Particular Air Ducts Or Deflector Patents (Class 353/61)
  • Publication number: 20040263798
    Abstract: An intake structure, installed in a projection apparatus having heating elements, includes an intake port on the casing, air duct and an exhaust fan near the heating elements. The inlet of the air duct is connected to the intake port, and the outlet is disposed at a side of the heating elements. The air stream from the intake port is directed though the air duct for concentrating the air stream to the heating elements inside of the projection apparatus. Thus, it can be provided the maximum cooling effect and enhanced cooling efficiency for heating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Shang-Hsuang Wu, Wen-Hsien Su
  • Publication number: 20040263799
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a lamp, an optical modulator which modulates light emitted from the lamp to correspond to image data, a ballast which operates the lamp, a power supply unit, and a duct in which the power supply unit, the ballast, and the lamp are accommodated. The duct includes a first absorption hole and a main exhaust hole that communicate with an outside, and forms an air-flow path on which the first absorption hole, the power supply unit, the ballast, the lamp, and the main exhaust hole are disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Seon-woo Lim
  • Patent number: 6834985
    Abstract: The cooling apparatus for illumination system of optical engine of the present invention includes: illumination system that has a lamp base for its light source, wherein the lamp has an air duct body fixed on one side of the lamp base, wherein there is at least one partition separating the air duct body into a plurality of air ducts of different surface areas, and an external air duct extending one of the air ducts from underneath the air duct body to outside of the air duct body, wherein a fan installed on the air duct body takes in air through each of the air ducts and the external air duct to cool the illumination system, thus improving the cooling efficiency of the fans, while reducing the volume of cooling air needed from the fans, lowering the cost and reducing the noise from the fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Bor-Bin Chou, Kuan-Chou Ko
  • Patent number: 6832838
    Abstract: A projector includes a casing, a light source, an optical engine, inlet ports and outlet ports formed on the casing, and a fan mounted in the casing. The fan sucks air streams from the inlet ports into the casing and forces the air streams to flow out of the casing via the outlet ports. A buffer chamber is defined among the fan, the outlet ports, and the casing. The casing includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing is retractable relative to the second housing so that a volume of the buffer chamber may be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Microtek International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Wang, Zen-Gwo Sun
  • Patent number: 6832837
    Abstract: A projection display device comprises a light source, a display section configured to receive light from the light source and output image light modulated with an image signal, a projection device configured to project the image light output from the display section, a duct device having an air duct for conducting air from an air intake to an air discharge section and an air chamber which is formed downstream of the air discharge section in the air duct and configured to blow cooling air from the air discharge section toward the display section, and an air blower configured to blow cooling air into the air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shingo Suzuki, Hideo Kanai
  • Publication number: 20040252282
    Abstract: A partition installed in a housing of a projection apparatus to form a double-layer structure of a first zone and a second zone is used for a component of a cooling structure for the projection apparatus. Moreover, a first air inlet is disposed at the lower part of the first zone and a second air inlet is disposed between the first and the second zones. An air outlet with a duct and a plurality of sound sources and heat elements are disposed in the second zone. Outside air is drawn in from the first air inlet through a fan, then turned to enter the second zone through the second air inlet to cool heat elements and finally exhausted out of the system from the air outlet through the duct. Besides, the installments of the partition and the duct allow the distance of the sound source broadcasting to be lengthened and the diffusion light to be blocked so that both the noise and the leaking of the diffusion light can be reduced effectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Guo-Ching Chang
  • Patent number: 6824273
    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: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Video 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: 6824272
