A projection type image display apparatus

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a projection type image display apparatus using a small light valve, particularly a liquid crystal light valve, to achieve high brightness, a sharp contrast and excellent uniformity in image displaying. The apparatus comprises a light source with a light emitting area, an oval mirror to reflect the light from the light source and a light valve to control the reflected light. The oval mirror possesses two focal points. a first focal point located at the side near the oval mirror and a second focal point located at the opening side of the oval mirror. The light emitting area is situated at a position so as to include the first focal point of the oval mirror. When the distance from the first focal point to a light valve's position which governs the effective light flux area of the light valve is defined as 'L' and the distance from the first focal point to the second focal Point is defined as '2C'. the relation between 'L' and 'C' satisfies the following inequality on the light axis connecting the oval mirror and the light valve: 0.6 ≦ L/C ≦ 1.1

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a projection type image display apparatus utilizing a light valve. It has been so far making a main stream for a display apparatus of a large screen with high resolution and high brightness to employ a light valve system for obtaining projected images by modulating light from a light source. Especially, the apparatus employing a liquid crystal panel as the light valve occupies the majority of the display apparatus of light valve system because of the compactness of the finished product and the needlessness of any specific maintenance provisions. This projection type image display apparatus using a liquid crystal panel has such features as a good picture quality, an excellent light utilization efficiency, an easy counter high temperature measure and the like in terms of system designing, and a liquid crystal panel of 2.8 to 3.2 inches in diagonal length with amorphous silicon serving as a control means is predominantly used as the light valve for this kind of apparatus. Costs of the liquid crystal panel having amorphous silicon and other optical components as used with the prior art are not readily reducible even if they are mass-produced because of the inherent nature of the processes employed in the production thereof. On account of this, the prior art projection type image display apparatus like above tends to become too expensive to be widely used by general consumers. Alternately, a projection type image display apparatus employing as the light valve a liquid crystal panel with control means formed of polysilicon can be considered. Since polysilicon can be processed to produce a much more dense device when compared with amorphous silicon, a liquid crystal light valve of polysilicon can be made smaller, and at the same time it will be possible to increase the number of pixels and improve the aperture rate. The aperture rate is defined as a ratio of the effective area of a liquid crystal light valve excluding inoperative areas due to the existence of black matrixes for the protection of wiring and the like to the effective area of the liquid crystal light valve. A typical liquid crystal panel using polysilicon can be reduced in size to less than one half of the one using amorphous silicon. As a result, the peripheral optical systems are also made smaller and the whole apparatus will be made available to the market at a relatively low price. On the other hand, a parabolic mirror has been used as the illumination means in the optical system with the prior art projection type image display apparatus employing a liquid crystal panel of 2.8 to 3.2 inches in diagonal length. This kind of image display apparatus using a liquid crystal panel presents the following problems: Firstly, when the parabolic mirror is reduced in size with a resultant reduction in size of the light emitting area of the light source, the life and light emitting efficiency of the light source decline. Therefore, the light emitting area of the light source has to be made relatively large for the size of the reflector, resulting in a large reduction of the light-gathering efficiency of the reflector. Secondly, the distance between the light emitting area of the light source and the reflector becomes short, thereby increasing the reflector's temperature. As a result, it becomes difficult to ensure reliability of the reflector. As shown in Fig. 9, a projection type image display apparatus employing a parabolic mirror 114 as the reflector is also proposed. In Fig. 9, a light source 102 is arranged on the optical axis 103, and the parabolic mirror 114 is disposed behind the light source 102. - A light-gathering lens 109 is arranged at a distance from a light valve 107, and the light from the parabolic mirror 114 is incident on the light valve 107 after having been focused. The light from the light