OPTICAL ENGINE MODULE AND PROJECTION DEVICE

Disclosed are an optical engine module and a projection device. The optical engine module includes a housing, a prism component, a light valve, an air guiding channel, a first fan, and a first heat-dissipating module. The housing has a first opening and a second opening. The prism component is disposed in the housing. The light valve is disposed in the housing. The air guiding channel is disposed outside the housing and communicates with the first opening and the second opening of the housing. The first fan is disposed in the air guiding channel. The first heat-dissipating module includes a first heat-dissipating fin disposed in the air guiding channel, and a second heat-dissipating fin disposed outside the air guiding channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 202211721948.7, filed on Dec. 30, 2022. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an optical device, and in particular relates to an optical engine module and a projection device having the optical engine module.

Description of Related Art

A projection device converts an illumination beam from a total internal reflection prism (TIR Prism) into an image beam by using a light valve, and projects the image beam out of the projection device by using a projection lens. Energy loss occurs when the light beam passes through the TIR prism, which causes the TIR prism to heat up. Moreover, when it is “Off-State”, the light valve diverts the light beam from the projection lens, and the light beam is reflected by the light valve into the optical engine cavity and converted into heat energy, thus causing the temperature inside the optical engine cavity to rise. In order to avoid overheating inside the optical engine cavity, other than dissipating heat through natural convection, a fan is also added in the optical engine cavity for forced convection. However, after the fan is added, the air flow generated by the fan will blow to the off-light heat sink in the optical engine cavity, and the heat of the off-light heat sink will be retained in the optical engine cavity. Therefore, the temperature in the optical engine cavity cannot be effectively reduced, which causes low picture quality of the projection device.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides an optical engine module, which may improve the heat dissipation effect inside a housing.

The present disclosure further provides a projection device, which includes the above-mentioned optical engine module, which may improve the heat dissipation effect inside the housing, thereby having better projection quality.

Other purposes and advantages of the present disclosure may be further understood from the technical features disclosed in the present disclosure.

In order to achieve one or part of or all of the above-mentioned purposes or other purposes, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an optical engine module, which includes a housing, a prism component, a light valve, an air guiding channel, a first fan, and a first heat-dissipating module. The housing has a first opening and a second opening. The prism component is disposed in the housing. The light valve is disposed in the housing. The air guiding channel is disposed outside the housing and communicates with the first opening and the second opening of the housing. The first fan is disposed in the air guiding channel. The first heat-dissipating module includes a first heat-dissipating fin disposed in the air guiding channel, and a second heat-dissipating fin disposed outside the air guiding channel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the above-mentioned air guiding channel includes a main channel and a first extending channel and a second extending channel connected to the main channel. The first fan and the first heat-dissipating fin are located in the main channel. The extending direction of the main channel is different from the extending direction of the first extending channel and the extending direction of the second extending channel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the above-mentioned first extending channel is configured to guide the air flow from the main channel to the first opening of the housing. The second extending channel is configured to guide the air flow from the second opening of the housing to the main channel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a cross-sectional area of the above-mentioned second extending channel gradually increases in a direction from the second opening to the main channel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air flow from the first fan flows through the first opening, the prism component, the second opening, the first heat-dissipating fin and the first fan in sequence to form a circulating air flow.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first heat-dissipating module further includes a heat conduction element, and the heat conduction element is adaptable for connecting the first heat-dissipating fin and the second heat-dissipating fin.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes a second heat-dissipating module, and the second heat-dissipating module includes a heat-dissipating fin and a heat conduction structure connected to each other. The housing further includes a third opening, and the second heat-dissipating module is connected to the third opening. At least a portion of the heat conduction structure is located inside the housing, and the heat-dissipating fin is located outside the housing, the heat conduction structure is adapted to receive off light from the light valve.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes an air deflector disposed in the housing. The first end of the air deflector is connected to the first opening of the housing. The air deflector is configured for guiding the air flow from the first fan to the prism component.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes a baffle disposed in the housing, and connected to the second end of the air deflector. At least a portion of the baffle is located between the prism component and the heat conduction structure of the second heat-dissipating module.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first heat-dissipating module and the second heat-dissipating module are respectively located on opposite sides of the housing.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes a second fan located at the second opening. The air flow from the first fan flows through the first opening, the prism component, the second fan located at the second opening, the first heat-dissipating fin and the first fan in sequence to form a circulating air flow.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first fan includes a blower fan or an axial flow fan.

