Projector and unit for projector

A projector includes: a mounting unit for mounting optional unit (2) having an extension function section, connection substrate (7), and cable (6) for electrically connecting the extension function section and connection substrate (7); mother substrate (31) having connector (31a) to which terminal (7a) is electrically connected; Z-shaped guide metal fitting (40) located on the mounting unit and configured to movably guide terminal (7a) to connector (31a); and a case having mother substrate (31) located therein. One side face of the case has an opening for inserting/removing optional unit (2) into/from the case, and a side panel for covering the opening being removably located in the opening. When optional unit (2) is inserted into the case from the opening, connection substrate (7) is guided by Z-shaped guide metal filling (40), and optional unit (2) functions when terminal (7a) is electrically connected to connector (31a).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a projector for projecting an image on a projection surface such as a screen, and a unit for a projector, which is mounted on the projector.

BACKGROUND ART

A projector configured to selectively mount, when needed, an optional board (extension board) that is a circuit board having various extension functions to extend functions provided beforehand in the projector is disclosed in, for example, JP2004-264759A. For such a projector, there is known a configuration that includes a mounting unit for selectively mounting an optional unit having various extension function sections.

As the optional unit of this type, for example, there are a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) unit, a RGB (red, green, and blue) signal distribution unit, and an adaptor unit including an extension slot to mount the extension board, each of which includes a plurality of cables electrically connected to substrates located in the projector.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, when optional unit102is mounted on mounting unit104of the projector, cables of optional unit102electrically connected to various extension function sections are electrically connected to substrates105and106located in the projector.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Thus, for example, when an optional unit having two video signal cables, one power cable, one LAN cable, and one control cable is mounted on the projector, these various cables must be inserted into connectors of a plurality of substrates or the like, and connection work must be carried out to electrically connect the cables. As a result, when the optional unit is mounted on the projector, work for connecting various cables included in the optional unit to the projector is complex.

When the optional unit is mounted on the projector, in the process of attaching the optional unit itself, a side panel is removed from a case of the projector, and the optional unit is inserted by sliding it along a guide member from one side face from which the side panel has been removed. The optional unit can accordingly be fitted in the projector. However, the work for inserting the various cables included in the optional unit into the connectors of the substrates to electrically connect the cables is a task that is difficult to implement when carried out only from one side face from which the side panel has been removed, and hence the work cannot be performed smoothly.

Thus, other panels such as a top panel and a front panel must also be removed from the case of the projector, complicating the panel removal work. In addition, even in the state of the top panel and the front panel have been removed, at those locations where cables have been inserted into the connectors, the surrounding space in the projector is relatively narrow, and therefore, it is difficult to carry out the task of inserting cables into the connectors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a projector and a unit for a projector, in which task of inserting cables into the connectors can be made easier when the unit is mounted on the projector.

The projector according to the present invention includes: a mounting unit for mounting a unit having an extension function section, a connection substrate in which a terminal is located, and a cable for electrically connecting the extension function section and the connection substrate; a substrate having a connector to which the terminal of the connection substrate is electrically connected; a guide member located on the mounting unit and configured to movably guide the terminal of the connection substrate to the connector of the substrate; and a case in which the substrate is located. One side face of the case has an opening for inserting/removing the unit into/from the case, and a side face member for covering the opening being removably located in the opening. When the unit is inserted into the case from the opening, the connection substrate is guided by the guide member, and the unit functions when the terminal is electrically connected to the connector.

The unit for a projector according to the present invention is configured to be mounted on a mounting unit of the projector that includes: a substrate having a connector; a guide member for movably guiding the unit to the connector; and a case in which the substrate is located. One side face of the case has an opening for inserting/removing the unit into/from the case, and a side face member for covering the opening being removably located in the opening. The unit for the projector includes: an extension function section; a connection substrate in which a terminal is located to be electrically connected to the connector of the substrate; and a cable for electrically connecting the extension function section and the connection substrate. The unit for the projector is configured such that when the unit is inserted into the case from the opening, the connection substrate is guided by the guide member, and the unit functions when the terminal is electrically connected to the connector.

The unit according to the present invention indicates a unit for adding various extension functions, for example, a wireless LAN unit, a RGB signal distribution unit, or an adaptor unit having an extension slot on which a circuit board (extension board) having an extension function is mounted. The extension function section according to the present invention includes an electronic circuit for executing various extension functions, a control circuit for controlling the electronic circuit, and a connector to which the extension board is electrically connected.

