JP2008185619A - Projector and method for controlling lighting of light source of projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector and the like capable of projecting an image in a shorter time when relighting a light source is instructed. <P>SOLUTION: The projector 100 includes lamps 160-1 and 160-2 which are a plurality of light sources, and a control part 120 which controls to turn on the lamp 160-2 different from the lamp 160-1 when relighting is instructed after turning off the lit lamp 160-1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector and a lighting control method for a light source of the projector.

  A general projector has one lamp as a light source and projects an image by turning on the lamp. However, once the lamp is turned off, a cool-down time or the like for lowering the lamp temperature is required. Even if a relighting instruction is given immediately after the lamp is turned off, it takes several minutes to turn on the lamp again. For example, when a presentation is being performed and the user turns off the projector at the end of the presentation, and there is a question from another user and turns on the projector again, it takes time to turn on the lamp. Therefore, it takes time to project a presentation image.

  In particular, projectors that have a function of turning off the power when the outlet is unplugged or projectors with a reduced cool-down time have been recently sold. Since the temperature of the lamp is not sufficiently lowered, lighting has failed.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-125198 proposes a projector using a plurality of light sources for the purpose of preventing interruption when a lamp is burned out.
JP 2001-125198 A

  However, lighting a plurality of light sources at the same time increases the power consumption and takes time to relight the light sources.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector and a lighting control method capable of projecting an image in a short time when a light source is turned on again.

  In order to solve the above problems, a projector according to the present invention includes a control unit that turns on a light source different from the light source in a projector having a plurality of light sources when a lighted light source is turned off and a relighting instruction is issued. It is characterized by including.

  Further, the lighting control method according to the present invention is a lighting control method of a light source in a projector having a plurality of light sources and a control unit, wherein the control unit turns off the light source when instructing to turn off, Is characterized by turning on different light sources.

  According to the present invention, the projector can turn on the light source before the cool-down time etc. elapses by turning on the light source different from the light source immediately after turning off at the time of relighting the light source. Can project an image.

  The plurality of light sources emit light in different optical paths, and the control unit controls the optical path switching unit to enable the light path of the light source that is turned on and disable the light path of the light source that is turned off. Good.

  According to this, the projector does not supply light from the light source even if there is a relighting instruction when the light source is not completely turned off by invalidating the light path of the light source that is turned off. Therefore, light can be supplied more stably.

  Further, each of the plurality of light sources is formed as a part of a movable unit, and the control unit includes a light source that is turned off from a supply path that supplies light to the projection unit when the light is turned off or when the relighting is instructed. The unit may be moved to another location, and the unit having the light source to be relighted may be moved to the supply path.

  According to this, the projector supplies the light from the light source even when there is a relighting instruction by moving the light source that is turned off to another place, when the light source is not completely turned off. Therefore, light can be supplied more stably.

  In addition, the projector includes a storage unit that stores cumulative lighting time data indicating the cumulative lighting time of each light source, and an update unit that updates the cumulative lighting time data. The light source having the shortest cumulative lighting time may be turned on based on the cumulative lighting time data.

  According to this, the projector can turn on the light source more reliably by turning on the light source having the shortest cumulative lighting time, thereby reducing the probability of failure of lighting.

  In addition, the projector includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the light source lighting has failed, and a storage unit that stores lighting failure data that indicates the number of lighting failure times of each light source or the ratio of the number of lighting failure times to the number of lighting instructions of each light source. And an update unit that updates the lighting failure data based on the determination by the determination unit.

  According to this, the projector can manage the failure of lighting for each light source.

  In addition, the control unit may turn on the light source having the smallest number of lighting failures or the ratio based on the lighting failure data when the relighting instruction is given.

  According to this, the projector can turn on the light source more reliably by turning on the light source with the least number of failure to turn on, thereby reducing the probability of failure to turn on.

  Moreover, you may include the notification part which notifies a light source applicable when the said lighting failure frequency or the said ratio becomes more than predetermined value.

  According to this, the projector can notify the user of the light source that has failed to be turned on, and can cause the user to replace the light source or the like, so that the light source can be turned on more reliably.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a projector will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the Example shown below does not limit the content of the invention described in the claim at all. In addition, all the configurations shown in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential as means for solving the invention described in the claims.

