JP2007264257A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector capable of clearly demonstrating a starting time needed to restart. <P>SOLUTION: The projector 10 having at least a lamp 20 as a light source for projecting images comprises: a lamp temperature sensor 23 for detecting the temperature of the lamp 20; an outside air temperature sensor 24 for detecting the temperature of outside air; a display panel 25 for displaying a starting time needed to restart; and a CPU 11 which, based on the output of the lamp temperature sensor 23 and the output of the outside air temperature sensor 24, calculates, as a starting time, the time needed for the temperature of the lamp 20 to decrease to a predetermined temperature and displays the starting time on the display panel 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector, and more particularly to a startable time when the projector is restarted.

  Conventionally, in a space discharge type lamp (for example, an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp) used in a projector, the lamp may not be lit even if the power is turned on again after the power is turned off. This is because in this type of lamp, dielectric breakdown occurs unless the atmospheric pressure in the lamp falls below a certain atmospheric pressure. The atmospheric pressure in the lamp is proportional to the temperature in the lamp. Therefore, the lamp cannot be turned on unless the temperature of the lamp at the time of applying the voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (restartable temperature). For this reason, after the lamp is turned off, it cannot be turned on again until the lamp is cooled to a temperature at which the lamp can be turned on again. However, it is not known that the projector cannot be restarted immediately, and the user repeatedly presses the power switch many times, or the current situation is not understood and it is confused. In order to solve such a problem, a method is currently employed in which the power is not turned on until a time when the temperature of the lamp is expected to fall to a relightable temperature. However, in reality, it is possible to restart in a shorter time depending on the usage conditions, but it is necessary to wait for a certain time, or you may think that it is broken because the lamp does not turn on It was as.

Therefore, for example, “a display unit that spatially modulates illumination light based on a video signal to form an optical image for projection, an illumination unit that includes a lamp and a reflector, and generates the illumination light; and the optical image In a projector having a projection optical system that projects an image on a projection screen, a cooling unit that cools air around the illumination unit, a detection unit that detects an atmospheric temperature, and the cooling unit according to a detection result of the detection unit And a control means for controlling the degree of cooling due to "..." has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-131863 A (summary)

  However, even in the projector of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is not possible to grasp the restartable start time, and therefore, like the previous ones, the power switch is pushed before the startable time elapses. Or, I sometimes thought that the device was broken because the lamp did not light up.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a projector that can clearly indicate a startable time until restart.

  The projector according to the present invention includes a first temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the lamp and a second temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the outside air in a projector including at least a lamp as a light source for projecting an image. And a display means for displaying the startable time until restart, and until the lamp temperature falls to a predetermined temperature based on the output of the first temperature detection means and the output of the second temperature detection means And calculating means for causing the display means to display the time as the startable time. In the present invention, the outside air temperature refers to the temperature outside the projector main body. In the present invention, the startable time until the restart is clearly indicated by the display means. For this reason, the power switch is pushed before the startable time elapses, or the device is broken because the lamp is not turned on. This makes it easier to use and avoids situations that you might think.

  The projector according to the present invention includes a power switch for turning on or off the lamp, and the computing means outputs the output of the first temperature detecting means and the second when the lamp is turned off by the power switch. Based on the output of the temperature detecting means, the time until the lamp temperature falls to a predetermined temperature is obtained as the startable time, and the startable time is displayed on the display means, and then the start-up is performed as time elapses. The possible time is reduced and displayed on the display means. In the present invention, the startable time for turning off the lamp is decreased with the passage of time and displayed on the display means. Therefore, the startable time can be accurately grasped every moment even after the lamp is turned off. can do.

  The projector according to the present invention includes storage means in which a relationship between the temperature of the lamp and the temperature of the outside air and the time until the temperature of the lamp decreases to a predetermined temperature is stored in a table, and the calculation means Is to obtain the time until the temperature of the lamp decreases to a predetermined temperature with reference to the table of the storage means. In the present invention, the startable time is obtained using a table, and therefore, the arithmetic processing by the arithmetic means is simple.

