Projection device, mobile object, and method of setting projection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11036047-B2
Application number	US-201916294964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a projection device includes: a light source; an optical scanning unit that includes a base unit, a driver fixed to the base unit, and a reflective unit supported by the driver and that drives the reflective unit to scan light from the light source; and a scanned unit configured to be scanned with the light from the optical scanning unit so that a projection image is formed on the scanned unit. The projection device further includes an attachment unit for attaching the projection device to a setting unit of a setting object on which the projection device is set. The attachment unit attaches the projection device to the setting unit such that a direction in which vibration caused by the setting object is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value and a reflective surface of the reflective unit are approximately perpendicular to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A projection device, comprising:
a light source;
an optical scanning device that includes a base, a driver fixed to the base and a reflector supported by the driver, and that drives the reflector to scan light from the light source; and
a screen configured to be scanned with the light from the optical scanning device so that a projection image is formed on the screen,
wherein the projection device further comprises at least one attachment part to attach the projection device to a setting object on which the projection device is set, and
the at least one attachment part attaches the projection device to the setting object such that a particular direction, among three orthogonal directions, in which vibration caused by the setting object is smallest, and ( 2 ) a reflective surface of the reflector, are approximately perpendicular to each other.

2. The projection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the particular direction approximately perpendicular to the reflective surface of the reflector is a direction in which the optical scanning device is susceptible to vibration that is caused by the setting object, and
a lateral direction of the setting object that is parallel to the ground is the particular direction in which the vibration caused by the setting object is the smallest, and
the at least one attachment part attaches the projection device to the setting object such that the particular direction that is approximately perpendicular to the reflective surface of the reflector matches the lateral direction of the setting object.

3. The projection device according to claim 1 , wherein a light source device including the light source and the optical scanning device is attached to a housing of the projection device via at least one anti-vibration member that has vibration damping characteristics that attenuate primary resonant frequency components of the projection device.

4. The projection device according to claim 3 , wherein the light source device is attached to the housing via three anti-vibration members forming a triangle, and
the light source device is attached to a casing of the projection device via the three anti-vibration members such that a center of gravity of the light source device matches a center of gravity of the triangle on an X-Y plane, a Y-Z plane, and a Z-X plane.

5. The projection device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment part attaches the projection device to the setting object such that an angle that is formed by a first straight line in a direction approximately perpendicular to the reflective surface of the reflector and a second straight line in the particular direction in which the vibration caused by the setting object is the smallest is within an allowable amplitude range so that an operator does not recognize a swing caused in the projection image due to the vibration caused by the setting object.

6. The projection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment part attaches the projection device to the setting object so that the reflective surface of the reflector is aligned substantially in a plane including a direction in which the setting object travels and a vertical direction of the setting object.

7. The projection device of claim 1 , wherein a light source device, including the light source and the optical scanning device, is attached to a housing of the projection device independently of the projection device being attached to the setting object.

8. A mobile object that changes its physical position, the mobile object comprising the projection device according to claim 1 .

9. A method of setting a projection device including a light source; an optical scanning device that includes a base, a driver fixed to the base, and a reflector supported by the driver, and that drives the reflector to scan light from the light source; and a screen that is scanned with the light from the optical scanning device so that a projection image is formed on the screen, the method comprising:
by at least one attachment part to attach the projection device to a setting object on which the projection device is set, attaching the projection device to the setting object such that ( 1 ) a particular direction, among three orthogonal directions, in which vibration caused by the setting object is smallest and ( 2 ) a reflective surface of the reflector, are approximately perpendicular to each other.

10. A mobile object, comprising:
a setting bracket to which a projection device is attached, the projection device including: a light source; an optical scanning device that includes a base, a driver fixed to the base, and a reflector supported by the driver, and that drives the reflector to scan light from the light source; and a unit screen that is scanned with the light from the optical scanning unit so that a projection image is formed on the screen,
wherein the projection device is attached such that ( 1 ) a particular direction, among three orthogonal directions in which vibration caused by the mobile object is smallest, and ( 2 ) a reflective surface of the reflector, are approximately perpendicular to each other.

Assignees

• Gotoh Tokiko
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Gotoh Tokiko

Classifications

• B60K35/231

  characterised by their arrangement or structure for integration into vehicles · CPC title

• G02B26/0833

  the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B) · CPC title

• G03B21/22

  Soundproof bodies · CPC title

• G03B21/28

  Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)} · CPC title

• G02B27/0149 Primary

  characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence) · CPC title