Patent Publication Number: US-2006007404-A1

Title: Vibration-reducing device and method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a vibration-reducing device, and more particularly to a device for reducing the vibration caused by an external force in an image-projecting apparatus.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      A rear projection television (TV) utilizes an image-projecting apparatus installed therein to project images onto the screen for a user. Thus, the position of the projected image must be adjusted precisely, so that the image can be accurately displayed on the screen.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an image-projecting apparatus  10  of the prior art. The image-projecting apparatus  10  includes a lens module  12 , a connecting module  14 , and a light source module  16 . An adjusting stand  20  is configured below the lens module  12  to fix the image-projecting apparatus  10 . The adjusting stand  20  includes a screw rod  22  for adjusting the position of the image-projecting apparatus  10 . The connecting module  14  connects the light source module  16  and the lens module  12 , such that the light source module  16  is suspended in midair.  
      When the rear projection TV is manufactured, the adjusting stand  20  is used for adjusting the image-projecting apparatus  10  to an appropriate position. However, after the TV leaves the factory and especially when the TV is transported to somewhere, because the light source module  16  is suspended in midair, there will be vibration or wobble. Accordingly, the position of the light source module  16  of the image-projecting apparatus  10  will deviate from the original position being calibrated, so that the image cannot be accurately focused and clearly displayed on the screen.  
      Therefore, the invention discloses a vibration-reducing device for reducing the vibration of an image-projecting apparatus, so as to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An objective of the invention discloses a vibration-reducing device and method thereof to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.  
      Another objective of the invention discloses a vibration-reducing device utilizing the damping mechanism to reduce the vibration of the image-projecting apparatus. Still another objective of the invention discloses a vibration-reducing device utilizing the supporting stick to reduce the vibration of the image-projecting apparatus.  
      To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the vibration-reducing device and method thereof of the invention applied in the image-projecting apparatus includes a damping mechanism. One side of the damping mechanism is connected to the image-projecting apparatus, and the other side is connected to a housing of the image-projecting apparatus. When the image-projecting apparatus is caused to vibrate by an external force, the damping mechanism generates an opposite force with respect to the external force, so as to reduce the vibration of the image-projecting apparatus. Therefore, the vibration-reducing device and method thereof of the invention can reduce the vibration or wobble when the light source module of the image-projecting apparatus is being transported to somewhere and then prevent the image-projecting apparatus from being damaged by the vibration. The vibration-reducing device disclosed by the invention not only overcomes the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, but further keeps the image-projecting apparatus substantially restore to and maintain in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
      The advantage and spirit of the invention may be understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an image-projecting apparatus of the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the third preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the fifth preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the sixth preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating the vibration-reducing method according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the means and the features of the invention are described in detail in the following preferred embodiments together with  FIGS. 1 through 9  respectively.  
     The First Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention. The vibration-reducing device is applied in the image-projecting apparatus  10 , and the vibration-reducing device together with the image-projecting apparatus  10  is installed in a housing of an electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus can be a perpendicular rear projection TV. The housing includes a first base  26  and a second base  30 . The image-projecting apparatus  10  is attached onto the first base  26  and kept with a predetermined projecting position. The image-projecting apparatus  10  includes a lens module  12 , a connecting module  14 , and a light source module  16 . The connecting module  14  is used for connecting the lens module  12  and the light source module  16 .  
      An adjusting stand  20  is configured below one side of the image-projecting apparatus  10  (i.e. the lens module  12 ), and a vibration-reducing device is installed below the other side of the image projection device  10  (i.e. the light source module  16 ). The adjusting stand  20  is used for fixing the image-projecting apparatus  10  and includes a screw rod  22  for adjusting the position of the image-projecting apparatus  10 . The vibration-reducing device includes a damping mechanism and a supporting stick  36 . The damping mechanism and the supporting stick  36  are both installed on the same side of the image-projecting apparatus  10 . The damping mechanism is an extension spring  28 . One end of the extension spring  28  is detachably connected to the image-projecting apparatus  10 , and the other end is connected to the first base  26  by a hook  34 . Furthermore, one end of the supporting stick  36  is connected to the image-projecting apparatus  10 , and the other end is against the first base  26 . The supporting stick  36  has a wing nut  38  for adjusting the length of the supporting stick  36 . Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  is being adjusted, the wing nut  38  is being loosed to adjust the length of the supporting stick  36  to keep a distance from the base  26 , and then the adjusting stand  20  is used to adjust the position of the image-projecting apparatus  10 . After the image-projecting apparatus  10  is adjusted to the desired position, the supporting stick  36  is adjusted to be against the base  26 , and then the wing nut  38  is tightened. Accordingly, the installation of the supporting stick  36  is completed.  
      When the image-projecting apparatus  10  is caused to vibrate by an external force, the extension spring  28  will pull down the image-projecting apparatus  10  to be against upward movement, and the supporting stick  36  will restrain the image-projecting apparatus  10  to be against downward movement. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced, so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially in the predetermined projecting position.  
