JP2006011156A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to more simply grasp the details of error contents identified by a self-diagnosis function, in a projector provided with the self-diagnosis function. <P>SOLUTION: Voice information containing an error number, corresponding to the error contents and image information containing the error number are selected and read out from a voice memory 16, an image memory 17, on the basis of error information detected by the self-diagnosis function, the voice information, is outputted as voice from a speaker 8, and the image information is outputted into a projected image as an error display image 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector having a self-diagnosis function for detecting an error such as an internal temperature rise.

  Various projectors using a CRT (cathode-ray tube), a transmissive liquid crystal, or a reflective liquid crystal have been widely used as an optical mechanism for projecting an image. These projectors take image information from a personal computer or the like, convert it into a real image by an optical mechanism, further enlarge the image through a lens, and project the image on a front screen with strong light. Therefore, the optical mechanism includes a lamp that emits high-intensity light, and a ventilation fan is provided at a key point so that the inside of the optical mechanism is not heated by heat generated from the lamp or the like.

  Specifically, the projector is equipped with a high-intensity lamp, a mechanical ventilation fan, etc., and is an electronic device that requires attention for so-called maintenance. If it continues, internal temperature will become high temperature, an electronic component will be damaged and the projector itself will receive the damage which cannot be recovered | restored. In order to avoid these problems and prompt the user to take appropriate measures, the projector is generally provided with an error self-diagnosis function.

  With the self-diagnosis function, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the temperature sensor provided inside detects a predetermined temperature or higher, the temperature warning lamp blinks, or the turn-off of the light source lamp is detected. This is a function for detecting various problems such as turning on the light source life lamp by a sensor provided in the projector and notifying the user of the detection result by means such as lamp lighting. The self-diagnosis function itself is a known technique.

  The contents detected by this self-diagnosis function are usually notified to the user by turning on an LED provided on the outer case of the projector. That is, a plurality of LEDs are provided for each type of error. For example, if the temperature warning LED blinks, the user notices that the internal temperature is high, and if the LED indicating the light source lifetime is lit, the user turns on. Notice that the life of the light source is approaching.

  However, since the LED (warning lamp) is provided in the outer case, details of what kind of error the lighting (flashing) of the LED indicates an error cannot be described in the case itself. Only after referring to the operation manual or the like can the details of the error contents and the coping method be known.

  If you want to display error details in detail by another method, you can increase the number of LEDs provided in the case, or use multiple patterns for lighting individual LEDs, but the former increases the cost. In addition, the design is not preferable. In the latter case, an extra burden is placed on the user to discriminate the lighting pattern, and the labor for searching the operation manual based on the discriminated pattern is further increased.

In addition, in a ceiling-suspended projector, since the distance from the user increases, it is more difficult to determine whether an LED (warning lamp) provided on the outer case is lit, blinking, or not lit.
JP 11-316415 A

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a projector that allows a user to more easily grasp details of error contents determined by a self-diagnosis function.

  In the projector having a self-diagnosis function for detecting an error such as a rise in internal temperature, the projector corresponds to the error information from the speaker based on the error information detected by the self-diagnosis function. Audio output means for outputting audio, image output means for outputting an error display image corresponding to the error information to the projected video, and the audio output means store an error number indicating the type of error in the form of audio information Voice information memory, and voice information selection means for reading out specific error number voice information from the voice information memory based on the error information, and the image output means displays an error number indicating an error type as an image. An image information memory stored in an information format, and a specific error number image from the image information memory based on the error information. Characterized by comprising an image information selecting means for reading information.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user can easily grasp the details of the error content from the sound including the error number emitted from the speaker and the image including the error number displayed on the projected video. Since the error content is expressed in both audio and video and includes an error number expressed in numbers in the expression, it is possible for the user to grasp the error content more clearly. In addition, troubles such as mistakes in error content do not occur when searching for an operation manual by itself or when reporting error content to customer service.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a projector having a self-diagnosis function for detecting an error such as a rise in internal temperature, sound that outputs sound corresponding to the error information from a speaker based on error information detected by the self-diagnosis function Output means, and the sound output by the sound output means includes an error number indicating the type of error.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can easily grasp the details of the error contents by the voice including the error number emitted from the speaker.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a projector having a self-diagnosis function for detecting an error such as an internal temperature rise, a sound that outputs sound corresponding to the error information from a speaker based on the error information detected by the self-diagnosis function Output means and image output means for outputting an error display image corresponding to the error information to the projected video, and the sound output by the sound output means includes an error number indicating the type of error, and the image output means The error display image according to (2) includes an error number indicating the type of error.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the user can easily grasp the details of the error content from the sound including the error number emitted from the speaker and the image including the error number displayed on the projected video. Since the error content is expressed in both audio and video, the error content can be understood more clearly for the user.

