JP2006337897A - Projector apparatus and exhaust control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present a satisfactory viewing environment by making it difficult for noise of an exhaust fan to travel to a viewer and preventing air discharged from an exhaust port from reaching the viewer. <P>SOLUTION: A projector apparatus includes; an exhaust port 21 provided in an enclosure 20, an exhaust fan 1 provided within the enclosure 20, a movable louver 2 provided at the exhaust port 21, a human body detection sensor 4 for detecting a position of a human body (viewer), and a CPU 12 which controls an exhaust direction of the movable louver 2 on the basis of a detection result of the human body detection sensor 4. Since the exhaust direction from the exhaust port 21 is controlled in accordance with a direction where the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor 4, noise of the exhaust fan hardly travel to the viewer, and air discharged from the exhaust port is prevented from reaching the viewer. Thus a satisfactory viewing environment is obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector apparatus including an exhaust fan for exhausting air in a housing, and an exhaust control system.

  The projector device is provided with a high-intensity lamp that is a light source for projecting an image. The projector device is provided with an exhaust fan so that the temperature of the components of the projector device (optical parts, electrical parts, mechanical parts, etc.) does not rise too much due to the heat of the high-intensity lamp. It is designed to exhaust.

  Here, depending on the installation state of the projector device, there may be an obstacle in the exhaust direction from the exhaust port, and sufficient exhaust may not be performed. Therefore, a projector apparatus including a movable louver for changing the exhaust direction has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a projector device is also proposed in which four exhaust guides capable of exhausting in four directions (front / rear / left / right) are provided at the bottom of the projector device, and the exhaust direction is switched by opening and closing each exhaust guide by a remote control operation or the like. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP-A-10-90794 (5th page, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-202631 (page 3-4, FIG. 2)

  In recent years, projector apparatuses are increasingly used for home theater applications, for example, for watching movies, and therefore, there is a strong demand for noise reduction in addition to high image quality. The noise of the projector device is mainly generated from the exhaust fan and leaks from the exhaust port to the outside. In particular, since the exhaust fan is often provided in the vicinity of the exhaust port, noise leaking to the outside tends to increase. Further, when a movable louver or the like is provided at the exhaust port as described above, the noise tends to be larger due to the wind noise.

  In order to ensure a good viewing environment, it is necessary to prevent the heated air exhausted from the projector device from reaching the viewer.

  In order to solve these problems, it is conceivable to attach an exhaust duct to the exhaust port. However, a large exhaust duct is required to obtain a sufficient exhaust heat effect. As a result, the projector apparatus becomes larger, requiring a large space for installation, and increasing the manufacturing cost.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and makes it difficult to transmit the noise of the exhaust fan to the viewer, and prevents the air exhausted from the exhaust port from reaching the viewer, thereby achieving good viewing. The purpose is to provide an environment.

  The projector device according to the present invention includes a housing, an exhaust port provided in the housing, an exhaust fan provided in the housing, and an exhaust port, and defines an exhaust direction from the exhaust port. A movable louver, a human body detection sensor that detects the position of a human body around the housing, and a control unit that controls an exhaust direction of the movable louver based on a detection result of the human body detection sensor. Composed.

  According to the present invention, since the exhaust direction is controlled based on the position of the human body (viewer) detected by the human body detection sensor, it is difficult for the viewer to hear the sound of the exhaust fan leaking outside from the exhaust port, Further, it is possible to prevent the air exhausted from the exhaust port from reaching the viewer. As a result, the viewer can concentrate on viewing without feeling uncomfortable. Further, since a silencer or the like for reducing the noise of the exhaust fan is not required, the projector device can be miniaturized, the degree of freedom of the installation location and the like can be increased, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a projector device 16 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The projector device 16 according to the present embodiment includes a light source lamp 6 that emits light, an optical unit 10 that spatially modulates the light emitted by the light source lamp 6 to form an optical image, and an optical device. A projection optical system 15 that enlarges and projects an optical image formed by the unit 10 onto a screen and an electric circuit 5 that controls the optical unit 10 and the like are provided.

  In the following description, the direction in which an image is projected by the projection optical system 15 is “front”, and the opposite direction is “rear”. Further, “right” and “left” are defined as shown in FIG. 1 on the basis of the viewer who views the image projected on the screen.

  The light source lamp 6 includes, for example, a discharge lamp and a reflection mirror, and emits light toward the optical unit 10. The optical unit 10 includes a spatial light modulator (not shown) (for example, a liquid crystal display element or a digital micromirror device) that spatially modulates the light emitted from the light source lamp 6 to form an optical image. The projection optical system 15 has a projection lens and the like, and enlarges and projects an optical image toward the front screen from an opening formed at the approximate center of the front surface of the housing 20.

