Optical path control device and projection image display device provided with same

Abstract

This optical path control device includes: an optical member through which image light is transmitted; a projection optical system that projects the image light transmitted through the optical member; a lens barrel that supports the projection optical system; a first support member that supports the optical member; a second support member that supports the first support member so as to be capable of swinging about a first swing center line extending in a first direction intersecting the extension direction of the optical axis of the projection optical system, the second support member being supported by the lens barrel so as to be capable of swinging about a second swing center line extending in a second direction intersecting both the extension direction of the optical axis and the first direction; a first actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and causes the first support member to swing; and a second actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and causes the second support member to swing.

Description

Optical path control device and projection type image display device equipped with the same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical path control device that drives an optical member through which image light passes to shift the projection position of the image light, and a projection-type image display device including the same.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a projection-type image display device that includes an optical element through which image light passes and an optical path control device that rapidly changes the attitude of the optical element. The image light that passes through the optical element is projected onto a screen via a projection optical system. This causes the projected image on the screen to reciprocate at high speed with small strokes, thereby increasing the resolution of the projected image on the screen.

[0003] Patent No. 7155967

[0004] However, in the case of Patent Document 1, the optical path control device and the projection optical system need to be mounted on the housing of the projection-type image display device while being positioned with high accuracy relative to each other. To achieve this, it is necessary to attach the optical path control device to the housing with high positioning accuracy, and also to attach the projection optical system to the housing with high positioning accuracy.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to facilitate the mutual positioning of a projection optical system and an optical path control device in a projection type image display device equipped with an optical path control device.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an optical path control device having: an optical element through which image light passes; a projection optical system that projects the image light that has passed through the optical element; a lens barrel that supports the projection optical system; a first support member that supports the optical element; a second support member that supports the first support member so that it can swing about a first swing center line that extends in a first direction that intersects with the extension direction of an optical axis of the projection optical system, and is supported by the lens barrel so that it can swing about a second swing center line that extends in a second direction that intersects both the extension direction of the optical axis and the first direction; a first actuator that is supported on an outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the first support member; and a second actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the second support member.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an optical path control device having: an optical element through which image light passes; a projection optical system that projects the image light that has passed through the optical element; a lens barrel that supports the projection optical system; a support member that supports the optical element and is supported by the lens barrel so as to be swingable about a swing center line that extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the optical axis of the projection optical system; and an actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the support member.

[0008] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a projection-type image display device having: an image forming device that outputs image light; and the above-mentioned light path control device that projects the image light output from the image forming device.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, in a projection type image display device equipped with an optical path control device, the projection optical system and the optical path control device can be easily positioned relative to each other.

[0010] a perspective view of a projection type image display device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; a top view of a projection type image display device; a front perspective view of a light path control device according to the first embodiment; a rear perspective view of the light path control device; a cross-sectional view of the light path control device taken along line A-A shown in FIG. 3; a cross-sectional view of the light path control device taken along line B-B shown in FIG. 4; an exploded front perspective view of the light path control device; an exploded rear perspective view of the light path control device; a perspective view showing a second support member that swingably supports a first support member; a perspective view showing a lens barrel that swingably supports the second support member; a perspective view showing the lens barrel in a state in which it supports the coils of the first and second actuators;

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed descriptions may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or redundant descriptions of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0012] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0013] Hereinafter, an optical path changing device and a projection type image display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a projection-type image display device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a top view of the projection-type image display device. The X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system shown in the drawings is intended to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system, the Z-axis direction is the projection direction of an image (image light) from the projection-type image display device, and the X-axis direction (first direction) and the Y-axis direction (second direction) are directions that are orthogonal to the projection direction and are also orthogonal to each other.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the projection type image display device 10 is a so-called projector, and is composed of an image forming device 20 located at a conjugate point on the reduction side that forms an image (image light), and an optical path control device 30 that projects the image light formed by the image forming device 20 onto a screen or the like located at a conjugate point on the enlargement side.

