Abstract:
A portable projector includes a housing, a first light source and a second light source located in the housing. A board thermally contacts the first light source for absorbing heat from the first light source. A heat pipe connects the board and a first heat sink for transferring the heat generated by the first light source from the board to the first heat sink. A second heat sink thermally contacts the second light source for dissipating heat from the second light source.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable projector, and more particularly to a portable projector with a heat dissipation system. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Since projectors have become increasingly popular, the requirements of potable projectors have grown too. Projectors are high precision opto-mechatronics products; their components are highly temperature sensitive, and have a very complicated layout. Consequently, the cooling capabilities of the projector are very important. In particular, improving cooling capabilities without increasing the size of the projector is of interest. 
         [0005]    Generally, the related art projector requires a very high brightness to obtain good quality images, and so needs a high power light source. Therefore, after a long period of operation, the light source generates large amounts of heat within the projector. In addition to the heat generated by the light source, the power supply and imaging system of the projector also generate heat during the operation. Furthermore, the heat generated by the light source, the imaging system, and the power supply are all collected in the projector, which leads to high temperatures that affect the operations of the projector and reduces the life times of the other elements. 
         [0006]    What is needed therefore is to proved a portable projector with a heat dissipation system to ensure perfectly operation of the projector. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A portable projector with a heat dissipation system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing, a first light source and a second light source located in the housing. A board thermally contacts the first light source for absorbing heat from the first light source. A heat pipe connects the board and a first heat sink for transferring the heat generated by the first light source from the board to the first heat sink. A second heat sink thermally contacts the second light source for dissipating heat from the second light source. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the present portable projector with a heat dissipation system can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present portable projector using a heat dissipation system. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, assembled view of a portable projector with a heat dissipation system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the heat dissipation system with two light sources of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the heat dissipation system of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a portable projector with a heat dissipation system is shown. The projector comprises a housing  10 , two light sources  20  positioned in the housing  10 , and a heat dissipation system  30  thermally connecting with the light sources  20  in the housing  10 . 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the light sources  20  placed in the housing  10  are used for providing light when the projector is operating. The light sources  20  are preferably LED devices, which can reduce the power consumption of the projector and reduce operating heat load. Although there are a first and a second light sources  20  shown in this embodiment, no limiting amount of the first and second light sources  20  can be shown in other alternative embodiments. In this embodiment, the first and second light sources  20  have light directions thereof perpendicular to each other. A first light condenser  110  is diagonally positioned between the two light sources  20 . Light from the first and second light sources  20  is collected by the first light condenser  110  and then perpendicularly passes through spectroscopes  120  which are angled to the first light condenser  110 . The light from the spectroscopes  120  is angularly reached a liquid crystal panel  130  which is a little distance to the spectroscope  120  and is controlled by a control circuit  131 . A second light condenser  140  is confronted to the liquid crystal panel  130  and collects the light from the liquid crystal panel  130  to reach a lens module  150  which passes through the housing  10 . Therefore, images than can be obtained at a screen (not shown). 
         [0015]    The heat dissipation system  30  comprises a fan  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), a first heat sink  50  and a second heat sink  60  located at a side of the fan  40 , a board  70 , a heat pipe  80  connecting with the board  70  and the first heat sink  50 . 
         [0016]    Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the fan  40  comprises a hub  410 , a plurality of blades  420  circumferentially extending from the hub  410 , and a plate  430  extending from an end from the hub  410 . The plate  430  is integrally formed with the hub  410  from one-piece member, and has a diameter larger than that of the hub  410 . The plate  430  evenly extends three fixing arms  431  from a circumference thereof for fixing the fan  40  to a fixing member  440 . Each fixing arm  431  defines a fixing hole  432  adjacent to a distal end thereof. The fixing member  440  has a sheet configuration, and comprises a fixing portion  441 , two first fixing legs  444  extending from a side of the fixing portion  441 , and two second fixing legs  446  extending from an opposite side of the fixing portion  441 . The fixing portion  441  is substantially T-shaped, and defines three fixing holes  442  according to the fixing holes  432  of the fan  40 , in three corners thereof, respectively. The two first fixing legs  444  define a space therebeween for accommodating the heat pipe  80 . The two second fixing legs  446  define a space therebetween for accommodating the heat pipe  80 . The second fixing leg  446  has a length larger than that of the first fixing leg  444 . 
