| US 7,537,349 B2 | ||
| Optical device and projector | ||
| Satoshi Kinoshita, Matsumoto (Japan); Makoto Zakoji, Shiojiri (Japan); and Motoyuki Fujimori, Suwa (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 01, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/262,782. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2004-321175 (JP), filed on Nov. 04, 2004; and application No. 2005-129822 (JP), filed on Apr. 27, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0092382 A1, May 04, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G03B 21/16 (2006.01); G03B 21/18 (2006.01); H04N 5/74 (2006.01); G02F 1/1333 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 353—54 [348/748; 349/161] | 27 Claims |
| 1. An optical device, comprising:
an optical modulator that modulates a light beam irradiated by a light source in accordance with image information to form
an optical image;
an optical modulator holder that has a cooling chamber with cooling fluid sealed therein and holds the optical modulator so
that heat can be transferred to the cooling fluid in the cooling chamber;
a plurality of fluid circulators communicating with the cooling chamber to guide the cooling fluid to the outside of the cooling
chamber and again introduces the cooling fluid into the cooling chamber;
a cooling fluid accumulator arranged in a flow path of the cooling fluid in each of the plurality of fluid circulators and
having a cooling fluid inflow section that flows the cooling fluid to the inside of the cooling accumulator and a cooling
fluid outflow section that flows the cooling fluid to the outside of the cooling accumulator so as to accumulate the cooling
fluid in the cooling fluid accumulator; and
a fluid press-feeder disposed in the flow path of the cooling fluid in each of the plurality of fluid circulators so that
the cooling fluid is forcedly circulated via the plurality of fluid circulators,
the cooling fluid accumulator including:
a bubble trapping formed by a porous filter and having a plurality of holes to circulate the cooling fluid toward the cooling
fluid outflow section and trap air bubbles contained in the cooling fluid; and
a bubble accumulator that accumulates the air bubbles trapped by the bubble trapping.
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