IP Library Granted Patent US 8,002,417
Granted Patent B2
US 8,002,417 · App. 12/840,651 · Granted Aug 23, 2011

Projection-type image display apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,002,417
App. No.
12/840,651
Granted
Aug 23, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A projection-type image display apparatus for projecting an image, enlargedly, onto a projection surface, comprises: an image display element; a lens group, being disposed behind the image display element, comprising therein, a front lens group made up with a plural number of lenses, including, at least, a refractive lens, and a rear lens group made up with a plural number of lenses, including, at least, a lens having a free curved surface configuration and being rotationally asymmetric, thereby emitting an image displayed on the image display element; a reflection mirror for reflecting the light from the lens group, thereby projection onto the projection surface, obliquely; and a movement member for moving the plural number of lenses of the rear lens group.

Claims (25)

1. An optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus for enlargedly projecting an optical image of a liquid crystal video display element, comprising:

a front lens group, which includes a plurality of refraction lenses, each having a rotationally symmetric shape, and upon which the optical image is incident;

a rear lens group, which includes at least a refraction lens having a rotationally symmetric shape and a refraction lens being rotationally asymmetric and having a shape which differs in curvature between portions thereof, separated in an up-and-down direction, in which an incident light passes through, and upon which an emission light of said front lens group is incident;

a reflection mirror, which is rotationally asymmetric and has a shape differing in curvature between portions thereof separated in the up-and-down direction, and upon which an emission light of said rear lens group is incident; and

a lens movement means, which is configured to move the plural numbers of refraction lenses of said rear lens group in an optical axis direction;

wherein said front lens group and said rear lens group build up a coaxial optic system together with a display surface of said liquid crystal video display element.

2. The optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 1 , wherein optical axes of said front lens group and said rear lens group are set up to be inclined below a projection direction more than a normal line direction of the display surface of said liquid crystal video display element.

3. The optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 2 , wherein said refraction lens of said rear lens group, which is nearest to said reflection mirror, is curved with a concave to the emission direction, and has a shape so that a curvature of a portion thereof, in which a light beam emitting downwards passes through, is larger than a curvature of a portion thereof, in which a light beam emitting upwards passes through.

4. The optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 3 , wherein said reflection mirror has a reflection surface of a convex shape projecting in a reflection direction, and has a shape so that a curvature of a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting downwards is reflected, is larger than a curvature of a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting upwards is reflected.

5. The optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 3 , wherein said reflection mirror has a convex surface configuration in a reflection direction, in a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting downwards is reflected, and a concave surface configuration in the reflection direction, in a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting upwards is reflected.

6. The optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 2 , wherein said lens movement means includes a plurality of cam grooves, which are configured to move said refraction lenses in the optical axis direction, and the refraction lenses of said rear lens group joining with said cam grooves, change lens positions thereof in engagement with, to said front lens group.

7. The optic unit of a projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 6 , wherein said lens movement means has a first cam groove, with which said refraction lens having the rotationally symmetric shape is connected, a second cam groove and a third cam groove, with which said refraction lenses having the rotationally asymmetric shape are connected.

8. A projection-type image display apparatus, for enlargedly projecting an optical image, comprising:

a video display element, which is configured to produce the optical image;

a front lens group, which includes a plurality of refraction lenses, each having a rotationally symmetric shape, and upon which the optical image is incident;

a rear lens group, which includes at least a refraction lens having a rotationally symmetric shape and a refraction lens being rotationally asymmetric and having a shape which differs in curvature between portions thereof separated in an up-and-down direction, in which an incident light passes through, and upon which an emission light of said front lens group is incident;

a reflection mirror, which is rotationally asymmetric and has a shape differing in curvature thereof between portions thereof separated in the up-and-down direction, and upon which an emission light of said rear lens group is incident; and

a lens movement means, which is configured to move the plurality of refraction lenses of said rear lens group in an optical axis direction;

wherein said front lens group and said rear lens group build up a coaxial optic system together with a display surface of said liquid crystal video display element; and

wherein the display surface of said liquid crystal video display element is so provided that a normal line direction of the display surface of said liquid crystal video display element is inclined upwards in a projection direction.

9. A projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 8 , wherein said reflection lens of said rear lens group, which is nearest to said reflection mirror, is curved with a concave to the emission direction, and has a shape so that a curvature of a portion thereof, in which a light beam emitting downwards passes through, is larger than a curvature of a portion thereof, in which a light beam emitting upwards passes through.

10. A projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 9 , wherein said reflection mirror has a reflection surface of a convex shape projecting in a reflection direction, and has a shape so that a curvature of a curvature of a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting downwards is reflected, is larger than a curvature of a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting upwards is reflected.

11. A projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 9 , wherein said reflection mirror has a convex surface configuration in a reflection direction, in a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting downwards is reflected, and a concave surface configuration in the reflection direction, in a portion thereof, upon which a light beam emitting upwards is reflected.

12. A projection-type image display apparatus, according to claim 8 , wherein said lens movement means includes a plurality of cam grooves, which are configured to move said refraction lenses in the optical axis direction, and said refraction lenses of said rear lens group, joining with said cam grooves, change lens positions thereof in engagement with, to said front lens group.

13. A projection-type display apparatus, according to claim 12 , wherein said movement means has a first cam groove, with which said refraction lens having the rotationally symmetric shape is connected, and a second cam groove and a third cam groove, with which said refraction lenses having the rotationally asymmetric shape are connected.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2021
From: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058666/0407 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058255/0579 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2018
From: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 045142/0208 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2014
From: HITACHI CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.; HITACHI CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CO, LTD.
To: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 033694/0745 →