JP2010002683A - Optical modulation device and projector - Google Patents

Abstract

A light modulation device capable of effectively cooling a liquid crystal panel is provided.
A light modulation device includes a liquid crystal panel having a first substrate and a second substrate, and a panel holder. The outer surfaces of the substrates 82 and 81 are provided with first and second light-transmitting substrates 85 and 84 that are smaller than the substrates 82 and 81 in plan view. The panel holder 9 has a first opening 921 at the bottom. A holding frame 90 that has a storage recess 936 that is formed and in which the liquid crystal panel 8 is installed, and a clamping member 94 that has a second opening 941 into which the second translucent substrate 84 is inserted. The holding frame 90 has the bottom portion of the housing recess 936 brought into surface contact with the first substrate 82 when the first translucent substrate 85 is inserted into the first opening 921, and the holding member 94 is inserted into the second opening 941. The second translucent substrate 84 is inserted to come into surface contact with the second substrate 81.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a light modulation device and a projector.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a projector including a light source device, a light modulation device having a liquid crystal panel that modulates a light beam emitted from the light source device according to image information to form image light, and a projection optical device that magnifies and projects the image light It has been known.
In such a projector, a configuration in which a liquid crystal panel is cooled by a cooling liquid is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In the projector described in Patent Document 1, the light modulation device includes a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is hermetically sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a panel holder that holds the liquid crystal panel. A first translucent substrate is provided on the outer surface of the first substrate, and a second translucent substrate is provided on the outer surface of the second substrate. The panel holding body includes a holding frame (frame-like member) having a storage recess in which the liquid crystal panel is installed, a flow pipe (liquid crystal panel cooling pipe) connected to the holding frame and circulating cooling liquid, and a holding frame. And a holding member (a liquid crystal panel fixing plate) for holding the liquid crystal panel therebetween. The first translucent substrate is in contact with the bottom portion of the housing recess, and the second translucent substrate is in contact with the clamping member.
In the projector described in Patent Document 1, heat generated in the liquid crystal panel is transmitted to the holding frame via the first light-transmitting substrate that contacts the bottom portion of the housing recess, and is also transmitted to the holding member. It is transmitted to the holding member via the optical substrate, and is transmitted from the holding member to the holding frame. Then, the heat from the liquid crystal panel transmitted to the holding frame is radiated through the cooling liquid.

JP 2006-243122 A

  However, in the projector described in Patent Document 1, heat generated in the liquid crystal panel is transmitted to the holding frame via a light-transmitting substrate such as glass having high thermal resistance, so that the liquid crystal panel can be effectively cooled. There was a problem that it was difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a light modulation device and a projector that can effectively cool a liquid crystal panel.

  The light modulation device of the present invention is a light modulation device including a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is hermetically sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a panel holding body that holds the liquid crystal panel, and each of the substrates. A first translucent substrate and a second translucent substrate having outer shapes smaller than each of the substrates in plan view are provided on the outer surface, respectively, and the panel holding body has the first translucent substrate at the bottom portion. A first opening into which a substrate is inserted is formed, and a holding frame having a storage recess in which the liquid crystal panel is installed, and a shape surrounding a light transmission region of the liquid crystal panel, connected to the holding frame, A circulation pipe for circulating the cooling liquid; and a holding member that has a second opening into which the second light-transmissive substrate is inserted and holds the liquid crystal panel between the holding frame and the holding frame. The first translucent substrate is inserted into the first opening. The bottom portion of the storage recess is in surface contact with the first substrate, and the clamping member is in surface contact with the second substrate by inserting the second translucent substrate into the second opening. Features.

In the present invention, when the first translucent substrate that covers the first substrate is formed smaller than the first substrate and the liquid crystal panel is held between the holding frame and the holding member, the first translucent substrate is held by the holding frame. Accordingly, the peripheral edge of the first substrate outside the first light-transmitting substrate comes into surface contact around the first opening at the bottom of the holding frame. In addition, since the second light-transmitting substrate that covers the second substrate is also formed smaller than the second substrate and inserted into the second opening of the holding member, the peripheral portion of the second substrate outside the second light-transmitting substrate. Will be in surface contact with the clamping member.
Therefore, the heat generated in the substrate can be effectively transmitted from the first substrate to the holding frame by direct surface contact, and can also be effectively transmitted from the second substrate side to the holding frame by the surface contact via the clamping member. Heat can be radiated from the frame through the cooling liquid. Thereby, in this invention, each board | substrate can fully be cooled and the thermal deterioration of each board | substrate can be suppressed, maintaining the dustproof performance of each board | substrate favorable by each translucent board | substrate.

