JP2008165058A - projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce scintillation of a screen projection image irrespective of an image producing system such as a liquid crystal light valve and a DMD (digital micromirror device). <P>SOLUTION: In a projector which projects image light of a spacial light modulator having two or more pixels by a projection means, polarization directions of respective two or more regions in a projection pixel are made about orthogonal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector.

  Conventionally, in a rear projector (a rear projection type projection device), scintillation (glaring) is likely to occur on a transmissive screen, and a scintillation is reduced by using a diffusive member as a part of a screen component. The following relationship can be found by comparing rear projector images by method.

  For example, a rear projector using a liquid crystal light valve as a light valve (spatial light modulator) and a rear projector using a digital micromirror device (DMD) have a small scintillation of the latter. This is because the rear projector using a liquid crystal light valve uses polarized light and polarized light aligned with the screen image is used, whereas the DMD projector (DMD projector) uses random polarized illumination light. This is considered to be due to the random polarization above. For this reason, in a DMD type projector, the coherence becomes low, so that scintillation is also reduced. However, in the DMD projector, there is a polarization component that can interfere even with random polarization, and as a result, it is considered that scintillation appears.

  Making the polarization directions orthogonal to each other as in the prior art is somewhat effective in reducing scintillation. However, since scintillation remains even within the projected pixel unit, this is not a radical solution.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a polarization transmission screen is disposed in front of a spatial light modulator in a 3D display system, and this transmission screen is configured by a polarization 0 ° rotation unit and a 90 ° rotation unit (see FIG. 9). That is, an invention of a system using a domain-divided retardation plate is disclosed.

In Patent Document 2, the polarization directions of adjacent pixels are orthogonal to each other in units of pixels. In an image display apparatus mainly using laser light as a light source, an invention has been disclosed in which the polarization directions are orthogonalized for each adjacent pixel in order to reduce speckle noise on the screen.
JP 2005-215326 A JP 2002-62582 A

  A main object of the present invention is to reduce scintillation of a screen projection image regardless of an image forming method such as a liquid crystal light valve or DMD.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a projector for projecting image light of a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels by a projection unit, and the polarization directions of a plurality of regions in the projection pixel. Is a projector that is substantially orthogonal.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a projector that projects image light of a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels by a projection lens, a phase difference plate divided into regions near the lens pupil of the projection lens is disposed. This is a projector characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a projector that projects image light of a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels onto a screen by a projecting unit, wherein a phase difference plate divided into regions is arranged in the screen. It is a projector.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the third aspect, the screen includes at least a diffusive member and a region-divided phase difference plate.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the third or fourth aspect, the screen is a reflective screen, and the phase difference amount of each area of the area division phase difference plate is delayed by a quarter wavelength. The phase axes are perpendicular to each other.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the third or fourth aspect, the screen is a transmissive screen, and the phase difference amount of each region of the region division phase difference plate is delayed by a half wavelength. The phase axes are perpendicular to each other.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the projector according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the wavelength (λ) is a green band.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the transmissive screen includes a Fresnel lens, a lenticular lens, and a region-dividing phase difference plate.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the projector according to the eighth aspect of the invention, the region-dividing phase difference plate is disposed between the Fresnel lens and the lenticular lens.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to any one of the third to ninth aspects, the region-dividing phase difference plate is a structural birefringence type.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the eighth or ninth aspect, a structural birefringence type region-dividing phase difference plate is installed in either the Fresnel lens or the lenticular lens. .

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to any one of the third to tenth aspects, the region-divided phase difference plate is vibrated.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce scintillation of a screen projection image regardless of an image forming method such as a liquid crystal light valve or DMD, and as a result, an image is easy to see.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment of the projector of the present invention, image light from the liquid crystal light valve 11 is enlarged and projected onto a transmission screen 14 by a projection lens 12. Light from an arbitrary pixel of the liquid crystal light valve 11 reaches the screen 14 with a ray trajectory as shown in FIG. Light from the pixels is imaged on the screen. An area division phase difference plate 13 is disposed in the vicinity of the lens pupil of the projection lens. Although FIG. 1 shows a case where only one spatial light modulator 11 is shown, three liquid crystal panels for red, green and blue are arranged, color synthesis is performed by a dichroic prism, and a transmission screen is formed by a projection lens. 14 may be configured to be enlarged and projected.

