Projector

Abstract

Provided is a projector. The projector includes: a solid-state light-emitting element that emits excitation light; a wavelength conversion wheel which receives the excitation light and converts the excitation light into wavelength conversion light; an illumination optical system that outputs illumination light using light from the solid-state light-emitting element and wavelength-converted light; a reflective light modulation element that modulates light incident from the illumination optical system on the basis of an image signal and emits color image light; a stirring device for stirring the cooling medium; and a housing that houses the solid-state light-emitting element, the wavelength conversion wheel, the illumination optical system, the reflective light modulation element, and the stirring device, the housing having: a sealed housing chamber that houses the stirring device and at least one of the solid-state light-emitting element and the reflective light modulation element; and a heat receiving surface provided inside the housing chamber, the cooling medium being filled in the housing chamber, being stirred by the stirring device, flowing to the at least one element, absorbing heat of the at least one element, and transferring the absorbed heat to the heat receiving surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a projector. Background Art

[0002] In the past, there is a known projector that modulates light emitted from a light source to form image light corresponding to image information and projects the formed image light. As such a projector, a projector having a light source device, a micromirror type light modulation device, a total reflection prism and a projection optical device is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The projector described in Patent Document 1 is a so-called single-board DLP (Digital Lighting Processing) projector, which is equipped with a micro-mirror light modulator. The micro-mirror light modulator is composed of, for example, a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). The DMD arranges a plurality of micro-mirrors in a matrix, and switches the reflection direction of the incident light between the direction of passing through the reflection surface and the direction of being reflected by the reflection surface by switching the tilt directions of the plurality of micro-mirrors.

[0004] Such a micromirror type light modulator modulates the incident red light, green light and blue light in sequence to generate green image light, red image light and blue image light. The projection optical device projects the red image light, green image light and blue image light, so that the observer can see a color image obtained by synthesizing the red image light, green image light and blue image light.

[0005] As another structure of the DLP projector, a three-panel DLP projector having a red DMD for modulating red light, a green DMD for modulating green light, and a blue DMD for modulating blue light is known. In addition, as another structure of the projector, a three-panel LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) projector having a red liquid crystal panel for modulating red light, a green liquid crystal panel for modulating green light, and a blue liquid crystal panel for modulating blue light is known.

[0006] Generally speaking, a single-panel DLP projector can be configured to be smaller than a three-panel DLP projector and a three-panel LCD projector.

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-156998

[0008] The micromirror light modulator and light source used in the above-mentioned DLP projector are heat sources and are devices that are easily degraded by heat. Therefore, in order to stably use the projector, it is necessary to cool the micromirror light modulator and light source.

[0009] However, if a large cooling device is used in a projector in order to improve the cooling efficiency of the heat source, it will hinder the miniaturization of the projector.

[0010] Therefore, a structure is required that improves the cooling efficiency of the heat source while maintaining miniaturization. Utility Model Content

[0011] A projector in one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a solid light emitting element that emits excitation light; a wavelength conversion wheel that receives the excitation light and converts the excitation light into wavelength converted light; an illumination optical system that outputs illumination light using light from the solid light emitting element and the wavelength converted light; a reflective light modulator that modulates light incident from the illumination optical system according to an image signal and emits color image light; a stirring device that stirs a cooling medium; and a housing that accommodates the solid light emitting element, the wavelength conversion wheel, the illumination optical system, the reflective light modulator, and the stirring device, the housing comprising: a storage chamber that accommodates at least one of the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator and the stirring device and is sealed; and a heat receiving surface that is arranged inside the storage chamber, the cooling medium is filled in the storage chamber, stirred by the stirring device, circulated to the at least one element, absorbs heat from the at least one element, and transfers the absorbed heat to the heat receiving surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the projector according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector according to the second embodiment.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector according to a third embodiment.

[0015] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector according to a fourth embodiment.

[0016] Description of symbols

[0017] 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D projectors; 2A, 2C, 2D housings; 2A5, 2C5, 2D5 storage chambers; 2C51, 2D51 first storage chambers; 2C52, 2D52 second storage chambers; 2D53 third storage chambers; 2A6 heating surface; 2A7 heat dissipation surface; 2A8 heat sink; 2A81 fins; 2C9, 2D9 dividing sections; 2D91 first dividing section; 2D92 second dividing section; 3A, 3B, 3C image projection unit; 31 light source; 311 solid light emitting element; 32 wavelength selective reflection element; 33A, 33C wavelength conversion device; 331 drive unit; 33A2, 33C2 wavelength conversion wheel; 333 substrate; 334 wavelength conversion layer; 335, 33C5 reflection layer; 336 fin; 34 illumination optical system; 35 first reflection mirror; 36 second reflection mirror; 37 third Reflector; 38 the 4th reflector; 39 converging lens; 40, 40C color separation device; 401 driving unit; 402, 40C2 color wheel; 403 translucent substrate; 404 color filter; 405B, 405G, 405R color separation area; 405T transmission area; 41 homogenizing element; 42 converging element; 43 parallelizing element; 44 prism; 45, 45B, 45G, 45R reflective light modulation element; 46 color separation prism; 47 light guiding optical system; 48 the 1st converging lens; 49 the 1st reflector; 50 afocal lens; 51 polarization separation element; 52 the 2nd reflector; 53 phase difference element; 54 parallelizing lens; 55 pickup lens; 56 illumination optical system; 57 the 2nd converging lens; 58 parallelizing lens; 59 homogenizing element; 60 the 3rd reflector; 61 overlapping lens; 7 projection lens. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] [First embodiment]

[0019] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0020] [Schematic structure of the projector]

[0021] Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector 1A according to the present embodiment.

[0022] The projector 1A of this embodiment projects image light corresponding to image information. Figure 1 As shown, the projector 1A includes a housing 2A and an image projection unit 3A.

[0023] The housing 2A accommodates the image projection unit 3A. The interior of the housing 2A is filled with a cooling medium. The structure of the housing 2A will be described in detail later.

[0024] [Structure of image projection unit]

[0025] The image projection unit 3A projects image light corresponding to image information and includes a light source 31 , a wavelength selective reflection element 32 , a wavelength conversion device 33A, an illumination optical system 34 , a reflective light modulation element 45 , and a projection lens 7 .

[0026] In the following description, the emission direction of light from the light source 31 is referred to as the +Y direction, and one of the directions orthogonal to the +Y direction is referred to as the +X direction. Figure 1 In the diagram of , the +Y direction is the upward direction, and the +X direction is the right direction. Although the diagram is omitted, the direction opposite to the +X direction is set as the -X direction, and the direction opposite to the +Y direction is set as the -Y direction. In addition, the axis along the +X direction is set as the X axis, and the axis along the +Y direction is set as the Y axis.

[0027] [Structure of light source]

[0028] The light source 31 emits blue light toward the wavelength selective reflection element 32. A portion of the blue light emitted by the light source 31 is used as excitation light for exciting the phosphor included in the wavelength conversion device 33A. The light source 31 has at least one solid light emitting element 311 that emits blue light. That is, the solid light emitting element 311 emits excitation light. The solid light emitting element 311 is arranged along the inner surface of the storage chamber 2A5 described later of the housing 2A.

[0029] [Structure of wavelength selective reflection element]

[0030] The wavelength selective reflection element 32 reflects or transmits incident light according to the wavelength of the light. Specifically, the wavelength selective reflection element 32 reflects blue light and transmits colored light having a longer wavelength than the blue light. For example, the wavelength selective reflection element 32 reflects blue light and transmits green light and red light.

[0031] The wavelength selective reflection element 32 is disposed obliquely with respect to the emission direction of the blue light from the light source 31 , and reflects the blue light emitted from the light source 31 in the +X direction.

[0032] [Structure of wavelength conversion device]

[0033] The wavelength conversion device 33A converts the wavelength of the incident light and emits it. Specifically, the wavelength conversion device 33A converts a part of the excitation light, i.e., the blue light, incident from the wavelength selective reflection element 32 into wavelength converted light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the blue light, and emits the converted wavelength converted light and the remaining blue light that has not been converted into the wavelength converted light. In this embodiment, the wavelength converted light is fluorescence including green light and red light.

[0034] The wavelength conversion device 33A includes a driving unit 331 and a wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 rotated by the driving unit 331. The driving unit 331 is composed of, for example, a motor.

[0035] The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 receives the excitation light and converts the excitation light into wavelength converted light. The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is rotated by the driving unit 331 around a rotation axis Rx1 parallel to the X-axis.

[0036] The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 includes a substrate 333 , a wavelength conversion layer 334 , a reflection layer 335 , and fins 336 .

[0037] The substrate 333 is a light-transmitting substrate and is formed in, for example, a disk shape.

[0038] The wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective layer 335 are disposed on the substrate 333 .

[0039] The wavelength conversion layer 334 contains a phosphor that is excited by the incident excitation light and emits wavelength converted light. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the wavelength conversion layer 334 is formed into a ring centered on the rotation axis Rx1 when viewed from the incident side of the excitation light. A portion of the excitation light incident on the wavelength conversion layer 334 is converted into wavelength converted light, and the remaining excitation light passes through the wavelength conversion layer 334 along the +X direction.

[0040] The reflective layer 335 is a wavelength selective reflective layer that reflects or transmits incident light according to the wavelength of the light. Specifically, the reflective layer 335 transmits blue light and reflects light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the blue light. The reflective layer 335 is disposed on the opposite side of the wavelength conversion layer 334 relative to the light incident side of the wavelength conversion layer 334. Therefore, the reflective layer 335 reflects the wavelength converted light incident from the wavelength conversion layer 334 in the +X direction in the -X direction, and transmits the excitation light incident from the wavelength conversion layer 334 in the +X direction in the +X direction.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective layer 335 are provided on the incident side of the excitation light relative to the substrate 333. That is, the reflective layer 335 is provided on the surface on the light incident side of the substrate 333, and the wavelength conversion layer 334 is provided on the light incident side relative to the reflective layer 335. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective layer 335 may also be provided on the opposite side of the incident side of the excitation light relative to the substrate 333. In this case, the wavelength conversion layer 334 is provided on the surface on the side opposite to the incident side of the excitation light in the substrate 333, and the reflective layer 335 is provided on the opposite side of the light incident side relative to the wavelength conversion layer 334.