source 102 passes the parabolic mirror 114, the light-gathering lens 109, a light incident side polarizer 106, the light valve 107, a light radiant side polarizer 108-and a projection lens 110 successively, and will be displayed on a screen (not shown in Fig. 9) finally. With the foregoing structures, it is necessary to use a brighter projection lens 110 having a smaller F-Number, about 2.8 for example. When a brighter projection lens 110 with a smaller F-Number is used, it becomes difficult to control shifting of the axes of the projection lens 110 and parabolic mirror 114, thereby reducing the freedom in designing. On the other hand, since the light path from the parabolic mirror 114 to the light-gathering lens 109 is long, and the F-Number of the projection lens 110 is small, the overall light path tends to become long with a resulting difficulty in reducing the size of the projection type image display apparatus. Further, a structure wherein an oval mirror is used as the reflector, as shown in Fig. 10, can be considered. In Fig. 10, a light source 202 is arranged on the optical axis 203, and an oval mirror 204 is disposed behind the light source 202. The light from the light source 202 passes a collimator lens 215, a light incident side polarizer 206, a light valve 207, a light radiant side polarizer 208, a light-gathering lens 209 and a projection lens 210 successively, and will be displayed on a screen (not shown in Fig. 10) finally. As the light source 202 is used a light source having a small light emitting area such as a xenon lamp and the like. A second focal point is designed to locate near the opening of the oval mirror 204. The light reflected at the oval lens 204 is incident on the light valve 207 after having been adjusted to a certain specified size of light beam by means of the collimator lens 215. The foregoing structures present such problems as less enhancement in the light-gathering efficiency, a marked decrease in the luminous energy in the periphery of images when compared with that in the center, an uneven distribution of brightness in images and the like. The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a projection type image display apparatus of light valve system, which makes it possible to display images with high brightness, uniform light intensity, sharp contrasts or the like, and at the same time makes a reduction in size possible. EP-A-0568998 discloses a projection type image display apparatus having an illumination means, light valve and projection means arranged along the axis of a rotating ellipsoid reflector. In this arrangement the light valve is located equidistant between the two focal points of the ellipsoid reflector. A projection type image display apparatus of the present invention comprises a) an illumination means including a light source having a light emitting area and a reflector for reflecting the light from said light source in one direction; b) an image display means including a liquid crystal light valve for controlling the light from said illumination means according to external input signals; and c) a projection means including projection lens for projecting the light that passed through said image display means, wherein said reflector is an oval-form mirror with an opening, an ellipse defining said oval-form mirror having a first focal point and a second focal point at least a part of said light emitting area being arranged to include said first focal point and said light valve being located at a position on the light axis connecting said reflector and said light valve between said first and second focal points; characterised in that the position of said light valve satisfies the following inequality: 0.6 ≤ (L/C) ≤ 1.1 wherein "L" is the distance from said first focal point to the light valve, that governs the effective light flux area of said light valve and "2C" is the distance from said first focal point to said second focal point; said oval-form mirror has a shape to satisfy the following inequality: 0.95 ≤ E ≤ 0.97 wherein "E" is the eccentricity of said ellipse; and the maximum shorter axis length '2B' of said ellipse and the maximum diameter 'D' of the effective light flux area of said light valve satisfy the following inequality: 1.9 ≤ B/D ≤ 2.5 According to the foregoing structures, it will be possible to produce a projection type image display apparatus which displays images of high brightness, uniform light intensity, an enhanced contrast or the like, employing a light valve system that may provide room for a reduction in size. The light emitting area of the light source is preferred to have a size of more than 2.5 mm inclusive extending along the light axis of the oval mirror. Preferably, the F-Number of the projection lens should be more than 3.0 inclusive. When the longer ellipse axis of the oval mirror is expressed by '2A' in maximum and the distance between two focal points of the oval mirror is expressed by '2C', the relation between 'A' and 'C' is preferred to satisfy