  The projector according to the present invention includes a cooling device that cools the lamp, and the calculation unit obtains the startable time in consideration of a cooling capacity of the cooling device. In the present invention, since the cooling device cools the lamp, the cooling efficiency of the lamp is good, thereby shortening the time until the temperature of the lamp falls to a predetermined temperature, but the calculation means can be started in consideration of that point. Since the time is obtained, the startable time displayed on the display means corresponds to the actual standby time.

  In the projector according to the aspect of the invention, the calculation unit may display a lighting state, a standby state, and a lighting enabled state as the lamp state on the display unit, and display the startable time in the standby state. In the present invention, since the lamp state (lamp status) is displayed on the display means, it is convenient for the user.

  The projector according to the present invention includes storage means in which a lighting flag is stored, and the calculation means sets the lighting flag when the startable time becomes zero, and the power switch in a state where the lighting flag is set. Is turned on, the lamp is turned on. In the present invention, when the startable time becomes zero and the power switch is turned on with the lighting flag set, a process for lighting the lamp is performed, and the display of the startable time and the lamp The process for lighting up is linked to it, making it easy to use.

Embodiment 1. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector according to a first embodiment of the invention. The projector 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, an ADC (analog / digital converter) 13, an image processing circuit 14, a memory 15, an LCD drive circuit 16 and an LCD panel 17, a power supply unit 18, a ballast 19, a lamp 20, and a cooling device 21. ing. The projector 10 further includes an I / O button 22, a lamp temperature sensor 23, an outside air temperature sensor 24, and a display panel 25. The I / O button 22 is provided with various operation switches including a power switch. The lamp temperature sensor 23 is attached to, for example, a reflector (not shown) of the lamp 20, detects the temperature of the lamp 20, and outputs it to the CPU 11. The outside air temperature sensor 24 is attached to, for example, a cooling device (blower fan) 21, detects the outside air temperature, and outputs it to the CPU 11. The display panel 25 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an LED panel, and displays the state of the lamp 20 (lighted state, standby state, lightable state), startable time until restart (standby time), and the like. The CPU 11 corresponds to the calculation means of the present invention, the lamp temperature sensor 23 corresponds to the first temperature detection means, the outside temperature sensor 24 corresponds to the second temperature detection means, and the display panel 25 corresponds to the display means. To do.

  The CPU 11 of the projector 10 performs various arithmetic processes according to programs stored in the ROM 12, and controls the ADC 13, the image processing circuit 14, the power supply unit 18, and the ballast 19, respectively. The CPU 11 has a timer 11a function as one of the arithmetic processes, and a lighting flag 11b by a built-in register (storage means of the present invention). For example, when the video signal (analog RGB signal) is input from the PC (personal computer) 1, the ADC 13 converts it into a digital signal and outputs it to the image processing circuit 14. The image processing circuit 14 temporarily stores the input video signal in a built-in memory (not shown). For example, freeze (FREEZE), mute (MUTE), zoom (ZOOM), effect (EFFECT), keystone correction, resizing (RESIZE) ), Gamma (γ) correction, color unevenness correction, and the like are appropriately performed. Then, the video signal processed by the image processing circuit 14 is stored in the memory 15 functioning as a frame memory, further read out, and output to the LCD driving circuit 16. The LCD drive circuit 16 draws a frame image read from the memory 15 on an LCD (liquid crystal) panel 17.

  The power supply unit 18 of the projector 10 supplies AC power to the ballast 19, and the ballast 19 generates a high frequency current after converting the AC voltage into a DC voltage and supplies it to the lamp 20. The lamp 20 is turned on when a high frequency current is supplied, irradiates the LCD (liquid crystal) panel 17 through an optical system (not shown), and an image drawn on the LCD (liquid crystal) panel 17 is an optical element such as a projection lens. The image is enlarged by a system (not shown) and projected onto the screen 30. At this time, the lamp 20 is cooled by blowing air from the cooling device 21.

