Patent Publication Number: US-2020278593-A1

Title: Vibration optical module and projector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 201910148293.0, filed on Feb. 28, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an optical module and a projector, and more particularly to a vibration optical module and a projector having the same. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A projection device is a display device for generating a large-sized image. The imaging principle of the projection device is to convert the illumination beam generated by the light source into an image beam by a light valve, and then project the image beam onto the screen or the wall by the lens. 
     For products in current markets, the resolution of the image converted by the light valve has gradually failed to meet the market demand. In order to further enhance the image resolution, a high-resolution light valve can be used in the projection device, but such projection device is expensive to manufacture. Moreover, in some projection devices, an optical module with optical vibration technology can be additionally configured to further enhance the resolution of the image converted by the light valve. The optical module generally includes a base and a frame disposed in the base, and the frame is configured to carry the light transmitting component or the light reflecting component and can be driven to vibrate. Thus, the image beam passing through the light-transmitting component or reflecting by the light-reflecting component thereby achieve enhanced image resolution by the vibrations. 
     In the optical module, the base is generally a plastic component and needs to have sufficient thickness to provide structural strength. The base and the frame are generally combined in a screw mounting manner by pairs of male-female threads, where sufficient thickness of the base or frame is required for screw mounting. However, in the case of a mini projection device, the space in which the optical module is disposed is limited, and the thickness of the optical module needs to be reduced to be used for a mini projection device. In addition, in the case that the base and the frame are made of metal for improving the structural strength of the base and the frame, the metal material connecting the base and the frame will generate excessively loud noises when the frame vibrates relatively to the base. 
     The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the information disclosed in the Background section does not mean that one or more problems to be resolved by one or more embodiments of the invention was acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a vibration optical module, and the vibration optical module can save configuration space. 
     The invention provides a projector, a vibration optical module of the projector can save configuration space. 
     Other objectives and advantages of the invention can be further illustrated by the technical features broadly embodied and described as follows. 
     To achieve at least one of the above-mentioned objectives or other objectives, an embodiment of the invention provides a vibration optical module including a base, a first frame, an optical component, and an actuating assembly. The first frame has at least one first shaft portion. The first frame is connected to the base at least by the at least one first shaft portion. The optical component is disposed in the first frame. The actuating assembly is disposed on the base. The Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the base is higher than the Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the at least one first shaft portion. The actuating assembly drives the first frame to drive the optical component to vibrate back and forth relatively to the base within an angle by elastic deformation of the at least one first shaft portion. 
     To achieve at least one of the above-mentioned objectives or other objectives, an embodiment of the invention provides a projector including a light source, a light valve, a projection lens, and a vibration optical module. The light source is adapted to provide an illumination beam. The light valve is adapted to convert the illumination beam into an image beam. The projection lens is adapted to project the image beam. The vibration optical module is disposed between the light valve and the projection lens and includes a base, a first frame, an optical component, and an actuating assembly. The first frame has at least one first shaft portion. The first frame is connected to the base at least by the at least one first shaft portion. The optical component is disposed in the first frame. The actuating assembly is disposed on the base. The Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the base is higher than the Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the at least one first shaft portion. The actuating assembly drives the first frame to drive the optical component to vibrate back and forth relatively to the base within an angle by elastic deformation of the at least one first shaft portion. 
     Based on the above description, the embodiments of the invention have at least one of the following advantages or effects. In the vibration optical module of the present invention, since the base is made of a material having a higher Young&#39;s modulus, it can provide sufficient structural strength with a less thickness to effectively save the configuration space. Further, the shaft portion of the frame is made of a material having a lower Young&#39;s modulus, it would prevent the shaft portion from generating excessively loud noises when the frame vibrates. 
     Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a projector according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vibration optical module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the vibration optical module of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating partial components of the vibration optical module of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a vibration optical module according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Similarly, the terms “facing,” “faces” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect facing, and “adjacent to” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass directly and indirectly “adjacent to”. Therefore, the description of “A” component facing “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component directly faces “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Also, the description of “A” component “adjacent to” “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component is directly “adjacent to” “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a projector according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the projector  50  includes a light source  52 , a light valve  54 , a projection lens  56 , and a vibration optical module  100 . The light source  52  is adapted to provide an illumination beam L 1 . The light valve  54  is, for example, a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) and is adapted to convert the illumination light beam L 1  into an image light beam L 2 . The projection lens  56  is adapted to project the image light beam L 2  out of the projector  100  to form a projected image. The vibration optical module  100  is disposed between the light valve  54  and the projection lens  56  for enhancing the resolution of the image light beam L 2  converted by the light valve  54 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vibration optical module of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the vibration optical module of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating partial components of the vibration optical module of  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , in the embodiment, the vibration optical module  100  includes a base  110 , a first frame  120 , a second frame  130 , an optical component  140 , and an actuating assembly  150 . The first frame  120  has at least one first shaft portion  120   a  (shown as two), and the second frame  130  has at least one second shaft portion  130   a  (shown as two). The second frame  130  is disposed in the base  110  and is connected to the base  110  at least by each of the second shaft portions  130   a . The first frame  120  is disposed in the second frame  130  and is connected to the second frame  130  by each of the first shaft portions  120   a . That is, the first frame  120  is connected to the base  110  at least by each of the first shaft portions  120   a  thereof, the second frame  130  and each of the second shaft portions  130   a  of the second frame  130 . In the embodiment, the first frame  120  has two first shaft portions  120   a  disposed along the rotation axis A 1 . The first frame  120  can rotate around the rotation axis A 1  (i.e., the axial direction of the first shaft portion  120   a ) relatively to the second frame  130  and the base  110  by the two first shaft portions  120   a . The second frame  130  has two second shaft portions  130   a  disposed along the rotation axis A 2 . The second frame  130  can rotate around the rotation axis A 2  (i.e., the axial direction of the second shaft portion  130   a ) relatively to the base  110  by the two second shaft portions  130   a . The optical component  140  is, for example, a light transmitting component or a light reflecting component and is disposed in the first frame  120 . In the present embodiment, the optical component  140  is a light transmitting component that allows the image beam L 2  from the light valve  54  to pass. 
     The actuating assembly  150  is disposed in the base  110  to drive the first frame  120  and the second frame  130  to vibrate. In detail, the actuating assembly  150  can include at least one first magnet  152  (shown as two), at least one first coil  154  (shown as two), at least one second magnet  156  (shown as two) and at least one second coil  158  (shown as two). The first magnet  152  is disposed on the first frame  120 , and the first coil  154  is disposed on the second frame  130  and aligned to the first magnet  152 . The second magnet  156  is disposed on the second frame  130 , and the second coil  158  is disposed on the base  110  and aligned to the second magnet  156 . A magnetic force can be generated between each of the first magnets  152  and the corresponding first coil  154 , so as to drive the first frame  120  to drive the optical component  140  to vibrate back and forth relatively to the second frame  130  and the base  110  along the rotation axis A 1  within an angle by elastic deformation of each of the first shaft portions  120   a . A magnetic force can be generated between each of the second magnets  156  and the corresponding second coil  158  to drive the second frame  130  to drive the optical component  140  to vibrate back and forth relatively to the base  110  along the rotation axis A 2  which is perpendicular to rotation axis A 1  within an angle by elastic deformation of each of the second shaft portions  130   a . Therefore, the effect of enhancing the resolution of the image light beam L 2  passing through the optical component  140  can be achieved. 
     In the embodiment, the Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the base  110  is higher than the Young&#39;s modulus of the material of each of the first shaft portions  120   a  and the Young&#39;s modulus of the material of each of the second shaft portions  130   a . Therefore, the base  110  with a higher Young&#39;s modulus can provide sufficient structural strength with a less thickness to effectively save the configuration space. Further, each of the first shaft portions  120   a  of the first frame  120  and each of the second shaft portions  130   a  of the second frame  130  with a lower Young&#39;s modulus can be prevented from generating excessively loud noises when the first frame  120  and the second frame  130  vibrate. 
     In this embodiment, the material of the base  110  is, for example, metal, which may be a sheet metal such as a chrome-plated steel plate (SECC) or a stainless steel plate (SUS), or a die-cast metal such as an aluminum alloy (Al, ADC12) or a zinc-aluminum alloy (ZnAl), so as to have a less thickness. Besides, the material of a part of the first frame  120  and each of the first shaft portions  120   a  thereof is, for example, a plastic material such as polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The material of the second frame  130  and each of the second shaft portions  130   a  thereof is also, for example, a plastic material such as polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). In other embodiments, the above components may be made of other proper materials, which are not limited by the present invention. 
     In the embodiment, the vibration optical module  100  further includes at least one connecting structure  160  (shown as two). The material of each of the second shaft portions  130   a  is the same as the material of the corresponding connecting structure  160 , and each of the second shaft portions  130   a  is integrally formed on the corresponding connecting structure  160 . Each of the connecting structure  160  is integrally formed on the base  110  by, for example, insert injection molding, ultrasonic welding, thermal fusion, or gluing. In the embodiment, the second frame  130  is connected to the base  110  at least by each of the second shaft portions  130   a  and each of the connecting structures  160 . 