the following inequality (3): 8.0 mm ≤ A - C ≤ 11.0 mm The light emitting area of the light source has an elongated shape extending along the light axis of the oval mirror, and the first focal point of the oval mirror is within the light emitting area of such an elongated shape. Besides, the ratio of the distance from the first focal point to the second focal point's side of the light emitting area to the distance from the first focal point to the opposite side of the light emitting area is preferred not to be less than 2 to 1 with a resulting shift of the light emitting area towards the second focal point of the oval mirror. The light valve is preferred to employ liquid crystal and images are displayed by controlling the liquid crystal electrically. According to the foregoing structures, it is possible to realize a projection type image display apparatus of superior characteristics as mentioned above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the principal elements of a projection type image display apparatus as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 illustrates an illumination means of a projection type image display apparatus as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows a brightness distribution on the surface of a light valve used in a projection type image display apparatus as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a simulation diagram to show the relationship between light incident positions and light incident angles on the surface of a light valve used in a projection type image display apparatus as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a graph to show the relationship between the focal distance of an oval mirror and position of a light valve and the light-gathering efficiency, and also the relationship between the focal distance of an oval mirror and position of a light valve and the center/peripheral luminous energy ratio. Fig. 6 is a graph to show the relationship between ellipticity and light-gathering efficiency. Fig. 7A shows a schematic diagram of the principal elements of a prior art projection type image display apparatus using a parabolic mirror. Fig. 7B illustrates the condition of illumination of the prior art projection type image display apparatus as shown in Fig. 7A. Fig. 7C shows a brightness distribution of the prior art projection type image display apparatus as shown in Fig. 7A. Fig. 8A is a schematic diagram to illustrate the performance of a prior art projection type image display apparatus using an oval mirror which has a second focal point in the vicinity of the light incident surface of a light valve. Fig. 8B shows a brightness distribution of the prior art projection type image display apparatus as shown in Fig. 8A. Fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the principal elements of a prior art projection type image display apparatus using a parabolic mirror. Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of the principal elements of a prior art projection type image display apparatus using a point source light and an oval mirror. Key to Symbol : 1. Illumination Means 2. Light Source 3. Light Axis 4. Oval Mirror (Oval Reflector) 5. Ultraviolet Rays Cutting Filter 6. Light Incident Side Polarizer 7. Light Valve 8. Light Radiant Side Polarizer 9. Light-Gathering Lens 10. Projection Lens 11. Screen 12. First Focal Point of Oval Mirror 13. Second Focal Point of Oval Mirror 215. Collimator Lens 16. Illuminating Area of Oval Mirror 17. Effective Area of Light Valve 18. Ellipse 102, 202. Light Source 103, 203. Light Axis 114, 314. Parabolic Mirror 204, 404. Oval Mirror 106, 206. Light Incident Side Polarizer 107, 207. Liquid Crystal Light Valve 108, 208. Light Radiant Side Polarizer 109, 209. Light-Gathering Lens 110, 210. Projection Lens DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained with the help of drawings in the following: Fig. I shows a schematic diagram of principal elements of a projection type image display apparatus as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, an illumination means 1, an ultraviolet rays cutting filter 5, a light incident side polarizer 6, a light valve 7, a light radiant side polarizer 8, a light-gathering lens 9, a projection lens 10 and a screen 11 are arranged along the light axis 3 successively. The illumination means 1 comprises light source 2 and an oval mirror 4. The oval mirror 4 is disposed at a position where the light axis 3 is serving as a rotationally symmetrical axis. This oval mirror 4 serves as a reflector whereby the light radiated from the light source 2 is reflected in a desired direction. The ultraviolet component of the light radiated from the illumination means 1 is eliminated by the ultraviolet rays cutting filter 5. The light, free of the ultraviolet rays, is incident upon the light incident side polarizer 6 and the light component of the same vibration direction as the absorption axis direction of the light incident side polarizer 6 is absorbed, thereby allowing only