U.S. patent application number 10/316380 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for lens shifting apparatus.
Invention is credited to Runco, Virgil Sam.
Application Number | 20040114115 10/316380 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32505936 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040114115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Runco, Virgil Sam |
June 17, 2004 |
LENS SHIFTING APPARATUS
Abstract
Image projector having a selectively shiftable projector lens
assembly and apparatus for selectively shifting a projector lens
assembly. In one embodiment, the image projector may include a
projector housing, a light engine supported by the projector
housing, and a projector lens assembly supported by the projector
housing. The projector lens assembly defines an optical axis and is
oriented relative to the light engine for receiving and projecting
light emitted by the light engine. In one embodiment, the lens
shifting apparatus may include a first plate movably coupled to the
projector housing and supporting the projector lens assembly. The
first plate may be selectively movable along a first axis
perpendicular to the optical axis. The first plate may be movably
coupled to a second plate which is movably supported by the
projector housing for selective travel about a second axis that is
perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis.
Inventors: |
Runco, Virgil Sam; (Foster
City, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP
535 SMITHFIELD STREET
PITTSBURGH
PA
15222
US
|
Family ID: |
32505936 |
Appl. No.: |
10/316380 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
353/101 ;
348/E5.142; 348/E5.143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 7/023 20130101;
H04N 5/7458 20130101; H04N 9/3141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
353/101 |
International
Class: |
G03B 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image projector comprising: a projector housing; a light
engine supported by the projector housing; a projector lens
assembly supported by the projector housing, the projector lens
assembly having an optical axis and being oriented relative to the
light engine for receiving and projecting light emitted thereby;
and a first plate movably coupled to the projector housing and
supporting the projector lens assembly, the first plate being
selectively movable along a first axis perpendicular to the optical
axis.
2. The image projector of claim 1, wherein the first plate is
slidably supported relative to a base plate that is nonmovably
supported by the projector housing.
3. The image projector of claim 2, further comprising a second
plate movably supported relative to the first plate and supporting
the projector lens assembly thereon such that the second plate
travels with the first plate upon movement of the first plate along
the first axis, and wherein the second plate is selectively movable
relative to the first plate along a second axis that is
perpendicular to the optical axis and transverse to the first
axis.
4. The image projector of claim 3, further comprising a first
actuator operably connected to the first plate for shifting the
first plate along the first axis.
5. The image projector of claim 3, further comprising a second
actuator operably connected to the second plate for shifting the
second plate along the second axis.
6. The image projector of claim 4, further comprising a second
actuator operably connected to the second plate for shifting the
second plate along the second axis.
7. The image projector of claim 3, further comprising a first pair
of glide bars that are disposed between the base plate and the
second plate parallel to the first axis.
8. The image projector of claim 6, wherein the glide bars are made
of self-lubricating material.
9. The image projector of claim 6, wherein the first pair of glide
bars is located between a first pair of glide grooves on a surface
the base plate and a first pair of glide slots on a first opposing
surface of the first plate.
10. The image projector of claim 3, wherein the base plate includes
a plurality of fastener slots parallel to the first axis.
11. The image projector of claim 3, further comprising a second
pair of glide bars that are disposed between the first plate and
the second plate parallel to the second axis.
12. The image projector of claim 11, wherein the second pair of
glide bars is located between a second pair of glide slots on a
second surface of the first plate and a pair of glide grooves on an
opposing surface of the second plate.
13. The image projector of claim 3, wherein the second plate
includes a plurality of fastener slots parallel to the second
axis.
14. The image projector of claim 4, wherein the first actuator
comprises a first lead screw rotatably supported by the base plate
and threadably engaging a portion of the first plate.
15. The image projector of claim 14, wherein the first lead screw
is manually actuatable.
16. The image projector of claim 14, wherein the first lead screw
is motorized.
17. The image projector of claim 5, wherein the second actuator
comprises a second lead screw rotatably supported by the second
plate and threadably engaging a portion of the first plate.
18. The image projector of claim 17, wherein the second lead screw
is manually actuatable.
19. The image projector of claim 17, wherein the second lead screw
is motorized.
20. The image projector of claim 3, further comprising two side
plates attached to the base plate.
21. The image projector of claim 20, further comprising a transfer
lens assembly mounted on the side plates.