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cover structure and an image output apparatus including the cover structure. The cover structure may be disposed on the image output apparatus for discharging and guiding the heated airflow inner the image output apparatus. The cover structure includes a first device and a second device. The first device is disposed on a housing of the image output apparatus and corresponds to a blowhole of the housing to mask a portion of the light emitted from the blowhole. The other portion of the light leaks from the first device to form a leakage light. The second device corresponds to an outer side of the first device to mask the leakage light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Lung Hsu, Ying-Yu Lin
  • Publication number: 20040227901
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a duct capable of cooling optical modulation systems with high efficiency while realizing miniaturization and reduction of the mounted number of cooling fans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6817720
    Abstract: In order to prevent dust from sticking to the LCD panel, to prevent the LCD panel from being heated and to suitably adjust the position of the LCD panel, a duct is provided between cooling means for a light source and cooling means for a LCD panel to send cooling air from the LCD panel side to the light source side. Therefore, a light incidence/reflection plane of the LCD panel is disposed in an almost hermetically closed space and an optical path from an integrator lens to the LCD panel is formed in the almost hermetically closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Otsuka, Toru Numata
  • Patent number: 6814446
    Abstract: An intake opening (132L) is formed on a left lateral side (132) of a lower cabinet (13) and an exhaust opening (132R) is formed on a right lateral side (132) in a rear projector (1), where a cooling air introduced from the intake opening (132L) by a plurality of fans provided in the lower cabinet (13) flows along a front side of a screen to cool the interior of the projector to be finally discharged from the exhaust opening (132R), so that the air after cooling the interior which is discharged by the exhaust opening (132R) is prevented from entering into the intake opening (132L), thereby always introducing fresh cooling air to cool the interior efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Yamada, Jun Arai
  • Publication number: 20040212784
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting cooling in a projection system, mainly comprises a fan, a louver installed at an air outlet and a sensor neighbor therewith. The fan is allowed to rotate to drive air at a predetermined rotational speed when the projection system is turned on, the louver is at a predetermined open rate at this time and the sensor is used to detect air temperature. When the air temperature is risen gradually beyond a predetermined temperature, the open rate of the louver is first increased gradually; and, when the air temperature is risen continuously and the open rate of the louver reaches its maximum, the rotational speed of the fan is then increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Nien-Hui HSU
  • Patent number: 6805446
    Abstract: A rear projector (1) has a closed space (530) including an inside of an upper cabinet (12) and an electric optical device (44), where the electric optical device (44), a sirocco fan (541) located below the electric optical device (44), a duct (542) covering the upper side of the electric optical device (44) and a heat sink (543) attached to the upper cabinet (12) are disposed and an upper cabinet cooling system (600) that cools the interior of the closed space (530) in a circulative manner is provided in the closed space (530), thereby preventing invasion of duct etc. and providing high-quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Haruyoshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040189954
    Abstract: A projector 1 includes a light-source device 411, a discharge duct 81 having an air intake port 81A facing the light-source device 411 and a discharge port 81B, an axial fan 82 mounted between the air intake port A and the light-source device 411 in an outer casing 2. The discharge port 81B has an opening area smaller than that of the air intake port 81A and is eccentric to the air intake port 81A. The direction of air flow from the axial fan 82 is inclined with respect to the direction of the discharge of a cooling air A from the discharge port 81B. Accordingly, when the cooling air that has cooled a light source lamp is discharged through the discharge duct 81 with the axial fan 82, the light blocking effect can be increased and the discharge pressure of the cooling air discharged can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akitoshi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6796660
    Abstract: A projective display apparatus having an illumination unit which includes a light source, an integrator lens and a collimator lens, a light splitter unit which splits light beams from the illumination unit into a plurality of color components, a plurality of light valves, a cooling fan, and a wind guiding unit. A respective one of the light valves corresponds to a respective one of the color components. The wind guiding unit guides the cooling wind from the cooling fan to the illumination unit and the light valves. The wind guiding unit splits and forms at least two branch wind guiding paths. One of the branch wind guiding paths guides cooling wind from the cooling fan to the illumination unit and another of the branch wind guiding paths guides the cooling wind to the light valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Nobuyuki Kaku, Fukuyasu Abe, Kenji Fuse, Nobuo Masuoka, Tatsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 6793343