a light component that makes an angle of 90° with the absorption axis of the light incident side polarizer 6 to pass through. The light that has passed through the light incident side polarizer 6 is then incident upon the light valve 7. As the material to make the light valve 7 is used an electro-optically volatile liquid crystal. The light valve 7 has a plurality of openings, each of which can be independently controlled according to input signals from outside. As the means of conveying the input signals is used an electrical control means utilizing polysilicon or amorphous silicon thin films. When an input signal is of a black indication, the light incident upon the liquid crystal light valve 7 is controlled in its vibration direction into the same direction as the absorption axis direction of the light radiant side polarizer 8, thereby the light that has passed through the light valve 7 being absorbed by the light radiant side polarizer 8 and consequently not being radiated out of the light radiant side polarizer 8. On the other hand, when an input signal is of a white indication, the light incident upon the light valve 7 is controlled in its vibration direction into an angled direction that makes an angle of 90° with the absorption axis direction of the light radiant side polarizer 8, thereby allowing the light that has passed through the light valve 7 to penetrate the light radiant side polarizer 8. Thus, an image display means is comprised of the ultraviolet rays cutting filter 5, the light incident side polarizer 6, the light valve 7 and the light radiant side polarizer 8. thereby forming images of the light controlled by the image display means. The light that passed through the light radiant side polarizer 8 is projected on the screen by a projection means. More specifically, the light that passed through the light radiant side polarizer 8 is delivered to the projection lens 10 after being focused by the light-gathering lens 9. The light that passed through the projection lens 10 is projected on the screen 11 as arranged in front of the projection lens 10, thereby projecting the images enlarged from the images formed on the light valve 7. Accordingly, in order to obtain excellent projected images from an projection type image display apparatus using a light valve, all the following conditions relative to high brightness, uniform light intensity, an enhanced contrast and the like have to be satisfied: (1) High Brightness It is possible for the light from the light source 2 to be gathered efficiently into the effective opening area of the light valve 7 and then for the gathered light to be guided to the projection lens 10. (2) Uniform Light Intensity It is possible to reduce the difference in light intensity between the central part and the peripheral part of the images projected on the screen and at the same time to have even the corners of the screen well illuminated. (3) Enhanced Contrast It is possible to make the light incident angles of both the light incident on the effective opening area of the light valve 7 and the light incident on the projection lens 10 after passing through the light-gathering lens 9 fall within a range set by the incident light angle dependability of the light valve 7 to satisfy a specified requirement for contrast. Fig. 2 illustrates in detail the illumination means of the projection type image display apparatus as shown in Fig. 1. In. Fig. 2, the oval mirror 4 has an opening of an elliptical configuration 18 with the specified portions thereof cut out. The oval mirror 4 has two focal points on the light axis 3 thereof with a first focal point 12 located at the oval mirror side and a second focal point 13 at the side of the oval mirror's opening. A light source 2 is disposed near the first focal point 12. The light from the light source 2 is reflected by the oval mirror 4 to the side of the opening of the oval mirror 4. When the distance between the first focal point 12 and second focal point 13 is expressed by '2C', the distance 'L' between the first focal point 12 and the light valve 7's position which governs the effective light flux area of the light valve 7 satisfies the relation expressed by an inequality (I). 0.6 ≤ L/C ≤ 1.1 According to the foregoing structures, a projection type image display apparatus, which has all the features of high brightness, uniform light intensity and an enhanced contrast and also compactness in size, is realised. When the ratio L/C is not exceeding 0.6, the light incident angle becomes large, thereby making it difficult to maintain an enhanced contrast and also reducing the light-gathering efficiency involved with the light to the effective opening of the light valve 7. When the ratio L/C is exceeding 1.1 inclusive, the luminous energy become strong in the central area and weak in the periphery of the effective opening of the light valve 7, thereby making it difficult to gain uniform light intensity. Particularly, the eccentricity 'E' of the oval mirror 4 is preferred to range