U.S. patent application number 11/729788 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for projection system and light tunnel thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to PRODISC TECHNOLOGY INC.. Invention is credited to Jie-Hyi Chang, Kuang-Hua Chang, Shiau-Wu Lai, Kai Hsiung Tsao, Chih-Huang Wang, Wen-Hu Wang, Guang-Yu Yu.
Application Number | 20080157004 11/729788 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39484450 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080157004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Kuang-Hua ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
PROJECTION SYSTEM AND LIGHT TUNNEL THEREOF
Abstract
A light tunnel includes a first optical element, a second
optical element, a third optical element and a fourth optical
element. The first optical element has a first recess. The second
optical element is disposed opposite to the first optical element
and has a second recess. The third optical element connects the
first optical element with the second optical element and has one
end disposed in the first recess or the second recess. The fourth
optical element is disposed opposite to the third optical element,
connects the first optical element with the second optical element,
and has one end disposed in the first recess or the second recess.
Inner surfaces of the first to fourth optical elements form a light
passage. A projection system is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Chang; Kuang-Hua; (Taipei,
TW) ; Wang; Chih-Huang; (Taipei County, TW) ;
Chang; Jie-Hyi; (Taipei Hsien, TW) ; Lai;
Shiau-Wu; (Taipei County, TW) ; Tsao; Kai Hsiung;
(Taipei, TW) ; Yu; Guang-Yu; (Taipei County,
TW) ; Wang; Wen-Hu; (Taipei City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
PRODISC TECHNOLOGY INC.
|
Family ID: |
39484450 |
Appl. No.: |
11/729788 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
250/492.1 ;
359/894 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 21/008 20130101;
G02B 6/0096 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/492.1 ;
359/894 |
International
Class: |
G21G 5/00 20060101
G21G005/00; G02F 1/23 20060101 G02F001/23 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2006 |
TW |
095149599 |
Claims
1. A light tunnel, comprising: a first optical element having a
first recess; a second optical element, which is disposed opposite
to the first optical element and has a second recess; a third
optical element, which connects the first optical element with the
second optical element and has one end disposed in the first recess
or the second recess; and a fourth optical element, which is
disposed opposite to the third optical element, connects the first
optical element with the second optical element, and has one end
disposed in the first recess or the second recess, wherein inner
surfaces of the first optical element, the second optical element,
the third optical element and the fourth optical element form a
light passage, the first recess has a concave portion disposed
adjacent to the end of the third optical element or the fourth
optical element.
2. (canceled)
3. The light tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the second recess
has a concave portion disposed adjacent to the end of the third
optical element or the fourth optical element.
4. The light tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the first recess
is disposed in a central region of the first optical element or one
end of the first optical element.
5. The light tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the second recess
is disposed in a central region of the second optical element or
one end of the second optical element.
6. The light tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the third optical
element has a third recess, one end of the first optical element or
one end of the second optical element is disposed in the third
recess, the third recess has a concave portion disposed adjacent to
the end of the first optical element or the second optical element,
and the third recess is disposed in the end of the third optical
element.
7. The light tunnel according to claim 1, wherein the fourth
optical element has a fourth recess, one end of the first optical
element or one end of the second optical clement is disposed in the
fourth recess, the fourth recess has a concave portion disposed
adjacent to the end of the first optical element or the second
optical element, and the fourth recess is disposed in the end of
the fourth optical element.
8. The tight tunnel according to claim 1, wherein two ends of the
third optical element are respectively disposed in the first recess
and the second recess.
9. The light tunnel according to claim 1, wherein two ends of the
fourth optical element arc respectively disposed in the first
recess and the second recess.
10. A projection system, comprising: a light source; a color wheel
assembly disposed on one side of the light source; and a light
tunnel disposed between the light source and the color wheel
assembly or disposed on one side of the color wheel assembly
opposite to the light source, the light tunnel having a first
optical element, a second optical element a third optical element
and a fourth optical element, wherein the first optical element has
a first recess; the second optical element is disposed opposite to
the first optical element and has a second recess; the third
optical element connects the first optical element with the second
optical element and has one end disposed in the first recess or the
second recess; the fourth optical element is disposed opposite to
the third optical element, connects the first optical element with
the second optical eiement, and has one end disposed in the first
recess or the second recess; and inner surfaces of the first
optical element, the second optical element, the third optical
element and the fourth optical element form a light passage the
first recess has a concave portion disposed adjacent to the end of
the third optical element or the fourth optical element.