    Abstract: A light source is disposed at an end of an optical unit (4) formed approximately in planarly-viewed L-shape and an axial-flow fan (6A) is disposed so that suction surface thereof opposes the light source, where an exhaust duct (6B) connected with the axial-flow fan (6A) and extending toward a front side of a projector (1) along a side of a lower case is disposed on the exhaust side of the axial-flow fan (6A), so that the axial-flow fan (6A) is spaced apart from an exhaust hole formed on the front side of the projector (1) and the exhaust flow from the axial-flow fan (6A) becomes parallel to an image projecting direction of a projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohisa Nakano, Masayuki Okoshi
  • Publication number: 20040169825
    Abstract: A projector comprises a light source device 413 in which a light source cooling air flow channel X for introducing a cooling air to an internal light source lamp 411 is formed and an internal housing 47 for housing an optical element unit 600, which subjects the light beam emitted from this light source device 413 to an optical processing. The internal housing 47 is formed with a pair of optical element cooling opening portions 471A, 472A, which are oppositely arranged by mutually pinching the optical element unit 600 in order to allow a cooling air to pass through according to the arrangement of the optical element unit 600. Further, the underside of the internal housing 47 is provided with a fan 54, in which a suction port 54A is directed to the opening portion 471A and an exhaust port 54B is connected to the light source cooling air flow channel X. Since an air flows along an arrow marked channel, the optical element unit 600 and the light source lamp 411 can be sufficiently cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Takaaki Ozawa, Toshio Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 6783245
    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: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    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: 6779894
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a light source, a reflecting type light valve having a light incidence/reflection surface which reflects incident light from the light source, a first cooling fan which cools the reflecting type light valve, and a second cooling fan which cools the light source. A part of the display apparatus which is opposite to the light incidence/reflection surface of the reflecting type light valve is cooled by a cooling fluid generated by the first cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Ohtsuka, Kenji Fuse, Toru Numata
  • Patent number: 6779895
    Abstract: A cooling system for an electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a housing and a fan. The housing has an outlet, a stopper fixed on the housing, and an opening next to the stopper. The fan generates a first air flow flowing to the outlet. The stopper retards a portion of the first air flow flowing to the outlet. A second air flow flows into the housing through the opening and mixes with the first air flow to cool the temperature of the first air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Min Lai, Ren-Cheng Chao
  • Publication number: 20040141155
    Abstract: A projector includes a casing, a light source, an optical engine, inlet ports and outlet ports formed on the casing, and a fan mounted in the casing. The fan sucks air streams from the inlet ports into the casing and forces the air streams to flow out of the casing via the outlet ports. A buffer chamber is defined among the fan, the outlet ports, and the casing. The casing includes a first housing and a second housing. The second housing is retractable relative to the first housing so that a volume of the buffer chamber may be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Wang, Zen-Gwo Sun
  • Patent number: 6758583
    Abstract: A light source cooling system having a double exhaust fan for a projector comprising: a light source formed with an interior region and an exterior region; a first exhaust fan; and a second exhaust fan, wherein the first exhaust fan and the second exhaust fan form two airstreams in the interior region and the exterior region respectively for cooperatively cooling the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Ching-Chung Nien, Sen-Ming Hsu
  • Patent number: 6755535
    Abstract: A projection television set having an enclosure housing a screen, an optical unit and a mirror, wherein the optical unit and mirror are capable of projecting an image onto the screen. The enclosure is preferably constructed from hollow plastic extruded panels. In addition, the enclosure preferably includes a duct extending upwardly from a lower portion of the enclosure to exhaust heat radiating from components housed therein to the exterior of the enclosure toward the top of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Shinobu
  • Publication number: 20040114113