22. The image projector of claim 21, wherein the transfer lens
assembly includes a lens plate supported by the side plates and a
lens block mounted on an opening of the lens plate.
23. An image projector comprising: a projector housing; a light
engine supported by the projector housing; a projector lens
assembly supported by the projector housing, the projector lens
assembly having an optical axis and being oriented relative to the
light engine for receiving and projecting light emitted thereby;
first plate means supporting the projector lens assembly for
selectively moving the projector lens assembly along a first axis
perpendicular to the optical axis; and first actuation means
operably connected to the first plate means for shifting the first
plate means along the first axis
24. The image projector of claim 23, further comprising: second
plate means supporting the projector lens assembly for selectively
moving the projector lens assembly along a second axis
perpendicular to the optical axis and transverse to the first axis;
and second actuation means operably connected to the second plate
means for shifting the second plate means along the second
axis.
25. An apparatus for selectively shifting a projector lens assembly
supported by a projector housing and defining an optical axis, the
apparatus comprising: a first plate supporting the projector lens
assembly thereon, the first plate being movably supported by the
projector housing and selectively movable along a first axis that
is perpendicular to the optical axis.
26. The image projector of claim 25, wherein the first plate is
slidably supported relative to a base plate that is nonmovably
supported by the projector housing.
27. The image projector of claim 26, further comprising a second
plate movably supported relative to the first plate and supporting
the projector lens assembly thereon such that the second plate
travels with the first plate upon movement of the first plate along
the first axis, and wherein the second plate is selectively movable
relative to the first plate along a second axis that is
perpendicular to the optical axis and transverse to the first
axis.
28. The image projector of claim 27, further comprising a first
actuator operably connected to the first plate for shifting the
first plate along the first axis.
29. The image projector of claim 28, further comprising a second
actuator operably connected to the second plate for shifting the
second plate along the second axis.
30. The image projector of claim 28, further comprising a first
pair of glide bars that are disposed between the base plate and the
second plate parallel to the first axis.
31. The image projector of claim 30, wherein the glide bars are
made of self-lubricating material.
32. The image projector of claim 30, wherein the first pair of
glide bars is located between a first pair of glide grooves on a
surface the base plate and a first pair of glide slots on a first
opposing surface of the first plate.
33. The image projector of claim 27, wherein the base plate
includes a plurality of fastener slots parallel to the first
axis.
34. The image projector of claim 28, further comprising a second
pair of glide bars that are disposed between the first plate and
the second plate parallel to the second axis.
35. The image projector of claim 34, wherein the second pair of
glide bars is located between a second pair of glide slots on a
second surface of the first plate and a pair of glide grooves on an
opposing surface of the second plate.
36. The image projector of claim 34, wherein the second plate
includes a plurality of fastener slots parallel to the second
axis.
37. The image projector of claim 28, wherein the first actuator
comprises a first lead screw rotatably supported by the base plate
and threadably engaging a portion of the first plate.
38. The image projector of claim 37, wherein the first lead screw
is manually actuatable.
39. The image projector of claim 37, wherein the first lead screw
is motorized.
40. The image projector of claim 29, wherein the second actuator
comprises a second lead screw rotatably supported by the second
plate and threadably engaging a portion of the first plate.
41. The image projector of claim 40, wherein the second lead screw
is manually actuatable.
42. The image projector of claim 40, wherein the second lead screw
is motorized.
43. The image projector of claim 27, further comprising two side
plates attached to the base plate.
44. The image projector of claim 43, further comprising a transfer
lens assembly mounted on the side plates.
45. The image projector of claim 44, wherein the transfer lens
assembly includes a lens plate supported by the side plates and a
lens block mounted on an opening of the lens plate.
46. A method for shifting a projector lens assembly supported by a
projector housing and defining an optical axis, the method
comprising: supporting the projector lens assembly in a first plate
which is selectively movable along a first axis perpendicular to
the optical axis; and coupling the first plate to a second plate
oriented relatively to a light engine supported in the projector
housing such that the second plate travels with the first plate
when the first plate moves along the first axis, and wherein the
second plate is selectively movable relative to the first plate
along a second axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis and
transverse to the first axis.
