• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A projector system has interchangeable light source modules. The projector housing contains an imaging panel and a projection engine and has an input for receiving light from an external light source. At least one light source module contains a light source, a light output and an internal focusing system so that substantially all of the light generated by the light system exits through said output. The projector housing and the module housing each contain hardware for releasably connecting the two separate housings to each other at a precise relative location so that substantially all of the light generated within the module housing and exiting the exit enters through the entrance of said projector housing.
    公开号:BE1020162A3
    申请号:E2012/0426
    申请日:2012-06-21
    公开日:2013-05-07
    发明作者:Li Kenneth
    申请人:Wavien Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    "Front Projector System for Interchangeable Light Source Modules"
    PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
    The applicant of the present invention has proposed a number of systems for improving the brightness of various types of light sources, in which the light of a light source which would otherwise be wasted is recycled and used to increase brightness. An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. 7,631,989, titled "Dual Paraboloid Reflector and Dual Ellipsoid Reflector Systems With Optimized Magnification" (Dual Paraboloid Reflector Systems and Optimized Amplified Double Ellipsoid Reflector). Such systems can be used in a number of different types of applications, including digital projectors.
    FIG. 1 schematically shows, in greatly simplified form, a projector 10 having a housing 12, a power supply 14, a projection motor 16 and an imaging panel 18. The projector 10, like its light source, comprises a reflector assembly 20 comprising a xenon lamp 22 and a three-dimensional reflector 24, of typically elliptical shape. The arc of the lamp 22, which receives energy from the power supply 14, is positioned at the focus FP1 of the reflector 24. The reflector 24 focuses the light reflected by the lamp 22 into a second focus FP2.
    A light guide 26, which in the example is a straight light guide, but which may be of any type, for example conical, is positioned such that one end is located at the second focus. The light guide 26 acts to homogenize the light as it propagates through the light guide towards the exit end 28 so that the light appears to be uniform at the exit end 28.
    The projector motor 16 may be aligned with the axis 30 of the light guide 26. Alternatively, the production of the light guide may be directed to the projector motor using a mirror 32 and lenses 34. When it reaches the projector motor 16, the production of the light guide 26 is imaged on the imaging panel 18 which may be a DLP ™, LCOS or the like. The imaging panel 18 is numerically controlled, in a known manner, to produce the desired image which is then produced by a focus lens mechanism 36 on a screen (not shown).
    Digital projectors, for example digital cinema projectors, require the use of a very bright light, such as a xenon lamp, as a light source. A xenon lamp typically has a life span of a few hundred hours to several thousand hours, and therefore must be periodically replaced. Xenon lamps are under high pressure and care must be taken to ensure safety when removed from the projector cabinet. When the replacement assembly is installed, the lamp must be aligned either manually or with servomotors and adjusted until a maximum coupling efficiency is achieved.
    Projector lamps must also be changed for different types of applications. For example, when projecting a 3D movie rather than a 2D movie, applications have different energy requirements. Typically, 3 kW lamps are used for 2D projection, while 6 kW lamps are required for 3D projections. As a result, it may be necessary to change the lamp housings on a regular basis, and each change involves time consuming and potentially dangerous operations.
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    A projector system has interchangeable light source modules. The projector housing contains an imaging panel and a projection engine and has an input for receiving light from an external light source. At least one light source module contains a light source, a light output and an internal focusing system such that substantially all of the light generated by the light system exits through said output. The projector housing and the module housing each contain hardware for releasably connecting the two separate housings to each other at a precise relative location so that substantially all of the light generated within the module housing and exiting the exit enters through the entrance of said projector housing.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic drawing of a cinema projector according to the prior art;
    Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of a modular headlamp / light source assembly according to the invention;
    Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of a modular headlamp / light source assembly according to the invention; and
    Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a projection system having a projector with multiple interchangeable modular light source housings.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    Referring to FIG. 2, a system according to the invention comprises a projector 50, a light source module 60 and a connection mechanism 70 for releasably coupling the module 60 to a specified location on the projector housing 52. The module 60 and the projector housing 52 preferably comprise a plurality of interconnection elements, shown schematically as 72, which, when engaged, latch the module 60 and the housing 52 at a specific location relative to one another. to the other. A lock button 74 may be used to lock the members 72 in place and unlock the members 72 from each other when desired. Preferably, various known types of quick connect hardware, such as rotary lock levers and handles, may be used for rapid module changes. If desired, the connection mechanism may also include an adjustment mechanism actuated, for example, by an adjustment knob or servomotors 76, to move the housing of the module 60 relative to the projector housing 52 to adjust with accurately the relative position and align the module 60 with respect to the housing 52.