  When the image is displayed on the screen 30 as described above, for example, when the user operates, for example, the power switch of the I / O button 22 to turn it off, the CPU 11 captures the operation signal, for example, the ballast 19. Is turned off. As a result, the lamp 20 is turned off. In this state, the CPU 11 takes in the outputs of the lamp temperature sensor 23 and the outside air temperature sensor 24, and the time from when the temperature of the lamp 20 to the outside air temperature decreases to a predetermined temperature (a temperature at which the lamp 20 can be turned on again). Is determined as the startable time. Here, the temperature of the lamp 20 is obtained by the following equation.

T (t) = T _e + (T ₀ −T _e ) e ^−βt (1)
Where T ₀ is the initial temperature of the lamp 20 detected by the lamp temperature sensor 23, _Te is the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 24, β is a coefficient, and T (t) is after t hours. This is the temperature of the lamp 20. Therefore, the time until the temperature of the lamp 20 decreases to a predetermined temperature (a temperature at which relighting can be performed) can be obtained from the above equation. In the above equation (1), the value of the coefficient β varies depending on the capacity of the cooling device 21. Here, the coefficient β is determined on the assumption that the cooling device 21 is driven under a predetermined condition. And

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in temperature after the lamp is turned off. Even if the output of the lamp temperature sensor 23 is the same, the temperature decrease rate differs depending on the outside air temperature (T _e1 , T _e2 , T _e3 ), and the _startable time also varies (t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ ). .

FIG. 3 is a table of the characteristics of FIG. 2, and each cell can be activated according to the lamp temperature (T ₀₁ , T ₀₂ , T ₀₃ ) and the outside air temperature (T _e1 , T _e2 , T _e3 ). The time is stored. In the table of FIG. 3, when the lamp temperature is between T ₀₁ and T ₀₂ or when the outside air temperature is between T _e1 and T _e2 , the closest value is adopted. Alternatively, the startable time is obtained by performing an interpolation process. 3 is written in advance in the ROM 12.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing process when the power switch of the projector 10 of FIG. 1 is turned off. When the power switch is turned off, the CPU 11 changes the display on the display panel 25 from the lighting state to the standby state. Then, the output of the lamp temperature sensor 23 is captured (S11), and the output of the outside air temperature sensor 24 is captured (S12). The CPU 11 estimates the time until the temperature of the lamp 20 is lowered to a predetermined temperature (relightable temperature), that is, the startable time based on the table of FIG. 3 written in the ROM 12 (S13). Then, the CPU 11 sets the startable time in the timer 11a (S14), and displays the startable time set in the timer 11a on the display panel 25 as a numerical value (S15). When the predetermined time Δt has elapsed, the time for which the timer 11a is set is decreased by Δt (S16). The CPU 11 determines whether or not the startable time of the timer 11a has become zero (S17), and if not, repeats the above processing (S15) and (S16). That is, the startable time is displayed on the display panel 25 as a standby state, and is displayed on the display panel 25 in a state where the startable time is reduced with the passage of time. When the time for which the timer 11a can be activated becomes zero, the CPU 11 sets the lighting flag 11b and displays on the display panel 25 that lighting is possible (lighting possible state) (S19). In this state, when the user turns on the power switch of the I / O button 22, the CPU 11 refers to the lighting flag 11b after taking the operation signal, and drives the ballast 19 if set. Then, the lamp 20 is turned on. The lighting flag 11b may be set after confirming that the output of the lamp temperature sensor 23 has reached a predetermined temperature. In addition, the cooling device 21 is driven until the restartable time becomes zero to cool the lamp 20.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the startable time (standby time) until restart is clearly indicated on the display panel 25. For this reason, the power switch is pushed before the startable time elapses, or a lamp is displayed. You can avoid situations where you think that the device has been broken by not lighting up.

