Particular Air Ducts Or Deflector Patents (Class 353/61)
  • Patent number: 7210790
    Abstract: An ion wind generator (20) is arranged on one side of a light source (1). The ion wind generator (20) produces an air current by negatively ionizing air by corona discharges at a needle electrode (21), or negative side, and drawing the negatively-ionized air at a cylindrical electrode (22), or positive side. The air current blows toward the light source (1) and removes heat generated by the light source (1). An ultraviolet ray from the light source (1) is introduced to a vent of the ion wind generator (20) by a first dichroic mirror (4) and a ultraviolet ray reflection mirror (17). Though air exhausted from the vent includes ozone (o3) produced by corona discharges, the ozone is decomposed by the ultraviolet ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Takashi Ikeda, Hideyuki Kanayama, Yasuo Funazou, Shunichi Kishimoto, Yoshihiro Yokote, Takashi Miwa
  • Patent number: 7210825
    Abstract: A light source device equipped with a concave reflector having an open front end section. Installed in the light source device is a light source having a light emitting unit. The unit is positioned on a focal point of the reflector. A cover is attached to the open front end section of the reflector to cover the open front end section. The cover has an air inflow opening provided at a side section thereof in relation to the open front end section. At least a part of the cover is made of a transparent material. The part is a light passage through which light emitted by the light source and reflected by the reflector passes. The light source device is further equipped with a fan having an air outflow opening. The fan is provided so that airflow created by the fan and blown through the air outflow opening is directed to the air inflow opening of the cover, without obstructing the light passing through the light passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Noboru Fujino, Syunsaku Satoh
  • Patent number: 7192143
    Abstract: An optical device (44) includes: a optical modulator holder (4402) that has inside thereof a cooling chamber in which a cooling fluid is encapsulated, and holds a optical modulator in such a manner that heat can be transferred between the optical modulator holder and the cooling fluid within the cooling chamber; a plurality of fluid circulation members (448) that are connected to the cooling chamber of the optical modulator holder (4402) for mutual communication to guide the cooling fluid outside the cooling chamber and guide the cooling fluid inside the cooling chamber, again; and a main tank (445) that is arranged in the flow path of the cooling fluid in the plurality of fluid circulation members (448) and accumulates the cooling fluid. The main tank (445) has a cooling fluid inlet section for allowing the main tank (445) to be replenished with the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Masami Murata
  • Patent number: 7175284
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus includes a housing having a first side having an air intake opening and a second side having an air exhaust opening, a light source for supplying light, and a light valve device which modulates the light output from the light source. A centrifugal fan is associated with the air intake opening so as to draw air from the air intake opening. A first ventilation path is coupled with the air intake opening so as to lead air flow from the air intake opening toward a lower portion of the light valve, and a second ventilation path is formed from the lower portion of the light valve to an upper portion of the light valve. An exhaust fan is associated with the air exhaust opening so as to draw out air flowing from the second ventilation path through the air exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Fuse, Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Otsuka, Nobuyuki Kaku, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7161315
    Abstract: A self dust-off apparatus includes a fan and a controller. The fan, which can be driven to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, is installed in a projector. The controller is employed to direct the rotational direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the fan. In the normal operation, the fan rotates to guide the air from an inlet to an outlet. In the dust-off operation, the fan rotates along reverse direction to guide air inversely in relation to the normal operation so that dust is taken out of the projector easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 7152978
    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: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., and Hitachi Video and Information Systems, 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: 7152979
    Abstract: A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes through the prism, wherein a dust-sealed airspace is provided between an imaging surface of each light valve and the prism for providing air channels to cool respective ones of the light valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim W. Ellis, Richard Matthews, Lloyd F. Holland, George P. Pinho
  • Patent number: 7144118
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Shang-Hsuang Wu, Wen-Hsien Su
  • Patent number: 7144122
    Abstract: A projector includes a projector body that enlarges and projects image light and an image reproducing device that reproduces an image relating to the image light. The projector body and the image reproducing device are integrally arranged in a vertical direction such that the projector body is above the image reproducing device. A partition member is formed between the projector body and the image reproducing device, and the projector body is placed on the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Teruo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7140734
