Projector Frame Guiding Portions for Liquid Crystal Panel Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projector designs with liquid crystal panels face inefficiencies in cooling due to air flow obstruction by frames, leading to incomplete heat dissipation and increased noise when fans are used to enhance cooling.
Innovation Solution
The optical device incorporates an incident side dustproof glass with a larger plane size than the opposed substrate, exposed to the outside, and a frame with guiding portions and clearances to facilitate air flow along the dustproof glass surfaces, ensuring efficient heat release and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frame with step structure is used to hold the liquid crystal panel, then the panel is securely mounted, but air flow is obstructed and cannot reach the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel for sufficient cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the step structure from the frame that was obstructing air flow. By extracting this problematic geometric feature, the frame no longer blocks air from reaching the liquid crystal panel surface, resolving the contradiction between secure mounting and effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guiding portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the panel surface, creating a new spatial dimension for air flow guidance. This three-dimensional structure guides air along the panel surface without requiring complex step configurations, achieving both secure mounting and effective cooling.
2Reliability
If the number of revolutions of the fan is raised to cool the liquid crystal panel sufficiently, then cooling effectiveness improves, but noise increases and makes observers uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a guiding portion structure that passively directs air flow along the liquid crystal panel surface without requiring high fan speeds. The geometry itself performs the cooling guidance function, allowing efficient cooling at lower fan revolutions and thus reducing noise without compromising cooling effectiveness.
3Temperature
If the plane size of the dustproof glass is made larger than the opposed substrate, then heat release efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the dustproof glass into two functional zones: a central portion matching the substrate size for optical protection and a peripheral extension for heat release. This segmentation allows the glass to perform multiple functions - protecting the panel while simultaneously providing increased surface area for heat dissipation, resolving the contradiction between thermal management and structural simplicity.
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 configuration allows for stable light modulation by effectively cooling the light modulation unit, reducing temperature increases and noise levels, thereby prolonging projector lifespan and improving image quality.
Implementation Method 1
heat can be efficiently released from the incident side dustproof glass, and the light modulation unit which generates heat when receiving light can be efficiently cooled
Implementation Method 2
Air supplied from the fan flows along this slope to be smoothly guided to the surface of the liquid crystal panel and used for cooling the liquid crystal panel
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device includes: a light modulation unit configured to modulate a light according to image information, including an element substrate having a pixel electrode and a switching element connected with the pixel electrode, and an opposed substrate disposed opposed to the element substrate; a frame configured to hold the light modulation unit; and an incident side dustproof glass disposed in close contact with a light incident side end surface of the opposed substrate, the incident side dustproof glass having the plane size larger than the plane size of the opposed substrate is disposed on the light incident side of the frame.