Liquid crystal projector

Abstract

A liquid crystal projector has three liquid crystal panels for modulating first color light, second color light, and third color light respectively. A light synthetic device synthesizes each color light modulated by the liquid crystal panels. A projection lens projects the light synthesized by the light synthetic device. Setting members set the liquid crystal panels to the light synthetic device and wedge-type spacer members adjust the position of the liquid crystal panels in their planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction. The liquid crystal panels are secured to the light synthetic device through the setting members and spacer members. The liquid crystal panels are secured to the light synthetic device through the setting members and spacer members.

1. A liquid crystal projector comprising:
 three liquid crystal panels for modulating first color light, second color light, and third color light respectively;  
 light synthetic means for synthesizing each color light modulated by said liquid crystal panels;  
 a projection lens for projecting light synthesized by said light synthetic means;  
 setting members for setting said liquid crystal panels to said light synthetic means; and  
 wedge-type spacer members for adjusting the position of said liquid crystal panels in their planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; wherein  
 said liquid crystal panels are secured to said light synthetic means through said setting members and said spacer members.  
 
     
     
       2. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid crystal panels, said setting members, said spacer members, and said light synthetic means are fixed to each other by an adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 2 , wherein said adhesive is softened by heating. 
     
     
       4. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 1 , wherein said setting members and said spacer members are comprised of a member capable of transmitting light. 
     
     
       5. The liquid crystal projection of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer members are set between said setting members and said light synthetic means. 
     
     
       6. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of said setting members is arranged in the vertical direction of the facing side of said liquid crystal panels and a channel for passing cooling air is formed in the vertical direction by said pair of setting members, said liquid crystal panels, and said light synthetic means. 
     
     
       7. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 1 , wherein each of said liquid crystal panels is stored in and secured to a conductive shield case. 
     
     
       8. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer members are set between said setting members and said liquid crystal panels. 
     
     
       9. A liquid crystal projector comprising:
 three liquid crystal panels for modulating first color light, second color light, and third color light respectively;  
 light synthetic means for synthesizing each color light modulated by said liquid crystal panels;  
 a projection lens for projecting light synthesized by said light synthetic means;  
 wedge-type spacer members for adjusting the position of said liquid crystal panels in their planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; and  
 protrusions respectively formed on each of incident surfaces of said light synthetic means and engaged with said spacer members; wherein  
 said liquid crystal panels are secured to said light synthetic means through said spacer members and said protrusions.  
 
     
     
       10. A liquid crystal projector having an imaging optical system provided with a projection lens and light synthetic means, comprising:
 at least one liquid crystal panel arranged at the object position of said imaging optical system;  
 a holding member to which said liquid crystal panel is secured;  
 a frame located between said holding member and said light synthetic means; and  
 wedge-type spacer members located between said frame and said light synthetic means to adjust the position of said liquid crystal panel in its planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; wherein  
 said holding member is provided with a window which is opened at the central portion and said liquid crystal panel is arranged so as to cover the window and be secured to said frame, and  
 said liquid crystal panel is secured to said light synthetic means through said holding member, said frame, and said spacer members.  
 
     
     
       11. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of a margin of said liquid crystal panel is secured to said holding member by means of point bonding at least several points by an adhesive with a relatively high securing force and a complementary portion of said margin of said liquid crystal panel is fixed to said holding member by an elastic adhesive. 
     
     
       12. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 11 , wherein a position adjusting member for adjusting the position of said holding member is set to said frame. 
     
     
       13. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 11 , wherein said holding member has a body with said window in a central portion thereof,
 and further comprising elastic members for temporarily securing said body to said frame; and  
 a joint between said body and each of said elastic members, the joint being secured to said frame by a screw.  
 
     
     
       14. A liquid crystal projector having an imaging optical system provided with a projection lens and light synthetic means, comprising:
 at least one liquid crystal panel arranged at the object position of said imaging optical system;  
 a support frame arranged so as to face the incident surface of said light synthetic means and support the margin of said liquid crystal panel; and  
 wedge-type spacer members located between said support frame and said liquid crystal panel to adjust the position of said liquid crystal panel in its planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; wherein  
 said liquid crystal panel is secured to said support frame through said spacer members.  
 
     
     
       15. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 14 , wherein said projection lens is secured to said support frame. 
     
     
       16. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 14 , wherein said support frame also serves as a frame of an optical system including a light separating system. 
     
     
       17. The liquid crystal projector of  claim 14 , wherein said light synthetic means is comprised of a cross dichroic mirror. 
     
     
       18. A liquid crystal projector having an imaging optical system provided with a projection lens and light synthetic means, comprising:
 at least one liquid crystal panel arranged at the object position of said imaging optical system;  
 a support frame arranged so as to face the incident surface of said light synthetic means and having a plurality of protrusions; and  
 a holding member to which said liquid crystal panel is secured, which has openings engaged with said protrusions, and in which said openings and said protrusions are bonded and fixed to each other; wherein  
 said liquid crystal panel is secured to said support frame through said holding member.  
 