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seon-woo Lim
  • Patent number: 7137706
    Abstract: With a trend toward a higher intensity projection type liquid crystal display device to further increase brightness of a projection screen, rated input power of a light source lamp increases, which makes essential a fan apparatus for cooling the light source lamp, etc. Such a fan apparatus would require a light-shielding member which causes the number of parts to increase. The present invention provides a fan apparatus provided with a rotor section that can be rotated/driven around a predetermined rotation axis and a propeller section including propeller blades and attached to the rotor section arranged in such a way as to substantially shield light parallel to the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Kawahara, Takehiro Okada, Makoto Hoshino, Koji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 7128422
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a light source, and a partition wall which divides an inside of the display apparatus into an enclosing space which includes a plurality of optical elements and an outer space with respect to the enclosing space. The optical elements includes a color separator which receives a light from the light source and emits a plurality of separate color beams, at least one reflecting type light valve which forms an image by reflecting the plurality of color beams, and a projection lens which projects the image of an external screen. A first cooling fan is provided which causes an air flow in the outer space. A least one of the optical elements forms a part of the partition wall, and the air flow cools the at least one reflecting type light valve from the outer space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Ohtsuka, Kenji Fuse, Toru Numata
  • Patent number: 7118223
    Abstract: A projection displaying apparatus projects on a projection plane an image displayed on a reflection displaying device using light emitted from a light source. The projection displaying apparatus includes a wind feeding portion for feeding a cooling wind to a light-incident side of a polarization plate disposed on an optical path from the light source to the reflection displaying device, and a wind guiding portion for guiding the cooling wind such that the cooling wind can be blown on the polarization plate slantingly relative to a light-incident face of the polarization plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7086740
    Abstract: A projection device is provided, wherein the projection device includes a casing, a plurality of electronic components mounted within the casing, a vent in the casing disposed substantially adjacent to an electronic component, and an injection molded, electrically nonconductive vent screen having one or more mesh portions substantially bordered by a peripheral frame, wherein the vent screen is detachably coupled within the casing and secured against the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Greg Sample, Tony Rogers
  • Patent number: 7083285
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Guo-Ching Chang
  • Patent number: 7083286
    Abstract: A projector projecting an image onto a screen, comprises a lamp emitting light; an optical system having an optical synthesizer including a blue panel, a green panel and a red panel, and an optical component disposed along an optical path from the lamp to the optical synthesizer; a cooling fan generating cool air cooling the optical system; and a guiding duct guiding the cool air to be distributed into a first passage and a second passage. With this configuration, the present invention provides a projector in which a guiding duct is partitioned and therefore cool air is distributed according to whether the cool air is sent to a relatively high temperature place or a relatively low temperature place in an optical system, preventing energy from being wasted by efficiently cooling some components of the optical system without overcooling others, and reducing noise caused by a cooling fan and air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sru Kim, Jean Hur
  • Patent number: 7073912
    Abstract: Heat of optical devices is transferred to a bottom surface portion 512B of an optical parts housing portion 512 of an optical parts casing 5A. A duct 6 is formed on the bottom surface portion 512B. A cooling air passing through a first passage 6A cools the bottom surface portion 512B, and then is supplied to a hole 515R to cool a liquid crystal panel 441R, etc. The cooling air passing through a second passage 6B of the duct 6 is introduced into holes 515B, 515G to cool the liquid crystal panels 441B, 441G. Accordingly, the optical parts casing projector capable of cooling sufficiently the optical modulator devices and other parts, e.g., the bottom surface portion, etc. of the optical parts casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7064956
    Abstract: A cooling system for a display projector. The display projector has a plurality of panels substantially enclosing a heat generating component. The system includes means for conducting heat from the heat generating component to at least one panel of the housing and means for dissipating the conducted heat, wherein the means for dissipating comprises at least one panel of the display projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Chandrakant D. Patel
  • Patent number: 7052144