According to the present invention, by removing only the side face member from the case and guiding the unit by the guide member to move toward the connector of the substrate, the electrical connection between the terminal of the unit and the connector of the substrate is completed, enabling the unit to function. Thus, according to the present invention, when the unit is mounted on the projector, complex work for connecting the cable of the unit to the substrate can be made unnecessary, and work for removing a plurality of outer case members constituting the case can be made unnecessary. As a result, connection work of the unit can be simplified, improving the ease with which the work can be carried out.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIGS. 3 to 8, projector1according to an embodiment includes mounting unit4for selectively mounting optional unit2to extend functions installed beforehand. First, optional unit2mounted on projector1according to the embodiment is described referring to the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 9, according to the embodiment, optional unit2includes, as extension function section5, a plurality of extension slots on which, for example, extension boards are mounted, a fan for cooling the extension boards mounted on the extension slots, and a control circuit unit for controlling the extension boards and the fan. Optional unit2also includes connection substrate7electrically connected to the control circuit unit constituting extension function section5via cable6.

At one end of connection substrate7, terminal7ais disposed to be electrically connected to a mother substrate located in projector1. Optional unit2can function, when mounted on mounting unit4, by electrically connecting terminal7ato the mother substrate.

Optional unit2further includes support mechanism8for supporting connection substrate7to be movable in three axis directions. The three axis directions are an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis shown inFIG. 9.

As shown inFIG. 10, optional unit2has, in bottom surface9opposite a bottom surface of mounting unit4, no portion that protrudes from bottom surface9when mounted on mounting unit4of projector1. Similarly, in the bottom surface of mounting unit4, there is no portion that protrudes from the bottom surface. Thus, during the mounting of optional unit2on mounting unit4, when bottom surface9of optional unit2is slid in parallel to the bottom surface of mounting unit4, bottom surface9can be smoothly slid without colliding with the bottom surface of mounting unit4.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, support mechanism8of optional unit2includes hat-shaped metal fitting11serving as a substrate support member for supporting connection substrate7, four spindles12for supporting hat-shaped metal fitting11to be movable in a thickness direction (Z axis direction) of connection substrate7, four coil springs13serving as pressing members for pressing hat-shaped metal fitting11in the Z axis direction, and frame14on which spindles12are erected.

Connection substrate7is fixed to top board11aof hat-shaped metal fitting11by screws. In top board11a, shaft holes16are formed, which has inner diameters larger than outer diameters of spindles12. Thus, by moving spindles12in shaft holes16, hat-shaped metal fitting11can be moved in the X axis and Y axis directions, and positions of connection substrate7can be adjusted in the X axis and Y axis directions.

As shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, four spindles12are equal in length, and screw hole12ais formed at one end of each spindle12. Plain washer17located on top board11ais fixed to one end of each spindle12by screw18fitted in screw hole12a. Thus, one end of spindle12is supported on an edge of shaft hole16of top board11ato be slidable via plain washer17.

Coil spring13is located on an outer circumference of spindle12. An outer diameter of coil spring13is larger than an inner diameter of shaft hole16. Thus, coil spring13has its both ends abutted on top board11aand frame14; and supports hat-shaped metal fitting11to be elastically displaceable in the Z axis direction with respect to frame14. In other words, hat-shaped metal fitting11has its stop board11apressed upward in the axis direction of spindle12by an elastic force of coil spring13. Hat-shaped metal fitting11can accordingly adjust a position of connection substrate7in the Z axis direction by depressing top board11aagainst a pressing force of coil spring13.

In top board11aof hat-shaped metal fitting11, as shown inFIG. 13, opening20is formed, through which a plurality of cables6electrically connected to extension function section5is pulled out. In positions adjacent to opening20, a plurality of terminals7bto which terminals of cables6are electrically connected are formed. Terminals7binclude clampers21for holding the terminals of cables6. In optional unit2, the terminals of cables6inserted into opening20beforehand are electrically connected to terminals7b, and held by clampers21. Thus, when optional unit2is mounted on mounting unit4, cables6can be prevented from being stuck on mounting unit4to be destroyed.

Hat-shaped metal fitting11includes a pair of support pieces23formed by bending opposing both side edges into an L shape in cross-section. At an end of support piece23located on terminal7aside of connection substrate7, notch23awhere a width of a horizontal portion parallel to a mounting surface of connection substrate7is tapered is formed. At the end of support piece23located on terminal7aside of connection substrate7, notch23bis formed at a corner of a vertical portion orthogonal to the mounting surface of connection substrate7. Because of notches23aand23bformed at the end of support piece23, hat-shaped metal fitting11can smoothly slide to mounting unit4of projector1.

