HK1152762B - Light source device, video projector and video projection method - Google Patents

Description

Light source device, projection device, and projection method

The present application is based on japanese patent application No.2009-156091 filed on 30/6/2009 and claims priority, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a Light source device, a projector device, and a projection method suitable for use in a DLP (Digital Light Processing) type data projector (data projector) device or the like.

Background

In order to perform color display by a projection display device, planar light sources that emit primary color light of R, G, B colors and spatial light modulators corresponding to the respective planar light sources are required, and therefore the number of components increases, and the size, weight, and cost of the entire device cannot be reduced. Therefore, the following techniques are considered: a light emitting diode that emits ultraviolet light is used as a light source, a visible light reflecting film having a characteristic of transmitting ultraviolet light and reflecting visible light is formed on a surface of a color wheel (color wheel) on a light source side irradiated with the ultraviolet light from the light emitting diode, and phosphor layers that emit visible light corresponding to R, G, B when irradiated with the ultraviolet light are formed on a back surface side of the color wheel. (for example, patent document 1)

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2004-341105

However, when the techniques described in the above patent documents are directly used, the luminous efficiency of each of the currently known red phosphors is significantly lower than that of the other green phosphor and blue phosphor, and in this case, the luminance of red is insufficient.

As a result, if a bright projection image is desired with priority given to brightness, white balance (white balance) is lost, and color reproducibility is degraded. On the other hand, if importance is placed on white balance and importance is placed on color reproducibility, the overall luminance decreases and a dark image is obtained in response to a red image with low luminance.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a light source device, a projection device, and a projection method that can compensate for the luminance of each primary color component even when the luminance of each primary color component obtained by a single light source is not uniform, and can achieve both color reproducibility and brightness of a projected image.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device, comprising: a first light source emitting first light source light in a first wavelength band; a light source light modulator (light source light generating means) having a first surface and a second surface, and further having a first region for outputting transmitted light from the first surface by diffusing and transmitting the first light source light, and a second region for reflecting reflected light excited by the irradiation of the first light source light and outputting the reflected light from the second surface; and a second light source emitting second light source light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a projection apparatus, comprising: the light source device according to the first aspect; a video interface to which an image signal is input; and a projection unit configured to generate a color light image corresponding to the image signal by using the output light source light, and project the color light image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device, comprising: a first light source emitting first light source light in a first wavelength band; a light source light generating unit configured to generate variable color light source light having a color that changes with time, using the first light source light; a second light source emitting second light source light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and a light source control unit that controls a drive timing for turning on or off each of the first light source and the second light source, and cyclically selects the variable color light source light and the second light source light to output as output light source light.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a projection apparatus, comprising: the light source device according to the third aspect; a video interface to which an image signal is input; and a projection unit configured to generate a color light image corresponding to the image signal by using the output light source light, and project the color light image.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image projection method for a projection apparatus, characterized in that the projection apparatus comprises: a light source device, the light source device comprising: a first light source emitting first light source light in a first wavelength band; a light source light generating unit that generates variable color light source light having a color that changes with time, using the first light source; and a second light source emitting second light source light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; a video interface to which an image signal is input; and a projection unit configured to generate a color light image corresponding to the image signal by using output light source light output from the light source device, and project the color light image; in the image projection method, the variable color light source light and the second light source light are cyclically selected and output as output light source light by controlling the driving timing of turning on or off the first light source and the second light source, respectively.

The general structure for achieving the various features of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and the related description are intended to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional circuit configuration of the entire data projector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a specific optical configuration of the light source system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the structure of the color wheel according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the first modification according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the color wheel in the second modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the second modification according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the third modification according to the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the structure of the color wheel in the fourth modification of the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the fourth modification according to the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the fifth modification according to the embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the structure of the color wheel in the sixth modification of the present embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the sixth modification according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the seventh modification according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing the structure of the color wheel in the eighth modification of the present embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a timing chart showing the contents of the driving process of the optical system in the 1-frame image in the eighth modification according to the present embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The scope of the invention is not limited by the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described below.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention applied to a DLP (registered trademark) type data projector device will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of an electronic circuit provided in a data projector apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an input/output connector unit, which includes, for example, a Pin jack (RCA) type video input terminal, a D-sub15 type RGB input terminal, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector.

Image signals of various specifications input by the input/output connector section 11 are input to an image conversion section 13, which is also commonly referred to as a scaler, via an input/output interface (I/F)12 and a system bus SB.

The image conversion unit 13 unifies the input image signals into image signals of a predetermined format suitable for projection, stores the image signals in the video RAM 14 which is a buffer for appropriate display, and transmits the image signals to the projection image processing unit 15.

At this time, data such as symbols indicating various operation states for OSD (On Screen Display) is also superimposed On the image signal in the video RAM 14 as necessary, and the processed image signal is sent to the projection image processing unit 15.

The projection image processing section 15 performs display driving of the micromirror element 16, which is a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM), by time-division driving at a higher speed, which is obtained by multiplying the division number of color components and the display gradation number by a frame rate of a predetermined format, for example, 120[ frame/second ], based on the transmitted image signal.

The micromirror element 16 forms a light image by its reflected light by performing ON/OFF operations at high speed for each of the tilt angles of a plurality of arrayed micro mirrors, for example, XGA (1024 pixels in the horizontal direction × 768 pixels in the vertical direction).

On the other hand, R, G, B primary color light is cyclically emitted from the light source 17 in a time-sharing manner. The primary color light from the light source 17 is reflected by the mirror 18 and is irradiated to the micromirror device 16.

Further, a light image is formed by the reflected light of the micromirror device 16, and the formed light image is projected and displayed on a screen, not shown, as a projection target via the projection lens unit 19.

The specific optical configuration of the light source unit 17 will be described later, and the light source unit 17 includes two types of light sources, i.e., a semiconductor laser 20 that emits blue laser light and an LED21 that emits red light.

The blue laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 20 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 22, passes through the dichroic mirror 23, and is irradiated to one point on the circumference of the color wheel 24. The color wheel 24 is rotated by a motor 25. The color wheel 24 is formed in a ring shape by fitting a green fluorescent reflecting plate and a blue transmitting and diffusing plate to each other on the circumference irradiated with the laser beam.

In the present embodiment, the color wheel 24 functions as a light source light modulator (light source light generating means) having a first surface and a second surface, a first region for outputting transmission light from the first surface by diffusing and transmitting the first light source light, and a second region for outputting reflection light from the second surface by reflecting reflection light (second color light) excited by the irradiation of the first light source light.

The color wheel 24 also functions as a light source light generator (source light generator) that generates variable color light source light having a color that changes with time by using the first light source light.

When the green fluorescent reflecting plate of the color wheel 24 is located at the irradiation position of the laser beam, the green light is excited by the irradiation of the laser beam, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 24 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23. The green light is further reflected by the dichroic mirror 28, is formed into a light beam having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by an integrator 29, is reflected by the mirror 30, and is transmitted to the mirror 18.

When the blue transmission diffusion plate of the color wheel 24 is located at the laser light irradiation position, the laser light is transmitted through the color wheel 24 while being diffused by the transmission diffusion plate, and is then reflected by the mirrors 26 and 27, respectively. The blue light is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 28, is formed into a light beam having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by the integrator 29, is reflected by the reflecting mirror 30, and is sent to the reflecting mirror 18.

