Projection apparatus provided with a heatsink

Abstract

A heatsink for cooling a light valve, includes: a heat conduction member having a first section for coupling to the light valve and a second section; a thermoelectric cooler having a cold end connected to the second section of the heat conduction member and a hot end; a first cooling fin unit connected to the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler; and a fan disposed adjacent to the second section of the heat conduction member and the first cooling fin unit for generating an airflow in order to lower temperature within the heatsink.

1 . A heatsink for cooling a light valve, comprising:
 a heat conduction member having a first section for coupling to the light valve and a second section;   a thermoelectric cooler having a cold end connected to said second section of said heat conduction member and a hot end;   a first cooling fin unit connected to said hot end of said thermoelectric cooler; and   a fan disposed adjacent to said second section of said heat conduction member and said first cooling fin unit for generating an airflow in order to lower temperature within the heatsink.   
   
   
       2 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat conduction member includes a cooling element. 
   
   
       3 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat conduction member includes a second cooling fin unit and a first heat pipe embedded within said second cooling fin unit in such a manner to extend from said first section to said second section. 
   
   
       4 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat conduction member includes a third cooling fin unit disposed to said first section for coupling to the light valve, a fourth cooling fin unit disposed to said second section for connecting to said cold end of said thermoelectric cooler and a second heat pipe that is interposed between and that has two opposite ends connected to said third and fourth cooling fin units respectively, said third and fourth cooling fin units respectively defining said first and second sections of said heat conduction member. 
   
   
       5 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat conduction member is a third heat pipe having two distal sections respectively defining said first and second sections. 
   
   
       6 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein the light valve is a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). 
   
   
       7 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermoelectric cooler includes a cold insulation layer, a cold metal layer, a semiconductor layer, a hot insulation layer, and a hot metal layer which are arranged horizontally, said cold and hot insulation layers being disposed respectively outboard to said cold and hot metal layers, said cold and hot metal layers sandwiching said semiconductor layer therebetween, said cold and hot insulation layers being made from a ceramic material. 
   
   
       8 . The heatsink according to  claim 1 , wherein the light valve and said thermoelectric cooler are mounted on a same side of said heat conduction member. 
   
   
       9 . A projection apparatus comprising:
 an optical engine including a light valve; and   a heatsink including
 a heat conduction member having a first section coupled to said light valve and a second section, 
 a thermoelectric cooler having a cold end connected to said second section of said heat conduction member and a hot end, 
 a first cooling fin unit connected to said hot end of said thermoelectric cooler, and 
 a fan disposed adjacent to said second section of said heat conduction member and said first cooling fin unit for generating an airflow in order to lower temperature within the projection apparatus. 
   
   
   
       10 . The projection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said heat conduction member includes a cooling element. 
   
   
       11 . The projection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said heat conduction member includes a second cooling fin unit and a first heat pipe embedded within said second cooling fin unit in such a manner to extend from said first section to second section. 
   
   
       12 . The projection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said heat conduction member includes a third cooling fin unit disposed to said first section for coupling to the light valve, a fourth cooling fin unit disposed to said second section for connecting to said cold end of said thermoelectric cooler and a second heat pipe that is interposed between and that has two opposite ends connected to said third and fourth cooling fin units, said third and fourth cooling fin units respectively defining said first and second sections of said heat conduction member. 
   
   
       13 . The projection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said heat conduction member is a third heat pipe having two distal sections respectively defining said first and second sections. 
   
   
       14 . The projection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said light valve is a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). 
   
   
       15 . The projection apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said thermoelectric cooler includes a cold insulation layer, a cold metal layer, a semiconductor layer, a hot insulation layer, and a hot metal layer which are arranged horizontally, said cold and hot insulation being disposed respectively outboard to said cold and hot metal layers, said cold and hot metal layers sandwiching said semiconductor layer therebetween, said cold and hot insulation layers being made from a ceramic material.