[0042] Such a wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 emits the wavelength converted light generated by the wavelength conversion layer 334 in the −X direction, and emits the excitation light, that is, blue light, which is transmitted through the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflection layer 335 in the +X direction.

[0043] The fin 336 is provided on the surface of the substrate 333 on the opposite side to the light incident side. The heat generated by the wavelength conversion layer 334 is transferred to the fin 336 via the substrate 333. The fin 336 dissipates the heat of the wavelength conversion layer 334 transferred from the substrate 333.

[0044] Alternatively, the fins 336 may be provided on the surface of the substrate 333 on the light incident side.

[0045] When such a wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is rotated by the driving unit 331, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 stirs the cooling medium around the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2. Specifically, when the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 rotates, when the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is viewed from the light incident side, a flow of the cooling medium is generated that flows from the area on the rotation axis Rx1 side toward the outside of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2. As a result, the cooling medium flows through the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the fins 336, and in addition to cooling the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the fins 336, the cooling medium flows through the light source 31 by the flow generated by the rotation of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2. That is, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is one of the stirring devices of the present invention.

[0046] The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 may not include the fins 336. On the other hand, by including the fins 336 in the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, the cooling efficiency of the wavelength conversion layer 334 can be improved and the cooling medium can be easily stirred.

[0047] [Structure of the illumination optical system]

[0048] The illumination optical system 34 uses the blue light from the solid light emitting element 311 and the wavelength converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 to output the illumination light to the reflective light modulation element 45. The illumination optical system 34 includes a first reflector 35, a second reflector 36, a third reflector 37, a fourth reflector 38, a condensing lens 39, a color separation device 40, a uniformizing element 41, a condensing element 42, a parallelizing element 43, and a prism 44.

[0049] [Structure of the first reflecting mirror, the second reflecting mirror, and the third reflecting mirror]

[0050] The first reflector 35, the second reflector 36, and the third reflector 37 guide the blue light after passing through the wavelength converter 33A to the wavelength selective reflection element 32 without passing through the wavelength converter 33A. Specifically, the first reflector 35, the second reflector 36, and the third reflector 37 guide the blue light after passing through the wavelength converter 33A to the wavelength selective reflection element 32 in such a manner that the blue light is incident from the light source 31 in a direction opposite to the incident direction of the excitation light with respect to the wavelength selective reflection element 32.

[0051] The first reflecting mirror 35 is disposed in the +X direction with respect to the wavelength conversion device 33A, and reflects the blue light transmitted through the wavelength conversion device 33A in the +Y direction.

[0052] The second reflecting mirror 36 is disposed in the +Y direction with respect to the first reflecting mirror 35 , and reflects the blue light reflected by the first reflecting mirror 35 in the −X direction.

[0053] The third reflector 37 is arranged in the -X direction relative to the second reflector 36, and in the +Y direction relative to the wavelength selective reflection element 32. The third reflector 37 reflects the blue light reflected by the second reflector 36 in the -Y direction. Thus, the blue light reflected in the -Y direction by the third reflector 37 enters the wavelength selective reflection element 32 in the direction opposite to the incident direction of the excitation light from the light source 31 to the wavelength selective reflection element 32.

[0054] The blue light incident on the wavelength selective reflection element 32 in the −Y direction from the third reflecting mirror 37 is reflected in the −X direction by the wavelength selective reflection element 32 .

[0055] In addition, the wavelength converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 in the −X direction passes through the wavelength selective reflection element 32 in the −X direction.

[0056] Therefore, the wavelength selective reflection element 32 emits white light in the −X direction by combining the blue light incident in the −Y direction and the wavelength converted light incident in the −X direction.

[0057] [Structure of the 4th reflecting mirror and converging lens]

[0058] The fourth reflecting mirror 38 is disposed in the -X direction with respect to the wavelength selective reflecting element 32. The fourth reflecting mirror 38 reflects the white light incident from the wavelength selective reflecting element 32 in the -X direction toward the +Y direction.

[0059] The condensing lens 39 condenses the white light incident from the fourth reflector 38 to the color separation device 40. Specifically, the condensing lens 39 condenses the incident white light to the color separation region of the color wheel 402 included in the color separation device 40.

[0060] [Configuration of Color Separation Device]

[0061] The color separation device 40 separates red light, green light, and blue light from the white light incident from the condensing lens 39. Specifically, the color separation device 40 separately emits red light, green light, and blue light in sequence. The color separation device 40 includes a driving unit 401 and a color wheel 402 rotated by the driving unit 401. The driving unit 401 is composed of, for example, a motor.

[0062] The color wheel 402 is rotated around a rotation axis Rx2 along the Y axis by the driving unit 401. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the color wheel 402 includes a light-transmitting substrate and a color filter provided on the light-transmitting substrate.

[0063] The color filter has three color separation areas arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction centered on the rotation axis Rx2. One of the three color separation areas is a red separation area that transmits red light and blocks other color lights, the other color separation area is a green separation area that transmits green light and blocks other color lights, and the other color separation area is a blue separation area that transmits blue light and blocks other color lights.

[0064] The color filter emits color light corresponding to the color separation area into which the white light is incident among the three color separation areas. The color wheel 402 is rotated by the driving unit 401, thereby sequentially switching the color separation area into which the white light is incident. Therefore, the color wheel 402 sequentially outputs each of red light, green light, and blue light in a time-division manner.

[0065] The color wheel 402 is rotated by the driving unit 401, thereby stirring the cooling medium around the color wheel 402. As a result, when the color wheel 402 is viewed from the light incident side, a flow of the cooling medium is generated from the area on the rotation axis Rx2 side to the outside of the color wheel 402, and the cooling medium flows toward the reflective light modulation element 45. That is, the color wheel 402 is one of the stirring devices of the present invention.

[0066] In addition, fins similar to the fins 336 of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 may be provided on the color wheel 402 to facilitate the flow of the cooling medium.

[0067] [Structure of uniformizing element, converging element and parallelizing element]

[0068] The uniformizing element 41 uniformizes the brightness distribution of the color light incident from the color wheel 402. In the present embodiment, the uniformizing element 41 is formed by a rod integrator. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the uniformizing element 41 may be formed by, for example, a pair of multi-lens arrays, or by, for example, a transmission diffusion element that transmits and diffuses the incident light.

[0069] The converging element 42 converges the color light incident from the uniformizing element 41 and emits the color light toward the parallelizing element 43 .

[0070] The parallelizing element 43 parallelizes the color light incident from the focusing element 42. The parallelizing element 43 is composed of a pair of lenses arranged to be separated from each other in the +Y direction.

[0071] [Structure of prism]

[0072] The prism 44 guides the colored lights incident in the +Y direction from the parallelizing element 43 to the reflective light modulating element 45, and emits the image light incident from the reflective light modulating element 45 toward the projection lens 7. Specifically, the prism 44 reflects the colored lights incident in the +Y direction from the parallelizing element 43 toward the reflective light modulating element 45 in the -X direction. The prism 44 emits the image light incident in the +X direction from the reflective light modulating element 45 toward the projection lens 7 in the +X direction. In the present embodiment, the prism 44 is a TIR (Total Internal Reflection) prism.

[0073] [Structure of Reflective Light Modulation Element]

[0074] The reflective light modulator 45 modulates the light incident from the illumination optical system 34 according to the image signal and emits color image light. Specifically, the reflective light modulator 45 emits the image light formed by modulating the incident light in a direction opposite to the incident direction of the light relative to the reflective light modulator 45. In the present embodiment, the reflective light modulator 45 is composed of a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device).

[0075] The red light, green light, and blue light are sequentially incident on the reflective light modulator 45. The reflective light modulator 45 forms a red image among the red, green, and blue images constituting one frame during the incidence of the red light, forms a green image during the incidence of the green light, and forms a blue image during the incidence of the blue light.

[0076] [Structure of projection lens]

[0077] The projection lens 7 projects image light modulated by the reflective light modulation element 45 and incident in the +X direction via the prism 44. The projection lens 7 may be a lens group including a plurality of lenses and a lens barrel accommodating the plurality of lenses.

[0078] The red image, green image, and blue image formed by the reflective light modulation element 45 and projected by the projection lens 7 are synthesized on the projection surface to display a color image.

[0079] [Structure of the housing]

[0080] The housing 2A is an exterior housing of the projector 1A, and houses the image projection unit 3A. That is, the housing 2A houses the solid-state light emitting element 311, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, the illumination optical system 34, and the reflective light modulation element 45. As described above, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 and the color wheel 402 constituting the illumination optical system 34 are equivalent to the stirring device.

[0081] The housing 2A is formed in a substantially L-shape in accordance with the layout of the image projection unit 3A. The housing 2A has a front surface 2A1, a rear surface 2A2, a left side surface 2A3, and a right side surface 2A4, as well as a top surface and a bottom surface (not shown).

[0082] The front surface 2A1 is a side surface of the housing 2A located in the emission direction of the image light from the projection lens 7. That is, the front surface 2A1 is a surface facing the +X direction. The front surface 2A1 is composed of a first front surface 2A11 and a second front surface 2A12.

[0083] The second front surface 2A12 is arranged in the +Y direction with respect to the first front surface 2A11 and in the −X direction with respect to the first front surface 2A11. The projection lens 7 is exposed at the second front surface 2A12.

[0084] The back surface 2A2 is a side surface of the housing 2A located in a direction opposite to the emission direction of the image light from the projection lens 7. That is, the back surface 2A2 is a side surface of the housing 2A facing the -X direction.

[0085] The left side surface 2A3 is a side surface of the housing 2A that faces the -Y direction. The left side surface 2A3 connects the first front surface 2A11 and the back surface 2A2.

[0086] The right side surface 2A4 is a side surface of the housing 2A that faces the +Y direction. The right side surface 2A4 is composed of a first right side surface 2A41 and a second right side surface 2A42.

[0087] The first right side surface 2A41 connects the first front side 2A11 and the second front side 2A12.

[0088] The second right side surface 2A42 is arranged in the -X direction with respect to the first right side surface 2A41. The second right side surface 2A42 connects the second front side 2A12 and the back side 2A2.

[0089] The housing 2A further includes a storage chamber 2A5, a heat receiving surface 2A6, a heat dissipating surface 2A7, and heat dissipating fins 2A8.

