Light source device, apparatus for directing cooling air over the light source device, and projector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9366947-B2
Application number	US-201414549349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2011
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, a light source device includes a tubular body disposed in the front side of a reflection mirror in the light emission direction and surrounding an arc tube. A pair of ducts connects with the tubular body and are provided with a first channel and a second channel to guide air. A channel switching mechanism allows air to flow through the first channel or the second channel. The tubular body includes a pair of communicating ports configured to supply air flowing through the first channel and the second channel toward the light emission portion. The pair of communicating ports are disposed on a virtual line passing through the center line of the arc tube and crossing the vertical direction and the horizontal direction as viewed in a direction along the center line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light source device comprising:
an arc tube which has a light emission portion including a pair of electrodes internally;
a reflection mirror configured to reflect light emitted from the light emission portion;
a tubular body disposed in the front side of the reflection mirror in the light emission direction and surrounding the arc tube;
a pair of ducts connecting with the tubular body and provided with a first channel and a second channel to guide air; and
a channel switching mechanism which allows air to flow through the first channel or the second channel,
wherein:
the tubular body includes a pair of communicating ports which connect the inside and the outside of the tubular body such that the inside and the outside of the tubular body communicate with each other, and supply airs flowing through the first channel and the second channel toward the light emission portion,
the pair of the communicating ports are disposed on a virtual line passing through the center line of the arc tube and crossing the vertical direction and the horizontal direction as viewed in a direction along the center line,
the tubular body includes a column-shaped main body, and hollow portions disposed within the column-shaped main body for each of the communicating ports,
the pair of communicating ports includes a first communicating port formed in the column-shaped main body and connecting the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the hollow portion such that the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the hollow portion communicate with each other, and a second communicating port formed in the hollow portion to flow an air within the hollow portion toward the light emission portion; and
the second communicating port is formed in a side wall of the hollow portion on the rear side in the light emission direction.

2. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein
rectifying members provided for each of the communicating ports in such a manner as to be rotatable by the weights of the rectifying members rectify the flow of air introduced into the tubular body via the communicating ports toward the light emission portion; and
each of the two rectifying members has a pair of a first rectifying plate and a second rectifying plate.

3. The light source device according to claim 2 , wherein
the tubular body includes accommodating portions provided within the column-shaped main body for each of the communicating ports, each of the accommodating portions accommodating the corresponding rectifying member such that the rectifying member is rotatable by the weight of the rectifying member;
the first communicating port connects the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the accommodating portion such that the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the accommodating portion communicate with each other, and the second communicating port flows an air within the accommodating portion toward the light emission portion; and
the second communicating port is formed in a side wall of the accommodating portion on the rear side in the light emission direction.

4. The light source device according to claim 3 , wherein
the first rectifying plate and the second rectifying plate are pivotally supported on the corresponding accommodating portion such that the ends of the first rectifying plate and the second rectifying plate on the side away from the first communicating port are rotatable around corresponding rotation axes extending in parallel with the center line;
the tubular body includes a rotation regulating unit configured to regulate the rotation of the first rectifying plate and the second rectifying plate; and
the rotation regulating unit regulates the rotations of the corresponding first and second rectifying plates such that the distance between the ends of the first and second rectifying plates on the side away from the corresponding first communicating port becomes shorter than the distance between the other ends of the first and second rectifying plates on the side nearer to the first communicating port when the first and second rectifying plates are located above the center line.

5. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein
the pair of the ducts is defined by a cover member attached to the outer surface of the tubular body and extended in the circumferential direction of the tubular body, the cover member forming the first channel and the second channel in the space between the cover member and the outer surface of the tubular body.

6. A projector comprising:
a light source device;
a light modulation device configured to modulate light emitted from the light source device; and
a projection device configured to project the light modulated by the light modulation device,
wherein the light source device includes
an arc tube which has a light emission portion including a pair of electrodes,
a reflection mirror configured to reflect light emitted from the light emission portion,
a tubular body disposed in the front side of the reflection mirror in the light emission direction and surrounding the arc tube,
a pair of ducts connecting with the tubular body and provided with a first channel and a second channel to guide air, and
a channel switching mechanism which allows air to flow through the first channel or the second channel,

wherein:
the tubular body includes a pair of communicating ports which connect the inside and the outside of the tubular body such that the inside and the outside of the tubular body communicate with each other, and supply airs flowing through the first channel and the second channel toward the light emission portion,
the pair of the communicating ports are disposed on a virtual line passing through the center line of the arc tube and crossing the vertical direction and the horizontal direction as viewed in a direction along the center line,
the tubular body includes a column-shaped main body, and hollow portions disposed within the column-shaped main body for each of the communicating ports,
the pair of communicating ports includes a first communicating port formed in the column-shaped main body and connecting the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the hollow portion such that the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the hollow portion communicate with each other, and a second communicating port formed in the hollow portion to flow an air within the hollow portion toward the light emission portion; and
the second communicating port is formed in a side wall of the hollow portion on the rear side in the light emission direction.

7. The projector according to claim 6 , wherein
rectifying members provided for each of the communicating ports in such a manner as to be rotatable by the weights of the rectifying members rectify the flow of air introduced into the tubular body via the communicating ports toward the light emission portion; and
each of the two rectifying members has a pair of a first rectifying plate and a second rectifying plate.

8. The projector according to claim 7 , wherein
the tubular body includes accommodating portions provided within the column-shaped main body for each of the communicating ports, each of the accommodating portions accommodating the corresponding rectifying member such that the rectifying member is rotatable by the weight of the rectifying member;
the first communicating port connects the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the accommodating portion such that the outside of the tubular body and the inside of the accommodating portion communicate with each other, and the second communicating port flows an air within the accommodating portion toward the light emission portion; and
the second com

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp
• Seiko Epson Coporation

Inventors

• Miyata Takahiro

Classifications

• G03B21/28

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

• G03B21/005

  Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto · CPC title

• F21V29/74

  with fins or blades · CPC title

• F21V29/65

  the gas flowing in a closed circuit · CPC title

• F21V29/83

  the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes · CPC title