As shown inFIGS. 15 to 17, projector1on which optional unit2configured as described above is mounted includes mother substrate31to which connection substrate7is connected, and chassis base33to which optional unit2is fixed. In chassis base33, as shown inFIGS. 18 and 19, shield case34is disposed, which serves as a holding member for holding connection substrate7of optional unit2mounted on mounting unit4.

As shown inFIG. 19, mother substrate31is erected to be fixed on shield case34in a state where its mounting surface is orthogonal to arrow direction E in which connection substrate7slides. On the mounting surface of mother substrate31, connector31ato which terminal7aof connection substrate7is electrically connected is disposed. As shown inFIG. 16, mother substrate31is electrically connected to a plurality of sub-substrates32located in chassis base33.

On bottom surface33aof chassis base33, a pair of L-shaped metal fittings37for fixing optional unit2is fixed in a position corresponding to mounting unit4. On bottom surface33aof chassis base33, there is no portion constituting the bottom surface of mounting unit4and that protrudes from bottom surface33aas described above. On bottom surface33aof chassis base33, as shown inFIG. 17, a bent metal fitting38is fixed, on which optional unit2inserted into mounting unit4abuts and which presses and fixes optional unit2to bottom surface33a.

On bottom surface33aof shield case34, as shown inFIG. 18, a pair of Z-shaped guide metal fittings40are fixed, which serves as a guide member for guiding the pair of support pieces23of hat-shaped metal fitting11to be slidable to connector31aof mother substrate31. Z-shaped guide metal fittings40are, as shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, located in parallel to direction E in which optional unit2slides.

As shown inFIG. 18, Z-shaped guide metal fitting40includes guiding bent piece41formed at one end of a side in which hat-shaped metal fitting11is inserted. Support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11can be guided by bent piece41to be easily inserted into a groove of Z-shaped guide metal fitting40.

On bottom surface34aof shield case34, notch43is formed in a position between the pair of Z-shaped guide metal fittings40, which enables insertion of spindle12of support mechanism11included in optional unit2when optional unit2is inserted along Z-shaped guide metal fitting40.

Shield case34has, as electromagnetic shielding means, wire-mesh structure44that uses, for example, a wire mesh or a punching metal. Shield case34can be made of, as electromagnetic shielding means, a conductive electromagnetic shielding material such as copper or conductive plastic.

As shown inFIG. 5, projector1includes case35for covering chassis base33. Mother substrate31and sub-substrate32are located in case35. One side face of case35has opening46for inserting/removing optional unit2into/from case35. Side panel47serving as a side surface member for covering opening46is removably located in opening46. In case35, front panel48and top panel49are removable located.

Projector1configured as described above according to the embodiment is described referring to an operation when optional unit2is mounted.

As shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, optional unit2inserted from opening46of case35is inserted by depressing hat-shaped metal fitting11against the pressing force of coil spring13and sliding support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11along Z-shaped guide metal fitting40of shield case34in direction E. In this case, because of notches23aand23bformed at the end of located on terminal7aside of connection substrate7, support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11is smoothly inserted into the groove of Z-shaped guide metal fitting40, and positioned on bottom surface34aof shield case34.

As shown inFIG. 21, hat-shaped metal fitting11is positioned, by inserting the pair of support pieces23in the grooves of the pair of Z-shaped guide metal fittings40, in the X axis direction by vertical portions of support pieces23, and in the Z axis direction by horizontal portions of support pieces23. Terminal7aof connection substrate7is accordingly positioned with respect to connector31aof mother substrate31, and connection substrate7can be electrically connected to mother substrate31easily and surely.

As shown inFIG. 20, at a rear end of support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11, abutment51is formed, which abuts on the end of Z-shaped guide metal fitting40when terminal7aof connection substrate7is connected to connector31aof mother substrate31. Connection substrate7is accordingly positioned in direction E that is the Y axis direction, thereby preventing deep insertion of terminal7ainto connector31aof mother substrate31.

As a result, connection substrate7of optional unit2is highly accurately positioned in the three axis directions by support mechanism8, hat-shaped metal fitting11, and Z-shaped guide metal fitting40.

In shield case34of projector1, as shown inFIGS. 19 and 20, dummy panel52is removably disposed, which functions to cover end34bof shield case34at which notch43is formed to hide it from the outside, and it hides notch43from the outside of projector1by covering a part of notch43.