[0090] The storage chamber 2A5 is provided inside the housing 2A and stores the image projection unit 3A in a sealed state. That is, the housing 2A has the storage chamber 2A5 for storing the solid light emitting element 311, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, the illumination optical system 34 and the reflective light modulation element 45 inside, and the storage chamber 2A5 is sealed.

[0091] The heating surface 2A6 is disposed inside the storage chamber 2A5 and receives heat. That is, the heating surface 2A6 constitutes at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing 2A and is exposed in the storage chamber 2A5. In the present embodiment, the heating surface 2A6 constitutes substantially the entire inner surface of the housing 2A. That is, the heating surface 2A6 includes heating surfaces 2A61 to 2A66.

[0092] The heat receiving surface 2A61 constitutes the inner surface of the first right side surface 2A41.

[0093] The heat receiving surface 2A62 constitutes the inner surface of the first front surface 2A11.

[0094] The heating surface 2A63 constitutes the inner surface of the left side surface 2A3.

[0095] The heating surface 2A64 constitutes the inner surface of the back side 2A2.

[0096] The heating surface 2A65 constitutes the inner surface of the second right side surface 2A42.

[0097] The heating surface 2A66 constitutes the inner surface of the second front surface 2A12.

[0098] Although not shown in the figure, the heat receiving surface 2A6 includes a heat receiving surface constituting the inner surface of the top surface of the casing 2A and a heat receiving surface constituting the inner surface of the bottom surface of the casing 2A.

[0099] The heat dissipation surface 2A7 is exposed outside the housing 2A and dissipates the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 to the outside of the housing 2A. The heat dissipation surface 2A7 constitutes at least a part of the outer surface of the housing 2A. In the present embodiment, the heat dissipation surface 2A7 constitutes substantially the entire outer surface of the housing 2A.

[0100] The heat sink 2A8 is provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 to dissipate heat transferred to the heat dissipation surface 2A7. The heat sink 2A8 is composed of a plurality of fins 2A81 protruding from the heat dissipation surface 2A7, and improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the transferred heat by expanding the heat dissipation area of ​​the heat transferred from the heat receiving surface 2A6 to the heat dissipation surface 2A7. In addition, a plurality of heat sinks 2A8 are provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7, one of the plurality of heat sinks 2A8 is provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the opposite side of the heat receiving surface 2A6 facing the light source 31, and another heat sink 2A8 is provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the opposite side of the heat receiving surface 2A6 facing the reflective light modulation element 45.

[0101] The housing 2A further includes a cooling medium filled in the storage chamber 2A5. Examples of the cooling medium include gaseous cooling mediums such as helium and hydrogen, and liquid cooling mediums such as hydrofluoroether liquid.

[0102] [Flow of cooling medium]

[0103] Next, the flow of the cooling medium filled in the storage chamber 2A5 will be described.

[0104] The cooling medium in the storage chamber 2A5 absorbs heat from the heat sources, namely, the light source 31, the wavelength conversion layer 334, and the reflective light modulation element 45. The cooling medium that absorbs heat and rises in temperature convects in the storage chamber 2A5 due to the temperature difference with the cooling medium that does not absorb heat.

[0105] Furthermore, part of the cooling medium around the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 as one of the stirring devices is stirred by the rotation of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, flows toward the light source 31, and absorbs heat from the light source 31. The cooling medium that absorbs heat from the light source 31 transfers the heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 exposed in the storage chamber 2A5.

[0106] Specifically, when the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 rotates, as shown by arrows A01 and A02, when the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is viewed from the light incident side, a part of the cooling medium flows from the area on the rotation axis Rx1 side to the outside of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2. The cooling medium flowing along the arrow A01 and the cooling medium flowing along the arrow A02 are cooling media that absorb heat from the wavelength conversion layer 334.

[0107] After the cooling medium flowing along the arrow A01 reaches the heating surface 2A61, as shown by arrows A03 and A04, it flows along the heating surfaces 2A61 and 2A62 in the -Y direction. At this time, the heating surfaces 2A61 and 2A62 receive heat from the cooling medium, thereby cooling the cooling medium. Then, as shown by arrow A05, the cooling medium flows along the heating surface 2A63 in the -X direction and is further cooled, and then merges with the cooling medium flowing along the arrow A02.

[0108] The merged cooling medium further flows in the -X direction along the heat receiving surface 2A63, and as shown by arrow A06, flows toward the light source 31. Thus, the light source 31 is cooled. That is, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 makes the cooling medium contact with the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided on the inner surface of the storage chamber 2A5, and the cooling medium dissipates heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6, flows toward the solid light emitting element 311, and cools the solid light emitting element 311.

[0109] The cooling medium after cooling the light source 31 further flows in the −X direction along the heating surface 2A63 as indicated by the arrow A07 , is cooled by the heating surface 2A63 , and reaches the heating surface 2A64 .

[0110] The cooling medium reaching the heat receiving surface 2A64 flows in the +Y direction along the heat receiving surface 2A64 as indicated by arrow A08 and is cooled by the heat receiving surface 2A64. A part of the cooling medium flowing toward the heat receiving surface 2A64 reaches the periphery of the color wheel 402.

[0111] On the other hand, the cooling medium around the color wheel 402, which is one of the stirring devices, is stirred by the rotation of the color wheel 402, flows toward the reflective light modulator 45, and absorbs the heat of the reflective light modulator 45. The cooling medium that absorbs heat from the reflective light modulator 45 conducts the heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 exposed in the storage chamber 2A5.

[0112] Specifically, when the color wheel 402 rotates, when the color wheel 402 is viewed from the light incident side, the cooling medium flows from the area on the rotation axis Rx2 side toward the outside of the color wheel 402. A portion of the cooling medium flowing toward the outside of the color wheel 402 flows toward the heat receiving surface 2A64 as indicated by arrow A09.

[0113] The cooling medium flowing toward the heat receiving surface 2A64 merges with the cooling medium flowing in the +Y direction along the heat receiving surface 2A64, as shown by arrow A10, and further flows in the +Y direction along the heat receiving surface 2A64. The cooling medium flowing in the +Y direction flows between the reflective light modulator 45 and the prism 44 as shown by arrow A11, and cools the reflective light modulator 45. That is, the heat of the reflective light modulator 45 is transferred to the cooling medium flowing in the +Y direction along the heat receiving surface 2A64.

[0114] The cooling medium that has cooled the reflective light modulation element 45 flows in the +X direction along the heat receiving surface 2A65 as indicated by arrow A12, and is heated by the heat receiving surface 2A65.

[0115] The cooling medium cooled by the heating surface 2A65 flows in the -Y direction along the heating surface 2A66 as indicated by the arrow A13, and is further cooled by the heating surface 2A66. In addition, a portion of the cooling medium cooled by the heating surface 2A66 flows along the inclined surface of the third reflector 37 and is attracted by the color wheel 402, and another portion of the cooling medium flows in the storage chamber 2A5 and is attracted by the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2.

[0116] In this way, the light source 31, the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective light modulator 45 are cooled by the cooling medium in the storage chamber 2A5, and the heat of the light source 31, the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective light modulator 45 is dissipated to the outside of the shell 2A from the heat dissipation surface 2A7 and the heat sink 2A8 via the heat receiving surface 2A6.

[0117] [Effects of the First Embodiment]

[0118] The projector 1A according to the present embodiment described above provides the following effects.

[0119] The projector 1A includes a solid-state light emitting device 311 of a light source 31 , a wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 , an illumination optical system 34 , a reflective light modulation element 45 , and a housing 2A.

[0120] The solid-state light emitting element 311 emits excitation light. The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 receives the excitation light and converts the excitation light into wavelength-converted light. The illumination optical system 34 outputs illumination light using the light from the solid-state light emitting element 311 and the wavelength-converted light. The illumination optical system 34 has a color wheel 402. The reflective light modulating element 45 modulates the light incident from the illumination optical system 34 according to the image signal and emits color image light. The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 and the color wheel 402 are stirring devices for stirring the cooling medium.

[0121] The housing 2A is a housing that accommodates the solid-state light emitting device 311, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, the illumination optical system 34, and the reflective light modulation element 45. The housing 2A has a storage chamber 2A5 and a heat receiving surface 2A6.

[0122] The storage chamber 2A5 stores the solid-state light emitting device 311, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, the color wheel 402, and the reflective light modulation element 45. The storage chamber 2A5 is sealed.

[0123] The heat receiving surface 2A6 is provided inside the storage chamber 2A5.

[0124] The storage chamber 2A5 is filled with a cooling medium, which is stirred by the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 and the color wheel 402, flows to the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulating element 45, absorbs the heat of the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulating element 45, and transfers the absorbed heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6.

[0125] According to such a structure, the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45, which are heat sources, are stored in the sealed storage chamber 2A5. The storage chamber 2A5 is filled with a cooling medium, which is stirred by the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 and the color wheel 402 as stirring devices, flows to the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45, and absorbs heat from the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45. The cooling medium dissipates the absorbed heat to the heating surface 2A6 provided on the inner surface of the storage chamber 2A5. In this way, the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 can be cooled.

[0126] Therefore, the projector 1A can improve the cooling efficiency of the solid-state light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 without using a large cooling device. That is, a projector can be constructed that improves the cooling efficiency of the solid-state light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 while maintaining miniaturization.

[0127] In the projector 1A, the solid-state light emitting device 311 is stored in the storage chamber 2A5 . The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 , which is one of the stirring devices, allows the cooling medium to flow through the solid-state light emitting device 311 .

[0128] According to such a configuration, the solid-state light emitting device 311 , which is a heat source that becomes hot when emitting light, can be efficiently cooled using a cooling medium. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the solid-state light emitting device 311 can be improved.

[0129] In the projector 1A, as described above, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is one of the stirring means.

[0130] According to such a configuration, by using the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 as a stirring device, it is possible to allow the cooling medium to flow through the solid-state light emitting element 311 without increasing the number of components of the projector 1A.

[0131] In the projector 1A, the solid light emitting device 311 is arranged along the inner surface of the storage chamber 2A5. Specifically, the solid light emitting device 311 is arranged along the heat receiving surface 2A63. The wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 brings the cooling medium into contact with the heat receiving surface 2A6, and the cooling medium dissipates heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 and flows to the solid light emitting device 311.