(First embodiment)
First, as a first embodiment, a projector that incorporates two lamps as a light source and controls the lighting of each lamp will be described. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the projector 100 in the first embodiment.

  The projector 100 includes an input unit 110 for inputting user operation information and the like, lamps 160-1 and 160-2, an optical path switching unit 170, a control unit 120 for controlling the lighting of the lamp 160, and various data. It includes a storage unit 140 that stores data, an update unit 130 that updates various data, a determination unit 150 that determines whether or not the lamp 160 is turned on, and a projection unit 190 that includes an image generation unit 192.

  The storage unit 140 also stores cumulative lighting time data 142 indicating the cumulative lighting time of each lamp 160, lighting failure data 144 indicating the number of lighting failures of each lamp 160, lighting control data 146 indicating the lighting control method, and the like. ing.

  Here, the configuration of the optical path switching unit 170 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the optical path switching unit 170 in the first embodiment.

  The lamp 160-1 emits light to the projection unit 190 via the optical path 201, and the lamp 160-2 emits light to the projection unit 190 via the optical path 202. The optical path switching unit 170 includes a mirror 172 in the optical path 201 and a rotating mirror 174 in the optical paths 201 and 202.

  The mirror 172 reflects the light emitted from the lamp 160-1, and the rotating mirror 174 reflects the light reflected from the mirror 172 in the open state and guides it to the projection unit 190 and is emitted from the lamp 160-2. Block the light. Further, the rotating mirror 174 allows the light emitted from the lamp 160-2 to pass in the closed state. The rotating mirror 174 is configured to be rotationally driven with one end as a rotation axis based on control information from the control unit 120.

  Note that, for example, the following may be employed as hardware for implementing the functions of the respective units of the projector 100. For example, the input unit 110 is an infrared communication unit that inputs a signal from a remote controller (remote controller), the control unit 120, the update unit 130, the determination unit 150 is a CPU, the storage unit 140 is a RAM, etc. As 190, an image processing circuit, a liquid crystal panel, a projection lens, or the like may be employed.

  Next, a lighting control procedure using the control unit 120 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a conventional lighting control procedure.

  The conventional projector turns on the lamp after turning on the power (step S1), determines whether the lamp is turned on successfully (step S2), and projects the image if the lamp is turned on successfully (step S2). S3) If the lamp fails to be lit, the wait process (step S4) is executed until the lamp is successfully lit.

  In general, the wait process takes several minutes, and the conventional projector takes time until an image is projected at the time of re-lighting immediately after being turned off.

  Next, the lighting control procedure in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a lighting control procedure in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user menu image 300 in the first embodiment.

  When the lighting control data 146 is not set or when there is a change instruction from the user, the projection unit 190 projects the user menu image 300 on a screen or the like. The user menu image 300 is an image for allowing the user to input the number of lamps, the number of lighting failures at the time of notification, the lighting control method to be used, and the like.

  Here, as lighting control methods that can be selected by the user, for example, “change lamps in order”, “use the lamp with the least cumulative lighting time”, “use the lamp with the least lighting failure”, “lighting failure” "Use the lamp with the largest number of lamps", "Do not change lamp", etc. The user selects one or more lighting control methods from these lighting control methods in the user menu image 300.

  In addition, the user menu image 300 includes an ID for each lamp 160, an image showing an accumulated lighting time for each lamp 160, and the like. Thereby, the user can confirm the state of each lamp 160.

  The input unit 110 inputs user operation information in a state where the user menu image 300 is projected, and the update unit 130 updates the lighting control data 146 based on the operation information. In this embodiment, it is assumed that “change lamps in order” is selected as the lighting control method.

  For example, when the power is turned on immediately after the lamp 160-1 is turned off (when a relighting instruction is given), the control unit 120 determines the lamp 160 to be used based on the lighting control data 146 (step S11). . Here, the control unit 120 determines to use the lamp 160-2.

  Further, the control unit 120 outputs control information to the rotary mirror 174, closes the rotary mirror 174, and enables the optical path 202 from the lamp 160-2, thereby changing the optical path to be used from the optical path 201 to the optical path 202. Switching (step S12).

  And the control part 120 outputs control information to the lamp | ramp 160-2 so that the lamp | ramp 160-2 may be lighted (step S13). The determination unit 150 determines whether the lighting of the lamp 160-2 has been successful based on the information from the lamp 160-2 (step S14).