Further, the red light emitted from the LED21 is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 23, reflected by the dichroic mirror 28, formed into a light beam having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by the integrator 29, reflected by the reflecting mirror 30, and sent to the reflecting mirror 18.

As described above, the dichroic mirror 23 has a spectral characteristic of transmitting blue light and red light and reflecting green light.

The dichroic mirror 28 has spectral characteristics of transmitting blue light and reflecting red light and green light.

The integrator 29 uniformizes the luminance distribution of the light incident on the light incident surface, and outputs the light as a light beam having a substantially uniform luminance distribution from the light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface.

The light emission timing of the semiconductor laser 20 and the LED21 of the light source section 17 and the rotation of the color wheel 24 driven by the motor 25 are all controlled by the projection light processing section 31 as a whole. The projection light processing unit 31 controls the light emission timing of each of the semiconductor laser 20 and the LED21 and the rotation of the color wheel 24 based on the timing of the image data given from the projection image processing unit 15.

The operations of the above circuits are all controlled by the CPU 32. The CPU 32 executes control operations in the data projector apparatus 10 by using a main memory 33 formed of a DRAM and a program memory 34 formed of an electrically erasable nonvolatile memory in which an operation program, various kinds of conventional data, and the like are stored.

The CPU 32 executes various projection operations based on a key operation signal from the operation unit 35. The operation unit 35 includes: a key operation unit provided in the main body of the data projector apparatus 10; and a laser light receiving unit for receiving infrared light from a remote controller (not shown) dedicated to the data projector 10; a key operation signal based on a key operated by the user using the key operation section of the main body or the remote controller is directly output to the CPU 32.

The operation unit 35 includes, for example, a Focus (Focus) adjustment key, a Zoom (Zoom) adjustment key, an input switching key, a menu key, cursor (←, →, ↓, and ↓) key, a set key, and a cancel key, in addition to the key operation unit and the remote controller.

The CPU 32 is further connected to an audio processing unit 36 via the system bus SB. The sound processing unit 36 includes a sound source circuit such as a PCM sound source, and simulates sound data given during a projection operation, and drives the speaker unit 37 to perform sound amplification sound emission or generate beep sound (beepsound) if necessary.

Next, a specific configuration example of the optical system of the light source unit 17 is mainly shown in fig. 2. The figure shows the structure around the light source unit 17 in a planar layout.

Here, a plurality of, for example, 3 semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C having the same emission characteristics are provided, and each of these semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C emits a blue laser beam having a wavelength of, for example, 450[ nm ].

The blue light emitted from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is substantially collimated by the lenses 41A to 41C, reflected by the mirrors 22A to 22C, transmitted through the dichroic mirror 23 after passing through the lenses 42 and 43, and irradiated to the color wheel 24 through the lens group 44.

In the present embodiment, the lenses 42 and 43 and the lens group 44 are formed as a light collecting optical system for collecting the substantially collimated blue light to the position of the color wheel 24 on the optical axis.

Fig. 3 shows a structure of the color wheel 24 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the color wheel 24 has 1 ring of, for example, an arc-shaped green phosphor reflector 24G having a center angle of 290 ° and an arc-shaped blue transmission diffuser 24B having a center angle of 70 °.

When the green phosphor reflecting plate 24G of the color wheel 24 is located at the irradiation position of the blue light, the green light having a wavelength band centered around 530 nm, for example, is excited as substantially completely diffused light by the irradiation, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 24 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

The green light reflected on the dichroic mirror 23 passes through the lens 45 and is further reflected on the dichroic mirror 28, and is guided to the integrator 29 through the lens 46. In the present embodiment, the lens group 44, the lens 45, and the lens 46 are designed to form a light guide optical system for guiding the green light beam excited by the color wheel 24 to the integrator 29 within the range of the opening size of the integrator 29. The magnification of the light guide optical system is designed to match the ratio of the size of the opening of the integrator 29 to the size of the light irradiated to the color wheel 24.

The green light is formed into a light flux having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by the integrator 29, passes through the lens 47, is reflected by the mirror 30, passes through the lens 48, and is transmitted to the mirror 18.

The green light reflected by the mirror 18 is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 through the lens 49. Further, the reflected light of the green light forms a light image of a green component, and the light image is projected to the outside through the lens 49 and the lens group unit 19.

When the blue-color transmissive diffuser plate 24B of the color wheel 24 is located at the blue-light irradiation position, the blue light passes through the blue-color transmissive diffuser plate 24B of the color wheel 24 while being diffused by the blue-color transmissive diffuser plate 24B with a diffusion characteristic lower than that of green light excited as substantially perfect diffused light. Further, the blue light is condensed by the lens 50 on the back surface side and then reflected by the reflecting mirror 26.

The motor 25 for rotating the color wheel 24 is disposed on the same side as the lens 50 for condensing the blue light transmitted through the color wheel 24. The blue light transmitted through the color wheel 24 has a low diffusion characteristic compared to the green light reflected at the color wheel 24, and therefore the lens 50 can be formed smaller than the lens group 44 that condenses the green light reflected at the color wheel 24.

Further, the blue light passes through the lens 51, is reflected by the reflecting mirror 27, passes through the lens 52, passes through the dichroic mirror 28, and is guided to the integrator 29 through the lens 46. In the present embodiment, the lenses 50, 51, 52 and the lens 46 are designed to form a light guide optical system as follows: the light guide optical system guides the light beam of the blue light transmitted through the color wheel 24 to the integrator 29 so that the light beam has a beam size within the range of the opening size of the integrator 29. The magnification of the light guide optical system is designed to match the ratio of the size of the opening of the integrator 29 to the size of the light irradiated to the color wheel 24.

Further, the blue light is formed into a light flux having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by the integrator 29, passes through the lens 47, is reflected by the mirror 30, passes through the lens 48, and is transmitted to the mirror 18.

On the other hand, the LED21 emits red light having a wavelength of 620[ nm ], for example. The red light emitted from the LED21 passes through the lens group 53, passes through the dichroic mirror 23, passes through the lens 45, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 28, further passes through the lens 46, and is guided to the integrator 29. In the present embodiment, the lens group 53, the lens 45, and the lens 46 are designed to form a light guide optical system as follows: the light guide optical system forms the beam size of red light emitted in the emission size of the LED21 within the opening size range of the integrator 29, and guides the beam size to the integrator 29. The magnification of the light guide optical system is designed to match the ratio of the opening size of the integrator 29 to the light emission size of the LED 21.

The red light is formed into a light beam having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by the integrator 29, passes through the lens 47, is reflected by the mirror 30, passes through the lens 48, and is sent to the mirror 18.

In the present embodiment, the lens 46 functions as a condensing lens that condenses red light (second source light), blue light (transmitted light), and green light (reflected light) onto the light incident surface of the integrator 29.

The LED21 is disposed in the vicinity of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and is disposed in an orientation in which the optical axis is parallel to the optical axes of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C. By arranging in this way, the cooling device for cooling the LED21 and the cooling devices for cooling the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C can be easily integrated and commonly used, the cooling system can be made compact, the size of the entire device can be reduced, and the number of components required for the cooling system can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described below.

