Light modulation module, projector and polarization unit

Abstract

Provided are a light modulation module, a projector, and a polarization unit that can improve the cooling efficiency of a polarizing plate. [Solution] The optical modulation module comprises a panel module that modulates incident light, a polarizing plate onto which light emitted from the panel module is incident, a heat dissipation substrate having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate, and a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation substrate, wherein the heat dissipation substrate has a first surface that is thermally connected to the polarizing plate and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the cold plate has an opening through which light can pass, a connection portion that is provided around the opening and is thermally connected to the second surface, and a circulation portion through which a liquid refrigerant flows.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a light modulation module, a projector, and a polarization unit. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a projection-type image display device that includes a light source unit, an illumination optical unit, a projection lens system, and a cooling structure has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the projection-type image display device described in Patent Document 1, the illumination optical unit includes an image display unit having a blue member that modulates blue light, a green member that modulates green light, and a red member that modulates red light. Each of the blue, green, and red members has an incident-side polarizer, a liquid crystal panel, and an exit-side polarizer. The image display unit is housed in a sealed housing.

[0003] The cooling structure cools the image display unit and includes a heat exchanger and a circulation fan. The heat exchanger cools the air inside the sealed housing. The circulation fan is housed inside the sealed housing and blows the air toward the image display unit. Specifically, the circulation fan is made up of a first fan, a second fan, and a third fan. Air drawn in by the first fan flows through an air guide duct connected to the first fan to the red member, air drawn in by the second fan flows through an air guide duct connected to the second fan to the blue member, and air drawn in by the third fan flows through an air guide duct connected to the third fan to the green member. This cools the incident-side polarizer, the liquid crystal panel, and the exit-side polarizer of each member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-179986 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In recent years, there has been a demand for projectors with higher brightness for projected images. In response to such demands, if the brightness of the light beam irradiated from the light source device to the display device is increased, the projection-type image display device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the image display unit cannot be cooled sufficiently, and the image display unit is prone to deterioration. In particular, when displaying a black image, it becomes necessary for the output-side polarizing plate of the image display unit to block almost all of the light that has passed through the liquid crystal panel, which causes the temperature of the output-side polarizing plate to rise, resulting in a noticeable problem of the output-side polarizing plate being prone to deterioration. In view of these problems, there has been a demand for a configuration that can improve the cooling efficiency of the polarizing plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An optical modulation module according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a panel module that modulates incident light, a polarizing plate onto which light emitted from the panel module is incident, a heat dissipation substrate having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate, and a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation substrate, wherein the heat dissipation substrate has a first surface that is thermally connected to the polarizing plate and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the cold plate has an opening through which light can pass, a connection portion that is provided around the opening and thermally connected to the second surface, and a circulation portion through which a liquid refrigerant flows.

[0007] A projector according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes an optical modulation module according to the first aspect, a light source device that emits light that enters the optical modulation module, and a projection optical device that projects light modulated by the optical modulation module.

[0008] A polarization unit according to a third aspect of the present disclosure comprises a polarizing plate onto which light is incident, a heat dissipation substrate having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate and connected to the polarizing plate in a heat-transferable manner, and a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation substrate, wherein the heat dissipation substrate has a first surface facing the polarizing plate and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the cold plate has an opening through which light passes, a connection portion provided around the opening and thermally connected to the second surface, and a circulation portion through which a liquid refrigerant flows. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a projector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a light source device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the first optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the first optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the panel module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the panel module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a polarization unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a polarization unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a polarization unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 3 is a view showing a flow-through portion of a plate body according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a third optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a third optical modulation module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 17] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a cooling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 18] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a cooling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 19] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a cooling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 21] 5A to 5C are views showing deformations of the plate body according to the first embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device included in a projector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image projection device included in a projector according to a third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device included in a projector according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [Projector appearance configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a projector 1A according to this embodiment. Projector 1A according to this embodiment is a projection display device that modulates light emitted from a light source device 31, which will be described later, and projects image light corresponding to image information. As shown in Fig. 1, projector 1A includes an exterior housing 2 that forms the exterior of projector 1A, and an image projection device 3 and a control device 6 that are housed in the exterior housing 2. In addition, although not shown in Fig. 1, projector 1A also includes a cooling device 7A that cools an object to be cooled, and a power supply device (not shown). The configuration of the projector 1A will be described in detail below.

[0011] [Configuration of image projection device] The image projection device 3 forms and projects image light according to an image signal input from the control device 6. The image projection device 3 includes a light source device 31, a uniformization device 32, a color separation device 33, an image formation device 34, a projection optical device 35, and an optical component housing 36.

[0012] [Light source configuration] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the light source device 31. As shown in FIG. The light source device 31 emits white illumination light containing red, green, and blue color lights to the homogenizer 32. As shown in Fig. 2 , the light source device 31 includes a light source 310, an afocal optical element 311, a first phase difference element 312, a homogenizer optical device 313, a light combining device 314, a second phase difference element 315, a first condensing element 316, a light diffusing device 317, a second condensing element 318, and a wavelength converting device 319. The light source 310, the afocal optical element 311, the first phase difference element 312, the homogenizer optical device 313, the second phase difference element 315, the first light-collecting element 316, and the light diffusing device 317 are arranged on a first illumination optical axis Ax1. Meanwhile, the second light-collecting element 318, the wavelength conversion device 319, and a homogenizing device 32 (described later) are arranged on a second illumination optical axis Ax2 that intersects with the first illumination optical axis Ax1. The light combining device 314 is arranged at the intersection of the first illumination optical axis Ax1 and the second illumination optical axis Ax2.

[0013] [Light source configuration] The light source 310 emits blue light as source light. The light source 310 includes a first light source unit 3101, a second light source unit 3102, and a light combining member 3103. The first light source unit 3101 and the second light source unit 3102 each include a light-emitting element array SA in which a plurality of light-emitting elements SS, which are LDs (Laser Diodes), are arranged in a matrix, and a collimating element (not shown) that collimates and reduces the diameter of the blue light emitted from the light-emitting element array SA. The light-emitting element SS emits excitation light with a peak wavelength of 440 nm, for example, but may also emit excitation light with a peak wavelength of 446 nm or 460 nm. Furthermore, light-emitting elements that emit excitation light with different peak wavelengths may be mixed in each of the light source units 3101 and 3102. The excitation light emitted from the light-emitting element SS is collimated by the collimating element and enters the light combining member 3103. In this embodiment, the excitation light emitted from each light-emitting element SS is s-polarized with respect to the light combining device 314, but the excitation light may be p-polarized with respect to the light combining device 314. Furthermore, the light source units 3101 and 3102 may be configured to include a light-emitting element SS that emits s-polarized excitation light and a light-emitting element SS that emits p-polarized excitation light. In this case, the first phase difference element 312 can be omitted.

[0014] The light combining member 3103 combines the first light source light emitted from the first light source unit 3101 and the second light source light emitted from the second light source unit 3102, and emits the combined light. The light source 310 may have only the first light source unit 3101, or may have more light source units. When the light source 310 has only the first light source unit 3101, the light combining member 3103 can be omitted.

[0015] [Configuration of afocal optical element and first phase difference element] The afocal optical element 311 has lenses 3111 and 3112, and reduces the diameter of the light source light incident from the light source 310, and then collimates and emits the collimated light. The first phase difference element 312 is a half-wave plate. By passing through the first phase difference element 312, part of the s-polarized light source light incident from the afocal optical element 311 is converted into p-polarized light source light. As a result, the light source light that has passed through the first phase difference element 312 becomes light source light in which s-polarized light and p-polarized light are mixed.

[0016] [Configuration of homogenizer optical device] The homogenizer optical device 313 has two multi-lenses 3131 and 3132, and homogenizes the illuminance distribution of the light source light incident on the illuminated areas of the light diffuser 317 and the wavelength converter 319. The homogenizer optical device 313 is not limited to being disposed on the light output side of the first phase difference element 312, and may be disposed between the afocal optical element 311 and the first phase difference element 312. Furthermore, instead of the homogenizer optical device 313, a diffuse transmission element having a configuration with a hologram, a configuration in which a plurality of small lenses are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, or a configuration in which the surface through which light passes is rough and which homogenizes the illuminance distribution of the incident light may be employed.

[0017] [Configuration of the photosynthetic apparatus] The light combining device 314 has a polarization separation layer 3141 that is inclined at approximately 45° with respect to each of the first illumination optical axis Ax1 and the second illumination optical axis Ax2. The polarization separation layer 3141 has the property of separating s-polarized light and p-polarized light contained in the light source light incident via the homogenizer optical device 313, and also has the property of passing fluorescence generated in the wavelength conversion device 319 regardless of the polarization state of the fluorescence. In other words, the polarization separation layer 3141 has wavelength-selective polarization separation properties, separating s-polarized light and p-polarized light for light with wavelengths in the blue light region, but passing each of the s-polarized light and p-polarized light for light with wavelengths in the green light region and red light region. In this way, by the light combining device 314 that also functions as a light separating device, p-polarized light of the light source light incident from the homogenizer optical device 313 passes toward the second phase difference element 315 along the first illumination optical axis Ax1, and s-polarized light is reflected toward the second light collecting element 318 along the second illumination optical axis Ax2. In addition, as will be described in detail later, the light combining device 314 combines the light source light incident via the second phase difference element 315 and the fluorescence incident via the second light collecting element 318.

[0018] [Configuration of the second phase difference element and the first light-collecting element] The second phase difference element 315 is a quarter wave plate, which converts the p-polarized light source light incident from the light combining device 314 into circularly polarized light source light, and converts the light source light incident from the first light collecting element 316 into s-polarized light. The first light collecting element 316 collects the light source light that has passed through the second phase difference element 315 onto the light diffusing device 317. In this embodiment, the first light collecting element 316 is made up of three lenses 3161 to 3163, but the number of lenses that make up the first light collecting element 316 is not limited to three.

[0019] [Configuration of light diffusion device] The light diffusion device 317 diffuses the incident light source light at a diffusion angle similar to that of the fluorescence emitted from the wavelength conversion device 319. The light diffusion device 317 has a disk-shaped light diffusion element 3171 on which an annular reflective layer is formed around a rotation center, and a rotation device 3172 that rotates the light diffusion element 3171. The reflective layer causes Lambertian reflection of the incident light. The light source light diffused and reflected by the light diffuser 3171 is incident again on the second phase difference element 315 via the first light collecting element 316. When reflected by the light diffuser 3171, the circularly polarized light incident on the light diffuser 3171 becomes reverse-circularly polarized light, and in the process of passing through the second phase difference element 315, is converted into s-polarized light source light whose polarization direction is rotated 90° with respect to the p-polarized light source light passing through the light combining device 314. The s-polarized light source light is reflected by the polarization separation layer 3141, and incident as blue light on the homogenizer 32 described below along the second illumination optical axis Ax2. It should be noted that the light diffusion element 3171 of the light diffusion device 317 does not necessarily have to be rotated, that is, the rotation device 3172 may not be provided.

[0020] [Configuration of the second light-collecting element] The second light collecting element 318 is made incident with s-polarized light source light that has passed through the homogenizer optical device 313 and been reflected by the polarization separation layer 3141. The second light collecting element 318 collects the incident light source light onto the wavelength conversion layer 3193, which is the illuminated region of the wavelength conversion device 319, and also collimates the fluorescence emitted from the wavelength conversion device 319 and emits it to the polarization separation layer 3141. The second light collecting element 318 is made up of three lenses 3181 to 3183, similar to the first light collecting element 316, but the number of lenses included in the second light collecting element 318 is not limited to three.

[0021] [Configuration of wavelength conversion device] The wavelength converter 319 converts the wavelength of incident light, and in this embodiment, converts the wavelength of blue light, which is excitation light, into fluorescent light, which is converted light. Fluorescent light is light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 500 to 700 nm, for example, and includes green light and red light. The wavelength converter 319 has a wavelength conversion element 3191, a rotation device 3195 that rotates the wavelength conversion element 3191, and a heat dissipation member 3196 that dissipates heat transferred from the wavelength conversion element 3191.

[0022] The wavelength conversion element 3191 has a disk-shaped support 3192, and a wavelength conversion layer 3193 and a reflective layer 3194 located on the surface of the support 3192 on the excitation light incident side. The wavelength conversion layer 3193 is a phosphor layer containing a phosphor that is excited by the incidence of blue light, which is light from the light source, and that diffuses and emits fluorescent light, which is unpolarized light. A part of the fluorescent light generated in the wavelength conversion layer 3193 is emitted toward the second light collecting element 318, and the other part is emitted toward the reflecting layer 3194. The reflective layer 3194 is disposed between the wavelength conversion layer 3193 and the support 3192, and reflects the fluorescence incident from the wavelength conversion layer 3193 towards the second light collecting element 318 side.

[0023] When the wavelength conversion element 3191 is irradiated with light from the light source, the wavelength conversion element 3191 diffuses and emits the fluorescence toward the second light collecting element 318. The fluorescence incident on the second light collecting element 318 is incident on the polarization separation layer 3141 via the second light collecting element 318, passes through the polarization separation layer 3141 along the second illumination optical axis Ax2, and enters the homogenizer 32. That is, by passing through the polarization separation layer 3141, the fluorescence is combined with the blue light reflected by the polarization separation layer 3141 and is emitted from the light source device 31 as white illumination light. The wavelength conversion layer 3193 generates heat when light from the light source is incident on it, and the heat generated in the wavelength conversion layer 3193 is transferred to the support 3192 via the reflective layer 3194. The heat transferred to the support 3192 is dissipated by a heat dissipation member 3196 connected to the support 3192.