[0016] In this embodiment, the image forming device 20 is a so-called LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) type image forming device. Specifically, the image forming device 20 includes an image forming device 22 that forms red image light LR, an image forming device 24 that forms green image light LG, an image forming device 26 that forms blue image light LB, and a combining prism 28 that combines the three color image lights LR, LG, and LB to output full-color image light LT. Each of the image forming devices 22, 24, and 26 for each color includes a light source and a liquid crystal display for that color through which light from the light source passes. Note that the image forming device in the projection-type image display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to an LCD type, and may be, for example, a DLP (Digital Light Processing) type. Alternatively, the image forming device may be an image forming device using micro LEDs.

[0017] The optical path control device 30 projects the full-color image (image light LT) output from the composite prism 28 of the image forming device 20 onto a screen or the like. In particular, the optical path control device 30 is configured to increase the resolution of the image formed by the image forming device 20 and to be able to project the increased resolution image.

[0018] Figures 3 and 4 are front and rear perspective views of the light path control device according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the light path control device taken along line A-A shown in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the light path control device taken along line B-B shown in Figure 4. Figures 7 and 8 are front and rear exploded perspective views of the light path control device.

[0019] 3 to 8, the light path control device 30 has an optical member 32 through which the image light LT output from the image forming device 20 passes, and a lens barrel 34 that supports a projection optical system that projects the image light LT that has passed through the optical member 32. The lens barrel 34 is provided with a plurality of lenses 36, 38 that constitute the projection optical system. Note that although the drawings show the front lens 36 closest to the screen and the rear lens 38 closest to the image forming device 20, other lenses may be present between the lenses 36, 38.

[0020] The optical member 32 is, for example, a flat glass plate, and is provided in the light path control device 30 so as to intersect with the optical axis C of the projection optical system. Specifically, the optical member 32 is supported by the lens barrel 34 via a first support member 40 and a second support member 42.

[0021] The first support member 40 supports the optical member 32. Specifically, in the case of the first embodiment, the first support member 40 supports the optical member 32 so that the optical member 32 faces the rear lens 38 in the projection optical system with a gap therebetween and so that the optical member 32 intersects with the optical axis C of the projection optical system.

[0022] In the first embodiment, the first support member 40 includes a first support portion 40a that swings while supporting the optical member 32. The first support portion 40a is frame-shaped and supports the outer peripheral edge of the optical member 32. The first support portion 40a is disposed to face the rear end surface 34a (i.e., the rear lens 38) of the lens barrel 34 in the direction in which the optical axis C extends (the Z-axis direction), and swings about a first swing center line S1 that extends in a direction intersecting the optical axis C (the X-axis direction).

[0023] The second support member 42 is swingably supported by the lens barrel 34 while swingably supporting the first support member 40. In the first embodiment, the second support member 42 includes a second support portion 42a that swingably supports the first support portion 40a of the first support member 40 about a first swing center line S1. Specifically, the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42 is disposed between the rear end surface 34a of the lens barrel 34 (i.e., the rear lens 38) and the first support portion 40a of the first support member 40. The second support portion 42a is frame-shaped so that the image light LT that has passed through the optical member 32 supported by the first support portion 40a can pass through.

[0024] In the first embodiment, the second support portion 42 a of the second support member 42 supports the first support portion 40 a of the first support member 40 via a pair of first shaft members 44 .

[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a second support member that swingably supports the first support member.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , each of the pair of first shaft members 44 is a thin plate having a generally "H" shape and made of an elastically deformable material, such as a metal material. Each of the pair of first shaft members 44 includes a fixed portion 44a fixed to the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42, a fixed portion 44b fixed to the first support portion 40a of the first support member 40, and a connecting portion 44c connecting the fixed portion 44a and the fixed portion 44b and capable of elastically torsionally deforming. One of the fixed portions 44a is fixed to the front surface 42b of the second support portion 42a. The other fixed portion 44b is fixed to the top surface of a protrusion 40b that extends from the first support portion 40a in the direction of extension of the optical axis C (the Z-axis direction) and extends into the frame-shaped second support portion 42a. The pair of first shaft members 44 are arranged such that their connecting portions 44c are aligned in the same straight line.

