Plural Patents (Class 353/58)
  • Patent number: 6572231
    Abstract: A projector is provided that includes a cooling structure which efficiently cools an electrooptic device, and which can cope with an increase in brightness of a light source and a reduction in size of the projector. A cooling fan for introducing cooling air is mounted above an air inlet, and a regulating fan for regulating the cooling air introduced by the cooling fan is mounted at a position opposing the cooling fan across an electrooptic device. For this reason, the cooling air is formed in a substantially linear shape, and the electrooptic device can be uniformly and efficiently cooled without cooling only parts of the electrooptic device. This allows a cooling structure to be obtained which can cope with an increase in brightness of a light source lamp serving as a light source and a reduction in size of a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6568813
    Abstract: The invention provides an air intake on the upper plane of an exterior case which is opened upwards, and a cooling fan for introducing cooling air into the apparatus from the air intake is provided above an electro-optical device. There is no limit on the amount of air introduced, and sufficient cooling air for cooling the electro-optical device can be blown onto the electro-optical device. Accordingly, the electro-optical device can be cooled efficiently, and a cooling structure capable of dealing with high luminance of the light source lamp and reduction in size of the apparatus can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Haba, Akitoshi Kuroda, Motoyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 6558004
    Abstract: The invention provides a projector capable of cooling a light-source lamp efficiently and suppressing noises as well. In a first cooling system, the base side of a light-source lamp, which reaches a high temperature, is intensively cooled by a first sirocco fan. An axial-flow exhaust fan is provided close to the light-source lamp so that cooling air is allowed to quickly flow while cooling the light-source lamp. Therefore, even when the first sirocco fan, in which the air pressure of cooling air is liable to be reduced, is used, heat generated in the light-source lamp can be smoothly radiated, thereby efficiently cooling the light-source lamp. Since the first sirocco fan is remarkably quiet as compared to an axial-flow fan, noises are suppressed to a low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ito, Takeshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6554432
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal projector provided with a cooling fan, the liquid crystal projector comprises a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting the internal temperature of the liquid crystal projector and a fan control circuit for controlling a driving voltage for the cooling fan on the basis of a temperature detected by each of the temperature sensors, the fan control circuit comprising means for calculating, on the basis of the temperature detected by each of the temperature sensors and a temperature range determined depending on the position where the temperature sensor is mounted, the ratio of the detected temperature to the temperature range for the temperature sensor; and means for controlling the driving voltage for the cooling fan on the basis of the maximum of the ratio of the detected temperature to the temperature range which has been calculated for each of the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Ohfune, Satoshi Nakajo
  • Patent number: 6550920
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector provided with one or a plurality of cooling fans comprises a temperature sensor for sensing the internal temperature of the liquid crystal projector, and a driving control circuit for controlling the driving voltage of the cooling fan on the basis of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. A driving control circuit controls the driving voltage of the cooling fan in proportion to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor in a case where the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hosoda, Kenji Yamauchi, Kouji Terami, Yoshihiko Yano
  • Patent number: 6513936
    Abstract: A projector includes a first housing, a second housing, and a sound insulating member. The first housing is provided with first heat-generating elements used for generating an image, first fans producing cooling airflows towards each one of the first heat-generating elements, and vents via which the cooling airflows heated by the first heat-generating elements are discharged. The second housing encloses the first housing, and has second fans discharging the cooling airflows outside the projector. The sound insulating member is provided on a path between the vents and the second fans so as to insulate sound produced by the first fans. The projector may be provided with a dust-proof member for the projecting lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masaru Ishiwa, Keiji Hayashi, Toshihiro Suzuki, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Hamada, Takeshi Gotoh, Mari Sugawara
  • Patent number: 6488378
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a projection section for projecting an image onto a screen, a cooling section for cooling the projection section by means of air, and an exterior cabinet for housing the projection section and the cooling section. The imaging apparatus further includes an exhaust section for exhausting the air used for the cooling of the projection section by the cooling section, from the exterior cabinet. The exhaust section has a function for attenuating a noise caused by the cooling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tabuchi, Hideki Ishinaga, Takamasa Yoshikawa, Toshiyuki Ueda, Isao Kakuhari, Kenichi Terai
  • Patent number: 6481854
    Abstract: The projection type display apparatus has liquid crystal panels with polarizers, a light source, a power supply, and a ballast. A cooling device is arranged in the apparatus such that a first set of cooling fans blow cooling air to cool the liquid crystal panels and the polarizers, and a second set of cooling fans suck the cooling air passing through the liquid crystal panels and the polarizers and blow the cooling air to independently cool the light source, the power supply, and the ballast. Therefore, a projection type display apparatus with little light leakage and low noise can be realized. The invention also provides a cooling unit, for the light source, which includes a movable lamp house and a duct with a cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mari Sugawara, Tetsuya Hamada, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Toshihiro Suzuki, Takeshi Gotoh, Keiji Hayashi, Hisashi Yamaguchi, Noriyuki Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20020163627