In the light modulation device according to the aspect of the invention, it is preferable that at least one of the translucent substrates protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holder through the opening.
In the present invention, since at least one of the translucent substrates protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holding body through the first opening or the second opening, the cooling air is sent to the light modulation device. Then, the cooling air flows along the outer surface of the translucent substrate. For this reason, heat generated in the substrate can be radiated well even through the translucent substrate, and the liquid crystal panel can be cooled more effectively.

The projector of the present invention includes a light source device, a light modulation device that modulates a light beam emitted from the light source device according to image information to form image light, and a projection optical device that enlarges and projects the image light. The light modulation device is the light modulation device described above.
In the present invention, since the light modulation device similar to that described above is provided, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

[First Embodiment]
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Schematic configuration of projector]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the projector 1 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the top / bottom / front / rear / left / right described below are the top / bottom / front / back / left / right in the drawing view of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 1 includes an exterior casing 2 in which an intake port 211 and an exhaust port 212 are formed on the right side surface 21, and an apparatus main body 3 disposed inside the exterior casing 2.
The apparatus main body 3 includes an optical unit 4, an air cooling device 5, a liquid cooling device 6, a thermoelectric conversion unit 7, and a control device (not shown) that controls the operation of each component of the projector 1.

[Configuration of optical unit]
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing an optical system of the optical unit 4. In addition, since the structure of each apparatus 41-47 which comprises the optical unit 4 is the same as the structure utilized as an optical system of various general projectors, it demonstrates easily below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical unit 4 includes a light source device 41, an illumination optical device 42, a color separation optical device 43, a relay optical device 44, an optical device 45, an optical component housing 46, and a projection. And a lens 47.

The light source device 41 includes a light source lamp 411 and a reflector 412.
The illumination optical device 42 includes lens arrays 421 and 422, a reflection mirror 423, a polarization conversion element 424, and a superimposing lens 425.
The color separation optical device 43 includes dichroic mirrors 431 and 432 and a reflection mirror 433.
The optical device 45 includes three light modulation devices 451 (red light side light modulation device 451R, green light side light modulation device 451G, blue light side light modulation device 451B), and three incident side polarizations. A plate 452, three exit-side polarizing plates 453, and a cross dichroic prism 454 as a color synthesis optical device are included. The light modulation device 451 includes a liquid crystal panel 8 (see FIG. 3, the liquid crystal panel on the red light side is 8R, the liquid crystal panel on the green light side is 8G, and the liquid crystal panel on the blue light side is 8B), and the liquid crystal panel 8 And a panel holding body 9 (see FIG. 3). The details of the light modulation device 451 will be described later.
The optical component casing 46 arranges the optical components 41 to 45 at predetermined positions with respect to the illumination optical axis A set therein.

  In such an optical unit 4, the light beam emitted from the light source device 41 and passing through the illumination optical device 42 is separated into three color lights of R, G, and B by the color separation optical device 43. The light modulation device 451 modulates the light according to the image information to form image light for each color light. The image light for each color light is combined by the cross dichroic prism 454 and enlarged and projected on the screen (not shown) by the projection lens 47.

[Configuration of air cooling device]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the air cooling device 5 as viewed from above, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air cooling device 5 as viewed from below.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air cooling device 5 includes an intake duct 51, a pair of sirocco fans 52 and 53 (FIG. 4) as cooling fans, a blower duct 54, and an axial fan 55.
The intake duct 51 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, an opening 511 connected to the intake port 211 of the exterior housing 2 is formed on the right side surface, and sirocco fans 52 and 53 and the intake duct are formed on the lower side end surface. A pair of openings (not shown) that communicate with the interior of 51 are formed.

