BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a color wheel and in particular to a color filter assembly thereof providing improved balance and stability of rotation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring toFIG. 1, the conventional color wheel comprises acarrier11, acolor filter12 and amotor2. Thecolor filter12 is fixed to thecarrier11 byadhesive13, wherein thecarrier11 is fixed to the shaft22 at the center of themotor2 with thecover21. Themotor2 rotates thecarrier11 and the color filter12 around central axis10 via the shaft22.
As mentioned, thecolor filter12 is fixed to thecarrier11 byadhesive13, however, the mass ofadhesive13 is difficult to control due to the flow property thereof such that the color wheel is unbalanced. Moreover, rotational instability and vibration may occur due to unbalanced mass distribution of the color wheel. Furthermore, thecolor filter12 comprises a plurality of fan-shaped filter segments adhered to each other, hence, precise positioning thereof is difficult and the segments may be separated during rotation at high speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a color wheel and color filter assembly thereof for improving balance and stability of rotation. The color filter assembly rotates around a central axis and comprises a first carrier, a second carrier, a protrusion and a color filter. The first carrier has a first contact surface and a first joining portion protruding therefrom. The second carrier has a second contact surface and a second joining portion connected to the first joining portion. The protrusion is disposed on the first or second contact surface. The color filter has an opening with the protrusion inserted therein such that the color filter is fixed between the first and second carriers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, given by way of illustration only and thus not intended to be limitative of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a conventional color wheel.
FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of the first carrier based onFIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of the second carrier based onFIG. 4 in accordance with the present invention.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective diagrams of the third embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective diagrams of the fourth embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONFirst Embodiment Referring toFIG. 2, the color wheel has amotor4 and a color filter assembly including afirst carrier31, asecond carrier41 and acolor filter32 comprising fourfilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dsymmetrical to thecentral axis30, wherein thefilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dform anopening320 at the center of thecolor filter32.
As shown inFIG. 2, thefirst carrier31 has a first joiningportion310 and a plurality ofprotrusions312 projecting from thefirst contact surface314, and each filter segment has anopening321 corresponding to theprotrusions312. Thesecond carrier41 has a second joiningportion410 forming adepression411 for receiving thefirst joining portion310 along thecentral axis30, wherein the first and second joiningportions310,410 are threaded and joined thereby. Thecolor filter32 is firmly secured between the first andsecond carriers31,41 by seating theprotrusions312 in thecorresponding openings321 of thefilter segments32a,32b,32c,32dand connecting the second joiningportion410 to thefirst joining portion310.
Referring toFIG. 3, the first joiningportion310 is disposed at the center of thefirst carrier31 and projects from thefirst contact surface314. Theprotrusions312 are parallel and disposed around the first joiningportion310 and inserted into thecorresponding openings321 of thefilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dsuch that thecolor filter32 is fixed to thefirst carriers31 for preventing separation during rotation. Furthermore, eachprotrusion312 is enclosed by aflexible material313 deformed when joining theopening321 to firmly secure thecolor filter32 on thefirst carrier31.
Second Embodiment Referring toFIG. 4, thecolor filter32 comprises fourfilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dsymmetrical to thecentral axis30 of the color wheel. As mentioned, thefilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dform anopening320 at the center of thecolor filter32. Thesecond carrier41 has a plurality ofprotrusions312 projecting from thesecond contact surface414, and each filter segment has anopening321 corresponding to theprotrusions312. Moreover, thesecond carrier41 has a second joiningportion410 forming adepression411 for receiving the first joiningportion310 along thecentral axis30. The first and second joiningportions310,410 are threaded and joined thereby. Thecolor filter32 is thereby precisely positioned and firmly secured between the first andsecond carriers31,41 by seating theprotrusions312 through thecorresponding openings321 of thefilter segments32a,32b,32c,32dand joining the second joiningportions410 to the first joiningportions310.
As shown inFIG. 5, the second joiningportion410 is at the center of thesecond carrier41 and depressed from thesecond contact surface414. A plurality ofprotrusions312 project from thesecond contact surface414 and are inserted into thecorresponding openings321 of thefilter segments32a,32b,32csuch that thecolor filter32 is fixed thereto for preventing separation during rotation. Furthermore, eachprotrusion312 is enclosed by aflexible material313 deformed when joining theopening321 to firmly secure thecolor filter32 on thesecond carrier41.
Third Embodiment Referring toFIG. 6, the color wheel has amotor4 and a color filter assembly including afirst carrier31, asecond carrier41, a securingmember50 and acolor filter32 comprising fourfilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dsymmetrically surrounding thecentral axis30 and forming anopening320 at the center of thecolor filter32. InFIGS. 6 and 7, thefirst carrier31 has a plurality offirst holes70, and thesecond carrier41 has a plurality of correspondingsecond holes60. The securingmember50 comprises a plurality ofrods51 and abuttingmembers52 connected thereto. As shown inFIG. 7, therods51 pass through thesecond holes60, theopenings321 and thefirst holes70 with theabutting members52 secured at both ends, and thecolor filter32 is thereby firmly fixed between the first andsecond carriers31,41. Particularly, theabutting members52 are threaded on the surface of thehole53, and therods51 are also threaded corresponding thereto for secure connection.
Fourth Embodiment Referring toFIG. 8, the color wheel has amotor4 and a color filter assembly including afirst carrier31, asecond carrier41, a securingmember50 and acolor filter32 comprising fourfilter segments32a,32b,32cand32dsymmetrically surrounding thecentral axis30 and forming anopening320 at the center of thecolor filter32. InFIGS. 8 and 9, thefirst carrier31 has a plurality offirst holes70, and thesecond carrier41 has a plurality of correspondingsecond holes60. The securingmember50 comprises a plurality of threadedrods51 with integrally formed abuttingmembers52. As shown inFIG. 9, therods51 pass through thesecond holes60, theopenings321, and are inserted into thefirst holes70 and sequentially tightened. Thecolor filter32 is thereby firmly secured between the first andsecond carriers31,41.
As shown inFIG. 8, the color wheel of the present invention further provides acircuit board5 connected to themotor4 for supplying driving power. Themotor4 rotates thefirst carrier31, thesecond carrier41 and thecolor filter32 around thecentral axis30.
In summary, the present invention provides a color wheel utilized for an optical device such as a DLP projector. Thecolor filter32 can be fixed to thefirst carrier31 by inserting theprotrusions312 into theopenings321 according toFIG. 2. Furthermore, the first and second joiningportions310,410 are connected such that thecolor filter32 is further firmly secured between the first andsecond carriers31,41 thus preventing separation during rotation. As shown inFIG. 6, theaforementioned protrusions312 can be represented by therods51 and theabutting members52. Therods51 are sequentially inserted through thesecond holes60, theopenings321 and thefirst holes70 such that thecolor filter32 is firmly secured between the first andsecond carriers31,41. The present invention has simple structure capable of improving balance and stability of rotation.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.