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus wherein heat generated from a plurality of heat sources in an outer housing can be exhausted efficiently and the weight of the outer housing can be balanced readily in the leftward and rightward direction. A projection lens is disposed at a central location of a front wall of the outer housing, and first and second exhaust mechanisms including first and second exhaust fans for exhausting heat generated by a light source section in the outer housing and a setting power supply circuit board and a light source section power supply circuit board which serve as a power supply section independently of each other, respectively, are disposed on the opposite left and right sides of the optical unit in the outer housing. First and second exhaust ports of the first and second exhaust mechanisms are disposed on the opposite left and right sides of the projection lens in the front wall of the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Mineo Ohishi, Koji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6473150
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus capable of reducing the difference in temperature rise between liquid crystal panels and polarizers for respective colors, suppressing a temperature rise, and reducing noise caused by a fan. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a hermetic container, and liquid crystal display sections for respective colors, namely, red, green and blue, each including a liquid crystal panel and polarizers. A cooling fan for blue sends cooling air to the liquid crystal display section for blue. A cooling fan for green and red sends cooling air to the liquid crystal display sections for green and red.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Takushima, Fumio Kokubo, Shigenori Ohtani
  • Patent number: 6443575
    Abstract: A projecter having a lamp, a lamp box containing the lamp, an outlet fan for discharging air from the lamp box, an optical system member which receives a light beam from the lamp and outputs an image light, an optical system box containing the optical system member, and an inlet fan for blowing outside air into the optical system box. The projector also has a first ventilating duct that directs the outside air blown in by the inlet fan into the lamp box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Yahara, Mitsuhiro Kawaguchi, Motoo Takahashi, Tatsuro Hirose, Takaaki Uda
  • Patent number: 6422703
    Abstract: A projection display includes a projection lens and first and second light modulators on three sides of a color recombination unit. First and second blower units are respectively disposed on two sides of the projection lens for cooling the light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Prokia Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Wang, I-Ping Chiu, Fu-Ming Chuang
  • Patent number: 6419364
    Abstract: This invention concerns reducing fan noise and preventing a light source, an optical element, and the like from deteriorating in a projector display device. The projection display device includes a light-source lamp unit, an optical system unit having a modulation device, a projection lens for enlarging and projecting an image formed by the optical system, a power supply unit for supplying electric power for driving the device, power supply intake fans, a modulation device intake fan, and exhaust fans. Fan noise can be reduced by driving only the power supply intake fans for a predetermined period after the device is powered on. Furthermore, the light-source lamp, the optical elements, and the like can be prevented from deteriorating by controlling the rotation speeds of the other fans based on detected temperatures detected by temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Takizawa, Hideoki Miyake
  • Publication number: 20020075457
    Abstract: A projection display includes a projection lens and first and second light modulators on three sides of a color recombination unit. First and second blower units are respectively disposed on two sides of the projection lens for cooling the light modulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Prokia Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Cheng Wang, I-Ping Chiu, Fu-Ming Chuang
  • Patent number: 6402324
    Abstract: A power supply unit is formed so as to be divided into first and second power supply blocks, which are disposed on both sides of a projecting lens. This allows the power supply blocks to be efficiently disposed in a projection display device, so that dead space is not easily formed in the projection display device, making it possible to reduce the size of the projection display device. First and second power supply block cooling paths are formed at first and second power supply blocks which are liable to generate heat, respectively. A light modulating system cooling path is formed at a light modulating system disposed at substantially the center of the projection display device. Therefore, even when these component parts are closely disposed in the projection display device of a compact size, proper cooling operations can be carried out, making it possible to cool the entire projection display device more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Kuroda, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6398366
    Abstract: A display apparatus of the projection type is improved in that, when a lamp valve breaks or is to be replaced, glass fragments and so forth thereof are prevented from being scattered into the inside of an outer housing of a projector apparatus through a cooling air intake port in a portion of the outer casing below the lamp valve and a comparatively small number of cooling fans are used to reduce the size and the weight of the overall display apparatus while optical modulation elements, a light source element and so forth can be forcibly cooled in a high efficiency. Cooling air blasted from an air blasting fan is blasted through an air blasting duct to three spatial optical modulation elements, a PS conversion element and a discharge lamp to forcibly air-cool the elements. A lamp box in which the light source is accommodated and which is removably mounted in an outer housing has a cooling air intake port through which cooling air is taken in to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hara, Takuji Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 6345896