11. (canceled)
12. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein the second
recess has a concave portion disposed adjacent to the end of the
third optical element or the fourth optical element.
13. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein the first
recess is disposed in a central region of the first optical element
or one end of the first optical element.
14. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein the second
recess is disposed in a central region of the second optical
element or one end of the second optical element.
15. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein the third
optical element has a third recess, one end of the first optical
element or one end of the second optical element is disposed in the
third recess, the third recess has a concave portion disposed
adjacent to the end of the first optical element or the second
optical element, and the third recess is disposed in the end of the
third optical element.
16. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein the fourth
optical element has a fourth recess, one end of the first optical
element or one end of the second optical element is disposed in the
fourth recess, the fourth recess has a concave portion disposed
adjacent to the end of the first optical element or the second
optical element and the fourth recess is disposed in the end of the
fourth optical element.
17. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein two ends
of the third optical clement are respectively disposed in the first
recess and the second recess.
18. The projection system according to claim 10, wherein two ends
of the fourth optical clement are respectively disposed in the
first recess and the second recess.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 095149599 filed in
Taiwan, Republic of China on Dec. 28, 2006, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a display system and a light tunnel
thereof, and, in particular, to a projection system and a light
tunnel thereof.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Due to demands for large display area and compact,
light-weight systems, image projection systems have now become one
of the most popular products in the opto-electronic industry.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, an image projection system, hereinafter
referred to as a projection system 1, has a light source 10, a
color wheel assembly 11, a light tunnel 12, a lens assembly 13, a
digital micro-mirror device (DMD) 14 and a projecting unit 15. The
light source 10 emits light to the color wheel assembly 11 and then
into the light tunnel 12. Then, the lens assembly 13 focuses the
light onto the DMD 14. Driving electrodes are provided to control
tilt angles and deflection times of micro mirrors (not shown) on
the DMD 14 to switch reflection directions of the light, and then
the light is projected onto a screen 16 through the projecting unit
15 for imaging.
[0007] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional light tunnel 12
is mainly composed of four optical elements 121, which are
assembled using a jig to fix the four optical elements 121. Then,
an adhesive 122 is applied to all the junctions between adjacent
pairs of optical elements 121 so that the optical elements 121 can
be combined together. Because inner surfaces of the light tunnel 12
have reflective layers, the light emitted from the light source 10
enters the light tunnel 12 through an inlet 123, then is reflected
by the reflective layers many times, and then is outputted from an
outlet 124 so that the luminance of the light becomes uniform.
[0008] However, because a space for the adhesive 122 has to be left
between the optical elements 121, a contact surface S between the
optical elements 121 is smaller, as shown in FIG. 2. When an
external force is applied to the light tunnel 12, the optical
elements 121 may be separated due to insufficient structural
integrity so that the efficiency of the light tunnel 12 is
adversely influenced. In addition, because the temperature of the
light emitted from the light source 10 is very high, the
environmental temperature is elevated such that the adhesive 122 of
the light tunnel 12 adjacent to the light source 10 tends to become
brittle. Similarly, the structural intensity between the optical
elements 121 of the light tunnel 12 is insufficient and the optical
elements 121 tend to separate from one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In view of the foregoing, the invention is to provide a
projection system and a light tunnel thereof having the better
structural intensity.
[0010] To achieve the above, the invention discloses a light tunnel
including a first optical element, a second optical element, a
third optical element and a fourth optical element. The first
optical element has a first recess. The second optical element is
disposed opposite to the first optical element and has a second
recess. The third optical element connects the first optical
element with the second optical element and has one end disposed in
the first recess or the second recess. The fourth optical element
is disposed opposite to the third optical element, connects the
first optical element with the second optical element, and has one
end disposed in the first recess or the second recess. Inner
surfaces of the first optical element, the second optical element,
the third optical element and the fourth optical element form a
light passage.