         [0017]    The first heat sink  50  is made from one-piece metal member, and comprises a first base  510  and a plurality of spaced first fins  530  integrally extending from the first base  510 . The first base  510  defines a groove  513  in a face  511  thereof, the grooves  513  goes along a length direction of the first fins  530 . The face  511  of the first base  510  has an end thereof defining a recess (not labeled) for accommodating the second fixing legs  446  of the fixing member  440 . 
         [0018]    The second heat sink  60  comprises a second base  610  and a plurality second fins  630  arranged on the base  610 . Each second fin  630  is made from one-piece metal sheet, and comprises a contacting portion (not labeled) thermally contacting the second base  610  and a dissipating portion (not labeled) perpendicular to the second base  610 . 
         [0019]    The heat pipe  80  has a phase-changeable working fluid sealed therein. The heat pipe  80  is substantially L-shaped, and comprises a first transfer section  810  and a second transfer section  830  substantially perpendicular to the first transfer section  810 . The heat pipe  80  has a flat face (not labeled) extending from the first transfer section  810  to the second transfer section  830 . The first transfer section  810  and the second transfer section  830  each have a semi-circular cross section. The heat pipe  80  is positioned at a corner of the housing  10 . 
         [0020]    The board  70  is a substantially rectangular plate and defines a groove  713  in a face  711  thereof. The face  711  defines a recess (not labeled) at an end portion thereof for accommodating the first fixing legs  444  of the fixing member  440 . 
         [0021]    Particularly referring to  FIG. 4 , in an assemble of the heat dissipation system, the second heat sink  60  is attached to the first heat sink  50 . The first fins  530  and the second fins  630  are located between the first base  510  and the second base  610 . The second fins  630  face to the first fins  530  of the first heat sink  50 . The heat pipe  80  has the second transfer section  830  thermally received in the groove  513  of the first base  510 . The first transfer section  810  of the heat pipe  80  is received the groove  713  of the board  70 . The first fixing legs  444  of the fixing member  440  is accommodated in the recess of the board  70 , the second fixing legs  446  is accommodated in the recess of the first base  510  of the first heat sink  50 . The fan  40  is fixed to the fixing member  440  via fasteners  90  engaged in corresponding fixing holes  432 ,  442  of the fan  40  and the fixing member  440 . 
         [0022]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the first and second light sources  20  each comprise a circuit board  210  and an LED device  230  mounted on the circuit board  210 . The circuit boards  210  of the first and second light sources  20  thermally contact the board  70  and the second base  610  of the second heat sink  60 , respectively. 
         [0023]    In use, the first and second light sources  20  emit light and generate heat. The heat generated by the first light source  20  reaches the board  70  and is absorbed by the first transfer section  810  of the heat pipe  80 . The heat in the heat pipe  80  is transferred to the first heat sink  50  via the second transfer section  830 , then is dissipated to ambient by the first heat sink  50  by virtue of airflow from the fan  40 . The heat generated by the second light source  20  is absorbed by the second heat sink  60  and is dissipated to ambient air by virtue of airflow from the fan  40 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment, the heat generated by the light sources  20  is directly removed via the heat pipe  80  and the second heat sink  60 , heat dissipation efficiency is improved. Additionally, the fan  40  provides airflow not only to the first and second heat sinks  50 ,  60  and the light sources  20 , but also to other members in the housing  10  of the projector. Therefore, heat generated by multi-members in the housing  10  can be removed duly. Furthermore, the heat dissipation assembly  30  is positioned at the side of the housing  10 , the heat pipe  80  is L-shaped according to the corner of the housing  10 , therefore, the heat dissipation system  30  occupies a small space in the housing, layout of the members in the housing  10  is optimized, and space of housing  10  is saved. 
         [0025]    It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.