IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,774,731
Granted Patent B2
US 11,774,731 · App. 17/461,591 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Optical system, projector, and imaging apparatus

Inventor: Hirotaka Yanagisawa (Azumino, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
G02B13/18G03B21/28H04N9/312H04N9/3105H04N9/3179
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,774,731
App. No.
17/461,591
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical system forms an intermediate image between a reduction-side conjugate plane and a enlargement-side conjugate plane. The optical system includes a first optical system and a second optical system including a lens and disposed on the enlargement side of the first optical system. The lens has a first transmission surface, a reflection surface disposed on the enlargement side of the first transmission surface, and a second transmission surface disposed on the enlargement side of the reflection surface. At least one of the reflection surface and the second transmission surface is a free-form surface.

Claims (57)

1. An optical system that forms an intermediate image between a reduction-side conjugate plane and an enlargement-side conjugate plane, the optical system comprising:

a first optical system; and

a second optical system including a lens and disposed on an enlargement side of the first optical system, wherein:

the lens has a first transmission surface, a reflection surface disposed on the enlargement side of the first transmission surface, and a second transmission surface disposed on the enlargement side of the reflection surface,

the intermediate image is formed inside the lens,

at least one of the reflection surface and the second transmission surface is a free-form surface,

the lens has a first surface facing a reduction side and a second surface having a convex shape and facing an opposite side to the first surface,

the second surface is provided with a reflective coating layer that is the reflection surface, and

the reflective coating layer has a concave shape to which a surface shape of the second surface is transferred.

2. The optical system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the intermediate image is located on a reduction side of the reflection surface.

3. The optical system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the intermediate image is located between the reflection surface and the first transmission surface.

4. The optical system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first transmission surface is a free-form surface.

5. The optical system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first transmission surface, the intermediate image, and the reflection surface are located on one side of a second optical axis of the lens, and

the second transmission surface is located on another side of the second optical axis.

6. The optical system according to claim 5 ,

wherein a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis are three axes perpendicular to one another, a plane containing the first axis and the second axis is a first plane, and the second optical axis is the first axis,

the first transmission surface and the reflection surface are arranged along the first axis,

the first transmission surface and the second transmission surface are arranged along the second axis, and

the reflection surface has a shape symmetrical with respect to the first plane.

7. The optical system according to claim 6 ,

wherein the second transmission surface has a shape symmetrical with respect to the first plane.

8. The optical system according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first transmission surface has a shape symmetrical with respect to the first plane.

9. The optical system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first surface has a convex shape.

10. A projector comprising:

a light modulator that modulates light emitted from a light source; and

the optical system according to claim 1 that projects the light modulated by the light modulator.

11. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the optical system according to claim 1 ; and

an imager disposed in the reduction-side conjugate plane where light emitted from the optical system is imaged.

12. An optical system that forms an intermediate image between a reduction-side conjugate plane and an enlargement-side conjugate plane, the optical system comprising:

a first optical system including a deflection member; and

a second optical system including a lens and disposed on an enlargement side of the first optical system,

wherein the deflection member has a light reflection surface and is disposed in a position closest to the enlargement side in the first optical system,

the lens has a first transmission surface, a reflection surface disposed on the enlargement side of the first transmission surface, and a second transmission surface disposed on the enlargement side of the reflection surface, and

the reflection surface and the light reflection surface are each a free-form surface.

13. The optical system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the second transmission surface is a free-form surface.

14. The optical system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the intermediate image is located between the light reflection surface and the reflection surface.

15. The optical system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the first optical system includes a plurality of optical elements disposed on a reduction side of the deflection member,

the light reflection surface is located on one side of a first optical axis of the first optical system, and

the first transmission surface is located on another side of the first optical axis.

16. The optical system according to claim 15 ,

wherein a design axis of the light reflection surface is shifted from the first optical axis toward the light reflection surface.

17. A projector comprising:

a light modulator that modulates light emitted from a light source; and

the optical system according to claim 12 that projects the light modulated by the light modulator.

18. An imaging apparatus comprising:

the optical system according to claim 12 ; and

an imager disposed in the reduction-side conjugate plane where light emitted from the optical system is imaged.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2021
From: YANAGISAWA, HIROTAKA
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057332/0076 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-145437 · Aug 31, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220066180A1 · Mar 3, 2022