IP Library Granted Patent US 7,677,739
Granted Patent B2
US 7,677,739 · App. 11/708,931 · Granted Mar 16, 2010

Projector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,677,739
App. No.
11/708,931
Granted
Mar 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A projector includes a lens cover which is slidable relative to a chassis for covering and exposing a projection aperture of a projection lens. A detecting section includes a light emitting portion which projects a light beam and detects the opened state or closed state of the lens cover depending on the absence or presence of the light beam received by a light receiving portion. The light emitting portion and light receiving portion are disposed so that the optical path of the light beam projected from the light emitting portion and received by the light receiving portion intersects the slide direction of the lens cover. A light shielding portion is provided in the lens cover. The light shielding portion is formed in a predetermined width in the slide direction of the lens cover.

Claims (28)

1. A projector comprising:

a light source;

a light modulating device that forms a light image by modulating a light beam projected from the light source in response to image information;

a projection lens that projects the formed light image; and

a chassis that houses the light source, the light modulating device, and the projection lens therein, wherein

the chassis including

a lens cover which is provided to be slidable relative to the chassis and which covers a projection aperture of the projection lens by sliding in one direction and exposing the projection aperture by sliding in the opposite direction,

a detecting section including a light emitting portion which projects the light beam, and a light receiving portion that receives the light beam projected from the light emitting portion,

the detecting section detects the opened state or the closed state of the lens cover depending on the absence or presence of the light beam received by the light receiving portion, and the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are disposed so that the optical path of the light beam projected from the light emitting portion and inputted to the light receiving portion intersects a slide direction of the lens cover, and

a light shielding portion shielding the light beam inputted from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion is provided in the lens cover, and the light shielding portion is formed in a predetermined width in the slide direction of the lens cover.

2. The projector according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a state determining portion which is connected to the detecting section and which determines the opened state or the closed state of the lens cover by acquiring the opened state or the closed state of the lens cover from the detecting section; and

an image formation controlling portion which forms a black image in the light modulating device when the state determining portion determines that the lens cover is in the closed state.

3. The projector according to claim 2 , wherein

the image formation controlling portion forms a light image based on image information in the light modulating device when the state determining portion determines that the lens cover is switched from the closed state to the opened state.

4. The projector according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a state determining portion which is connected to the detecting section and which determines the opened state or the closed state of the lens cover by acquiring the opened state or the closed state of the lens cover from the detecting section; and

a light source drive controlling portion which reduces the amount of light emitted from the light source when the state determining portion determines that the lens cover is in the closed state.

5. The projector according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a storing section that stores the amount of light emitted from the light source; and

an emitted light amount storing portion that stores the amount of light emitted from the light source when the lens cover is in the opened state, wherein

the light source drive controlling portion lights up the light source in the amount of light stored in the storing section by the emitted light amount storing portion when the state determining portion determines that the lens cover is switched from the closed state to the opened state.

6. The projector according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a protruding member abutting on the lens cover and an biasing member biasing the protruding member in one direction relative to the lens cover are provided on a surface of the chassis opposed to the lens cover; and

a slope portions which abut on the protruding member and are symmetrical about substantially the center of a slide range of the lens cover are provided along the slide direction of the lens cover, wherein

the slope portions move the protruding member in a direction where an biasing force increases by the biasing member by positioning the protruding member in the center of the slide range with the sliding operation of the lens cover.

7. The projector according to claim 6 , wherein

a step portion into which the protruding member is fitted is provided on both sides of the slope portion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP.
To: COLUMBIA PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 058952/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2007
From: KURODA, AKITOSHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019017/0511 →