Here, the time ratio of the period during which R, G, B primary color images constituting 1 frame of a color image to be projected are projected (hereinafter referred to as "R field (field), G field, and B field") is set to 14: 15: 7.

I.e. 360 ° of a revolution of the color wheel 24 rotating at a constant speed, the time ratio R: G: B of the R field, G field, B field, if exchanged for the central angle of the color wheel 24, is 140 °: 150 °: 70 °.

Fig. 4(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images in the R field, the G field, and the B field are controlled to be formed 1 time each within a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 4(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 4(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LDs) 20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 3, the color wheel 24 is configured such that the circumference is divided into two parts by the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue-color transmissive diffuser plate 24B. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the switching position of the color wheel 24 to switch from the blue transmissive diffuser plate 24B to the green phosphor reflector plate 24G is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 140 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 24, red light is generated by lighting the LED21 and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 4 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, and thereby a red optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the red optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the position of the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, in synchronization with the turning off of the LED21, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 in a period of the G field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 24 by 150 °.

At this time, an image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Further, when the color wheel 24 rotates and the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the green phosphor reflector plate 24G, the blue transmission light diffused by the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror elements 16 in the period of the B field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 24 of 70 °.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue image is formed by the reflected light, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the time of the B field and 1 frame is completed, the green fluorescent reflector 24G is positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C again instead of the blue transmissive diffuser 24B, and at the same time, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped, and the LED21 is turned on again, resulting in an R field period of the next frame.

By controlling the timing of lighting the LED21 and the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 24 on which the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue transmissive and diffusive plate 24B are formed in this way, red light generated by lighting the LED21 and green light and blue light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C can be cyclically generated in time division and irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, since the emission luminance of the red phosphor that emits light by laser excitation is lower than the emission luminance of the other colors, when the luminances of the primary color components obtained by the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C that emit blue light as a single light source are not uniform, the LED21 that generates red light is used as the other light source to compensate, thereby obtaining the balance of the primary colors, and making it possible to achieve both the color reproducibility and the brightness of the projection image.

(first modification)

Next, a first modification of the present embodiment will be described. In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, the time ratio of the periods (hereinafter referred to as "R field, Y field, G field, and B field") during which the primary color images of R, Y (yellow) and G, B constituting a 1-frame color image to be projected are projected is set to 10.5: 8: 7.

That is, the time ratio of the R field, the Y field, the G field, and the B field, R: Y: G: B, is 105 °: 80 °: 70 ° if it is changed to the center angle of the color wheel 24, with respect to 360 ° of one revolution of the color wheel 24 rotating at a constant speed.

Fig. 5(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the Y field, the G field, and the B field are controlled to be formed 1 time in a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 5(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 5(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LDs) 20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 3 described above, the color wheel 24 is configured such that the circumference is divided into two by the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue-color transmission diffusion plate 24B. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue transmission diffusion plate 24B is switched to the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in the color wheel 24.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 105 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 24, only red light is generated by lighting the LED21 and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 5 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, in a state where the LED21 continues to be lit, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, become a period of the Y field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 by 105 °.

At this time, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed in the dichroic mirror 23 and then irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as the yellow light source light.

At this time, an image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Next, in the G field period, the LED21 is turned off and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are continuously oscillated, and thereafter, the G field period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 of 80 ° is obtained.

At this time, the reflected light of green excited by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C on the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G of the color wheel 24 is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as a light source.

Accordingly, an image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the color wheel 24 rotates, and when the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the green phosphor reflector plate 24G, a period of B field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 24 by 70 ° is formed, and in this period of B field, the blue transmission light diffused by the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as the light source light.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue image is formed by the reflected light, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the B field and 1 frame time end, and the transmission diffuser plate 24B for blue and the green phosphor reflector plate 24G are positioned again on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and at the same time, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped, and the LED21 is turned on again, and the R field period of the next frame is obtained.

By controlling the timing of the lighting of the LED21 and the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 24 on which the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue transmissive and diffusive plate 24B are formed, red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 alone, yellow light formed by mixing the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green light generated by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, green light generated by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone, and blue light generated by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone can be cyclically generated in time division and irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

In particular, in order to obtain yellow light by color mixing (complementary color) of both the LED21 and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the lighting period of the LED21 and the oscillation periods of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are set to be longer as indicated by arrows Va and Vb in fig. 5 than in the case shown in fig. 4. This makes the entire projected image brighter.

(second modification)

Next, a second modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, the time ratio of the periods (hereinafter referred to as "R field, W field, Y field, G field, and B field") during which the primary color images of R, W (white), Y (yellow), and G, B constituting a 1-frame color image to be projected are projected is set to 10.5: 5.5: 5: 8: 7.

That is, the time ratio of the R field, the W field, the Y field, the G field, and the B field, R: W: Y: G: B, with respect to 360 ° of one revolution of the color wheel 24 rotating at a constant speed, is 105 °: 55 °: 50 °: 80 °: 70 °, if the central angle of the color wheel 24 is changed.

Fig. 6 shows a structure of a color wheel 241 used instead of the color wheel 24 described above. As shown in the figure, the color wheel 241 has 1 ring of, for example, an arc-shaped cyan (cell) phosphor reflector 24C having a center angle of 160 °, an arc-shaped green phosphor reflector 24G1 having a center angle of 50 °, an arc-shaped green phosphor reflector 24G2 having a center angle of 80 °, and an arc-shaped blue transmission diffuser 24B having a center angle of 70 °.

When the cyan phosphor reflecting plate 24C of the color wheel 241 is located at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite cyan (indigo) light having a wavelength band of, for example, about 480[ nm ] as a center, and the excited cyan light is reflected by the color wheel 241 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

When the green phosphor reflecting plate 24G1 of the color wheel 241 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around about 560 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 241 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

Further, when the green phosphor reflecting plate 24G2 of the color wheel 241 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around 530 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 241 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

Fig. 7(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, W field, Y field, G field, and B field are controlled to be formed 1 time in a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 7(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 7(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LDs) 20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 6 described above, the color wheel 241 is configured such that the circumference is divided into four parts by the cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C, the green phosphor reflective plates 24G1, 24G2, and the transmission diffusion plate 24B for blue. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is switched to the cyan phosphor reflector plate 24C in the color wheel 24 is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 105 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 241, only red light is generated by lighting the LED21 and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 7 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, although the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C of the color wheel 241 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at positions on the optical axis thereof, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped, and therefore, cyan light as light source light is not generated.

Then, in a state where the LED21 continues to be lit, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, become a period of W field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 by 55 °.

At this time, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the cyan reflected light excited by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 241 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed in the dichroic mirror 23 and then irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as white light source light.

At this time, a luminance image corresponding to white is displayed on the micromirror element 16, an optical image based on a black-and-white luminance image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

In the subsequent Y field, the lighting of the LED21 and the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are continued, and the green fluorescent reflector 24G1 of the color wheel 241 is positioned on the optical axis of the backlight from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C.

Thus, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent material reflecting plate 24G1 of the color wheel 241 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed in the color by the dichroic mirror 23, and are irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as the yellow light source light.

At this time, an image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

In the next G field period, the LED21 is turned off and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are continuously oscillated, and thereafter, the G field period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 241 of 80 ° is obtained.

At this time, the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent material reflecting plate 24G2 of the color wheel 241 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as a light source.