    Abstract: A projector includes a sirocco fan 762 as an exhaust fan arranged oppositely to an exhaust hole 2B formed on an exterior case 2 to suck air inside the exterior case 2 and to discharge the air to the outside via the exhaust hole 2B. The sirocco fan 762 is arranged such that a suction side thereof is along a plane orthogonal to an optical path plane defined by a light source device, an optical modulator and a projection optical device of a device body of the projector. Further, the sirocco fan 762 is arranged such that a discharge hole 762A is inclined in a fan rotation direction to discharge the sucked air substantially to the center of an end surface with the exhaust hole 2B formed in a thickness direction. Accordingly, such projector is provided that can enhance an exhaust efficiency by sucking the air of the inside effectively without the rotation number of the exhaust fan increased, and also can reduce the thickness thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihisa Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7040763
    Abstract: A simple cooling construction capable of achieving two functions at a time is to be provided, one function being cooling a lamp as a lighting means and the other function being preventing the scatter of broken pieces of the lamp upon burst of the lamp. An image display device such as an LCD projector has been configured such that cooling air is introduced into the interior of a reflector to cool an lamp means. In this connection, the present invention adopts a net of an expanded metal structure which serves as both means for preventing the scatter of broken pieces of a lamp upon burst of the lamp and an air deflecting plate facing a portion to be cooled. The above two functions can be attained simultaneously by such a simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Takeshi Katayama, Keiichiro Tokushige, Hideki Okuyama
  • Patent number: 7029123
    Abstract: A projector device adapted to project an image-forming beam using a lamp as a light source. The lamp is installed within a rectangular parallelepipedal housing, and an exhaust fan is disposed to the rear of the lamp. The top wall of the housing surrounding the lamp is given an opening pattern asymmetric about the optical axis of the lamp by forming an air inlet opening in a position deviated from the optical axis toward a direction orthogonal to the axis for producing a swirling air current within the housing by operating the exhaust fan. The lamp can be effectively cooled with reduced quantities of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Gishi, Fumihiko Hamada, Shoji Okazaki, Takaharu Adachi, Taichi Yoshimura, Naoyuki Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Masuda, Michihiro Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7021768
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including a discharge lamp for supplying light, a light valve device and first and second air intake openings arranged on different sides of the apparatus. A centrifugal fan is associated with the first air intake opening so as to draw in outside air and form a first ventilation air flow from the first air intake opening through a lower side of the light valve device so as to cool the light valve device. A fan is associated with the second air intake opening so as to draw in outside air and form a second ventilation air flow so as to cool optical elements including lenses. An exhaust opening is arranged on a further side of the apparatus, and an exhaust is fan arranged proximate to a discharge lamp so as to draw out air including the first and second ventilation air flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Fuse, Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Otsuka, Nobuyuki Kaku, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7018048
    Abstract: An exhaust sirocco fan exhausts the air inside the projector outside. An inlet of the exhaust sirocco fan is disposed along the plane orthogonal to the optical path plane formed by the optical unit, i.e. along the thickness direction of the projector. In other words, the optical unit or the exhaust sirocco fan need not be disposed in the thickness direction of the projector in an overlapping manner. Therefore, by efficiently sucking the inside air, the exhaust efficiency can be enhanced and calmness can be ensured in the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ito, Toshio Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 7018054
    Abstract: An electro-optical apparatus encased in the mounting case includes an electro-optical device in which the light emitted from a light source is incident on an image display region, and a mounting case including a plate disposed to face one surface of the electro-optical device and a cover to cover the electro-optical device, a portion of the cover abutting against the plate, wherein the mounting case accommodates the electro-optical device by holding at least a portion of a peripheral region located at the circumference of the image display region of the electro-optical device with at least one of the plate and the cover. In addition, the cover has a surface area increasing portion to increase the surface area thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Miyashita, Hiroyuki Kojima, Hiromi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7014321
    Abstract: The invention provides a projector that can have a light source device, an optical device that modulates, in accordance with image information, beams emitted from the light source device to form an optical image, and an external case that accommodates the light source device and the optical device. The projector can enlarge and project the optical image formed by the optical device. The projector can include leg portions that are disposed so as to be extendable from and retractable to an outer peripheral surface of the external case to adjust the projection position of the enlarged and projected optical image, an intake opening formed in the surface of the external case disposed with the leg portions, and an intake fan that is disposed inside the external case near the intake opening and introduces cooling air from the outside of the external case. An intake surface of the intake fan can be disposed at an inclination with respect to the plane of the external case in which the intake opening is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akitoshi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7014322