  An example of the area division phase difference plate 13 is shown in FIG. The region 51 and the region 52 are phase difference plates having a phase difference amount of λ / 2. The region 51 is arranged by rotating the region 51 by + 22.5 ° from a predetermined direction, and the region 52 is −22. Rotated by 5 °. λ is preferably a green wavelength. The predetermined orientation may be based on the polarization direction of the image light of the green liquid crystal light valve. In this case, the light that has passed through the region 51 is polarized in the + 45 ° direction, and the light that has passed through the region 52 is polarized at −45 °. On the screen, the light from the two types of azimuths is combined, so that it becomes difficult to interfere and scintillation is reduced. However, there is a possibility that scintillation occurs when light from the regions 51 or 52 in different places overlaps on the screen. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the scintillation by adjusting the size of the region division to approach the best range.

  As another example of the region-divided phase difference plate 13, for example, the region 51 and the region 52 are both phase difference plates having a phase difference amount of λ / 4, and the region 51 is rotated by + 45 ° from the predetermined axis. And the region 52 is rotated by −45 °. In this case, the light that has passed through the region 51 and the region 52 is circularly polarized, and if the rotation direction is reversed, it becomes difficult to interfere and scintillation is reduced. In addition, since the area division | segmentation phase difference plate is installed in a projection lens, even if a screen is not only a transmission type but a reflection type, a scintillation is reduced. Front projection with a reflective screen has less scintillation than rear projection. However, in the case of a projection apparatus using a solid light source, the present invention is particularly effective when the coherence is higher than that of lamp light and scintillation is conspicuous even in front projection.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment.
This is a transmissive screen 20 having a structure in which an area division phase difference plate 22 is sandwiched between a Fresnel lens 21 and a lenticular lens 23. The projected image light is incident on the Fresnel lens 21 from the left side of FIG. The light substantially collimated by the Fresnel lens 21 is incident on the region division phase difference plate 22. The area division phase difference plate 22 is obtained by enlarging the area division phase difference plate shown in FIG. 3 to a transmissive screen size. In each region, the polarization direction is orthogonal or circular polarization, and the rotation direction is different. Next, it is diffused to a predetermined range by a lenticular lens. In the rear projector, an image reflected on the screen 20 is seen, and because of the area-dividing phase difference plate, the amount of light that cannot be interfered increases, and thus scintillation on the screen is reduced. In FIG. 2, the area division phase difference plate 22 is disposed between the Fresnel lens 21 and the lenticular lens 23. Since the projected image light is substantially parallelized at this position, there is an advantage that a desired phase difference can be obtained. However, even if it is arranged immediately before the Fresnel lens (on the left side in FIG. 2), the same effect as in this embodiment can be obtained by using a region-divided phase difference plate in which the phase difference amount is changed at the position on the screen.

<Modification of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, a region-dividing phase difference plate 22 is disposed immediately before a transmissive screen composed of a diffusive member. Usually, a screen using a diffusive member has an effect of reducing the coherence and suppressing the scintillation due to the diffusibility, but it is necessary to increase the diffusibility as the scintillation is reduced. The higher the diffusivity, the lower the transmittance. At the same time as the scintillation is lowered, the brightness of the image light itself is sacrificed (that is, the amount of image light is reduced). However, in this embodiment, the diffusibility is not given more than necessary, and the coherence can be lowered by the area division phase difference plate. For this reason, a bright image is obtained despite the diffusive screen.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the third embodiment.
This is a rear projector composed of a transmissive screen including a projector (DLP projector) 31 using a DMD, a polarizing plate 32, and a region-dividing phase difference plate. In the commercially available DLP projector, since the image light is randomly polarized, the polarizing plate 32 is once arranged in the projection optical path in order to align the polarization direction. The transmission screen 20 is as described above.
According to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the scintillation of a rear projector that uses a DMD as a spatial light modulator by using a transmission screen equipped with a region division phase difference plate. The polarizing plate 32 may be installed in the DLP projector. Further, instead of the polarizing plate, a polarization conversion element using PBS (Polarization Beam Splitter), λ / 2 plate, and mirror may be arranged in the illumination optical system (not shown).

