U.S. patent application number 10/802453 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for color wheel and color filter assembly thereof.
Invention is credited to Chia, Shou-Chy, Kao, Po-Sung.
Application Number | 20050128614 10/802453 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34651852 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050128614 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kao, Po-Sung ; et
al. |
June 16, 2005 |
COLOR WHEEL AND COLOR FILTER ASSEMBLY THEREOF
Abstract
A color filter assembly. The color filter assembly rotates
around a central axis and includes a first carrier, a second
carrier, a protrusion and a color filter. The first carrier has a
first contact surface and a first joining portion protruding
therefrom. The second carrier has a second contact surface and a
second joining portion connected to the first joining portion. The
protrusion is disposed on the first or second contact surface. The
color filter has an opening with the protrusion inserted therein
such that the color filter is fixed between the first and second
carriers.
Inventors: |
Kao, Po-Sung; (Taichung,
TW) ; Chia, Shou-Chy; (Taichung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Family ID: |
34651852 |
Appl. No.: |
10/802453 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
359/892 ;
359/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 26/008 20130101;
G02B 7/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/892 ;
359/234 |
International
Class: |
G02B 026/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 2003 |
TW |
92135348 |
Claims
1. A color filter assembly rotating around a central axis thereof,
comprising: a first carrier having a first contact surface and a
first joining portion protruding wherefrom; a second carrier having
a second contact surface and a second joining portion connected to
the first joining portion, wherein the first and second joining
portions are threaded and joined thereby; a protrusion disposed on
the first or second contact surface; and a color filter having a
receiving portion with the protrusion inserted therein such that
the color filter is fixed between the first and second
carriers.
2. The color filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
protrusion is enclosed by a flexible material.
3. (canceled)
4. A color filter assembly rotating around a central axis thereof,
including: a first carrier having a first contact surface and at
least a first hole disposed thereon; a second carrier having a
second contact surface and at least a second hole disposed thereon;
a color filter disposed between the first and second contact
surface, having at least an opening disposed thereon; and a
securing member having at least a rod fastened through the first
hole, the opening and the second hole such that the color filter is
fixed between the first and second carriers.
5. The color filter assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
securing member has two abutting members joined to the rod for
securing the color filter between the first and second
carriers.
6. A color filter assembly rotating around a central axis thereof,
including: a first carrier having a first contact surface and at
least a first hole formed therein; a second carrier having a second
contact surface and at least a second hole disposed thereon; a
color filter disposed between the first and second contact
surfaces, having at least an opening formed therein; and a securing
member having at least a rod inserted through the first hole, the
opening and the second hole and at least an abutting member
connected to the rod for securing the color filter between the
first and second carriers.
7. The color filter assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
rod, the first hole, the opening and the second hole are threaded
for joining the color filter, the first and second carriers.
8. A color wheel, including: a color filter assembly of claim 1;
and a rotator having a shaft rotating the color filter assembly
around the central axis.
9. (canceled)
10. The color wheel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protrusion
is enclosed by a flexible material.
11. A color wheel, including: a color filter assembly of claim 4;
and a rotator having a shaft rotating the color filter assembly
around the central axis.
12. The color wheel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the securing
member has two abutting members threaded and joined to the rod for
securing the color filter between the first and second
carriers.
13. A color wheel, including: a color filter assembly of claim 6;
and a rotator having a shaft rotating the color filter assembly
around the central axis.
14. The color filter assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
rod, the first hole, the opening and the second hole are threaded
for securing the color filter between the first and second
carriers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates in general to a color wheel
and in particular to a color filter assembly thereof providing
improved balance and stability of rotation.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional color wheel comprises
a carrier 11, a color filter 12 and a motor 2. The color filter 12
is fixed to the carrier 11 by adhesive 13, wherein the carrier 11
is fixed to the shaft 22 at the center of the motor 2 with the
cover 21. The motor 2 rotates the carrier 11 and the color filter
12 around central axis 10 via the shaft 22.
[0005] As mentioned, the color filter 12 is fixed to the carrier 11
by adhesive 13, however, the mass of adhesive 13 is difficult to
control due to the flow property thereof such that the color wheel
is unbalanced. Moreover, rotational instability and vibration may
occur due to unbalanced mass distribution of the color wheel.