    Abstract: A suction-side duct (73) is interposed between a light source device (411) and an exhaust fan (72) and includes a first suction hole (731A1) for drawing in a heated air heated by the light source device (411) and a discharge hole (732B) for discharging the indrawn heated air toward the exhaust fan (72). The first suction hole (731A1) and the discharge hole (732B) are located not to interfere with each other on a plane seen from a suction direction or a discharge direction of the heated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Okoshi
  • Patent number: 7014320
    Abstract: There is a need for allowing an exhaust direction of a cooling air to be appropriately changed according to an installation environment of a projection type display device. There is another need to achieve a system for preventing an intake air and an exhaust air from being circulated therebetween by changing the direction of an intake port as well as an exhaust direction. A cooling system for an area around a lamp that accounts for a good part of an amount of heat generated by the projection type display device is isolated from a cooling system for other parts including a liquid crystal panel. Means is further provided of allowing the directions of intake and exhaust to be inverted in an entire device by changing the direction of rotation of an exhaust fan provided for the cooling system for the area around the lamp between forward and backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7008180
    Abstract: An axial-flow fan has a plurality of main fins (702), and auxiliary fins (703) provided between the main fins (702), where the position of a front end of the auxiliary fin (703) relative to X axis and the position of a front end of the main fin (702) adjoining the auxiliary fin in reverse-rotary direction are aligned, the height of the auxiliary fin (703) is approximately three fourths of the height of the main fin (702), and the cross sections of the main fin (702) and the auxiliary fin (703) taken along the axial direction of the main shaft are streamlined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Masakazu Kitamura, Toshiaki Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7008062
    Abstract: An exhausting structure used in a rear projection TV has a ventilating chamber inside a casing of the TV to separate an optical engine from the casing. A fan is mounted in the ventilating chamber near the optical engine to ventilate the heat from the inside of the TV via a conduit and an outlet. The fan is isolated from outside of the TV to reduce any noise generated from the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chuan Tseng, Bor-Bin Chou, Yi-Cheng Yuan
  • Patent number: 7002798
    Abstract: A projection television has an upper cabinet and a lower cabinet. The upper cabinet includes a mirror case. A cooling structure includes a first internal duct formed by the joint surface between the mirror case and the lower cabinet, and openings functioning as an inlet and an outlet of the first internal duct are formed in the mirror case, so as to constitute a first cooling flow path for cooling liquid crystal panels of an optical unit provided in the lower cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Seki, Shigeki Kato
  • Patent number: 6991335
    Abstract: In order to perform high efficient cooling without boiling cooling liquid and to improve maintainability such as replacement of a lamp, the present invention provides a liquid crystal projector including a light source lamp, a liquid crystal panel, a power source, a fan for removing heat generated by the power source and the lamp, a water-cooling jacket provided on an inner surface of an external wall portion opposed to the lamp in the liquid crystal projector, a metal pipe arrangement for radiation which is placed in the external wall portion, and a pump for driving cooling liquid to flow in the water-cooling jacket so that the cooling liquid receiving the heat from the lamp circulates in a circulation path through the water-cooling jacket, the metal pipe arrangement, and the pump to emit the heat to the outside through the metal pipe arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kondo, Nariaki Shigyo, Katsunori Nakatani, Tatsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 6986582
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a duct capable of cooling optical modulation systems with high efficiency while realizing miniaturization and reduction of the mounted number of cooling fans. The duct can be used for a projector including plural optical modulation systems, a dichroic prism, and a projection lens, and the respective optical modulation systems include liquid crystal panels, entrance side polarization plates, viewing angle correction plates, and exit side polarization plates. The duct can have plural air guide paths through which cooling air passes, a discharge opening, entrance side discharge openings, and exit side discharge openings formed in these air guide paths. With the optical modulation systems as targets of independent cooling, the entrance side discharge openings and the exit side discharge openings with respect to the targets of independent cooling are formed in different air guide paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6981770
