Projector Light Combiner with Dedicated Parallelizing Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional three-plate projectors require additional components for color separation and combination, leading to increased size due to the need for a color separation/light combining system, which complicates the design and enlarges the device.
Innovation Solution
A projector design that includes three light sources (blue, green, and red) with dedicated light guiding and parallelizing parts, each modulated based on image information, and combined using a light combiner, eliminating the need for a separate color separation system by directly converting color lights into image lights and projecting them as full-color images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a color separation/light combining system is added to achieve full-color image projection, then the projector can display full-color images, but the number of parts increases and the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light modulation function into three separate liquid crystal panels, each dedicated to a specific color (red, green, blue). Each panel processes only its corresponding color light, eliminating the need for complex color separation and combining systems. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each color channel while simplifying the overall optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
Each liquid crystal panel serves multiple functions: it acts as both a light modulator for its specific color and as a color filter simultaneously. The panels are designed to transmit their designated color while blocking other colors, combining modulation and color separation functions into a single component, thereby reducing the total number of parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a color separation/light combining system is added to achieve full-color image projection, then the projector can display full-color images, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the color processing into three dedicated panels, the optical path for each color is simplified and can be arranged more compactly. Each panel's optical path is self-contained, allowing for efficient space utilization and reducing the overall projector volume compared to systems requiring separate color separation and combining optics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the color separation function with the light modulation function by designing liquid crystal panels that simultaneously modulate light intensity and filter colors. This integration eliminates the need for separate color separation optics, thereby reducing the device size while maintaining full-color display capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If white light is generated and then separated into multiple colors, then full-color images can be produced, but additional components are required beyond the light source
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of generating white light and then separating it into colors (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the process by using three separate light sources that directly emit red, green, and blue lights. This eliminates the need for color separation components and simplifies the system architecture by working with colored light from the beginning rather than deriving colors from white light.
Solution Approach 2:
Each light source is designed to emit a specific color spectrum optimized for its purpose. The red light source emits primarily in the red wavelength range, green in the green range, and blue in the blue range. This localized spectral quality eliminates the need for broad-spectrum white light and subsequent color separation, reducing system complexity.
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 number of components and size of the projector while maintaining efficient color light utilization and projection quality, as the focal lengths of the parallelizing parts ensure effective parallelism and homogenization of light, enhancing the projector's efficiency and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a first light guiding part having a first light incident end on which the first light output from the first light source is incident and a first light exiting end via which the first light exits, the first light guiding part configured to homogenize in-plane illuminance of the first light
Implementation Method 2
a first parallelizing part configured to parallelize the first light output from the first light guiding part; a second parallelizing part configured to parallelize the second light output from the second light guiding part; a third parallelizing part configured to parallelize the third light output from the third light guiding part
Implementation Method 3
a first light modulator configured to modulate the first light output from the first parallelizing part based on image information; a second light modulator configured to modulate the second light output from the second parallelizing part based on image information; a third light modulator configured to modulate the third light output from the third parallelizing part based on image information
Implementation Method 4
a light combiner configured to combine the first light output from the first light modulator, the second light output from the second light modulator, and the third light output from the third light modulator with one another and outputs the combined light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
In a projector according to an aspect of the present disclosure, first light in a first wavelength band output from a first light source sequentially passes through a first light guiding part and a first parallelizing part and enters a light combiner. Second light in a second wavelength band output from a second light source sequentially passes through a second light guiding part and a second parallelizing part and enters the light combiner. Third light in a third wavelength band output from a third light source sequentially passes through a third light guiding part and a third parallelizing part and enters the light combiner. A first focal length of the first parallelizing part is longer than a first length from a first light incident end to a first light exiting end of the first light guiding part, a second focal length of the second parallelizing part is longer than a second length from a second light incident end to a second light exiting end of the second light guiding part, and a third focal length of the third parallelizing part is longer than a third length from a third light incident end to a third light exiting end of the third light guiding part.