Wedge-Type Lens for Compact Projector Optical Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projector apparatuses face challenges in balancing volume size and optical engine efficiency due to the specific angle of incidence requirements for micromirror units, which often result in unsatisfactory volume size and efficiency when trying to meet these requirements.
Innovation Solution
The use of a wedge-type lens in the illumination lens set, which cooperates with the prism set to provide a suitable angle of incidence and emission for the reflection-type image generator, reducing the required height difference between the light axes and minimizing the angle of emission, thereby optimizing the volume size and efficiency of the optical engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional lens design is used to meet the required angle of incidence for micromirror units, then the optical engine efficiency is improved, but the volume size of the projector apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of the lens shape from conventional symmetric lens to asymmetric wedge-type lens. This parameter change allows the lens to achieve the required angle of incidence for micromirror units while reducing the height difference between light axes, thereby decreasing the volume size of the projector apparatus while maintaining optical engine efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the lens design by using a wedge-type lens with asymmetric shape. The asymmetric structure enables the lens to redirect light at the required angle to the micromirror units while minimizing the height difference between the illumination lens and reflection-type image generator, thus resolving the contradiction between optical efficiency and compact size.
2Volume of moving object
If the height difference between light axis of illumination lens and light axis of reflection-type image generator is reduced, then the volume size is decreased, but the angle of emission becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the lens shape parameter to a wedge-type configuration with specific angle parameters. This allows the lens to achieve both a reduced height difference between light axes (for compact size) and an optimized angle of emission (for optical efficiency), resolving the contradiction between size reduction and efficiency maintenance.
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 a reduction in the height of the projector apparatus to about 6 mm and achieves an optical engine efficiency of over 10 lm/W, while ensuring the correct illumination angle for the micromirror units, thus addressing the tradeoff between size and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the illumination lens set includes a wedge-type lens working with the prism set for providing a suitable angle of incidence and angle of emission with respect to the reflection-type image generator
Implementation Method 2
a prism set for inputting the second light path and projecting the second light path onto the reflection-type image generator
Data Source
AI summary
A projector apparatus utilizing wedge-type lens for projecting an image onto a surface, comprising a light source module for generating a single first light path; an illumination lens set for inputting the first light path and outputting a second light path; a reflection-type image generator for generating said image; a prism set for inputting said second light path and outputting the second light path onto the reflection-type image generator, wherein the reflection-type image generator reflects the second light path and forming a third light path carrying said image; an image projection lens set disposed on the third light path for projecting said image onto the surface, wherein the illumination lens set including a wedge-type lens working with the prism set for providing a suitable angle of incidence and angle of emission to the reflection-type image generator, the wedge-type lens lowers the required height difference, between the light axles of the illumination lens and the reflection-type image generator, and lowers the angle of emission.