from about 0.95 to about 0.97, thereby improving the foregoing performance greatly. When 'E' is less than 0.95, it becomes difficult for light to gather in a small area, thereby reducing the effect of light-gathering efficiency enhancement. When 'E' is more than 0.98 inclusive, the light incident angle becomes large, resulting in a reduction of the effect on enhancing the contrasts. There are no particular restrictions imposed on the material of the oval mirror 4, and mirror-surfaced glass, metal or ceramics is typically used. Specifically, when the shorter ellipse axis of the ellipse 18 forming the oval mirror 4 is expressed by '2B' in maximum and the maximum diameter of the area of the light flux incident on the effective opening of the light valve 7 is expressed by 'D', the structures wherein the relation between 'B' and 'D' satisfies an inequality (2) are preferred. 1.9 ≤ B/D ≤ 2.5 In this case, the-light-gathering efficiency of the oval mirror 4 serving as a reflector is greatly improved. Also,' even when a light source with such a large light emitting area as a metal halide lamp is employed as the light source 2, a more uniform light intensity can be realized by having the locally high-intensity illumination mitigated. When the ratio B/D is smaller than 1.9 inclusive, all the light can not get into the effective opening of the light valve 7, thereby reducing the effect of improving the light-gathering efficiency. When the ratio B/D is larger than 2.5 inclusive, it becomes difficult for the light to hit the periphery of the light valve 7, making the peripheral areas thereof darker, resulting in a reduction of the effect to gain uniform light intensity. The light source 2 comprises a luminous tube having a shape elongated along the light axis 3. The luminous tube has a light emitting area located in the central section, and the light emitting area has a length proportionate to the arc length (or the electrode length). As the luminous tube is used a transparent lamp. As the light source 2 is used a discharge tube and the like such as a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp or the like. Particularly, a light source 2 with a light-emitting area which has an elongation of more than 2.5 mm inclusive along the light axis 3 is preferred. With this structure, images of more uniform light intensity can be realized. When the dimension of the light emitting area is less than 2.5 mm inclusive in length, it becomes less effective to reduce the difference in light intensity between the central area and the peripheral areas of the light valve 7's surface, on which the light is incident. Particularly, at least a part of the light emitting area of the light source 2 with an elongation extending along the light axis 3 of the oval mirror 4 includes the first focal point 12 of the oval mirror 4, and the ratio of the distance along the light axis 3 from the first focal point 12 to the side of the light emitting area near the second focal point 13 to the distance from the first focal point 12 to the opposite side of the light emitting area is preferred not to be less than 2 to 1. According to this structure, a particularly high light-gathering efficiency is achieved, and at the same time the light intensity of the images projected on the periphery of the screen is greatly enhanced. When the foregoing ratio relative to the position of the light source is not exceeding 2 to 1, the luminous energy at the center of the light valve 7 is increased and the luminous energy in the periphery is decreased, thereby reducing the effect of achieving uniform light intensity with the light valve 7. Further, use of a collimator lens is not necessarily needed with the present invention. Next, a specific exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained. With the structures of the present invention, the optimal structural combination of the composing elements can be determined by tracing the light radiant from the light source located on the light axis 3 and simulating the condition of the light entering the incident surface of the light valve 7. For example, suppose the following relations are established: E = 0.96, D = 35 mm, B = 77 mm, L = 200 mm, C = 200 mm, A = 208 mm, B/D = 2.2, L/C = 1, the length of the light emitting area of the light source along the light axis (arc length) = 4.0 mm and the positional ratio of the light emitting area coincidental with the first focal point: the distance from the first focal point to the second focal point side/the distance from the first focal point to the oval mirror side = 4/1. Then, the relation between the position of the incident light on the light valve's surface (illumination height) and the incident angle is simulated and the results thereof are presented in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows the relationship between the illumination height observed on a cross-sectional plane of the oval mirror situated above the central axis running through the focal points of the oval mirror and