[0011] To achieve the above, the invention also discloses a
projection system including a light source, a color wheel assembly
and a light tunnel. The color wheel assembly is disposed on one
side of the light source. The light tunnel is disposed between the
light source and the color wheel assembly or disposed on one side
of the color wheel assembly opposite to the light source. The light
tunnel has a first optical element, a second optical element, a
third optical element and a fourth optical element. The first
optical element has a first recess. The second optical element is
disposed opposite to the first optical element and has a second
recess. The third optical element connects the first optical
element with the second optical element, and has one end disposed
in the first recess or the second recess. The fourth optical
element is disposed opposite to the third optical element, connects
the first optical element with the second optical element, and has
one end disposed in the first recess or the second recess. Inner
surfaces of the first optical element, the second optical element,
the third optical element and the fourth optical element form a
light passage.
[0012] As mentioned above, the optical elements have the recesses
in the projection system and the light tunnel thereof according to
the invention so that one end of one optical element may be
combined with the recess of another optical element. Consequently,
no space for accommodating the adhesive has to be formed in each
optical element of the light tunnel so that the light tunnel has
better structural intensity. Compared with the prior art structure,
the structural intensity of the light tunnel of the invention
cannot be easily influenced by the brittle adhesive caused by heat
or by the external pressure. In addition, the provision of the
concave portion at each recess of each optical element enables the
optical element superior precision of assembly. In addition, the
positions and the number of the recesses of each optical element
according to the invention may be modified to satisfy the actual
requirements in various applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus
is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a conventional
projection system;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing a conventional
light tunnel;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing a light tunnel
according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is another schematic illustration showing the light
tunnel according to the first embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing a light tunnel
according to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing a light tunnel
according to a third embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing a light tunnel
according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration showing a light tunnel
according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration showing a projection
system according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the
same elements.
[0024] The light tunnel according to the first embodiment of the
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the light tunnel 2 includes a first
optical element 21, a second optical element 22, a third optical
element 23 and a fourth optical element 24.
[0026] In this embodiment, the first optical element 21 has a first
recess 211 located at one end 21a of the first optical element
21.
[0027] In addition, the second optical element 22 is disposed
opposite to the first optical element 21, and the second optical
element 22 has a second recess 221. In this embodiment, the second
recess 221 is located at one end 22a of the second optical element
22.
[0028] The third optical element 23 connects the first optical
element 21 with the second optical element 22, and has one end
disposed in the first recess 211 or the second recess 221. In this
embodiment, one end 23a of the third optical element 23 is disposed
in the first recess 211 of the first optical element 21, and the
other end 23b of the third optical element 23 contacts the other
end 22b of the second optical element 22.
[0029] The fourth optical element 24 connects the first optical
element 21 with the second optical element 22, and has one end
disposed in the first recess 211 or the second recess 221. Inner
surfaces of the first optical element 21, the second optical
element 22, the third optical element 23 and the fourth optical
element 24 form a light passage L. In this embodiment, one end 24a
of the fourth optical element 24 contacts the other end 21b of the
first optical element 21, and the other end 24b of the fourth
optical element 24 is disposed in the second recess 221 of the
second optical element 22.
[0030] According to the above-mentioned structure, in which one end
23a of the third optical element 23 is disposed in the first recess
211 of the first optical element 21, and the other end 24b of the
fourth optical element 24 is disposed in the second recess 221 of
the second optical element 22, larger contact surfaces S between
the first optical element 21, the second optical element 22, the
third optical element 23 and the fourth optical element 24 may be
obtained. So, the light tunnel 2 may have improved structural
intensity.
[0031] Of course, the positions of the first recess of the first
optical element and the second recess of the second optical element
may be modified according to the actual condition.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, a first recess 251 of a first optical
element 25 is located at a central region of the first optical
element 25, and a second recess 261 of a second optical element 26
is located at a central region of the second optical element 26. In
this case, the third optical element 23 and the fourth optical
element 24 may be respectively disposed in the first recess 251 and
the second recess 261. The one end 23a and the other end 23b of the
third optical element 23 respectively contact one wall surface 251a
of the first recess 251 and one wall surface 261a of the second
recess 261. The two ends 24a and 24b of the fourth optical element
24 respectively contact the other wall surface 251b of the first
recess 251 and the other wall surface 261b of the second recess
261.
