Mirrorless Projection Apparatus Optical Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing projection apparatuses face challenges in miniaturization due to the large size and manufacturing complexity of the illumination lens module, which is exacerbated by the presence of a reflective mirror, leading to increased costs and instability.
Innovation Solution
A projection apparatus design without a reflective mirror, where the illumination lens module is positioned on the same optic axis as the light source and light valve, allowing the light beam to propagate directly through without reflection, and utilizing a telecentric structure with specific lens configurations to reduce size and instability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a reflective mirror is disposed off the optic axis to reduce the size of the projection apparatus, then the size is reduced, but the unsteadiness increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reflective mirror from the optical path entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused unsteadiness and manufacturing difficulties. The illumination lens module is redesigned to guide light without requiring an off-axis reflective mirror, thereby eliminating the source of instability while maintaining compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using reflection to fold the optical path, the patent inverts the approach by using transmission through a carefully designed illumination lens module. The light path is managed through refractive optics rather than reflective optics, fundamentally changing the approach to achieving compactness without stability trade-offs.
2Volume of moving object
If a reflective mirror is disposed off the optic axis to reduce the size of the projection apparatus, then the size is reduced, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reflective mirror from the optical path entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused unsteadiness and manufacturing difficulties. The illumination lens module is redesigned to guide light without requiring an off-axis reflective mirror, thereby eliminating the source of instability while maintaining compact size.
3Manufacturing precision
If the illumination lens module has a specific light path length with many lenses to maximize energy and optimize image quality, then image quality is improved, but the size of the projection apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination and projection optical paths into a more integrated configuration. By eliminating the separate reflective mirror component and redesigning the illumination lens module, the overall system is compacted while maintaining the necessary optical functionality for high-quality image projection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reconfigures the optical path in three-dimensional space, using a perpendicular arrangement where the illumination optic axis is substantially perpendicular to the projection optic axis. This spatial reorganization allows for compact integration of multiple optical components without increasing the overall footprint of the device.
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 the size of the projection apparatus along the Y axis, minimizes manufacturing difficulties, and enhances image quality by ensuring most of the light beam is utilized for image display, thereby addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination lens module has a first optic axis. The light valve is disposed on the first propagating path of the first light beam, and is configured to transfer the first light beam into a second light beam with an image, wherein the first light beam propagates through the illumination lens module to the light valve without reflection.
Implementation Method 2
The light valve is disposed on the first propagating path of the first light beam, and is configured to transfer the first light beam into a second light beam with an image
Implementation Method 3
The projection lens is disposed on a second propagating path of the second light beam, and configured to project the image onto a screen, wherein the projection lens has a second optic axis, and the second optic axis is substantially perpendicular to the first optic axis.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a projection apparatus including a light source module, an illumination lens module, a light valve, and a projection lens. The light source module is configured to provide a first light beam, and the illumination lens module and the light valve are disposed on a first propagating path of the first light beam. The illumination lens module has a first optic axis. The light valve is configured to transfer the first light beam into a second light beam with an image, and the first light beam propagates through the illumination lens module to the light valve without reflection. The projection lens has a second optic axis substantially perpendicular to the first optic axis.