    Abstract: A pair of openings (302) symmetrically disposed around an optical axis of the reflector (412) is formed on a contact surface of a light-transmissive plate (301) and the reflector (412) and a cooling channel (340) for introducing cooling air to a source lamp (411) through the pair of openings (302) and a first and a second cooling channel shutters (350, 360) for shutting the cooling channel (340) when the case is detached from a projector (1) are provided on a case (300). The source lamp (411) can be efficiently cooled, so that the life of the source lamp (411) can be lengthened. Even when a light-emitting tube of the source lamp (411) is exploded while using the projector (1), the fragments of the light-emitting tube do not fall outside in exchanging the light source (413), and cooling efficiency of the source lamp (411) is not impaired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Yamada, Nobuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6746125
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan (50) is provided around the light source of the projector and an exhaust duct (51) is connected to the centrifugal fan with at least one of bent portion (52) for bending exhaust stream from the centrifugal fan being formed on the exhaust duct. Since the centrifugal fan for exhausting air can be disposed at a position remote from the exhaust hole, the noise generated from the projector can be reduced even when the size of the cooling fan is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohisa Nakano, Nobuo Watanabe, Haruyoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6742900
    Abstract: To provide a projector reduced in size and weight and countermeasures against EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) as well. The projector has vertically separable outer cases which accommodate an optical system comprising: a color beam splitting optical system for splitting light from a light source into beams of predetermined colors; an electro-optical device for modulating the color beams split by the color beam splitting optical system in accordance with image information; a color beam combining optical system for combining the color beams modulated by the electro-optical devices; and a projection lens for projecting the resultant beam combined by the color beam combining optical system. These optical components constituting the optical system are attached to a inner case, and the inner case is fixed to a lower case so as to accommodate at least the color beam splitting optical system in a enclosure constituted by the inner case and the lower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 6742899
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a lamp holder with a lamp inside a casing; at least one guiding surface at the lower edge proximate one side of the lamp holder; a ventilation outlet disposed on the lamp holder at a position corresponding to one side of the guiding surface proximate the casing; an upper sheet at the top of the lamp holder keeping a specific distance from the casing to define an upper air duct; a lower sheet at the bottom of the lamp holder keeping a specific distance from the casing to define a lower air duct and connecting to the guiding surface. A fan proximate one side of the guiding surface for blowing the air through the lamp holder and the upper and lower air ducts, then discharge the hot air from the ventilation outlet for the heat dispersion. Therefore, this invention reducing the temperature of the lamp which near the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Shang-Hsuang Wu, Nien-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 6739831
    Abstract: A cooling device for projector, comprising a light source, an exhaust fan, an air directing fan, an air duct, air inlet windows, an optical engine, a circuit board, a light cut, and a power supply to constitute a projector device with high brightness and high contrast. The projector includes a design that directs hot air flow directly into fan blades of an exhaust fan, thereby effectively reducing adverse effects and solving problems of conventional technology, such as failure to direct hot air flow into the fan blades of the exhaust fan, resulting in excessively high average temperature in the fan hub area that is in alignment with the hot air current, and high working temperature of motor bearings, control circuits, rotors and stators in the fan hub, so that the fan hub can be operating under lower temperatures, thereby enhancing normal performance, effective working life and reliability of the fan and the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Bor-Bin Chou, Shang-Hsuang Wu
  • Patent number: 6736513
    Abstract: This invention discloses a projection type image display apparatus that includes a color separation optical system which separates illumination light into a plurality of chromatic rays of light, a plurality of image forming panels illuminated with the plurality of chromatic rays of light, respectively, a color synthesizing optical system which synthesizes rays of light emitted from the plurality of image forming panels illuminated therewith, and a plurality of cooling units which cool areas around the plurality of image forming panels, respectively, in which a cooling capacity (for example, specifications of a cooling unit or type of air-blowing fan) of at least one of the plurality of cooling units is different from those of the other cooling units. Thereby, cooling can be carried out most suitably for each color optical path, and cooling that is superior in efficiency and in balance can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Koyama, Kiyohide Wada