Each of the sirocco fans 52 and 53 is attached to the lower end surface of the intake duct 51, sucks air outside the exterior housing 2 through the intake duct 51, and discharges it to the blower duct 54.
One end of the air duct 54 is connected to the sirocco fans 52 and 53, and the other end is connected to an opening (not shown) formed below each light modulation device 451 of the optical component housing 46. , 53 is discharged toward the optical device 45 from the opening. The discharged air circulates between the members 451 to 453 of the optical device 45 from below to above, and cools the members 451 to 453.
The axial fan 55 is disposed opposite to the exhaust port 212 formed in the exterior housing 2 with the radiator 62 interposed therebetween, and discharges the sucked air toward the radiator 62 to cool the radiator 62. The air that has cooled the radiator 62 is discharged to the outside of the exterior casing 2 through the exhaust port 212.

[Configuration of liquid cooling device]
The liquid cooling device 6 circulates a cooling liquid such as water or ethylene glycol along the annular flow path, and cools the light modulation device 451 with the cooling liquid. As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid cooling device 6 includes three panel holders 9, which are also constituent elements of the light modulation device 451, a liquid pumping unit 61, a radiator 62, a first heat receiving jacket 63, and a second heat receiving member. A jacket 64 and a liquid circulation member 65 that connects the members 9 and 61 to 64 to form an annular flow path are provided.

The panel holding body 9 holds the liquid crystal panel 8 and the cooling liquid flows into and out of the liquid crystal panel 8 and cools the liquid crystal panel 8 with the cooling liquid.
The liquid pumping unit 61 is a pump that sucks and pumps the cooling liquid, and circulates the cooling liquid along an annular flow path.
The radiator 62 cools the cooling liquid flowing through the radiator 62 with the air discharged from the axial fan 55.
The heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 are microchannels in which a plurality of plates are provided along the flow direction of the cooling liquid. The heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 receive heat from the cooling liquid flowing through the inside, and dissipate the received heat through a thermoelectric conversion unit 7 described later, thereby cooling the cooling liquid.
In addition, the structure of the flow path connecting the members 9 and 61 to 64 will be described later.

[Configuration of thermoelectric conversion unit]
As shown in FIG. 3, the thermoelectric conversion unit 7 includes a support member 71, a Peltier element (not shown) as a thermoelectric conversion element, a heat sink 72, an air guide member 73, and a sirocco fan 74.
Heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 are installed on the upper surface of the support member 71, and openings (not shown) are formed at positions corresponding to the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 of the support member 71. On the lower surface of the support member 71, Peltier elements are installed at positions corresponding to the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64, and the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 and the Peltier elements are connected to each other so as to be able to transfer heat through the openings. Has been. A heat sink 72 and an air guide member 73 are attached to the lower surface of the support member 71.

As described above, the upper surface of the Peltier element is connected to the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 so as to be able to transfer heat, and the lower surface is connected to the heat sink 72 so as to be able to transfer heat. In such a Peltier element, when electric power is supplied, the upper surface facing the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 becomes a heat absorbing surface, and the lower surface becomes a heat radiating surface. That is, the Peltier element absorbs heat from the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 and transmits the heat to the heat sink 72 when electric power is supplied.
The air guide member 73 is formed in a U-shaped cross section and along the front-rear direction, and houses the heat sink 72 in the U-shaped inner portion.
The sirocco fan 74 is disposed on the front side of the air guide member 73, discharges the sucked air toward the heat sink 72, and dissipates the heat transmitted to the heat sink 72.

[Configuration of flow path of liquid cooling device]
As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path in the liquid cooling device 6 is configured in an annular shape that returns to the liquid cooling device 6 again through the panel holder 9, the liquid pumping unit 61, the radiator 62, and the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64. . The flow path from the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64 to the panel holding body 9 is branched, one through the panel holding body 9 holding the liquid crystal panel 8G for green light, and the other is the liquid crystal panel for blue light. 8B is passed through the panel holding body 9 that holds the liquid crystal panel 8R for red light and the panel holding body 9 that holds the liquid crystal panel 8R for red light, and these flow paths merge again after passing through each panel holding body 9, Head toward the liquid pumping unit 61.

  That is, in this embodiment, the heat generated in the liquid crystal panel 8 and transferred to the cooling liquid via the panel holder 9 is first dissipated by the radiator 62, and then the heat receiving jackets 63, 64 to the Peltier elements to the heat sink. The heat is radiated by the air sent from the sirocco fan 74 through the heat transfer path 72. Then, the heat is gradually radiated by the radiator 62 and the heat receiving jackets 63 and 64, and the cooling liquid cooled to a temperature lower than the environmental temperature is sent to the panel holder 9 again.