<Fourth embodiment>
FIGS. 6 to 7 are views for explaining a fourth embodiment.
The projection light 62 from the projector 61 is reflected by the reflective screen 63. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the reflective screen 63 and its vicinity. An area-divided phase difference plate 71 is disposed in the vicinity of the reflective screen 63. In the area division phase difference plate 71, an area 71a that gives a phase difference of λ / 4 and an area 71b that does not change the polarization state are arranged in an array. When the region 71a is uniaxial birefringent, the slow axis is arranged with an inclination of approximately 45 ° from the plane of polarization of the projection light. It is desirable that the area division phase difference plate 71 is two-dimensionally arrayed. Further, this array need not be arranged at an equal pitch, and may be an unequal pitch. Each region is preferably smaller than the projection pixel size, and λ is preferably set to a green wavelength.

  When the projector projection light is in a polarization state horizontal to the paper surface, the light reciprocating in the area 71a becomes polarization perpendicular to the paper surface, and the light reciprocating in the area 71b is in a polarization state parallel to the paper surface. When the projector projection light is perpendicular to the paper surface, the light traveling back and forth in the region 71a is polarized parallel to the paper surface. In this way, the projection pixel is divided into a plurality of regions where the polarizations are orthogonal. For this reason, scintillation is reduced.

  As described above, the front projection has less scintillation than the rear projection, but in the case of a projection apparatus using a solid light source, the coherence is higher than the lamp light and the scintillation is conspicuous even in front projection. Is particularly effective. In particular, since the area division phase difference plate is disposed in the vicinity of the projection position (that is, the screen), the resolution performance of the projection system of an image having a high spatial frequency is not sacrificed.

<Fifth Embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment.
The transmission screen 80 includes a Fresnel lens 81 and a lenticular lens 23. The Fresnel lens 81 has an area division phase difference plate by structural birefringence, and two types of areas are alternately formed as shown in FIG. There are two possible settings for the configuration of the area division phase difference plate. As a first configuration example, both the regions 82a and 82b have a phase difference of λ / 4, and the slow axis rotates + 45 ° and −45 ° from a plane parallel to the paper surface, that is, both slow axes are orthogonal to each other. It has become a relationship. In the case of this configuration example, the projection light (polarized light parallel or perpendicular to the paper surface) becomes circularly polarized light, and becomes clockwise circularly polarized light and counterclockwise circularly polarized light for each region. The coherence between the two becomes extremely small. The projected light becomes substantially parallel light by the Fresnel lens function, and is transmitted with predetermined divergent light by the lenticular lens. Since the screen pixels have low coherence, scintillation is very small.

  In the second configuration example of the area division phase difference plate, both the areas 82a and 82b have a phase difference of λ / 2, and one slow axis is + 22.5 ° with respect to the paper surface, and the other is -22.5 degrees tilted. For this reason, it becomes +45 degrees or -45 degrees with respect to the paper surface for each region, so that the coherence is lowered and the scintillation is also reduced.

  Since the phase difference plate function is exhibited by the structural birefringence, the function of the phase difference plate having a wide wavelength dependency can be provided. For this reason, even if it is designed with green light, the effect of reducing scintillation can be sufficiently obtained with blue and red light. In this embodiment, the structural birefringence is produced in the Fresnel lens, but it may be produced in a lenticular lens. Furthermore, even if the configuration in which the region division phase difference plate 22 in FIG. 2 is replaced with a region division phase difference plate having structural birefringence, the effect of the present invention can be obtained.

<Sixth Embodiment>
A sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the second embodiment, the area division phase difference plate 22 is fixed, but in the present embodiment, the area division phase difference plate 22 is vibrated. Piezo elements can be used as the means for vibrating. As a means for reducing scintillation, in a method of vibrating the screen itself or the projection lens, the projection pixel slightly moves.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, only the region-divided phase difference plate is vibrated, so that the projection pixel does not vibrate. A plurality of regions where the polarizations are orthogonal to each other in one projection pixel vibrate with time. For this reason, since the coherence is lowered with time, scintillation is reduced.

