Illuminator and projector

Abstract

An illuminator includes a (solid-state light source array) including a plurality of solid-state light sources, a light collecting system that collects light from the solid-state light source group at a predetermined light collection position, a collimator system disposed on the opposite side of the light collection position to the light collecting system and substantially parallelizing light from the light collecting system, and an integrator system that homogenizes the in-plane light intensity distribution of light from the collimator system. The illuminator further includes a transmissive diffusing unit that is disposed in the vicinity of the light collection position and transmits the light from the light collecting system while diffusing the light from the light collecting system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An illuminator comprising:
 a solid-state light source group including a plurality of solid-state light sources;   a light collecting system that collects light coming from the solid-state light source group;   a diffusing unit that diffuses light, the light exiting from the light collecting system in a convergent fashion;   a collimator system that receives light exiting from the diffusing unit; and   a lens integrator system that receives light exiting from the collimator system.   
     
     
         2 . The illuminator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the diffusing unit is formed of a microlens array diffuser.   
     
     
         3 . The illuminator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the diffusing unit is formed of a holographic diffuser.   
     
     
         4 . The illuminator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the solid-state light sources is a semiconductor laser.   
     
     
         5 . The illuminator according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a rotary plate rotatable around a predetermined axis of rotation, the diffusing unit being provided on the rotary plate.   
     
     
         6 . The illuminator according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the light from the light collecting system is incident on a 1×1 mm square region of the diffusing unit.   
     
     
         7 . A projector comprising:
 an illuminator;   a light modulator that modulates light from the illuminator in accordance with image information; and   a projection system that projects light from the light modulator,   wherein the illuminator includes   a solid-state light source group including a plurality of solid-state light sources;   a light collecting system that collects light coming from the solid-state light source group;   a diffusing unit that diffuses light, the light exiting from the light collecting system in a convergent fashion;   a collimator system that receives light exiting from the diffusing unit; and   a lens integrator system that receives light exiting from the collimator system.   
     
     
         8 . The projector according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the diffusing unit is formed of a microlens array diffuser.   
     
     
         9 . The projector according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the diffusing unit is formed of a holographic diffuser.   
     
     
         10 . The projector according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein each of the solid-state light sources is a semiconductor laser.   
     
     
         11 . The projector according to  claim 7 ,
 further comprising a rotary plate rotatable around a predetermined axis of rotation, the diffusing unit being provided on the rotary plate.