In order to achieve one or part or all of the above purposes or other purposes, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a projection device including an illumination system, an optical engine module, and a projection lens. The illumination system is configured to provide an illumination beam. The optical engine module includes a housing, a prism component, a light valve, an air guiding channel, a first fan and a first heat-dissipating module. The housing has a first opening and a second opening. The prism component is disposed in the housing and is located on the transmission path of the illumination beam. The light valve is disposed in the housing and is adaptable for converting the illumination beam from the prism component into an image beam. The air guiding channel is disposed outside the housing and communicates with the first opening and the second opening of the housing. The first fan is disposed in the air guiding channel. The first heat-dissipating module includes a first heat-dissipating fin disposed in the air guiding channel, and a second heat-dissipating fin disposed outside the air guiding channel. The projection lens is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam, and is configured for projecting the image beam out of the projection device.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes a second heat-dissipating module, and the second heat-dissipating module includes a heat-dissipating fin and a heat conduction structure connected to each other. The housing further includes a third opening, and the second heat-dissipating module is connected to the third opening. At least a portion of the heat conduction structure is located inside the housing, and the heat-dissipating fin is located outside the housing, the heat conduction structure is adapted to receive off light from the light valve. The housing further includes a lens opening, and the projection lens is connected to the lens opening. The air guiding channel, the second heat-dissipating module, the projection lens and the housing define a sealed chamber.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes an air deflector disposed in the housing. The first end of the air deflector is connected to the first opening of the housing. The air deflector is configured for guiding the air flow from the first fan to the prism component.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes a baffle disposed in the housing, and connected to the second end of the air deflector. At least a portion of the baffle is located between the prism component and the heat conduction structure of the second heat-dissipating module.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the above-mentioned air guiding channel includes a main channel and a first extending channel and a second extending channel connected to the main channel. The first fan and the first heat-dissipating fin are located in the main channel. The extending direction of the main channel is different from the extending direction of the first extending channel and the extending direction of the second extending channel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a cross-sectional area of the above-mentioned second extending channel gradually increases from the second opening to the direction of the main channel.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air flow from the first fan flows through the first opening, the prism component, the second opening, the first heat-dissipating fin and the first fan in sequence to form a circulating air flow.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical engine module further includes a second fan located at the second opening. The air flow from the first fan flows through the first opening, the prism component, the second fan located at the second opening, the first heat-dissipating fin and the first fan in sequence to form a circulating air flow.

Based on the above, the embodiments of the present disclosure at least have one of the following advantages or effects. In the optical engine module of the present disclosure, the air guiding channel disposed outside the housing communicates with the first opening and the second opening of the housing, and the air flow of the first fan disposed in the air guiding channel may flow through the first opening, the prism component, the second opening, the first heat-dissipating fin and the first fan in sequence to form a circulating air flow. In this way, it is possible to effectively reduce the temperature of the air inside the housing, so as to effectively improve the heat dissipation effect inside the housing. In addition, the projection device using the optical engine module of the present disclosure may have better projection quality.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the present disclosure wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this disclosure, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1is a schematic view of a projection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Please refer toFIG.1, in this embodiment, a projection device10includes an illumination system12, an optical engine module100aand a projection lens14. The optical engine module100aincludes a prism component120and a light valve130. The illumination system12is configured to provide an illumination beam L1. The prism component120of the optical engine module100ais located on the transmission path of the illumination beam L1, and the light valve130of the optical engine module100ais adapted to convert the illumination beam L1from the prism component120into an image beam L2. The projection lens14is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam L2for projecting the image beam L2out of the projection device10. More specifically, the prism component120of the optical engine module100ais also located on the transmission path of the image beam L2from the light valve130, and the projection lens14is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam L2from the prism component120.

