longer effective period compared to a configuration where α>β.

[0192] According to this configuration, the effective period required for color processing can be sufficiently ensured, and thus a color wheel that is bright and has excellent color gradation can be realized.

[0193] As described above, β > α is set in order to shorten the spoke time and make the effective period longer, but since the relationship between α and β is determined depending on the configuration of the light source assembly, depending on the configuration of the light source assembly, the configuration of the color wheel 20 is sometimes restricted in order to satisfy the relationship β > α.

[0194] In the light source device 10, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, in addition to the color wheel 20, there are the light source 11, the wavelength conversion element 17, a circuit for driving them, an electronic substrate, a fan for cooling, and the like, and thus depending on the configuration of the color wheel 20 that satisfies β > α, the color wheel 20 sometimes protrudes from other components and causes the entire device to be large-sized. Figure 12

[0195] Therefore, in order to make the shape of the entire light source device 10 small in relation to other components (the light source 11, the wavelength conversion element 17, and the like) that constitute the light source device 10, α > β can also be set.

[0196] Even in this configuration where α > β, as shown in FIG. 2, the total central angle θX of two color filters that are adjacent to each other is set to be twice or more the central angle θa corresponding to the light spot diameter of light that is incident on the plurality of color filters, and thus shortening of the spoke time can be realized. Figure 22

[0197] The present application is as such, and can shorten the spoke time regardless of the relationship between α and β of the light spot and can expand the effective period.

[0198] In addition, although the embodiment is described with respect to a synthetic light spot formed by two light spots of the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2, the present application is of course applicable to a light spot obtained by a single light source assembly.

[0199] In addition, regardless of whether it is a single light spot or a synthetic light spot formed by two or more light source assemblies, the shape of the light spot can be anything. That is, regardless of whether it is elliptical, circular, or rectangular, by adopting the configuration of the color wheel of the present application, an effect in terms of shortening of the spoke time can be exerted.

[0200] In addition, such α and β, for example, as a general example of a method of measuring the size of a light beam spot, the width of the foot of the hill where the light intensity is 1 / e2 when the place where the light intensity is highest is set to 1 can be used as the light spot diameter.

[0201] In addition, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, in the case where the light spots of the plurality of incident lights are arranged along the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. 4, the spoke time can be shortened. Figure 15 Figure 16 In addition, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, in the case where the light spots of the plurality of incident lights are arranged along the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. 4, the spoke time can be shortened.​​​Figure 23 As shown in (a) of FIG. 7, it is possible to generate valleys of light intensity distribution. In addition, it is also possible that the light intensity temporarily becomes less than 1 / e2 in these valleys.

[0202] Therefore, in the case where there are multiple light points of incident light, even if it is assumed that there is a position where the light intensity is less than 1 / e2 between the multiple incident lights, the distance between the most distant 2 points among the multiple positions where the standardized light intensity is less than 1 / e2 can be determined as the light point diameter as shown in (b) of FIG. 7. Figure 23

[0203] By thus defining the light point diameter, when multiple light points of light from the light source are incident on the color wheel 20, the light point diameter is determined in accordance with the size of the multiple incident lights as a whole, regardless of the positions of the individual incident lights. According to this configuration, even if the positions of the incident lights are slightly apart from each other, it is possible to adjust the appropriate incident positions while maintaining the effect of reducing the spoke time, and thus it is possible to provide a color wheel that can perform color processing that is bright and rich in color gradation.

[0204] The present application is described, for example, as follows. [1]

[0206] The color wheel 20 of the present application includes a first filter group 21 that arranges multiple color filters having different light transmission characteristics, and a second filter group 22 that arranges multiple color filters having different light transmission characteristics, and the first filter group and the second filter group are configured to arrange the multiple color filters of the first filter group and the multiple color filters of the second filter group in a circumferential direction.

[0207] In addition, the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 are configured such that, among the multiple color filters arranged respectively, at least a portion where color filters having the same or similar light transmission characteristics are adjacent to each other is formed.