  Therefore, a good image with very little screen flicker can be obtained by a synergistic effect with the scintillation reduction effect by the area division phase difference plate.

<Effect>
According to the above embodiment, since the polarization is orthogonal within the projection pixel, the scintillation is reduced and the image is easy to see.
In addition, since the polarization is orthogonalized for each region in the vicinity of the projection lens pupil, scintillation is reduced and the image is easy to see.
Further, since the area-divided phase difference plate is arranged in the screen, scintillation is reduced without depending on the system from the spatial light modulator to the projection lens, and the image can be easily seen.
Further, scintillation is reduced by the effects of both the diffusive screen and the area-divided phase difference plate, and the image becomes easy to see.
In addition, since the reflection type screen has a plurality of orthogonally polarized regions in one projection pixel, scintillation is reduced and the image is easy to see.
In addition, since the transmissive screen has a plurality of regions in which the polarized light beams are orthogonal to each other within one projection pixel, scintillation is reduced and the image is easy to see.
Also, with the front or rear projector, scintillation can be reduced over the entire visible range, making it easier to see the image.
Also, the rear projector can reduce scintillation and make it easier to see the image.
In addition, the rear projector can provide a desired retardation by the area-divided phase difference plate, and the image can be easily seen by reducing the scintillation.
Further, since the retardation plate is based on structural birefringence, the wavelength dependency is widened, scintillation can be reduced over the entire visible range, and the image can be easily viewed.
Further, since the structural birefringence type phase difference plate is used for the Fresnel lens or the lenticular lens of the transmission type screen, the scintillation of the projection screen can be reduced without impairing the orientation characteristics of the screen.
Further, since the region-divided phase difference plate is vibrated, the scintillation reduction effect is enhanced and the image is easy to see.

It is a figure which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the area | region division phase difference plate used for the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment of the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the modification of 2nd Embodiment of the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of 3rd Embodiment of the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of 4th Embodiment of the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the screen used by 4th Embodiment of the projector of this invention, and its periphery. It is a figure which shows the structure of 5th Embodiment of the projector of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional projector.

Explanation of symbols

11 Spatial light modulator (liquid crystal light valve)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Projection lens 13, 22, 71 Area division | segmentation phase difference plate 14 Screen 20 Transmission type screen 21, 81 Fresnel lens 23 Lenticular lens 31 Projector (DLP projector) using DMD
32 Polarizing plate 61 Projector 62 Transmitted light 63 Reflective screen 80 Transmitting screen

Claims (12)

  A projector for projecting image light of a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels by a projection means, wherein the polarization directions of a plurality of regions in the projection pixel are substantially orthogonal.   A projector for projecting image light of a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels by a projection lens, wherein a phase difference plate divided into regions near the lens pupil of the projection lens is disposed.   A projector for projecting image light of a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels onto a screen by a projecting means, wherein a phase difference plate divided into regions is arranged in the screen.   4. The projector according to claim 3, wherein the screen includes at least a diffusive member and a region-dividing phase difference plate.   5. The projector according to claim 3, wherein the screen is a reflective screen, the phase difference amount of each region of the region-dividing phase difference plate is a quarter wavelength, and the slow axis is orthogonal. Characteristic projector.   5. The projector according to claim 3, wherein the screen is a transmissive screen, the phase difference amount of each region of the region division phase difference plate is a half wavelength, and the slow axis is orthogonal. Characteristic projector.   The projector according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the wavelength (λ) is in a green band.   8. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the transmissive screen includes a Fresnel lens, a lenticular lens, and a region division phase difference plate.   9. The projector according to claim 8, wherein the region-dividing phase difference plate is disposed between the Fresnel lens and the lenticular lens.   10. The projector according to claim 3, wherein the region-dividing phase difference plate is of a structural birefringence type. 11.   10. The projector according to claim 8, wherein a structural birefringence type region-dividing phase difference plate is installed in either the Fresnel lens or the lenticular lens.   The projector according to claim 3, wherein the region-dividing phase difference plate is vibrated.

Images