  Exhaust ports 21 and 22 are formed on the front surface of the housing 20. The exhaust ports 21 and 22 are respectively formed on the right side and the left side of the front surface of the housing 20 from the center. Exhaust fans 1 and 7 are disposed inside the housing 20 so as to be adjacent to the exhaust ports 21 and 22, respectively. The exhaust fan 1 is disposed adjacent to the front of the light source lamp 6 and exhausts air heated by the heat of the light source lamp 6 to the outside of the housing 20 through the exhaust port 21. . The exhaust port 21 is provided with a movable louver 2 for controlling the exhaust direction. The structure and operation of the movable louver 2 will be described later.

  The other exhaust fan 7 is arranged so as to be adjacent to the front of the electric circuit 5 and exhausts the air heated by the heat of the electric circuit 5 to the outside of the housing 20 through the exhaust port 22. It has become.

  Air intake ports 23 and 24 are formed on the rear surface of the housing 20. The air inlets 23 and 24 are arranged on the right side and the left side of the rear surface of the housing 20 from the center. Inside the housing 20, intake fans 9 and 8 are provided so as to be adjacent to the intake ports 23 and 24, respectively. The intake fan 9 is disposed adjacent to the rear side of the light source lamp 6, and takes in air for cooling the light source lamp 6 from the outside through the intake port 23. The intake fan 8 is disposed adjacent to the rear of the electric circuit 5 and takes in air for cooling the electric circuit 5 from the outside through the intake port 24.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing electric circuit 5 (FIG. 1) of projector device 16 according to the present embodiment. The electric circuit 5 of the projector device 16 includes a fan control circuit 11 that controls the exhaust fans 1 and 7 and the intake fans 8 and 9, and a CPU 12 (control means) that controls the fan control circuit 11. The CPU 12 receives a detection signal (outside air temperature information) from a temperature sensor 13 that detects the temperature of air taken in from the outside by the intake fan 8, and the CPU 12 controls the fan control circuit 11 based on the detection signal. To do. Further, the CPU 12 receives a signal from a human body detection sensor 4 to be described later, and the CPU 12 controls the louver driving device 3 that drives the movable louver 2 described above based on this signal.

Next, the structure and operation of the movable louver 2 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is a front view of projector device 16 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the basic configuration and operation of the movable louver 2 of the projector device 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the movable louver 2 has a large number of long blades 2 a long in one direction arranged in parallel to each other. These blades 2a are attached to the inside of the ring-shaped frame 2b, and are centered on an axis parallel to the blowing direction F (FIG. 2) by the exhaust fan 1, that is, an axis orthogonal to the front surface of the housing 20. As shown by the middle arrow R, it is configured to be rotatable.

  The air F sent from the exhaust fan 1 (FIG. 1) passes between adjacent blades 2a of the movable louver 2 and is exhausted to the outside. Each blade 2 a of the movable louver 2 is inclined at a predetermined angle α with respect to the blowing direction F by the exhaust fan 1 (that is, the direction orthogonal to the front surface of the housing 20). Therefore, the air sent from the exhaust fan 1 changes its direction along the inclination of the blade 2 a in the short direction and is exhausted from the exhaust port 21. Further, when the movable louver 2 rotates as indicated by the arrow R, the traveling direction of the air passing between the adjacent blades 2a, that is, the exhaust direction from the exhaust port 21 changes.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the rotational position of the movable louver 2 and the exhaust direction. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, the movable louver 2 is configured to be able to take five rotational positions with an interval of 45 degrees. When the movable louver 2 is in the rotational position shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, the traveling direction of air passing through the movable louver 2 (that is, the exhaust direction from the exhaust port 21) is as shown in FIG. The first direction to the fifth direction shown in F).

  In FIG. 5 (F), if the upper, lower, left and right directions are defined based on the orientation of the viewer viewing the screen, the first direction is the upper direction and the second direction is the upper right direction. The third direction is the right direction, and the fourth direction is the lower right direction. The fifth direction is downward. In an initial state, that is, in a state where the projector device 16 is powered on, the movable louver 2 is set to be in the rotational position shown in FIG. The exhaust direction in this initial state is set to the third direction (right direction) shown in FIG.

  When the air exhausted from the exhaust port 21 is directed to the screen, there is a possibility that the image projected on the screen fluctuates (hot flame). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rotation range of the movable louver 2 is limited to 180 degrees (FIGS. 5A to 5E) so that the air exhausted from the exhaust port 21 does not face the screen. . However, when the exhaust port 21 is disposed on a different surface from the projection lens of the housing 20, the movable louver 2 may be rotated 360 degrees. With such a configuration, the exhaust direction can be opposite to the viewer.