As shown inFIGS. 22 and 25, dummy panel52includes panel52afor covering the end side of shield case34, and cover52bfor covering a part of notch43. Dummy panel52is fixed to shield case34when optional unit2is not mounted on mounting unit4. However, even in a mounted state of optional unit2on mounting unit4, dummy panel52can be fixed to shield case34.

As shown inFIGS. 23 and 24, in cover52bof dummy panel52, abutment54is formed in a position corresponding to each support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11to position support piece23in the Z axis direction.

In dummy panel52, in the mounted state of optional unit2on mounting surface4, both ends of cover52bare guided along Z-shaped guide metal fitting40to be inserted, and each abutment54presses each support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11to bottom surface34aside of shield case34. Dummy panel52accordingly regulates a position of connection substrate7having its terminal7aelectrically connected to connector31aof mother substrate31in the Z axis direction.

In addition, the end of cover52bof dummy panel52is abutted on the end of hat-shaped metal fitting11, thereby regulating a position of connection substrate7having its terminal7aelectrically connected to connector31aof mother substrate31in the Y axis direction. As shown inFIG. 25, dummy panel52covers, in its fixed state to the shield case32, a part of notch43of shield case34.

Thus, dummy panel52functions to cover end34bof shield case34to hide it from the outside when optional unit2is not mounted, and functions to regulate the positions of connection substrate7electrically connected to mother substrate31in the Z axis direction and the Y axis direction.

As shown inFIGS. 26 and 27, projector1according to the embodiment includes shield plate56that serves as an electromagnetic shield member for covering notch43of shield case34in an unmounted state of optional unit2on mounting unit4. Shield plate56is made of an electromagnetic shield member, and includes support piece57guided to Z-shaped guide metal fitting40of shield case34and abutted on the end of notch43.

Shield plate56fixed to notch43of shield case34is, as shown inFIG. 28, by abutting panel52aof dummy panel52on the end of shield plate56, fixed by abovementioned dummy panel52. As shown inFIG. 29, in the fixed state of dummy panel52to shield case34, cover52bof dummy panel52is stacked on shield plate56.

Projector1according to the embodiment includes an optional board (extension board) that is a circuit board having extension functions and is selectively mountable on mounting unit4. As shown inFIGS. 30 and 31, optional board60includes circuit board61on which an electronic element is mounted, and interface62electrically connected to an external device. Circuit board61has terminal61aelectrically connected to connector31aof mother substrate31.

In shield case34, as shown inFIG. 32, guide member64is located, which has a groove for guiding an end of circuit board61of optional board60. An optional board is guided by guide member64to slide, and terminal61aof circuit board61is electrically connected to connector31aof mother substrate31.

As shown inFIG. 33, optional board60can be fixed to shield case34in the covered state of notch43with shield plate56. Thus, circuit board61located in shield case34can appropriately be shielded electromagnetically.

As described above, shield case34is configured so that connection substrate7of optional unit2and circuit board61of optional board60can both be fixed. Shield plate56can cover notch43both when optional unit2is not fixed to shield case34and when optional board60is fixed to shield case34.

According to the embodiment, by removing only side panel47from projector1and sliding optional unit2along Z-shaped guide metal fitting40to mount it in case35, optional unit2is electrically connected to mother substrate31. In other words, electrical connection between optional unit2and projector1is completed only by sliding optional unit2, enabling optional unit2to function. In other words, optional unit2can be used. As a result, according to the embodiment, work for connecting cable6of optional unit2to projector1or work for removing a plurality of panels such as front panel48and top panel49for connecting cable6from projector1is made unnecessary.

Therefore, according to projector1and optional unit2, attachment of optional unit2can be simplified. According to projector1and optional unit2, when optional unit2is mounted on mounting unit4, destruction of cable6of optional unit2and erroneous mounting such as connection of cable6to an inappropriate substrate can be prevented.

Optional unit2includes support mechanism8for supporting connection substrate7to be movable in the two axes, namely, the X axis and the Y axis, orthogonal to the direction of inserting terminal7aof connection substrate7into connector31a. Thus, support piece23of hat-shaped metal fitting11can be smoothly positioned in the groove of Z-shaped guide metal fitting40, and terminal7acan be accurately positioned to be electrically connected to connector31a.

Projector1according to the embodiment is configured such that optional unit2is mounted by removing side panel47from case35. Needless to say, however, removal is not limited to side panel47. For example, a configuration where optional unit2is mounted by removing one panel from among front panel48and top panel49can be employed.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment. Various changes and modifications understandable to those skilled in the art can be made in the configuration and specifics of the invention within a scope of the invention.