[0027] As shown in Figure 9, since the connecting portions 44c of each of the pair of first shaft members 44 are capable of torsional deformation, the first support portion 40a of the first support member 40 can swing relative to the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42 in the extension direction of the connecting portions 44c (X-axis direction), i.e., around the first swing center line S1.

[0028] The second support member 42 is supported by the lens barrel 34 so as to be swingable about a second oscillation center line S2 that extends in a direction (Y-axis direction) that intersects both the extension direction of the optical axis C (Z-axis direction) and the extension direction of the first oscillation center line S1 (X-axis direction). In the first embodiment, the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42 is supported by the lens barrel 34 via a pair of second shaft members 46.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a lens barrel that supports the second support member so that the second support member can swing.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 , each of the pair of second shaft members 46 is a thin plate having a generally "H" shape and made of an elastically deformable material, such as a metal material. Each of the pair of second shaft members 46 includes a fixed portion 46a fixed to the rear end surface 34a of the lens barrel 34, a fixed portion 46b fixed to the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42, and a connecting portion 46c connecting the fixed portion 46a and the fixed portion 46b and capable of torsional deformation. One of the fixed portions 46a is fixed to the top surface of the convex portion 34c extending from the rear end surface 34a of the lens barrel 34 in the direction of extension of the optical axis C (the Z-axis direction). The other fixed portion 46b is fixed to the front surface 42b of the second support portion 42a. The pair of second shaft members 46 are arranged so that their connecting portions 46c are aligned on the same straight line.

[0031] As shown in Figure 10, since the connecting portions 46c of each of the pair of shaft members 46 are capable of torsional deformation, the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42 can swing relative to the lens barrel 34 in the extension direction of the connecting portions 46c (Y-axis direction), i.e., around the second swing center line S2.

[0032] 7 and 8, the pair of first shaft members 44 and the pair of second shaft members 46 are fixed to the front surface 42b of the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42. As a result, the first and second swing center lines S1 and S2 are located on the same plane. The pair of first shaft members 44 and the pair of second shaft members 46 are disposed with respect to the lens barrel 34 so that the first and second swing center lines S1 and S2 intersect on the optical axis C.

[0033] 5 to 8, the optical path control device 30 has a first actuator 48 for swinging the first support member 40. In the case of the first embodiment, the first actuator 48 includes a coil 50 and a magnet 52.

[0034] Furthermore, the light path control device 30 has a second actuator 54 for swinging the second support member 42. The second actuator 54 includes a coil 56 and a magnet 58.

[0035] 5 and 6, the first and second actuators 48, 54 are provided on the outer peripheral surface 34b of the lens barrel 34. The "outer peripheral surface" here refers to the surface of the lens barrel 34 that unfolds to surround the optical axis C of the lens barrel 34. Specifically, in the case of the first embodiment, the coils 50, 56 are attached to the lens barrel 34, and the magnets 52, 58 are attached to the first and second support members 40, 42.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the lens barrel in a state in which the coils of the first and second actuators are supported.

[0037] 11 , the coil 50 of the first actuator 48 and the coil 56 of the second actuator 54 are each supported on the outer peripheral surface 34b of the lens barrel 34. For reasons that will be described later, the coil 50 is supported on the lens barrel 34 so that its coil opening 50a opens in a direction (Y-axis direction) that intersects with the direction in which the first oscillation center line S1 extends (X-axis direction). Furthermore, for reasons that will be described later, the coil 56 is supported on the lens barrel 34 so that its coil opening 56a opens in a direction (X-axis direction) that intersects with the direction in which the second oscillation center line S2 extends (Y-axis direction).

[0038] 7 and 8, in the first embodiment, the magnet 52 of the first actuator 48 is provided on the first support member 40. Specifically, the magnet 52 of the first actuator 48 is supported by the first swinging portion 40c of the first support member 40.