the light incident angle. It is known from Fig. 4 that an excellent performance can be obtained when the light mainly falls in the range of - 20 mm to + 20 mm of illumination height and the incident angle range of 8° maximum. In other words, it becomes possible to reduce the incident angle of the light incident on the effective opening area of the light valve 7, according to the foregoing structures. Thus, the prevention of deterioration in contrasts due to the liquid crystal's dependence on the incident angle of the light is made possible. As a result, the contrasts of images are improved remarkably. Besides, according to the foregoing structures, practically viable light intensity can be realized even with a projection type image display apparatus that employs a projection lens of F-Number exceeding 3.0 (F = 3.5 or 4.0, for example). As a result, the distance from the opening of the oval mirror 4 to the projection lens 10 is made smaller, and the whole apparatus can be made more compact. Therefore, a projection type image display apparatus comprising a zoom lens, which enhances freedom in lens designing such as axis shifting and the like, can be realized. Further, it is desirable to make the effective opening area of the light valve 7 sufficiently smaller than the opening of the oval mirror 4 with the present exemplary embodiment. The reason for the above is that the luminous energy in the periphery of the light valve 7 becomes not enough when the effective opening area of the light valve 7 is almost equal to the size of the opening of the oval mirror 4. At present, a metal halide lamp of 120 to 250 W is mainly used as the light source of a projection type image display apparatus using a transmission type liquid crystal light valve. For durability's sake of a reflector, there has to be a certain distance between a light source and a reflector. Generally, the inner surface of a reflector is covered by a reflective film, and this reflective film peels off with an excessive rise in temperature over the maximum permissible temperature. Besides, there is a danger that the reflector itself is destructed. Therefore, it is necessary to make a provision for cooling by keeping a certain distance between the light source and the reflector. With the present exemplary embodiment, when the longer ellipse axis of the ellipse 18 forming the oval mirror 4 is expressed by '2A' in maximum and the distance between the first focal point and the second focal point is expressed by '2C', it was found by experiment that the relation between 'A' and 'C' satisfies the following inequality (3): 8.0 mm ≤ A - C ≤ 11.0 mm By determining the distance between the light emitting area of the light source and the reflecting surface of the oval mirror so that the inequality (3) is satisfied, the deterioration in duarability of the reflector surface due to a temperature rise can be prevented. Also, by reducing this value of 'A - C', the opening area of the oval mirror can be made smaller, thereby allowing the incident angle of the light incident on the light valve to be made smaller. In the foregoing description of the present exemplary embodiment, 'the effective light flux area of the light valve' is used to mean the same as 'the effective opening area of the light valve' means. Next, a specific exemplary embodiment of the present invention and some comparing examples will be explained. Specific Exemplary Embodiment A projection type image display apparatus of the present exemplary embodiment is constructed in the same way as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, wherein the following numbers or values are used: D = 40 mm, L = 200 mm, E = 0.96, B = 77 mm, C = 200 mm, A = 203.8 mm, the effective angle of the light incident on the light valve = 7.2° (corresponding to projection lens F-Number of 4.0), the length of the light emitting area along the light axis = 4.0 mm. the light radiant angle = 90°, the positional ratio of the light emitting area coincidental with the first focal point: the distance from the first focal point to the second focal point side end of the light emitting area/the distance from the first focal point to the oval mirror side end of the light emitting area = 4/1, L/C = 1 and B/D = 1.93. In ord-er to prevent the adverse effects caused by the heat from the light source, the distance between the top of the oval mirror 4 and the first focal point 12, (A-C), is designed to measure 8.3 mm. With this structure, the light-gathering efficiency of the oval mirror is about 60 %, which is much higher than that of an oval mirror used in a comparing example 1 (to be described later) and almost equal to that of another comparing example 2 (to be described later) wherein the light valve is disposed on the second focal point. Also, a brightness distribution on the surface of the light valve is shown in Fig. 3. From Fig. 3, it is learned that the difference in brightness between the center and the periphery of the light valve is small. In other words, the uniformity