# US 9,039,190 B2 · Projector having integrator with greater illuminance in offset direction of projection lens and modulator

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- Number: US 9,039,190 B2
- Document ID: US9039190B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/853,528
- Filed: 2013-03-29
- Published: 2013-10-17
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-12
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Katsumi Tanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039190B2

## CPC

- G03B 21/208: {Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light}
- G03B 21/142: {Adjusting of projection optics}
- H04N 9/3152: {for shaping the light beam (beam shaping per se G02B27/09)}
- G03B 33/12: using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors
- H04N 9/317: {Convergence or focusing systems (electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53)}
- 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)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A projector including a light source unit, a lens integrator system, a light modulator having an image formation region where light from the lens integrator system is modulated in accordance with image information, and a projection system that projects light from the light modulator, wherein the projection system is so disposed that the optical axis of the light incident on the projection system is shifted from the optical axis of the projection system in a predetermined direction when the projection system is viewed in the direction in which the light travels toward the projection system, and the lens integrator system is so configured that illuminance of the light on a first side corresponding to the predetermined direction in the image formation region is higher than illuminance of the light on a second side that is opposite the first side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A projector comprising:
a light source unit that outputs light;
a lens integrator system;
a light modulator having an image formation region where light from the lens integrator system is modulated in accordance with image information; and
a projection system that projects light from the light modulator,
wherein the projection system is so disposed that the optical axis of the light incident on the projection system is shifted from the optical axis of the projection system in a predetermined direction when the projection system is viewed in the direction in which the light travels toward the projection system, and
the lens integrator system is so configured that illuminance of the light on a first side corresponding to the predetermined direction in the image formation region is higher than illuminance of the light on a second side that is opposite the side corresponding to the predetermined direction in the image formation region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The projector according to claim 1,
wherein the lens integrator system is so configured that the illuminance in the image formation region gradually increases in a direction from the second side toward the first side in the image formation region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The projector according to claim 1,
wherein the lens integrator system includes a first lens array having a plurality of first lenslets and a second lens array having a plurality of second lenslets corresponding to the plurality of first lenslets, and
the first lenslets and the second lenslets are so shaped that the illuminance of the light on the first side in the image formation region is higher than the illuminance of the light on the second side in the image formation region.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The projector according to claim 3,
wherein in the first lens array, when portions in the vicinity of both ends corresponding to the first side and the second side are denoted as peripheral portions and a portion between the peripheral portions is denoted as a central portion, in the first lens array, the front-view area of each of the first lenslets in the central portion is large, and the front-view area of each of the first lenslets in the peripheral portions is small.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The projector according to claim 4,
wherein in the first lens array, the front-view area of the first lenslets in the peripheral portions becomes gradually smaller when the first lenslets are closer to the ends.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The projector according to claim 1,
wherein the projector is a proximity projection projector.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The projector according to claim 1,
wherein the light modulators is formed of a liquid-crystal light modulator.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The projector according to claim 1,
wherein the light modulator is a micromirror light modulator.