[0024] [Configuration of the uniformizer and color separator] 1 uniforms the illuminance in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the illumination light emitted from the light source device 31. The uniformizer 32 has a phase difference element 320 which is a half-wave plate, a UV filter 321, a first lens array 322, a dimming device 323, a second lens array 324, a polarization conversion element 325, and a superimposing lens 326. Of these, the polarization conversion element 325 aligns the polarization direction of the incident light. The color separator 33 separates the illumination light incident from the uniformizer 32 into three color lights of red, green, and blue. The color separator 33 includes dichroic mirrors 331 and 332, reflecting mirrors 333 to 336, and a relay lens 337.

[0025] [Configuration of image forming device] The image forming device 34 modulates each of the separated color lights, and then combines the modulated color lights to form image light that is projected by the projection optical device 35. The image forming device 34 has a field lens 341 and a light modulation device 342 provided for each color light, and one color combining device 346. Of these, three light modulation devices 342 modulate color light incident through corresponding field lenses 341. The three light modulation devices 342 include a red light modulation element 342R that modulates red light, a green light modulation element 342G that modulates green light, and a blue light modulation element 342B that modulates blue light. Of these, the green light modulation element 342G employs a first light modulation module 343, which will be described later, the blue light modulation element 342B employs a second light modulation module 344, which will be described later, and the red light modulation element 342R employs a third light modulation module 345, which will be described later. The light modulation modules 343, 344, and 345 will be described in detail later.

[0026] The color combining device 346 is configured by a cross dichroic prism formed in a substantially rectangular prism shape. The color combining device 346 has three light incident surfaces onto which the red light, green light, and blue light that have passed through the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R are incident, and a light exit surface from which image light obtained by combining the color lights is emitted. The light exit surface faces the projection optical device 35. Although detailed illustration is omitted, each of the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R is supported by a support member provided in the color synthesis device 346, thereby integrating each of the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R with the color synthesis device 346.

[0027] [Configuration of the projection optical device and housing for optical components] The projection optical device 35 enlarges and projects the image light combined by the color combining device 346. As the projection optical device 35, a lens assembly in which a plurality of lenses are arranged inside a lens barrel can be used. The optical component housing 36 is a box-shaped housing with an illumination optical axis Ax set therein. The light source device 31, the uniformizing device 32, the color separation device 33, and the image forming device 34 are disposed at positions on the illumination optical axis Ax within the optical component housing 36. The projection optical device 35 is located outside the optical component housing 36 but is disposed in accordance with the illumination optical axis Ax.

[0028] [Configuration of the first optical modulation module] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the first optical modulation module 343 as seen from the light incident side, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the first optical modulation module 343 as seen from the light output side. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the first optical modulation module 343 as seen from the light incident side, and Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the first optical modulation module 343 as seen from the light output side. First light modulation module 343 corresponds to the light modulation module of the present disclosure and modulates incident color light. In this embodiment, first light modulation module 343 constitutes green light modulation element 342G. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, first light modulation module 343 includes a panel module 4A and a polarization unit 5A, and is configured by combining panel module 4A and polarization unit 5A.

[0029] In the following description, three mutually orthogonal directions in each of the light modulation modules 343 to 345 are referred to as the +X direction, +Y direction, and +Z direction. In this embodiment, the traveling direction of incident light is referred to as the +Z direction. The left direction when the light modulation modules 343 to 345 are viewed along the +Z direction so that the +Y direction coincides with the upward direction is referred to as the +X direction. Although not shown in the drawings, the direction opposite the +X direction is referred to as the -X direction, the direction opposite the +Y direction is referred to as the -Y direction, and the direction opposite the +Z direction is referred to as the -Z direction. That is, the +Z direction with respect to the first light modulation module 343 is the light output side with respect to the first light modulation module 343, and the -Z direction with respect to the first light modulation module 343 is the light input side with respect to the first light modulation module 343. Furthermore, the axis along the +X direction or the -X direction is referred to as the X axis, the axis along the +Y direction or the -Y direction is referred to as the Y axis, and the axis along the +Z direction or the -Z direction is referred to as the Z axis.

[0030] [Panel module configuration] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the panel module 4A as viewed from the light incident side, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the panel module 4A as viewed from the light exit side. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the panel module 4A includes a liquid crystal panel 41, a heat diffuser 42, a holding member 43, a thermoelectric conversion device 44, a cooler 45, an incident-side polarizing plate 46, and a mounting member 47.

[0031] [LCD panel configuration] The liquid crystal panel 41 is a transmissive liquid crystal panel that modulates incident color light and emits the modulated color light in the traveling direction of the incident color light. As shown in Fig. 7, the liquid crystal panel 41 includes a panel body 411, an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 412, a holding frame 413, an incident-side heat dissipation member 414, and an exit-side heat dissipation member 415. The panel main body 411 modulates incident light as it passes through the interior thereof. The panel main body 411 has an optical action unit (not shown), an incident-side dustproof substrate 4111 shown in Fig. 7, and an output-side dustproof substrate 4113 shown in Fig. 8, and the incident-side dustproof substrate 4111 and the output-side dustproof substrate 4113 sandwich the optical action unit in the Z-axis direction. The optical action unit has a liquid crystal layer and an opposing substrate and pixel substrate that sandwich the liquid crystal layer along the Z axis. The opposing substrate and pixel substrate are connected to the FPC 412, and change the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules that form the liquid crystal layer in response to image signals supplied from the FPC 412. In this way, the optical action unit modulates the incident light. The contact portion 424 of the heat diffuser 42 is in contact with the light incident surface 4112 of the incident-side dustproof substrate 4111 so as to be capable of transferring heat.

[0032] 7, the FPC 412 extends from the panel main body 411 in the +Y direction and is connected to the control device 6. As shown in Fig. 8, the FPC 412 has a driver circuit 4121 that drives the optical action unit, and the driver circuit 4121 outputs a drive signal corresponding to an image signal input from the control device 6 to the pixel substrate.

[0033] The holding frame 413 holds the panel main body 411, the FPC 412, and the heat dissipation members 414 and 415, and also supports the heat diffuser 42, the holding member 43, the thermoelectric conversion device 44, and the cooler 45. The holding frame 413 further supports the polarization unit 5A. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the holding frame 413 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the Y-axis direction when viewed from the light incident side or the light exiting side. Although not shown, the holding frame 413 has openings through which light entering the panel main body 411 and light exiting from the panel main body 411 pass. The holding frame 413 has four through-holes 4131 that penetrate the holding frame 413 along the Z axis. An arm portion of the support member provided on the color synthesis device 346 is inserted into each of the four through-holes 4131, whereby the liquid crystal panel 41 is supported by the support member.

[0034] The incident-side heat dissipation member 414 and the output-side heat dissipation member 415 sandwich the driver circuit 4121 of the FPC 412 in the Z-axis direction, and dissipate heat from the driver circuit 4121 . As shown in FIG. 7, incident side heat dissipation member 414 is attached to a position in the +Y direction from panel main body 411 on the surface of holding frame 413 facing the -Z direction. As shown in FIG. 8, output side heat dissipation member 415 is attached at a position in the +Y direction on the surface of holding frame 413 facing the +Z direction.

[0035] [Heat spreader configuration] The heat diffuser 42 receives heat from the panel main body 411 through the light incident surface 4112 of the incident-side dustproof substrate 4111 and diffuses the received heat. As shown in FIG. 8 , the heat diffuser 42 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape that is long in the Y-axis when viewed from the +Z direction, and is disposed on the light incident side of the liquid crystal panel 41. More specifically, the heat diffuser 42 is disposed between the panel main body 411 and the thermoelectric conversion device 44 and transports heat. That is, the heat diffuser 42 extends from the panel main body 411 along the Y-axis, transfers heat between the panel main body 411 and the liquid crystal panel 41, and diffuses the received heat inside. The heat spreader 42 includes a first surface 421 , a second surface 422 , an opening 423 , a contact portion 424 and an extension portion 425 . The first surface 421 is a surface of the heat diffuser 42 that faces the panel body 411 and the incident-side heat dissipation member 414. In other words, the first surface 421 is a surface of the heat diffuser 42 on the light-emitting side. The second surface 422 is the surface of the heat diffuser 42 opposite to the first surface 421. A holding member 43 and a thermoelectric conversion device 44, which will be described later, come into contact with the second surface 422.

[0036] When the heat diffuser 42 is attached to the holding frame 413, the opening 423 allows the light incident on the panel body 411 to pass along the +Z direction. The contact portion 424 is provided on the first surface 421 at the periphery of the opening 423. The contact portion 424 comes into contact with the light incident surface 4112, which is a heat transfer surface, and receives heat from the panel main body 411 from the light incident surface 4112. Note that as long as the contact portion 424 can receive heat from the panel main body 411, any part of the panel main body 411 may be in contact with the contact portion 424. For example, the contact portion 424 may come into contact with the peripheral surface of the incident-side dustproof substrate 4111 along the circumferential direction centered on the Z axis.

[0037] The extending portion 425 is a portion of the heat diffuser 42 that extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which light is incident from the opening 423 to the panel body 411. Specifically, the extending portion 425 is a portion that extends from the opening 423 in the +Y direction intersecting the +Z direction. In the heat diffuser 42, the heat of the panel body 411 received at the contact portion 424 around the opening 423 is diffused to the extension portion 425. Then, the heat diffused to the extension portion 425 is absorbed by the thermoelectric conversion device 44 provided on the second surface 422. In this embodiment, the heat diffuser 42 is a vapor chamber having a sealed housing in which a working fluid capable of changing between a gas phase and a liquid phase is sealed, but is not limited thereto, and the heat diffuser 42 may be a plate-shaped body made of a metal with high thermal conductivity.

[0038] [Configuration of holding member] 7 and 8, the holding member 43 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape. The holding member 43 is fixed to the heat diffuser 42 from the -Z direction, and holds the incident-side polarizing plate 46 on the light incident side of the panel body 411. The holding member 43 has an opening 431 and two fixing portions 432. Opening 431 is an opening that allows light that has passed through incident-side polarizing plate 46 along the +Z direction to enter panel body 411 via opening 423 of heat diffuser 42. The two fixing portions 432 are provided at positions sandwiching the opening 431 on the X axis. The two fixing portions 432 protrude in the −Z direction, and a mounting member 47 that holds the incident-side polarizing plate 46 is fixed to them with an adhesive or the like.

[0039] [Configuration of thermoelectric conversion device] The thermoelectric conversion device 44 is disposed on the light incident side of the extension portion 425 of the heat diffuser 42, and is disposed between the heat diffuser 42 and the cooler 45 along the Z axis. The thermoelectric conversion device 44 is connected to the extension portion 425 and transfers heat between the thermoelectric conversion device 44 and the heat diffuser 42. Specifically, the thermoelectric conversion device 44 absorbs heat from the heat diffuser 42 and transfers heat to the heat diffuser 42. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the thermoelectric conversion device 44 has a first surface 441 in contact with the extension portion 425 of the heat diffuser 42 and a second surface 442 in contact with the cooler 45. The thermoelectric conversion device 44 as described above actively absorbs heat transferred from the extending portion 425 at the first surface 441 and radiates the absorbed heat from the second surface 442 to the cooler 45. In this embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion device 44 is a Peltier element. Therefore, by reversing the polarity of the thermoelectric conversion device 44, heat can be supplied from the first surface 441 to the extension portion 425, and the panel body 411 can be heated.

[0040] [Cooler configuration] The cooler 45 sandwiches the thermoelectric conversion device 44 between itself and the heat diffuser 42, and transfers heat between the cooler 45 and the thermoelectric conversion device 44. The cooler 45 is configured to allow a liquid refrigerant to flow therethrough, and dissipates heat transferred from the heat diffuser 42 via the thermoelectric conversion device 44 to the liquid refrigerant supplied via a pipe 80, which will be described later. Specifically, the cooler 45 is a liquid-cooled jacket provided with a plurality of fins therein through which the liquid refrigerant flows.

[0041] [Configuration of incident side polarizing plate and mounting member] The incident-side polarizing plate 46 is a polarizing plate that is arranged in the -Z direction, which is the light incident side, of the liquid crystal panel 41. The incident-side polarizing plate 46 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate that covers the pixel region including the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal panel 41 in the -Z direction. Mounting member 47 is a member that mounts incident-side polarizing plate 46 to holding member 43. Mounting member 47 is configured in a frame shape, and has opening 471 and two mounting portions 472. The opening 471 is an opening through which the colored light incident on the incident-side polarizing plate 46 passes. The two mounting portions 472 are provided at positions on the X axis that sandwich the opening 471. Each of the two mounting portions 472 protrudes in the +Z direction, and is combined with the holding member 43 to mount the incident-side polarizing plate 46 to the holding member 43.

[0042] [Polarization unit configuration] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the polarization unit 5A as viewed from the light incident side, and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the polarization unit 5A as viewed from the light exit side. The polarization unit 5A is disposed in the +Z direction, which is the output side, of the panel module 4A, and is combined with a holding frame 413 of the panel module 4A. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the polarization unit 5A has an output-side polarizing plate 51, a heat dissipation base material 52, a frame 53, a biasing member 54, and a cold plate 55.