     
     
       19. A liquid crystal projector comprising:
 three liquid crystal panels for modulating first color light, second color light, and third color light respectively;  
 light synthetic means for synthesizing each color light modulated by said liquid crystal panels;  
 polarization plates each of which is attached to the incident surface of said light synthetic means; and  
 wedge-type spacer members to adjust the position of said liquid crystal panels in their planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; wherein  
 said liquid crystal panels are secured to said light synthetic means through said spacer members and said polarization plates.  
 
     
     
       20. A liquid crystal projector having an imaging optical system provided with a projection lens and light synthetic means, comprising:
 at least one liquid crystal panel arranged at the object position of said imaging optical system;  
 a polarization plate attached to the  a surface of said light synthetic means; and  
 wedge-type spacer members located between said polarization plate and said liquid crystal panel to adjust the position of said liquid crystal panel in its planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; wherein said polarization plate has protrusions, each of said protrusions having a slope;  
 protrusions having a slope on said polarization plate,  said slope of said protrusions and said spacer members engaging each other for bonding and fixing by an adhesive, said liquid crystal panel being secured to said light synthetic means through the slopes of said spacer members and the protrusions of said polarization plate.  
 
     
     
       21. A liquid crystal projector having an imaging optical system provided with a projection lens and light synthetic means, comprising:
 at least one liquid crystal panel arranged at the object position of said imaging optical system;  
 a polarization plate attached to the surface of said liquid crystal panel;  
 a transparent sheet attached to the incident surface of said light synthetic means; and  
 wedge-type spacer members located between said polarization plate and said transparent sheet to adjust the position of said liquid crystal panel in its planar direction and the direction perpendicular to the planar direction; wherein  
 said liquid crystal panel is secured to said light synthetic means through said polarization plate, said spacer members, and said transparent sheet.  
 
     
     
       22. A projector, comprising:
   three liquid crystal panels;        a light synthesizer that combines a first color light, a second color light and a third color light modulated by the respective three liquid crystal panels;        a projection lens that projects light combined by the light synthesizer;        first members located between at least one of the three liquid crystal panels and the light synthesizer, each of the first members having a first slope; and        second members located between the at least one of the three liquid crystal panels and the light synthesizer, each of the second members having a second slope,        the first slope and the second slope being in contact with each other so as to set a relative position of the at least one of the three liquid crystal panels to the light synthesizer.     
     
     
       23. A projector comprising:
   a plurality of panels that modulate a plurality of color lights,        a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the panels;        a projection lens that projects a light synthesized by the light synthetic element;        a plurality of setting members that separate the panels from the light synthetic element; and        a plurality of polarization plates arranged between the light synthetic element and the panels such that the setting members do not cover or contact with the polarization plates.     
     
     
       24. The projector according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of spacer members that adjust the position of the panels, the setting members and the light synthetic elements being secured through the spacer member. 
     
     
       25. The projector according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of spacer members that adjust the position of the panels, the setting members and the panels being secured through the spacer member. 
     
     
       26. The projector according to  claim 23 , wherein each of the panels is secured into a shield case. 
     
     
       27. The projector according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of support frames each of which supports an edge of each of the panels. 
     
     
       28. The projector according to  claim 23 , wherein the setting members are fixed to the panels or to the light synthetic element by an adhesive, and are detachable by heating. 
     
     
       29. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the modulators, a plurality of setting members that separate the modulators from the light synthetic element, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising steps of:
 ( a )  fixing each of the setting members to each of the modulators or the light synthetic element;      ( b )  adjusting positions of each of the modulators; and      ( c )  fixing each of the spacer members between the light synthetic element of each of the modulators and each of the setting members.     
     
     
       30. The assembling method according to  claim 29 , wherein the step ( b )  includes a step of sliding each of the modulators by an eccentric cam, a flat countersunk head screw, or an eccentric pin.   
     
     
       31. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the modulators, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising steps of:
 ( a )  adjusting positions of each of the modulators; and      ( b )  fixing each of the spacer members between the light synthetic element and each of the modulators.     
     
     
       32. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the modulators, a plurality of setting members that set the modulators to the light synthetic element, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising steps of:
 ( a )  fixing the setting members to one of the modulators or the light synthetic element, adjusting a position of the one of the modulators, and fixing the spacer members between the light synthetic element or the one of the modulators and the setting members; and      ( b )  fixing the setting members to each of the other modulators or the light synthetic element, adjusting a position of each of the other modulators, and fixing the spacer members between the light synthetic element or each of the other modulators and the setting members, after the step  ( a ).   
     
     
       33. The assembling method for a optical unit according to  claim 32 , wherein the step ( a )  includes a step of sliding the one of the modulators by a eccentric cam, a flat countersunk head screw, or an eccentric pin, and the step  ( b )  includes a step of sliding each of the other modulators by a eccentric cam, a flat countersunk head screw, or an eccentric pin.   
     