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising: supporting a first
pair of glide bars between the first plate and a base plate
connected to the projector housing; and supporting a second pair of
glide bars between the first plate and the second plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Recent developments in theater and wide-screen home-theater
projection systems include the development of Digital Light
Processing ("DLP") projectors. Unlike the older Cathode Ray Tube
("CRT") projectors, the DLP projectors do not include coated tubes,
but instead generate images by beaming light from a lamp to a
surface of a Digital Micromirror Device ("DMD"). The DMD is
commonly housed in a light engine portion of the DLP projector. The
DLP projectors are relatively compact in comparison with their CRT
counterparts and can produce high quality images without grainy
scan lines when images from a standard video source are enlarged to
fill a large screen.
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,726 B1 discloses an image-projecting
device that includes a relay lens that is capable of being shifted
in at least one direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis
of the device.
[0003] Japanese Patent Publication 05-027324 also discloses a
projection-type display device with a lens moving mechanism that
moves a condensing lens and a projecting lens. The lens moving
mechanism includes two screw shafts rotatably interconnected with a
belt and pulleys. Torque is transmitted to one of the screw shafts
by a bevel gear system.
SUMMARY
[0004] One embodiment of the invention provides an image projector
having a selectively shiftable projector lens assembly. Another
embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for selectively
shifting a projector lens assembly. In one embodiment, the image
projector may include a projector housing, a light engine supported
by the projector housing, and a projector lens assembly supported
by the projector housing. The projector lens assembly defines an
optical axis and is oriented relative to the light engine for
receiving and projecting light emitted by the light engine. In one
embodiment, the lens shifting apparatus may include a first plate
movably coupled to the projector housing and supporting the
projector lens assembly. The first plate may be selectively movable
along a first axis perpendicular to the optical axis. The first
plate may be movably coupled to a second plate which is movably
supported by the projector housing for selective travel about a
second axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first
axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the accompanying Figures, there are shown present
embodiments of the invention wherein like reference numerals are
employed to designate like parts and wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of an
embodiment of a projector according to the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded assembly view of an
embodiment of a lens shifting apparatus for the projector of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the
light engine portion of the projector of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a ceiling-mounted
projector according to the present invention showing examples of
screen image shifts along a first axis A-A;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top view of the projector of FIG. 4 showing
examples of screen image shifts along a second axis B-B;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of second plate for
the lens shifting apparatus of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the second plate of FIG. 6;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a rear view of an embodiment of a first plate for
the lens shift apparatus of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a front view of the first plate of FIG. 8;
[0015] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a transfer lens
assembly for the projector of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first example of a lens
shifting capability of a projector embodiment according to the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a second example of a lens
shifting capability of a projector embodiment according to the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a third example of a lens
shifting capability of a projector embodiment according to the
present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a lens
shifting capability of a projector embodiment according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring now to the drawings for the purpose of
illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the
same, it is to be understood that standard components or features
that are within the purview of an artisan of ordinary skill and do
not contribute to the understanding of the various embodiments of
the invention are omitted from the drawings to enhance clarity. In
addition, it will be appreciated that the characterizations of
various components and orientations described herein as being
"vertical" or "horizontal", "right" or "left", "side", "top" or
"bottom", are relative characterizations only based upon the
particular position or orientation of a given component for a
particular application.
[0021] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of an image projector 100. The
image projector 100 may include a projector housing 102, a light
engine 104 and a projector lens assembly 106 that defines an
optical axis O-O. The projector lens assembly 106 may be motorized
and also include a front ring 112 that is removably mounted to the
front of the projector lens assembly 106, a motor assembly 114 and
a motor assembly connector 116. The projector lens assembly 106 may
be movably supported on the projector housing 102 by a lens
shifting apparatus 200 of the present invention. The basic
construction and operation of the light engine 104, projector lens
assembly 106 and the motor assembly 114 are known in the art and
therefore will not be discussed in great detail herein beyond what
may be necessary to better appreciate the various embodiments of
the present invention.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one embodiment of the lens
shifting apparatus 200 may include a base plate 204 that is mounted
to the projector housing 102 for movably supporting a first plate
206 and a second plate 208 thereon. The first plate 206 may be
slidably coupled to the base plate 204 such that the first plate
206 may slide relative to the base plate 204 in two directions
(represented by arrows "F" and "G" in FIG. 2) along a first axis
A-A, which is substantially perpendicular to optical axis O-O. The
base plate 204 may include a plurality of elongated fastener slots
224 that are parallel to the first axis A-A. Fasteners 226 in the
form of, for example, shoulder screws may pass through the fastener
slots 224 to interconnect the base plate 204 to the first plate 206
while permitting sliding motion of the first plate 206 relative to
the base plate 204 along the first axis A-A.
