Projector Cooling Unit Between Socket and Optical Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projectors connected to bulb sockets face challenges in reducing size due to the configuration and arrangement of cooling units, which are not optimized for this specific power supply type.
Innovation Solution
A projector design featuring a cooling unit positioned between the connecting unit and the optical engine unit, with a compact air circulation path, allowing for efficient cooling of both the power supply and optical engine units, and incorporating heat radiating units to manage heat from light source units, enabling a reduction in size and cost while maintaining operation stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional cooling unit configuration is used in a projector connected to a bulb socket, then the cooling function is sufficient, but the projector size cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit is merged with the power supply unit housing, where the power supply unit serves as one side of the cooling path. The air circulation system integrates both cooling and power supply functions within a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate cooling unit housings and reducing overall projector volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is nested within the housing structure by utilizing the power supply unit's enclosure as part of the cooling air path. The cooling fan, heat radiating units, and air circulation channels are arranged within the existing housing boundaries, effectively nesting the cooling system into the power supply structure.
2Reliability
If the cooling unit is arranged to cool both power supply and optical engine units, then cooling coverage is improved, but the configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit is designed with multi-functionality to cool both the power supply unit and the optical engine unit through a single air circulation system. The fan and heat radiating units work together to provide universal cooling coverage for all heat-generating components, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems for each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling path is segmented into distinct circulation routes: one path cools the power supply unit through heat radiating units on its outer surface, while another path cools the optical engine unit through dedicated heat radiating units. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each cooling route while using a single cooling fan.
3Temperature
If heat radiating units are added to manage light source heat, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat radiating units are designed to passively radiate heat from the light source unit through their surface area and thermal conduction properties. The units self-regulate heat dissipation based on the temperature differential between the light source and ambient air, eliminating the need for active control mechanisms or additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat radiating units utilize air flow generated by the cooling fan to enhance convective heat transfer from the light source. The moving air current carries heat away from the light source unit through the heat radiating units, using pneumatic principles to improve temperature control without mechanical contact.
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
The solution enables a compact projector size reduction, efficient cooling of critical components, and improved operation stability, allowing for multicolor image projection without separate light separation, thus enhancing usability and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit arranged between the connecting unit and the optical engine unit and configured to circulate the air to cool the power supply unit and the optical engine unit
Implementation Method 2
the optical engine unit includes, on a side other than a side where the projecting unit projects light, a heat radiating unit configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source unit
Data Source
AI summary
A projector includes an optical engine unit including a light source unit configured to emit light, a light modulating unit configured to modulate, according to image information, the light emitted from the light source unit, and a projecting unit configured to project the light modulated by the light modulating unit, a connecting unit connectable to a bulb socket, a power supply unit configured to supply electric power received from the connecting unit to the optical engine unit, and a cooling unit arranged between the connecting unit and the optical engine unit and configured to circulate the air to cool the power supply unit and the optical engine unit.