[Configuration of light modulator]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the light modulation device 451 viewed from the light beam incident side, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the light modulation device 451 viewed from the light beam emission side.
Hereinafter, the light modulation device 451 which is the most characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described. In addition, since each light modulation apparatus 451R, 451G, 451B is the same structure, below, only one light modulation apparatus 451 is demonstrated.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light modulation device 451 includes a liquid crystal panel 8 and a panel holder 9.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the light modulation device 451.
As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal panel 8 of the light modulation device 451 has a driving substrate 81 as a second substrate on which switching elements such as data lines, scanning lines, TFTs (Thin Film Transistors), pixel electrodes, and the like are formed. A counter substrate 82 as a first substrate on which a common electrode and a black mask are formed, a liquid crystal 83 (see FIG. 8) as an electro-optical material hermetically sealed between the substrates 81 and 82, and a drive substrate 81 The first dust-proof glass 84 as the second light-transmitting substrate provided on the driving substrate 81 and the outer shape smaller than the counter substrate 82 are opposed to each other. And a second dust-proof glass 85 as a first light-transmitting substrate provided on the substrate 82.

The panel holding body 9 holds the liquid crystal panel 8, and a cooling liquid flows into and out of the inside, and the liquid crystal panel 8 is cooled by the cooling liquid. As shown in FIG. 7, the panel holder 9 includes a holding frame 90, a flow pipe 91, and a clamping member 94.
The flow pipe 91 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view surrounding the image forming area R (light transmission area) of the liquid crystal panel 8 and allows the cooling liquid to flow therethrough. The flow pipe 91 is connected to a holding frame 90 described later so as to be able to transfer heat.

The holding frame 90 includes an attachment member 92 and a support frame 93.
The attachment member 92 is a plate and has an attachment member opening 921 as a first opening. The attachment member opening 921 is formed in a rectangular shape and exposes the image forming region R of the liquid crystal panel 8. A groove 923 corresponding to the shape of the flow pipe 91 is formed on the surface 922 of the mounting member 92 on the light beam exit side. A distribution pipe 91 is fitted into the groove 923.

  A groove 932 corresponding to the shape of the flow pipe 91 is formed on the surface 931 on the light flux incident side of the support frame 93. An attachment member 92 is attached to the surface 931 on the light beam incident side of the support frame 93. At this time, the flow pipe 91 is fitted into the groove 932 and is sandwiched between the support frame 93 and the attachment member 92 and connected to the support frame 93 and the attachment member 92 so as to be able to transfer heat.

  At each corner of the surface 933 on the light beam exit side of the support frame 93, as shown in FIG. The locking portions 934 press the four corners of the holding member 94 attached to the light beam incident side surface 933 of the support frame 93 and position the holding member 94. A through hole 9341 that penetrates the support frame 93 is formed in the locking portion 934. A bolt (not shown) for fixing the light modulation device 451 to the cross dichroic prism 454 is inserted into the through hole 9341.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the light modulation device 451.
In such a support frame 93, a support frame opening 935 including an incident side opening 9351 and an emission side opening 9352 is formed.
The incident side opening 9351 opens on the light beam incident side surface 931 of the support frame 93, and is formed slightly larger in plan view than the mounting member opening 921 and the counter substrate 82 of the liquid crystal panel 8.
The exit side opening 9352 opens on the light beam exit side surface 933 of the support frame 93 and is slightly larger than the entrance side opening 9351 and the drive substrate 81 of the liquid crystal panel 8 in plan view.
A storage recess 936 in which the liquid crystal panel 8 is stored is formed from the support frame opening 935 and the surface 922 on the light emission side of the mounting member 92.

The storage recess 936 includes a first storage recess 9361 having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the counter substrate 82, and a peripheral portion of the first storage recess 9361. And a second housing recess 9362 formed and having a depth corresponding to the drive substrate 81.
The liquid crystal panel 8 is stored in such a storage recess 936 such that the peripheral edge of the counter substrate 82 outside the second dust-proof glass 85 is in surface contact with the bottom of the first storage recess 9361 of the holding frame 90. . At this time, the counter substrate 82 and the holding frame 90 are connected to each other through a peripheral portion of the counter substrate 82 outside the second dust-proof glass 85 so that heat can be transferred.