[0132] According to such a configuration, the cooling medium is cooled by the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 dissipating heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided inside the storage chamber 2A5, and then flows to the solid light emitting element 311 provided along the inner surface of the storage chamber 2A5. Therefore, the solid light emitting element 311 can be cooled efficiently.

[0133] In the projector 1A, the illumination optical system 34 has a color wheel 402 that receives light emitted from the solid light emitting element 311 and the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 and sequentially outputs red light, green light, and blue light. That is, the color wheel 402 receives white light synthesized from the blue light emitted from the solid light emitting element 311 and the wavelength converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, and sequentially outputs red light, green light, and blue light. The color wheel 402 is one of the stirring devices. The red light, the green light, and the blue light correspond to the first color light, the second color light, and the third color light.

[0134] According to such a structure, red light, green light, and blue light can be respectively incident on the reflective light modulator 45. Therefore, the reflective light modulator 45 generates a red image at the incident timing of red light, a green image at the incident timing of green light, and a blue image at the incident timing of blue light, thereby generating a color image.

[0135] Furthermore, by using the color wheel 402 as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be made to flow to the reflective light modulation element 45 without increasing the number of components of the projector 1A.

[0136] In the projector 1A, the reflective light modulation element 45 is housed in the housing chamber 2A5. The color wheel 402 as a stirring device allows the cooling medium to flow through the reflective light modulation element 45.

[0137] According to such a configuration, the reflective light modulation element 45 , which is a heat source that becomes hot during image formation, can be efficiently cooled using a cooling medium. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the reflective light modulation element 45 can be improved.

[0138] In the projector 1A, the illumination optical system 34 includes a color wheel 402 that receives light emitted from the solid state light emitting element 311 and the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 and sequentially outputs red light, green light, and blue light. The red light, green light, and blue light correspond to the first color light, the second color light, and the third color light.

[0139] The color wheel 402 is one of the stirring devices.

[0140] According to such a configuration, red light, green light, and blue light can be incident on the reflective light modulator 45. Thus, a color image can be generated by the reflective light modulator 45. In addition, by using the color wheel 402 as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be circulated to the reflective light modulator 45 without increasing the number of components of the projector 1A.

[0141] In the projector 1A, the cooling medium flowing toward the reflective light modulator 45 dissipates the heat absorbed by the reflective light modulator 45 toward the heat receiving surface 2A6 and flows toward the color wheel 402. Examples of such a heat receiving surface 2A6 include the heat receiving surfaces 2A65 and 2A66.

[0142] According to such a structure, the cooling medium after cooling the reflective light modulator 45 is cooled by dissipating heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided on the inner surface of the storage chamber 2A5, and then flows toward the color wheel 402. Therefore, the color wheel 402 can efficiently cool the reflective light modulator 45 by allowing the cooled cooling medium to flow toward the reflective light modulator 45.

[0143] [Second embodiment]

[0144] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0145] The projector of this embodiment has the same structure as the projector 1A of the first embodiment, but is different in that it includes a plurality of reflective light modulation elements. In the following description, the same or substantially the same parts as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

[0146] [Schematic structure of the projector]

[0147] Figure 2 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector 1B according to the present embodiment.

[0148] The projector 1B of this embodiment projects image light corresponding to image information in the same manner as the projector 1A of the first embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the projector 1B includes a housing 2A and an image projection unit 3B.

[0149] [Structure of image projection unit]

[0150] The image projection unit 3B projects image light corresponding to image information in the same manner as the image projection unit 3A of the first embodiment. The image projection unit 3B has the same structure and function as the image projection unit 3A, except that the number of reflective light modulators 45 is different and a dichroic prism 46 is provided instead of the color separation device 40. Specifically, while the image projection unit 3A has the color separation device 40 and one reflective light modulator 45, the image projection unit 3B has one dichroic prism 46 and three reflective light modulators 45.

[0151] Since the image projection unit 3B does not include the color separation device 40 , the white light condensed by the condensing lens 39 enters the uniformizing element 41 .

[0152] [Arrangement of three reflective light modulation elements]

[0153] The three reflective light modulators 45 are arranged on the inner surface of the back surface 2A2 and are arranged in series on the flow path of the cooling medium flowing along the heat receiving surface 2A64 constituting the inner surface of the back surface 2A2. The three reflective light modulators 45 include a blue reflective light modulator 45B for modulating blue light, a green reflective light modulator 45G for modulating green light, and a red reflective light modulator 45R for modulating red light. The reflective light modulators 45B, 45G, and 45R are arranged in the order of the flow of the cooling medium. That is, the reflective light modulator 45B of the reflective light modulators 45B, 45G, and 45R is arranged on the most upstream side in the flow path of the cooling medium, and the reflective light modulator 45R is arranged on the most downstream side in the flow path of the cooling medium.

[0154] [Structure of dichroic prism]

[0155] The color separation prism 46 has a function of separating the three color lights included in the white light incident from the prism 44 into red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB, and guiding them to the three reflective light modulation elements 45R, 45G, and 45B respectively. The color separation prism 46 synthesizes the color lights LR, LG, and LB modulated by the three reflective light modulation elements 45R, 45G, and 45B, and emits image light composed of the synthesized three color lights LR, LG, and LB. That is, the color separation prism 46 can be called a color separation and synthesis device that separates the red light LR, the green light LG, and the blue light LB from the white light and synthesizes the modulated three color lights LR, LG, and LB.

[0156] The dichroic prism 46 is a so-called gapless prism. The dichroic prism 46 includes a first prism 461, a second prism 462, and a third prism 463, and has a structure in which the first prism 461 and the third prism 463 are combined with the second prism 462. White light is incident on the first prism 461 from the prism 44, and image light is emitted from the first prism 461 to the prism 44.

[0157] Although not shown in the figure, a first color separation layer is provided between the first prism 461 and the second prism 462. The first color separation layer transmits the red light LR and the green light LG, and reflects the blue light LB. The blue light LB reflected by the first color separation layer travels in the first prism 461 and is emitted toward the reflective light modulation element 45B.

[0158] Although not shown in the figure, a second color separation layer is disposed between the second prism 462 and the third prism 463. The second color separation layer reflects the red light LR and transmits the green light LG. The red light LR reflected by the second color separation layer travels through the second prism 462 and is emitted toward the reflective light modulation element 45R. The green light LG that has passed through the second color separation layer travels through the third prism 463 and is emitted toward the reflective light modulation element 45G.

[0159] The blue light LB modulated by the reflective light modulator 45B enters the first prism 461 , and after repeatedly being reflected by the inner surface of the first prism 461 and reflected by the first color separation layer, is emitted from the first prism 461 toward the projection lens 7 .

[0160] The red light LR modulated by the reflective light modulation element 45R is incident on the second prism 462, and after repeated total reflection on the first color separation layer and reflection on the second color separation layer, it is incident on the first color separation layer at an angle less than the critical angle and passes through the first color separation layer, and is emitted from the first prism 461 to the projection lens 7.

[0161] The green light LG modulated by the reflective light modulation element 45G enters the third prism 463 , passes through the second color separation layer and the first color separation layer, and is emitted from the first prism 461 to the projection lens 7 .

[0162] Thus, the color lights LR, LG, LB modulated by the reflective light modulators 45R, 45G, 45B are synthesized by the dichroic prism 46 and enter the projection lens 7 via the prism 44. Then, the projection lens 7 projects the incident image light onto the projection surface.

[0163] [Flow of cooling medium]

[0164] In the projector 1B, the cooling medium in the storage room 2A5 also absorbs heat from the light source 31, the wavelength conversion layer 334, and the reflective light modulator 45. The light source 31, the wavelength conversion layer 334, and the reflective light modulator 45 are heat sources. The cooling medium that absorbs heat and rises in temperature convects in the storage room 2A5 due to the temperature difference with the cooling medium that does not absorb heat.

[0165] In addition, similar to the cooling medium in the storage chamber 2A5 of the first embodiment, a part of the cooling medium around the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, which is one of the stirring devices, flows along the heat receiving surfaces 2A61, 2A62, and 2A63 as shown by arrows A01 to A06 after cooling the wavelength conversion layer 334 and flows toward the light source 31. Thus, the light source 31 is cooled.

[0166] After cooling the light source 31, the cooling medium flows along the heat receiving surface 2A64 as shown by arrows A07 to A10, and then flows in sequence between the reflective light modulator elements 45B, 45G, 45R and the color separation prism 46 as shown by arrows B01 to B03, thereby cooling the reflective light modulator elements 45B, 45G, 45R.

[0167] The cooling medium after cooling the reflective light modulator 45R flows along the heat receiving surfaces 2A65 and 2A66 as indicated by arrows A12 and A13, and then flows toward the heat receiving surface 2A64 as indicated by arrow A09 through the inclined surface of the third reflector 37. Then, the cooling medium reaching the heat receiving surface 2A64 merges with the cooling medium flowing in the +Y direction along the heat receiving surface 2A64 as indicated by arrow A10, and then flows toward the reflective light modulators 45B, 45G, and 45R again.

[0168] [Effects of the Second Embodiment]

[0169] The projector 1B according to the present embodiment described above achieves the same effects as the projector 1A according to the first embodiment.

[0170] In the projector 1B, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 is one of the stirring devices.

[0171] According to such a configuration, by using the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be circulated to the solid state light emitting device 311 and the reflective light modulation elements 45R, 45G, and 45B without increasing the number of components of the projector 1B.

[0172] [Third Embodiment]

[0173] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0174] The projector of this embodiment has the same structure as the projector 1A of the first embodiment, but the difference is that the housing has a dividing portion that divides the storage chamber in the housing into a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber. In addition, in the following description, the same or substantially the same parts as those already described are marked with the same reference numerals and the description is omitted.

[0175] [Schematic structure of the projector]

[0176] Figure 3 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector 1C according to the present embodiment.

[0177] The projector 1C of this embodiment projects image light corresponding to image information in the same manner as the projector 1A of the first embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, the projector 1C includes a housing 2C and an image projection unit 3C.

[0178] The housing 2C has a storage chamber 2C5 for storing the image projection unit 3C. The storage chamber 2C5 is divided into a first storage chamber 2C51 and a second storage chamber 2C52 by a partition 2C9, and the first storage chamber 2C51 and the second storage chamber 2C52 are respectively filled with a cooling medium. The structure of the housing 2C will be described in detail later.