[0208] In addition, the area or the central angle of each different color of the multiple color filters arranged in the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 respectively is set to be unequal, and the area ratio or the angle ratio of the central angle of each color of the multiple color filters constituting the first filter group 21 and the angle ratio of the central angle of each color of the multiple color filters constituting the second filter group 22 is set to be substantially equal.

[0209] Here, the angle ratio being substantially equal specifically means that the difference between the central angle of a color filter of the first filter group 21 and the central angle of a color filter of the second filter group 22 is within ±5 deg.

[0210] According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the number of segments of the color filters while also reducing the spoke time and improving the color purity. [2]​

[0212] In the color wheel 20 of the present application, the total central angle of two color filters adjacent to each other is twice or more than the diameter of the light spot of the light incident on the color filters, on the basis of the configuration described in [1].

[0213] According to this configuration, a color wheel capable of further expanding the effective period and performing color processing that is bright and rich in color gradation can be provided. [3]

[0215] In the color wheel 20 of the present application, the diameter of the light spot is defined by the length a of the direction in which the boundary of the color filter is scanned in the projection of the incident light, on the basis of the configuration described in [1] and [2].

[0216] According to this configuration, the spoke time of the light incident on the color wheel 20 can be reduced, and a color wheel capable of further expanding the effective period and performing color processing that is bright and rich in color gradation can be provided. [4]

[0218] In the color wheel 20 of the present application, in the projection of the light incident on the color filter, the length of the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the boundary of the color filter is scanned is β, and β > a, on the basis of the configuration described in any one of [1] to [3].

[0219] According to this configuration, the spoke time of the light incident on the color wheel 20 can be further reduced, and a color wheel capable of further expanding the effective period and performing color processing that is bright and rich in color gradation can be provided. [5]

[0221] In the color wheel 20 of the present application, in the projection of the light incident on the color filter, the length of the direction in which the boundary of the color filter is scanned is a, and a > β, on the basis of the configuration described in any one of [1] to [3].

[0222] According to this configuration, in the light source device 10, the light spot shape of the light incident on the color wheel 20 is not changed, which contributes to the miniaturization of the entire light source device 10, and the spoke time can be reduced, and a color wheel capable of further expanding the effective period and performing color processing that is bright and rich in color gradation can be provided. [6]

[0224] In the color wheel 20 of the present application, two or more lights are incident on the color filter, on the basis of the configuration described in any one of [1] to [5].

[0225] According to this configuration, with the plurality of light source assemblies such as the first light source assembly Md1 and the second light source assembly Md2, even in a case where a plurality of incident lights are used, the wheel time can be reduced and the color purity can be improved. [7]

[0227] On the configuration described in any one of [1] to [3] or [5], the color wheel 20 is characterized in that a long axis direction of an imaginary ellipse formed in a manner including two or more incident lights is substantially parallel to a circumferential direction of the color wheel 20.

[0228] According to this configuration, even in a configuration in which the third irradiation light points P31, P32 of the two incident lights are arranged along the circumferential direction, which is a configuration in which the wheel time is likely to increase, the increase in the wheel time can be prevented and the color purity can be improved. [8]

[0230] On the configuration described in any one of [1] to [7], the color wheel 20 is characterized in that the two or more incident lights are respectively generated by different light sources.

[0231] According to this configuration, even in a case where the third irradiation light points P31, P32 of the two incident lights exist, the increase in the wheel time can be prevented and the color purity can be improved. [9]

[0233] On the configuration described in any one of [1] to [8], the color wheel 20 is characterized in that, among the plurality of color filters respectively arranged in the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22, adjacent color filters of the same light transmissivity are configured by one member.

[0234] According to this configuration, for example, a switching portion that is generated between adjacent blue regions B of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 does not exist, so that further reduction in the wheel time can be achieved, and the adjacent blue regions B of the first filter group 21 and the second filter group 22 can be generated as the same member, so that reduction in the man-hours and cost reduction due to the reduction in the number of parts can be achieved.