Accordingly, an image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the color wheel 241 is further rotated to provide a period of B field corresponding to the central angle of 70 ° of the color wheel 24 when the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the green phosphor reflector 24G2, and the blue transmission light diffused by the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as the light source light in the period of B field.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue image is formed by the reflected light, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the B field and 1 frame time end, and the transmission diffuser plate 24B for blue and the cyan fluorescent reflector plate 24C are positioned again on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and at the same time, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped, and the LED21 is turned on again, and the R field period of the next frame is obtained.

In this way, the timing of lighting the LED21 and oscillating the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is controlled in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 241 on which the cyan phosphor reflector 24C, the green phosphor reflectors 24G1, 24G2, and the blue transmissive diffuser 24B are formed, this makes it possible to cyclically generate, in time division, white light formed by mixing red light generated by lighting the LED21 alone, red light generated by lighting the LED21 and cyan light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, yellow light formed by mixing red light generated by lighting the LED21 and green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone, and blue light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone, and irradiate the micromirror element 16 with the light.

In particular, the type of the fluorescent material formed on the color wheel 241 is changed in order to obtain white light and yellow light by color mixing (complementary color) using both the LED21 and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C. Thus, light source light of a plurality of colors can be obtained without changing the output of the light source side, and the entire projection image can be brighter and excellent in color rendering properties.

(third modification)

Next, a third modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, for a period (hereinafter, referred to as "R field, G field, and B field") in which each primary color image of R, G, B constituting a 1-frame color image to be projected is projected, each boundary period (hereinafter, referred to as "spoke (spoke) period") is provided, and 1 frame is formed into R, Y (yellow), G, Y (yellow), and B, M (Magenta) for 6 fields in total, and the time ratio of each field portion of these R, Y, G, Y, B, M is set to 13: 1: 14: 1: 6: 1.

That is, the time ratio of R field, Y field, G field, Y field, B field, and M field is R: Y: G: Y: B: M, which is 360 degrees relative to one revolution of the color wheel 24 rotating at a constant speed, is 130 °: 10 °: 140 °: 10 °: 60 °: 10 °, if the central angle of the color wheel 24 is changed.

Fig. 8(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the Y field, the G field, the Y field, the B field, and the M field are controlled to be formed in order within a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 8(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 8(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LDs) 20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 3 described above, the color wheel 24 is configured such that the circumference is divided into two by the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue-color transmission diffusion plate 24B. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue transmission diffusion plate 24B is switched to the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in the color wheel 24.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 130 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 24, the LED21 that is being turned on by continuing the lighting of the previous frame generates red light and irradiates the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 8 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, while maintaining the state where the LED21 is turned on, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is started, and thereafter, the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 in a period of the Y field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 by 10 °.

At this time, after the dichroic mirror 23, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G are mixed, and the yellow light generated by the complementary color is irradiated to the micro mirror device 16. An image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the short Y field, the LED21 that generates red light is turned off, while the generation of green light by the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is maintained. Thereafter, only the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during the G field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 of 140 °.

An image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the G field is completed, the operation of generating green light by the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C and the color wheel 24 is maintained, and the red light is turned on again by the LED 21.

In the Y field of the 2 nd time in the 1 frame, in the same manner as the Y field before the G field, the red light and the green light generated by the lighting of the LED21 are mixed during a period corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 24 by 10 °, and the yellow light formed by the complementary color is irradiated to the micromirror element 16. An image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19. The LED21 is extinguished at the end of the 2 nd Y field.

In the subsequent B field, the green phosphor reflecting plate 24G and the blue transmitting diffuser plate 24B are positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in place of the rotation of the color wheel 24, and thereafter, the blue transmitted light diffused by the blue transmitting diffuser plate 24B is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during the B field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 24 of 60 °.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue light image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the B field is terminated, and the lighting of the red light by the LED21 is restarted while maintaining the operation of generating the blue light by the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C and the color wheel 24.

In the M field, the red light and the blue light generated by the lighting of the LED21 are mixed during a period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 by 10 °, and the magenta (magenta) color light formed by complementary color is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

By displaying an image corresponding to magenta on the micromirror device 16, a magenta light image is formed by its reflected light, and the magenta light image is projected to an external projection target via the projection lens unit 19. After the end of the M fields, the lighting state of the LEDs 21 is maintained corresponding to the next frame.

In this way, in the spoke-like period which is the boundary period for the period in which the primary color image of R, G, B is originally projected, the period in which the LEDs 21 are simultaneously turned on and the complementary color image obtained by the color mixture is projected is provided, and therefore the entire image can be made brighter.

Further, although the case where the magenta image and the yellow image are projected in the M field and the Y field appearing 2 times every 1 frame in the spoke-like period has been described, all the pixels formed as the micromirror elements 16 may be constantly turned on in the entire gray scale in the spoke-like period without forming a light image in the spoke-like period in particular after adjusting the color balance with the other fields, thereby further increasing the brightness of the image in each 1 frame.

Further, by forming a light image in a wider color range corresponding to the light source color in the M field and the Y field appearing 2 times per 1 frame in the same spoke-like period, for example, forming a light image corresponding to a color range of orange to yellow-green in the Y field and a light image corresponding to a color range of blue to bluish violet to violet in the M field, and projecting the light images, it is possible to increase not only the brightness but also the color reproducibility.

Further, similarly, by forming and projecting a light image based on a 2-value image without performing detailed gradation expression in the spoke-like period, the brightness and contrast (contrast) of the image per 1 frame can be further increased.

(fourth modification)

Next, a fourth modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, for a period (hereinafter, referred to as "R field, G field, and B field") in which each primary color image of R, G, B constituting 1 frame color image to be projected is projected, each boundary period (hereinafter, referred to as "spoke (spoke) period") is provided, and 1 frame is formed into 6 fields in total of R, Y (yellow), G, W (white), and B, M (magenta), and the time ratio of each field portion of these R, Y, G, W, B, M is set to 13: 1: 14: 1: 6: 1.

That is, the time ratio of R field, Y field, G field, W field, B field, and M field with respect to 360 ° of one revolution of the color wheel 242 rotating at a constant speed is R: Y: G: W: B: M, which is 130 °: 10 °: 140 °: 10 °: 60 °: 10 °, if the central angle of the color wheel 242 is changed.

Fig. 9 shows a structure of the color wheel 242 used instead of the color wheel 24 described above. As shown in the drawing, the color wheel 242 includes, for example, 1 ring formed by an arc-shaped green phosphor reflective plate 24G1 having a center angle of 130 °, a green phosphor reflective plate 24G2 having a center angle of 10 °, an arc-shaped green phosphor reflective plate 24G1 having a center angle of 140 °, a cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C having a center angle of 10 °, a blue transmissive diffuser plate 24B1 having a center angle of 60 °, and a blue phosphor reflective plate 24B2 having a center angle of 10 °.

When the green phosphor reflecting plate 24G1 of the color wheel 242 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around 530 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 242 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

When the green phosphor reflecting plate 24G2 corresponding to the spoke-shaped period of the color wheel 242 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around about 560 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 242 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

Further, when the cyan phosphor reflecting plate 24C corresponding to the spoke-like period of the color wheel 242 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, for example, cyan (indigo) light having a wavelength band centered around about 480[ nm ] is excited by the irradiation of the blue light, and the excited cyan light is reflected by the color wheel 242 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

When the blue light transmission/diffusion plate 24B1 of the color wheel 242 is positioned at the position to which the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is irradiated, the blue light having a wavelength of about 450 nm generated by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is transmitted while being diffused, and the transmitted blue light is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 28 via the reflection mirrors 26 and 27.