[0179] [Structure of image projection unit]

[0180] The image projection unit 3C projects image light according to image information similarly to the image projection unit 3A of the first embodiment. The image projection unit 3C includes a light source 31 , a light guide optical system 47 , a wavelength converter 33C, an illumination optical system 56 , a reflective light modulation element 45 , and a projection lens 7 .

[0181] In this embodiment, the light source 31 includes at least one solid-state light emitting element 311 that emits excitation light. The light source 31 emits s-polarized blue light as excitation light, but may also emit p-polarized blue light.

[0182] In the following description, the emission direction of the excitation light from the light source 31 is referred to as the +Y direction, and one of the directions orthogonal to the +Y direction is referred to as the +X direction. Figure 3In the diagram of , the +Y direction is the left direction, and the +X direction is the upward direction. Although not shown in the diagram, the direction opposite to the +X direction is set to the -X direction, and the direction opposite to the +Y direction is set to the -Y direction. In addition, the axis along the +X direction is set to the X axis, and the axis along the +Y direction is set to the Y axis.

[0183] [Structure of light guiding optical system]

[0184] The light guide optical system 47 guides the excitation light emitted from the light source 31 to the wavelength converter 33C. The light guide optical system 47 includes a first condensing lens 48, a first reflecting mirror 49, an afocal lens 50, a polarization separation element 51, a second reflecting mirror 52, a phase difference element 53, a collimating lens 54, and a pickup lens 55.

[0185] The first condensing lens 48 condenses the excitation light emitted from the solid-state light emitting element 311 of the light source 31 onto the first reflecting mirror 49 .

[0186] The first reflecting mirror 49 reflects the excitation light incident from the first focusing lens 48 toward the +X direction and the +Y direction.

[0187] The afocal lens 50 is disposed between the first reflector 49 and the polarization separation element 51 on the optical path of the excitation light. The afocal lens 50 reduces the diameter of the excitation light incident from the first reflector 49. The afocal lens 50 is composed of a lens 501 for converging the incident excitation light and a lens 502 for collimating the excitation light incident from the lens 501.

[0188] The polarization separation element 51 is a wavelength selective polarization separation element. The polarization separation element 51 reflects s-polarized blue light and transmits p-polarized blue light. In addition, the polarization separation element 51 transmits colored light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of blue light regardless of the polarization direction. Specifically, the polarization separation element 51 transmits the wavelength converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion device 33C. As described above, the wavelength converted light is light containing green light and red light.

[0189] The polarization separation element 51 has a reflection surface that is substantially parallel to the reflection surface of the first reflector 49, and reflects the s-polarized excitation light incident from the afocal lens 50 in the +Y direction. The polarization separation element 51 transmits the blue light and the wavelength converted light incident from the second reflector 52 in the -Y direction.

[0190] The second reflecting mirror 52 reflects the excitation light incident in the +Y direction from the polarization separation element 51 in the -X direction. In addition, the second reflecting mirror 52 reflects the white light incident in the +X direction in the -Y direction.

[0191] The phase difference element 53 is disposed between the second reflector 52 and the collimating lens 54, and converts the s-polarized excitation light incident from the second reflector 52 into circularly polarized blue light. In addition, the phase difference element 53 converts the circularly polarized blue light in the white light incident from the collimating lens 54 into p-polarized blue light. In addition, the rotation direction of the polarization in the circularly polarized blue light incident from the collimating lens 54 is opposite to the rotation direction of the polarization in the circularly polarized blue light incident from the second reflector 52 and emitted from the phase difference element 53.

[0192] The collimating lens 54 collimates the light incident in the -X direction from the phase difference element 53. In addition, the collimating lens 54 collimates the light incident in the +X direction from the pickup lens 55.

[0193] The pickup lens 55 converges the light incident from the collimating lens 54 toward the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 of the wavelength conversion device 33C. In addition, the pickup lens 55 converges the wavelength converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 and emits it toward the collimating lens 54. In this embodiment, the pickup lens 55 is composed of two lenses 551 and 552. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of lenses constituting the pickup lens 55 can be appropriately changed.

[0194] [Structure of wavelength conversion device]

[0195] The wavelength conversion device 33C has the same structure and function as the wavelength conversion device 33A in the first embodiment. That is, the wavelength conversion device 33C emits a part of the incident excitation light, and emits wavelength converted light obtained by converting the wavelength of the other part of the excitation light. The wavelength conversion device 33A in the first embodiment reflects the wavelength converted light and allows the excitation light to pass through. In contrast, the wavelength conversion device 33C in this embodiment emits the excitation light and the wavelength converted light in the direction opposite to the incident direction of the excitation light. The wavelength conversion device 33C is a so-called reflection type wavelength conversion device.

[0196] The wavelength conversion device 33C includes a driving unit 331 and a wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 that is rotated around a rotation axis Rx3 along the X-axis by the driving unit 331 .

[0197] The wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 is one of the stirring devices. The wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 includes a substrate 333, a wavelength conversion layer 334, and a reflection layer 33C5. The wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 has the same fins as the fins 336 of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 of the first embodiment.

[0198] The substrate 333 is a substrate that supports the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective layer 33C5 , and in the present embodiment, it does not necessarily need to have light transparency.

[0199] The wavelength conversion layer 334 contains the above-mentioned fluorescent substance, and is formed in a ring shape centered on the rotation axis Rx3 when viewed from the incident side of the excitation light.

[0200] The reflective layer 33C5 is a total reflective layer provided between the substrate 333 and the wavelength conversion layer 334. The reflective layer 33C5 reflects the excitation light and the wavelength converted light incident from the wavelength conversion layer 334.

[0201] Therefore, when the excitation light is incident on the wavelength conversion layer 334 of the rotating wavelength conversion wheel 33C2, the blue light as the excitation light and the wavelength converted light including the green light and the red light are emitted in the +X direction which is the opposite direction to the incident direction of the excitation light with respect to the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 through the wavelength conversion layer 334 and the reflective layer 33C5. That is, white light is emitted from the wavelength conversion device 33C. In addition, the rotation direction of the polarization of the blue light emitted from the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 becomes the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the polarization of the blue light incident on the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2. In addition, the wavelength converted light emitted from the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 is non-polarized color light.

[0202] The white light emitted from the wavelength converter 33C enters the phase difference element 53 via the pickup lens 55 and the collimating lens 54. As described above, the phase difference element 53 converts the circularly polarized blue light incident from the collimating lens 54 into p-polarized blue light, and emits it to the second reflector 52 together with the wavelength converted light.

[0203] The p-polarized blue light and the wavelength-converted light emitted to the second reflecting mirror 52 are reflected in the −Y direction by the second reflecting mirror 52 , pass through the polarization separation element 51 , and enter the illumination optical system 56 .

[0204] [Structure of the illumination optical system]

[0205] The illumination optical system 56 emits illumination light for illuminating the reflective light modulator 45. The illumination light includes the blue light emitted from the wavelength converter 33C and the wavelength converted light. That is, the illumination light includes a part of the blue light emitted from the solid light emitting element 311 of the light source 31 and the wavelength converted light obtained by wavelength converting another part of the blue light emitted from the solid light emitting element 311.

[0206] The illumination optical system 56 includes a second condensing lens 57 , a color separation device 40C, a collimating lens 58 , a uniformizing element 59 , a third reflecting mirror 60 , a superimposing lens 61 , and a prism 44 .

[0207] The second focusing lens 57 focuses the white light having passed through the polarization separation element 51 to the color separation device 40. Specifically, the second focusing lens 57 focuses the incident white light to the color wheel 40C2 included in the color separation device 40C.

[0208] As described above, the color separation device 40C sequentially emits a plurality of colored lights having different wavelengths from the white light incident from the second focusing lens 57. In this embodiment, the color separation device 40C includes a driving unit 401 and a color wheel 40C2 that is rotated by the driving unit 401 about a rotation axis Rx4 along the Y axis.

[0209] The color wheel 40C2 includes a light-transmitting substrate 403 and a color filter 404 provided on the light-transmitting substrate 403 .

[0210] The color filter 404 includes color separation regions 405R, 405G, 405B and a transmission region 405T. Although not shown in detail, the color separation regions 405R, 405G, 405B and the transmission region 405T are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis Rx4.

[0211] The color separation region 405R transmits the red light LR and blocks other color lights, thereby separating the red light LR from the incident white light.

[0212] The color separation region 405G transmits the green light LG and blocks other color lights, thereby separating the green light LG from the incident white light.

[0213] The color separation region 405B transmits the blue light LB and blocks other color lights, thereby separating the blue light LB from the incident white light.

[0214] The transmissive region 405T transmits the incident light. That is, the transmissive region 405T transmits the incident white light LW.

[0215] Such a color wheel 40C2 is rotated by the driving unit 401, whereby the region of the color filter 404 into which the white light is incident from the second focusing lens 57 is sequentially switched. That is, if the color wheel 40C2 rotates, the incident position of the white light moves in the color separation regions 405R, 405G, 405B and the transmission region 405T. Thus, red light, green light, blue light, and white light are sequentially output from the color wheel 40C2. The red light, green light, blue light, and white light are illumination lights for illuminating the reflective light modulation element 45, respectively.

[0216] When such a color wheel 40C2 rotates, the cooling medium around the color wheel 40C2 is stirred in the same manner as the color wheel 402 of the first embodiment. As a result, a flow of the cooling medium is generated in the color wheel 40C2 from the area on the side of the rotation axis Rx4 toward the outside of the color wheel 40C2, and the cooling medium flows toward the reflective light modulation element 45. That is, the color wheel 40C2 is one of the stirring devices of the present invention.

[0217] In addition, the color wheel 40C2 may be provided with fins similar to the fins 336 of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2 of the first embodiment, so that the flow of the cooling medium can be easily generated.

[0218] The collimating lens 58 collimates the illumination light emitted from the color separation device 40C.

[0219] The uniformizing element 59 uniformizes the illumination distribution of the illumination light parallelized by the parallelizing lens 58. The uniformizing element 59 is composed of a pair of multi-lens arrays 591 and 592. However, the uniformizing element 59 is not limited to this, and the uniformizing element 59 may be provided with a diffusion transmission element that diffuses the incident illumination light in the process of transmitting the incident illumination light instead of the pair of multi-lens arrays 591 and 592.