[0033] Referring next to FIG. 5, a light tunnel 3 according to the
second embodiment of the invention has a first optical element 31,
a second optical element 32, a third optical element 33 and a
fourth optical element 34.
[0034] In this embodiment, the first optical element 31 has a first
recess 311, and the second optical element 32 has a second recess
321, wherein the positions of the first recess 311 and the second
recess 321 are the same as those of the first recess 211 of the
first optical element 21 and the second recess 221 of the second
optical element 22 according to the first embodiment.
[0035] In addition, the third optical element 33 has a third recess
331, and the third recess 331 is located at one end 33a of the
third optical element 33. In this case, the other end 33b of the
third optical element 33 is disposed in the first recess 311 of the
first optical element 31 and one end 32a of the second optical
element 32 is disposed in the third recess 331 of the third optical
element 33.
[0036] In addition, fourth optical element 34 has a fourth recess
341 located at one end 34a of the fourth optical element 34. In
this case, the other end 34b of the fourth optical element 34 is
disposed in the second recess 321 of the second optical element 32,
and one end 31a of the first optical element 31 is disposed in the
fourth recess 341 of the fourth optical element 34.
[0037] According to the above-mentioned structure, the one end 31a
of the first optical element 31 is disposed in the fourth recess
341 of the fourth optical element 34, the one end 32a of the second
optical element 32 is disposed in the third recess 331 of the third
optical element 33, the other end 33b of the third optical element
33 is disposed in the first recess 311 of the first optical element
31, and the other end 34b of the fourth optical element 34 is
disposed in the second recess 321 of the second optical element 32.
Similarly, inner surfaces of the first optical element 31, the
second optical element 32, the third optical element 33 and the
fourth optical element 34 form a light passage L. In addition,
larger contact surfaces S between the optical elements 31, 32, 33
and 34 may be obtained so that the light tunnel 3 has improved
structural intensity.
[0038] In practice, the number of first recesses of the first
optical element and the number of the second recesses of the second
optical element may be modified according to practical
requirements.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, a light tunnel 4 according to the third
embodiment of the invention has a first optical element 41, a
second optical element 42, a third optical element 43 and a fourth
optical element 44.
[0040] In this embodiment, the first optical element 41 has two
first recesses 411 and 412, which are respectively adjacent to two
ends of the first optical element 41.
[0041] In addition, the second optical element 42 is disposed
opposite to the first optical element 41, and the second optical
element 42 has two second recesses 421 and 422, which are adjacent
to two ends of the second optical element 42 and are disposed
corresponding to the first recesses 411 and 412, respectively.
[0042] One end 43a of the third optical element 43 is disposed in
the first recess 411 of the first optical element 41, and the other
end 43b of the third optical element 43 is disposed in the second
recess 421 of the second optical element 42.
[0043] One end 44a of the fourth optical element 44 is disposed in
the first recess 412 of the first optical element 41, and the other
end 44b of the fourth optical element 44 is disposed in the second
recess 422 of the second optical element 42.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 7, a light tunnel 5 according to the
fourth embodiment of the invention has a first optical element 51,
a second optical element 52, a third optical element 53 and a
fourth optical element 54.
[0045] In this embodiment, the first optical element 51 has two
first recesses 511 and 512, and the second optical element 52 has
two second recesses 521 and 522. However, the first recesses 511
and 512 and the second recesses 521 and 522 are disposed closer to
two ends of the first optical element 51 and the second optical
element 52 than the first recesses 411 and 412 and the second
recesses 421 and 422 of the third embodiment, respectively. Thus,
the third optical element 53 and the fourth optical element 54 of
this embodiment still may be respectively disposed in the first
recesses 511 and 512 of the first optical element 51 and the second
recesses 521 and 522 of the second optical element 52,
respectively, in a manner the same as that for the third optical
element 43 and the fourth optical element 44 of the third
embodiment.