     
       34. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes lights modulated by the modulators, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising steps of:
 ( a )  adjusting a position of one of the modulators; and fixing the spacer members between the light synthetic element and the one of the modulators; and      ( b )  adjusting a position of the other modulators; and fixing the spacer members between the light synthetic element and the other modulators, after the step  ( a ).   
     
     
       35. An assembling apparatus for assembling an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a synthetic element that synthesizes lights modulated by the modulators, a projection lens that projects a light synthesized by the synthetic element, and a plurality of setting members that separate the modulators from the light synthetic element, comprising:
   a manipulator that adjusts positions of the modulators;        a controller that controls the manipulator; and        a camera that picks up an image from the projection lens directly or an image projected onto a screen by the projection lens.     
     
     
       36. The assembling apparatus according to  claim 35 , further comprising a display that displays a signal of the image picked up by the camera. 
     
     
       37. The assembling apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the manipulator adjusts the position of the modulators in two axes directions vertical to the optical axis of the projection lens, two rotational directions about the two axes, a rotation direction in a plane formed by the two axes, and a focusing direction. 
     
     
       38. A projector comprising:
   a plurality of panels that modulate a plurality of color lights,        a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the panels;        a projection lens that projects a light synthesized by the light synthetic element;        a plurality of holding members to which the panels are secured;        a plurality of setting members arranged between the panels and the light synthetic element, the plurality of holding members and the plurality of setting members fixed together by screws and are detachable; and        a plurality of spacer members through which the setting members and the light synthetic elements are secured.     
     
     
       39. A projector comprising:
   a plurality of panels that modulate a plurality of color lights;        a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the panels;        a projection lens that projects a light synthesized by the light synthetic element;        a holding member to which the panels are secured;        a setting member arranged between the panels and the light synthetic element and detachably bonded to the holding member; and        a plurality of screws that engage the holding member to adjust its position.     
     
     
       40. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by the modulators, a plurality of setting members that separate the modulators from the light synthetic element, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  fixing each of the setting members to each of the modulators or the light synthetic element;      ( b )  adjusting positions of each of the modulators; and      ( c )  fixing each of the spacer members which is coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element or each of the modulators and each of the setting members by hardening the adhesive by applying light.     
     
     
       41. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by the modulators, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  adjusting positions of each of the modulators; and      ( b )  fixing each of the spacer members which is coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element and each of the modulators by hardening the adhesive by applying light.     
     
     
       42. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by the modulators, a plurality of setting members that separate the modulators from the light synthetic element, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  fixing each of the setting members to the light synthetic element or the modulators; adjusting position of one of the modulators; fixing some of the spacer members coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element or one of the modulators and some of the setting members by hardening the adhesive by applying light; and      ( b )  after the step  ( a ),  adjusting a position of one of the other modulators; fixing other spacer members which are coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element or one of the other modulators and some of the setting members by hardening the adhesive by applying light.     
     
     
       43. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes the color lights modulated by the modulators, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  adjusting a position of one of the modulators; fixing some of the spacer members coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element and one of the modulators by hardening the adhesive by applying light; and      ( b )  after the step  ( a ),  adjusting a position of one of the other modulators; fixing other spacer members which are coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element and one of the other modulators and some of the setting members by hardening the adhesive by applying light; fixing each of the spacer members coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element and each of the modulators by hardening the adhesive by applying light.     
     
     
       44. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by the modulators, a plurality of setting members that separate the modulators from the light synthetic element, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  fixing each of the setting members to each of the modulators or the light synthetic element;      ( b )  adjusting positions of each of the modulators by an alignment controller; and      ( c )  fixing each of the spacer members between the light synthetic element or each of the modulators and each of the setting members.     
     
     
       45. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by modulators, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  adjusting the positions of each of the modulators by an alignment controller; and      ( b )  fixing each of the spacer members between the light synthetic element and each of the modulators.     
     
     
       46. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by the modulators, a plurality of setting members that separate the modulators from the light synthetic element, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  fixing each of the setting members to the light synthetic element or the modulators; adjusting a position of one of the modulators by an alignment controller; fixing some of the spacer members between the light synthetic element or one of the modulators and some of the setting members; and      ( b )  after the step  ( a ),  adjusting a position of one of the other modulators by an alignment controller; fixing other spacer members between the light synthetic element or one of the other modulators and some of the setting members.     
     
     
       47. An assembling method for an optical unit including a plurality of modulators, a light synthetic element that synthesizes color lights modulated by the modulators, and a plurality of spacer members that fix the modulators to the light synthetic element, comprising the steps of:
 ( a )  adjusting a position of one of the modulators; fixing some of the spacer members between the light synthetic element and one of the modulators; and      ( b )  after the step  ( a ),  adjusting a position of one of the other modulators; fixing other spacer members between the light synthetic element and one of the other modulators; fixing each of the spacer members coated with a photo - curing adhesive between the light synthetic element and each of the modulators by hardening the adhesive by applying light.     
     
     
       48. The assembling methods for an optical unit according to claims  29 ,  31 ,  32  or  34  wherein the spacer members are detachable by heat.