[0220] The third reflecting mirror 60 reflects the illumination light incident from the uniformizing element 59 in the −Y direction toward the +X direction.

[0221] The superimposing lens 61 superimposes the illumination light incident from the third reflecting mirror 60 on the reflective light modulation element 45 .

[0222] As shown in the first embodiment, the prism 44 guides the incident illumination light to the reflective light modulator 45, and emits the image light incident from the reflective light modulator 45 to the projection lens 7. In the present embodiment, the prism 44 reflects the illumination light incident from the superimposing lens 61 in the +X direction toward the reflective light modulator 45 in the -Y direction. The prism 44 emits the image light incident from the reflective light modulator 45 in the +Y direction toward the projection lens 7.

[0223] The projection lens 7 projects the image light incident from the reflective light modulation element 45 via the prism 44 onto the projection surface.

[0224] [Structure of the housing]

[0225] The housing 2C is an exterior housing of the projector 1C. As described above, the housing 2C includes the heat receiving surface 2A6, the heat dissipating surface 2A7, the heat dissipating fins 2A8, and the partitioning portion 2C9 in addition to the storage chamber 2C5 for storing the image projection unit 3C.

[0226] The storage chamber 2C5 includes a first storage chamber 2C51 and a second storage chamber 2C52 partitioned by the partitioning portion 2C9. That is, the housing 2C includes the first storage chamber 2C51 and the second storage chamber 2C52.

[0227] The partitioning portion 2C9 is a partition wall provided in the housing 2C. In the present embodiment, the partitioning portion 2C9 holds the second condensing lens 57 of the illumination optical system 56.

[0228] The first storage chamber 2C51 stores the light source 31 having the solid light emitting element 311, the light guide optical system 47, and the wavelength conversion device 33C. The first storage chamber 2C51 is filled with the above-mentioned cooling medium.

[0229] The second storage chamber 2C52 stores the illumination optical system 56, the reflective light modulation element 45, and a part of the light incident side of the projection lens 7. The second storage chamber 2C52 is filled with the same cooling medium as that filled in the first storage chamber 2C51.

[0230] In the shell 2C, the heat receiving surface 2A6 is provided inside each storage chamber 2C51, 2C52, and receives heat from the cooling medium in each storage chamber 2C51, 2C52. The heat receiving surface 2A6 constitutes at least a part of the inner surface of the shell 2C. The heat receiving surface 2A6 of this embodiment constitutes substantially the entire inner surface of the shell 2C, similarly to the heat receiving surface 2A6 of the first embodiment.

[0231] The heat dissipation surface 2A7 is provided outside the storage chamber 2C5, and dissipates the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 to the outside of the housing 2C. The heat dissipation surface 2A7 constitutes at least a part of the outer surface of the housing 2C. The heat dissipation surface 2A7 of this embodiment constitutes substantially the entire outer surface of the housing 2C, similarly to the heat dissipation surface 2A7 of the first embodiment.

[0232] The heat sink 2A8 is composed of a plurality of fins 2A81 arranged on the heat sink surface 2A7, and a plurality of fins 2A8 are provided on the heat sink surface 2A7. One of the plurality of heat sinks 2A8 is provided on the heat sink surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided with the light source 31, and another heat sink 2A8 is provided on the heat sink surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided with the reflective light modulation element 45.

[0233] [Flow of Cooling Medium in the First Storage Chamber]

[0234] As described above, the light source 31, the light guide optical system 47, and the wavelength conversion device 33C are arranged in the first storage chamber 2C51 filled with the cooling medium.

[0235] When the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 of the wavelength conversion device 33C rotates, as described above, when the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 is viewed from the light incident side, the cooling medium flows from the rotation axis Rx3 to the outside of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2, thereby cooling the wavelength conversion layer 334 of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2.

[0236] In addition, due to the rotation of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2, a part of the cooling medium flows from the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 in the -Y direction and flows toward the light source 31. The light source 31 is cooled by such cooling medium.

[0237] The cooling medium that has cooled the light source 31 is cooled by transferring heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 exposed in the first storage chamber 2C51 during convection in the first storage chamber 2C51. The cooling medium that is convection while being cooled reaches the periphery of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2, and flows toward the light source 31 again as the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 rotates.

[0238] On the other hand, the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2C through the heat dissipation surface 2A7 and the heat sink 2A8. In addition, the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 from the light source 31 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2C through the heat sink 2A8 provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided with the light source 31.

[0239] [Flow of Cooling Medium in Second Storage Chamber]

[0240] As described above, the illumination optical system 56, the reflective light modulation element 45, and a part of the light incident side of the projection lens 7 are arranged in the second housing chamber 2C52 filled with the cooling medium.

[0241] When the color wheel 40C2 of the illumination optical system 56 rotates, as described above, when the color wheel 40C2 is viewed from the light incident side, the cooling medium flows from the area on the rotation axis Rx4 side toward the outside of the color wheel 40C2. As a result, a part of the cooling medium flows from the color wheel 40C2 to the reflective light modulator 45, cooling the reflective light modulator 45.

[0242] The cooling medium that has cooled the reflective light modulator 45 is cooled by transferring heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 exposed in the second storage chamber 2C52 during convection in the second storage chamber 2C52. The cooled and convective cooling medium reaches the periphery of the color wheel 40C2, and flows toward the reflective light modulator 45 again as the color wheel 40C2 rotates.

[0243] On the other hand, similarly to the case of the first storage chamber 2C51, the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2C through the heat dissipation surface 2A7 and the heat sink 2A8. In addition, the heat of the reflective light modulator 45 received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2C through the heat sink 2A8 provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 on which the reflective light modulator 45 is provided.

[0244] [Effects of the third embodiment]

[0245] The projector 1C according to the present embodiment described above has the following effects in addition to the same effects as the projector 1A according to the first embodiment.

[0246] In the projector 1C, a casing 2C as a housing has a first housing chamber 2C51 for housing the solid-state light emitting element 311 of the light source 31 , and a second housing chamber 2C52 for housing the reflective light modulation element 45 .

[0247] That is, the first storage chamber 2C51 stores the solid light emitting element 311 and the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 as one of the stirring devices, and the second storage chamber 2C52 stores the reflective light modulation element 45 and the color wheel 40C2 as one of the stirring devices.

[0248] According to such a configuration, the first storage chamber 2C51 and the second storage chamber 2C52 are provided with the heat receiving surface 2A6 and filled with the cooling medium, so that the cooling efficiency of each of the solid state light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulation element 45 can be improved.

[0249] In the projector 1C, the illumination optical system 56 includes a color wheel 40C2 that receives light emitted from the solid light emitting element 311 and the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 and sequentially outputs red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB. The red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB correspond to the first color light, the second color light, and the third color light.

[0250] The first storage chamber 2C51 is a storage chamber for storing the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2.

[0251] The second storage chamber 2C52 is a storage chamber for storing the color wheel 40C2.

[0252] The wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 and the color wheel 40C2 are stirring devices respectively.

[0253] According to such a structure, the solid light emitting element 311 stored in the first storage chamber 2C51 is cooled by the cooling medium flowing through the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2. The reflective light modulator 45 stored in the second storage chamber 2C52 is cooled by the cooling medium flowing through the color wheel 40C2. As a result, the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 are cooled separately in different storage chambers. Therefore, the heat of one of the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 does not affect the other element, and the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 can be cooled separately. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of each of the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 can be improved.

[0254] [Fourth embodiment]

[0255] Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0256] The projector of this embodiment has the same structure as the projector 1C of the third embodiment, but the storage chamber provided in the housing is divided differently. In the following description, the same or substantially the same parts as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0257] [Schematic structure of the projector]

[0258] Figure 4 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a projector 1D according to the present embodiment.

[0259] The projector 1D of this embodiment includes Figure 4 The projector 1D has the same structure and function as the projector 1C of the third embodiment except that the housing 2D shown in the figure is used instead of the housing 2C. That is, the projector 1D includes the housing 2D and the image projection unit 3C.

[0260] [Structure of the housing]

[0261] The housing 2D is a housing constituting the exterior of the projector 1D. The housing 2D includes a heat receiving surface 2A6, a heat dissipating surface 2A7, heat dissipating fins 2A8, and a partition 2D9 in addition to a storage chamber 2D5 for storing the image projection unit 3C.

[0262] The division portion 2D9 includes a first division portion 2D91 and a second division portion 2D92.

[0263] The first partitioning portion 2D91 is provided in the housing 2D, and is a partition wall that partitions the storage chamber 2D5 into the first storage chamber 2D51 and the second storage chamber 2D52. The first partitioning portion 2D91 holds the superimposing lens 61.

[0264] The second partitioning portion 2D92 is a partition wall provided in the housing 2D and partitions the storage chamber 2D5 into the first storage chamber 2D51 and the third storage chamber 2D53. The second partitioning portion 2D92 holds the lens 552 of the pickup lens 55.

[0265] By means of such a partitioning portion 2D9, the storage room 2D5 is hermetically partitioned into a first storage room 2D51, a second storage room 2D52, and a third storage room 2D53.

[0266] The first storage chamber 2D51 stores the light source 31, the light guide optical system 47, and the components other than the prism 44 in the illumination optical system 56. That is, the first storage chamber 2D51 stores the light source 31, the light guide optical system 47, the second condensing lens 57 of the illumination optical system 56, the color separation device 40C, the collimating lens 58, the uniformizing element 59, the third reflecting mirror 60, and the superimposing lens 61.

[0267] The second storage chamber 2D52 stores the prism 44 , the reflective light modulation element 45 , and the light incident end of the projection lens 7 .

[0268] The third storage chamber 2D53 stores the wavelength conversion device 33C.

[0269] In this embodiment, the first storage chamber 2D51, the second storage chamber 2D52, and the third storage chamber 2D53 are respectively filled with the above-mentioned cooling medium. The cooling medium respectively filled in the first storage chamber 2D51, the second storage chamber 2D52, and the third storage chamber 2D53 may be the same cooling medium or different cooling media. In addition, one of the first storage chamber 2D51, the second storage chamber 2D52, and the third storage chamber 2D53 may not be filled with a cooling medium.