In this embodiment, the illumination system12includes an excitation light source. The excitation light source is, for example, light emitting diodes (LED) and laser diodes (LD). The illumination system12may further include a wavelength conversion element, a homogenization element, a filter element, and at least one light guiding element, etc. The illumination system12is configured to provide light beams of different wavelengths as a source of the illumination beam L1. Specifically, any light source that meets the volume requirement in actual design may be adopted for implementation, and the present disclosure provides no specific limitation to the type or form of the illumination system12. The prism component120is, for example, a total internal reflection prism (TIR Prism). The incident light (i.e., the illumination beam L1) may be totally reflected to the light valve130by utilizing the air layer in the TIR prism. When it is “On-State”, the light valve130reflects the incident light to the projection lens14, and the projection lens14projects the image beam L2out of the projection device10. When it is “Off-State”, the light valve130diverts the incident light from the projection lens14, and the incident light will be reflected into the optical engine module100aand converted into heat energy.

The light valve130is, for example, a reflective light modulator such as a liquid crystal on silicon panel (LCoS panel) or a digital micro-mirror device (DMD). In an embodiment, the light valve130is, for example, a transparent liquid crystal panel, an electro-optical modulator, a magneto-optic modulator, an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and other transmissive optical modulators, but this embodiment provides no limitation to the type and form of the light valve130. The detailed steps and implementation of the method for the light valve130to modulate the illumination beam L1into the image beam L2may be sufficiently derived from the teaching, suggestion and implementation of the general knowledge in the technical field, and the details are not repeated herein. In addition, the projection lens14includes, for example, a combination of one or more optical lenses with diopters, such as various combinations of non-planar lenses such as biconcave lenses, biconvex lenses, concave-convex lenses, convex-concave lenses, plano-convex lenses, and plano-concave lenses. In an embodiment, the projection lens14may also include a planar optical lens to project the image beam from the light valve130out of the projection device10in a reflection or transmission manner to form a projection beam. Herein, the present embodiment provides no limitation to the type and form of the projection lens14.

FIG.2is a schematic top view of the optical engine module ofFIG.1.FIG.3is a perspective view of the optical engine module and a projection lens ofFIG.1.FIG.4is a perspective view of the optical engine module ofFIG.3.FIG.5is a perspective view of the rear side of the optical engine module ofFIG.4.FIG.6is a perspective view of the optical engine module ofFIG.4at another viewing angle.FIG.7is a bottom perspective view of the optical engine module ofFIG.4. For the convenience of description, the air guiding channel140inFIG.4is shown in a partial perspective view.

Please refer toFIG.2,FIG.3andFIG.4at the same time. In this embodiment, the optical engine module100aincludes a housing110, a prism component120, a light valve130, an air guiding channel140, a first fan150and a first heat-dissipating module160. The housing110has a first opening111and a second opening113. The prism component120and the light valve130are disposed in the housing110, and the prism component120is disposed corresponding to the light valve130. The air guiding channel140is disposed outside the housing110and communicates with the first opening111and the second opening113of the housing110. The first fan150is disposed in the air guiding channel140. The first heat-dissipating module160includes a first heat-dissipating fin162disposed inside the air guiding channel140, and a second heat-dissipating fin164disposed outside the air guiding channel140. The air flow F from the first fan150flows through the first opening111, the prism component120, the second opening113, the first heat-dissipating fin162and the first fan150in sequence to form a circulating air flow. Here, the first opening111of the housing110may be regarded as an air inlet, and the second opening113of the housing110may be regarded as an air outlet. It should be noted that the difference betweenFIG.2andFIG.4is that the actuator of the optical engine module100ais shown inFIG.2. Viewed along the direction Z, the light valve130is disposed below the actuator, therefore, the light valve130inFIG.2is indicated by a dashed line.