[0043] [Configuration of output polarizer] The exit-side polarizing plate 51 is located in the +Z direction, which is the light exit side, with respect to the liquid crystal panel 41, and is a polarizing plate onto which light exiting from the panel module 4A including the liquid crystal panel 41 is incident. The exit-side polarizing plate 51 sandwiches the panel body 411 of the liquid crystal panel 41 along the Z axis together with the entrance-side polarizing plate 46. Like the entrance-side polarizing plate 46, the exit-side polarizing plate 51 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that covers the pixel region of the panel body 411 in the +Z direction. More specifically, the exit-side polarizing plate 51 is formed to be larger than the pixel region when viewed from the -Z direction. The exit-side polarizing plate 51 has a first surface 511 where light enters and a second surface 512 where light exits. In other words, the exit-side polarizing plate 51 has the second surface 512 facing the heat dissipation base material 52 and the first surface 511 opposite to the second surface 512. Although not shown, a plurality of wire grids aligned along the Y axis are arranged along the X axis on the first surface 511. For this reason, the wire grids do not come into contact with the heat dissipation base material 52.

[0044] [Composition of heat dissipation substrate] The heat dissipation base material 52 is in heat-transferable contact with the output-side polarizing plate 51 and transmits the heat transmitted from the output-side polarizing plate 51 to the cold plate 55. The heat dissipation base material 52 is arranged in the +Z direction relative to the output-side polarizing plate 51, and is arranged in an accommodating recess 561 of the plate main body 56A that constitutes the cold plate 55 together with the output-side polarizing plate 51. The heat dissipation base material 52 has a first surface 521 facing the -Z direction and a second surface 522 facing the +Z direction. In other words, the heat dissipation base material 52 has the first surface 521 facing the exit-side polarizing plate 51, and the second surface 522, which is the surface opposite to the first surface 521 and faces the cold plate 55. The first surface 521 is thermally connected to the first surface 511 of the exit-side polarizing plate 51. More specifically, the first surface 521 is in surface contact with the first surface 511. Furthermore, the heat dissipation base material 52 has a third surface 523 that intersects with each of the first surface 521 and the second surface 522. The third surface 523 is composed of side surfaces of the heat dissipation base material 52 facing the ±X directions and side surfaces facing the ±Y directions.

[0045] The thermal conductivity of the heat dissipation base material 52 is equal to or higher than the thermal conductivity of the exit-side polarizing plate 51. Such a heat dissipation base material 52 is a light-transmitting substrate, and is made of, for example, sapphire. The size of the heat dissipation substrate 52 when viewed from the -Z direction matches the size of the output-side polarizing plate 51 when viewed from the -Z direction. That is, the dimension of the heat dissipation substrate 52 along the X axis is the same as the dimension of the output-side polarizing plate 51 along the X axis, and the dimension of the heat dissipation substrate 52 along the Y axis is the same as the dimension of the output-side polarizing plate 51 along the Y axis. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the size of the heat dissipation substrate 52 may be smaller or larger than the size of the output-side polarizing plate 51.

[0046] [Frame structure] Frame 53 is disposed in the -Z direction, which is the light incident side, with respect to output-side polarizing plate 51. Frame 53 is fixed to plate main body 56A from the -Z direction, and surrounds output-side polarizing plate 51 when viewed from the -Z direction. Frame 53 has openings 531 through which colored light incident on output-side polarizing plate 51 passes.

[0047] [Configuration of biasing member] The biasing member 54 is fixed to the plate main body 56A via the frame body 53, and biases the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 toward the plate main body 56A. The biasing member 54 has a first biasing member 541 arranged in the +Y direction and a second biasing member 542 arranged in the -Y direction. The first biasing member 541 is disposed along the +Y-direction edge of the edge along the X-axis of the output-side polarizing plate 51. The first biasing member 541 has an extending portion 5411 extending along the X-axis, and contact portions 5412 and 5413. The contact portion 5412 extends in the −Y direction from the end of the extending portion 5411 in the +X direction, and the contact portion 5413 extends in the −Y direction from the end of the extending portion 5411 in the −X direction.

[0048] The second biasing member 542 is arranged along the −Y direction edge of the edges along the X axis of the output-side polarizing plate 51. The second biasing member 542 has an extending portion 5421 extending along the X axis, contact portions 5422 and 5423, and a cover portion 5424. The contact portion 5422 extends in the +Y direction from the end of the extending portion 5421 in the +X direction, and the contact portion 5423 extends in the +Y direction from the end of the extending portion 5421 in the −X direction. The contact portions 5412 and 5413 of the first biasing member 541 and the contact portions 5422 and 5423 of the second biasing member 542 come into contact with positions on the second surface 512 of the output-side polarizing plate 51 where no light is incident. The contact portions 5412, 5413, 5422, and 5423 then bias the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 toward the plate main body 56A.

[0049] The cover portion 5424 is located between the contact portions 5422, 5423 and protrudes in the +Y direction from the extending portion 5421. When the second biasing member 542 is fixed to the plate main body 56A, the cover portion 5424 covers, in the -Z direction, an edge 514 located in the -Y direction, of edges 513, 514 of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 along which the wire grid extends and which intersect with the +Y direction. More specifically, the cover portion 5424 covers, in the -Z direction, a range of the edge 514 corresponding to an incident region of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 into which colored light is incident. By covering the above-mentioned range of the edge 514 with such a cover portion 5424, moisture containing dirt is prevented from entering the wire grid from the edge 514. A cover portion similar to the cover portion 5424 may be provided on the first biasing member 541, and the cover portion may be configured to cover the range of the edge 513 corresponding to the light entrance area of ​​the output-side polarizing plate 51 in the -Z direction.

[0050] [Cold plate configuration] The cold plate 55 dissipates heat transferred from the output-side polarizing plate 51 via the heat dissipation base material 52 to the liquid refrigerant flowing inside, thereby cooling the output-side polarizing plate 51. The cold plate 55 has a plate main body 56A and a cover member 57. Of these, lid member 57 is a plate-like member that is arranged in the +Z direction, which is the light-emitting side of plate main body 56A, and is combined with plate main body 56A. More specifically, lid member 57 closes the flow path of the liquid refrigerant provided in plate main body 56A in the +Z direction. Lid member 57 has an opening 571 that allows light that has passed through output-side polarizing plate 51 to pass through, and opening 571 penetrates lid member 57 along the Z axis.

[0051] The plate main body 56A constitutes the main body portion of the cold plate 55. The plate main body 56A holds the exit-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52, and also constitutes a flow path through which the liquid refrigerant flows inside. The plate main body 56A has an accommodating recess 561, an opening 562, a connecting portion 563, a supply portion 564, and a discharge portion 565 shown in FIG. 9, as well as a flow portion 566 and a protruding frame portion 567 shown in FIG.

[0052] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a cross section of the polarization unit 5A along the YZ plane. 9 and 11, the accommodating recess 561 is a recess recessed in the +Z direction from the surface of the plate main body 56A facing the -Z direction, and is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the -Z direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the accommodating recess 561 is a two-step recess having a first recess 5611 and a second recess 5612, and the first recess 5611 is provided inside the second recess 5612. The output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipating base material 52 are disposed in the first recess 5611. Therefore, the side surfaces of the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipating base material 52 in the ±X directions and the ±Y directions are covered by the inner side surfaces of the accommodating recess 561.

[0053] 9 and 11, the opening 562 is provided at the bottom of the first recess 5611 and penetrates the plate main body 56A along the Z axis. The opening 562 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed along the Z axis, and is an opening through which colored light passes that has passed through the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52. When the plate main body 56A and the lid member 57 are combined, the openings 562 and 571 form an opening that penetrates the cold plate 55 along the Z axis.

[0054] The connection portion 563 is a portion surrounding the opening 562 at the bottom of the accommodating recess 561. That is, the connection portion 563 is a surface of each of the first recess 5611 and the second recess 5612 facing the −Z direction. 11 , the connection portion 563 is thermally connected to the second surface 522 of the heat dissipation base material 52. More specifically, the connection portion 563 is thermally connected to the outer periphery of the second surface 522 of the heat dissipation base material 52. That is, the connection portion 563 is connected to the outer periphery located outside the area through which light passes on the second surface 522. This allows heat from the output-side polarizing plate 51 to be transferred to the connection portion 563 via the second surface 522, and the heat from the output-side polarizing plate 51 is diffused to the plate main body 56A via the connection portion 563.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 11, the heat dissipation base material 52 is adhered and fixed to the plate body 56A by a first adhesive AD1 and a second adhesive AD2. The first adhesive AD1 is applied to the connecting portion 563 to adhere and fix the heat dissipation base material 52 to the connecting portion 563. The first adhesive AD1 preferably has high thermal conductivity and viscosity that allows it to be applied thinly. As such a first adhesive AD1, a silicone adhesive containing a filler such as alumina, quartz, or crystalline silica can be used. The second adhesive AD2 is disposed across the bottom of the second recess 5612 and the third surface 523 of the heat dissipating base 52 so as to surround the periphery of the heat dissipating base 52 when viewed from the -Z direction, thereby fixing the heat dissipating base 52. More specifically, the second adhesive AD2 is disposed across the third surface 523 of the heat dissipating base 52, which intersects with each of the first surface 521 and the second surface 522, and the bottom of the second recess 5612. An example of the second adhesive AD2 is an adhesive containing an elastic polyurethane resin and modified silicone. The second adhesive AD2 may be disposed across the connecting portion 563 and the side surface of the heat dissipating base 52.

[0056] Here, if a silicone adhesive is used for the first adhesive AD1, organic silicone gas containing low-molecular-weight siloxane may be generated as outgas from the first adhesive AD1. If such outgas adheres to the area through which light passes between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating base material 52, clouding may occur. If such clouding occurs, part of the light passing between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating base material 52 is absorbed, reducing the amount of emitted light and also facilitating an increase in the temperature of the output-side polarizing plate 51 due to heat generation. In contrast, because the second adhesive AD2 is provided across the third surface 523 of the heat dissipation base material 52 and the bottom of the second recess 5612, even if outgassing is generated from the first adhesive AD1, the second adhesive AD2 can prevent the outgassing from leaking out of the heat dissipation base material 52 when viewed from the +Z direction. Therefore, since the outgassing can be prevented from entering between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52, the occurrence of the above-mentioned fogging can be prevented, and as a result, a reduction in the amount of light emitted from the first optical modulation module 343 and a temperature rise in the output-side polarizing plate 51 can be prevented.

[0057] The supply portion 564 and the discharge portion 565 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 protrude in the +Y direction. A pipe 80, which will be described later, is connected to the supply unit 564, and supplies the liquid refrigerant to the circulation unit 566. The discharge unit 565 is disposed in the +X direction relative to the supply unit 564. A pipe 80, which will be described later, is connected to the discharge unit 565, and the liquid refrigerant that has circulated through the circulation unit 566 is discharged to the pipe 80.

[0058] FIG. 12 is a view showing the flow-through portion 566 of the plate main body 56A as viewed from the +Z direction. The circulating portion 566 is a recess that is recessed in the -Z direction from the surface of the plate main body 56A facing the +Z direction, and is a portion through which the liquid refrigerant supplied from the supply portion 564 and discharged from the discharge portion 565 flows. In other words, the circulating portion 566 is a portion that dissipates heat from the exit-side polarizing plate 51, which is transferred to the connection portion 563, to the circulating liquid refrigerant. As shown in FIG. 12 , the circulating portion 566 has a first communication portion 5661, a second communication portion 5662, a flow path 5663, and a resistance portion 5668.

[0059] The first communication part 5661 has a first communication port 5661A that communicates with the supply part 564. The first communication part 5661 introduces the liquid refrigerant from the supply part 564 into the flow path 5663 via the first communication port 5661A. The second communication portion 5662 has a second communication port 5662A that communicates with the discharge portion 565. The second communication portion 5662 discharges the liquid refrigerant that has flowed through the flow path 5663 to the discharge portion 565 via the second communication port 5662A.

[0060] Flow path 5663 is provided around opening 562, and is a portion through which liquid refrigerant supplied from first communication portion 5661 flows toward second communication portion 5662. Flow path 5663 is formed in a shape that combines a U-shape and a rectangle when viewed from the +Z direction. That is, flow path 5663 has a first extension portion 5664, a second extension portion 5665, a third extension portion 5666, and a fourth extension portion 5667, and is configured by these extension portions 5664 to 5667.

[0061] The first extending portion 5664 communicates with the first communicating portion 5661, and extends from the first communicating portion 5661 in the −Y direction. The second extending portion 5665 extends along the X axis from the end of the first extending portion 5664 in the −Y direction. The third extending portion 5666 extends in the +Y direction from the second extending portion 5665 and is connected to the second communicating portion 5662 . The fourth extending portion 5667 extends in the +X direction from the first communicating portion 5661 and communicates with the second communicating portion 5662. The resistance portion 5668 is a portion that increases the flow path resistance of the liquid refrigerant in the fourth extension portion 5667. In the present embodiment, the resistance portion 5668 is configured by protruding in the -Y direction, an inner surface facing the -Y direction, of the inner surfaces of the flow portion 566 that constitutes the fourth extension portion 5667. Such resistance portion 5668 configures a narrow width portion that narrows the flow path width of the fourth extension portion 5667.

[0062] The protruding frame portion 567 protrudes from the surface of the flow passage portion 566 facing the +Z direction, and forms the inner edge of the opening portion 562. The protruding frame portion 567 constitutes part of the inner surface that forms the flow path 5663 in the plate body 56A.

[0063] [Liquid refrigerant flowing through the circulation section] The liquid refrigerant supplied from the supply portion 564 through the first communication portion 5661 is divided into a first liquid refrigerant flowing along the first extension portion 5664 and a second liquid refrigerant flowing along the fourth extension portion 5667. 12 by arrow A1, the first liquid refrigerant flows from first communication portion 5661 in the -Y direction along first extension portion 5664. The first liquid refrigerant that has flowed along first extension portion 5664 flows in the +X direction along second extension portion 5665 as shown by arrow A2. The first liquid refrigerant that has flowed along second extension portion 5665 flows in the +Y direction along third extension portion 5666 as shown by arrow A3, and flows to discharge portion 565 via second communication portion 5662.

