IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,638,759
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,759 · App. 18/086,698 · Granted May 26, 2026

Cooling device, light-source device, image projection apparatus, and wavelength converter

Inventors: Mayu Banno (Kanagawa, JP); Toshinobu Matsuyama (Kanagawa, JP); Yuuto Akiba (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
G03B21/16G03B21/204
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,759
App. No.
18/086,698
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cooling device, a light-source device, an image projection apparatus, and a wavelength converter. The cooling device includes a housing having a storage space, the storage space storing a heater and a base on which the heater is disposed, a heatsink at least partially disposed in the storage space and thermally connected to a space outside the storage space to dissipate heat generated by the heater to outside of the storage space, and an airflow path forming member covering at least some of the heatsink and forming a path for the heatsink to receive air flow absorbing the heat generated by the heater. In the cooling device, the heater or the base at least partially protruding from the airflow path member when the airflow path member is viewed in a direction orthogonal to a face of the heater on which light strikes.

Claims (57)

1 . A cooling device comprising:

a housing having a storage space, the storage space storing a heater and a base on which the heater is disposed;

a heatsink at least partially disposed in the storage space and thermally connected to a space outside the storage space to dissipate heat generated by the heater to outside of the storage space;

an airflow path member covering at least some of the heatsink and forming a path for the heatsink to receive air flow absorbing the heat generated by the heater; and

an optical component on the housing and facing the heater,

wherein the heater or the base at least partially protrudes from the airflow path member when the airflow path member is viewed in a direction orthogonal to a face of the heater on which light strikes,

wherein the base is between the airflow path member and the optical component,

wherein, when viewed in the direction orthogonal to the face of the heater on which light strikes, portions of the heater protrude toward the optical component, and

wherein the heater or the base protrudes from the airflow path member and does not protrude from the airflow path member alternately at at least two pairs of continuous portions.

2 . The cooling device according to claim 1 , wherein the heatsink has a fin shape.

3 . The cooling device according to claim 1 , further comprising an airflow generator configured to generate the air flow in the storage space.

4 . The cooling device according to claim 3 , wherein the heatsink is disposed downstream from the airflow generator in a direction of the airflow.

5 . The cooling device according to claim 3 , wherein the heatsink is disposed upstream from the airflow generator.

6 . The cooling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a driving source configured to drive the base to rotate.

7 . The cooling device according to claim 6 , further comprising a blade configured to be driven by the driving source to rotate.

8 . The cooling device according to claim 1 , wherein the airflow path member is configured integrally with the heatsink.

9 . A light-source device comprising:

the cooling device as claimed in claim 1 ; and

a light source configured to irradiate the heater with light.

10 . The light-source device according to claim 9 , wherein the heater is a phosphor.

11 . The light-source device according to claim 9 , further comprising a wall separating a first space including the heater from a second space including the light source.

12 . An image projection apparatus comprising:

a light-source device including

a cooling device including:

a housing having a storage space, the storage space storing a heater and a base on which the heater is disposed,

a heatsink at least partially disposed in the storage space and thermally connected to space outside the storage space to dissipate heat generated by the heater to outside of the storage space,

an airflow path member covering at least some of the heatsink and forming a path for the heatsink to receive air flow absorbing the heat generated by the heater,

an optical component on the housing and facing the heater, and

a light source configured to irradiate the heater with light, the heater or the base at least partially protruding from the airflow path member when the airflow path member is viewed in a direction orthogonal to a face of the heater on which the light strikes;

a light mixing element configured to level the light received from the light-source device and output the leveled light;

an image display element configured to modulate the light output from the light mixing element to form an image; and

a projection optical system configured to magnify and project the image on a projection surface,

wherein the base is between the airflow path member and the optical component,

wherein, when viewed in the direction orthogonal to the face of the heater on which light strikes, portions of the heater protrude toward the optical component, and

wherein the heater or the base protrudes from the airflow path member and does not protrude from the airflow path member alternately at at least two pairs of continuous portions.

13 . A wavelength converter comprising:

the cooling device according to claim 1 ; and

a phosphor configured to serve as the heater.

14 . A cooling device comprising:

a housing having a storage space, the storage space storing a heater and a base on which the heater is disposed;

a heatsink at least partially disposed in the storage space and thermally connected to a space outside the storage space to dissipate heat generated by the heater to outside of the storage space;

an airflow path member covering at least some of the heatsink and forming an airflow path for the heatsink to receive an airflow that absorbs the heat generated by the heater; and

an optical component on the housing and facing the heater,

wherein the heater or the base at least partially protrudes from the airflow path member when the airflow path member is viewed in a direction orthogonal to a face of the heater on which light strikes,

wherein the base is between the airflow path member and the optical component,

wherein, when viewed in the direction orthogonal to the face of the heater on which light strikes, portions of the heater protrude toward the optical component, and

wherein the airflow path for the heatsink to receive the airflow that absorbs the heat generated by the heater includes:

a first airflow portion between the housing and the face of the heater on which light strikes and between the airflow path member and the base,

a second airflow portion through the heatsink, the airflow path member being between the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion, and

a turning airflow portion that connects the first airflow portion and the second airflow portion.

15 . A wavelength converter comprising:

the cooling device according to claim 14 ; and

a phosphor configured to serve as the heater.

16 . The cooling device according to claim 14 , wherein the optical component is at an upstream side of the first airflow portion such that the optical component is directly between the turning airflow portion and the first airflow portion.

17 . The cooling device according to claim 14 , further comprising an airflow generator in the housing and configured to generate the airflow, the airflow generator being at a downstream side of the second airflow portion such that the airflow generator is directly between the second airflow portion and the turning airflow portion.

18 . The cooling device according to claim 17 , wherein the optical component is aligned with the airflow generator in the direction orthogonal to the face of the heater on which light strikes.

19 . The cooling device according to claim 17 , wherein a direction in which the airflow generator generates the airflow intersects with the direction orthogonal to the face of the heater on which light strikes.

Assignments (2)
LABOR CONTRACT Recorded Mar 23, 2026
From: MATSUYAMA, TOSHINOBU
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 075176/0370 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2022
From: BANNO, MAYU; AKIBA, YUUTO
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 062179/0504 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-008218 · Jan 21, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230236484A1 · Jul 27, 2023
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