    Abstract: The invention provides a projector capable of easily replacing and efficiently cooling a light source, and capable of facilitating a reduction in the size of the projector. An exhaust fan adjacent to a light source lamp is mounted to a replacement cover so as to be removed from the main body of the projector together with the replacement cover. For this reason, by only removing the replacement cover, the light source lamp can be easily attached and detached together with the replacement cover unit. In addition, since it is not necessary to separately secure a special space for sliding the replacement cover unit, other components except the exhaust fan can be disposed closely to the periphery of the unit, and the size of the projector can be further reduced. Furthermore, when the replacement cover is closed, the exhaust fan is positioned closer to the replacement cover unit, so that a light source device in the unit can be efficiently cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shogo Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 6290360
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector comprises an illuminating optical system including a light source, a color separating optical system for separating illuminating light rays emitted by the illuminating optical system into light rays of three colors, a projection lens unit comprising a projection lens, a cross dichroic prism disposed near a light receiving end of the projection lens, and a plurality of liquid crystal panels arranged around the cross dichroic prism, and a light source power supply for supplying power to the light source. The projection lens unit, the color separating optical system, the illuminating optical system and the light source power supply are arranged in that order. The liquid crystal projector has an outside size in a horizontal plane of 263 mm by 318 mm or below. The liquid crystal panels have a display screen size of 0.9 in. A cooling fan for cooling the plurality of liquid crystal panels is disposed beside the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Video and Information System, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Konuma, Hidetomo Yoshimura, Seiichi Sekiguchi, Mikiharu Kuwata, Masaharu Deguchi, Takashi Kakuda, Yutaka Matsuda, Takuya Shiaki, Futoshi Yamasaki, Atsushi Ishibashi, Koichi Umezawa, Takeshi Hoshino, Shigehisa Hagura, Makoto Fukatsu, Nobuyuki Kaku, Kenji Fuse, Satoshi Ohuchi, Tomohiro Miyoshi, Naohiro Ozawa, Masahiko Yatsu, Yasuo Otsuka, Takesuke Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5993011
    Abstract: A video projector mount system which is positioned within a ceiling grid. The projector is within a housing which includes mirrors to convey a video image to a screen. A supply of ventilating and cooling air for the projector is provided to efficiently cool the projector so it may be used in the ceiling location. The overall system provides security from theft or tampering and a pleasing aesthetic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Franklin Smock, Randall Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 5651599
    Abstract: A projector for separating white light into three primary colors, forming images with liquid crystal light valves, mixing these images, and projecting an enlarged picture of the mixed images with a projection lens. The projector includes an optical unit having a light source, a plurality of dichroic mirrors for separating the white light into blue, green, and red beams, respective liquid crystal light valves forming images of the blue, green, and red colors. The optical unit has a chassis with a rigid center portion at which one of the liquid crystal light valves is mounted, the other two light valves being mounted symmetrically with respect thereto. An adjustment mechanism is provided for matching pixels of the second and third color valves with those of the first color valve. The red color liquid crystal light valve is disposed midway between the blue and green color liquid crystal light valves and a cooling fan is disposed below the red color liquid crystal light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Toshiaki Hashizume, Kenji Iguchi, Keisuke Sakagami, Kiichi Okumura
  • Patent number: 5418586
    Abstract: A projector for separating white light into three primary colors, forming images with liquid crystal light valves, mixing these images, and projecting an enlarged picture of the mixed images with a projection lens. The projector includes an optical unit having a light source, a plurality of dichroic mirrors for separating the white light into blue, green, and red beams, respective liquid crystal light valves forming images of the blue, green, and red colors. The optical unit has a chassis with a rigid center portion at which one of the liquid crystal light valves is mounted, the other two light valves being mounted symmetrically with respect thereto. An adjustment mechanism is provided for matching pixels of the second and third color valves with those of the first color valve. The red color liquid crystal light valve is disposed midway between the blue and green color liquid crystal light valves and a cooling fan is disposed below the red color liquid crystal light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Toshiaki Hashizume, Kenji Iguchi, Keisuke Sakagami, Kiichi Okumura
  • Patent number: 4682868
    Abstract: A thermal management system particularly adapted for a portable lightweight opaque projector dissipates the heat generated within the projector by the projector light source in a controlled fashion, while maintaining the exterior of the projector in a moderate temperature range. Opposed sidewalls of the enclosed interior illumination chamber of the projector are provided with alongated planar heat sink surfaces which are coated with a flat black finish which is highly absorptive of infrared as well as visible radiation. The heat sink surfaces are mounted spaced from the adjacent interior sidewall of the projector, such that an air channel or plenum is formed between the heat sinks and the adjacent sidewall. Exhaust fans draw air out from the interior of the projector and through these air channels to thereby remove heat absorbed by the heat sinks. The exterior sidewalls of the projector opposite the heat sinks are provided with a passive heat dissipation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Constantin Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Emile J. Constantin, Stephen Gryglas
  • Patent number: 4277153
    Abstract: An X-ray microfilm reader comprises a microfilm medium holder for holding same in a working position and a light source disposed below the working position which reflects light from a dichroic mirror towards the microfilm medium through a condenser. The image from the microfilm medium passes through any one of a plurality of projecting lenses and through a coner and is thereafter reflected by an image mirror onto a screen for viewing by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: Medrex Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander J. Zabik, Stephen G. Fisher