Flexible Coolant Tube Alignment Reduces Optical Panel Stress

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing projector designs face image quality degradation due to mechanical stress applied on the liquid crystal panel from vibrations or impacts caused by the coolant tube, which can lead to thermal expansion and uneven cooling.

Innovation Solution

A projector design incorporating a flexible coolant tube connected to a heat receiving plate with a supporting portion, where the coolant tube is aligned with the plane of the heat receiving plate and supported to minimize mechanical stress, ensuring the coolant tube does not deflect and apply stress on the panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a coolant tube is connected to the optical element holding portion to cool the liquid crystal panel, then the cooling effect is improved, but mechanical stress is applied to the optical panel due to vibration or impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical panel temperatureVSAvoidoptical panel mechanical stress

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a flexible coolant tube instead of a rigid tube to connect the cooling system to the optical element holding portion. The flexibility of the tube allows it to absorb vibrations and impacts without transmitting mechanical stress to the optical panel, while still maintaining effective thermal contact for cooling purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a flexible tube as an intermediary element between the cooling system and the optical element holding portion. This intermediary absorbs the mechanical disturbances (vibrations and impacts) while allowing the cooling function to pass through, thus protecting the optical panel from stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid coolant tube is used for stable connection, then the connection stability is improved, but vibration and impact cause mechanical stress on the optical panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant tube connection stabilityVSAvoidmechanical stress from vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the rigid coolant tube with a flexible tube that maintains connection stability through its flexibility rather than rigidity. The flexible tube can deform to absorb vibrations and impacts while maintaining continuous contact for cooling, thus eliminating the harmful mechanical stress transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Device complexity

If the coolant tube is not supported properly, then the installation complexity is reduced, but the coolant tube deflects and applies stress on the optical panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant tube support structureVSAvoidoptical panel stress from tube deflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a support structure that pre-position s and stabilizes the flexible coolant tube before operation. This preliminary support prevents the tube from deflecting under its own weight or external forces, ensuring it maintains proper alignment without applying stress to the optical panel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure acts as an intermediary that bears the weight and prevents deflection of the coolant tube, allowing the tube to remain flexible for vibration absorption while eliminating excessive sagging that would cause mechanical stress on the optical panel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design reduces mechanical stress on the optical panel, maintaining image quality by absorbing vibrations and impacts through the coolant tube's flexibility and proper alignment, thus preventing thermal strain and cooling inefficiencies.

Implementation Method 1

a coolant tube having flexibility and connected to the heat receiving plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexibility: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a heat receiving plate including a coolant passage inside and configured to receive heat released by the optical panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10627707B2Projector for reducing mechanical stress of an optical panel due to vibration

Publication Date: 2020.04.21 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a projector which is capable of reducing mechanical stress of an optical panel due to vibration of a coolant tube through which a coolant for cooling the optical panel is made to flow.A projector according to the present invention includes: an optical panel (60R, 60G, 60B); a heat receiving plate (30a, 30b, 30c) including a coolant passage inside and configured to receive heat released by the optical panel; a coolant tube (21a, 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b, 27a) having flexibility and connected to the heat receiving plate; and a supporting portion to which the coolant tube extending from the heat receiving plate is connected. The coolant tube is disposed along a direction in which a plane of the heat receiving plate is disposed at least at a portion where the coolant tube is connected to the heat receiving plate and a portion where the coolant tube is connected to the supporting portion.