JPH0720588A - Projector device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention is intended to reduce the size and weight of a projector device and to increase the brightness of a displayed image. [Structure] Red light, green light, and blue light are time-divisionally and cyclically switched to irradiate a plurality of reflecting elements arranged according to a pixel arrangement of image data of a first reflecting means, and to reflect the respective reflections. Image light is formed by synchronizing the elements with the switching operation of the light source and sequentially switching the reflection directions of the red light, green light, and blue light of each reflecting element on the basis of the image data. By using the transparent second reflecting means to deflect in the direction of the third optical path reaching the image display surface, the projector device can be formed with a simple configuration and the optical path length of the image light inside the device can be increased. It is possible to realize a projector device that can be shortened and can improve the utilization efficiency of light from the light source, and thus can be significantly downsized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. Industrial Application Conventional Technology (FIGS. 9 and 10) Problem to be Solved by the Invention (FIGS. 9 and 10) Means for Solving the Problem (FIGS. 1 to 7) Operation (FIGS. 1 to 7) Example (1) Configuration example of projector device using specular reflection type light valve (FIGS. 1 to 5) (2) Example of projector device according to the present invention (FIGS. 6 and 7) (3) Others Example (Fig. 8) Effect of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a projector device, and is particularly suitable for application to a device adapted to project a color image.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a projector device of this type, a red component, a green component and a blue component of video data are classified into three components.
There is one that is designed to be projected separately on each CRT (cathode ray tube) of a book.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the projection type three-tube projector device 1, three CRTs 2A, 2
B and 2C are sequentially arranged linearly on the front surface of the apparatus.
Further, red, green and blue color filters and a projection lens are arranged on the image projection surface side of each of the CRTs 2A to 2C. The CRTs 2A to 2C directly project the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the image data separately on the screen 3 during projection. As a result, the red, green, and blue component projection lights projected from the CRTs 2A to 2C are combined on the screen 3 to form one image, and a dynamic color image is displayed as a whole.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in the reflection type three-tube type projector device 10, a projector 11 which is formed as a box type as a whole and has the same structure as the projection type three-tube type projector device 1 is provided. It is arranged. Further, the reflection type three-tube projector device 10 has a frosted glass-like semi-transparent screen 12 disposed on the front surface thereof, and a reflection plate 13 disposed therein. Thus, the red, green, and blue projection lights emitted from the projector 11 are bent by the reflection plate 13 and reflected, and then the screen 1
An image is formed on the back side of 2. As a result, a dynamic color image is displayed on the front surface side of the screen 12.

[0006]

However, in the projector devices 1 and 10 having such a configuration, C is used as the light source.
RT2A to 2C are used and this CRT2
Since the images projected from A to 2C are enlarged and displayed on the screens 3 and 12, it is difficult to increase the brightness of the displayed image, and there is a problem that the entire device becomes large.

In order to solve such a problem, three liquid crystal panel plates are used in place of the CRT, the red component, the green component and the blue component are respectively displayed on each liquid crystal panel plate, and one side of the liquid crystal panel plate is displayed. There is proposed a projector device adapted to irradiate light from the above and image the transmitted light on a screen through red, green and blue color filters, respectively. However, this makes it possible to reduce the size of the entire device as compared with the case where a CRT is used because a liquid crystal panel is used as an image source. However, the liquid crystal panel plate itself has a low light transmittance, and the display image is However, it was still insufficient in terms of high brightness.

By the way, it has been proposed to use a spatial light modulator (hereinafter referred to as a specular reflection type light valve) in which a minute mirror surface element is arranged on a surface of a display system and a difference in reflection is utilized. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-179781
JP-A-3-40693 and JP-A-3-174112). If it is possible to form a projector device that projects a color image by using such a specular reflection type light valve, the structure of the entire device can be simplified and downsized, and the utilization efficiency of the light source can be improved. Therefore, it is considered that high brightness of the displayed image can be realized.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object thereof is to propose a projector device which can be reduced in size and weight and which can increase the brightness of a displayed image.

[0010]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, image display is performed by irradiating the image display surface with image light corresponding to the red, green and blue components of the image data S29. In a projector device for displaying a color image on a surface, a light source 2 for emitting red light, green light, and blue light while time-divisionally switching them cyclically.
1 and a plurality of the plurality of light sources arranged in accordance with the pixel arrangement of the video data S29 that selectively reflects the incident red light, green light, and blue light toward the first optical path 27 or outside the first optical path 27. First reflecting means 26 having reflecting element 57
Then, in synchronization with the switching operation of the light source 21, the control means 30 for forming the image light by sequentially switching the reflection directions of the respective reflection elements 57 for the red light, the green light and the blue light based on the image data S29. And a third optical path that is disposed on the first optical path 27 and that directs image light to the image display surface.
Second reflecting means 6 that reflects in the direction of the optical path 63 of
2 and.