  • Patent number: 6733157
    Abstract: A radiating apparatus for U-shape projector system includes a ventiduct structure with a ventiduct space, an air input end-and an air output end arranged at two ends of the ventiduct structure, and a projecting tens arranged outside the ventiduct structure. A light source has a lamp center and is arranged in the ventiduct space. A lamp radiating fan inhales an air to flow toward the lamp center of the lamp, and a radiating fan drain the air out of the ventiduct space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Lité-on Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Fang-Yuan Shyu, Yin-Fa Tu
  • Publication number: 20040080719
    Abstract: A lens cover is provided for being held between the air outlet and the projection lens. This allows the lens cover to prevent hot air exhausted from the air outlet from running across the light path of a projected light from the projection lens when the projection of an image is desired, hence avoiding the generation of shimmers in the projected image. Preferably, the lens cover is arranged vertical to the optical axis of the projection lens for turning movement on an axis located between the projection lens and the air outlet. Accordingly, the lens cover is hardly lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Morinaga
  • Publication number: 20040075818
    Abstract: A projection display device comprises a light source, a display section configured to receive light from the light source and output image light modulated with an image signal, a projection device configured to project the image light output from the display section, a duct device having an air duct for conducting air from an air intake to an air discharge section and an air chamber which is formed downstream of the air discharge section in the air duct and configured to blow cooling air from the air discharge section toward the display section, and an air blower configured to blow cooling air into the air intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shingo Suzuki, Hideo Kanai
  • Patent number: 6709112
    Abstract: It is an object to obtain a light source device and a projection type display device in which a fragment can be completely enclosed therein even if a discharge lamp bursts during lighting. During normal lighting of a discharge lamp (1), an internal space of a light source device (10) and an external space are spatially connected to each other through a vent hole (43) formed on a cutoff valve mechanism (45) and a vent hole (100) formed on a concave reflecting mirror (4). Cooling air is introduced and discharged between the internal space and the external space so that the discharge lamp (1) is cooled down. When the discharge lamp (1) bursts during lighting for some reason, a very strong impulsive pressure wave is generated in a moment of the burst. The pressure wave presses a movable valve (41) provided in the cutoff valve mechanism (45) through the vent hole (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Miyamoto, Hideharu Tanaka, Mitsuhiro Kawaguchi, Tatsuro Hirose, Toshimitsu Iwai, Tomohiro Bessho
  • Patent number: 6705732
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a polarizer adhered on a flange plate at the top end of a L-shape base, an aslant surface on one side of the base, two sleeve screws protruded from the center of the aslant surface, an air duct defined between an upper base and a lower base of a Z-shape fixed base, two slots disposed on the lower base for receiving the sleeve screws, and two fixing bolts securing the washers onto the sleeve screw to limit the fixed base on the aslant surface of the base. A supporting surface is formed at a flange disposed downward at both ends of the upper base of the fixed base for gluing a half-wave plate. An adjusting mechanism protruded from the lower side of the fixed base extends into a recess at the lower end of the aslant surface; a screw hole is disposed on a side of the base and having an adjusting slot with its end propping one side of the adjusting mechanism; and an elastic member with its ends respectively fixed to a side of the base and a hole of the adjusting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ming Tsao, Chih-Chung Kang, Bor-Bin Chou
  • Patent number: 6698899
    Abstract: A pair of openings (302) symmetrically disposed around an optical axis of the reflector (412) is formed on a contact surface of a light-transmissive plate (301) and the reflector (412) and a cooling channel (340) for introducing cooling air to a source lamp (411) through the pair of openings (302) and a first and a second cooling channel shutters (350, 360) for shutting the cooling channel (340) when the case is detached from a projector (1) are provided on a case (300). The source lamp (411) can be efficiently cooled, so that the life of the source lamp (411) can be lengthened. Even when a light-emitting tube of the source lamp (411) is exploded while using the projector (1), the fragments of the light-emitting tube do not fall outside in exchanging the light source (413), and cooling efficiency of the source lamp (411) is not impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Yamada, Nobuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6679607