  Here, since the counter substrate has conventionally transferred heat to the holding frame via a light-transmitting substrate such as glass having high thermal resistance, the temperature of the cooling liquid is lowered using a Peltier element, for example. Even if the holding frame is cooled by cooling or increasing the flow rate of the cooling liquid by the liquid pumping unit, the substrate cannot be sufficiently cooled. However, in the present embodiment, the outer peripheral edge of the counter substrate 82 on the outer side of the second dustproof glass 85 is in surface contact with the holding frame 90, so that heat generated in the substrates 81 and 82 can be effectively transmitted to the holding frame 90. Can be effectively transmitted to the cooling liquid flowing through the holding frame 90. Thereby, in this embodiment, since the board | substrates 81 and 82 can fully be cooled and the thermal deterioration of the liquid crystal panel 8 can be suppressed, the lifetime improvement of the liquid crystal panel 8 can be achieved. Further, since the cooling liquid may be cooled by driving the sirocco fan 74 at the minimum necessary number of revolutions, noise can be reduced. Furthermore, since it is only necessary to circulate the cooling liquid at the minimum necessary flow rate, the driving of the liquid pumping unit 61 can be suppressed, and noise can be further reduced.

  Further, when the liquid crystal panel 8 is housed in the housing recess 936, as shown in FIG. 8, the second dustproof glass 85 is inserted into the mounting member opening 921 and protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holder 9. Become. Thereby, the cooling air sent from the lower side of the light modulation device 451 by the air cooling device 5 circulates along the outer surface of the second dust-proof glass 85, so that the heat generated in the substrates 81 and 82 is second dust-proof. Even through the glass 85, heat is radiated well. For this reason, in this embodiment, the heat which generate | occur | produces in the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be thermally radiated more effectively, and the board | substrates 81 and 82 can fully be cooled.

  Further, when the liquid crystal panel 8 is stored in the storage recess 936, the counter substrate 82 is stored in the first storage recess 9361 and the drive substrate 81 is stored in the second storage recess 9362. The first storage recess 9361 is formed slightly larger in plan view than the counter substrate 82, and the second storage recess 9362 is formed slightly larger in plan view than the drive substrate 81. The liquid crystal panel 8 is stored in the storage recess 936 with a gap between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the storage recess 936. Here, when there is no gap between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the housing recess 936, the substrates 81 and 82 are cracked due to the difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of the holding frame 90 and the thermal expansion coefficients of the substrates 81 and 82. However, in this embodiment, since the liquid crystal panel 8 is stored in the storage recess 936 with a gap between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the storage recess 936, the substrates 81 and 82 are not likely to be broken. .

  The clamping member 94 is a sheet-like member made of a material that can be bent and has thermal conductivity, such as a graphite sheet or a metal member, and is formed in a rectangular shape. The clamping member 94 is formed with a clamping member opening 941 as a rectangular second opening that exposes the image forming region R of the liquid crystal panel 8. The sandwiching member 94 is positioned by the locking portion 934 and attached to the surface 933 on the light emission side of the support frame 93, and sandwiches the liquid crystal panel 8 with the support frame 93. At this time, the clamping member 94 is in surface contact with the outer peripheral portion of the drive substrate 81 outside the first dust-proof glass 84, and connects the drive substrate 81 and the holding frame 90 so that heat can be transferred. The first dustproof glass 84 is inserted into the holding member opening 941 and protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holder 9.

Thus, in this embodiment, since the outer peripheral part of the drive substrate 81 outside the first dust-proof glass 84 is in surface contact with the clamping member 94, heat generated in the substrates 81 and 82 from the drive substrate 81 side is also sandwiched. 94 can be effectively transmitted to the holding frame 90, and thus can be effectively transmitted to the cooling liquid. Thus, the substrates 81 and 82 can be reliably and effectively cooled, and the life of the liquid crystal panel 8 can be further extended.
In addition, since the first dustproof glass 84 protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holder 9 of the clamping member 94, the cooling air sent from the lower side of the light modulation device 451 by the air cooling device 5 is cooled to the outer surface of the first dustproof glass 84. Will also be distributed along. For this reason, the heat which generate | occur | produces in the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be thermally radiated also from the 1st dust-proof glass 84 side, and the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be cooled more effectively.