  In addition, when the lamp 20 is turned off by the power switch, the CPU 11 can start the time until the temperature of the lamp 20 drops to a predetermined temperature based on the output of the lamp temperature sensor 23 and the output of the outside air temperature sensor 24. It is calculated as time, and further, the startable time of the timer 11a is decreased as time passes and displayed on the display panel 25. For this reason, even after the light is turned off, the startable time is grasped every moment. be able to. Further, the CPU 11 obtains a time until the temperature of the lamp 20 is lowered to a predetermined temperature with reference to the table (see FIG. 3), and the arithmetic processing by the CPU 11 is simplified.

In the first embodiment, a cooling device 21 that cools the lamp 20 is provided, and the CPU 11 obtains the startable time in consideration of the cooling capacity of the cooling device 21, and the cooling device 21 cools the lamp 20. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the lamp 20 is good, thereby shortening the time until the temperature of the lamp is lowered to a predetermined temperature. However, the CPU 11 obtains the startable time in consideration of this point, so that it is displayed on the display panel 25. The activation possible time corresponds to the actual waiting time.
Further, the CPU 11 displays the lighting state, the standby state, and the lighting enabled state of the lamp 20 on the display panel 25, and particularly displays the startable time in the standby state, and the lamp state (lamp status) is displayed. Therefore, it is convenient for the user.
Further, the CPU 11 sets the lighting flag 11b when the startable time becomes zero, and controls the ballast 19 to light the lamp 20 when the power switch is turned on with the lighting flag 11b set. In addition, the display of the startable time and the process for lighting the lamp 20 are linked to each other, which is easy to use.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the example in which the startable time is displayed numerically on the display panel 25 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a plurality of light emitting diodes are prepared as display means. Alternatively, the startable time per light-emitting diode may be determined, and the number of light-emitting diodes corresponding to the startable time may be turned on to clearly indicate the startable time to the user. In addition, the CPU 11 has been described with reference to the table (see FIG. 4) in which the time until the lamp 20 is lowered to a predetermined temperature has been described. However, the startable time is determined each time using the above equation (1). Needless to say, you can. Moreover, although the example which attached the temperature sensor 24 for external air to the cooling device 21 was demonstrated, another site | part may be sufficient if it is a location which can detect external temperature.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector according to a first embodiment of the invention. It is a characteristic figure showing change of temperature after turning off a lamp. It is the figure which tabulated the characteristic of FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the process when a power switch is turned off.

Explanation of symbols

10 projector, 11a timer, 11b lighting flag, 14 image processing circuit, 15 memory, 16 LCD drive circuit, 17 LCD panel, 18 power supply unit, 19 ballast, 20 lamp, 21 cooling device, 22 I / O button, 23 lamp Temperature sensor, 24 outdoor temperature sensor, 25 display panel, 30 screens.

Claims (6)

In a projector having at least a lamp as a light source for projecting an image,
First temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the lamp;
Second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the outside air;
Display means for displaying the time available for activation until restart;
Calculation that obtains the time until the lamp temperature is lowered to a predetermined temperature based on the output of the first temperature detection means and the output of the second temperature detection means as a startable time and displays it on the display means And a projector. A power switch for turning on or off the lamp,
The computing means is configured to reduce the temperature of the lamp to a predetermined temperature based on the output of the first temperature detecting means and the output of the second temperature detecting means when the lamp is turned on by the power switch. The time is determined as the startable time, and after the startable time is displayed on the display means, the startable time is decreased according to the passage of time and displayed on the display means. 1. The projector according to 1. A storage means for storing the relationship between the temperature of the lamp and the temperature of the outside air and the time until the temperature of the lamp decreases to a predetermined temperature in a table;
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit obtains a time until the temperature of the lamp decreases to a predetermined temperature with reference to a table of the storage unit. A cooling device for cooling the lamp,
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit obtains the startable time in consideration of a cooling capacity of the cooling device.   The said calculating means displays a lighting state, a standby state, and a lighting possible state on the said display means as a state of the said lamp, The said startable time is displayed in the said standby state, Any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Projector. Comprising storage means for storing a lighting flag;
The computing means is
6. The lighting flag is set when the startable time becomes zero, and the lamp is turned on when the power switch is turned on with the lighting flag set. Projector.

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