Projector Illumination Optics Time-Sharing Color Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current illumination optics for projectors face limitations in brightness due to the use of short-arc lamps, leading to limited output and frequent maintenance, and suffer from image quality deterioration and heat-related issues when using multiple lamps without proper optics design.
Innovation Solution
An illumination optics system that uses a time-sharing color separation device with color filters arranged on one plane, rotating to separate light beams into different colors, allowing them to enter the system in a time-sharing state, and a deflecting member to ensure the color wheel is on the light incident side of the integrator rod, minimizing heat concentration and color mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light condensing positions are superposed on the color wheel or its vicinity, then brightness is enhanced, but heat concentration causes deterioration of color wheel properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the light condensing positions in the radial direction of the color wheel, distributing heat generation across different radial locations rather than concentrating it at a single point. This spatial distribution in the radial dimension prevents excessive heat concentration while maintaining overall brightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the single light condensing position into multiple separated condensing positions around the color wheel. Each position handles a portion of the light flux, segmenting the heat generation burden and preventing localized overheating that would deteriorate the color wheel properties.
2Manufacturing precision
If color wheel is arranged on the light emission side of the integrator rod, then color mixing is reduced, but color shading occurs on the modulation surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the color wheel on the light incident side of the integrator rod rather than on the light emission side. This reversal allows the integrator rod to homogenize the light flux after color separation, preventing color shading on the modulation surface while maintaining color uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrator rod serves as an intermediary element between the color wheel and the modulation surface. It receives the color-separated light flux from the color wheel, homogenizes it through internal reflection and scattering, and then delivers uniform illumination to the modulation surface, eliminating color shading.
3Loss of energy
If single lamp with short arc length is used, then system efficiency is improved, but output brightness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources (first and second light sources with各自的 condensing optics) into a single integrated illumination system. The light fluxes from multiple lamps are merged through the integrator rod and delivered to the modulation surface, achieving high output brightness while maintaining system efficiency through optimized optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrator rod serves multiple functions: it homogenizes light flux, merges light from multiple sources, redistributes angular distribution, and eliminates hot spots. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high brightness output while maintaining efficient energy utilization.
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 enhances image quality by preventing color shading and heat-related deterioration, allowing for higher brightness and efficient light utilization without the need for frequent lamp replacements, while maintaining the color wheel's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a time sharing color separation device having different color filters arranged on one plane. The color filters are rotationally moved so as to cross optical paths of the emitted light beams from the light source sections, thereby separate the emitted light beams to enter there into different color light beams in a time-sharing state
Implementation Method 2
illumination optics which use two lamps whose output is limited as independent lamp so as to obtain large output... synthesizes light beams from two light sources using an integrator rod and supplies the synthesized light beam... the light whose illuminance distribution is made to be uniform
Implementation Method 3
When the light condensing positions of the light beams emitted from the light sources are superposed on each other on the color wheel or its vicinity by the light condensing devices... considerable heat energy is generated on the light condensing position... the property of the color wheel is deteriorated or changed
Implementation Method 4
when the color wheel is arranged on the light emission side of the integrator rod, a light emission surface of the integrator rod and a modulation surface of the light modulating device are approximately optically-conjugated
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination optics includes a plurality of light source sections for emiting light beams and a time sharing color separation device having a plurality of color filters. The color filters are rotationally moved so as to cross optical paths of the emitted light beams from the light source sections, thereby separate the emitted light beams to enter there into different color light beams in a time-sharing state. The reference axes of the emitted light beams to enter the time sharing color separation device are separated from each other, and the color filters are formed so that border lines of the adjacent color filters cross the reference axes approximately simultaneously at the time of rotation.