  According to the projector of the present invention, the error content detected by the self-diagnosis function is emitted from the speaker as sound including the error number and displayed in the projected video as an image including the error number. It is very easy to grasp the details.

  A projector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The projector 1 is a projector using a liquid crystal panel 2 as an optical mechanism, and an OSD control unit 3 for forming an image is connected to the liquid crystal panel 2. Image information input from an external personal computer 4 or the like through the interface 5 is processed by a control unit 6 formed of a microcomputer and output to the OSD control unit 3. A speaker 8 is connected to the control unit 6 via a speaker control unit 7.

  Further, a lamp 10 as a high-intensity light source is connected to the control unit 6 through a lamp control unit 9, and a ventilation fan 12 and a fan motor 13 are connected through a fan motor control unit 11. The lamp controller 9 turns on or off the lamp 10 according to a command from the controller 6, detects the state of the lamp 10 (lighted or not lit), and sends the information (hereinafter referred to as lamp information) to the controller 6. Output to. The fan motor control unit 11 rotates or stops the fan motor 13 according to a command from the control unit 6 and detects the state (rotation, stop) of the fan motor 13 from the measured value of the current to the fan motor 13. Information (hereinafter referred to as fan information) is output to the control unit 6. The fan motor 13 rotates the ventilation fan 12 disposed in a predetermined air passage.

  A temperature sensor 14 is provided near the lamp 10, and temperature information from the temperature sensor 14 (hereinafter, lamp temperature information) is input to the control unit 6. Another temperature sensor 15 is also provided in the air passage through which the cooling air is circulated by the ventilation fan 12, and temperature information from the temperature sensor 15 (hereinafter, passage temperature information) is input to the control unit 6.

  Next, the self-diagnosis function in the projector of this embodiment will be described. The control unit 6 receives the above-described four pieces of information (lamp information, fan information, lamp temperature information, and passage temperature information), and determines an error location and its content from each information.

  That is, since the control unit 6 instructs the lighting and non-lighting of the lamp 10 via the lamp control unit 9, it is an error if the lamp information indicates non-lighting when it should be in the lighting state. The lamp burnout is the error content (error number 1).

  Similarly, since the control unit 6 instructs rotation and stop of the fan motor 13 via the fan motor control unit 11, an error occurs if the fan information indicates stop when it should be in the rotation state. The failure of the fan motor 13 is regarded as the error content (referred to as error number 2).

  Further, the control unit 6 compares the lamp temperature information and the passage temperature information with a predetermined reference temperature, and if they exceed the reference temperature, estimates the overheating of the lamp 10 and the overheating of the passage, respectively. An error is assumed. From the overheating of the lamp 10, an abnormality of the lamp 10 itself or an abnormality of the lamp control unit 9 is regarded as an error content (referred to as error number 3). From the overheating of the passage, overheating of the lamp 10 or abnormal stop of the ventilation fan 12 is taken as the error content (referred to as error number 4).

  In the determination of error number 4, it is determined that one error has occurred on the condition that the passage temperature information exceeds the reference temperature. For example, the reference temperature exceeds the reference temperature of the passage temperature information and the reference temperature of the lamp temperature information. If super-heat occurs at the same time, it is an error of abnormal overheating of the lamp 10, and there is a reference temperature exceeding the reference temperature of the passage temperature information, but if there is no reference temperature exceeding the reference temperature of the lamp temperature information, an error of abnormal stop of the fan 12 As described above, more detailed error contents may be determined by looking at a combination of a plurality of pieces of information.

  In the above example, the fan information includes rotation and stop of the fan motor 13. However, when the current value to the fan motor 13 becomes excessive, the control unit 6 instructs the fan motor control unit 11. It may be determined that the fan motor 13 is abnormal regardless of the contents (rotation, stop). Furthermore, by appropriately increasing the number of installed sensors, it is possible to detect errors in other places where malfunctions (errors) may occur although the frequency is relatively low. In any case, there are various forms of self-diagnosis functions such as the number and types of errors to be found.