[0023] To selectively facilitate travel of the first plate 206
relative to the base plate 204 in the "F" and "G" directions, a
first positioning assembly 210 may be employed. In one embodiment,
the positioning assembly 210 may comprise a first bracket 211 that
supports a first actuator such as, for example, a cap or lead screw
212. More specifically, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the first bracket
211 may be configured to include a web 214 and a flange 216. The
web 214 of the first bracket 211 may be attached to the base plate
204 with fasteners 213, such as bolts or screws or other fastener
arrangements. The first actuator or lead screw 212 is rotatably
cradled in an open-ended slot 218 provided in the flange 216. The
threaded end of the lead screw 212 is threaded into a corresponding
threaded hole 243 in the first plate 206 such that by rotating the
lead screw 212 in clockwise or counterclockwise directions, the
first plate 206 is caused to move in opposite directions indicated
by the arrows "F" and "G" along the first axis A-A. It will
therefore be understood that motion along the axis A-A may be
achieved by manually rotating the lead screw 212 with an
appropriate wrench or tool. However, those of ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate that a motorized lead screw 212 driven by a
motor 203 could also be similarly employed to selectively adjust
the position of the first plate 206 relative to the base plate 204
along axis A-A without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0024] To provide the first plate 206 with sliding support relative
to the base plate 204 along the first axis A-A while preventing
relative travel transverse to this axis, a pair of spaced-apart
first glide bars 220 may be interpositioned between the upper
surface 228 of the base plate 204 and the lower surface 230 of the
first plate 206. In one embodiment, the glide bars 220 are
supported in corresponding elongated first glide grooves 221
provided in the upper surface 228 of base plate 204. The first
glide bars 220 may be fabricated from self-lubricating material,
such as Delrin.RTM., and are sized to be non-movably supported in
the first glide grooves 221. Likewise, corresponding first glide
slots 222 are provided in the lower surface 230 of the first plate
206 for slidably receiving the corresponding first glide bars 220
therein. Thus, when the first glide bars 220 are received in the
corresponding first glide grooves 221 and first glide slots 222,
the first plate 206 can only move along axis A-A relative to the
base plate 204. See FIGS. 2, 8 and 9.
[0025] The second plate 208 may be similarly attached to the first
plate 206 such that the second plate 208 can selectively slide
relative to the first plate 206 along the direction of a second
axis B-B, which is perpendicular to the direction of the optical
axis O-O. The second axis B-B may be transverse to the first axis
A-A, as shown in FIG. 2. The second plate 208 may include a
plurality of fastener slots 232 that are parallel to the second
axis B-B. A plurality of fasteners 234 such as shoulder screws may
pass through the second plate fastener slots 232 to interconnect
the second plate 208 to the first plate 206 while permitting
sliding motion of the second plate 208 relative to the first plate
206 along the second axis B-B. See FIGS. 2, 8 and 9. Thus when the
first plate 206 is moved along the first axis A-A, the second plate
208 travels therewith along the first axis A-A.
[0026] To selectively facilitate travel of the second plate 208
relative to the first plate 206 in opposite directions "H" and "I"
along the second axis B-B, a second positioning assembly 236 may be
employed. In one embodiment, the second positioning assembly 236
comprises a second bracket 237 that includes a web 238 and a flange
240. See FIG. 2. The web 238 of the second bracket 237 may be
attached to the second plate 208 with threaded or similar fasteners
235. A second actuator 242, such as, for example, a threaded cap or
lead screw, may be rotatably cradled in an open-ended slot 244
provided in the flange 240. The threaded end of the lead screw 242
is threaded into a hole 233 in the first plate 206. Rotating the
second actuator 242 clockwise and counterclockwise will cause the
second plate 208 to move in opposite directions H and I along the
axis B-B. It will therefore be understood that motion along the
second axis B-B may be achieved by manually rotating the lead screw
242 with an appropriate wrench or tool. However, those of ordinary
skill in the art will appreciate that a motorized lead screw 242
driven by a motor 247 could also be similarly employed to
selectively adjust the position of the second plate 208 relative to
the first plate 206 along the second axis B-B without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The second
plate 208 and the base plate 204 may be identical and rotated 90
degrees relative to each other.