In detail, please refer toFIG.2,FIG.4,FIG.5andFIG.6at the same time. The air guiding channel140of this embodiment includes a main channel142and a first extending channel144and a second extending channel146connected to the main channel142. The first fan150and the first heat-dissipating fin162are located in the main channel142. The first fan150is, for example, a blower fan or an axial flow fan. Here, the extending direction E1of the main channel142is different from the extending direction E2of the first extending channel144and the extending direction E2of the second extending channel146. In an embodiment, the extending direction E1is perpendicular to the extending direction E2. The first extending channel144is connected with the first opening111of the housing110. The first extending channel144is configured to guide the air flow F from the main channel142to the first opening111of the housing110. The second extending channel146is configured to guide the air flow F from the second opening113of the housing110to the main channel142. More specifically, the air guiding channel140further includes a connecting portion148(shown inFIG.7), which is located between the second extending channel146and the second opening113of the housing110. The connecting portion148has two openings, and the two openings of the connecting portion148respectively connect the second extending channel146and the second opening113of the casing110. Please refer toFIG.4andFIG.7at the same time. The cross-sectional area of the second extending channel146gradually increases in a direction from the second opening113to the main channel142, so that the air flow F is blown to a large area of the first heat-dissipating module160, thereby increasing heat exchange efficiency. In another embodiment, the second extending channel146of the air guiding channel140is directly connected to the second opening113of the housing110. The first heat-dissipating module160of this embodiment further includes a heat conduction element166, and the heat conduction element166is adaptable for connecting the first heat-dissipating fin162and the second heat-dissipating fin164. Here, the heat conduction element166is, for example, a metal base or a heat pipe, and the heat in the air guiding channel140may be transmitted to the outside of the air guiding channel140through the first heat-dissipating module160.

Furthermore, the optical engine module100aof this embodiment further includes a second heat-dissipating module170, and the second heat-dissipating module170includes a heat heat-dissipating fin172and a heat conduction structure174connected to each other. The housing110of this embodiment further includes a third opening115, and the second heat-dissipating module170is connected to the third opening115. At least a portion of the heat conduction structure174is located in the housing110, and the heat conduction structure174is adapted to receive the off light from the light valve130. In this embodiment, a portion174aof the heat conduction structure174is located inside the housing110, and another portion174bof the heat conduction structure174is located outside the housing110. A portion174aof the heat conduction structure174extends from the third opening115into the housing110to a position of the prism component120corresponding to the light valve130in the “Off-State”. A portion174aof the heat conduction structure174located in the housing110is adapted to receive the off light from the light valve130. In other words, the portion174aof the heat conduction structure174may be regarded as a heated end, and the temperature of the heated end is much higher than that of the prism component120. The other part174bof the heat conduction structure174and the heat-dissipating fin172are located outside the housing110, and the external air flow may dissipate heat from the heat-dissipating fin172. Here, the first heat-dissipating module160and the second heat-dissipating module170are respectively located on opposite sides of the housing110, thereby obtaining external air flow with lower temperature for high-efficiency heat exchange, and the so-called external air flow refers to the air flow outside the housing110, such as the air flow from within the housing of the projection device10but generated by a fan located outside the housing110of the optical engine module100a.

In addition, please refer toFIG.3andFIG.4at the same time, the housing110of this embodiment further includes a lens opening117, and the projection lens14is connected to the lens opening117. The air guiding channel140, the second heat-dissipating module170, the projection lens14and the housing110define a sealed chamber S for preventing dust from entering and maintaining a good image quality.

