Anamorphic Zoom Lens for Projector Aspect Ratio Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Projectors face issues with aspect ratio mismatch between input image signals and liquid crystal panels, leading to reduced resolution, shortened panel life, and decreased illumination efficiency due to the need for blank portions and complex switching mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A projector with an image processing section that expands the aspect ratio in either the horizontal or vertical direction, combined with an anamorphic zoom optical system capable of changing magnification ratios, allowing for seamless aspect ratio adjustment without blank portions and simplifying the switching mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If blank portions are provided at the top and bottom or left and right of the screen to match aspect ratios, then the aspect ratio mismatch problem is solved, but the resolution is degraded and the liquid crystal panel life is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the anamorphic lens rotatable to change its optical axis orientation. This dynamic adjustment allows the lens to adapt to different aspect ratios (e.g., rotating 90 degrees to switch between horizontal and vertical expansion), enabling the system to handle various input signals without fixed blank portions, thereby maintaining full resolution across the liquid crystal panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the projection system by introducing an anamorphic lens with adjustable orientation. By rotating the lens to different angles, the system changes which dimension (horizontal or vertical) is expanded, allowing flexible adaptation to different aspect ratios while utilizing the entire liquid crystal panel area for image display, thus avoiding resolution loss.
2Manufacturing precision
If an anamorphic lens is introduced to restore the image aspect ratio, then resolution degradation is prevented, but the device structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single anamorphic lens that can serve multiple functions through rotation. The same lens handles both horizontal expansion (when oriented vertically) and vertical expansion (when oriented horizontally), eliminating the need for separate optical systems for different aspect ratios. This multi-functional approach maintains high resolution while avoiding the complexity of multiple dedicated lenses or complex switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotatability of the anamorphic lens allows one component to adapt to multiple configuration requirements. By simply rotating the lens to different angular positions, the system can switch between handling different aspect ratios without adding complex mechanical switching structures or multiple optical paths, thus simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Device complexity
If the liquid crystal panel size is limited to specific aspect ratios to simplify the switching mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different input signals is dramatically reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the optical system dynamic through lens rotation rather than limiting the liquid crystal panel to fixed aspect ratios. The rotatable anamorphic lens provides continuous adaptability to different input signals while keeping the panel size fixed, achieving signal compatibility without requiring complex switching mechanisms or multiple panel configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A projector includes: a light source; an image processing section adapted to perform an expansion process of an aspect ratio in either one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of an image to be formed by an image signal input; a light modulation element adapted to modulate light from the light source to form an image on which the expansion process is performed; a projection optical system adapted to project the image, formed by the light modulation element, on a projection surface; and an anamorphic zoom optical system adapted to be capable of changing a magnification ratio of the image with respect to a direction different from a direction, along which the expansion process is performed in the image processing section, out of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.