[0027] To facilitate actuation of the second lead screw actuator
242 when the lens shifting apparatus 200 is mounted to the
projector housing 102, the second actuator 242 may be provided with
a hollow tool guide 243 for permitting an appropriately sized
wrench or tool to be inserted into engagement with the second
actuator 242. The guide 243 may be non-movably attached to the head
of the second actuator lead screw 242, such as by welding, to guide
the wrench or tool into the socket of the lead screw 242.
[0028] To provide the second plate 208 with sliding support in the
"H" and "I" directions while preventing travel of the second plate
208 relative to the first plate 206 in the "F" and "G" directions,
a pair of spaced-apart second glide bars 246 that are parallel to
the second axis B-B are interpositioned between the upper surface
250 of the first plate 206 and the lower surface 252 of the second
plate 208. The second glide bars 246 may be fabricated from
self-lubricating material, such as Delrin.RTM., and are sized to be
non-movably supported in glide grooves 249 in the lower surface 252
of the second plate 208. Likewise, corresponding glide slots 248
are provided in the upper surface 250 of the first plate 206. Thus,
when the second glide bars 246 are received in the corresponding
second glide grooves 249 and the second glide slots 248, the second
plate 208 is constrained to move with the first plate 206 in the
"F" and "G" directions and to selectively move relative to the
first plate 206 in the "H" and "I" directions. See FIGS. 2, 7 and
9.
[0029] The projector lens assembly 106 may be movably supported by
the lens shifting apparatus 200 by means of an adapter ring 108
which has an opening 109 therethrough for receiving the projector
lens assembly 106 therein. Fasteners, such as screws, may threaded
through holes in the projector lens assembly 106 and be feed
through the adapter ring 108 for attachment to the lens shifting
apparatus 200. In one embodiment, the adapter ring 108 may be
attached to the second plate 208 by fasteners 110. See FIG. 1.
However, those of ordinary kill in the art will appreciate that a
quick release bayonet system could also be employed to release the
adapter ring 108 from the lens shifting apparatus 200.
[0030] Also, in one embodiment, to facilitate selective adjustment
of the back focal length, which is the distance from the rear of
the projector lens assembly 106 to the front of a DMD chip (not
shown) in the light engine 104, a transfer lens assembly 260 may be
employed. The transfer lens assembly 260 may include a transfer
lens plate 256 that is centrally disposed between two side plates
254 that are coupled to the base plate 204 of the lens shifting
apparatus 200 by conventional fasteners 105. See FIG. 3. Likewise,
the transfer lens plate 256 may be coupled to the side plates 254
by conventional fastener arrangements such as threaded cap screws
257. In one embodiment, the transfer lens assembly may also be
coupled to the housing of the light engine 104 to facilitate proper
alignment to the DMD chip. In one embodiment, the transfer lens
plate 254 has a centrally disposed opening 262 which is coaxially
aligned on optical axis 0-0 and is sized to receive therein a lens
block 258. See FIG. 10. The lens block 258 is a conduit of light
and may be fabricated from, for example, optically transparent
glass. The lens block 258 serves to move the projector lens
assembly 106 further away from the projector light engine 104 and
change the back focal length of the projector lens assembly to
allow the use of larger lenses. The lens transfer block 258 may be
adjustably retained in the lens plate 256 by, for example, a
nylon-tipped set screw 264 or similar fastener to permit the
position of the lens transfer block 258 relative to the lens plate
256 to be readily adjusted along the optical axis O-O. See FIG.
10.
[0031] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
projector 100 may be advantageously used in connection with a
projection screen 258 or similar planar surface. By way of example
only, the projection screen 258 may have dimensions H and W in
directions that coincide with the orientations of the first and
second axes A-A and B-B, respectively. See FIGS. 4 and 5. Although
the throw distance "TD", which is the distance from the projector
lens assembly 106 to an object such as the screen 258, may not
affect image quality, the range of the lens shift and the
corresponding shift of the screen image projected to the screen 258
and magnified to the dimensions of the screen 258 may depend on the
throw distance TD to achieve an image with desired quality. FIGS. 4
and 5 depict examples of 50%, 100% and 150% shifts of the screen
image along the first axis A-A and the second axis B-B. These image
shifts may be produced by a total lens shift of, for example, only
one inch along each of the first and second axes A-A and B-B. The
range of the lens shift is illustrated in the following Examples
1-4. Corresponding FIGS. 11-14 depict the location of the image
position within the shaded area that represents the boundary for
the lens shift.