[0039] 5, the first swinging portion 40c of the first support member 40 faces the outer peripheral surface 34b of the lens barrel 34, and is connected to the first support portion 40a that faces the rear end surface 34a of the lens barrel 34. That is, the first support member 40 is generally L-shaped when viewed in the direction in which the first swing center line S1 extends (the X-axis direction), as shown in FIGS.

[0040] The first oscillating portion 40c of the first support member 40 is cylindrical, and its inner peripheral surface supports the magnet 52. The coil 50 passes through the cylindrical first oscillating portion 40c.

[0041] When an alternating current flows through the coil 50 of the first actuator 48, an alternating magnetic field is generated around the coil 50. This alternating electric field exerts a force on the magnet 52 in a direction perpendicular to the opening direction of the coil opening 50a of the coil 50 (the Y-axis direction). Because the magnet 52 is supported by the first support member 40, which oscillates around the first oscillation center line S1, the magnet 52 reciprocates relative to the coil 50 in the extension direction of the optical axis C (the Z-axis direction), while alternately approaching and moving away from the coil opening 50a in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the first oscillation portion 40c of the first support member 40 oscillates, and the first support portion 40a connected to the first oscillation portion 40c oscillates around the first oscillation center line S1.

[0042] In the first embodiment, at least the first oscillating portion 40c of the first support member 40 is made of a magnetic material. That is, the first oscillating portion 40c functions as a yoke that amplifies the magnetic force of the magnet 52. The first oscillating portion 40c functioning as this yoke allows the magnet 52 to be made smaller, i.e., lighter. Furthermore, the reduced weight of the magnet 52 allows the power consumption of the coil 50 that drives the magnet 52 to be kept low. This allows the first oscillating portion 40c of the first support member 40 to oscillate at high speed with reduced power consumption. As a result, the first support portion 40a of the first support member 40 can oscillate at high speed.

[0043] 7 and 8, in the first embodiment, the magnet 58 of the second actuator 54 is provided on the second support member 42. Therefore, similar to the first support member 40, the second support member 42 includes a second swinging portion 42c that supports the magnet 58.

[0044] 6, the second swinging portion 42c of the second support member 42 faces the outer peripheral surface 34b of the lens barrel 34, and is connected to the second support portion 42a that faces the rear end surface 34a of the lens barrel 34. That is, the second support member 42 is generally L-shaped when viewed in the extension direction of the second swing center line S2 (Y-axis direction), as shown in FIGS.

[0045] The second oscillating portion 42c of the second support member 42 is cylindrical, and its inner peripheral surface supports the magnet 58. The coil 56 passes through the cylindrical second oscillating portion 42c.

[0046] When an alternating current flows through the coil 56 of the second actuator 54, an alternating magnetic field is generated around the coil 56. This alternating electric field exerts a force on the magnet 58 in a direction perpendicular to the opening direction of the coil opening 56a of the coil 56 (the X-axis direction). Because the magnet 58 is supported by the second support member 42, which swings about the second oscillation center line S2, the magnet 58 reciprocates relative to the coil 56 in the extension direction of the optical axis C (the Z-axis direction), while alternately moving toward and away from the opening direction of the coil opening 56a (the X-axis direction). As a result, the second oscillation portion 42c of the second support member 42 swings, and the second support portion 42a connected to the second oscillation portion 42c swings about the second oscillation center line S2.

[0047] In the first embodiment, at least the second oscillating portion 42c of the second support member 42 is made of a magnetic material. That is, the second oscillating portion 42c functions as a yoke that amplifies the magnetic force of the magnet 58. The second oscillating portion 42c functioning as this yoke allows the magnet 58 to be made smaller, i.e., lighter. Furthermore, the reduced weight of the magnet 58 also reduces the power consumption of the coil 56 that drives the magnet 58. This allows the second oscillating portion 42c of the second support member 42 to oscillate at high speed with reduced power consumption. As a result, the second support portion 42a of the second support member 42 can oscillate at high speed.