[0064] As shown by arrow A4, the second liquid refrigerant flows in the +X direction along fourth extension portion 5667. The second liquid refrigerant that has flowed along fourth extension portion 5667 merges with the first liquid refrigerant that has flowed along third extension portion 5666, and flows to discharge portion 565 via second communication portion 5662. In this way, the flow section 566 of the cold plate 55 is provided with a first flow path for the first liquid refrigerant that flows along the extension sections 5664 to 5666, and a second flow path for the second liquid refrigerant that flows along the fourth extension section 5667.

[0065] Here, if the flow path resistance of the second liquid refrigerant in fourth extension portion 5667 is small, the flow rate of the second liquid refrigerant flowing along fourth extension portion 5667 will be greater than the flow rate of the first liquid refrigerant flowing along first extension portion 5664. In other words, if the flow path resistance of the second liquid refrigerant in fourth extension portion 5667 is small, it becomes difficult for the liquid refrigerant to flow through the first flow path formed by extension portions 5664 to 5666, reducing the efficiency of heat dissipation to the liquid refrigerant transferred from exit-side polarizing plate 51, and ultimately the cooling efficiency of exit-side polarizing plate 51. In contrast, by providing resistance portion 5668 in fourth extension portion 5667, the flow path resistance of the liquid refrigerant along fourth extension portion 5667 is greater than the flow path resistance of the liquid refrigerant along extension portions 5664 to 5666. This makes it easier for the liquid refrigerant supplied to flow path 5663 to flow through extension portions 5664 to 5666, reducing pressure loss. Therefore, since the liquid refrigerant can be more easily circulated throughout flow path 5663, the efficiency of heat dissipation from exit-side polarizing plate 51 to the liquid refrigerant can be improved, and ultimately the cooling efficiency of exit-side polarizing plate 51 can be improved.

[0066] [Configuration of the second optical modulation module] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the second optical modulation module 344 as seen from the light incident side, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the second optical modulation module 344 as seen from the light emitting side. The second light modulation module 344 modulates incident light, similar to the first light modulation module 343. In this embodiment, the second light modulation module 344 constitutes a blue light modulation element 342B and modulates incident blue light. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the second light modulation module 344 includes a panel module 4A and a polarization unit 5B, and is configured by combining the panel module 4A with the polarization unit 5B. Note that the configuration of the panel module 4A included in the second light modulation module 344 is substantially the same as the configuration of the panel module 4A included in the first light modulation module 343, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. 14, the polarization unit 5B has an output-side polarizing plate 51 and a fixing member 58 that fixes the output-side polarizing plate 51 to the holding frame 413 of the panel module 4A. That is, unlike the first light modulation module 343, the second light modulation module 344 does not have a cold plate 55.

[0067] [Configuration of the third optical modulation module] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the third optical modulation module 345 as viewed from the light incident side, and FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the third optical modulation module 345 as viewed from the light exit side. The third light modulation module 345 modulates incident light, similar to the light modulation modules 343 and 344. In this embodiment, the third light modulation module 345 constitutes a red light modulation element 342R and modulates incident red light. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the third light modulation module 345 includes a panel module 4B and a polarization unit 5B, and is configured by combining the panel module 4B with the polarization unit 5B. Note that the configuration of the polarization unit 5B included in the third light modulation module 345 is substantially the same as the configuration of the polarization unit 5B included in the second light modulation module 344, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] 15, the panel module 4B has the same configuration and functions as the panel module 4A, except that it has a cooler 48 instead of the cooler 45. In other words, the panel module 4B does not have the cooler 45 through which a liquid refrigerant can flow. The cooler 48 is a heat sink in which a plurality of fins 481 extending along the YZ plane are arranged along the X axis. Such a heat sink is configured so that cooling gas can easily flow along each fin 481 in the +Y direction. Thus, the third optical modulation module 345 differs from the first optical modulation module 343 in that it does not include the cooler 45 or the cold plate 55 through which a liquid refrigerant can flow.

[0069] [Configuration of light modulation modules for each color light] For ease of explanation, the liquid crystal panel 41 and output side polarizer 51 constituting the blue light modulation element 342B will be referred to as the blue panel and blue output side polarizer, the liquid crystal panel 41 and output side polarizer 51 constituting the green light modulation element 342G will be referred to as the green panel and green output side polarizer, and the liquid crystal panel 41 and output side polarizer 51 constituting the red light modulation element 342R will be referred to as the red panel and red output side polarizer. As described above, the light source device 31 includes a light-emitting element SS that emits blue light as excitation light and a wavelength conversion device 319 that converts a portion of the blue light emitted from the light-emitting element SS into fluorescence. The light source device 31 then emits white illumination light by combining the fluorescence emitted from the wavelength conversion device 319 with another portion of the blue light emitted from the light-emitting element SS. The proportion of green light in this illumination light is higher than the proportion of blue light, and higher than the proportion of red light. That is, the amount of green light in the illumination light is greater than the amount of blue light, and greater than the amount of red light. Therefore, the green panel and the green exit-side polarizing plate require high cooling efficiency. In contrast, the green light modulation element 342G is configured with a first light modulation module 343 having a cooler 45 and a cold plate 55.

[0070] The blue panel onto which the blue light contained in the illumination light is incident is prone to deterioration, but the blue exit polarizer onto which the blue light is incident does not deteriorate as much as the green exit polarizer. Therefore, high cooling efficiency is required for the blue panel, but such high cooling efficiency is not required for the blue exit polarizer. In contrast, the blue light modulation element 342B is configured with a second light modulation module 344 that has a cooler 45 but does not have a cold plate 55. The proportion of red light contained in the illumination light is lower than that of green light, and lower than that of blue light. Therefore, the red panel into which the red light enters and the red exit-side polarizer do not require such high cooling efficiency. In contrast, the red light modulation element 342R is configured by a third light modulation module 345 that does not include the cooler 45 or the cold plate 55.

[0071] [Cooling system configuration] Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of cooling device 7A. Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of cooling device 7A, omitting the illustration of sealed housing 71. Fig. 19 is a schematic view showing the configuration of cooling device 7A. As described above, the cooling device 7A cools the objects to be cooled in the projector 1A. For example, the cooling device 7A cools the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R. Specifically, the cooling device 7A circulates a liquid refrigerant through the cooler 45 that constitutes the blue light modulation element 342B and the cooler 45 and cold plate 55 that constitute the green light modulation element 342G, thereby cooling the blue liquid crystal panel, the green panel, and the green output-side polarizer. The cooling device 7A also circulates a cooling gas to cool the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R, as well as the polarization conversion element 325 shown in FIG. 1.

[0072] 17 to 19, the cooling device 7A includes a sealed housing 71, a tank 72, a pump 73, an internal radiator 74, a circulation fan 75, an external radiator 76, a cooling fan 77, and piping 80, as well as a branch section 78 and a junction section 79 shown in Fig. 19. The thermoelectric conversion device 44, the cooler 45, and the cold plate 55 also constitute the cooling device 7A. Hereinafter, the cooler 45 constituting the blue light modulation element 342B will be referred to as cooler 45B, the cooler 45 constituting the green light modulation element 342G will be referred to as cooler 45G, and the cold plate 55 constituting the green light modulation element 342G will be referred to as cold plate 55G.

[0073] Piping Configuration First, the piping 80 will be described. Piping 80 connects tank 72, pump 73, internal radiator 74, external radiator 76, branch section 78, junction section 79, cooler 45B, cooler 45G, and cold plate 55G so that liquid refrigerant can flow through. Piping 80 includes a plurality of pipes 801-813 as well as joints 814 and 815.

[0074] Pipe 801 connects pump 73 and joint 814. Pipe 802 connects joint 814 and internal radiator 74. Pipe 803 connects joint 814 and diverter 78. Among pipes 801 to 803, pipe 801 is the thickest and pipe 803 is the thinnest. Therefore, of the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant that flows from pipe 801 to joint 814, the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant that flows through pipe 802 is greater than the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant that flows through pipe 803. Pipe 804 connects flow dividing unit 78 and cooler 45B. Pipe 805 connects flow dividing unit 78 and cooler 45G. Pipe 806 connects flow dividing unit 78 and cold plate 55G. Pipe 806 corresponds to a supply pipe that supplies the liquid refrigerant circulating in flow section 566 of cold plate 55G. Note that flow dividing unit 78 divides the liquid refrigerant circulating from pipe 803 into pipes 804 to 806. In this case, flow dividing unit 78 may adjust the proportion of the liquid refrigerant circulating in each of pipes 804 to 806 under the control of control device 6. Thus, in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant, internal radiator 74 and diverter 78 are connected in parallel to pump 73. Cooler 45B, cooler 45G, and cold plate 55G are connected in parallel to diverter 78. That is, internal radiator 74, cooler 45B, cooler 45G, and cold plate 55G are connected in parallel to pump 73.

[0075] Pipe 807 connects cooler 45B and junction 79. Pipe 808 connects cooler 45G and junction 79. Pipe 809 connects cold plate 55G and junction 79. Pipe 809 corresponds to a discharge pipe through which the liquid refrigerant that has flowed through flow section 566 of cold plate 55G is discharged. Pipe 810 connects junction 79 and joint 815. Note that junction 79 discharges the liquid refrigerant that joins pipes 807 to 809 into pipe 810. The pipe 811 connects the internal radiator 74 and a joint 815. The pipe 812 connects the joint 815 and the external radiator 76. The pipe 813 connects the external radiator 76 and the tank 72. The pipes 804 to 809 are made of bellows tubes in consideration of ease of connection between the components. However, this is not limiting, and at least one of the pipes 804 to 809 may be made of a bellows tube.

[0076] [Configuration of sealed enclosure] The sealed housing 71 is configured as a housing that makes it difficult for dust to enter inside. As shown in Figures 17 to 19, the sealed housing 71 houses an internal radiator 74 and a circulation fan 75, as well as a part of the image projection device 3 including the image forming device 34. That is, the sealed housing 71 houses at least the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R inside. As will be described in more detail later, a circulation fan 75 arranged inside the sealed housing 71 circulates the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71, which has been cooled by the internal radiator 74, and causes the cooling gas to flow through each of the optical modulation elements 342R, 342G, and 342B. The cooling gas in the sealed housing 71 is a gas refrigerant such as helium gas, but is not limited to this and may be other gases such as air.

[0077] [Tank and pump configuration] The tank 72 temporarily stores the liquid refrigerant. The pump 73 sends the liquid refrigerant stored in the tank 72 to the pipe 801. In this embodiment, the tank 72 and the pump 73 are integrated together. However, this is not limiting, and the tank 72 and the pump 73 may be separate. Of the liquid refrigerant sent out from pump 73, some circulates to internal radiator 74 via pipe 802, and the other liquid refrigerant circulates to diverter 78 via pipe 803. Of the liquid refrigerant circulating in diverter 78, the liquid refrigerant circulating in pipe 804 circulates to cooler 45B to cool the blue liquid crystal panel, the liquid refrigerant circulating in pipe 805 circulates to cooler 45G to cool the green panel, and the liquid refrigerant circulating in pipe 806 circulates to cold plate 55G to cool the green output-side polarizer.

[0078] [Internal radiator and circulation fan configuration] The internal radiator 74 is a heat exchanger that cools the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71 by transferring heat received from the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71 to the liquid refrigerant flowing in from the pipe 802 . The circulation fan 75 circulates the cooling gas within the sealed housing 71. The circulation fan 75 is disposed near the internal radiator 74, and the circulation fan 75 circulates the cooling gas within the sealed housing 71 by sending out the cooling gas cooled by the internal radiator 74.

[0079] [External radiator and cooling fan configuration] The external radiator 76 and the cooling fan 77 are disposed outside the sealed housing 71 . The external radiator 76 cools the heated liquid refrigerant that flows through the coolers 45B and 45G, the cold plate 55, and the internal radiator 74. More specifically, the external radiator 76 receives heat from the liquid refrigerant that flows in from the joint 815 via the pipe 812, and cools the liquid refrigerant by transferring the received heat to gas that is circulated by the cooling fan 77. The liquid refrigerant cooled by the external radiator 76 flows to the tank 72 via the pipe 813, and is stored in the tank 72. In this way, the liquid refrigerant is circulated by pump 73 to coolers 45B, 45G, cold plate 55G and internal radiator 74, cooled by external radiator 76, and then circulated to each component again by pump 73 via tank 72.

[0080] [Control device configuration] FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 6. The control device 6 controls the operation of the projector 1 A. For example, the control device 6 controls the lighting of the light source device 31, processes input image information, and outputs image signals corresponding to the processed image information to the liquid crystal panels 41 of the light modulation elements 342 B, 342 G, and 342 R. Further, for example, the control device 6 controls the cooling device 7A. To this end, the control device 6 includes a temperature sensor 61, a memory 62, and a processor 63, as shown in FIG.

[0081] [Temperature sensor configuration] The temperature sensor 61 includes a panel temperature sensor 611 and a polarizer temperature sensor 612 . The panel temperature sensor 611 detects the temperature of the liquid crystal panel 41. The panel temperature sensor 611 is provided on each of the liquid crystal panels 41 constituting the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R. The panel temperature sensor 611 outputs the detected temperature of the liquid crystal panel 41 to the processor 63. The panel temperature sensor 611 may be disposed on the upstream side of the flow path of the cooling gas circulated by the circulation fan 75 in the liquid crystal panel 41, or on the downstream side of the flow path.