Further, in the present invention, the red light, the green light and the blue light are prevented from going straight along the optical path 70 on the optical path 70 of the red light, the green light and the blue light outside the first optical path 27. The shielding means 71 is provided.

[0012]

The image light is formed by sequentially switching the reflection directions of the respective reflection elements 57 for the red light, the green light and the blue light on the basis of the image data S29 while synchronizing with the switching operation of the light source 21. By reflecting the image light in the direction of the third optical path 63 that reaches the image display surface, a projector device can be formed with a simple configuration, and the optical path length of the image light inside the device can be shortened, and the image light can be shortened. By using the reflecting means as the forming means, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the light from the light source, and thus to realize a projector device which can be remarkably downsized and whose display image can be increased in brightness.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Example of Configuration of Projector Device Using Specular Reflective Reflective Light Valve In FIGS. 1 and 2, in the projector device 20, the light source section 21 has red light (time t) as shown in FIG. _A light beam L1 ( ₀ to time t ₁ ), green light (time t ₁ to time t ₂ ) and blue light (time t ₂ to time t ₃ ) arranged cyclically and continuously at a fast cycle (see FIG. 2) is emitted,
This is irradiated onto the reflecting surface (not shown) of the specular reflection type light valve 26 via the first and second condenser lenses 22 and 23 and the first and second reflecting mirrors 24 and 25.

The reflection surface of the specular reflection type light valve 26 is a VG which is a minute specular element of about 17 [μm] angle.
1/2 inch CCD by arranging in the same manner as an array of pixels for one screen (one frame) of video data corresponding to A (video graphics arrey) (for example, about 768 x 576 pixels)
A reflecting surface having a size of (solid-state image sensor) is formed. In this case, a frame memory in which memory cells are sequentially arranged so as to correspond to each pixel (and each mirror element) of image data is provided around the reflection surface of the specular reflection type light valve 26, and the frame concerned is provided. A data signal corresponding to the hue of the pixel of the video data corresponding to each frame is sequentially supplied to each memory cell of the memory based on the video data.

As a result, each mirror element is shown in FIG. 4 (when the corresponding memory cell is in the ON state (that is, when it is effective as a pixel)) according to the state of each memory cell of the frame memory which changes according to the data signal. In FIG. 4A, when the memory cell is in the off state (that is, when it is invalid as a pixel), it is indicated by the alternate long and short dash line as shown in FIG. 4B. It is designed to incline -10 ° from the neutral state.

Thus, the specular reflection type reflection light valve 2
6 in FIG. 3 based on the supplied video data.
As shown in (B), the light beam L1 irradiated on the reflecting surface.
Is red light, only the mirror element corresponding to the pixel of the red component of the image data is turned on to partially reflect the light beam L1 toward the optical path 27, and when the light beam L1 is green light, the image data Only the mirror element corresponding to the green component pixel is turned on to partially reflect the light beam L1 toward the optical path 27, and when the light beam L1 is blue light, it corresponds to the blue component pixel of the image data. Only the specular element is turned on to partially reflect the light beam L1 toward the optical path 27.

Each reflected light L2 of the light beam L1 reflected in the direction of the optical path 27 by the specular reflection type light valve 26 travels straight along the optical path 27, and the relay lens 2
8. The light is emitted to the outside of the device 20 through the projection lens 29, and thereafter, an image is formed on the image display surface of an image display object (not shown) such as a screen. Thus, on the video display surface, partial images of the red, green, or blue components of the video data are projected successively in a cyclical manner at a fast cycle, thereby providing a dynamic color to the viewer. It is designed so that the image can be recognized as if it were projected.

In practice, in this projector device 20, a synchronous control circuit section 30 as shown in FIG. 5 is used as the operation control means of the specular element of the specular reflection type reflection light valve 26.

That is, in the synchronous control circuit section 30,
When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the drive power supply circuit 31 sends a drive signal S10 to each electric system to start it, and the lamp power supply circuit 33 of the light source control circuit unit 32 supplies a power signal to the light source unit 21. S11 is sent to emit the light beam L1.