    As shown in Figure 2, the module 60 includes an exit window 62 which aligns with an input window 54 in the projector housing 52 when the elements are attached to each other. The example of Figure 2 uses a reflector assembly 20 comprising a xenon lamp 22 and a three-dimensional reflector 24 similar to that shown in Figure 1. However, because it may not be practical to locate the end of entering the light guide 26 at the second focus FP2 of the reflector 24, lenses 25 may be positioned in the path of the light from the lamp 22 and the reflector 24 to refocus the light on the entrance of the light guide 26. The lens system 35 acts to collimate and refocus the diverging light from the light source module 60. This collimation may be desired with certain types of projector systems where parallel beams are used, such as LCD or LCOS projectors, where the parallel beam is treated with fly lens dies. In some cases fly-eye lens matrices may also be used for DLP systems.
    The lamp 22 of the module 60 can be energized by the power supply via an electrical connection 21 which is established when the module 60 and the housing 52 are joined. For example, the electrical connection 21 may be a female plug on one of the housings and a plug on the other housing.
    Referring to FIG. 3, a modular light source 80 comprises a xenon lamp 22 with a double paraboloid reflector 82 which has the effect of focusing the light of the lamp 22 after it has bounced twice on the surface of the reflector double dish, on the input end of a light guide 84 which may be a straight or conical light guide. A dual paraboloid reflector is described in my prior US Patent No. 7,631,989 which is incorporated herein by reference. The light guide 84 couples the light of the dual paraboloid reflector system into the projection system. The output end of the light guide 84 is placed in the light input position of the projector. Again, the hardware between the projection box and the light module should be selected to ensure close alignment between the housings.
    A retro-reflector 86 is positioned on the side of the lamp 22 in the opposite direction to the dual paraboloid reflector 82 to redirect the light from the lamp 22 back to the dual paraboloid reflector so that substantially all of the light of the lamp 22 is used in the projector.
    Figure 4 illustrates how, with the present invention, multiple interchangeable lamp housings LM1, LM2, LM3, etc. may be available in a single system so that lamp changes can be made quickly and efficiently with minimal downtime. In one embodiment, the dual lamp housing, for example in a dual paraboloid reflector system, having their productions combined in a single output to be coupled to the projector housing. This allows a larger output to be projected on the screen making it more suitable for 3D applications. Dual lamp systems are also beneficial, as the use of two lamps with half the power will have a higher combined power compared to a single lamp system.
    Since the light source and the projector are housed in separate housings, the light source can be changed simply by removing one lamp housing from the projector and replacing it with another. The lamp housing and the projector housing include mounting hardware that aligns the light module and the projector housing during the lamp change in a manner that provides maximum light coupling. The lamp housing and the projector are preferably aligned both with respect to a fixed reference with the alignment material so that, when the lamp housing is engaged with the projector housing, a predetermined alignment is ensured. for maximum light coupling efficiency.
    The foregoing description represents the preferred embodiments of the invention. Various modifications will be apparent to the tradespeople. All such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
    References of the drawings
    Figure 1 Prior Art Prior Art
    Figure 4 Projector Projector
    权利要求:
    Claims (3)
    [1]
    A projector system having interchangeable light source modules, said system comprising: a projector having a housing, said housing containing an imaging panel and a projection engine and having an entrance for receiving light from a light source external; a projection lens attached to said housing for receiving and projecting an image from said projection engine; at least one light source module having a module housing containing a light source, a light output and an internal focusing system so that substantially all of the light generated by the light system exits said output; and wherein said projector casing and module casing each contain hardware for releasably connecting the two casings to each other at a precise relative location so that substantially all of the light generated within the casing of the casing module and exiting said output enters through the input of said projector housing.
    [2]
    The projector system of claim 1, wherein said internal focusing system comprises reflective surfaces for focusing light from said light source to said output.
    [3]
    The projector system of claim 1, wherein said module housing comprises a light guide having an input end and an output end adjacent said output, wherein said focusing system comprises reflective surfaces for focusing light reflected from said light source at said input end of said light guide.
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    同族专利:
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    引用文献:
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US201161499501P| true| 2011-06-21|2011-06-21|
    US201161499501|2011-06-21|
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