Further, when the blue phosphor reflecting plate 24B2 corresponding to the spoke-shaped period of the color wheel 242 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light having a wavelength band centered around, for example, about 490[ nm ] is excited by the irradiation of the blue light, and the excited blue light is reflected by the color wheel 242 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

Fig. 10(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the Y field, the G field, the W field, the B field, and the M field are controlled to be formed in order within a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 10(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 10(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)242 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LD)20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 9, the color wheel 242 is configured such that the circumference is divided into six parts by the green phosphor reflective plate 24G1, the green phosphor reflective plate 24G2, the green phosphor reflective plate 24G1, the cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C, the blue transmissive and diffusive plate 24B1, and the blue phosphor reflective plate 24B 2. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue phosphor reflector 24B2 is switched to the green phosphor reflector 24G1 in the color wheel 242 is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 130 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 242, as shown in fig. 10(B), red light is generated by the LED21 which is being turned on by continuing the lighting of the previous frame and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent material reflector 24G1 of the color wheel 24 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, while the LED21 is kept lit, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G2 is also irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 in a period of the Y field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 242 by 10 °.

At this time, after the dichroic mirror 23, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G2 are mixed, and the yellow light generated by the complementary color is irradiated to the micro mirror device 16. An image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After this short Y field, the LED21 generating red light is extinguished, and on the other hand, in the color wheel 242, the green phosphor reflector 24G1 is instead located on the optical axis. Thereafter, only the green reflected light excited by the green phosphor reflector 24G1 is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during the G field corresponding to the center angle of 140 ° of the color wheel 242.

An image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the G field is completed, the cyan light by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C is generated by the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C and the color wheel 242 this time, and the lighting of the red light by the LED21 is started again.

In the W field, red light and cyan light generated by the lighting of the LED21 are mixed during a period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 242 by 10 °, and white light formed by complementary colors is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

By displaying a luminance image corresponding to white color on the micromirror element 16, a light image having luminance based only on white color is formed by the reflected light, and the white light image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19. The LED21 is turned off at the same time when the W field ends.

In the subsequent B field, the blue transmission light diffused by the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B1 is irradiated as light source light to the micromirror element 16 in the period of the B field corresponding to the central angle of 60 ° of the color wheel 242 after the cyan phosphor reflector plate 24C and the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B1 are positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the rotation of the color wheel 242.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a blue light image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the B field is ended, the lighting of the red light by the LED21 is resumed while maintaining the blue light generated by the blue fluorescent reflector 24B2 during the spoke-like period of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C and the color wheel 242.

In the M field, red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the blue light on the blue fluorescent reflector 24B2 are mixed during a period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 242 by 10 °, and magenta (magenta) light formed by complementary colors is irradiated to the micromirror element 16. By displaying an image corresponding to magenta on the micromirror device 16, a magenta light image is formed by its reflected light, and the magenta light image is projected to an external projection target via the projection lens unit 19. After the end of the M fields, the LED21 is maintained in a lit state for the next frame.

In this way, by simultaneously lighting the LEDs 21 in the spoke-like period as the boundary period for the period in which the primary color image corresponding to R, G, B is originally projected, and providing a period in which the complementary color image obtained by the color mixture is projected, the entire image can be made brighter.

In addition, the phosphors used in the spoke-shaped period of the color wheel 242 are phosphors that emit colors of different frequency bands from adjacent phosphors of the same color system or the like. Thus, light source light of a plurality of colors can be obtained without changing the output of the light source side, and the entire projection image can be brighter and excellent in color rendering properties.

(fifth embodiment)

A fifth modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, the time ratio of the periods (hereinafter referred to as "R field, Y field, G field, Y field, M field, B field, and M field") during which the primary color images of R, Y (yellow), G, Y, M (magenta), and B, M constituting 1 frame of color image to be projected are projected is set to 8.5: 12.5: 6: 1: 5: 2.

That is, the time ratio of the R field, the Y field, the G field, the Y field, the M field, the B field, and the M field is R: Y: G: Y: M: B: M, which is 360 degrees relative to one revolution of the color wheel 24 rotating at a constant speed, and is 85 degrees, 125 degrees, 60 degrees, 10 degrees, 50 degrees, 20 degrees if it is changed to the center angle of the color wheel 24.

Fig. 11(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the Y field, the G field, the Y field, the M field, the B field, and the M field are controlled to be formed 1 time during a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 11(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 11(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LDs) 20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 3, the color wheel 24 is configured such that the circumference is divided into two by the green phosphor reflector 24G and the blue transmissive diffuser 24B. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue transmission diffusion plate 24B is switched to the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in the color wheel 24.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 85 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 24, the LED21 that is being turned on by continuing the lighting of the previous frame generates red light and irradiates the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 11 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, the LED21 is kept lit, and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, become a period of the Y field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 by 125 °.

Therefore, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed after the dichroic mirror 23, and are irradiated to the micro mirror element 16 as a yellow light source.

At this time, an image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

In the period of the subsequent G field, the LED21 is turned off, and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C continue to vibrate, and thereafter, the period of the G field corresponding to the central angle of 60 ° of the color wheel 24 is obtained.

At this time, the reflected light of green color excited by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C on the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G of the color wheel 24 is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as light source light.

Accordingly, an image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the LED21 is turned on while the last portion of the green phosphor reflective plate 24G is positioned in the Y field corresponding to the amount of 10 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 24 on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and the micromirror element 16 is irradiated with the green light and the red light together.

Therefore, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed after the dichroic mirror 23, and are irradiated to the micro mirror element 16 as a yellow light source.

At this time, an image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Further, the color wheel 24 rotates, and when the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B is positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the green phosphor reflector plate 24G, a period of M fields corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 24 by 10 ° is formed, and in the period of M fields, the blue transmission light diffused by the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B and the red light generated by the LED21 are mixed, and the light source light of the complementary magenta is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

At this time, an image corresponding to magenta is displayed on the micromirror device 16, and a magenta image is formed by its reflected light, and is projected to an external projection target via the projection lens unit 19. The LED21 is extinguished at the end of the M field.

In the next B field, only the blue transmitted light diffused by the transmissive diffuser plate 24B for blue is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during a period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 by 50 °.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue light image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the B field ends, the M field is formed, and the lighting of the red light by the LED21 is started again. In the M field, red light generated by lighting the LED21 and blue light transmitted through the blue transmission diffuser 24B are mixed during a period corresponding to the central angle of 20 ° of the color wheel 24, and magenta light formed by complementary color is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

By displaying an image corresponding to magenta on the micromirror device 16, a magenta light image is formed by its reflected light, and the magenta light image is projected to an external projection target via the projection lens unit 19. After the end of the M fields, the LED21 is maintained in a lit state for the next frame.

By controlling the timing of lighting of the LED21 and oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 24 on which the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue transmission diffuser plate 24B are formed, it is possible to cyclically generate red light generated by lighting the LED21 alone, yellow light generated by mixing red light generated by lighting the LED21 and green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone, yellow light, magenta light, blue light, and magenta light in the same manner, and irradiate the micromirror element 16 with light in a time-sharing manner.

