JP2001290220A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector whose power consumption is reduced by effectively utilizing undesired light from a light source. SOLUTION: This projector is provided with a photoelectric conversion element 3 disposed to receive the undesired light from a valve light 1 and converting light energy to electric energy, a charger 4 storing the electric energy from the element 3, and a detector 5 detecting that the electric energy is stored in the charger 4, and constituted so that the electric energy in the charger 4 is used based on designation from the detector 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a projector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional projector, for example,
There is a light valve type projector that transmits image light using a liquid crystal panel as a light valve and enlarges and projects the image light on a screen by a projection lens.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-2004 and the like are generally known.

In this light valve type projector,
The projector is configured to increase the utilization rate of light of a lamp used in the projector.

[0004]

However, conventional projectors are designed to increase the utilization of the light of the lamp. However, in this type of configuration, only light having a capability of 10% or less of the lamp body is used. Most of the light that has not been used has been emitted to the outside as light energy and heat energy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a projector in which unnecessary light from a light source is effectively used to reduce power consumption.

[0006]

A projector according to the present invention is provided with a photoelectric conversion element arranged to receive unnecessary light from a light source and for converting light energy into electric energy, and for converting electric energy from the photoelectric conversion element. A charger for storing electricity and a detection circuit for detecting that electric energy has been stored in the charger are provided, and the electric energy of the charger is used based on an instruction from the detection circuit. .

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a projector with reduced power consumption by effectively utilizing unnecessary light from a light source.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a photoelectric conversion element which is arranged to receive unnecessary light from a light source and converts light energy to electric energy, And a detection circuit for detecting that the electric energy is stored in the charger, and using the electric energy of the charger based on an instruction from the detection circuit. The unnecessary light from the light source during the operation of the projector can be converted into electric energy and this electric energy can be used, and the power consumption of the projector can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the photoelectric conversion element emits light emitted from a light source to an image display device which projects an image, and the image light formed by the image display device is supplied to an external device. A projector according to claim 1, wherein the projector is provided at or around a light guide path emitted to a screen, and can receive unnecessary light from a light source and convert it into electric energy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a secondary low-voltage line obtained by transforming and rectifying an electric energy from a charger into a primary-side AC input, a control microcomputer for controlling the operation of the projector, and And a cooling fan for cooling the light source. The projector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a DC voltage obtained by converting unnecessary light from the light source is supplied to a second fan. It can be used by supplying it to the low voltage line on the next side, it can be used by supplying it to a control microcomputer that controls the operation of the projector, or it can be used by supplying it to a cooling fan that cools the light source. Power consumption can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a projector according to the present invention will be described based on specific embodiments. Here, a case where the projector is a light valve type projector will be described as an example.

(Embodiment 1) The projector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is a video display device 2 for projecting an image from light emitted from a bulb light 1 as a light source.
Is a light valve type projector for projecting image light formed by the image display device 2 onto an external screen 14 via a lens 2a, and unnecessary light from the bulb light 1 inside the body of the projector 15 A photoelectric conversion element 3 that is arranged to receive light b and converts light energy into electric energy, a charger 4 that stores electric energy from the photoelectric conversion element 3, and an electric energy stored in the charger 4 Detector 5 as a detection circuit for detecting
Is different from the above-described conventional example in that the electric energy of the charger 4 is used based on an instruction from the detector 5.

The switch 6 sets one of a DC voltage from the charger 4 and a DC voltage obtained by transforming a primary-side AC input by a transformer 7 and rectifying by a diode 8 based on an instruction from the detector 5. Side low voltage line 9. This set secondary side low voltage line 9
Is a low voltage line used in this projector,
For example, it is for supplying a low voltage for operating various electric circuit units constituting the projector.

As the image display device 2, for example, there is a device in which a liquid crystal panel is sandwiched between an incident polarizer and an output polarizer, and the light emitted from the bulb light 1 is combined with the incident polarizer, the liquid crystal panel, and the output polarizer. In some cases, images are projected by transmitting light in order.

The photoelectric conversion element 3 emits light emitted from the bulb light 1 to an image display device 2 which projects an image, and emits image light formed by the image display device 2 to an external screen 14. It is provided around the light guide path a. In general, the amount of light emitted from the bulb light 1 decreases as the distance from the bulb light 1 increases, so that the photoelectric conversion element 3 is provided between the bulb light 1 and the image display device 2 more than the image display device 2 and thereafter. It is more effective to provide it around the light guide path a. As the photoelectric conversion element 3, for example, a photovoltaic effect element is used, and specifically, a solar cell is used.

Here, an operation of the projector using unnecessary light will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric conversion element 3 receives unnecessary light from the bulb light 1, converts light energy into electric energy, and outputs the electric energy to the charger 4. The charger 4 charges electric energy from the photoelectric conversion element 3. When the detector 5 detects that the electric energy has been sufficiently charged in the charger 4, the detector 5 sets the DC voltage from the charger 4 in place of the DC voltage rectified by the diode 8 to the low-voltage line 9 on the secondary side. The switch 6 is controlled so as to be connected.

When the amount of charge of the charger 4 decreases, the detector 5 connects the DC voltage rectified by the diode 8 instead of the DC voltage from the charger 4 to the low voltage line 9 on the set secondary side. Switch 6 is controlled. Switching noise countermeasures and the like are taken so that the switching by the switch 6 does not adversely affect the set secondary side.

With this configuration, the bulb light 1
Unnecessary light from the device is received by the photoelectric conversion element 3, converted into electric energy, charged into the charger 4, and the charged DC voltage can be supplied to the low voltage line 9 on the secondary side of the set for use. The power consumption of the projector can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2) The projector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 uses a DC voltage obtained from unnecessary light as in Embodiment 1 described above, and specifically, performs the projector operation. The difference from the first embodiment is that the control microcomputer 10 is configured to supply the control microcomputer 10 with the control.