[Effect of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
Since the second dust-proof glass 85 covering the counter substrate 82 is formed smaller than the counter substrate 82 and is inserted into the attachment member opening 921 formed in the bottom portion of the holding frame 90, the second dust-proof glass 85 outside the counter substrate 82. Will be in surface contact around the attachment member opening 921 at the bottom of the holding frame 90. Further, the first dustproof glass 84 covering the drive substrate 81 is also formed smaller than the drive substrate 81 and inserted into the clamping member opening 941, so that the drive substrate 81 comes into surface contact with the clamping member 94.
Therefore, the heat generated in the substrates 81 and 82 can be effectively transmitted from the counter substrate 82 to the holding frame 90 by direct surface contact, and also from the driving substrate 81 side through the holding member 94 effectively by surface contact. 90 and can be radiated from the holding frame 90 via the cooling liquid. Accordingly, the respective substrates 81 and 82 can be sufficiently cooled while the dustproof performance of the respective substrates 81 and 82 is favorably maintained by the respective dustproof glasses 84 and 85, and thermal deterioration of the respective substrates 81 and 82 can be suppressed.
Further, since the cooling efficiency of the substrates 81 and 82 can be improved, the number of rotations of the sirocco fan 74 and the driving of the liquid pumping unit 61 can be suppressed, and noise can be reduced.
In addition, since the liquid crystal panel 8 is stored in the storage recess 936 with a gap between the liquid crystal panel 8 and the storage recess 936, the thermal expansion coefficient of the holding frame 90 and the thermal expansion coefficients of the substrates 81 and 82 are Even if there is a difference, there is no risk of cracking.

  Since the first dustproof glass 84 protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holding pair 9 through the holding member opening 941 of the holding member 94, the cooling air sent from the lower side of the light modulation device 451 by the air cooling device 5 is 1 will circulate along the outer surface of the dust-proof glass 84. For this reason, the heat which generate | occur | produces in the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be thermally radiated favorably through the 1st dust-proof glass 84, and the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be cooled more effectively.

  Since the second dust-proof glass 85 protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holding pair 9 through the attachment member opening 921, the cooling air sent from the lower side of the light modulation device 451 by the air cooling device 5 is used as the second dust-proof glass 85. Will also circulate along the outer surface. For this reason, the heat which generate | occur | produces in the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be thermally radiated also from the 2nd dust-proof glass 85 side, and the board | substrates 81 and 82 can be cooled more effectively.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, 2nd Embodiment of this invention is described based on drawing. Hereinafter, the same functional parts as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a light modulation device 451A according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the light modulation device 451A of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. However, in the first embodiment, from the surface of the holding frame 90 on the light beam exit side. Although the liquid crystal panel 8 is configured to be stored in the storage recess 936, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 8 is stored in the storage recess 936 from the surface on the light flux incident side of the holding frame 90. Is different from the first embodiment.

As described above, the light modulation device 451A includes the liquid crystal panel 8, the flow pipe 91, the holding frame 90 including the attachment member 92 and the support frame 93, and the clamping member 94.
Among these, the circulation pipe 91 is formed in a U shape in a plan view surrounding the image forming region R of the liquid crystal panel 8.
The support frame 93 is formed with a recess 9361 having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the drive substrate 81 and being slightly larger than the drive substrate 81 in plan view. An opening 937 as a first opening is formed in the bottom portion of the recess 9361. Further, a groove 923 corresponding to the shape of the flow pipe 91 is formed on the surface 931 on the light flux incident side of the support frame 93.
The mounting member 92 has a U-shape in plan view surrounding the image forming region R of the liquid crystal panel 8 and a U-shaped inner peripheral surface 925 that is slightly larger than the counter substrate 82 in plan view.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the light modulation device 451A.
The attachment member 92 is attached to the surface 931 on the light beam incident side of the support frame 93 and sandwiches the flow pipe 91 with the support frame 93. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the U-shaped inner peripheral surface 925 of the attachment member 92 accommodates the counter substrate 82. In the present embodiment, a storage recess 936 for storing the liquid crystal panel 8 is formed from the inner peripheral surface 925 of the mounting member 92 and the recess 9361 of the support frame 93.
The clamping member 94 has a clamping member opening 941 and is attached to the light incident side surface 924 of the mounting member 92 so as to sandwich the holding frame 90 and the liquid crystal panel 8.