[0082] The polarizer temperature sensor 612 is provided on the cold plate 55. The polarizer temperature sensor 612 detects the temperature of the cold plate 55 as the temperature of the output-side polarizer 51. The polarizer temperature sensor 612 outputs the detected temperature of the output-side polarizer 51 to the processor 63. As shown in FIG. 12 , the polarizer temperature sensor 612 is provided at the end of the plate main body 56A in the +Y direction. The cooling gas circulated by the circulation fan 75 flows in the +Y direction along the polarization unit 5A. For this reason, the polarizer temperature sensor 612 is disposed downstream of the cooling gas flow path. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The polarizer temperature sensor 612 may be provided upstream of the cooling gas flow path on the cold plate 55, i.e., at the end of the cold plate 55 in the -Y direction.

[0083] [Memory and processor configuration] The memory 62 shown in FIG. 20 stores programs and data necessary for controlling the projector 1A. The processor 63 is configured by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and corresponds to a control unit that controls the operation of the projector 1 A. The processor 63 controls the light source device 31 and the liquid crystal panels 41 of the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R, and causes the image projection device 3 to form and project image light according to image information. In addition, the processor 63 controls the pump 73, the circulation fan 75, the cooling fan 77, and the diverter 78 based on the temperature of each liquid crystal panel 41 detected by the panel temperature sensor 611 and the temperature of the exit side polarizer 51 detected by the polarizer temperature sensor 612.

[0084] For example, if the temperature of the liquid crystal panel 41 and the temperature of the exit-side polarizer 51 exceed the upper limits of their respective appropriate ranges, the processor 63 increases the flow rate delivered by the pump 73 and drives the circulation fan 75 and the cooling fan 77 at high speed. Furthermore, for example, if the temperatures of the blue panel and the green panel are within the appropriate range, but the temperature of the green exit polarizer exceeds the upper limit of the appropriate range, the processor 63 increases the flow rate sent out by the pump 73 and controls the diversion section 78 to increase the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant flowing to the cold plate 55G via the pipe 806 to be greater than the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant flowing to the cold plate 55G when the temperature of the green exit polarizer is within the appropriate range.

[0085] [Effects of the first embodiment] The projector 1A according to the present embodiment described above has the following advantages. The projector 1A includes a first light modulation module 343 that constitutes a green light modulation element 342G, a light source device 31 that emits light that enters the first light modulation module 343, and a projection optical device 35 that projects the light modulated by the first light modulation module 343.

[0086] The first light modulation module 343 corresponds to the light modulation module of the present disclosure and includes a panel module 4A, an output-side polarizing plate 51, a heat dissipation base material 52, and a cold plate 55. The panel module 4A modulates the incident light. The exit-side polarizing plate 51 corresponds to the polarizing plate of the present disclosure. The exit-side polarizing plate 51 receives light emitted from the panel module 4A. The heat dissipation base material 52 has a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the exit-side polarizing plate 51. The heat dissipation base material 52 has a first surface 521 thermally connected to the exit-side polarizing plate 51 and a second surface 522 opposite to the first surface 521.

[0087] Cold plate 55 cools output-side polarizing plate 51 via heat dissipation base material 52. Plate body 56A constituting cold plate 55 has opening 562, connecting portion 563, and flow portion 566, and lid member 57 combined with plate body 56A has opening 571 that allows light to pass through. The openings 562 and 571 are openings through which light can pass. The connection portion 563 is provided around the opening 562. The connection portion 563 is thermally connected to the second surface 522 of the heat dissipation base material 52. The liquid refrigerant flows through the flow section 566 .

[0088] According to this configuration, the cold plate 55, which has a flow section through which a liquid refrigerant flows, cools the exit-side polarizing plate 51 via the heat-dissipating substrate 52, which has a thermal conductivity equal to or higher than that of the exit-side polarizing plate 51. The cold plate 55 has openings 562 and 571 through which light can pass, allowing light to pass to the exit-side polarizing plate 51. The connecting section 563 is thermally connected to the second surface 512 of the heat-dissipating substrate 52, which is opposite to the first surface 511 that is thermally connected to the exit-side polarizing plate 51. This increases the contact area between the cold plate 55 and the heat-dissipating substrate 52, which has a region through which light passes, compared to when the outer peripheral surface of the heat-dissipating substrate 52 is in contact with the cold plate 55. This increases the cooling efficiency of the exit-side polarizing plate 51. This also makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 even when high-brightness light is incident on the first light modulation module 343, and ultimately suppress deterioration of the first light modulation module 343. Furthermore, it is possible to configure a projector 1A that can project high-brightness image light.

[0089] In the optical modulation module 343, the cold plate 55 has an accommodating recess 561 that accommodates the heat dissipation base material 52 and the output-side polarizing plate 51. The accommodating recess 561 corresponds to a recess. According to this configuration, the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 are disposed in the accommodating recess 561, so that the first optical modulation module 343 can be made smaller in size.

[0090] In the first light modulation module 343, the output-side polarizing plate 51 has a wire grid on a first surface 511 opposite to a second surface 512 facing the heat dissipation base material 52. Here, the metal nanowires constituting the wire grid are easily damaged, and therefore, if a wire grid is provided on second surface 512 of output-side polarizing plate 51 that faces heat dissipation base material 52, there is a risk that the wire grid will be damaged when output-side polarizing plate 51 and heat dissipation base material 52 are thermally connected. In contrast, according to the above configuration, damage to the wire grid can be suppressed by providing a wire grid on first surface 511 of output-side polarizing plate 51 opposite second surface 512 that faces heat dissipation base material 52. This makes it possible to suppress impairment of the function of output-side polarizing plate 51, and ultimately makes it easier to maintain the quality of first optical modulation module 343.

[0091] The first optical modulation module 343 includes a cover portion 5424 that covers an end face of the output-side polarizing plate 51 that is perpendicular to the direction along the wire grid. The ±X direction side faces and ±Y direction side faces of the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 are covered by the inner side faces of the accommodating recess 561. That is, the gap between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 is covered by the cold plate 55. If moist dirt adheres to the end face, the liquid will enter the wire grid due to capillary action, and the optical characteristics of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 will be degraded. In contrast, the end face is covered with the cover portion 5424, thereby preventing the liquid from entering the wire grid, and therefore preventing the optical characteristics of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 from deteriorating. Furthermore, since the space between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating substrate 52 is covered by the cold plate 55, it is possible to prevent gas from entering between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating substrate 52. This makes it possible to prevent fogging from occurring between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating substrate 52. Therefore, when light passes through the output-side polarizing plate 51, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the output-side polarizing plate 51 from increasing and also to prevent a decrease in the amount of light passing through the output-side polarizing plate 51.

[0092] The first optical modulation module 343 includes a biasing member 54 that biases the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 against the cold plate 55 . According to this configuration, the biasing member 54 can integrate the exit-side polarizing plate 51, the heat dissipation base material 52, and the cold plate 55. Furthermore, since the contact state between the exit-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation substrate 52 and the contact state between the heat dissipation substrate 52 and the cold plate 55 can be maintained, it is possible to easily transfer heat from the exit-side polarizing plate 51 to the cold plate 55 via the heat dissipation substrate 52. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 can be improved.

[0093] The first optical modulation module 343 has a first adhesive AD1 and a second adhesive AD2 that bond the heat dissipation base material 52 and the cold plate 55 together. The heat dissipation base 52 has a third surface 523 that intersects with the first surface 521 and the second surface 522 . The first adhesive AD1 bonds the outer periphery of the second surface 522 and the connecting portion 563 together. The second adhesive AD2 is provided across the third surface 523 and the connecting portion 563. According to this configuration, the outer periphery of the second surface 522 and the connecting portion 563 can be bonded and fixed by the first adhesive AD1. Here, if the first adhesive AD1 is a silicone-based adhesive with high thermal conductivity, organic silicone gas containing low-molecular-weight siloxane is generated as outgas. If such outgas adheres to the area between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating base material 52 through which light passes, clouding may occur. When such clouding occurs, part of the light passing between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat-dissipating base material 52 is absorbed, reducing the amount of emitted light and also making the temperature of the polarizing plate more likely to rise due to heat generation. In contrast, because the second adhesive AD2 is provided across the third surface 523 and the connection portion 563 of the heat dissipation base material 52, even if outgassing is generated from the first adhesive AD1, the second adhesive AD2 can prevent the outgassing from diffusing to the outside of the heat dissipation base material 52 when viewed along the +Z direction of the opening. Therefore, since the outgassing can be prevented from entering between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52, the generation of the above-mentioned fogging can be prevented, and as a result, a reduction in the amount of light emitted from the first optical modulation module 343 and a rise in temperature of the output-side polarizing plate 51 can be prevented.

[0094] The projector 1A includes a polarizing plate temperature sensor 612 and a processor 63 as a control unit. The polarizer temperature sensor 612 corresponds to a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cold plate 55 . The processor 63 controls the flow rate of the liquid coolant flowing through the flow section 566 based on the temperature detected by the polarizing plate temperature sensor 612 . This configuration makes it easier to maintain the temperature of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 within an appropriate temperature range. Also, when the temperature of the cold plate 55 is relatively low and the temperature of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 is maintained relatively low, the amount of liquid refrigerant sent out by the pump 73 can be reduced. This allows for more power savings in the projector 1A than when the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant is controlled to be always constant.

[0095] In projector 1A, panel module 4A has a liquid crystal panel 41 that modulates incident light and emits the modulated light, and a cooler 45 that is thermally connected to liquid crystal panel 41 and through which a liquid refrigerant flows. Cooler 45 and cold plate 55 are connected in parallel to allow the liquid refrigerant to flow. In the example shown in Fig. 19, cooler 45G and cold plate 55G are connected in parallel to diverter section 78 to allow the liquid refrigerant to flow. With this configuration, a liquid refrigerant with a relatively low temperature can be circulated through both the cooler 45 and the cold plate 55. This improves the cooling efficiency of both the liquid crystal panel 41 and the exit-side polarizing plate 51.

[0096] Projector 1A includes a sealed housing 71 and a circulation fan 75. Sealed housing 71 is a housing that houses image forming device 34 including green light modulation element 342G configured by first light modulation module 343. Circulation fan 75 is housed in sealed housing 71 and circulates cooling gas within sealed housing 71. According to this configuration, the circulation fan 75 can circulate cooling gas through the first light modulation module 343 housed in the sealed housing 71. This makes it possible to cool the image forming device 34 including the first light modulation module 343 by airflow as well. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the image forming device 34 including the first light modulation module 343 can be improved.

[0097] The projector 1A includes an internal radiator 74. Internal radiator 74 is housed in sealed housing 71 so that a liquid refrigerant can flow through it, and exchanges heat between the flowing liquid refrigerant and cooling gas inside sealed housing 71. Internal radiator 74 and cold plate 55G are connected in parallel so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. According to this configuration, the internal radiator 74 can transfer the heat of the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71 to the liquid refrigerant flowing through the internal radiator 74, thereby lowering the temperature of the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71. This makes it possible to lower the temperature of the image forming device 34 including the first light modulation module 343 arranged inside the sealed housing 71. Furthermore, since internal radiator 74 is connected in parallel to cold plate 55G, a liquid refrigerant with a relatively low temperature flows through internal radiator 74. This increases the cooling efficiency of the cooling gas inside sealed housing 71 by internal radiator 74. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the first light modulation module 343, and therefore the cooling efficiency of the image forming device 34, can be improved.

[0098] The projector 1A is provided with an external radiator 76, a cooling fan 77, and a pump 73. The external radiator 76 and the cooling fan 77 are each provided outside the sealed housing 71. A liquid refrigerant flows through the external radiator 76. The cooling fan 77 causes a cooling gas to flow through the external radiator 76. A pump 73 circulates liquid refrigerant cooled by an external radiator 76 through the cold plate 55G. With this configuration, the liquid refrigerant can be cooled by the external radiator 76 and cooling fan 77 provided outside the sealed housing 71. Then, the pump 73 circulates the cooled liquid refrigerant through the cold plate 55G, so that the green exit-side polarizer can be cooled by the low-temperature liquid refrigerant. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the exit-side polarizer 51 can be improved, and ultimately the cooling efficiency of the first optical modulation module 343 can be improved.

[0099] Projector 1A includes color separation device 33 that separates light emitted from light source device 31 into blue light, green light, and red light. Panel modules 4A and 4B and output-side polarizing plate 51 are provided on the optical paths of the red light, green light, and blue light, respectively. That is, panel module 4B and output-side polarizing plate 51 are disposed on the optical path of the red light. Panel module 4A and output-side polarizing plate 51 are disposed on the optical paths of the blue light and green light, respectively. Here, the light source device 31 has a light emitting element SS that emits blue light as excitation light, and a wavelength conversion element 3191 that converts the wavelength of the blue light. The cold plate 55G is positioned in the optical path of the green light.

[0100] Here, when the light source device 31 has the light emitting element SS and the wavelength conversion element 3191, the proportion of green light in the illumination light emitted from the light source device 31 is higher than the proportion of red light and higher than the proportion of blue light. In other words, the amount of green light in the illumination light emitted from the light source device 31 is greater than the amount of red light and greater than the amount of blue light. For this reason, of the exit-side polarizing plates 51 arranged in the optical paths of the colored lights, the temperature of the green exit-side polarizing plate through which green light passes is likely to be higher than the temperature of the red exit-side polarizing plate through which red light passes, and is likely to be higher than the temperature of the blue exit-side polarizing plate through which blue light passes. In contrast, cold plate 55G for cooling green output-side polarizer 51 is disposed in the optical path of the green light, so that the green output-side polarizer can be cooled effectively. This improves the cooling efficiency of the green output-side polarizer, which receives a large amount of incident light, and suppresses the temperature rise of the green output-side polarizer.