In particular, in order to obtain yellow light formed by color mixing (complementary color) using both the LED21 and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the lighting period of the LED21 and the oscillation periods of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are set to be longer as indicated by arrows XIa and XIb in fig. 11 than in the case shown in fig. 4. In addition, both the LED21 and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are used in the spoke-like period as each switching period for switching R, Y, G, B. This makes the entire projected image brighter.

(sixth modification)

Next, a sixth modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, for the period (hereinafter referred to as "R field, Y field, G field, and B field") in which the primary color images of R, Y (yellow) and G, B constituting the 1-frame color image to be projected are projected, each boundary period (hereinafter referred to as "spoke period") is provided, and the 1 frame is formed into R, W (white) 1, Y, W2, G, W3, and B, W4 for 8 fields in total, and the time ratio of each field portion of R, W1, Y, W2, G, W3, and B, W4 is set to 8.5: 2: 6: 2: 5: 2.

That is, the time ratio of the R field, W1 field, Y field, W2 field, G field, W3 field, B field, and W4 field with respect to 360 ° per one revolution of the color wheel 243 rotating at a constant speed described later is R: W1: Y: W2: G: W3: B: W4, which is 85 °: 20 °: 60 °: 20 °: 50 °: 20 °.

Fig. 12 shows a structure of a color wheel 243 used in place of the color wheel 24 described above. As shown in the drawing, the color wheel 243 has 1 ring formed by, for example, an arc-shaped green phosphor reflective plate 24G1 having a center angle of 85 °, a cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C1 having a center angle of 20 °, a green phosphor reflective plate 24G2 having a center angle of 85 °, a cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C2 having a center angle of 20 °, a green phosphor reflective plate 24G3 having a center angle of 60 °, a cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C3 having a center angle of 20 °, a blue diffusion plate 24B having a center angle of 50 °, and a cyan phosphor reflective plate 24C4 having a center angle of 20 °.

The green phosphor reflector 24G1 and the green phosphor reflector 24G3 have the same optical characteristics, and when the green phosphor reflector 24G1 and the green phosphor reflector 24G3 are positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around 530 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 243 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

When the green fluorescent reflector 24G2 is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around about 560 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 243 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

When the blue diffuser 24B is positioned at the position irradiated with the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light having a wavelength of about 450[ nm ] generated by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is transmitted while being diffused by the irradiation with the blue light. The transmitted blue light also passes through the dichroic mirror 28 via the reflection mirrors 26 and 27.

The cyan phosphor reflectors 24C1 to 24C4 are sandwiched between the green phosphor reflectors 24G1 to 24G3 and the blue diffuser 24B, and are arranged to enhance the brightness of the projected image for a short time in each boundary period (hereinafter referred to as a "spoke period").

The phosphor materials are selected so that the wavelength band characteristics of the cyan light emitted from the cyan phosphor reflectors 24C1 to 24C3 excited by the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are different from each other.

Fig. 13(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the W1 field, the Y field, the W2 field, the G field, the W3 field, the B field, and the W4 field are controlled to be formed in this order for a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 13(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 13(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)243 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LD)20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 12, the color wheel 243 is configured such that the circumference is divided into eight parts by the green phosphor reflector 24G1, the cyan phosphor reflector 24C1, the green phosphor reflector 24G2, the cyan phosphor reflector 24C2, the green phosphor reflector 24G3, the cyan phosphor reflector 24C3, the blue diffuser 24B, and the cyan phosphor reflector 24C 4.

At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the cyan phosphor reflector 24C4 switches to the green phosphor reflector 24G1 is located on the optical axis of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in the color wheel 243.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 85 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 243, as shown in fig. 13(B), red light is generated by the LED21 which is being turned on by continuing the lighting of the previous frame and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G1 of the color wheel 243 exists as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, while the LED21 is kept lit, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, the cyan reflected light excited by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C1 is also irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during a period of the W1 field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 243 by 20 °.

At this time, after the dichroic mirror 23, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the cyan light excited by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C1 are mixed, and the white light generated by the complementary color is irradiated to the micro mirror device 16.

A luminance image corresponding to white is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a white optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the white optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the short W1 field, the LED21 is kept on to generate red light, and the green phosphor reflector 24G2 is instead positioned on the optical axis in the color wheel 243 to generate green light. Thereafter, in a period of the Y field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 243 of 85 °, the red light from the LED21 and the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G2 are irradiated to the micromirror elements 16 as light source light.

At this time, after the dichroic mirror 23, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G2 are mixed, and the yellow light generated by the complementary color is irradiated to the micro mirror device 16. An image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, while the LED21 is kept lit, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is maintained, and thereafter, the cyan reflected light excited by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C2 is also irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during a period of the W2 field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 243 by 20 °.

At this time, after the dichroic mirror 23, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the cyan light excited by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C2 are mixed, and the white light generated by the complementary color is irradiated to the micro mirror device 16. A luminance image corresponding to white is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a white optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the white optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the end of the short W2 field, the LED21 that generates red light is turned off, while the green phosphor reflector 24G3 is instead positioned on the optical axis in the color wheel 243 to generate green light.

Thereafter, only the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G3 is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror element 16 during the period of the G field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 243 of 60 °.

An image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After the G field is completed, the cyan light by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C3 is generated by the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C and the color wheel 243 this time, and the red light lighting by the LED21 is started again.

In the W3 field, the red light and the cyan light generated by lighting the LED21 are mixed during a period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 243 by 20 °, and the white light generated by complementing the colors is irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

By displaying a luminance image corresponding to white color on the micromirror element 16, a light image having a gradation based only on white color is formed by the reflected light, and the white light image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19. The LED21 is turned off at the end of the W3 field.

In the next B field, the blue phosphor reflecting plate 24C3 and the blue diffusing plate 24B are positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the cyan phosphor reflecting plate 24C3 by the rotation of the color wheel 243, and thereafter, only the blue transmitted light diffused by the blue diffusing plate 24B is irradiated as the light source light to the micromirror elements 16 during the B field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 243 of 50 °.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue image is formed by the reflected light, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

After that, the B field ends, and the lighting of the red light by the LED21 is restarted while maintaining the state in which the cyan light is generated by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C4 in the spoke-like period of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C and the color wheel 242.

In the W4 field, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the cyan light excited by the cyan fluorescent reflector 24C4 are mixed and the white light generated by the complementary color is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 during a period corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 243 by 20 °.

A luminance image corresponding to white is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a white optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the white optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19. After the end of the W4 field, the LED21 is kept lit for the next frame.

In this way, since the spoke-like period which is the boundary period is provided for the period in which the R, Y, G, B color images are projected, and the LED21 is simultaneously turned on to project the complementary color image obtained by color mixing, the entire image can be made brighter.

In addition, although the cyan phosphor reflective plates 24C1 to 24C3 used in the spoke-like period of the color wheel 243 are all cyan, colors of different frequency bands can be excited. Thus, light source light of a plurality of colors can be obtained without changing the output of the light source side, and the entire projection image can be brighter and excellent in color rendering properties.