  Also in this embodiment, the counter substrate 82 comes into surface contact with the clamping member 94, the drive substrate 81 comes into surface contact with the bottom of the storage recess 936 formed in the holding frame 90, and the liquid crystal panel 8 is stored. Since it is stored in the storage recess 936 with a gap between the recess 936 and the recess 936, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Modification of Embodiment]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
In each of the above embodiments, the drive substrate 81 is disposed on the light beam emission side and the counter substrate 82 is disposed on the light beam incidence side. However, the drive substrate 81 is disposed on the light beam incidence side, and the counter substrate 82 is disposed on the light beam emission side. It may be arranged.
In each of the embodiments described above, the dust-proof glasses 84 and 85 both protrude from the outer surface of the panel holding body 9, but they may not protrude together, and only one of them may protrude from the outer surface of the panel holding body 9. Good.
The light source device 41 is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiments, and may be configured by various solid light emitting elements such as a laser diode, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element, and a silicon light emitting element. Absent.

In each of the embodiments described above, the projector 1 is configured as a three-plate projector including three liquid crystal panels 8, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured as a single-plate projector including one liquid crystal panel. . Moreover, you may comprise as a projector provided with two liquid crystal panels, or a projector provided with four or more liquid crystal panels.
In each of the above embodiments, only an example of a front type projector that projects from the direction of observing the screen has been described. However, the present invention also applies to a rear type projector that projects from the side opposite to the direction of observing the screen. Applicable.

  Since the liquid crystal panel can be effectively cooled, the present invention can be used for a light modulation device of a projector used for a presentation or home theater.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the projector according to the first embodiment. The top view which shows typically the optical system of the optical unit in the said embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the air-cooling apparatus in the said embodiment from the upper side. The perspective view which looked at the air-cooling apparatus in the said embodiment from the downward side. The perspective view which looked at the light modulation apparatus in the said embodiment from the light beam entrance side. The perspective view which looked at the light modulation apparatus in the said embodiment from the light beam emission side. The disassembled perspective view which shows the light modulation apparatus in the said embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the light modulation device in the embodiment. The disassembled perspective view which shows the light modulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the light modulation device in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Projector, 8 ... Liquid crystal panel, 41 ... Light source device, 47 ... Projection lens (projection optical apparatus), 81 ... Drive board (2nd board | substrate), 82 ... Opposite board | substrate (1st board | substrate), 83 ... Liquid crystal, 84 ... First dust-proof glass (second translucent substrate), 85 ... second dust-proof glass (first translucent substrate), 90 ... holding frame, 91 ... distribution pipe, 94 ... clamping member, 451, 451A ... light modulation device , 921... Mounting member opening (first opening), 936... Storage recess, 937... Opening (first opening), 941.

Claims (3)

A light modulation device comprising: a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is hermetically sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate; and a panel holder that holds the liquid crystal panel,
Each substrate outer surface is provided with a first light-transmitting substrate and a second light-transmitting substrate each having a smaller outer shape in plan view than each substrate,
The panel holder is
A holding frame having a storage recess in which a first opening into which the first translucent substrate is inserted is formed at a bottom portion and the liquid crystal panel is installed;
A circulation pipe having a shape surrounding a light transmission region of the liquid crystal panel, connected to the holding frame, and for circulating a cooling liquid therein;
A second member having a second opening into which the second light-transmitting substrate is inserted, and a holding member for holding the liquid crystal panel with the holding frame;
In the holding frame, the bottom portion of the housing recess is in surface contact with the first substrate by inserting the first light-transmitting substrate into the first opening.
The light modulation device, wherein the clamping member is in surface contact with the second substrate by inserting the second light-transmitting substrate into the second opening. The light modulation device according to claim 1,
At least one of the translucent substrates protrudes from the outer surface of the panel holder through the opening. The light modulation device. A projector comprising: a light source device; a light modulation device that modulates a light beam emitted from the light source device according to image information to form image light; and a projection optical device that magnifies and projects the image light,
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the light modulation device is the light modulation device according to claim 1.

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