[0101] The projector 1A includes a pipe 80 connected to the cold plate 55G. The piping 80 includes piping 806 and 809. The piping 806 is a supply pipe that supplies the liquid refrigerant to the flow section 566 of the cold plate 55G. The piping 809 is a discharge pipe that discharges the liquid refrigerant that has flowed through the flow section 566. At least one of the piping 806 and 809 is configured by a bellows tube. In this embodiment, each of the piping 806 and 809 is configured by a bellows tube. With this configuration, the bellows tube is stretchable and bendable, which makes it easier to position the cold plate 55G in a state where the liquid refrigerant can flow through it. In other words, the pipes 806 and 809 can be easily connected to the cold plate 55G. This improves the ease of assembly of the projector 1A.

[0102] The polarization unit 5A includes an output-side polarizing plate 51 onto which light is incident, a heat dissipation base material 52, and a cold plate 55. The exit-side polarizing plate 51 corresponds to a polarizing plate. The heat-dissipating base material 52 has thermal conductivity equal to or higher than that of the exit-side polarizing plate 51. The heat-dissipating base material 52 is connected to the exit-side polarizing plate 51 so as to be able to transfer heat. The heat-dissipating base material 52 has a first surface 521 facing the exit-side polarizing plate 51 and a second surface 522 opposite to the first surface 521. Cold plate 55 cools output-side polarizing plate 51 via heat dissipation base material 52. Cold plate 55 has openings 562 and 571 through which light can pass, a connection portion 563 that is provided around opening 562 and thermally connected to second surface 522, and a flow portion 566 through which a liquid refrigerant flows. Such a polarization unit 5A can achieve the same effects as the first light modulation module 343 described above.

[0103] [Modification of the first embodiment] In plate main body 56A of cold plate 55 described above, resistance portion 5668 increases the flow path resistance of the liquid refrigerant in fourth extension portion 5667, thereby adjusting the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant flowing along fourth extension portion 5667. Such resistance portion 5668 is configured by the inner surface of flow portion 566 constituting fourth extension portion 5667, the inner surface facing the -Y direction, protruding in the -Y direction. However, the configuration of the resistance portion is not limited to this, and may be any configuration as long as the flow path resistance can be increased.

[0104] FIG. 21 is a view of a plate body 56B, which is a modification of the plate body 56A, viewed from the +Z direction. 21 may be used for the cold plate 55 instead of the plate body 56A. The plate body 56B has a resistance portion 5669 instead of the resistance portion 5668, and has the same configuration and function as the plate body 56A. Similar to resistance portion 5668, resistance portion 5669 reduces pressure loss by making the flow path resistance of the liquid refrigerant along fourth extension portion 5667 greater than the flow path resistance of the liquid refrigerant along extension portions 5664 to 5666. Resistance portion 5669 is configured by a plurality of columnar portions CL standing in the +Z direction from the inner surface of fourth extension portion 5667 facing the +Z direction, and arranged at equal intervals along the +X and +Y directions. Projector 1A having such resistor section 5669 instead of resistor section 5668 can also achieve the same effects as projector 1A having resistor section 5668.

[0105] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The projector according to this embodiment has the same configuration as projector 1A according to the first embodiment, but the arrangement of cooler 45B, cooler 45G, and cold plate 55G in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant is different. Note that in the following explanation, parts that are the same or approximately the same as parts already explained will be given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0106] [Outline of projector and cooling system] FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device 7B provided in the projector according to this embodiment. The projector according to this embodiment has the same configuration and functions as the projector 1A according to the first embodiment, except that it has a cooling device 7B shown in Fig. 22 instead of the cooling device 7A. The cooling device 7B has a piping 82 instead of the branch section 78, the junction section 79, and the piping 80, and except that it has the same configuration and functions as the cooling device 7A. That is, the cooling device 7B has a sealed housing 71, a tank 72, a pump 73, an internal radiator 74, a circulation fan 75, an external radiator 76, a cooling fan 77, and the piping 82. The thermoelectric conversion device 44, the cooler 45, and the cold plate 55 also constitute the cooling device 7B.

[0107] Pipe 82 connects the components of cooling device 7B so that liquid refrigerant can flow, similar to pipe 80. Pipe 82 has the same configuration and function as pipe 80, except that pipes 821-824 are provided instead of pipes 803-810. Pipe 821 connects joint 814 and cooler 45B. Pipe 822 connects cooler 45B and cooler 45G. Pipe 823 connects cooler 45G and cold plate 55G, and is a supply pipe that supplies the liquid refrigerant circulating in flow section 566. Pipe 824 connects cold plate 55G and joint 815, and is a discharge pipe that discharges the liquid refrigerant that has circulated in flow section 566. Thus, in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant in cooling device 7B, internal radiator 74 and cooler 45B are connected in parallel to pump 73. Meanwhile, cooler 45B, cooler 45G, and cold plate 55G are connected in series in this order. The pipes 821 to 824 are made of bellows tubes in consideration of ease of connection between the components. However, this is not limiting, and at least one of the pipes 821 to 824 may be made of a bellows tube.

[0108] [Effects of the second embodiment] The projector according to this embodiment described above has the same effects as the projector 1A according to the first embodiment, and also has the following effects. The panel module 4A of the first light modulation module 343 constituting the green light modulation element 342G has a liquid crystal panel 41 that modulates and emits incident light, and a cooler 45G that is thermally connected to the liquid crystal panel 41 and through which a liquid refrigerant flows. 22, the cooler 45G and the cold plate 55G are connected in series to allow the liquid refrigerant to flow through them. In this embodiment, the cooler 45G is provided upstream of the flow path of the liquid refrigerant, and the cold plate 55G is provided downstream of the flow path of the liquid refrigerant. With this configuration, the liquid refrigerant flows through cooler 45G and then flows to cold plate 55G. This allows a low-temperature liquid refrigerant to flow through cooler 45G, which is in high need of cooling. In addition, since cooler 45G and cold plate 55G are connected in series to allow liquid refrigerant to flow therethrough, piping 82 for circulating liquid refrigerant between cooler 45G and cold plate 55G can be easily assembled.

[0109] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The projector according to this embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the projector 1A according to the first embodiment, but the configuration of the image projection device is different, and the optical path of the colored light in which the polarization unit is disposed is different. Note that in the following explanation, parts that are the same or approximately the same as parts already explained will be assigned the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0110] [Projector configuration] Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image projection device 9 provided in a projector 1C according to this embodiment. Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device 7C provided in a projector 1C. The projector 1C of this embodiment has the same configuration and functions as the projector 1A of the first embodiment, except that it has an image projection device 9 shown in Figure 23 and a cooling device 7C shown in Figure 24 instead of the image projection device 3 and the cooling device 7A, and a polarization unit 5A is provided on the optical path of the red light.

[0111] [Configuration of image projection device] The image projection device 9 generates and projects image light PL to be projected onto a projection surface such as a screen under the control of the control device 6. The image projection device 9 includes a light source device 91, a reflector 92, an image forming device 93, and a projection optical device 35. In this embodiment, the entire image projection device 9 is housed in the sealed housing 71. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, only the image forming device 93 may be housed in the sealed housing 71. In the following description, the two mutually orthogonal directions are referred to as the +D1 direction and the +D2 direction. The direction opposite to the +D1 direction is referred to as the -D1 direction, and the direction opposite to the +D2 direction is referred to as the -D2 direction.

[0112] The light source device 91 emits light toward the light modulation device 342 of the image forming device 93. The light source device 91 includes a red light source 91R, a green light source 91G, and a blue light source 91B. The red light source 91R emits red light RL in the +D1 direction toward the red light modulation element 342R. The red light source 91R has a red light emitting element 911R, which is an LD (Laser Diode) that emits red light. The green light source 91G emits green light GL in the +D2 direction toward the green light modulation element 342G. The green light source 91G has a green light emitting element 911G, which is an LD that emits green light. The blue light source 91B emits blue light BL in the −D1 direction toward the blue light modulation element 342B. The blue light source 91B has a blue light emitting element 911B, which is an LD that emits blue light.

[0113] The reflector 92 guides the light emitted from the light source device 91 to the light modulation device 342. The reflector 92 includes a red reflector 92R, a green reflector 92G, and a blue reflector 92B. Each of the reflectors 92R, 92G, and 92B is formed in a truncated pyramid shape whose cross-sectional area increases in the direction in which the colored light travels. The red reflector 92R not only guides the red light RL emitted from the red light source 91R to the red light modulation element 342R, but also makes the illuminance of the passing red light RL uniform. The green reflector 92G guides the green light GL emitted from the green light source 91G to the green light modulation element 342G, and also makes the illuminance of the passing green light GL uniform. The blue reflector 92B guides the blue light BL emitted from the blue light source 91B to the blue light modulation element 342B, and also makes the illuminance of the blue light BL passing through uniform.

[0114] The image forming device 93 forms image light by modulating each color light emitted from the light source device 91. The image forming device 93 includes a field lens 341, a light modulation device 342, and a color synthesis device 346. Field lens 341 collimates the light emitted from reflector 92 and incident on light modulation device 342. Field lens 341 includes red field lens 341R that collimates red light, green field lens 341G that collimates green light, and blue field lens 341B that collimates blue light.

[0115] The light modulation device 342 modulates the light emitted from the light source device 91. As described above, the light modulation device 342 includes the red light modulation element 342R, the green light modulation element 342G, and the blue light modulation element 342B. When the red, green, and blue laser beams emitted from the light sources 91R, 91G, and 91B are used for image formation, the X value of the tristimulus values ​​represented by XYZ must be supplemented with red light. Therefore, in the light source device 91, the amount of red light RL emitted from the red light source 91R must be greater than the amount of green light GL emitted from the green light source 91G, and greater than the amount of blue light BL emitted from the blue light source 91B. In this way, when the amount of red light RL increases, the temperature of the red panel and the red output-side polarizer increases, and the red panel and the red output-side polarizer tend to deteriorate. On the other hand, the amount of green light and the amount of blue light are smaller than the amount of red light. For these reasons, in the projector 1C equipped with the light source device 91 of the above configuration, a first light modulation module 343 is adopted as the red light modulation element 342R, and a third light modulation module 345 is adopted for each of the blue light modulation element 342B and the green light modulation element 342G.

[0116] As described above, the color synthesizer 346 synthesizes the red light, green light, and blue light modulated by the light modulation elements 342R, 342G, and 342B to form the image light PL. As described above, the projection optical device 35 projects the image light PL emitted from the color combining device 346 onto the projection surface.

[0117] [Cooling system configuration] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device 7C provided in a projector 1C. The cooling device 7C cools the cooling targets of the projector 1C, similar to the cooling device 7A according to the first embodiment. For example, the cooling device 7C cools the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R. Specifically, the cooling device 7A circulates a liquid refrigerant through the cooler 45 and cold plate 55 of the red light modulation element 342R to cool the red liquid crystal panel 41 and the exit-side polarizer 51. The cooling device 7A also circulates a cooling gas using a circulation fan 75 to cool the liquid crystal panel 41, the entrance-side polarizer 46, and the exit-side polarizer 51 of each of the light modulation elements 342R, 342G, and 342B, as well as the polarization conversion element 325 shown in FIG. 1.

[0118] The cooling device 7C has the same configuration and function as the cooling device 7A according to the first embodiment, except that it has a pipe 83 shown in Fig. 24 instead of the pipe 80. The thermoelectric conversion device 44, the cooler 45, and the cold plate 55 also constitute the cooling device 7C. Hereinafter, the liquid crystal panel 41, cooler 45, output polarizer 51, and cold plate 55 constituting the light modulation element 342R will be referred to as the red panel, cooler 45R, red output polarizer, and cold plate 55R.

[0119] The pipe 83 connects the components of the cooling device 7C so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through it. The pipe 83 has the same configuration and function as the pipe 80, except that the pipes 804-809 are replaced with pipes 831-834. Pipe 831 connects diverter section 78 and cooler 45R. Pipe 832 connects diverter section 78 and cold plate 55R, and is a supply pipe that supplies the liquid refrigerant that flows through flow section 566 of cold plate 55R. Pipe 833 connects cooler 45R and junction section 79. Pipe 834 connects cold plate 55R and junction section 79, and is a discharge pipe that discharges the liquid refrigerant that flows through flow section 566 of cold plate 55R. The pipes 831 to 834 are made of bellows tubes in consideration of ease of connection between the components. However, this is not limiting, and at least one of the pipes 831 to 834 may be made of a bellows tube.

[0120] As described above, in the cooling device 7C according to this embodiment, in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant, the internal radiator 74, the cooler 45R, and the cold plate 55R are connected in parallel to the pump 73. In particular, the cooler 45R and the cold plate 55R are connected in parallel to the flow dividing unit 78. The optical modulation elements 342 B and 342 G, which do not have the cooler 45 and the cold plate 55 , respectively, are cooled by the cooling gas in the sealed housing 71 circulated by the circulation fan 75 .

[0121] [Effects of the third embodiment] The projector 1C according to this embodiment described above has the same effects as the projector 1A according to the first embodiment, and also has the following effects. In the projector 1C, the light source device 31 has a blue light emitting element 911B that emits blue light BL, a green light emitting element 911G that emits green light GL, and a red light emitting element 911R that emits red light RL. A panel module 4B and an output-side polarizing plate 51 are provided in the optical paths of the blue light BL and the green light GL, respectively. The red light modulation element 342R provided in the optical path of the red light RL is configured by the above-described first light modulation module 343. Therefore, a panel module 4A including a liquid crystal panel 41, and a polarization unit 5A including an output-side polarizing plate 51 and a cold plate 55 are provided in the optical path of the red light RL.