Furthermore, the color filter 12 comprises a plurality of
fan-shaped filter segments adhered to each other, hence, precise
positioning thereof is difficult and the segments may be separated
during rotation at high speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a color wheel and color filter assembly thereof for
improving balance and stability of rotation. The color filter
assembly rotates around a central axis and comprises a first
carrier, a second carrier, a protrusion and a color filter. The
first carrier has a first contact surface and a first joining
portion protruding therefrom. The second carrier has a second
contact surface and a second joining portion connected to the first
joining portion. The protrusion is disposed on the first or second
contact surface. The color filter has an opening with the
protrusion inserted therein such that the color filter is fixed
between the first and second carriers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings, given by way of illustration only and thus not intended
to be limitative of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a conventional color
wheel.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of the first embodiment in
accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of the first carrier based
on FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of the second embodiment in
accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of the second carrier based
on FIG. 4 in accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective diagrams of the third
embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective diagrams of the fourth
embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First Embodiment
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, the color wheel has a motor 4 and a
color filter assembly including a first carrier 31, a second
carrier 41 and a color filter 32 comprising four filter segments
32a, 32b, 32c and 32d symmetrical to the central axis 30, wherein
the filter segments 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d form an opening 320 at
the center of the color filter 32.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the first carrier 31 has a first joining
portion 310 and a plurality of protrusions 312 projecting from the
first contact surface 314, and each filter segment has an opening
321 corresponding to the protrusions 312. The second carrier 41 has
a second joining portion 410 forming a depression 411 for receiving
the first joining portion 310 along the central axis 30, wherein
the first and second joining portions 310, 410 are threaded and
joined thereby. The color filter 32 is firmly secured between the
first and second carriers 31, 41 by seating the protrusions 312 in
the corresponding openings 321 of the filter segments 32a, 32b,
32c, 32d and connecting the second joining portion 410 to the first
joining portion 310.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, the first joining portion 310 is
disposed at the center of the first carrier 31 and projects from
the first contact surface 314. The protrusions 312 are parallel and
disposed around the first joining portion 310 and inserted into the
corresponding openings 321 of the filter segments 32a, 32b, 32c and
32d such that the color filter 32 is fixed to the first carriers 31
for preventing separation during rotation. Furthermore, each
protrusion 312 is enclosed by a flexible material 313 deformed when
joining the opening 321 to firmly secure the color filter 32 on the
first carrier 31.
Second Embodiment
[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, the color filter 32 comprises four
filter segments 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d symmetrical to the central
axis 30 of the color wheel. As mentioned, the filter segments 32a,
32b, 32c and 32d form an opening 320 at the center of the color
filter 32. The second carrier 41 has a plurality of protrusions 312
projecting from the second contact surface 414, and each filter
segment has an opening 321 corresponding to the protrusions 312.
Moreover, the second carrier 41 has a second joining portion 410
forming a depression 411 for receiving the first joining portion
310 along the central axis 30. The first and second joining
portions 310, 410 are threaded and joined thereby. The color filter
32 is thereby precisely positioned and firmly secured between the
first and second carriers 31, 41 by seating the protrusions 312
through the corresponding openings 321 of the filter segments 32a,
32b, 32c, 32d and joining the second joining portions 410 to the
first joining portions 310.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the second joining portion 410 is at the
center of the second carrier 41 and depressed from the second
contact surface 414. A plurality of protrusions 312 project from
the second contact surface 414 and are inserted into the
corresponding openings 321 of the filter segments 32a, 32b, 32c
such that the color filter 32 is fixed thereto for preventing
separation during rotation. Furthermore, each protrusion 312 is
enclosed by a flexible material 313 deformed when joining the
opening 321 to firmly secure the color filter 32 on the second
carrier 41.
Third Embodiment
[0020] Referring to FIG. 6, the color wheel has a motor 4 and a
color filter assembly including a first carrier 31, a second
carrier 41, a securing member 50 and a color filter 32 comprising
four filter segments 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d symmetrically
surrounding the central axis 30 and forming an opening 320 at the
center of the color filter 32. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the first carrier
31 has a plurality of first holes 70, and the second carrier 41 has
a plurality of corresponding second holes 60. The securing member
50 comprises a plurality of rods 51 and abutting members 52
connected thereto. As shown in FIG. 7, the rods 51 pass through the
second holes 60, the openings 321 and the first holes 70 with the
abutting members 52 secured at both ends, and the color filter 32
is thereby firmly fixed between the first and second carriers 31,
41. Particularly, the abutting members 52 are threaded on the
surface of the hole 53, and the rods 51 are also threaded
corresponding thereto for secure connection.
Fourth Embodiment
[0021] Referring to FIG. 8, the color wheel has a motor 4 and a
color filter assembly including a first carrier 31, a second
carrier 41, a securing member 50 and a color filter 32 comprising
four filter segments 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d symmetrically
surrounding the central axis 30 and forming an opening 320 at the
center of the color filter 32. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the first carrier
31 has a plurality of first holes 70, and the second carrier 41 has
a plurality of corresponding second holes 60. The securing member
50 comprises a plurality of threaded rods 51 with integrally formed
abutting members 52. As shown in FIG. 9, the rods 51 pass through
the second holes 60, the openings 321, and are inserted into the
first holes 70 and sequentially tightened. The color filter 32 is
thereby firmly secured between the first and second carriers 31,
41.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 8, the color wheel of the present invention
further provides a circuit board 5 connected to the motor 4 for
supplying driving power. The motor 4 rotates the first carrier 31,
the second carrier 41 and the color filter 32 around the central
axis 30.
[0023] In summary, the present invention provides a color wheel
utilized for an optical device such as a DLP projector. The color
filter 32 can be fixed to the first carrier 31 by inserting the
protrusions 312 into the openings 321 according to FIG. 2.
Furthermore, the first and second joining portions 310, 410 are
connected such that the color filter 32 is further firmly secured
between the first and second carriers 31, 41 thus preventing
separation during rotation. As shown in FIG. 6, the aforementioned
protrusions 312 can be represented by the rods 51 and the abutting
members 52. The rods 51 are sequentially inserted through the
second holes 60, the openings 321 and the first holes 70 such that
the color filter 32 is firmly secured between the first and second
carriers 31, 41. The present invention has simple structure capable
of improving balance and stability of rotation.
[0024] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the
contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar
arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art).
Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the
broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and
similar arrangements.
* * * * *