EXAMPLE 1
[0032] In this example, the throw distance is in the range of
(1.57-1.95) times the dimension W of the screen along the second
axis B-B. See FIG. 11. The maximum shift of the center of the
screen image along the first axis is 90% of the corresponding
dimension H of the screen image. The associated maximum shift of
the center of the screen image along the second axis is 5% of the
corresponding dimension W of the screen image. The maximum shift of
the center of the screen image along the second axis is 40% of the
corresponding dimension W of the screen image. The associated
maximum shift of the center of the screen image along the first
axis is 10% of the corresponding dimension H of the screen image.
The maximum shift of the center of the screen image that may be
obtained in two directions simultaneously, is 40% of the screen
dimension H along the first axis A-A and 20% of the screen
dimension along the second axis B-B. These results are illustrated
in FIG. 11 for a screen with dimensions H=56" and W=100".
EXAMPLE 2
[0033] In this example, (illustrated in FIG. 12), the throw
distance is in the range of (1.95-2.74) times the dimension W of
the screen along the second axis B-B.
[0034] The maximum shift of the center of the screen image along
the first axis is 104% of the corresponding dimension H of the
screen image. The associated maximum shift of the center of the
screen image along the second axis is 6% of the corresponding
dimension W of the screen image. The maximum shift of the center of
the screen image along the second axis is 48% of the corresponding
dimension W of the screen image. The associated maximum shift of
the center of the screen image along the first axis is 12% of the
corresponding dimension H of the screen image. The maximum shift of
the center of the screen image that may be obtained in two
directions simultaneously, is 51% of the screen dimension H along
the first axis A-A and 29% of the screen dimension along the second
axis B-B. These results are illustrated in FIG. 12 for a screen
with dimensions H=56" and W=100".
EXAMPLE 3
[0035] Referring to FIG. 13, in this example, the throw distance is
in the range of (2.76-4.85) times the dimension W of the screen
along the second axis B-B. The maximum shift of the center of the
screen image along the first axis is 95% of the corresponding
dimension H of the screen image. The associated maximum shift of
the center of the screen image along the second axis is 7% of the
corresponding dimension W of the screen image. The maximum shift of
the center of the screen image along the second axis is 52% of the
corresponding dimension W of the screen image. The associated
maximum shift of the center of the screen image along the first
axis is 24% of the corresponding dimension H of the screen image.
The maximum shift of the center of the screen image that may be
obtained in two directions simultaneously, is 48% of the screen
dimension H along the first axis A-A and 31% of the screen
dimension along the second axis B-B. These results are illustrated
in FIG. 13 for a screen with dimensions H=56" and W=100".
EXAMPLE 4
[0036] FIG. 14 illustrates yet another example. In this example,
the throw distance is in the range of (4.85-7.75) times the
dimension W of the screen along the second axis B-B. The maximum
shift of the center of the screen image along the first axis is
120% of the corresponding dimension H of the screen image. The
associated maximum shift of the center of the screen image along
the second axis is 58% of the corresponding dimension W of the
screen image. The maximum shift of the center of the screen image
along the second axis is 71% of the corresponding dimension W of
the screen image. The associated maximum shift of the center of the
screen image along the first axis is 105% of the corresponding
dimension H of the screen image. The maximum shift of the center of
the screen image that may be obtained in two directions
simultaneously, is 102% of the screen dimension H along the first
axis A-A and 61% of the screen dimension along the second axis B-B.
These results are illustrated in FIG. 14 for a screen with
dimensions H=56" and W=100".
[0037] The projector 100 and lens shifting apparatus 200 of the
present invention provide easily adjustable lens shift along two
axes which are perpendicular to the optical axis O-O of the
projector lens 106 and make possible the projection of large images
on a screen without the need to center the projector relative to
the image on the screen for substantially distortion-free
images.
[0038] Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been
described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and
not for the purpose of limiting the same, it will be appreciated by
those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the
details, materials and arrangement of parts may be made within the
principle and scope of the invention without departing from the
spirit of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is
not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather the scope of
the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and
their equivalents.
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