    Abstract: A device for cooling a projector includes a plurality of air intakes positioned upstream from a suction fan having an integrated motor. A light source of the projector is disposed between a first air intake and the suction fan so that a first air flow, drawn by the fan through the first air intake, flows around and pulls heat away from the light source. A second air intake is positioned to admit a second air flow, also drawn by the fan, that passes through a duct positioned adjacent an upstream side of the suction fan to direct the second air flow against the fan motor. The second air flow, which has a temperature that is not substantially affected by the light source, cools the fan motor and forms an insulating air layer that protects the fan motor from being damaged by the high temperatures of the first air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Morten Gulliksen
  • Patent number: 6672723
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal projector which can blast an increased amount of cooling air to raise the cooling efficiency without increasing the size of an optical prism unit. The liquid crystal projector includes a dichroic prism, a base for securing the dichroic prism with a lower plate interposed therebetween, a plurality of liquid crystal panel units disposed on side faces of the dichroic prism, and a cooling fan disposed below the base. The base has air holes formed therein such that air current generated by the cooling fan is introduced to the liquid crystal panel units through the air holes to cool the liquid crystal panel units. The lower plate has inclined faces at portions thereof which oppose to the air holes of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Hideki Sugimoto, Shinya Watanabe, Yoshifumi Akaike
  • Patent number: 6641267
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus wherein heat generated from a plurality of heat sources in an outer housing is exhausted efficiently and the weight of the outer housing is balanced. A projection lens is disposed centrally in 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 that serve as independent power sections are respectively disposed on 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 left and right sides of the projection lens in the front wall of the outer housing. Baffles are provided for guiding exhaust from the projection lens and exhaust ports such that they do not advance into the projected light flux to prevent a schlieren of the projected light flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mineo Ohishi, Koji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6637895
    Abstract: In a projection display provided with an optical unit, a power source unit, an external case to store the optical unit and the power source unit, a suction opening (75) is formed in one end part of the power source unit, a discharge opening (77) is formed in the other end part, and the suction opening (75) is arranged in the vicinity of an air inlet in the external case. Because the suction opening (75) and the discharge opening (77) are provided, the inside of the power source unit can be independently and efficiently cooled, and the optical unit and the power source unit can be arranged closely to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Akitoshi Kuroda, Shinji Haba, Kiyoshi Miyashita, Takeshi Takizawa, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6623129
    Abstract: A technique for reducing surface soiling of optical components used in projectors and other devices is provided. An optical component 310G comprises: a light transmissive member 301; and a light transmissive film TF formed on the light transmissive member. The light transmissive film comprises: a semiconductor photocatalyst film PCF constituting the outside surface of the optical component; and an antistatic film ASF formed between the semiconductor photocatalyst film PCF and the light transmissive member 301.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motoyuki Fujimori
  • Patent number: 6623125
    Abstract: A heat-dissipating device for being used in a liquid crystal display projector having liquid crystal displays and polarizers is provided. The heat-dissipating device includes a heat-dissipating channel disposed under the liquid crystal displays and the polarizers and having a main path, a first branch, a second branch, and a plurality of vents corresponding to and adjacent to the liquid crystal displays and the polarizers, respectively, and a fan connected with an end of the heat-dissipating channel, wherein when an airflow is blown from the fan into the main path, the first branch and the second branch and discharged outwardly through the vents, heat generated from the liquid crystal displays and the polarizers is dissipated and temperatures around the liquid crystal displays are kept near isothermal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsi-Chao Chen, Tom Haven
  • Patent number: 6582082