  The reason why the movable louver is not provided at the exhaust port 22 on the side of the electric circuit 5 is that the amount of heat generated by the electric circuit 5 is smaller than that of the light source lamp 6, and therefore the output of the exhaust fan 7 is small and the noise is almost no. This is because there is no problem, and the temperature of the air exhausted from the exhaust port 22 is not high enough to cause discomfort to the viewer.

Next, the human body detection sensor 4 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a human body detection sensor 4 that detects a viewer (human body) around the projector device 16 is provided on the front surface of the housing 20. As the human body detection sensor 4, for example, a near infrared sensor that detects a human body by reflection of irradiated near infrared rays, or a pyroelectric sensor that detects a human body by detecting far infrared rays emitted from the human body is used. A sensor that detects a human body using sound waves or image recognition may be used.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a region detectable by the human body detection sensor 4 in the projector device 16 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 also shows the exhaust direction from the exhaust port 21 shown in FIG.

  The human body detection sensor 4 divides the detectable area (here, the area in front of the projector device 16) into a plurality of areas, and detects in which area the viewer 14 is located. Here, the front area of the projector device 16 is divided into a total of four areas, up and down and left and right, with the position of the human body detection sensor 4 as a reference, and areas 1 to 4 are formed. With reference to the orientation of the viewer viewing the screen, area 1 is located at the upper left and area 2 is located at the upper right. Area 3 is located at the lower left, and area 4 is located at the lower right. The human body detection sensor 4 transmits information indicating the presence or absence of human body detection in the areas 1 to 4 to the CPU 12 (FIG. 2).

  Next, the operation of the projector device 16 configured as described above will be described. At the start of use of the projector device 16, the CPU 12 turns on the light source lamp 6 and starts driving a spatial light modulation element (not shown) of the optical unit 10. The optical image formed by the optical unit 10 is projected onto the front screen via the projection optical system 15. The CPU 12 starts rotating the exhaust fans 1 and 7 and the intake fans 8 and 9 almost simultaneously with the lighting of the light source lamp 6. The CPU 12 also controls the fan control circuit 11 based on the outside air temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 13 to control the rotational speeds of the exhaust fans 1 and 7 and the intake fans 8 and 9.

  The heat generated by the light source lamp 6 is taken away by the air taken in from the intake port 23 by the intake fan 9, and the heated air is exhausted from the exhaust port 21 by the exhaust fan 1. The heat generated by the electric circuit 5 is taken away by the air taken in from the intake port 24 by the intake fan 8, and the heated air is exhausted from the exhaust port 22 by the exhaust fan 7.

  At this time, the CPU 12 drives the louver driving device 3 based on the detection signal from the human body detection sensor 4 and performs exhaust control from the exhaust port 21. That is, the CPU 12 performs exhaust control so that the air from the exhaust port 21 is directed in the direction as far away as possible (more preferably in the opposite direction) with respect to the direction in which the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor 4.

  Here, an example of specific exhaust control by the CPU 12 will be described. FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of exhaust control based on the detection result by the human body detection sensor 4. As described above, the exhaust direction in the initial state is set to the third direction described with reference to FIG.

  If the human body detection sensor 4 does not detect any human body in any of the areas 1 to 4, the CPU 12 selects the third direction as the exhaust direction.

  When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in one of the areas 1 to 4, the CPU 12 controls the exhaust direction as follows. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the area 1 (upper left with respect to the viewer watching the screen), the CPU 12 drives the louver driving device 3 to rotate the movable louver 2 and exhausts it. Is the fourth direction (lower right) on the side opposite to the human body. Similarly, when the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the area 2, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the fifth direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the area 3, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction as the first direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the area 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction as the second direction.

  When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in two of the areas 1 to 4, the CPU 12 controls the exhaust direction as follows. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in areas 1 and 2 (upper left and upper right with respect to the viewer watching the screen), the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the fourth direction (lower right). Similarly, when the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the areas 1 and 3, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the second or fifth direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the areas 1 and 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the third direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the areas 2 and 3, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the first or fourth direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the areas 2 and 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the first or third direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in the areas 3 and 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction as the first direction.

  When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in three of the areas 1 to 4, the CPU 12 controls the exhaust direction as follows. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in areas 1, 2 and 3 (upper left, upper right and lower left with respect to the viewer watching the screen), the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the fourth direction (lower right). . Similarly, when the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in areas 1, 2, and 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the fourth direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in areas 1, 3, and 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the second direction. When the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in areas 2, 3, and 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction as the first direction.

  Furthermore, when the human body detection sensor 4 detects a human body in all of the areas 1 to 4, the CPU 12 sets the exhaust direction to the third direction (initial setting).

  As described above, the exhaust direction from the exhaust port 21 is different from the direction in which the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor 4. Therefore, the noise of the exhaust fan 1 leaking from the exhaust port 21 is not easily transmitted to the viewer who watches the screen, and the heated air exhausted from the exhaust port 21 does not reach. As a result, the viewer can concentrate on viewing without feeling uncomfortable.