In this case, the timing control unit 40 supplies the phase control signal S12 to the reference clock generation circuit 41.
The reference clock signal S13 is generated on the basis of the reference clock signal S13 and is supplied to the timing control circuit 42, and the timing control circuit 42 sends the timing signal S14 based on the reference clock signal S13 to the color switching circuit 43 of the light source control circuit section 32. To do. The color switching circuit 43 sends a color switching signal S15 to the light source unit 21 based on the timing signal S13, and thereby cyclically switches the light beam L1 to red light, green light, and blue light.

At this time, in the specular reflection type light valve control section 50, the three primary color signals S20, the computer image signal S21 and the computer pattern signal S22 supplied from the input signal selection circuit 51 (hereinafter collectively referred to as video data S20- 1) from the required signal
One of them is selected and sent as a video signal S23 to the gamma characteristic correction circuit 53 via the analog / digital conversion circuit 52.

The gamma characteristic correction circuit 53, based on the supplied gamma characteristic parameter signal S24, outputs the video signal S2.
After correcting the gamma characteristic of 3, the corrected video signal S25
Is sent to the format changing circuit 54.

The format changing circuit 54 changes the corrected video signal S25 to a format corresponding to the specular reflection type reflection light valve 26, and at the same time, the video data of the red component from the corrected video signal S25 (hereinafter referred to as red video data). ), Green component video data (hereinafter referred to as green video data) and blue component video data (hereinafter referred to as blue video data), respectively, and these are respectively extracted as red video data signal S26 and green video data. Signal S
27 and the time division circuit 5 as the blue video data signal S28
Send to 5.

In this case, the timing signal S14 is sequentially supplied from the timing control circuit 42 to the time division circuit 55. In this way, the time division circuit 55 can generate the timing signal S
On the basis of 14, the red video data signal S26, the green video data signal S27, and the blue video data signal S28 are time-divided so as to be synchronized with the color switching operation of the light beam L1 (FIG. 2) in the light source unit 21. A frame memory circuit 56 of the specular reflection type light valve 26 is formed by forming a frame data signal S29 in which red image data, green image data and blue image data are sequentially and cyclically arranged in a rapid cycle. Send to.

The frame memory circuit 56 sequentially stores the frame data based on the frame data signal S29, and in accordance with the timing signal S14 supplied from the timing control circuit 42, the light beam L1 in the light source section 21.
The stored frame data is sequentially transmitted to each mirror element 57 as an operation control signal S30 so as to be synchronized with the color switching operation of FIG.

In this case, the timing signal S14 is sequentially supplied from the timing control circuit 42 to each mirror surface element 57. Thus, each mirror surface element 57 has a mirror surface element 57 corresponding to the pixel of the red component of the image data S20 to S22 when the irradiated light beam L1 is red light at a timing corresponding to the timing signal S14 based on the operation control signal S30. When the light beam L1 is green light, the mirror element 57 corresponding to the pixel of the green component of the image data S20 to S22 is on, while when the light beam L1 is blue light, the image data S20. ~
The specular element 57 corresponding to the pixel of the blue component in S22 is turned on.

(2) Embodiment of Projector Device According to the Present Invention FIG. 6 in which parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 5 are designated by the same reference numerals is shown in FIG.
The optical system from the light source unit 21 to the specular reflection type reflection light valve 26 is formed similarly to the projector device 20 shown in FIG.

In this case, in the projector device 60, the half mirror 62 is arranged on the optical path 27 and the optical path 2
The reflected light L2 reflected in the seven directions is the half mirror 62.
The projection lens 29 is disposed on the optical path 63 that is advanced after being deflected by the optical path 63, so that the red, green and blue light reflected by the specular reflection type light valve 26 in the optical path 27 direction. The image light composed of the reflected light L2 is reflected by the half mirror 62 and then radiated to the outside of the device 60 via the projection lens 29.

Therefore, in the projector device 60,
The light beam L1 deflected by each specular element 57 (FIG. 5) of the specular reflection type light valve 26 in the off state.
Optical path after reflection (hereinafter referred to as off-reflected optical path) 70
A light-shielding plate 71 is provided above the light-shielding plate 71 to prevent the light beam L1 deflected in the direction of the off-reflection optical path 70 from entering the projection lens 29.

In the case of the embodiment, in the color switching circuit 43, a period in which an image of one frame is displayed on the video display surface based on the timing signal S14 supplied from the timing control circuit 42 (hereinafter referred to as one frame display period). Call)
A color switching signal S15 is output to the light source section 21 so that the light beam L1 is sequentially switched to red, green and blue once at regular intervals. Further, the time division circuit 55 uses the timing signal S14 supplied from the timing control circuit 42 so that the red video data, the green video data, and the blue video data are arranged once every equal time during one frame display period. Signal S26,
Green video data signal S27 and blue video data signal S2
8 is time-divided to form a frame data signal S29, which is sent to the frame memory circuit 56 of the specular reflection type light valve 26.