(seventh modification)

Next, a seventh modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, the time ratio of the periods (hereinafter referred to as "R field, G field, Y field, and B field") during which the respective color images of R, G, Y (yellow) and B constituting the 1-frame color image to be projected are projected is set to 10.5: 8: 7.

That is, the time ratio of R field, G field, Y field, and B field, R: G: Y: B, is 105 °: 80 °: 70 ° if converted to the center angle of the color wheel 24, with respect to 360 ° of one revolution of the color wheel 24 rotating at a constant speed.

Fig. 14(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the G field, the Y field, and the B field are controlled to be formed 1 time in a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 14(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 14(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LD)20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 3, the color wheel 24 is configured such that the circumference is divided into two by the green phosphor reflector 24G and the blue diffuser 24B. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue diffusion plate 24B is switched to the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G in the color wheel 24 is located on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 105 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 24, only red light is generated by lighting the LED21 and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 14 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, in the G field period, the LED21 is turned off, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, the G field period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 of 105 ° is obtained.

At this time, the reflected light of green excited by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C on the green fluorescent reflection plate 24G of the color wheel 24 is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as a light source.

Accordingly, an image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Next, the LED21 is turned on again while the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is maintained, and thereafter, a period of Y field corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 24 of 80 ° is formed.

At this time, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the green reflected light excited by the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed in the dichroic mirror 23 and then irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as the yellow light source light.

At this time, an image corresponding to yellow is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a yellow optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the yellow optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the LED21 is turned off to stop the generation of red light, and the color wheel 24 is rotated, so that a period of B field corresponding to the central angle of 70 ° of the color wheel 24 is formed when the blue diffusion plate 24B is positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the green phosphor reflection plate 24G, and in this B field period, the blue transmitted light diffused by the blue diffusion plate 24B is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as light source light.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue image is formed by the reflected light, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, when the time of the B field and 1 frame is over, the blue diffuser 24B and the green phosphor reflector 24G are positioned again on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and at the same time, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped, and the LED21 is turned on again, resulting in an R field period of the next frame.

In this way, by controlling the timing of lighting of the LED21 and oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 24 in which the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue diffusion plate 24B are formed, red light generated by lighting of the LED21 alone, green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone, yellow light formed by color mixing of red light generated by lighting of the LED21 and green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and blue light formed by color mixing can be cyclically generated in a time-sharing manner and irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

In particular, in order to obtain yellow light by color mixing (complementary color) of both the LED21 and the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the lighting period of the LED21 and the oscillation periods of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are set to be longer as indicated by arrows Va and Vb in fig. 5 than in the case shown in fig. 4. This makes the entire projected image brighter.

In addition, if attention is paid to the lighting period of the LED 12 shown in fig. 14(B), it is necessary to perform lighting and extinguishing of the LED21 in 2 periods with respect to 2 fields in total of the R field and the Y field which need to light the LED21 in 1 frame.

By intentionally increasing the driving frequency of the LED21 and shortening the continuous lighting time in this way, stable light emission driving at high luminance can be maintained in consideration of the characteristics of the LED21 whose light emission luminance is reduced due to the thermal resistance caused by the continuous driving.

(eighth modification)

Next, an eighth modification of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present modification, the basic configuration of the data projector apparatus 10, particularly the configuration of the light source unit 17, is the same as that shown in fig. 1 and 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Here, the time ratio of each field portion of R, G, M, B is set to 10.5: 8: 7 for a total of 4 fields in which images of R, G, M (magenta) and B colors constituting 1 frame of color image to be projected (hereinafter referred to as "R field, G field, M field, and B field") are projected.

That is, the time ratio of the R field, the G field, the M field, and the B field is 105 °: 80 °: 70 ° if the central angle of the color wheel 244 is changed to 360 ° of one revolution of the color wheel 244 rotating at a constant speed, which will be described later.

Fig. 15 shows a structure of the color wheel 244 used instead of the color wheel 24 described above. As shown in the figure, the color wheel 244 forms 1 ring of, for example, an arc-shaped green phosphor reflective plate 24G having a center angle of 210 ° and a blue diffusion plate 24B having a center angle of 150 °.

When the green fluorescent reflector 24G is positioned at the irradiation position of the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, the blue light is irradiated to excite green light having a wavelength band centered around 530 nm, for example, and the excited green light is reflected by the color wheel 244 and then also reflected by the dichroic mirror 23 via the lens group 44.

When the blue diffuser 24B is positioned at the position where the blue light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is irradiated, the blue light having a wavelength of about 450[ nm ] generated by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C passes through the blue diffuser 24B while being diffused. The transmitted blue light is also transmitted through the dichroic mirror 28 via the reflection mirrors 26 and 27.

Fig. 16(a) shows the color of the light source light irradiated to the micromirror element 16. In this way, the optical images of the R field, the G field, the M field, and the B field are controlled to be formed 1 time in a period corresponding to 1 frame.

Fig. 16(B) shows the lighting timing of the LED21, and fig. 16(C) shows the output timing of the light source light generated via the Color Wheel (CW)24 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers (B-LDs) 20A to 20C.

As shown in fig. 15, the color wheel 244 is configured to divide the circumference into two parts by the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue diffusion plate 24B. At the start of the 1-frame period, the projection light processing unit 31 controls the rotation of the motor 25 so that the position where the blue diffusion plate 24B is switched to the green phosphor reflection plate 24G in the color wheel 244 is on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C.

In the first frame of 1, during the period of the R field corresponding to the amount of 105 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 244, only red light is generated by lighting the LED21 and is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as shown in fig. 16 (B).

At this time, an image corresponding to red is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a red optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the red optical image is projected to an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

During this period, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 244 is present as long as the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate at the positions on the optical axis thereof, but green light as light source light is not generated because the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped.

Then, in the G field period, the LED21 is turned off, the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C start oscillating, and thereafter, the G field period corresponding to the center angle of the color wheel 244 of 105 ° is formed.

At this time, the reflected light of green excited by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C on the green fluorescent reflector 24G of the color wheel 244 is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as a light source.

Accordingly, an image corresponding to green is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a green optical image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the green optical image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Next, the LEDs 21 are turned on again while the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is maintained. In the color wheel 244, the green phosphor reflector 24G and the blue diffuser 24B are positioned on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C instead of the green phosphor reflector 24G, and then, a period corresponding to an M field corresponding to an amount of 80 ° of the center angle of the color wheel 244 is obtained.

At this time, the red light generated by the lighting of the LED21 and the blue light transmitted through the blue diffuser plate 24B of the color wheel 244 by the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C are mixed after the dichroic mirror 28, and are irradiated to the micro mirror element 16 as the light source light of magenta.

At this time, an image corresponding to magenta is displayed on the micromirror device 16, a magenta light image is formed by the reflected light thereof, and the magenta light image is projected to an external projection target via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, the LED21 is turned off to stop the generation of red light, and thereafter, a period of B field corresponding to the central angle of the color wheel 244 of 70 ° is formed, and in this B field period, the blue transmitted light diffused by the blue diffuser plate 24B is irradiated to the micromirror element 16 as light source light.

At this time, an image corresponding to blue is displayed on the micromirror element 16, a blue image is formed by the reflected light, and the blue light image is projected toward an external projection object via the projection lens unit 19.