[10]

[0236] On the configuration described in any one of [1] to [9], the color wheel 20 is characterized in that, after the color wheel 20, a light tunnel 3 having a rectangular shape with a long side and a short side is provided, and the long side of an opening portion of the light tunnel 3 is arranged along the arrangement direction of the irradiation light points P3.

[0237] According to this configuration, even in a case where a plurality of light source assemblies Md1, Md2 are used, unnecessary increase in the wheel time can be prevented.

[11]

[0239] The present application is a light source device 10 having the color wheel 20 described in any one of the configurations of [1] to

[10] .

[0240] According to this configuration, the illuminance of the illumination light emitted from the light source device 10 can be uniformly maintained, and light with a short spoke time and high color purity can be obtained.

[12]

[0242] The present application is an image projection device 100 characterized by having: a light source assembly provided with the color wheel 20 described in any one of the configurations of [1] to

[10] , and a projection optical system 103 that irradiates light source light emitted from the light source assembly toward a DMD 101 and enlarges and projects a modulated image.

[0243] According to this configuration, the illuminance of the illumination light emitted from the light tunnel 3 can be uniformly maintained, and light with a short spoke time and high color purity can be obtained.

[0244] The above, although the best mode for carrying out the present application has been described, the present application is not limited to the above specific embodiments, as long as in the above description is not particularly limited, within the scope of the idea of the present application described in the right range can be variously transformed and changed.

[0245] The effects described in the embodiments of the present application are merely examples of the best effects generated by the present application, and the effects of the present application are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A color wheel, comprising: The first filter bank consists of multiple color filters with different light transmission characteristics. The second filter bank consists of multiple color filters with different light transmission characteristics. The first filter group and the second filter group are configured such that the plurality of color filters in the first filter group and the plurality of color filters in the second filter group are arranged in a circular direction. The color wheel is characterized by: The first filter group and the second filter group are configured such that, among the plurality of color filters arranged respectively, at least one location is formed in which color filters with the same or similar light transmission characteristics are adjacent to each other. The area or center angle of each different color filter in the first filter group and the second filter group is set to be unequal, while... The area ratio or the angle ratio of the center angle of each color in the plurality of color filters constituting the first filter group is equal to the area ratio or the angle ratio of the center angle of each color in the plurality of color filters constituting the second filter group.

2. The color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The combined center angle of two adjacent color filters is more than twice the center angle corresponding to the diameter of the light spot incident on the plurality of color filters.

3. The color wheel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the light spot is defined by the length of the direction of the boundary scan of the color filter in the projection of the light.

4. The color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the projection of light incident on the color filter, when the length of the direction of the boundary scan of the color filter is set as α and the length of the direction perpendicular to the direction of the boundary scan of the color filter is set as β, β > α.

5. The color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the projection of light incident on the color filter, when the length of the direction of the boundary scan of the color filter is set as α and the length of the direction perpendicular to the direction of the boundary scan of the color filter is set as β, α > β.

6. The color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two or more beams of light are directed into the color filter.

7. The color wheel according to claim 5, characterized in that: The major axis of the imaginary ellipse formed by including two or more incident beams is parallel to the circumferential direction of the color wheel.

8. The color wheel according to claim 6, characterized in that: The two or more incident beams are generated by different light sources.

9. The color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: Among the plurality of color filters arranged in the first filter group and the second filter group respectively, adjacent color filters with the same light transmittance are each composed of a single component.

10. The color wheel according to claim 7, characterized in that: After passing through the color wheel, a rectangular light mixing element, i.e., a light tunnel, with a long side and a short side is set up, and the long side of the light mixing element is arranged along the arrangement direction of the light source point light.

11. A light source device, characterized in that: Includes the color wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A projection device, characterized in that, include: The light source module includes a color wheel as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, and The projection optics system illuminates the two-dimensional light modulator with the light emitted from the light source module and magnifies the projected and modulated image.

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