The frame memory circuit 56 sequentially stores the red video data, the green video data or the blue video data based on the frame data signal S29, and the frame data signal S29 of the frame data signal S29 based on the timing signal S14 supplied from the timing control circuit 42. Operation control based on red video data, green video data, or blue video data stored at each timing when the content switches from red video data to green video data, green video data to blue video data, or blue video data to red video data Signal S3
0 is sent to each mirror element 57.

As a result, in the projector device 60, the red light, the green light, and the blue light are successively irradiated to the respective specular elements 57 once at a constant interval during one frame display period, and Each mirror surface element 57 has image data S20 when red light is emitted, for example.
Only the mirror surface element 57 corresponding to the red component pixel of S22 to S22 reflects the red light in the optical path 27 direction, and when green light is emitted, the mirror element corresponding to the green component pixel of the image data S20 to S22. Only 57 reflects the red light in the optical path 27 direction, and when blue light is emitted, only the mirror surface element 57 corresponding to the pixel of the blue component of the image data S20 to S22 reflects the blue light in the optical path 27 direction. By doing so, a partial image of only the red component, the green component or the blue component of the video data S20 to S22 is sequentially displayed on the video display surface for each frame.

In the above structure, the light source section 21 irradiates the light beam L1 on the reflection surface of the specular reflection type light valve 26 through the half mirror 62 while cyclically switching the color of the light beam L1 at a fast cycle. To do.

At this time, the specular reflection type reflection light valve 2
6 is a light beam L1 under the control of the synchronization control circuit unit 30.
Is red light, image data S20 to S22 (Fig. 5)
The specular element 57 corresponding to the red component pixel is turned on to partially reflect the light beam L1 toward the optical path 27, thereby forming the image light of the red component of the frame memory signal S29. Similarly, when the light beam L1 is green light, the specular reflection type reflection light valve 26 partially turns on the light beam L1 by turning on the mirror surface element 57 corresponding to the pixel of the green component of the image data S20 to S22. By reflecting in the direction of the optical path 27, image light of the green component of the frame memory signal S29 is formed. On the other hand, when the light beam L1 is blue light, image data S20 to S22.
The specular element 57 corresponding to the blue component pixel is turned on to partially reflect the light beam L1 toward the optical path 27, thereby forming the image light of the green component of the frame memory signal S29.

Reflected light L2 reflected in the direction of this optical path 27
A part of the image light is reflected by the half mirror 62 in the direction of the optical path 63, and the reflected light L2 is emitted to the outside of the device 60 via the projection lens 29 and the image display surface of the image display object. Image above. As a result, partial images corresponding to the red component, the green component and the blue component of the image data S20 to S22 are continuously and cyclically projected in a fast cycle on the image display surface, so that the viewer can display the images. The video can be recognized as one dynamic picture.

In this case, in the projector device, the light beam L1 is applied to the reflection surface of the specular reflection type light valve 26 via the half mirror 62 and the reflection light L2 is emitted.
Is reflected and deflected by the half mirror 62, so that the image light of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of the image data S20 to S22, which is the reflected light L2, can be emitted in a desired direction outside the optical path 27. it can.

Therefore, in general, the movable range of the specular element of the specular reflection type light valve is about ± 10 °,
As shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to increase the distance between the specular reflection type light valve 26 and the projection lens 29 so that the incident light composed of the light beam L1 is not blocked by the projection lens 29. Compared with a certain projector device 20, the projector device 60 has a specular reflection type light valve 26 and a projection lens 2
The distance between 9 can be shortened remarkably.

According to the above construction, the light beam L1 in which the red light, the green light and the blue light are cyclically and continuously arranged at a fast cycle is applied to the reflecting surface of the specular reflection type light valve 26. At the same time, the respective specular elements 57 of the specular reflection type reflection light valve 26 are sequentially switched to the ON state or the OFF state based on the image data S29 in synchronism with the color switching timing of the light beam L1, while the red light and the green color are respectively switched. The image data S20 including light and blue light
By projecting the image light of the red component, the green component, and the blue component of S22 in order onto the image display surface of the image display object, a projector device can be formed with a simple configuration and an image can be formed by reflecting the light from the light source. The utilization efficiency of light from the light source can be improved to form light, and thus the projector device can be reduced in size and weight and the display image can be increased in brightness.