     On the other hand, in the embodiment, the first frame  120  includes a first frame portion  122  and a second frame portion  124 . The first frame portion  122  and the second frame portion  124  are connected to each other and surround the optical component  140  together to support and fix the optical component  140 . The material of each of the first shaft portions  120   a  is the same as the material of the first frame portion  122 , and each of the first shaft portions  120   a  is integrally formed on the first frame portion  122 . The Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the second frame portion  124  is higher than the Young&#39;s modulus of the material of the first frame portion  122  and each of the first shaft portions  120   a , so that the first frame  120  can have stronger structural strength by the second frame portion  124 . The material of the first frame portion  122  is, for example, a plastic material such as polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The second frame portion  124  may be a sheet metal such as a chrome-plated steel plate (SECC) or a stainless steel plate (SUS), or a die-cast metal such as an aluminum alloy (Al, ADC12) or a zinc-aluminum alloy (ZnAl), so as to have a less thickness for effectively reducing the thickness of the first frame  120  along the axial direction A 2 . More specifically, the first frame portion  122  includes two first sidewalls  122   a  opposite to each other, and the second frame portion  124  includes two second sidewalls  124   a  opposite to each other. Each of the first sidewalls  122   a  is integrally connected between the two second sidewalls  124   a  by, for example, insert injection molding, ultrasonic welding, thermal fusion, or gluing. The two first sidewalls  122   a  and the two second sidewalls  124   a  surround and form a rectangular space to accommodate the optical component  140  which, for example, may be a rectangular shape. In other embodiments, the first frame  120  and the optical component  140  may be other proper shapes, which are not limited by the present invention. In the embodiment, one ends of the two first shaft portions  120   a  are connected to the two first sidewalls  122   a  of the first frame portion  122 , and the other ends thereof are connected to the second frame  130 . One ends of the two second shaft portions  130   a  are connected to two opposite side walls (not labeled) of the second frame  130 , and the other ends thereof are respectively connected to the two connecting structures  160 . 
     In the embodiment, each of the first sidewalls  122   a , each of the first shaft portions  120   a , the second frame  130 , each of the second shaft portions  130   a , and each of the connecting structures  160  may be made of the same material (such as the same plastic material), each of the second sidewalls  124   a  and the base  110  may be made of the same material (for example, the same metal material), and these plastic material and the metal material are coupled together by the above mentioned methods, for example, insert injection molding, ultrasonic welding, thermal fusion, or gluing, to make the base  110 , the first frame  120  and the second frame  130  an integrated structure as a whole. Therefore, the first frame  120  and the second frame  130  are connected to the base  110  in a non-screw-mounting manner, so that the first frame  120 , the second frame  130  and the base  110  are not necessarily designed to be bulky in order to provide sufficient thickness for screws. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a vibration optical module in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In the vibration optical module  200  shown in  FIG. 5 , the configuration and the function of the base  210 , the first frame  220 , the first shaft portion  220   a , the optical component  240 , the first magnet  252 , the first coil  254 , and the connecting structure  260  are similar to the configuration and the function of the base  110 , the first frame  120 , the first shaft portion  120   a , the optical component  140 , the first magnet  152 , the first coil  154 , and the connecting structure  160  in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , therefore, will not be repeated here. The vibration optical module  200  is different from the vibration optical module  100  in that the vibration optical module  200  does not have components like the second frame  130  and the second shaft portion  130   a  thereof in the vibration optical module  100 . That is, the vibration optical module  200  vibrates in a uniaxial way, while the vibration optical module  100  vibrates in a biaxial way. Accordingly, the vibration optical module  200  does not have the components like the second magnet  156  and the second coil  158  in the vibration optical module  100 . 
     The material of each of the first shaft portions  220   a  of the first frame  220  is, for example, the same as the material of the corresponding connecting structure  260  (for example, the same plastic material), and each of the first shaft portions  220   a  is integrally connected with the corresponding connecting structure  260  directly. The connecting structure  260  of the present embodiment is integrally connected to the base  210  (for example, a metal material) by, for example, insert injection molding, ultrasonic welding, thermal fusion, or gluing, similar to the connecting structure  160  in the vibrating optical module  100 . Therefore, the base  210  and the first frame  220  form an integral structure and are connected in a non-screw-mounting manner. In addition, the entire first frame  220  of the present embodiment is, for example, the same material (for example, a plastic material), unlike the first frame portion  122  and the second frame portion  124  of the first frame  120  in the vibration optical module  100  are respectively made of different material. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     In summary, the embodiments of the present invention have at least one of the following advantages or benefits. In the vibration optical module of the present invention, since the base or the base and the partial frame are made of a material having a higher Young&#39;s modulus, it can provide sufficient structural strength with a less thickness to effectively save the configuration space. Further, the shaft portions of the frame are made of a material having a lower Young&#39;s modulus, it would prevent the shaft portions from generating excessively loud noises when the frame vibrates. Moreover, since the base and the frame are integrally coupled in a non-screw-mounting manner, thus, the frame and the base are not necessarily designed to be bulky in order to provide sufficient thickness for screws. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the present invention” or the like does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.