  If the lighting is successful, the projection unit 190 projects an image (step S15), and the updating unit 130 updates the cumulative lighting time data 142 according to the lighting time of the lamp 160-2 (step S16). When the power is turned off, the updating unit 130 writes the lamp 160 that was last turned on in the lighting control data 146. Thereby, the control part 120 can determine which lamp 160 should be used at the next starting time.

  On the other hand, when the lighting fails, the updating unit 130 updates the lighting failure data 144 (step S17). Specifically, for example, the update unit 130 updates the lighting failure data 144 so as to increase the number of lighting failures of the lamp 160 that has failed to light up by one.

  The control unit 120 determines whether or not the number of lighting failures indicated by the lighting failure data 144 is equal to or greater than the set value (3 in the present embodiment) set in the user menu image 300 (step S18).

  When there is a lamp 160 whose lighting failure frequency is equal to or greater than the set value, the control unit 120 notifies the user of the lamp 160 by causing the projection unit 190 functioning as a notification unit to project a notification image indicating the lamp 160 ( Step S19). In addition, the projector 100 continues the process after step S11 also when lighting fails.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 turns on the lamp 160-2 that is different from the lamp 160-1 immediately after the lamp 160-1 is turned off when the lamp 160 is instructed to be turned on again. Since the lamp 160 can be turned on before, the conventional wait process (step S4) is unnecessary, and an image can be projected in a shorter time.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the projector 100 can automatically change the lamp 160, the lighting failure due to the lifetime of the lamp 160 and the temperature of the lamp 160 not decreasing is reduced, and the user replaces the lamp 160. Can save time and effort. Further, according to the present embodiment, the power saving of the projector 100 can be achieved by reducing the number of lighting failures of the lamp 160.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can remove the lamp 160 that has failed to be turned on from the selection target, so that the user can save time and effort to replace the lamp 160, and the projector 100 can be used for a long time like a store or a movie theater. Even when images are projected continuously, the images can be projected appropriately.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 is in a case where a relighting instruction is given in a state where the lamp 160-1 is not completely turned off by invalidating the optical path 201 of the lamp 160-1 being turned off. Even if it exists, since it is not necessary to supply the light from the lamp 160-1 to the projection unit 190, the light can be supplied to the projection unit 190 more stably.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the user selects “use the lamp with the shortest cumulative lighting time” as the lighting control method, the control unit 120, based on the cumulative lighting time data 142 at the time of relighting instruction, The lamp 160 having the shortest cumulative lighting time can be turned on. As a result, the projector 100 can reduce the probability of failure of lighting, and can turn on the lamp 160 more reliably.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the user selects “use the lamp with the least lighting failure” as the lighting control method, the control unit 120 performs the lighting failure based on the lighting failure data 144 at the time of relighting instruction. The lamp 160 with the smallest number of times can be turned on. As a result, the projector 100 can reduce the probability of failure of lighting, and can turn on the lamp 160 more reliably.

(Second embodiment)
Next, as a second embodiment, an example of changing a discharge tube as a light source will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a light source changing portion in the second embodiment.

  The projector 100 according to the second embodiment includes a lamp unit 161 instead of the lamps 160-1 and 160-2 and the optical path switching unit 170 shown in FIG. The lamp unit 161 integrally moves the reflecting plate 162 into which the discharge tube 163 is inserted, the four units 164-1 to 164-4 that can incorporate the discharge tubes 163-1 to 163-4, and the unit 164, respectively. It includes rollers 165-1 to 165-4, a grip portion 167 that inserts and removes the discharge tube 163 into and from the reflector plate 162, and rollers 166-1 to 166-4 that move the grip portion 167 back and forth. Has been.

  Note that the moving direction of the unit 164 is arbitrary, and may be, for example, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, or the like. Further, the control unit 120 outputs control information to the roller 165, thereby rotating the roller 165 to move the unit 164 so that the desired discharge tube 163 is gripped by the gripping unit 167. In addition, the control unit 120 outputs control information to the roller 166 to rotate the roller 166 to move the gripping unit 167 in the front-rear direction.