Further, a half mirror 62 is arranged on the optical path 27, and the light beam L1 is applied to the reflection surface of the specular reflection type light valve 26 through the half mirror 62 and the specular reflection type light valve is also used. Optical path 2 by 26
Since the reflected light L2 in the seven directions is reflected by the half mirror 62 to be deflected, the distance between the specular reflection type light valve 26 and the projection lens 29 can be markedly shortened, thus The projector device can be made much smaller.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above-mentioned embodiment, the light source unit 21 uses the light beam L.
Although the case where 1 is switched to emit red light, green light, and blue light in this order has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other orders can be used as the order of switching the color of the light beam L1. Applicable.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the specular reflection type reflection type light valve 26 having the reflection surface of, for example, about 768 × 576 mirror surface elements 57 is used is described. Is not limited to this, and the number of the specular elements 57 may be other than this, and as long as the same effect as that of the specular reflection type light valve 26 can be obtained, this is used as the reflection means of the light beam L1. Other various reflection means can be applied.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the projection type projector device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various other projector type devices such as a reflection type projector device. It is suitable for application to a device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, by disposing the shield plate 71 on the off-reflected light path 70 of the light beam L1 by the specular reflection type light valve 26, it is reflected in the off-reflected light path 70 direction. The case where the light beam L1 is prevented from entering the projection lens 29 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. By disposing the lens 29 on the off-reflected optical path 70 and at a position other than the vicinity thereof, the light beam L1 reflected in the off-reflected optical path 70 direction is reflected by the projection lens 2
It may be possible to prevent the light from entering the beam.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the specular reflection type reflection light valve 26 in which each specular element 57 has only two kinds of tilt states of the first and second tilt states is used as the image light forming means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as the image light forming means, a specular reflection type reflection light valve in which each specular element can take various tilted states may be used.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a case where a partial image consisting of only the red component, the green component or the blue component is sequentially displayed on the image display surface for each frame of the image data S20 to S22 However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the timing of displaying a partial image of only the red component, the green component, or the blue component of the video data S20 to S22 on the video display surface is not for each frame. It may be timed.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, a color image is displayed on the image display surface by irradiating the image display surface with image light corresponding to the red, green and blue components of the image data. In the projector device for displaying, while irradiating a plurality of reflective elements arranged in accordance with the pixel array of the image data of the first reflecting means while irradiating red light, green light and blue light in a time-divisional manner and cyclically switching, Image light is formed by sequentially switching the reflection directions of the respective reflection elements for red light, green light, and blue light based on the image data while synchronizing the respective reflection elements with the switching operation of the light source, and forming the image light. Since the light is deflected in the third optical path direction reaching the image display surface by using the semi-transparent second reflecting means, the projector device can be formed with a simple configuration. Obtained by improving the utilization efficiency of the optical path length can be shortened and the light source light of the image light, thus a projector device which can greatly downsizing can be realized in 置内 unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of a projector device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the positional relationship of optical systems in the projector device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart used for explaining the timing of switching the color of the light source unit and the timing of switching the operation of the mirror surface element.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the mirror surface element.

5 is a block diagram showing a synchronization control circuit unit of the projector device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing an optical system of a projector device which is an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a schematic plan view showing an optical system of the projector device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional projection type projector device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional reflective projector device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 10, 20, 60 ... Projector device, 21 ...
Light source part, 26 ... Specular reflection type reflective light valve, 27
...... Reflected light path, 29 …… Projection lens, 30
...... Synchronous control circuit section, 57 ...... Mirror surface element, 62 ...... Half mirror, 70 ...... Off reflection optical path, 71 ...... Shield plate, S
15 ... Color switching signal, S20 ... 3 primary color signal, S21
...... Computer image signal, S22 ...... Computer pattern signal, S29 ...... Frame data signal signal, L1
…… Light beam, L2 …… Reflected light.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Toyama 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A projector device for displaying a color image on the image display surface by irradiating the image display surface with image light according to a red component, a green component and a blue component of image data, A light source that emits green light and blue light while time-divisionally and cyclically switches, and selectively switches the incident red light, green light, and blue light to the first optical path direction or to the outside of the first optical path direction. First reflecting means having a plurality of reflecting elements arranged according to the pixel array of the image data to be reflected by the image data, and the red color of each of the reflecting elements based on the image data in synchronization with the switching operation of the light source. Control means for forming the image light by sequentially switching the reflection directions of the light, the green light and the blue light, and the control means arranged on the first optical path for changing the image light to the image. A projector device, comprising: a translucent reflecting means for reflecting in a third optical path direction reaching a display surface. 2. A shielding means for preventing the red light, the green light, and the blue light from going straight along the optical path on the optical paths of the red light, the green light, and the blue light outside the first optical path direction. The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the projector device is provided.