Liquid Crystal Light Modulator Cooling With Phase-Change Heat Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projectors face challenges in cooling efficiency due to increased heat density in small light modulation devices, leading to size increases when using larger cooling fans or pumps, which result in noise or system enlargement.
Innovation Solution
A light modulation device with a cooling member that encapsulates a working fluid, changing it from a liquid to a gas phase to cool the liquid crystal layer, combined with a cooling device that circulates a cooling gas through a first direction to a heat radiating member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large cooling fan is adopted to increase cooling air quantity, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the size of the projector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition of working fluid (liquid to gas) within the light modulation device to absorb heat efficiently. The working fluid evaporates in the hollow space, absorbing latent heat of vaporization, and the resulting gas is discharged. This phase change mechanism provides high cooling efficiency without requiring a large cooling fan, thus maintaining compact projector size.
2Temperature
If the cooling fan is driven at high speed to increase cooling air quantity, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the phase transition of the working fluid from liquid to gas, the system achieves efficient heat absorption without requiring high-speed fan operation. The evaporative cooling process occurs passively within the light modulation device, significantly reducing the operational speed and noise of the cooling fan while maintaining effective cooling performance.
3Temperature
If a large pump is adopted to increase liquid coolant feeding quantity, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the size of the cooling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for a liquid coolant circulation pump by directly introducing a working fluid into the light modulation device. The working fluid evaporates and is discharged as gas, removing the requirement for a complex liquid circulation system including pumps, pipes, and radiators, thereby simplifying the cooling system and reducing its size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from liquid coolant hydraulics to pneumatic operation by using a working fluid that evaporates and is discharged as gas. This pneumatic approach eliminates the need for liquid circulation components like pumps and radiators, simplifying the cooling system architecture.
4Volume of moving object
If the light modulation device is reduced in size, then projector size is reduced, but heat density increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the heat density issue in compact light modulation devices by implementing a working fluid that undergoes phase transition from liquid to gas within the device. This phase change absorbs significant latent heat, effectively managing the high heat density generated in the compact structure without requiring increased device size.
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
Enhances cooling efficiency while maintaining a compact size, reducing noise, and avoiding projector size increases by effectively managing heat in small light modulation devices.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling member includes a hollow space in which a working fluid is encapsulated and changes the working fluid in a liquid phase to the working fluid in a gas phase to cool the liquid crystal layer via the second substrate
Implementation Method 2
a cooling device configured to circulate a cooling gas to the cooling member
Data Source
AI summary
A light modulation device having a pixel arrangement region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed to be opposed to the first substrate via a liquid crystal layer, and a cooling member disposed on the opposite side of the first substrate with respect to the second substrate and thermally connected to the second substrate. The cooling member includes a hollow space in which working fluid is encapsulated and changes the working fluid in a liquid phase to the working fluid in a gas phase to cool the liquid crystal layer via the second substrate.