[0270] The heat receiving surface 2A6 of the housing 2D is disposed inside each storage chamber 2D51, 2D52, 2D53, and receives heat from the cooling medium in each storage chamber 2D51, 2D52, 2D53. The heat receiving surface 2A6 constitutes at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing 2D. The heat receiving surface 2A6 of this embodiment, like the heat receiving surface 2A6 of the first, second, and third embodiments, constitutes substantially the entire inner surface of the housing 2D.

[0271] The heat dissipation surface 2A7 of the housing 2D is provided outside the storage chamber 2D5, and dissipates the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 to the outside of the housing 2D. The heat dissipation surface 2A7 constitutes at least a part of the outer surface of the housing 2D. The heat dissipation surface 2A7 of this embodiment constitutes substantially the entire outer surface of the housing 2D, similarly to the heat dissipation surface 2A7 of the first, second and third embodiments.

[0272] The heat sink 2A8 of the housing 2D is composed of a plurality of fins 2A81 arranged on the heat sink surface 2A7, and a plurality of fins 2A81 are provided on the heat sink surface 2A7. One of the plurality of heat sinks 2A8 is provided on the heat sink surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided with the light source 31, and another heat sink 2A8 is provided on the heat sink surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided with the reflective light modulation element 45.

[0273] [Flow of Cooling Medium in the First Storage Chamber]

[0274] As described above, the light source 31 , the light guide optical system 47 , and the components other than the prism 44 in the illumination optical system 56 are arranged in the first storage chamber 2C51 filled with the cooling medium.

[0275] When the color wheel 40C2 as the stirring device rotates, as described above, when the color wheel 40C2 is viewed from the light incident side, the cooling medium flows from the rotation axis Rx4 to the outside of the color wheel 40C2. In this way, the cooling medium in the first storage chamber 2D51 is stirred by the rotation of the color wheel 40C2, and a part of the cooling medium flows toward the light source 31 to cool the light source 31.

[0276] The cooling medium that has cooled the light source 31 is cooled by transferring heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 exposed in the first storage chamber 2D51 during convection in the first storage chamber 2D51. The cooling medium that is convection while being cooled reaches the periphery of the color wheel 40C2, and flows toward the light source 31 again as the color wheel 40C2 rotates.

[0277] On the other hand, the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2D through the heat dissipation surface 2A7 and the heat sink 2A8. In addition, the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 from the light source 31 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2D through the heat sink 2A8 provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 provided with the light source 31.

[0278] [Flow of Cooling Medium in Second Storage Chamber]

[0279] As described above, the prism 44, the reflective light modulation element 45, and a part of the light incident side of the projection lens 7 are arranged in the second storage chamber 2D52 filled with the cooling medium.

[0280] The cooling medium in contact with the reflective light modulator 45 absorbs heat from the reflective light modulator 45. In the second storage chamber 2D52, due to the temperature difference between the cooling medium that absorbs heat from the reflective light modulator 45 and the cooling medium that does not absorb heat, the cooling medium convects. The cooling medium after convection contacts the heat receiving surface 2A6 and transfers heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6. As a result, the cooling medium is cooled.

[0281] The heat of the reflective light modulator 45 received on the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2D through the heat dissipation surface 2A7 and the heat sink 2A8. In addition, the heat of the reflective light modulator 45 received on the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2D through the heat sink 2A8 provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6 on which the reflective light modulator 45 is provided.

[0282] [Flow of Cooling Medium in the Third Storage Chamber]

[0283] As described above, the wavelength conversion device 33C is arranged in the third storage chamber 2D53 filled with the cooling medium.

[0284] When the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 of the wavelength conversion device 33C rotates, the cooling medium flows from the rotation axis Rx3 to the outside of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 when the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 is viewed from the light incident side, thereby cooling the wavelength conversion layer 334 of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2.

[0285] The cooling medium after cooling the wavelength conversion layer 334 is cooled by transferring heat to the heat receiving surface 2A6 exposed in the second storage chamber 2D52 during the convection process in the third storage chamber 2D53. The cooling medium, which is convection while being cooled, reaches the periphery of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2, and cools the wavelength conversion layer 334 as the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 rotates.

[0286] On the other hand, the heat received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2D through the heat dissipation surface 2A7 and the heat dissipation fins 2A8. In addition, when the wavelength conversion device 33C is provided on the heat receiving surface 2A6 and the heat dissipation fins 2A8 are provided on the heat dissipation surface 2A7 on the side opposite to the heat receiving surface 2A6, the heat of the wavelength conversion device 33C received by the heat receiving surface 2A6 is dissipated to the outside of the housing 2D through the heat dissipation fins 2A8.

[0287] [Effects of the Fourth Embodiment]

[0288] The projector 1D according to the present embodiment described above has the following effects in addition to the same effects as the projector 1C according to the third embodiment.

[0289] In the projector 1D, the illumination optical system 56 has a color wheel 40C2, and the color wheel 40C2 receives light emitted from the solid light emitting element 311 of the light source 31 and the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 and sequentially outputs red light, green light, and blue light. The red light, green light, and blue light correspond to the first color light, the second color light, and the third color light. The first storage chamber 2D51 is a storage chamber for storing the color wheel 40C2, and the color wheel 40C2 is a stirring device.

[0290] According to such a structure, the solid-state light emitting element 311 stored in the first storage chamber 2D51 can be effectively cooled by the cooling medium flowing in the first storage chamber 2D51 using the color wheel 40C2. In addition, by using the color wheel 40C2 as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be circulated to the solid-state light emitting element 311 without increasing the number of components of the projector 1D.

[0291] In the projector 1D, the housing 2D further includes a third storage chamber 2D53 for storing the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2.

[0292] Here, the wavelength conversion layer 334 of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 that converts the wavelength of the incident excitation light generates heat. Therefore, if the amount of heat generated by the wavelength conversion layer 334 is large, there is a possibility that the surrounding structure of the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 will be thermally affected.

[0293] On the other hand, according to the above structure, the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 is arranged in the third storage chamber 2D53 which is different from the first storage chamber 2D51 storing the solid light emitting element 311 and the second storage chamber 2D52 storing the reflective light modulator 45. Therefore, the wavelength conversion wheel 33C2 does not exert a thermal influence on the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45, and the solid light emitting element 311 and the reflective light modulator 45 can be cooled separately.

[0294] [Variations of Embodiments]

[0295] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications and improvements within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0296] In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the wavelength conversion wheels 33A2 and 33C2 emit a portion of the excitation light emitted from the light source 31 having at least one solid light emitting element 311, and emit wavelength converted light after the wavelength conversion of the remaining excitation light. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the projector may have a separation element that separates the excitation light emitted from the light source 31 into the first excitation light and the second excitation light, and converts the first excitation light into the wavelength converted light by the wavelength conversion wheels 33A2 and 33C2, and synthesizes the converted wavelength converted light and the second excitation light to generate white light. In addition, for example, the projector may also have a first light source that emits blue light and a second light source that emits the excitation light incident on the wavelength conversion wheels 33A2 and 33C2. That is, the wavelength conversion wheels 33A2 and 33C2 may also convert substantially all of the incident excitation light into the wavelength converted light.

[0297] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, 33C2 is one of the stirring devices, and the color wheel 402, 40C2 is the other one of the stirring devices. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a fan may be used as the stirring device in place of at least one of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, 33C2 and the color wheel 402, 40C2, or in addition to at least one of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, 33C2. For example, a non-rotating wavelength conversion element may be used in place of the wavelength conversion wheel 33A2, 33C2, and a fan that stirs the cooling medium may be used as the stirring device.

[0298] Furthermore, the wavelength conversion wheels 33A2 and 33C2 may allow the cooling medium to flow toward the reflective light modulation element 45 , and the color wheels 402 and 40C2 may allow the cooling medium to flow toward the solid-state light emitting element 311 .

[0299] In the third embodiment, the first storage chamber 2C51 and the second storage chamber 2C52 are filled with cooling medium, respectively. In the fourth embodiment, the first storage chamber 2D51, the second storage chamber 2D52, and the third storage chamber 2D53 are filled with cooling medium, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cooling medium may be filled in one of the first storage chamber 2C51 and the second storage chamber 2C52, while the cooling medium may not be filled in the other storage chamber. Similarly, the cooling medium may be filled in at least one of the first storage chamber 2D51, the second storage chamber 2D52, and the third storage chamber 2D53, while the cooling medium may not be filled in the remaining storage chambers.

[0300] In the third and fourth embodiments, the color wheel 40C2 includes the color separation regions 405R, 405G, 405B and the transmission region 405T. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the transmission region 405T may be omitted. In addition, the color wheel 40C2 may include a color separation region that transmits yellow light and blocks other color lights instead of the transmission region 405T.

[0301] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the image projection units 3A, 3B, and 3C are configured to include Figures 1 to 4 The optical components shown in the figure. However, the structure of the image projection units 3A, 3B, and 3C is not limited to the above structure. That is, some of the optical components constituting the image projection units 3A, 3B, and 3C may not be included, and the image projection units 3A, 3B, and 3C may also have other optical components.

[0302] In the above embodiments, the housings 2A, 2C, and 2D constitute the exterior of the projectors 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the housing of the present invention may be a housing disposed inside the exterior housing instead of constituting the exterior of the projector.

[0303] In the third and fourth embodiments, the image projection unit 3C includes one reflective light modulator 45. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the image projection unit 3C may include three reflective light modulators 45 and a dichroic prism 46 as in the image projection unit 3B of the second embodiment.

[0304] [Summary of the utility model]

[0305] Below, the summary of the present utility model is attached.

[0306] [Note 1]

[0307] A projector, characterized in that it comprises: a solid light emitting element that emits excitation light; a wavelength conversion wheel that receives the excitation light and converts the excitation light into wavelength converted light; an illumination optical system that outputs illumination light using light from the solid light emitting element and the wavelength converted light; a reflective light modulator that modulates light incident from the illumination optical system according to an image signal and emits color image light; a stirring device that stirs a cooling medium; and a housing that accommodates the solid light emitting element, the wavelength conversion wheel, the illumination optical system, the reflective light modulator, and the stirring device, the housing comprising: a storage chamber that accommodates at least one of the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator and the stirring device and is sealed; and a heat receiving surface that is arranged inside the storage chamber, the cooling medium is filled in the storage chamber, stirred by the stirring device, circulated to the at least one element, absorbs heat from the at least one element, and transfers the absorbed heat to the heat receiving surface.