[0122] Here, to compose white light with a natural hue using the blue light BL, green light GL, and red light RL emitted from the blue light emitting element 911B, green light emitting element 911G, and red light emitting element 911R, respectively, it is necessary to make the proportion of red light RL higher than the proportion of blue light BL, and higher than the proportion of green light GL. In other words, in white light with a natural hue, the amount of red light RL is greater than the amount of blue light BL, and greater than the amount of green light GL. In contrast, cold plate 55R for cooling the red output polarizer is disposed in the optical path of red light RL, so that the red output polarizer can be cooled effectively. This improves the cooling efficiency of the red output polarizer, which receives a large amount of incident light, and suppresses the temperature rise of the red output polarizer.

[0123] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The projector according to this embodiment has a similar configuration to the projector 1C according to the third embodiment, but differs in that the cooler 45R and the cold plate 55R are connected in series in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant. Note that in the following explanation, parts that are the same or approximately the same as parts already explained will be given the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0124] [Outline of projector and cooling system] FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device 7D provided in the projector according to this embodiment. The projector according to this embodiment has the same configuration and functions as the projector 1C according to the third embodiment, except that it has a cooling device 7D shown in Fig. 25 instead of the cooling device 7C. The cooling device 7D has a pipe 84 instead of the branch section 78, the junction section 79, and the pipe 83, and except that it has the same configuration and functions as the cooling device 7C. The pipe 84 connects the components of the cooling device 7D so that the liquid refrigerant can flow. The pipe 84 has the same configuration and function as the pipe 83, except that the pipes 803, 810, and 831-834 are replaced with pipes 841-843.

[0125] Piping 841 connects joint 814 and cooler 45R. Piping 842 connects cooler 45R and cold plate 55R and is a supply pipe that supplies the liquid refrigerant circulating in flow section 566 of cold plate 55R. Piping 843 connects cold plate 55R and joint 815 and is a discharge pipe that discharges the liquid refrigerant that has circulated in flow section 566 of cold plate 55R. The pipes 841 to 843 are made of bellows tubes in consideration of ease of connection between the components. However, this is not limiting, and at least one of the pipes 841 to 843 may be made of a bellows tube.

[0126] Thus, in the cooling device 7C, in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant, the internal radiator 74 and the cooler 45R are connected in parallel to the pump 73. On the other hand, the cold plate 55R is connected in series to the cooler 45R. The optical modulation elements 342 B and 342 G, which do not have the cooler 45 and the cold plate 55 , respectively, are cooled by the cooling gas in the sealed housing 71 circulated by the circulation fan 75 . The projector according to this embodiment described above can achieve the same effects as the projector according to the second embodiment and the projector 1C according to the third embodiment.

[0127] [Modification of the embodiment] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications and improvements within the scope of achieving the object of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. In each of the above embodiments, the cold plate 55 has a connection portion 563 provided around the opening 562, and the connection portion 563 is thermally connected to the second surface 522. More specifically, the connection portion 563 is thermally connected to an outer periphery of the second surface 522 that is located outside the region through which light passes, as viewed along the traveling direction of light passing through the opening 562. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The connection portion 563 may be thermally connected to the second surface 522, and the connection position of the connection portion 563 with respect to the second surface 522 is not limited to the outer periphery of the second surface 522. Even when the connection portion 563 is connected to the outer periphery of the second surface 522, the connection portion 563 does not have to be connected to the entire periphery of the opening 562. For example, the connection portion 563 may be provided in a portion of the periphery of the opening 562 and thermally connected to a portion of the outer periphery of the second surface 522.

[0128] In each of the above embodiments, the polarizing plate included in the polarization unit 5A is the exit-side polarizing plate 51. However, this is not limiting, and the polarizing plate included in the polarization unit 5A may be the entrance-side polarizing plate 46. Furthermore, the polarization unit of the present disclosure may be adopted instead of a polarizing plate used in other electronic devices such as a projector and a lighting device.

[0129] In each of the above embodiments, the plate bodies 56A and 56B of the cold plate 55 have the accommodating recess 561 as a recess in which the exit-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 are disposed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the accommodating recess 561 may be omitted. Furthermore, the accommodating recess 561 is a two-stage recess having a first recess 5611 and a second recess 5612. However, this is not limiting, and the accommodating recess may be a one-stage recess having only a first recess.

[0130] In each of the above embodiments, the exit-side polarizing plate 51 has a wire grid on the first surface 511 opposite to the second surface 512 facing the heat dissipation base material 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wire grid may be provided on the second surface 512 facing the heat dissipation base material 52.

[0131] In each of the above embodiments, the second biasing member 542 of the biasing members 54 constituting the polarization unit 5A has a cover portion 5424 that covers the edge 514 of the exit-side polarizing plate 51 that intersects with the +Y direction in which the wire grid extends. However, this is not limiting, and the cover portion 5424 may be omitted. Furthermore, the cover portion 5424 is not limited to being provided in the biasing member 54, and may be provided in another member such as the cold plate 55.

[0132] In each of the above embodiments, the gap between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 is covered by the inner side surface of the accommodating recess 561. However, this is not limiting, and the gap between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 may be covered by a member other than the cold plate 55, or the gap between the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipation base material 52 may be exposed.

[0133] In each of the above embodiments, the polarization unit 5A includes the biasing member 54 that biases the exit-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipating base material 52 against the plate bodies 56A and 56B of the cold plate 55. However, this is not limiting, and for example, if the heat dissipating base material 52 is fixed to the cold plate 55 and the exit-side polarizing plate 51 is fixed to the heat dissipating base material 52 with an adhesive or the like, the polarization unit 5A does not necessarily need to include the biasing member 54.

[0134] In the above-described embodiments, the heat dissipating base material 52 and the plate main bodies 56A and 56B are bonded and fixed with the first adhesive AD1 and the second adhesive AD2. However, this is not limiting, and one of the first adhesive AD1 and the second adhesive AD2 may be omitted. Furthermore, for example, as long as the output-side polarizing plate 51 and the heat dissipating base material 52 can be pressed and fixed to the plate main bodies 56A and 56B by the biasing force of the biasing member 54, the adhesives AD1 and AD2 may be omitted.

[0135] In each of the above embodiments, the processor 63 as a control unit controls the cooling devices 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D based on the detection results from the panel temperature sensor 611 and the polarizer temperature sensor 612. However, this is not limiting, and the processor 63 may control the cooling devices 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D based only on the detection result from the polarizer temperature sensor 612. Furthermore, the processor 63 may control the cooling devices 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D based on other parameters, such as the temperature inside the sealed housing 71.

[0136] In each of the above embodiments, the polarizer temperature sensor 612 detects the temperature of the cold plate 55 as the temperature of the output-side polarizer 51. However, this is not limiting, and the polarizer temperature sensor 612 may detect the temperature of the heat dissipation base material 52 as the temperature of the output-side polarizer 51. Furthermore, the temperature sensor may directly detect the temperature of the polarizer.

[0137] In the above-described embodiments, the cooling devices 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are provided with a sealed housing 71 that houses the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R, and a circulation fan 75 that circulates the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71. However, this is not limiting, and the sealed housing 71 may be omitted. In this case, instead of the circulation fan 75, a fan that circulates the gas inside the exterior housing 2 to the light modulation elements 342B, 342G, and 342R may be provided.

[0138] In each of the above embodiments, the sealed housing 71 is provided with the internal radiator 74 for cooling the cooling gas inside the sealed housing 71. However, this is not limiting, and the internal radiator 74 may be omitted. Moreover, the internal radiator 74 and the diverter 78 or the cooler 45 are connected in parallel to the pump 73. However, this is not limiting, and the order of the internal radiator 74 and the diverter 78 or the cooler 45 in the flow path of the liquid refrigerant can be changed as appropriate.

[0139] In the first and second embodiments, the polarization unit 5A having the cold plate 55 constitutes the green light modulation element 342G. In the third and fourth embodiments, the polarization unit 5A constitutes the red light modulation element 342R. However, this is not limiting, and the optical path of the colored light in which the polarization unit 5A is disposed can be changed as appropriate.

[0140] In each of the above embodiments, the piping connected to the polarization unit 5A is configured as a bellows tube. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the piping connected to the polarization unit 5A may be a tubular member other than a bellows tube.

[0141] In the above embodiments, the projectors 1A and 1C are provided with three light modulation elements 342R, 342G, and 342B. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this and can also be applied to projectors provided with two or less light modulation elements, or four or more light modulation elements. In the above embodiments, the light modulation elements 342R, 342G, and 342B have transmissive liquid crystal panels 41 with different light incident and exit surfaces. However, this is not limiting, and the light modulation elements may have reflective liquid crystal panels with the same light incident and exit surfaces. Furthermore, light modulation elements other than liquid crystals, such as devices using micromirrors, such as DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices), may be used as long as they are capable of modulating incident light beams to form images corresponding to image information. In this case, an exit-side polarizing plate is not required, and the polarization unit of the present disclosure may be used for purposes other than the exit-side polarizing plate.

[0142] Summary of this disclosure A summary of this disclosure is provided below. [Appendix 1] a panel module that modulates incident light; a polarizing plate onto which light emitted from the panel module is incident; a heat dissipation substrate having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate; a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation base material, The heat dissipation base material is a first surface thermally connected to the polarizing plate; a second surface opposite to the first surface, The cold plate is an opening through which light can pass; a connection portion provided around the opening and thermally connected to the second surface; a flow section through which the liquid refrigerant flows, An optical modulation module characterized by:

[0143] According to this configuration, the polarizing plate is cooled by the cold plate having a flow section through which a liquid refrigerant flows, via the heat dissipation substrate having a thermal conductivity equal to or higher than that of the polarizing plate. In this case, the cold plate has an opening through which light can pass, allowing light to pass through to the polarizing plate. In addition, the connection section is connected to the second surface of the heat dissipation substrate, which is opposite to the first surface thermally connected to the polarizing plate. This allows for a larger contact area between the heat dissipation substrate, which has an area through which light passes, and the cold plate, compared to when the outer peripheral surface of the heat dissipation substrate is in contact with the cold plate. This therefore increases the cooling efficiency of the polarizing plate. Furthermore, this also prevents deterioration of the polarizing plate, even when high-brightness light is incident on the optical modulation module, thereby preventing deterioration of the optical modulation module.

[0144] [Appendix 2] 10. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, the cold plate has a recess in which the heat dissipation base material and the polarizing plate are accommodated; An optical modulation module characterized by: According to this configuration, the heat dissipation base material and the polarizing plate are disposed in the recess, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the optical modulation module.

[0145] [Appendix 3] In the optical modulation module according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, the polarizing plate has a wire grid on a surface opposite to a surface facing the heat dissipation substrate; An optical modulation module characterized by: Here, the metal nanowires that make up the wire grid are easily damaged, and therefore, if a wire grid is provided on the surface of a polarizing plate that faces a heat dissipation substrate, the wire grid may be damaged when the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation substrate are thermally connected. In contrast, with the above configuration, the wire grid is provided on the surface of the polarizing plate opposite to the surface facing the heat dissipation base, which can prevent the wire grid from being damaged, thereby preventing the function of the polarizing plate from being impaired and making it easier to maintain the quality of the optical modulation module.

[0146] [Appendix 4] 4. The optical modulation module according to claim 3, a cover portion for covering an end surface of the polarizing plate perpendicular to a direction along the wire grid, a gap between the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation base material is covered by the cold plate; An optical modulation module characterized by: If moist dirt adheres to the end face, the liquid will penetrate into the wire grid due to capillary action, degrading the optical characteristics of the polarizing plate. In contrast, by covering the end face with the cover portion, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the wire grid, and therefore to prevent the optical characteristics of the polarizing plate from deteriorating. Furthermore, since the space between the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation substrate is covered by the cold plate, gas can be prevented from entering between the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation substrate, which prevents fogging from occurring between the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation substrate. Therefore, when light passes through the polarizing plate, the temperature of the polarizing plate can be prevented from increasing, and the amount of light passing through the polarizing plate can be prevented from decreasing.

[0147] [Appendix 5] 5. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, a biasing member that biases the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation base material against the cold plate; An optical modulation module characterized by: According to this configuration, the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation member can be integrated with the cold plate by the biasing member. Furthermore, since the contact state between the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation substrate, and the contact state between the heat dissipation substrate and the cold plate can be maintained, the heat of the polarizing plate can be easily transferred to the cold plate via the heat dissipation substrate, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the polarizing plate.

[0148] [Appendix 6] 6. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, a first adhesive and a second adhesive that bond the heat dissipation base material and the cold plate together; the heat dissipation base material has a third surface that intersects with the first surface and the second surface, the first adhesive bonds the outer circumferential portion of the second surface and the connecting portion; The second adhesive is provided across the third surface and the connection portion. An optical modulation module characterized by:

[0149] According to this configuration, the outer periphery of the second surface and the connecting portion can be bonded and fixed by the first adhesive. When the first adhesive is a silicone-based adhesive with high thermal conductivity, organic silicone gas containing low-molecular-weight siloxane is generated as outgas. If this outgas adheres to the area between the heat-dissipating substrate and the polarizing plate through which light passes, clouding may occur. When this clouding occurs, a portion of the light passing between the heat-dissipating substrate and the polarizing plate is absorbed, reducing the amount of light emitted and increasing the temperature of the polarizing plate due to heat generation. In contrast, because the second adhesive is provided across the side surface, which is the third surface of the heat dissipation base material, and the connection portion, even if outgassing is generated from the first adhesive, the second adhesive can prevent the outgassing from diffusing to the outside of the heat dissipation base material when viewed along the traveling direction of light passing through the opening. Therefore, since outgassing can be prevented from entering between the heat dissipation base material and the polarizing plate, the occurrence of the above-mentioned fogging can be prevented, and as a result, the amount of light emitted from the optical modulation module and the temperature rise of the polarizing plate can be prevented.