  The exhaust direction control method shown in FIG. 7 is merely an example, and any configuration may be used as long as exhaust is performed in a direction different from the direction in which the human body detection sensor 4 detects the human body.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the exhaust direction of the movable louver 2 is controlled based on the position of the viewer detected by the human body detection sensor 4, the exhaust fan 1 leaks outside from the exhaust port 21. This makes it difficult for the viewer to hear the sound and prevents the air exhausted from the exhaust port 21 from reaching the viewer. As a result, the viewer can concentrate on viewing without discomfort. Further, since a silencer or the like for reducing the noise of the exhaust fan is not necessary, the main body of the projector device 16 can be downsized, the degree of freedom of the installation location and the like can be increased, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. it can.

  Further, since the exhaust control is performed by the movable louver 2 so that the air exhausted from the exhaust port 21 does not reach the viewer, the installation position of the projector device 16 and the viewing position of the viewer are not limited. A comfortable viewing environment can be obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the detectable region of the human body detection sensor 4 is divided into a plurality of areas, and the movable louver 2 is controlled based on in which area the human body is detected. Therefore, the control by the CPU 12 is simplified. However, a comfortable viewing environment can be provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the exhaust port 21 is formed on the same surface (for example, the front surface) as the projection optical system 15 in the housing 20, so that even if an object is placed beside or behind the projector device 16, Convenience is improved without obstruction.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the exhaust direction by the movable louver 2 is selected from directions other than the direction toward the screen, it is possible to prevent fluctuations (hot flame) from occurring in the projected image on the screen due to the effect of exhaust. .

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the movable louver 2 is configured to rotate around an axis substantially orthogonal to the front surface of the housing 20 (the surface on which the exhaust port 21 is formed). The exhaust direction can be changed, for example, upward, downward, and lateral, so that a wide selection of exhaust directions is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the exhaust port 21 is formed on the front surface of the housing 20. However, the exhaust port 21 is not necessarily the front surface, and may be, for example, the side surface or the back surface.

  Further, the human body detection sensor 4 does not necessarily have to be formed on the front surface of the housing 20, and may be attached at any position as long as it is necessary for detecting the viewer.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the projector apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric circuit of the projector apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the external appearance shape of the projector apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the structure and effect | action of a movable louver in the projector apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the rotation position of a movable louver and the exhaust direction in the projector apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the detection area of the human body detection sensor in the projector apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 6 is a table showing an example of an exhaust direction determined by a CPU based on a detection result by a human body detection sensor in the projector device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,7 Exhaust fan, 2 Movable louver, 2a blade | wing, 3 Louver drive device, 4 Human body detection sensor, 5 Electric circuit, 6 Light source lamp, 8,9 Intake fan, 10 Optical unit, 11 Fan control circuit, 12 CPU, 13 Temperature sensor, 14 Viewer, 15 Projection optical system, 16 Projector device, 20 Housing, 21, 22 Exhaust port, 23, 24 Intake port.

Claims (9)

A housing,
An exhaust port provided in the housing;
An exhaust fan provided in the housing;
A movable louver provided in the exhaust port and defining an exhaust direction from the exhaust port;
A human body detection sensor for detecting the position of the human body around the housing;
And a control unit that controls an exhaust direction defined by the movable louver based on a detection result of the human body detection sensor.   The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the exhaust direction so that exhaust is performed in a direction different from a direction in which the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor.   The control means divides a detectable region by the human body detection sensor into a plurality of areas, and controls the exhaust direction based on in which area the human body is detected. The projector apparatus described in 1. A projection optical system that projects an optical image on a screen;
The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port is formed on the same surface of the housing as the projection optical system.   The projector device according to claim 4, wherein an exhaust direction by the movable louver is selected from a direction other than a direction toward the screen. The movable louver has a plurality of blades parallel to each other, and is configured such that air passes between adjacent blades,
The plurality of blades define an exhaust direction from the exhaust port by rotating about an axis substantially orthogonal to a surface of the housing where the exhaust port is formed. Item 6. The projector device according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   The projector device according to claim 1, wherein at least an upper direction, a lower direction, and a side direction can be selected as an exhaust direction defined by the movable louver. An exhaust control system used in an apparatus having a housing, an exhaust port provided in the housing, and an exhaust fan provided in the housing,
A movable louver provided in the exhaust port and defining an exhaust direction from the exhaust port;
A human body detection sensor for detecting the position of the human body around the housing;
An exhaust control system comprising: control means for controlling an exhaust direction defined by the movable louver based on a detection result of the human body detection sensor. The exhaust control system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit controls the exhaust direction so that exhaust is performed in a direction different from a direction in which the human body is detected by the human body detection sensor.

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