[0308] According to such a structure, at least one of the reflective light modulation element and the solid light emitting element as a heat source is stored in a sealed storage chamber. The storage chamber is filled with a cooling medium, which is stirred by a stirring device and flows toward the at least one element, absorbing heat from the at least one element. The cooling medium dissipates the absorbed heat to a heating surface provided on the inner surface of the storage chamber. Thus, the at least one element can be cooled.

[0309] Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the at least one element can be improved without using a large cooling device in the projector. That is, the projector can be configured to improve the cooling efficiency of the at least one element while maintaining the compactness.

[0310] [Note 2]

[0311] In the projector described in Supplementary Note 1, the solid-state light emitting element is accommodated in the accommodation chamber, and the stirring device allows the cooling medium to flow toward the solid-state light emitting element.

[0312] According to such a configuration, the solid-state light emitting element, which is a heat source whose temperature rises when emitting light, can be efficiently cooled using a cooling medium. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the solid-state light emitting element can be improved.

[0313] [Note 3]

[0314] In the projector described in Supplementary Note 2, it is characterized in that the wavelength conversion wheel is the stirring device.

[0315] According to such a configuration, by using the wavelength conversion wheel as a stirring device, it is possible to cause the cooling medium to flow through the solid-state light emitting element without increasing the number of components of the projector.

[0316] [Note 4]

[0317] In the projector described in Appendix 3, it is characterized in that the solid light emitting element is arranged along the inner surface of the storage chamber, the wavelength conversion wheel makes the cooling medium contact with the heating surface, and the cooling medium dissipates heat to the heating surface and flows to the solid light emitting element.

[0318] According to such a configuration, the cooling medium is cooled by the wavelength conversion wheel dissipating heat to the heat receiving surface provided in the storage chamber, and then flows to the solid light emitting elements provided along the inner surface of the storage chamber. Therefore, the solid light emitting elements can be cooled efficiently.

[0319] [Note 5]

[0320] In the projector described in any one of Notes 2 to 4, it is characterized in that the illumination optical system has a color wheel, which is incident with light emitted from the solid light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel, and outputs the first color light, the second color light and the third color light in sequence, and the color wheel is the stirring device.

[0321] According to such a configuration, the first color light, the second color light, and the third color light can be incident on the reflective light modulation element, thereby enabling a color image to be generated by the reflective light modulation element.

[0322] Furthermore, by using the color wheel as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be made to flow to the reflective light modulation element without increasing the number of components of the projector.

[0323] [Note 6]

[0324] In the projector according to Supplementary Note 1, the reflective light modulation element is accommodated in the accommodation chamber, and the stirring device allows the cooling medium to flow toward the reflective light modulation element.

[0325] According to such a configuration, the reflective light modulation element, which is a heat source whose temperature rises during image formation, can be efficiently cooled using a cooling medium. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the reflective light modulation element can be improved.

[0326] [Note 7]

[0327] In the projector described in Supplementary Note 6, it is characterized in that the wavelength conversion wheel is the stirring device.

[0328] According to such a configuration, by using the wavelength conversion wheel as a stirring device, it is possible to allow the cooling medium to flow through the reflective light modulation element without increasing the number of components of the projector.

[0329] [Note 8]

[0330] In the projector described in Note 6 or Note 7, it is characterized in that the illumination optical system has a color wheel, which is incident with the light emitted from the solid light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel, and outputs the first color light, the second color light and the third color light in sequence, and the color wheel is the stirring device.

[0331] According to such a configuration, the first color light, the second color light, and the third color light can be incident on the reflective light modulation element, thereby enabling a color image to be generated by the reflective light modulation element.

[0332] Furthermore, by using the color wheel as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be made to flow to the reflective light modulation element without increasing the number of components of the projector.

[0333] [Note 9]

[0334] In the projector described in Supplementary Note 8, the cooling medium flowing through the reflective light modulation element dissipates heat absorbed by the reflective light modulation element to the heat receiving surface and flows toward the color wheel.

[0335] According to such a structure, the cooling medium after cooling the reflective light modulator dissipates heat to the heat receiving surface provided on the inner surface of the storage chamber and is cooled, and then flows to the color wheel. Therefore, the color wheel can efficiently cool the reflective light modulator by allowing the cooled cooling medium to flow to the reflective light modulator.

[0336] [Note 10]

[0337] In the projector described in Note 1, it is characterized in that the shell has: a first storage chamber, which stores the solid light emitting element; and a second storage chamber, which stores the reflective light modulation element, and the storage chamber is at least one of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber.

[0338] According to such a structure, when a heating surface is provided in each of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and a cooling medium is filled, the cooling efficiency of each of the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator can be improved. In addition, when a heating surface is provided in one of the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and a cooling medium is filled, the cooling efficiency of the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator stored in one storage chamber can be improved.

[0339] [Note 11]

[0340] In the projector described in Note 10, it is characterized in that the illumination optical system has a color wheel, which is incident with light emitted from the solid light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel, and outputs a first color light, a second color light and a third color light in sequence, the first storage chamber stores the wavelength conversion wheel, the second storage chamber stores the color wheel, the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber are respectively the storage chambers, and the wavelength conversion wheel and the color wheel are respectively the stirring devices.

[0341] According to such a structure, the solid light emitting element stored in the first storage chamber is cooled by the cooling medium flowing through the wavelength conversion wheel, and the reflective light modulator stored in the second storage chamber is cooled by the cooling medium flowing through the color wheel. Thus, the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator are cooled separately in different storage chambers. Therefore, the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator can be cooled separately without the heat of one of the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator affecting the other. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of each of the solid light emitting element and the reflective light modulator can be improved.

[0342] [Note 12]

[0343] In the projector described in Note 10, it is characterized in that the illumination optical system has a color wheel, which is incident with light emitted from the solid light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel, and outputs a first color light, a second color light and a third color light in sequence, the first storage chamber stores the color wheel, the first storage chamber is the storage chamber, and the color wheel is the stirring device.

[0344] According to such a configuration, the solid-state light emitting device accommodated in the first accommodation chamber can be effectively cooled by the cooling medium flowing in the first accommodation chamber via the color wheel.

[0345] Furthermore, by using the color wheel as a stirring device, the cooling medium can be circulated to the solid-state light emitting element without increasing the number of components of the projector.

[0346] [Note 13]

[0347] In the projector described in Supplementary Note 12, it is characterized in that the housing further has a third storage chamber for storing the wavelength conversion wheel.

[0348] Here, the wavelength conversion wheel that converts the wavelength of the incident excitation light generates heat. Therefore, if the amount of heat generated by the wavelength conversion wheel is large, there is a possibility that the surrounding structure of the wavelength conversion wheel will be thermally affected.

[0349] In this regard, according to the above structure, the wavelength conversion wheel is arranged in the third storage chamber which is different from the first storage chamber for storing the solid-state light emitting element and the second storage chamber for storing the reflective light modulator. Therefore, the solid-state light emitting light source and the reflective light modulator can be cooled separately without causing thermal influence from the wavelength conversion wheel on the solid-state light emitting light source and the reflective light modulator.

Claims

1. A projector, characterized in that: It has: A solid light emitting element that emits excitation light; a wavelength conversion wheel, which receives the excitation light and converts the excitation light into wavelength-converted light; an illumination optical system that outputs illumination light using the light from the solid-state light emitting element and the wavelength-converted light; a reflective light modulator that modulates light incident from the illumination optical system according to an image signal to emit color image light; a stirring device that stirs the cooling medium; and a housing that accommodates the solid-state light emitting element, the wavelength conversion wheel, the illumination optical system, the reflective light modulation element, and the stirring device, The housing has: a housing chamber that houses at least one of the solid-state light emitting element and the reflective light modulation element and the stirring device and is sealed; and A heating surface is arranged inside the storage chamber, The cooling medium is filled in the storage chamber, stirred by the stirring device, circulated to the at least one element, absorbs heat from the at least one element, and transfers the absorbed heat to the heat receiving surface.

2. The projector according to claim 1, characterized in that The solid light emitting element is stored in the storage chamber. The stirring device allows the cooling medium to flow toward the solid-state light emitting element.

3. The projector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wavelength conversion wheel is the stirring device.

4. The projector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The solid light emitting element is arranged along the inner surface of the storage chamber. The wavelength conversion wheel makes the cooling medium contact with the heating surface, The cooling medium dissipates heat toward the heat receiving surface and flows toward the solid state light emitting element.

5. The projector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The illumination optical system includes a color wheel, which receives light emitted from the solid-state light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel and sequentially outputs a first color light, a second color light, and a third color light. The color wheel is the stirring device.

6. The projector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reflective light modulation element is stored in the storage chamber. The stirring device allows the cooling medium to flow toward the reflective light modulation element.

7. The projector according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wavelength conversion wheel is the stirring device.

8. The projector according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The illumination optical system includes a color wheel, which receives light emitted from the solid-state light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel and sequentially outputs a first color light, a second color light, and a third color light. The color wheel is the stirring device.

9. The projector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cooling medium flowing through the reflective light modulation element dissipates heat absorbed by the reflective light modulation element to the heat receiving surface and flows toward the color wheel.

10. The projector according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing has: a first storage chamber for storing the solid light emitting element; and a second storage chamber for storing the reflective light modulation element, The storage room is at least one of the first storage room and the second storage room.

11. The projector according to claim 10, characterized in that: The illumination optical system includes a color wheel, which receives light emitted from the solid-state light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel and sequentially outputs a first color light, a second color light, and a third color light. The first storage chamber stores the wavelength conversion wheel. The second storage chamber stores the color wheel. The first storage room and the second storage room are the storage rooms, respectively. The wavelength conversion wheel and the color wheel are respectively the stirring devices.

12. The projector according to claim 10, characterized in that: The illumination optical system includes a color wheel, which receives light emitted from the solid-state light emitting element and the wavelength conversion wheel and sequentially outputs a first color light, a second color light, and a third color light. The first storage chamber stores the color wheel. The first storage room is the storage room, The color wheel is the stirring device.

13. The projector according to claim 12, characterized in that: The housing further includes a third storage chamber for storing the wavelength conversion wheel.

Images