     The Second Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention. Compared to the first preferred embodiment, the second preferred embodiment does not install a supporting stick and the damping mechanism consists of an extension spring  28  and a first compression spring  23 . The extension spring  28  is configured below the light source module  16 , and each end thereof is respectively connected to the light source module  16  and the base  26 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves upward due to the vibration, the extension spring  28  will correspondingly generate a pulling force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. The first compression spring  23  is configured below the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is fixed on the first base  26  and the other end thereof is attached to the light source module  16 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves downward due to the vibration, the first compression spring  23  will correspondingly generate a pressing force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced by the mutual action between the extension spring  28  and the first compression spring  23 , so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
     The Third Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the third preferred embodiment of the invention. Compared to the first preferred embodiment, the third preferred embodiment does not install a supporting stick, and the damping mechanism consists of a first compression spring  23  and a second compression spring  40 . The first compression spring  23  is configured below the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is fixed on the first base  26  and the other end thereof is attached to the light source module  16 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves downward due to the vibration, the first compression spring  23  will correspondingly generate a pressing force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. The second compression spring  40  is configured above the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is fixed on the second base  30  and the other end thereof is attached to the light source module  16 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves upward due to the vibration, the second compression spring  40  will correspondingly generate a pressing force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced by the upward and downward forces, which are generated by the first compression spring  23  and the second compression spring  40 , so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
     The Fourth Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. Compared to the first preferred embodiment, the supporting stick  36  in the fourth preferred embodiment is installed below the light source module  16 , and the damping mechanism consists of a second compression spring  40  configured above the light source module  16 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . One end of the second compression spring  40  is fixed on the second base  30 , and the other end is attached to the light source module  16 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves upward due to the vibration, the second compression spring  40  will correspondingly generate a pressing force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced by the upward and downward forces, which are generated by the supporting stick  36  and the second compression spring  40 , so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
     The Fifth Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the fifth preferred embodiment of the invention. Compared to the first preferred embodiment, the extension spring  28  in the fifth preferred embodiment is installed above the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is connected to the light source module  16 , and the other end thereof is connected to the second base  30  by a hook  34 . The supporting stick  36  is installed above the light source module  16 . Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves upward due to the vibration, the supporting stick  36  will restrain the light source module  16  from moving upward. On the other hand, whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves downward due to the vibration, the extension spring  28  will generate an upward force to prevent the image-projecting apparatus  10  from moving downward. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced by the mutual action between the supporting stick  36  and the extension spring  28 , so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
     The Sixth Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the sixth preferred embodiment of the invention. Compared to the second preferred embodiment, the draw spring  28  in the sixth preferred embodiment is configured above the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is connected to the light source module  16 , and the other end thereof is connected to the second base  30  by a hook  34 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves downward due to the vibration, the extension spring  28  will correspondingly generate a pulling force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. The first compression spring  23  is configured above the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is fixed on the second base  30 , and the other end thereof is attached to the light source module  16 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Whenever the image-projecting device  10  moves upward due to the vibration, the first compression spring  23  will correspondingly generate a pressing force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving upward. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced by the mutual action between the extension spring  28  and the first compression spring  23 , so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
     The Seventh Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a vibration-reducing device according to the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention. Compared to the fourth preferred embodiment, the second compression spring  40  in the seventh preferred embodiment is configured below the light source module  16 , wherein one end thereof is fixed on the first base  26 , and the other end thereof is attached to the light source module  16 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves downward due to the vibration, the second compression spring  40  will correspondingly generate a pressing force to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward. Furthermore, the supporting stick  36  is installed above the light source module  16  and used for preventing the light source module  16  from moving upward. Whenever the image-projecting apparatus  10  moves upward due to the vibration, the supporting stick  36  will restrain the image-projecting apparatus  10  from moving upward. Accordingly, the influence of the vibration caused by the external force is reduced by the mutual action between the supporting stick  36  and the second compression spring  40 , so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating the vibration-reducing method according to the invention. The vibration-reducing method of the invention is used for reducing the vibration of the image-projecting apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the image-projecting apparatus can be the image-projecting apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 2 . According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the vibration-reducing method of the invention is used for reducing the vibration of the image-projecting apparatus  10 . The image-projecting apparatus is installed on the first base  26  to be kept in a predetermined projecting position. The vibration-reducing method of the invention provides a damping mechanism and a supporting stick  36 , and the damping mechanism consists of an extension spring  28 . One end of the extension spring  28  is connected to the light source module  16  by a screw  32 , and the other end is connected to the first base  26  by a hook  34 , so as to prevent the light source module  16  from vibrating. When the image-projecting apparatus  10  is caused to vibrate by an external force, the extension spring  28  will generate an opposite force with respect to the external force, so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration. The vibration-reducing method of the invention includes the following steps: 
          Step S 42 : Provide an extension spring  28  via one end thereof connected to the image-projecting apparatus  10  and via the other end thereof connected to the first base  26  where the image-projecting apparatus  10  is installed thereon;     Step S 44 : Install the supporting stick  36  below the light source module  16  to prevent the light source module  16  from moving downward.        

      In the vibration-reducing method of the invention, when the image-projecting apparatus  10  is caused to vibrate by an external force, the extension spring  28  will generate an opposite force with respect to the external force, so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus substantially restore to and maintain in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
      According to the vibration-reducing device and method thereof used in an image-projecting apparatus, the damping mechanism can generate an opposite force with respect to the external force, so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration. The vibration-reducing device and method thereof of the invention can reduce the vibration or wobble for the light source module of the image-projecting apparatus as being transported to somewhere, so as to prevent the image-projecting apparatus from being damaged by vibration. Furthermore, after vibration, the invention can keep the image-projecting apparatus  10  substantially restored to and maintained in the correct projecting position. Accordingly, the consumer can save the time and avoid the trouble without sending back the image-projecting apparatus  10  to the manufacturer for adjustment.  
      Moreover, the invention discloses a vibration-reducing device for preventing the image-projecting apparatus from cracking or being damaged by the external force or vibration. In other words, instead of firm fixing the image-projecting apparatus on the housing, the vibration-reducing device of the invention reduces the influence of the vibration caused by the external force for the image-projecting apparatus, so as to keep the image-projecting apparatus substantially restored to and maintained in the predetermined projecting position before vibration.  
      With the example and explanations above, the features and spirits of the invention will be hopefully well described. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.