in brightness on the light valve's surface has been improved remarkably. The reason for the value of L/C to be preferably falling in the range of 0.6 to 1.1 is given in the following: Fig. 5 shows data on the light-gathering efficiency and also the center/peripheral luminous energy ratio against the value of L/C. In Fig. 5, the simulated data are indicated under the conditions of A=250mm, D=33mm, E=0.96, the arc length = 4 mm, the positional ratio of the light emitting area coincidental with the first focal point: the distance from the first focal point to the second focal point side end of the light emitting area/the distance from the first focal point to the oval mirror side end of the light emitting area = 2/1, and the incident angle < 72°. From Fig. 5, it is learned that the value of L/C is preferred to range from 0.6 to 1.1 in terms of taking a good balance between the light-gathering efficiency and the canter/peripheral luminous energy ratio. Fig. 6 is a graph to show the relationship between the eccentricity 'E' of the oval mirror and the light-gathering efficiency. In Fig. 6, the simulated data are indicated under the conditions of A=250mm, D=33mm, L/C=0.85, the arc length = 4 mm, the positional ratio of the light emitting area coincidental with the first focal point = 2/1 and the incident angle < 72°. It is learned from Fig. 6 that the eccentricity 'E' is preferred to range from 0.95 to 0.97. In the case of E = 0.972, C equals to 242.5 mm, resulting in (A - C) = 7.5 mm. In other words, as described before, the effect of enhancing the durability of the reflector is reduced. Comparing Example 1 Against the foregoing specific exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the results of simulation in light-gathering efficiency and brightness distribution measured with a prior art projection type image display apparatus will be explained next. How the main components are put together to build a prior art projection type image display apparatus using a parabolic mirror as the reflector-is illustrated in Fig. 7A. In Fig. 7A, a parabolic mirror 314 is used as the reflector. Other structures are the same as described in the foregoing specific exemplary embodiment. In order to prevent the adverse effects caused by the heat from the light source 2, the focus distance of the parobolic mirror 314 is designed to measure 11 mm. How the surface of the light valve used in the image display apparatus thus structured is illuminated is shown in Fig. 7B. In Fig. 7B, the illumination area 16 illuminated by the parabolic mirror becomes larger than the effective area 17 of the light valve, resulting in a light-gathering efficiency of about 15 %. In other words, as the light that is not effectively incident on the light valve increases, the light-gathering efficiency of the reflector is reduced. More specifically, when a parabolic mirror is used as the reflector and a small light valve is used, the light-gathering efficiency applicable to this case, wherein a small light valve is irradiated by light, becomes low. On the other hand, the brightness distribution on the light valve surface is shown in Fig. 7C. It is learned from Fig. 7C that the difference in brightness between the center and the periphery of the light valve is small, and the light valve surface is uniformly irradiated by light. Comparing Example 2 How the main components are put together to build a prior art projection type image display apparatus using an oval mirror as the reflector is illustrated in Fig. 8A. In Fig. 8A, the second focal point is arranged to be located towards the light source 2 from the light valve 7. In other words, the ratio of L/C is about 2. In order to prevent the adverse effects caused by the heat from the light source 2, the distance between the top of the oval mirror 404 and the first focal point is designed to measure 11 mm. The light source is arranged to be located at the position of the first focal point, and the light valve surface is arranged to be located at the position of the second focal point. Other structures than above are the same as described in the foregoing specific exemplary embodiment. With the foregoing structures, the light-gathering efficiency of the oval mirror has become about 50 %. However, as the brightness distribution on the light valve surface of Fig. 8B shows, the brightness in the periphery is lower than that at the center. Accordingly, it is learned that the light valve surface is not illuminated uniformly. Besides, the light transmissivity of a projection lens is reduced in the periphery when compared with that in the center, resulting in an enlarged difference in brightness between the center and the periphery of the screen. As explained in the foregoing, by using an oval mirror as a reflector, and by making the distance 'L' from the first focal point of the oval mirror to a light valve's position that governs the effective light flux area of the light valve and the distance '2C' between the first focal point and second focal point of the oval mirror satisfy the relation expressed by an inequality (1), it is made possible to realise a projection type image display apparatus which shows high brightness and sharp contrasts, and images of excellent uniformity and at the same time employs a small type light valve with a small-area effective surface. Also, it will be possible to reduce the dimensions of the apparatus, thereby bringing down the cost thereof. 