  Further, when the discharge tube 163 is inserted into the reflection plate 162, the reflection plate 162 and the discharge tube 163 function as the lamp 160 described above. For example, when the power of the projector 100 is turned on, the control unit 120 outputs control information to the roller 166, removes the discharge tube 163-1 from the reflecting plate 162, stores it in the unit 164-1, and causes the roller 165 to store it. The control information is output and the unit 164 is moved so that the unit 164-2 comes to the center of the gripping portion 167, and the control information is output to the roller 166 so that the discharge tube 163-2 is inserted into the reflector 162. The unit 167 is controlled.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 moves the discharge tube 163-1 that has been turned off to another location so that the discharge tube 163-1 is not turned off completely. Even if there is, there is no need to supply the light from the discharge tube 163-1 to the projection unit 190, so that the light can be supplied to the projection unit 190 more stably.

(Other examples)
In addition, application of this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the first embodiment, the lighting failure data 144 is data indicating the number of lighting failures, but may be data indicating the ratio of the number of lighting failures to the number of lighting instructions, for example.

  In the second embodiment, the projector 100 changes the discharge tube 163 at the time of relighting. However, the projector 100 may change the discharge tube 163 at the time of turning off. Further, in the second embodiment, the projector 100 is changed for the discharge tube 163, but may be changed for each lamp 160 or changed for each unit 164.

  Further, the conditions for changing the lamp 160 are not limited to the conditions described in the above-described embodiment, and the control unit 120 may determine the lamp 160 to be used at random, for example, or may determine the characteristics of the lamp 160 (brightness). The lamp 160 to be used may be determined according to the usage conditions (presentation, movie appreciation, darkroom environment, test environment, etc.). For example, the control unit 120 may turn on the low-brightness lamp 160 in a dark room environment and turn on the high-brightness lamp 160 in a presentation. The control unit 120 may combine a plurality of conditions as conditions for determining the lamp 160 and determine the lamp 160 according to the priority order of the conditions.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the projector 100 notifies the defective lamp using the image, but may notify the defective lamp using sound. That is, the audio output unit may function as a notification unit.

  As the projector 100, for example, a liquid crystal projector, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) projector, a projector using a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), or the like may be used. DMD is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.

It is a functional block diagram of the projector in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical path switching part in a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the conventional lighting control procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the lighting control procedure in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the user menu image in a 1st Example. It is a schematic diagram of the light source change part in a 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

  100 projector, 110 input unit, 120 control unit, 130 update unit, 140 storage unit, 142 cumulative lighting time data, 144 lighting failure data, 146 lighting control data, 150 determination unit, 160 lamp (light source), 161 lamp unit, 162 Reflector, 163 discharge tube (light source), 164 unit, 165, 166 roller, 167 gripping unit, 170 optical path switching unit, 172 mirror, 174 rotating mirror, 190 projection unit (notification unit), 192 image generation unit

Claims (8)

In a projector having a plurality of light sources,
A projector comprising: a control unit that turns on a light source different from the light source when a light-on instruction is given after the light source being turned off. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
The plurality of light sources emit light in different optical paths,
The control unit controls the optical path switching unit to enable the light path of the light source that is turned on and disable the optical path of the light source that is turned off. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
The plurality of light sources are each formed as part of a movable unit;
The control unit moves a unit having a light source that has been turned off from a supply path that supplies light to the projection unit to another place at the time of the turn-off or the re-lighting instruction, and supplies the unit having the light source to be turned on again A projector characterized by being moved to a road. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A storage unit for storing cumulative lighting time data indicating the cumulative lighting time of each light source;
An update unit for updating the cumulative lighting time data;
Including
The control unit turns on a light source having the shortest cumulative lighting time based on the cumulative lighting time data when the relighting instruction is given. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A determination unit for determining whether or not the light source lighting has failed;
A storage unit for storing lighting failure data indicating a ratio of the number of lighting failures to the number of lighting failures of each light source or the number of lighting instructions of each light source;
An update unit that updates the lighting failure data based on the determination of the determination unit;
Including a projector. The projector according to claim 5, wherein
The control unit turns on a light source having the smallest number of lighting failures or the ratio based on the lighting failure data when the relighting instruction is given. The projector according to any one of claims 5 and 6,
A projector comprising: a notification unit that notifies a corresponding light source when the number of lighting failures or the ratio becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In a lighting control method of a light source in a projector having a plurality of light sources and a control unit,
The controller is
Turn off the light source when instructed to turn off,
A lighting control method, wherein a light source different from the light source is turned on when a relighting instruction is given.

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