IP Library Granted Patent US 12710689
Granted Patent B2
US 12710689 · App. 18/393,848 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Fresnel lens for projector

Inventors: Kana Hatano (Matsumoto, JP); Eiji Morikuni (Matsumoto, JP); Akira Shinbo (Shiojiri, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
G03B21/208G03B21/2073
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12710689
App. No.
18/393,848
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A projector includes a light source, a Fresnel lens group parallelizing the beam output from the light source, a light-incident-side polarizer transmitting the beam having exited out of the Fresnel lens group, a light modulator modulating the beam having passed through the light-incident-side polarizer to form a projection image, a light-exiting-side polarizer transmitting the beam modulated by the light modulator, and a projection lens projecting the beam having passed through the light-exiting-side polarizer. The Fresnel lens group includes a plurality of Fresnel lenses. The first Fresnel lens, which is disposed at a position closest to the light source in the Fresnel lens group, has positive power. The light incident surface of the first Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface. The light exiting surface of the first Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface.

Claims (66)

1 . A projector comprising:

a light source;

a Fresnel lens group that parallelizes a beam output from the light source;

a light-incident-side polarizer that transmits the beam that exits out of the Fresnel lens group;

a light modulator that modulates the beam passing through the light-incident-side polarizer to form a projection image;

a light-exiting-side polarizer that transmits the beam modulated by the light modulator; and

a projection lens that projects the beam passing through the light-exiting-side polarizer,

wherein the Fresnel lens group includes a first Fresnel lens having positive power and disposed at a position closest to the light source in the Fresnel lens group, and a second Fresnel lens having positive power and disposed at a position shifted from the first Fresnel lens toward the light modulator,

a light incident surface of the first Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface,

a light exiting surface of the first Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface, and

an adjustment mechanism is configured to change an axial distance between the first Fresnel lens and the second Fresnel lens,

wherein

a light incident surface of the second Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface, and

a light exiting surface of the second Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface.

2 . The projector according to claim 1 ,

wherein a light incident surface of the second Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface, and

a light exiting surface of the second Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface.

3 . The projector according to claim 2 , wherein a focal length of the first Fresnel lens is shorter than a focal length of the second Fresnel lens.

4 . The projector according to claim 1 ,

wherein the Fresnel lens group includes a third Fresnel lens disposed at a position shifted from the second Fresnel lens toward the light modulator, and

the third Fresnel lens has positive power.

5 . The projector according to claim 1 , further comprising a polarization conversion optical system that is disposed between the light source and the Fresnel lens group and converts polarization directions of the beam output from the light source.

6 . The projector according to claim 5 , wherein the polarization conversion optical system includes a polarization beam splitter that directly transmits one linearly polarized light component out of polarized light components contained in the beam incident thereon and reflects another linearly polarized light component in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a total reflection mirror that reflects the other linearly polarized light component reflected off the polarization beam splitter in a direction parallel to the optical axis, and a retardation film that converts the other linearly polarized light component reflected off the total reflection mirror into the one linearly polarized light component.

7 . The projector according to claim 1 , further comprising a polarization conversion optical system that is disposed between the Fresnel lens group and the light-incident-side polarizer and converts polarization directions of the beam that exits out of the Fresnel lens group.

8 . A projector comprising:

a light source;

a Fresnel lens group that parallelizes a beam output from the light source;

a light-incident-side polarizer that transmits the beam that exits out of the Fresnel lens group;

a light modulator that modulates the beam passing through the light-incident-side polarizer to form a projection image;

a light-exiting-side polarizer that transmits the beam modulated by the light modulator; and

a projection lens that projects the beam passing through the light-exiting-side polarizer,

wherein the Fresnel lens group includes a first Fresnel lens having positive power and disposed at a position closest to the light source in the Fresnel lens group, and a second Fresnel lens having positive power and disposed at a position shifted from the first Fresnel lens toward the light modulator,

a light incident surface of the first Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface,

a light exiting surface of the first Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface, and

wherein

a light incident surface of the second Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface,

a light exiting surface of the second Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface

the Fresnel lens group includes a third Fresnel lens disposed at a position shifted from the second Fresnel lens toward the light modulator, and

the third Fresnel lens has positive power.

9 . The projector according to claim 8 ,

wherein a light incident surface of the second Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface, and

a light exiting surface of the second Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface.

10 . The projector according to claim 9 , wherein a focal length of the first Fresnel lens is shorter than a focal length of the second Fresnel lens.

11 . The projector according to claim 8 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism that changes an axial distance between the first Fresnel lens and the second Fresnel lens.

12 . The projector according to claim 8 , further comprising a polarization conversion optical system that is disposed between the light source and the Fresnel lens group and converts polarization directions of the beam output from the light source.

13 . The projector according to claim 12 , wherein the polarization conversion optical system includes a polarization beam splitter that directly transmits one linearly polarized light component out of polarized light components contained in the beam incident thereon and reflects another linearly polarized light component in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a total reflection mirror that reflects the other linearly polarized light component reflected off the polarization beam splitter in a direction parallel to the optical axis, and a retardation film that converts the other linearly polarized light component reflected off the total reflection mirror into the one linearly polarized light component.

14 . The projector according to claim 8 , further comprising a polarization conversion optical system that is disposed between the Fresnel lens group and the light-incident-side polarizer and converts polarization directions of the beam that exits out of the Fresnel lens group.

15 . A projector comprising:

a light source;

a Fresnel lens group that parallelizes a beam output from the light source;

a light-incident-side polarizer that transmits the beam that exits out of the Fresnel lens group;

a light modulator that modulates the beam passing through the light-incident-side polarizer to form a projection image;

a light-exiting-side polarizer that transmits the beam modulated by the light modulator;

a projection lens that projects the beam passing through the light-exiting-side polarizer, and

a polarization conversion optical system is disposed between the Fresnel lens group and the light-incident-side polarizer and converts polarization directions of the beam that exits out of the Fresnel lens group,

wherein the Fresnel lens group includes a first Fresnel lens having positive power and disposed at a position closest to the light source in the Fresnel lens group, and a second Fresnel lens having positive power and disposed at a position shifted from the first Fresnel lens toward the light modulator,

a light incident surface of the first Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface, and

a light exiting surface of the first Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface.

16 . The projector according to claim 15 ,

wherein a light incident surface of the second Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface, and

a light exiting surface of the second Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface.

17 . The projector according to claim 15 ,

wherein a light incident surface of the second Fresnel lens has a Fresnel surface, and

a light exiting surface of the second Fresnel lens does not have a Fresnel surface.

18 . The projector according to claim 15 , wherein a focal length of the first Fresnel lens is shorter than a focal length of the second Fresnel lens.

19 . The projector according to claim 15 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism that changes an axial distance between the first Fresnel lens and the second Fresnel lens.