0.6 ≤ L/C ≤ 1.1 Particularly, a projection type image display apparatus comprising an oval mirror of eccentricity 'E' that ranges from 0.95 to 0.97 will show the foregoing excellent effects. A projection type image display apparatus, wherein the maximum shorter axis length '2B' of an ellipse that forms an oval mirror and the maximum diameter 'D' of the effective light flux area of a light valve satisfy an inequality (2), has a particularly improved light-gathering efficiency. 1.9 ≤ B/D ≤ 2.5 Further, a projection type image display apparatus comprising a projection lens of F-Number exceeding 3.0 inclusive makes it possible to realise brightness that is practical enough. Accordingly, a zoom lens with an axis shift incorporated can be used with the image display apparatus. As a result, freedom in lens designing is increased and a projection type image display apparatus of much improved functions and maneuverability can be realised. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the structures as described in the foregoing exemplary embodiments. For example, the light valve can not necessarily be a transmission type liquid crystal panel. Any means functioning as a light valve such as a reflection type liquid crystal panel, a micro-mirror device (a conglomerate of tiny mirrors) or the like can also be used. A projection type image display apparatus constructed with the light axis of the illumination optics system shifted from that of the projection optics system is also included in the present invention.

Claims: A projection type image display apparatus comprising: a) an illumination means (1) including a light source (2) having a light emitting area and a reflector for reflecting the light from said light source in one direction; b) an image display means including a liquid crystal light valve (7) for controlling the light from said illumination means according to external input signals; and c) a projection means including projection lens (10) for projecting the light that passed through said image display means, wherein said reflector is an oval-form mirror (4) with an opening, an ellipse defining said oval-form mirror having a first focal point (12) and a second focal point (13) at least a part of said light emitting area being arranged to include said first focal point (12) and said light valve (7) being located at a position on the light axis connecting said reflector and said light valve between said first and second focal points; characterised in that the position of said light valve satisfies the following inequality: 0.6 ≤ (L/C) ≤ 1.1 wherein "L" is the distance from said first focal point (12) to the light valve (7), that governs the effective light flux area of said light valve and "2C" is the distance from said first focal point (12) to said second focal point (13); said oval-form mirror (4) has a shape to satisfy the following inequality: 0.95 ≤ E ≤ 0.97 wherein "E" is the eccentricity of said ellipse; and the maximum shorter axis length '2B' of said ellipse and the maximum diameter 'D' of the effective light flux area of said light valve satisfy the following inequality: 1.9 ≤ B/D ≤ 2.5 The projection type image display apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said light emitting area of the light source is elongated along the light axis of said oval mirror over a length of 2.5 mm inclusive. The projection type image display apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the F-Number of said projection lens is more than 3.0 inclusive. The projection type image display apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the following inequality is satisfied by 'C' and 'A' which is one half of the maximum longer axis of said ellipse. 8.0 mm ≤ A - C ≤ 11.0 mm The projection type image display apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said light emitting area has an elongated shape extending along said light axis and the ratio of the distance from said first focal point to the end of said light emitting area at the side nearest said second focal point to the distance from said first focal point to the opposite end of said light emitting area is not less than 2 to 1 with a resultant shift in said light emitting area towards said second focal point. The projection type image display apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein images are displayed by controlling the liquid crystal of said light valve electrically.

Inventors: YAMAGISHI SHIGEKAZU, YAMAGISHI, SHIGEKAZU
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04N9
IPC codes: H04N5, G02F1, G02B17, H04N9