[0048] According to such a light path control device 30, it is possible to project the image (image light LT) formed by the image forming device 20 onto a screen or the like in a state where the image is at a high resolution.

[0049] FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram for explaining how the optical path control device increases the resolution of a projected image.

[0050] When the first actuator 48 swings the first support member 40 while the second actuator 54 swings the second support member 42 supporting the first support member 40, the optical member 32 supported by the first support member 40 swings around the first swing center line S1 and the second swing center line S2. As a result, the projected image M (an image corresponding to the image light LT) projected onto the screen S is shifted within a stroke range of ½ pixel in both the width direction W (Y-axis direction) and the height direction H (X-axis direction). In the case of the first embodiment, when the optical member 32 swings around the first swing center line S1, the projected image M moves back and forth in the height direction H. When the optical member 32 swings around the second swing center line S2, the projected image M moves back and forth in the width direction W.

[0051] By driving the optical member 32 by the first and second actuators 48, 54 via the first and second support members 40, 42, a projected image M shifted by +1 / 4 pixel in the width direction and +1 / 4 pixel in the height direction from the reference position, a projected image M shifted by +1 / 4 pixel in the width direction and -1 / 4 pixel in the height direction from the reference position, a projected image M shifted by -1 / 4 pixel in the width direction and -1 / 4 pixel in the height direction from the reference position, and a projected image M shifted by -1 / 4 pixel in the width direction and +1 / 4 pixel in the height direction from the reference position are displayed repeatedly on the screen S in this order. Note that the reference position is the position when the optical member 32 is not driven (i.e., is in a stopped state) and is the position when the image light LT from the image forming device 20 is incident on the optical member 32 at a right angle. Due to this oscillation of the optical member 32, a projected image M with a higher resolution than the original image (the image formed by the image forming device 20) is displayed on the screen S.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the optical path control device 30 is configured to detect the attitudes of the first and second support members 40, 42 in order to more reliably increase the resolution of the image projected on the screen, i.e., to more accurately drive the optical member 32. Specifically, the positions of the first and second swinging portions 40c, 42c of the first and second support members 40, 42 are detected.

[0053] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the light path control device 30 is attached to the lens barrel 34 and further includes a substrate 64 on which Hall elements 60 and 62 are mounted. One of the Hall elements 60 detects a magnetic field generated by a magnet 66 attached to the first oscillating portion 40 c of the first support member 40 as shown in FIG. 5 . The other Hall element 62 detects a magnetic field generated by a magnet 68 attached to the second oscillating portion 42 c of the second support member 42 as shown in FIG. 6 . The positions of the first and second oscillating portions 40 c and 42 c can be detected based on changes in the detected values ​​of the magnetic fields of the magnets 66 and 68 detected by the Hall elements 60 and 62, respectively. By controlling the current values ​​supplied to the coils 50 and 56 of the first and second actuators 48 and 54, respectively, based on the detected positions of the first and second oscillating portions 40 c and 42 c, the optical member 32 can be driven to reliably increase the resolution of the projected image on the screen.

[0054] According to the first embodiment as described above, in a projection type image display device equipped with an optical path control device, the projection optical system and the optical path control device can be easily positioned relative to each other.

[0055] Specifically, in the first embodiment, the projection optical system is incorporated into the light path control device 30. That is, the components of the light path control device 30 are supported by the lens barrel 34 that supports the projection optical system. Therefore, it is not necessary to mount the projection optical system to the housing of the projection-type image display device with high positioning accuracy while also mounting the light path control device to the housing with high positioning accuracy. This eliminates the need for components for positioning and fixing the projection optical system to the housing of the projection-type image display device with high accuracy and the installation space for those components. At the same time, it is also possible to eliminate components for positioning and fixing the light path control device to the housing of the projection-type image display device with high accuracy and the installation space for those components. As a result, the entire projection-type image display device can be miniaturized. For example, the miniaturized projection-type image display device may be mounted on a head-mounted display, and an image may be projected onto the retina of a user wearing the head-mounted display.

