# US 10,372,025 B2 · Optical device and projector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,025 B2 - Document ID: US10372025B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/815,286 - Filed: 2017-11-16 - Published: 2018-05-31 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-25 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Kensaku Matsumoto; Kaname Nagatani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372025B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/16: Cooling; Preventing overheating - F28D 15/00: Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls {; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies (F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence)} - G02F 1/133382: {Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell} - G03B 21/005: {Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto} - G03B 21/145: {Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof} - G02F 2203/01: transmissive - G03B 21/006: {using LCD's} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract An optical device includes a light modulation device disposed on an optical axis of incident light, and a holding section configured to hold the light modulation device. The holding section includes an inflow part to which a liquid supplied from an outside of the holding section inflows, a flow channel forming part disposed along a circumferential edge of the light modulation device so as to have an annular shape, and having a flow channel through which the liquid flowed from the inflow part circulates, and an outflow part from which the liquid having flowed through the flow channel outflows to the outside of the holding section. At least one of an inside of the inflow part and an inside of the flow channel is provided with at least one projection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical device comprising: an optical element disposed on an optical axis of incident light; and a holding section configured to hold the optical element, wherein the holding section includes an inflow part to which a liquid supplied from an outside of the holding section inflows, a flow channel forming part disposed along a circumferential edge of the optical element so as to have an annular shape, and having a flow channel through which the liquid flowed from the inflow part circulates, and an outflow part from which the liquid having flowed through the flow channel outflows to the outside of the holding section, wherein at least one of an inside of the inflow part and an inside of the flow channel is provided with at least one projection, wherein the flow channel forming part is formed so as to surround the optical axis of incident light, and the at least one projection protrudes along the optical axis of incident light, wherein a plurality of first projections is disposed along a circulation direction of the liquid, wherein a plurality of second projections is disposed along the circulation direction, and is different from the plurality of first projections, and wherein the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections are arranged so as to be shifted from each other viewed from the circulation direction, and are arranged so as to be shifted from each other viewed from a direction perpendicular to both the circulation direction and a direction in which the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections project. ### Claim 2 An optical device comprising: an optical element disposed on an optical axis of incident light; and a holding section configured to hold the optical element, wherein the holding section includes an inflow part to which a liquid supplied from an outside of the holding section inflows, a flow channel forming part disposed along a circumferential edge of the optical element so as to have an annular shape, and having a flow channel through which the liquid flowed from the inflow part circulates, and an outflow part from which the liquid having flowed through the flow channel outflows to the outside of the holding section, wherein at least one of an inside of the inflow part and an inside of the flow channel is provided with at least one projection, wherein the flow channel forming part is formed so as to surround the optical axis of incident light, and the at least one projection protrudes along the optical axis of incident light, wherein the flow channel includes a first flow channel part and a fourth flow channel part disposed so as to be opposed to each other, the first flow channel extending in a first direction, the fourth flow channel extending in a third direction opposite to the first direction, and a second flow channel part and a third flow channel part disposed so as to be opposed to each other and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, wherein the first flow channel part, the second flow channel part, the third flow channel part, and the fourth flow channel part are connected so as to form an annular shape, and wherein the at least one projection is disposed inside the flow channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of first projections is disposed along a circulation direction of the liquid, wherein a plurality of second projections is disposed along the circulation direction, and is different from the plurality of first projections, and wherein the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections are arranged so as to be shifted from each other viewed from the circulation direction, and are arranged so as to be shifted from each other viewed from a direction perpendicular to both the circulation direction and a direction in which the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections project. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The optical device according to claim 2, wherein length of the second flow channel part and length of the third flow channel part are respectively larger than each of length of the first flow channel part and length of the fourth flow channel part, and wherein the at least one projection is provided to at least one of the second flow channel part and the third flow channel part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the holding section includes a first frame and a second frame disposed so as to be opposed to each other in a direction along the optical axis, and bonded to each other to thereby form the flow channel, and wherein the at least one projection is provided to one of the first frame and the second frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The optical device according to claim 5, wherein the first frame and the second frame are each formed of a thermally-conductive material, and wherein the at least one projection thermally-conductably contacts with the other of the first frame and the second frame. ### Claim 7 An optical device comprising: an optical element disposed on an optical axis of incident light; and a holding section configured to hold the optical element, wherein the holding section includes an inflow part to which a liquid supplied from an outside of the holding section inflows, a flow channel forming part disposed along a circumferential edge of the optical element so as to have an annular shape, and having a flow channel through which the liquid flowed from the inflow part circulates, and an outflow part from which the liquid having flowed through the flow channel outflows to the outside of the holding section, wherein the inflow part and the outflow part are disposed on a same side with respect to the flow channel forming part, wherein an entirety of the liquid flowed through the flow channel is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, wherein the flow channel includes a first flow channel part configured to circulate, in a first direction, a part of the liquid flowed from the inflow part, a second flow channel part configured to circulate, in a second direction crossing the first direction, a rest of the liquid flowed from the inflow part, a third flow channel part configured to circulate, in the second direction, a liquid flowed through the first flow channel part, and a fourth flow channel part configured to circulate, in a third direction opposite to the first direction, a liquid flowed through the third flow channel part, and wherein the outflow part outflows a liquid obtained by combining a liquid circulated through the second flow channel part and a liquid circulated through the fourth flow channel part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The optical device according to claim 7, wherein the second flow channel part includes a narrowed part where the second flow channel part is partially narrowed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The optical device according to claim 7, wherein the flow channel includes a detour part configured to detour, in the first direction, at least a part of a liquid flowed through the second flow channel part and configured to combine the detoured liquid with a liquid flowing through the fourth flow channel part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a light modulation device configured to modulate the incident light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The optical device according to claim 7, wherein the optical element is a light modulation device configured to modulate the incident light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 1, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 3, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 2, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 4, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 5, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 6, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) A projector comprising: a light source configured to emit light; the optical device according to claim 7, which the light emitted from the light source enters; a projection optical device configured to project an image corresponding to light emitted from the optical device; and a liquid cooling device configured to circulate the liquid through the optical device.