[0150] [Appendix 7] An optical modulation module according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 6; a light source device that emits light incident on the optical modulation module; a projection optical device that projects the light modulated by the light modulation module, A projector characterized by: This configuration can achieve the same effects as the above-described light modulation module, thereby enabling the configuration of a projector capable of projecting high-brightness image light.

[0151] [Appendix 8] 8. The projector according to claim 7, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cold plate; a control unit that controls the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant circulating in the circulating unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A projector characterized by: This configuration makes it easier to maintain the temperature of the polarizing plate within an appropriate temperature range. Furthermore, if a pump is provided to supply liquid refrigerant to the cold plate, the amount of liquid refrigerant pumped by the pump can be reduced when the cold plate temperature is relatively low and the polarizing plate temperature is maintained relatively low. This allows for more energy-efficient projectors than when the flow rate of liquid refrigerant is controlled to be constant.

[0152] [Appendix 9] 10. The projector according to claim 7, The panel module comprises: a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident light and emits it; a cooler that is thermally connected to the liquid crystal panel and through which the liquid refrigerant flows, The cooler and the cold plate are connected in series so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. A projector characterized by: With this configuration, the liquid refrigerant flows through one of the cooler and the cold plate, and then flows to the other, allowing a low-temperature liquid refrigerant to flow through the cooler or the cold plate, whichever is most in need of cooling. In addition, since the cooler and the cold plate are connected in series so that the liquid refrigerant can flow therethrough, it is easy to assemble piping for circulating the liquid refrigerant between the cooler and the cold plate.

[0153] [Appendix 10] 10. The projector according to claim 7, The panel module comprises: a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident light and emits it; a cooler that is thermally connected to the liquid crystal panel and through which the liquid refrigerant flows, The cooler and the cold plate are connected in parallel so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. A projector characterized by: With this configuration, a liquid refrigerant with a relatively low temperature can be circulated through both the cooler and the cold plate, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the liquid crystal panel and the polarizing plate.

[0154] [Appendix 11] 11. The projector according to claim 7, a housing that houses the optical modulation module; a circulation fan housed in the housing and circulating gas within the housing, A projector characterized by: With this configuration, the circulation fan can circulate gas through the optical modulation module housed in the housing. This makes it possible to cool the optical modulation module using the airflow as well. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the optical modulation module can be improved.

[0155] [Appendix 12] 12. The projector according to claim 11, an internal radiator that is accommodated in the housing so that the liquid refrigerant can flow therethrough and that exchanges heat between the circulating liquid refrigerant and gas within the housing; The cold plate and the internal radiator are connected in parallel so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. A projector characterized by: With this configuration, the internal radiator can transfer heat from the gas inside the housing to the liquid coolant flowing through the internal radiator, thereby lowering the temperature of the gas inside the housing, thereby lowering the temperature of the optical modulation module disposed inside the housing. Furthermore, since the internal radiator is connected in parallel with the cold plate, a liquid refrigerant with a relatively low temperature flows through the internal radiator, thereby improving the efficiency of cooling the gas inside the housing by the internal radiator. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the optical modulation module can be improved.

[0156] [Appendix 13] 13. The projector according to claim 11, an external radiator provided outside the housing and through which the liquid refrigerant flows; a cooling fan provided outside the housing for circulating cooling gas through the external radiator; a pump that circulates the liquid refrigerant cooled by the external radiator through the cold plate. A projector characterized by: With this configuration, the liquid refrigerant can be cooled by an external radiator and a cooling fan provided outside the housing. Then, the cooled liquid refrigerant is circulated through the cold plate by a pump, so that the polarizer can be cooled by the low-temperature liquid refrigerant. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the polarizer can be improved, and ultimately the cooling efficiency of the optical modulation module can be improved.

[0157] [Appendix 14] 14. The projector according to claim 7, a color separation device that separates the light emitted from the light source device into blue light, green light, and red light, the panel module and the polarizing plate are provided in the optical paths of the red light, the green light, and the blue light, respectively; The light source device is a light emitting element that emits excitation light; a wavelength conversion element that converts the wavelength of the excitation light, the cold plate is disposed in an optical path of at least the green light; A projector characterized by:

[0158] Here, when the light source device has a light emitting element and a wavelength conversion element, the proportion of green light in the light emitted from the light source device is higher than the proportion of red light and higher than the proportion of blue light. In other words, the amount of green light in the light emitted from the light source device is greater than the amount of red light and greater than the amount of blue light. Therefore, among the polarizing plates arranged in the optical paths of each color light, the temperature of the green polarizing plate through which green light passes is likely to be higher than the temperature of the red polarizing plate through which red light passes, and is likely to be higher than the temperature of the blue polarizing plate through which blue light passes. In contrast, since a cold plate for cooling the green polarizer is disposed at least in the optical path of the green light, the green polarizer can be cooled effectively, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the green polarizer, which receives a large amount of light, and suppressing the temperature rise of the green polarizer.

[0159] [Appendix 15] 14. The projector according to claim 7, The light source device is a blue light emitting element that emits blue light; a green light emitting element that emits green light; a red light emitting element that emits red light, the panel module and the polarizing plate are provided in the optical paths of the red light, the green light, and the blue light, respectively; the cold plate is disposed in an optical path of at least the red light; A projector characterized by:

[0160] Here, to create white light with a natural hue using blue light, green light, and red light emitted from the blue light-emitting element, green light-emitting element, and red light-emitting element, respectively, the proportion of red light must be higher than the proportion of blue light, and higher than the proportion of green light. In other words, in white light with a natural hue, the amount of red light will be greater than the amount of blue light, and greater than the amount of green light. In contrast, a cold plate for cooling the red polarizer through which the red light passes is disposed at least in the optical path of the red light, so that the red polarizer can be cooled effectively. This improves the cooling efficiency of the red polarizer, which receives a large amount of light, and suppresses the temperature rise of the red polarizer.

[0161] [Appendix 16] 16. The projector according to claim 7, a pipe connected to the cold plate; The piping is a supply pipe for supplying the liquid refrigerant to the circulation portion; a discharge pipe through which the liquid refrigerant that has flowed through the flow portion is discharged, At least one of the supply pipe and the discharge pipe is configured by a bellows tube. A projector characterized by: With this configuration, the bellows tube is stretchable and bendable, which makes it easier to position the cold plate in a state where the liquid refrigerant can flow through it, thereby improving the ease of assembly of the projector.

[0162] [Appendix 17] a polarizing plate onto which light is incident; a heat dissipation base material having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate and connected to the polarizing plate in a heat-transferable manner; a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation base material, The heat dissipation base material is a first surface facing the polarizing plate; a second surface opposite to the first surface, The cold plate is an opening through which light passes; a connection portion provided around the opening and thermally connected to the second surface; a flow section through which the liquid refrigerant flows, A polarization unit characterized by: Such a polarization unit can achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned optical modulation module. [Explanation of symbols]

[0163] 1A, 1C...Projector, 31...Light source device, 310...Light source, 319...Wavelength conversion device, 3191...Wavelength conversion element, 33...Color separation device, 34...Image forming device, 342...Light modulation device, 342B...Blue light modulation element, 342G...Green light modulation element, 342R...Red light modulation element, 343...First light modulation module (light modulation module), 35...Projection optical device, 4A, 4B...Panel module, 41...Liquid crystal panel, 411...Panel body, 412... FPC, 413...holding frame, 414...incident-side heat dissipation member, 415...exit-side heat dissipation member, 42...heat spreader, 43...holding member, 44...thermoelectric conversion device, 45...cooler, 46...incident-side polarizing plate, 47...mounting member, 5A...polarizing unit, 51...exit-side polarizing plate, 511...first surface, 512...second surface, 513, 514...edge, 52...heat dissipation base material, 521...first surface, 522...second surface, 523...third surface, 53...frame body, 54...urging member, 541...first urging member, 5 42...second biasing member, 5424...cover portion, 55...cold plate, 56A, 56B...plate body, 561...accommodating recess (recess), 5611...first recess, 5612...second recess, 562...opening, 563...connecting portion, 564...supply portion, 565...discharge portion, 566...circulation portion, 6...control device, 61...temperature sensor, 611...panel temperature sensor, 612...polarizer temperature sensor, 62...memory, 63...processor (control portion), 7A, 7B ,7C,7D...Cooling device, 71...Sealed housing (housing), 72...Tank, 73...Pump, 74...Internal radiator, 75...Circulation fan, 76...External radiator, 77...Cooling fan, 80,82,83,84...Piping, 91...Light source device, 91B...Blue light source, 911B...Blue light-emitting element, 91G...Green light source, 911G...Green light-emitting element, 91R...Red light source, 911R...Red light-emitting element, AD1...First adhesive, AD2...Second adhesive, SS...Light-emitting element.

Claims

1. a panel module that modulates incident light; a polarizing plate onto which light emitted from the panel module is incident; a heat dissipation substrate having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate; a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation base material, The heat dissipation base material is a first surface thermally connected to the polarizing plate; a second surface opposite the first surface, The cold plate is an opening through which light can pass; a connection portion provided around the opening and thermally connected to the second surface; a flow section through which the liquid refrigerant flows, the polarizing plate has a wire grid on a surface opposite to a surface facing the heat dissipation substrate; An optical modulation module characterized by:

2. 2. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, the cold plate has a recess in which the heat dissipation base material and the polarizing plate are accommodated; An optical modulation module characterized by:

3. 3. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, a cover portion for covering an end surface of the polarizing plate perpendicular to a direction along the wire grid, a gap between the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation base material is covered by the cold plate; An optical modulation module characterized by:

4. 3. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, a biasing member that biases the polarizing plate and the heat dissipation base material against the cold plate; An optical modulation module characterized by:

5. 3. The optical modulation module according to claim 1, a first adhesive and a second adhesive that bond the heat dissipation base material and the cold plate together; the heat dissipation base material has a third surface intersecting the first surface and the second surface, the first adhesive bonds the outer circumferential portion of the second surface and the connecting portion; The second adhesive is provided across the third surface and the connection portion. An optical modulation module characterized by:

6. The optical modulation module according to claim 1; a light source device that emits light incident on the optical modulation module; a projection optical device that projects the light modulated by the light modulation module, A projector characterized by:

7. The projector according to claim 6 , a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cold plate; a control unit that controls the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant circulating in the circulating unit based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A projector characterized by:

8. 8. The projector according to claim 6, The panel module comprises: a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident light and emits it; a cooler that is thermally connected to the liquid crystal panel and through which the liquid refrigerant flows, The cooler and the cold plate are connected in series so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. A projector characterized by:

9. 8. The projector according to claim 6, The panel module comprises: a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident light and emits it; a cooler that is thermally connected to the liquid crystal panel and through which the liquid refrigerant flows, The cooler and the cold plate are connected in parallel so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. A projector characterized by:

10. 8. The projector according to claim 6, a housing that houses the optical modulation module; a circulation fan housed in the housing and circulating gas within the housing, A projector characterized by:

11. The projector according to claim 10, an internal radiator that is accommodated in the housing so that the liquid refrigerant can flow therethrough and that exchanges heat between the circulating liquid refrigerant and gas within the housing; The cold plate and the internal radiator are connected in parallel so that the liquid refrigerant can flow through them. A projector characterized by:

12. The projector according to claim 10, an external radiator provided outside the housing and through which the liquid refrigerant flows; a cooling fan provided outside the housing for circulating cooling gas through the external radiator; a pump that circulates the liquid refrigerant cooled by the external radiator through the cold plate. A projector characterized by:

13. 8. The projector according to claim 6, a color separation device that separates the light emitted from the light source device into blue light, green light, and red light, the panel module and the polarizing plate are provided in the optical paths of the red light, the green light, and the blue light, respectively; The light source device is a light emitting element that emits excitation light; a wavelength conversion element that converts the wavelength of the excitation light, the cold plate is disposed in an optical path of at least the green light; A projector characterized by:

14. 8. The projector according to claim 6, The light source device is a blue light emitting element that emits blue light; a green light emitting element that emits green light; a red light emitting element that emits red light, the panel module and the polarizing plate are provided in the optical paths of the red light, the green light, and the blue light, respectively; the cold plate is disposed in an optical path of at least the red light; A projector characterized by:

15. 8. The projector according to claim 6, a pipe connected to the cold plate; The piping is a supply pipe for supplying the liquid refrigerant to the circulation portion; a discharge pipe through which the liquid refrigerant that has flowed through the flow portion is discharged, At least one of the supply pipe and the discharge pipe is configured by a bellows tube. A projector characterized by:

16. a polarizing plate onto which light is incident; a heat dissipation base material having a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than that of the polarizing plate and connected to the polarizing plate in a heat-transferable manner; a cold plate that cools the polarizing plate via the heat dissipation base material, The heat dissipation base material is a first surface facing the polarizing plate; a second surface opposite the first surface, The cold plate is an opening through which light passes; a connection portion provided around the opening and thermally connected to the second surface; a flow section through which the liquid refrigerant flows, the polarizing plate has a wire grid on a surface opposite to a surface facing the heat dissipation substrate; A polarization unit characterized by:

Images