    Abstract: In an optical engine for a projection system, a fan unit is mounted on an upper surface of a housing, and has an inlet port facing toward light modulators within the housing for drawing air upwardly so as to dissipate heat generated by the light modulators, and an outlet port that is transverse to the inlet port for discharging the air drawn into the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Prokia Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kuo-Tung Tiao, Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 6582083
    Abstract: A display apparatus having a reflecting type light valve which has a light incidence/reflection surface, a drive circuit which drives the reflecting type light valve by supplying an image signal, a cooling system which cools at least the reflecting type light valve with cooling fluid, and a partition wall which partitions a space in the display apparatus into a cooling fluid side and a light incidence/reflection side. The reflecting type light valve forms a part of the partition wall, and the light incidence/reflection surface faces the light incidence/reflection side and a part opposite to the light incidence/reflection surface of the reflecting type light valve is cooled by the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Ohtsuka, Kenji Fuse, Toru Numata
  • Patent number: 6578970
    Abstract: A high-intensity arc lamp comprises a glass envelope with a pressurized gas atmosphere. A cathode and an anode structure are disposed within. A pointed tip of the cathode is juxtaposed by a central hole in a face of the anode and a small gap between them. Such central hole is vented away from the arc down inside the anode structure. During operation, heat from the arc at the entrance to the central hole drives a wind of xenon gas down through such vents in the anode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Radiation Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond E. Paquette
  • 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: 6565215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image projector comprising a casing containing at least: an illumination system (11, 10); an optical unit comprising at least one optical valve (30′, 31′, 32′, 20) modulating the light emitted by the illumination system; a projection lens (5) projecting the modulated light outside the casing; a power supply, control electronics and cooling means (116, 117, 118, 119, 140, 141); the casing being provided with at least one aperture (106) forming an air inlet. The casing further comprises a specific air filtration means (115) positioned under the optical unit and in such a way as to surround the latter. The invention is mainly applicable to LCD projectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Jérôme Barrau, Jean-Michel Carle, Jean-Jacques Sacre
  • Patent number: 6565214
    Abstract: A projection television set having an enclosure housing a screen, an optical unit and a mirror, wherein the optical unit and mirror are capable of projecting an image onto the screen. The enclosure is preferably constructed from hollow plastic extruded panels. In addition, the enclosure preferably includes a duct extending upwardly from a lower portion of the enclosure to exhaust heat radiating from components housed therein to the exterior of the enclosure toward the top of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Shinobu
  • Patent number: 6561650
    Abstract: The invention provides a polarization-converting unit capable of being sufficiently cooled even when polarization-converting elements and a lens array are unitized together. Polarization-converting elements and a second lens array are held by a holding frame and a flow-inlet-side opening is arranged under the holding frame, and a flow-outlet-side opening is arranged over the holding frame so as to form a polarization-converting unit. Therefore, cooling air can be allowed to vertically flow through a clearance between the polarization-converting elements and the second lens array, thereby sufficiently cooling the polarization-converting elements and the second lens array from the faces thereof opposing each other. Therefore, in particular, the thermal effect to phase-difference plates pasted to the opposing faces of the polarization-converting elements can be reduced, and thereby the phase-difference plates are prevented from being peeled off so as to maintain the sufficient image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ito, Takeshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6561655
    Abstract: A projector includes a duct having a connecting end for connection to an air inlet provided in a housing, and an air intake end for drawing in outside air for cooling the interior of the projector. The duct is made of a soft or flexible material and is capable of altering its shape. Thus, the duct can change the position of the air intake end in space, for example, to different positions. Further, the duct is pivotable on a pivot axis, and thus can change the opening direction of the air intake end circumferentially about the pivot axis. Therefore, selection of the position and/or opening direction of the air intake end so as to draw in the outside air suitable for cooling the interior depending on the usage forms of the projector achieves efficient cooling of the interior of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Onishi, Kazuhiko Inoue, Iwao Adachi, Yasumasa Sawai, Hideki Nagata
  • 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