[0056] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment.

[0057] For example, in the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first and second actuators 48, 54 include coils 50, 56 and magnets 52, 58. The coils 50, 56 of the first and second actuators 48, 54 are supported on the outer circumferential surface 34b of the lens barrel 34. The magnets 52, 58 are supported on the first and second support members 40, 42. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The coils 50, 56 may be supported on the first and second support members 40, 42, and the magnets 52, 58 may be supported on the outer circumferential surface 34b of the lens barrel 34. Alternatively, the first and second actuators 48, 54 may be electromagnets. In this case, the first and second oscillating portions 40c, 42c of the first and second support members 40, 42 are made of a metal material to which a magnet is attracted.

[0058] In the first embodiment described above, the coils 50, 56 of the first and second actuators 48, 54 are supplied with alternating current to generate an alternating magnetic field. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this. The coils may be supplied with direct current intermittently to generate a magnetic field intermittently.

[0059] In the first embodiment described above, the first support member 40 has a generally "L" shape and is swung by a single first actuator 48. The second support member 42 also has a generally "L" shape and is swung by a single second actuator 54. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this. For example, the second support member may have a shape in which a second swaying portion is connected to each end of the second support portion, i.e., a "bracket" shape. In this case, two second actuators are used to sway the two second swaying portions.

[0060] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the optical member 32 is a flat glass plate. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this. The optical member 32 may be, for example, a lens.

[0061] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment described above, the first support member 40 is swingably supported by the second support member 42 via a torsionally deformable first shaft member 44. The second support member 42 is swingably supported by the lens barrel 34 via a torsionally deformable second shaft member 46. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this. For example, a rotation shaft may be provided in the first support member, and a support hole that rotatably supports the rotation shaft may be provided in the second support member.

[0062] In addition, in the case of the above-described first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, the optical member 32 is swung around the first swing center line S1 and also around the second swing center line S2, thereby increasing the resolution of the projected image M on the screen S. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this.

[0063] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the light path control device according to embodiment 2. Fig. 14 is an exploded rear perspective view of the light path control device according to embodiment 2.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the light path control device 130 according to the second embodiment differs from the light path control device 30 according to the first embodiment in that it includes only one support member supporting the optical element 132. Like the support member 40 according to the above-described embodiment, the single support member 140 is generally L-shaped when viewed in the direction in which the oscillation center line S3 extends (the X-axis direction). Specifically, the support member 140 includes a support portion 140a that faces the end face of the barrel 134 and supports the optical element 132, and a swing portion 140c that faces the outer peripheral surface of the housing 134 and swings when driven by an actuator 148. The support portion 140a of the support member 140 supports the optical element 132 and is supported by the barrel 134 via a pair of shaft members 144 so as to be swingable about the oscillation center line S3. Like the shaft member 44 according to the above-described embodiment, the shaft members 144 are elastically torsionally deformable. A coil 150 of an actuator 148 that swings the support member 140 is supported by the lens barrel 134, and a magnet 152 is supported by a swinging portion 140c of the support member 140. When the actuator 148 swings the optical member 132 via the support member 140, the projection image that passes through the optical member 132 and is projected onto the screen via the projection optical system has a higher resolution.

[0065] That is, in a broad sense, an optical path control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an optical element through which image light passes, a projection optical system that projects the image light that has passed through the optical element, a lens barrel that supports the projection optical system, a first support member that supports the optical element, a second support member that supports the first support member so as to be swingable about a first swing center line extending in a first direction that intersects with the extension direction of the optical axis of the projection optical system, and is supported by the lens barrel so as to be swingable about a second swing center line extending in a second direction that intersects both the extension direction of the optical axis and the first direction, a first actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the first support member, and a second actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the second support member.

