Projector Cooling Target With Phase-Change Refrigerant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projector cooling systems face challenges in improving cooling performance without increasing the size of the projector or noise levels, particularly due to the limitations of air-based and liquid-based cooling methods.
Innovation Solution
A projector cooling system that utilizes a refrigerant generator to transform refrigerant into gas, which is then sent to a cooling target via a refrigerant sender and cooled part, utilizing air blown by a cooling air blower to enhance heat dissipation, with a porous refrigerant holder and fixing member configuration to improve thermal conductivity and surface area contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air-based cooling or liquid-based cooling is used to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the size of the cooling unit and projector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition of refrigerant (liquid to gas) as the core cooling mechanism. The refrigerant circulates through channels in the light modulator, absorbing heat during evaporation and releasing it during condensation, achieving efficient cooling without requiring large cooling components. This phase-change cooling allows compact integration while maintaining high cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit is integrated with the light modulator by forming refrigerant channels directly within the light modulator structure. The light modulator and cooling unit share the same physical space, with the refrigerant channels embedded in the light modulator's substrate or housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate cooling components, reducing overall size while improving cooling efficiency through direct thermal contact.
2Temperature
If air-based cooling is used to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise produced by the air blower increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses refrigerant phase transition (evaporation and condensation) as the primary cooling mechanism, which operates silently without requiring high-speed air blowers. The refrigerant absorbs heat during evaporation in the light modulator and releases heat during condensation in the condenser, providing effective cooling with minimal noise compared to forced air cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the air blower component from the cooling system, replacing it with a passive refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant is pumped through the light modulator and condenser without requiring strong air flow, thereby eliminating the primary noise source associated with air-based cooling while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
3Temperature
If refrigerant holder is made porous to increase surface area contact, then heat dissipation is improved, but humidity generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant holder is designed with porous structure only in specific locations where heat dissipation is most critical, such as the surface contacting the light modulator. Other portions of the refrigerant holder maintain non-porous structure to minimize humidity generation. This localized porosity optimization achieves effective heat dissipation while controlling overall humidity production in the optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the porous refrigerant holder downstream of the optical path in the air flow direction, so that humid air generated by evaporation does not directly contact optical components. The refrigerant holder is arranged in a spatial configuration where evaporation occurs in a region separated from the optical path, effectively decoupling heat dissipation function from humidity impact on optics.
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 solution provides enhanced cooling performance with a compact size and reduced noise, as the vaporization of refrigerant actively draws heat from the cooling target, improving efficiency and reliability while minimizing humidity effects on the projector's optical components.
Implementation Method 1
cooler configured to cool the cooling target based on transformation of a refrigerant into a gas
Implementation Method 2
cooling air blower configured to deliver air to the cooling target
Implementation Method 3
The holding frame may be made of metal. A material of the holding frame may contain aluminum. A thermal conductivity of the holding frame may be higher than a thermal conductivity of the refrigerant sender.
Data Source
AI summary
A projector including a cooling target includes a light source, a light modulator, a projection optical apparatus, and a cooler configured to cool the cooling target based on transformation of a refrigerant into a gas. The cooler includes a refrigerant generator configured to generate the refrigerant, a refrigerant sender configured to send the generated refrigerant toward the cooling target, and a cooling air blower configured to deliver air to the cooling target. The cooling target includes a cooling target main body and a cooled part which is thermally coupled to the cooling target main body and to which the refrigerant is sent from the refrigerant sender. The cooled part is disposed on a downstream of the cooling target main body in the flowing direction of the air delivered from the cooling air blower to the cooling target.