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector comprises an equipment body containing projection device and cooling device and including an air intake port and an air exhaust port, a case for housing the equipment body, and a sliding device for sliding the case so as to take a first state in which the equipment body is pulled out of the case and a second state in which the equipment body is housed in the case. The air intake port and the air exhaust port are closed at the first state and are opened outside at the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Murai, Machiko Takahashi, Takeshi Katayama, Mikiharu Kuwata
  • Patent number: 6976760
    Abstract: The invention provides a projector that is capable of efficiently cooling an outer case along with a light source device. The projector includes an outer case that accommodates a light source device and a cooling passage that is formed in the vicinity of the light source device to cool the outer case. Therefore, the inside of the outer case and the vicinity of the light source device are cooled by the cooling passage so as to cool the outer case efficiently. Also, since the cooling passage is arranged in the vicinity of the light source device, the light source device can also efficiently be cooled. As a result, a temperature rise in the light source device can be restrained so as to cool the outer case more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ito, Takeshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6971749
    Abstract: In a projection device including a casing having an inlet vent and an outlet vent, and a plurality of components including a light source disposed within the casing, a blower system is provided, wherein the blower system includes a plurality of blower portions operable to draw air into the casing through an inlet vent, circulate air among the plurality of components, and eject circulated air from the casing through an outlet vent; and a blower motor configured to operate the plurality of blower portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Russell, Pamela Deshon-Stepp
  • Patent number: 6966655
    Abstract: A projection type display device, in which efficient cooling is performed in a remarkably silent manner, includes: a light source unit; an optical unit for modulating illumination light output from the light source unit based on input image information; two power source sections and; a box for housing the optical unit, the light source unit and the power source sections; and a cover member for entirely covering at least an upper surface of the box, wherein an outlet for externally exhausting air in the box by using axial fans is provided only on a bottom side of the box. Liquid crystal panels that are held by the optical unit frame absorb the illumination light from the light source unit and thus have different increased temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hara, Kazuhisa Hamada, Naoya Matsuda, Akihito Yajima
  • Patent number: 6966654
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Ozawa, Toshio Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 6957892
    Abstract: A projector includes a light-source device, a discharge duct having an air intake port facing the light-source device and a discharge port, an axial fan mounted between the air intake port and the light-source device in an outer casing. The discharge port has an opening area smaller than that of the air intake port and is eccentric to the air intake port. The direction of air flow from the axial fan is inclined with respect to the direction of the discharge of a cooling air from the discharge port. Accordingly, when the cooling air that has cooled a light source lamp is discharged through the discharge duct with the axial fan, the light blocking effect can be increased and the discharge pressure of the cooling air discharged can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akitoshi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6955434
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Nien-Hui Hsu
  • Patent number: 6945655
    Abstract: A convection cooled liquid crystal display panel projector having a low wattage light source. The projector consist of a housing with a plurality of louvered vents preventing light from escaping from the housing while allowing air to circulate there through. A primary lens configuration having a light source, and a liquid crystal display panel, a Fresnel lens and a projector mirror. An overhead lens configuration by said light source and a Fresnel lens and liquid crystal display panel with a mirror in spaced relation thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Brad Ferrell
  • Patent number: 6942348
    Abstract: A projector device adapted to project an image-forming beam using a lamp as a light source. The lamp is installed within a rectangular parallelepipedal housing, and an exhaust fan is disposed to the rear of the lamp. The top wall of the housing surrounding the lamp is given an opening pattern asymmetric about the optical axis of the lamp by forming an air inlet opening in a position deviated from the optical axis toward a direction orthogonal to the axis for producing a swirling air current within the housing by operating the exhaust fan. The lamp can be effectively cooled with reduced quantities of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Gishi, Fumihiko Hamada, Shoji Okazaki, Takaharu Adachi, Taichi Yoshimura, Naoyuki Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Masuda, Michihiro Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6935750