[0046] The difference between this embodiment and the third
embodiment will be described in the following. The first recesses
511 and 512 respectively have concave portions 511a and 512a, and
the second recesses 521 and 522 further respectively have concave
portions 521a and 522a. In this embodiment, a surface of each of
the recesses 511, 512, 521 and 522 is substantially L-shaped, and
the concave portions 511a, 512a, 521a and 522a are respectively
disposed on bottom surfaces 511b, 512b, 521b and 522b of the
L-shaped recesses 511, 512, 521 and 522. Of course, it is also
possible to dispose the concave portions 511a, 512a, 521a and 522a
on wall surfaces 511c, 512c, 521c and 522c of the L-shaped recesses
511, 512, 521 and 522, respectively.
[0047] When two ends of the third optical element 53 and two ends
of the fourth optical element 54 are respectively disposed in the
first recesses 511 and 512 and the second recesses 521 and 522, the
concave portions 511a, 512a, 521a and 522a are respectively
adjacent to one end of the corresponding third optical element 53
or fourth optical element 54. Thus, the third optical element 53
and the fourth optical element 54 may be in tight contact with the
bottom surfaces 511b, 512b, 521b and 522b of the recesses 511, 512,
521 and 522.
[0048] Of course, the concave portion may also be disposed between
each recess and each optical element in the first to third
embodiments. Consequently, each optical element can be precisely
aligned and positioned so that the light tunnel can be assembled
with greater precision. It is thus possible to prevent the arced
edge of the recess from being formed with insufficient machining
precision and thereby adversely affecting the precision of the
light tunnel.
[0049] In addition, the first optical element and the second
optical element may also have different shapes.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 8, a light tunnel 6 according to the fifth
embodiment of the invention has a first optical element 61, a
second optical element 62, a third optical element 63 and a fourth
optical element 64. The first optical element 61 has two first
recesses 611 and 612. In this embodiment, the positions of the
first recesses 611 and 612 of the first optical element 61 are the
same as those of the first recesses 411 and 412 of the first
optical element 41 of the third embodiment (see FIG. 6).
[0051] In addition, the second optical element 62 has two second
recesses 621 and 622 disposed corresponding to the first recesses
611 and 612 of the first optical element 61, respectively. In this
embodiment, the positions of the second recesses 621 and 622 of the
second optical element 62 are the same as those of the second
recesses 521 and 522 of the second optical element 52 of the fourth
embodiment (see FIG. 7).
[0052] Consequently, two ends of the third optical element 63 are
respectively disposed in the first recess 611 and the second recess
621, and two ends of the fourth optical element 64 are respectively
disposed in the first recess 612 and the second recess 622.
[0053] At last, a projection system 7 according to a sixth
embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 9.
[0054] The projection system 7 has a light source 70, a color wheel
assembly 71, a light tunnel 72, a lens assembly 73, a digital
micro-mirror device 74 and a projecting unit 75. The color wheel
assembly 71 is disposed adjacent to one side of the light source
70, and the light tunnel 72 may be disposed between the light
source 70 and the color wheel assembly 71 or disposed on one side
of the color wheel assembly 71 opposite to the light source 70.
[0055] In the example of FIG. 9, the light tunnel 72 is disposed on
one side of the color wheel assembly 71 opposite to the light
source 70. The light of the light source 70 is imaged on a screen
76 through the color wheel assembly 71, the light tunnel 72, the
lens assembly 73, the digital micro-mirror device 74 and the
projecting unit 75 according to the prior art, so detailed
descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0056] In addition, the structure of the light tunnel 72 of this
embodiment may be the same as that of the light tunnel 2, 3, 4, 5
or 6 of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth embodiment, so
detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0057] In summary, the optical elements have the recesses in the
projection system and the light tunnel thereof according to the
invention so that one end of one optical element may be combined
with the recess of another optical element. Consequently, no space
for accommodating the adhesive has to be formed in each optical
element of the light tunnel so that the light tunnel has better
structural intensity. Compared with the prior art structure, the
structural intensity of the light tunnel of the invention cannot be
easily influenced by the brittle adhesive caused by heat or by the
external pressure. In addition, the provision of the concave
portion at each recess of each optical element enables the optical
element superior precision of assembly. In addition, the positions
and the number of the recesses of each optical element according to
the invention may be modified to satisfy the actual requirements in
various applications.
[0058] Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed
in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed
embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent
to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that
the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within
the true scope of the invention.
* * * * *