[0066] Furthermore, an optical path control device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure broadly comprises an optical element through which image light passes, a projection optical system that projects the image light that has passed through the optical element, a lens barrel that supports the projection optical system, a support member that supports the optical element and is supported by the lens barrel so as to be swingable about a swing center line that extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the optical axis of the projection optical system, and an actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the support member.

[0067] Furthermore, a projection-type image display device according to a different embodiment of the present disclosure has, in a broad sense, an image forming device that outputs image light, and the above-mentioned light path control device that projects the image light output from the image forming device.

[0068] As described above, the above-described embodiments have been described as examples of the technology of the present disclosure. For this purpose, drawings and detailed descriptions are provided. Therefore, the components described in the drawings and detailed descriptions may include not only components essential for solving the problem, but also components that are not essential for solving the problem in order to exemplify the above-described technology. Therefore, the fact that these non-essential components are described in the drawings or detailed descriptions should not be interpreted as immediately indicating that these non-essential components are essential.

[0069] Furthermore, since the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology of the present disclosure, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0070] The present disclosure is applicable to projection-type image display devices.

Claims

1. An optical path control device comprising: an optical element through which image light passes; a projection optical system that projects the image light that has passed through the optical element; a lens barrel that supports the projection optical system; a first support member that supports the optical element; a second support member that supports the first support member so that it can swing about a first swing center line that extends in a first direction that intersects with the extension direction of the optical axis of the projection optical system, and is supported by the lens barrel so that it can swing about a second swing center line that extends in a second direction that intersects both the extension direction of the optical axis and the first direction; a first actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the first support member; and a second actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and swings the second support member.

2. An optical path control device as described in claim 1, wherein the first support member is L-shaped when viewed in the first direction and faces the end face and outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel; the second support member is L-shaped when viewed in the second direction and faces the end face and outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel; the first support member includes: a first support portion that faces the end face of the lens barrel and supports the optical element; and a first oscillating portion that faces the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and oscillates when driven by the first actuator; and the second support member includes: a second support portion that faces the end face of the lens barrel and supports the first support portion of the first support member so that it can oscillate around the first oscillating center line, while being supported by the lens barrel so that it can oscillate around the second oscillating center line; and a second oscillating portion that faces the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and oscillates when driven by the second actuator.

3. An optical path control device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators includes a coil and a magnet, one of the coil and the magnet being supported by the lens barrel, and the other being supported by the first and second support members.

4. An optical path control device according to claim 3, wherein each of the first and second support members supports the magnet and is made of a magnetic material, and the lens barrel supports the coil.

5. An optical path control device as described in claim 1, wherein the first support member is swingably supported on the second support member via a torsionally deformable first shaft member, and the second support member is swingably supported on the lens barrel via a torsionally deformable second shaft member.

6. An optical path control device comprising: an optical element through which image light passes; a projection optical system that projects the image light that has passed through said optical element; a lens barrel that supports said projection optical system; a support member that supports said optical element and is supported by said lens barrel so as to be swingable about a swing center line that extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the optical axis of said projection optical system; and an actuator that is supported on the outer peripheral surface of said lens barrel and swings said support member.

7. An optical path control device as described in claim 6, wherein the support member is L-shaped when viewed in the direction in which the oscillation center line extends, and faces the end face and the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel, and the support member includes: a support section that faces the end face of the lens barrel and supports the optical element; and an oscillating section that faces the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel and oscillates when driven by the actuator.

8. The optical path control device according to claim 6, wherein the actuator includes a coil and a magnet, one of the coil and the magnet being supported by the lens barrel, and the other being supported by the support member.

9. The optical path control device according to claim 8, wherein the support member supports the magnet and is made of a magnetic material, and the lens barrel supports the coil.

10. An optical path control device according to claim 6, wherein said support member is supported by said lens barrel so as to be swingable via a torsionally deformable shaft member.

11. A projection type image display device comprising: an image forming device that outputs image light; and an optical path control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 that projects the image light output from the image forming device.

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