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a light source, plural reflecting type light valves having a light incidence/reflection surface which reflects incident light from the light source, and a partition wall which partitions a space in the display apparatus into a cooling air side and a light incidence/reflection surface side. Plural cooling fans which cause air flow to respective ones of the light valves, and a discharge fan which discharges a cooling air inside of the display apparatus through an outlet port are provided. A respective one of the cooling fans flows air to a side which is opposite to the incidence/reflection surface of a respective one of the light valves and a path of the air flow is formed from at least one of the cooling fans to the outlet port in an order of the opposite side of the light valve, the light source and the discharge fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Ohtsuka, Kenji Fuse, Toru Numata
  • Patent number: 6913361
    Abstract: A projector device adapted to project an image-forming beam using a lamp as a light source. The lamp is installed within a rectangular parallelepipedal housing, and an exhaust fan is disposed to the rear of the lamp. The top wall of the housing surrounding the lamp is given an opening pattern asymmetric about the optical axis of the lamp by forming an air inlet opening in a position deviated from the optical axis is toward a direction orthogonal to the axis for producing a swirling air current within the housing by operating the exhaust fan. The lamp can be effectively cooled with reduced quantities of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Gishi, Fumihiko Hamada, Shoji Okazaki, Takaharu Adachi, Taichi Yoshimura, Naoyuki Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Masuda, Michihiro Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6908198
    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: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Shiraishi, Yasuo Otsuka, Toru Numata
  • Patent number: 6906758
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling structure for a projection television, which keeps the inside of the projection television clean and effectively cools the heated projection television. The cooling structure for the projection television comprises a heat blocking unit for separating a lamp system generating superheat from the sealed inner space, a cooling fan for forcibly cooling the heat generated by the synthesis system within the sealed inner space, the cooling fan being formed adjacent to the synthesis system, and a radiating unit for exhausting the heat of the inner space to the outside, the radiating unit being formed on the upper part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangdon Park
  • Patent number: 6902275
    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: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Yamada, Nobuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6871959
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fan to generate airflow passing around a lamp reflector. A wake region is formed near a leeward surface of the lamp reflector, and a light cut is installed in the wake region. The light cut has a fixing end and is fixed on a side end surface of a lamp holder of the lamp by means of fastening bolts, the other end keeps a selected distance away from the lamp reflector and has a suitable distance along contours of the lamp reflector toward a rear end of the lamp reflector so as to prevent the light with high illumination going through the lamp reflector to the exhausting outlet for avoiding light leakage; hence, the exhausting outlet shall not be added inclined louvers and the windage is lowered down comparatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Hsu, Sheng-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 6840628
    Abstract: A panel cooling system A has a pair of Sirocco fans 51A, 51B arranged at both sides of the radial direction of a projection lens 46, a suction duct portion 52A and an exhaust duct portion 52B. The suction duct portion 52A communicates a suction port of the undersurface of an armored case 2 with a suction side of each of the Sirocco fan 51A, 51B, and the exhaust duct portion 52B communicates an exhaust side of each of the Sirocco fans 51A, 51B and color lights R, G, B of an optical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Toshio Matsumiya, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6840629
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus is housed in a dual housing structure that includes an inner case housing electronics and an outer case surrounding the inner case. The inner and outer cases have respective intake openings, and in the area where the respective intake openings are provided, the inner and outer cases are spaced from each other by a sufficient distance such that an intake chamber is defined between the inner and outer cases. The intake opening of the inner case and the intake opening of the outer case are displaced from each other with respect to a front-and-rear direction of the apparatus so as to provide a nonlinear intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Suzuki, Kiyohiko Goto
  • Patent number: 6837583
    Abstract: A projector device adapted to project an image-forming beam using a lamp as a light source. The lamp is installed within a rectangular parallelepipedal housing, and an exhaust fan is disposed to the rear of the lamp. The top wall of the housing surrounding the lamp is given an opening pattern asymmetric about the optical axis of the lamp by forming an air inlet opening in a position deviated from the optical axis toward a direction orthogonal to the axis for producing a swirling air current within the housing by operating the exhaust fan. The lamp can be effectively cooled with reduced quantities of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Gishi, Fumihiko Hamada, Shoji Okazaki, Takaharu Adachi, Taichi Yoshimura, Naoyuki Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Masuda, Michihiro Kurokawa