Then, when the time of the B field and 1 frame is over, the blue diffuser 24B and the green phosphor reflector 24G are positioned again on the optical axis of the light from the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and at the same time, the oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C is temporarily stopped, and the LED21 is turned on again, resulting in an R field period of the next frame.

In this way, by controlling the timing of lighting of the LED21 and oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 244 on which the green phosphor reflective plate 24G and the blue diffusion plate 24B are formed, red light generated by lighting of the LED21 alone, green light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C alone, magenta light formed by color mixing of red light generated by lighting of the LED21 and blue light generated by oscillation of the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C, and blue light formed by color mixing can be cyclically generated in a time-sharing manner and irradiated to the micromirror element 16.

In particular, if attention is paid to the lighting period of the LED 12 shown in fig. 16(B), it is necessary to perform lighting and extinguishing of the LED21 in 2 periods with respect to 2 fields in total of the R field and the M field which are necessary to light the LED21 in 1 frame.

By intentionally increasing the driving frequency of the LED21 and shortening the continuous lighting time in this way, stable light emission driving at high luminance can be maintained in consideration of the characteristics of the LED21 whose light emission luminance is reduced due to the thermal resistance caused by the continuous driving.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the semiconductor lasers 20A to 20C oscillate to generate blue laser light, and further, the color wheels 24(241 to 244) generate blue light and green light, and the LED21 generates red light has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any light source unit using a plurality of light sources and any projection apparatus using such a light source unit may be used as long as the present invention is applicable, as long as the light source unit uses a plurality of light sources and the projection apparatus uses such a light source unit, in which the luminance balance of the primary color light that can be generated by 1 light source is not practically suitable.

The above-described embodiment has described the case where the present invention is applied to a DLP (registered trademark) data projector apparatus, but the present invention is also applicable to, for example, a liquid crystal projector or the like that forms an optical image using a transmissive monochromatic liquid crystal panel.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, the functions performed in the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate as possible. The above-described embodiments include various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of a plurality of disclosed structural elements. For example, even if several components are deleted from all the components according to the embodiment, if the effects of the invention can be obtained, the structure from which the components are deleted can be extracted as the invention.

Claims (19)

1. A light source device, comprising:

a first light source emitting blue light in a first wavelength band as first light source light;

a light source light modulator having a first surface and a second surface, and further having a first region in which the first light source light is diffused and transmitted to output blue light as transmitted light from the first surface, and a second region in which reflected light excited by the first light source light is reflected to output green light as the reflected light from the second surface; and

and a second light source that emits red light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band as second light source light.

2. The light source device according to claim 1,

the light source light modulator includes a phosphor layer provided in the second region, and the phosphor layer emits green light as the reflected light when excited by being irradiated with the first light source light.

3. The light source device according to claim 1,

the light source device further includes:

an integrator that uniformizes a luminance distribution of light incident on a light incident surface of the integrator; and

a light guide optical system that guides the transmitted light, the reflected light, and the second source light to the light incident surface of the integrator.

4. The light source device according to claim 3,

the light guide optical system includes a first dichroic mirror that transmits the first light source light and the second light source light and reflects the reflected light, between the first light source and the light source light modulator.

5. The light source device according to claim 4,

the light guide optical system is configured such that the second light source light transmitted through the first dichroic mirror and the reflected light reflected by the first dichroic mirror share an optical component,

the optical member includes a condensing lens that condenses the second source light, the transmitted light, and the reflected light to the light incident surface of the integrator.

6. The light source device according to claim 5,

in the light-guiding optical system,

the magnification of the entire optical member disposed on the optical path on which the second light source light enters the integrator is set to a magnification at which the light emitting region of the second light source is within the light entrance surface of the integrator,

the magnification of the entire optical member disposed on the optical path on which the reflected light enters the integrator is set to a magnification at which the irradiation region of the first source light of the source light modulator is within the light incident surface of the integrator.

7. The light source device according to claim 3,

the light guide optical system includes a second dichroic mirror that reflects the second light source light and the reflected light and transmits the transmitted light.

8. The light source device according to claim 3,

the light guide optical system includes:

a first condenser lens disposed in the vicinity of the first surface of the light source light modulator, and condensing the transmitted light output from the first surface; and

and a second condensing lens disposed in the vicinity of the second surface of the light source light modulator, and condensing the reflected light output from the second surface.

9. The light source device according to claim 8,

the first condenser lens is smaller in size than the second condenser lens.

10. The light source device according to claim 8 or 9,

the second condenser lens is composed of a plurality of condenser lenses.

11. The light source device according to any one of claims 7 to 9,

the light source device further comprises a motor to rotate the light source light modulator,

the motor is attached to the light source light modulator so as to face the first surface.

12. A projection device, comprising:

the light source device of any one of claims 1 to 11;

a video interface to which an image signal is input; and

and a projection unit configured to generate a color light image corresponding to the image signal by using output light source light output from the light source device, and project the color light image.

13. A light source device, comprising:

a first light source emitting blue light in a first wavelength band as first light source light;

a light source light generating unit that generates at least blue light and green light as variable color light source light having a color that changes with time, using the first light source light;

a second light source that emits red light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band as second light source light; and

and a light source control unit that controls a drive timing for turning on or off each of the first light source and the second light source, and cyclically selects the variable color light source light and the second light source light to output as output light source light.

14. A projection device, comprising:

the light source device of claim 13;

a video interface to which an image signal is input; and

and a projection unit configured to generate a color light image corresponding to the image signal by using the output light source light, and project the color light image.

15. The projection device of claim 14,

the first light source emits first laser light in a blue wavelength band as the first light source light,

the light source light generation mechanism includes a color wheel, and the color wheel includes:

a phosphor layer that emits a second laser beam in a green wavelength band using the first laser beam as excitation light; and

a diffusion layer that diffuses and transmits the first laser light,

the phosphor layer and the diffusion layer are disposed on the color wheel,

the second light source includes a light emitting diode that emits the second light source light in a red wavelength band.

16. Projection apparatus according to claim 14 or 15,

the light source control means controls the drive timing so that the variable color light source light of at least 1 color and the second light source light partially overlap each other, and generates the output light source light having a mixed color of the variable color light source light and the second light source light,

the projection unit generates the color light image corresponding to the color of the output light source light in synchronization with the timing of emitting the output light source light, and projects the color light image.

17. The projection device of claim 16,

the light source control means controls the drive timing so that a first period during which only the second light source light is emitted and a second period during which the first light source light and the second light source light are emitted simultaneously are separated in time.

18. The projection device of claim 16,

the light source control means controls the driving timing so that the variable color light source light and the second light source light overlap each other in synchronization with a timing at which the color of the variable color light source light is changed, and generates the output light source light having the mixed color.

19. An image projection method for a projection apparatus,

the projection device includes:

a light source device, the light source device comprising: a first light source emitting blue light in a first wavelength band as first light source light; a light source light generating unit that generates at least blue light and green light as variable color light source light having a color that changes with time, using the first light source light; and a second light source emitting red light as second light source light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band;

a video interface to which an image signal is input; and

a projection unit configured to generate a color light image corresponding to the image signal by using output light source light output from the light source device, and project the color light image;

in the image projection method, the variable color light source light and the second light source light are cyclically selected and output as output light source light by controlling the driving timing of turning on or off the first light source and the second light source, respectively.