Projector Light Shielding Member for Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current projectors with reflection-type liquid crystal panels suffer from thermal deterioration due to unnecessary light illuminating the housing, which reduces their lifespan.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reflection-type polarizing plate and a light shielding member connected to the supporting body, which redirects and absorbs unnecessary light, preventing it from illuminating the housing and enhancing heat dissipation through integral molding with heat fins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wire grid is used to separate luminous flux by polarization, then the first linearly polarized light enters the reflection-type liquid crystal panel for modulation, but the second linearly polarized light illuminates the inner surface of the housing causing thermal deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprojector lifeVSAvoidthermal deterioration of housing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful second linearly polarized light from the optical path by introducing a light shielding member that blocks this light from reaching the housing inner surface, thereby removing the thermal deterioration cause while preserving the useful first linearly polarized light path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The light shielding member acts as an intermediary element between the wire grid and the housing, intercepting the second linearly polarized light and preventing it from illuminating the housing inner surface, thus mediating the harmful thermal effect without affecting the main optical function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the light shielding member is separated from the supporting body, then assembly flexibility is improved, but heat dissipation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light shielding member with the supporting body by forming them as a single integral component, which improves heat dissipation efficiency by creating direct thermal conduction paths while maintaining the functional separation of light blocking and structural support roles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If the light shielding member is made integral with heat fins, then heat dissipation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The light shielding member and heat fins are combined into a single integral component that can be manufactured as one piece, which improves heat dissipation performance while avoiding the need for separate assembly steps and reducing overall manufacturing complexity compared to multiple separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 prolongs the projector's life by preventing thermal deterioration, improving heat management, and maintaining image quality by absorbing unnecessary light, thus reducing temperature increases and enhancing manufacturing simplicity.

Implementation Method 1

a reflection-type polarizing plate which separates entering luminous flux by polarization into first linearly polarized light and second linearly polarized light whose polarization directions cross each other at right angles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

the unnecessary light such as the second linearly polarized light described above and light reflected by optical components disposed downstream of the optical path from the reflection-type light modulation device and the reflection-type polarizing plate or by others, returned toward the reflection-type polarizing plate, and emitted in the same direction as the direction of the second linearly polarized light through the reflection-type polarizing plate illuminates the light shielding member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

Since the light shielding member is connected with the supporting body, heat generated on the light shielding member by illumination with the unnecessary light can be transmitted to the supporting body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8675145B2Projector

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A projector includes: a reflection-type polarizing plate which separates entering luminous flux by polarization into first linearly polarized light and second linearly polarized light whose polarization directions cross each other at right angles; a reflection-type light modulation device disposed inclined to the reflection-type polarizing plate to modulate the first linearly polarized light separated by polarization by the reflection-type polarizing plate according to image information and emit the modulated first linearly polarized light toward the reflection-type polarizing plate; a supporting body which supports the reflection-type polarizing plate and the reflection-type light modulation device; and a light shielding member disposed in an area to emit side of the second linearly polarized light which entering the reflection-type polarizing plate before modulation by the reflection-type light modulation device and separated by polarization, and connected with the supporting body.