The control microcomputer 10 is a microcomputer configured to control the operation of the projector. The control microcomputer 10 not only operates in a normal state of enlarging and projecting the image on the screen 14 but also consumes less instructions from the user. It also controls the operation in the standby state waiting in the power state. The control microcomputer voltage supply unit 11 that supplies a DC voltage to the control microcomputer 10 is, for example, a unit that directly generates a required DC voltage from a main power supply line of the projector or an independent unit that is independent of the main power supply of the projector. There are batteries.

Here, the operation of the projector utilizing unnecessary light will be described. Until the detector 5 detects that the charger 4 is sufficiently charged with the electric energy, the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detector 5 includes a charger 4
When it is detected that the electric energy has been sufficiently charged,
The switch 6 is controlled so that the DC voltage from the charger 4 is connected to the control microcomputer 10 instead of the DC voltage from the control microcomputer voltage supply unit 11.

With this configuration, the bulb light 1
Unnecessary light from the projector is received by the photoelectric conversion element 3, converted into electric energy, charged in the charger 4, and the charged DC voltage can be supplied to the control microcomputer 10 for use. Can be reduced. further,
Since the required voltage can be supplied to the control microcomputer 10, the power consumption can be reduced even in the set standby state. (Embodiment 3) The projector according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 cools the bulb light 1 using a DC voltage obtained from unnecessary light as in Embodiment 1 described above. Valve light cooling fan 12 as cooling fan
Is different from that of the first embodiment.

Here, the operation of the projector using unnecessary light will be described. Until the detector 5 detects that the charger 4 is sufficiently charged with the electric energy, the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

The detector 5 is, as shown in FIG.
When it is detected that the electric energy has been sufficiently charged,
The switch 6 is controlled to connect the DC voltage from the charger 4 to the bulb light cooling fan 12 instead of the DC voltage from the bulb light cooling fan voltage supply unit 13. The heated bulb light 1 is cooled by a bulb light cooling fan 12.

With this configuration, the bulb light 1
Unnecessary light from the projector is received by the photoelectric conversion element 3, converted into electric energy, charged in the charger 4, and the charged DC voltage can be supplied to the bulb light cooling fan 12 for use. The power can be reduced. Further, even when the main power supply of the projector is intentionally cut off, the power supply of the bulb light cooling fan 12 is independent of the main power supply, so that the bulb light cooling fan 12 always operates and becomes hot. Bulb light 1
Can be cooled, so that the bulb light 1 can be prevented from being broken by heat.

In each of the above embodiments, the light source is a bulb light. However, even when a light source other than the bulb light 1 is used, the same effects as described above can be obtained. In each of the above-described embodiments, a liquid crystal panel is used as the image display device 2. However, the image display device 2 may be a reflection type digital mirror lens (DMD) or a DLP (Direct LDP).
Even Panel) has the same effect as described above.

In each of the embodiments described above, the light valve type projector is described as an example. However, a projector other than the light valve type has the same effects as described above.

In each of the above embodiments, the photoelectric conversion element 3
Is provided around the light guide path. If the amount of light to be received is sufficient, the photoelectric conversion element 3 may be provided in a part of the periphery of the light guide path, or if the utilization rate of light from the light source is not reduced. Even when the photoelectric conversion element 3 is provided in the light guide path, the same effect as described above is obtained. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the photoelectric conversion element 3 is disposed inside the body of the projector 15.

[0030]

As described above, according to the projector of the present invention, a photoelectric conversion element which is arranged to receive unnecessary light from a light source and converts light energy into electric energy, and an electric power from the photoelectric conversion element A charger for storing energy,
A detection circuit for detecting that electric energy has been stored in the charger, and using the electric energy of the charger based on an instruction from the detection circuit. Unnecessary light from the light source can be converted into electric energy and this electric energy can be used, and the power consumption of the projector can be reduced.

Further, the photoelectric conversion element may be provided with a light guide path for emitting light from a light source to an image display device for projecting an image and projecting the image light formed by the image display device to an external screen, or a light guide path therefor. By providing it around, unnecessary light from the light source can be received and converted into electric energy.

Further, a secondary low-voltage line obtained by transforming and rectifying electric power from the charger into a primary-side AC input;
When configured to supply to either the control microcomputer that controls the operation of the projector or the cooling fan that cools the light source, the DC voltage obtained by converting unnecessary light from the light source Used by supplying to the line,
The power can be supplied to and used by a control microcomputer for controlling the operation of the projector, or can be supplied to and used by a cooling fan that cools the light source, so that the power consumption of the projector can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of unnecessary light reuse of a projector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for reusing unnecessary light in a projector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of unnecessary light reuse of a projector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specific arrangement position of a photoelectric conversion element in each of the embodiments of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bulb light 2 Video display device 3 Photoelectric conversion element 4 Charger 5 Detector 6 Switch 10 Control microcomputer 12 Valve light cooling fan

Claims (3)

[Claims] A photoelectric conversion element disposed to receive unnecessary light from a light source and converting light energy into electric energy; a charger storing electric energy from the photoelectric conversion element; A projector comprising: a detection circuit for detecting that electric energy has been stored; and using the electric energy of the charger based on an instruction from the detection circuit. 2. A light guide path in which light emitted from a light source is irradiated to an image display device for projecting an image, and image light formed by the image display device is emitted to an external screen or around the photoelectric conversion element. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A low-voltage line on the secondary side obtained by transforming and rectifying an AC input on the primary side from an electric energy from a charger, a microcomputer for controlling operation of the projector, and a cooling fan for cooling the light source. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to supply the power to any one of the projectors.