  As described above, the control unit 6 detects the error content (error numbers 1 to 4). The control unit 6 outputs the error content from the speaker 8 by voice based on the detected error content (error information). The error content is displayed on the image projected through the optical mechanism. Specifically, the ROM in the control unit 6 previously stores a sound information memory unit 16 that stores sound information corresponding to each error number, and an image information memory unit that stores image information corresponding to each error number. 17 is provided. Their contents are shown in FIGS. The control unit 6 selects and reads out audio information and image information from the memory units 16 and 17 based on the error contents, and outputs them to the speaker control unit 7 and the OSD control unit 3, respectively.

  The content of the audio information is, for example, “Error No. 1 has occurred. The lamp is not lit. Please replace the lamp.” Is included. The content of the image information is, for example, “error error number 1: lamp out: lamp should be replaced” and the like, and also includes the error number, error content, and coping method. The point to be emphasized may be changed in color, character size, or the like.

  Next, the procedure from when the control unit 6 detects an error by the self-diagnosis function until the error content is output as audio to the speaker 8 and output as an image on the projected video will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether an error has occurred (step 1). If an error has occurred, it is determined which error number corresponds to the error (step 2 to step 5). If no error has occurred, the error processing is terminated.

  If an error corresponding to error number 1 has occurred, audio information and image information corresponding to error number 1 are read out from the audio information memory unit 16 and the image information memory unit 17, respectively (step 6).

  Next, it is determined whether the lamp is lit, that is, whether or not the projector is in the projection state (step 7). If the projector is in the projection state, the image information corresponding to the error number 1 read out above is stored in the OSD control unit. 3 is projected onto the front screen via an optical mechanism (step 8). If it is not in the projection state, the audio information corresponding to the error number 1 read out above is output to the speaker control unit 7 and output from the speaker (step 9). FIG. 5 shows an example of a state in which the error display image 18 including the error number is projected on the screen.

  Thus, if the projector 1 is in the projection state, the occurrence of the error is notified to the user by the error number and the detailed contents thereof by both sound and image. If the user wants to know the details of the error found as described above or the details of the countermeasures, he / she will see the operation manual by himself / herself and contact customer service by phone. However, since the error content is completely specified by the error number, the search is easy, and the error content is not mistakenly transmitted to the customer service.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the lamp is lit (step 7). When the lamp is not lit, only sound output from the speaker is performed without displaying an image. If the lamp is not turned on, the lamp may be turned on automatically to force the projector to be in a projection state, and image information corresponding to the error number may be projected onto the screen.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector according to an embodiment of the invention. The figure which shows the content of the audio | voice information memory part in the projector. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of an image information memory unit in the projector. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of error processing in the projector. The figure which shows the example of the error display image projected by the projector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Projector 2 Liquid crystal panel 6 Control part 8 Speaker 9 Lamp control part 10 Lamp 11 Fan motor control part 12 Fan 14 Temperature sensor 15 Temperature sensor 16 Audio | voice information memory part 17 Image information memory part 18 Error display image

Claims (3)

In projectors with a self-diagnosis function that detects errors such as internal temperature rise,
Audio output means for outputting audio corresponding to the error information from a speaker based on error information detected by the self-diagnosis function;
Image output means for outputting an error display image corresponding to the error information to the projected image;
The voice output means includes a voice information memory storing an error number indicating the type of error in the form of voice information,
Voice information selection means for reading out specific error number voice information from the voice information memory based on the error information,
The image output means includes an image information memory storing an error number indicating an error type in the form of image information, and an image information selection for reading out specific error number image information from the image information memory based on the error information. And a projector. In projectors with a self-diagnosis function that detects errors such as internal temperature rise,
Voice output means for outputting voice corresponding to the error information from a speaker based on error information detected by the self-diagnosis function, and the voice by the voice output means includes an error number indicating the type of error. Projector. In projectors with a self-diagnosis function that detects errors such as internal temperature rise,
Audio output means for outputting audio corresponding to the error information from a speaker based on error information detected by the self-diagnosis function;
Image output means for outputting an error display image corresponding to the error information to the projected image, and
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the sound output by the sound output unit includes an error number indicating the type of error, and the error display image by the image output unit includes an error number indicating the type of error.

Images