Please refer toFIG.4,FIG.8andFIG.9at the same time.FIG.8is a schematic perspective view of an optical engine module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.9is a top perspective view ofFIG.8. The optical engine module100bof this embodiment is similar to the optical engine module100aofFIG.4, but the main difference between the two is that: the optical engine module100bof this embodiment may further include an air deflector180, and the air deflector180is configured inside the housing110, and the first end182of the air deflector180is connected to the first opening111of the housing110. Since the off light from the light valve130will be transmitted to a portion174aof the heat conduction structure174through the prism component120, that is, the prism component120is located between the portion174aof the heat conduction structure174and the light valve130. However, since the air flow F entering the housing110from the first opening111is not blown directly against the prism component120, the heat dissipation effect of the prism component120is not optimal. Therefore, the air deflector180is configured to guide the air flow F of the first fan150to the prism component120, which means that the air flow F from the first fan150may directly flow through the prism component120for heat dissipation, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect on the prism component120.

In addition, the optical engine module100bof this embodiment may further include a baffle185(shown inFIG.9), which is disposed in the housing110and connected to the second end184of the air deflector180, and at least a portion of the baffle185is located between the prism component120and the heat conduction structure174of the second heat-dissipating module170. In this way, the air flow F will not flow through the heat conduction structure174of the second heat-dissipating module170, so as to reduce retention of heat generated by off light inside the housing110. The air flow F from the first fan150only dissipates heat from the prism component120and the lens of the projection lens14, so that it is possible to improve the heat dissipation efficiency on the prism component120and the lens of the projection lens14.

In the optical engine module100bof this embodiment, the air guiding channel140arranged outside the housing110communicates with the first opening111and the second opening113of the housing110, and the air flow F generated by the first fan150disposed in the air guiding channel140may flow through the first opening111, the prism component120, the heat conduction structure174, the second opening113, the first heat-dissipating fin162and the first fan150in sequence to form a circulating air flow. In this way, the low-temperature air flow F is first blown to the prism component120to cool the prism component120, and then blown to the part174a(i.e., the heat receiving end) of the heat conduction structure174of the second heat-dissipating module170with a higher temperature. It is possible to effectively reduce the temperature of the air inside the housing110, thereby reducing the temperature of the lens of the projection lens14inside the housing110and the temperature of the prism component120. In short, this embodiment is able to simultaneously cool down the temperature of the lens of the projection lens14inside the housing110and the temperature of the prism component120, and achieve a dustproof effect on the optical engine module100b.

FIG.10is a schematic top view of an optical engine module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.10at the same time. The projection device100cof this embodiment is similar to the projection device100ainFIG.2, and the main difference between the two lies in that, in the present embodiment, the optical engine module100cfurther includes a second fan190located at the second opening113. More specifically, on a reference plane parallel to the XY plane, the orthographic projection of a portion of the second fan190on the reference plane overlaps with the orthographic projection of the housing110on the reference plane. The orthographic projection of another part of the second fan190on the reference plane overlaps with the orthographic projection of the air guiding channel140on the reference plane. The air flow F of the first fan150flows through the first opening111, the prism component120, the second fan190located at the second opening113, the first heat-dissipating fin162and the first fan150in sequence to form a circulating air flow. In short, in this embodiment, the first fan150and the second fan190are adopted to connect the flow field in series, thereby increasing the air volume in the air guiding channel140, thereby increasing the heat exchange efficiency. Here, the second fan190is, for example, a blower fan or an axial flow fan.

To sum up, the embodiments of the present disclosure at least have one of the following advantages or effects. In the optical engine module of the present disclosure, the air guiding channel disposed outside the housing communicates with the first opening and the second opening of the housing, and the air flow of the first fan disposed in the air guiding channel may flow through the first opening, the prism component, the second opening, the first heat-dissipating fin and the first fan in sequence to form a circulating air flow. In this way, it is possible to effectively reduce the temperature of the air inside the housing, so as to effectively improve the heat dissipation effect inside the housing. In addition, the projection device using the optical engine module of the present disclosure may have better projection quality.