JP2006201645A - Cartridge lamp unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cartridge type lamp unit that enables a lamp having different operating conditions to be used in one projector. <P>SOLUTION: The cartridge type lamp unit 100 used for the projector includes the lamp 120 emitting light and a memory 130 storing information about operating conditions for the lamp 120. Preferably, the information about the operating conditions include lamp drive power, a lamp drive system, and operating information about a cooling fan that cools the lamp. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge type lamp unit used for a front projection type projector and a rear projection type rear projector.

  A projector that displays a color image using liquid crystal or DMD (Digital Micro-mirror Device) as a spatial modulation element has been put into practical use. The projector uses a high-power lamp in order to obtain a brighter image or a higher contrast image. The high output lamp is, for example, a discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp or a mercury lamp. In the discharge lamp, the electrodes and the like are consumed as the usage time increases, the brightness flickers, the output decreases, and the lamp eventually burns out. Further, as the lamp life is shortened, the glass deteriorates and the lamp may burst, so an explosion-proof structure is attached to the lamp. In order to facilitate replacement of the lamp when such a lamp has reached the end of its life, a cartridge type lamp unit is used.

  Since the life of the lamp is affected by past usage conditions and frequency, even if it is the same type, the life of the lamp is not constant. Actually, the lamp is replaced after the life of the lamp is reached. However, considering the high quality of the projected image and the danger to the user, it is desirable to predict the lamp life and replace the lamp based on the prediction. In response to such demands, several reports on lamp life have been made.

  For example, a projection-type image display device according to Patent Document 1 includes a memory that stores a remaining life of a metal halide lamp in a lamp unit. When the lamp is turned on, the latest remaining life is calculated from the lighting time and stored in the memory. In addition to writing, only the lamp with the remaining life is turned on, thereby avoiding the risk of lamp explosion due to long-time lighting after glass deterioration.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,057,051 relates to a method for determining the useful life of a hot component, which records one or more lengths of time that a hot component of the device (e.g., a light source such as a projector bulb) operates according to a high temperature policy. And performing an operation in response to at least one of the time lengths recorded by the high temperature component being longer than a corresponding threshold time length, whereby the useful life (lifetime) of the high temperature component Therefore, it is possible to determine when it is time to replace parts and determine when to replace them.

  Patent Document 3 detects the lamp terminal voltage for 10 minutes after lighting each time the lighting lamp is turned on, stores the detected terminal voltage in a memory together with the serial number, and determines the life of the lamp unit after lighting. When the difference between the terminal voltage of 10 minutes and the terminal voltage stored in the memory and the serial number is obtained, and the difference in terminal voltage is smaller than the terminal voltage information stored in the memory, the lamp unit is at the end of its life Judging.

JP 2000-112012 JP 2004-177939 A JP 2002-122940 A

  Conventional projectors using cartridge-type lamp units have the following problems. The lamps that can be used in the projector are limited to predetermined types of lamps, and it is virtually impossible to use other types of lamps. This is because different lamp types have different operating conditions, such as lamp driving power, lamp driving method (AC lighting or DC lighting), and the number of rotations of a cooling fan that cools the lamp, and a firmware that controls the projector CPU. This is because the wear only supports the operating conditions of a single lamp. Therefore, it is impossible to deal with lamps having different operating conditions unless the firmware is updated. For example, if the brightness of the projector is a 2000 lumen model or a 1000 lumen model, the lamps that can be used for each model are limited, and lamp compatibility with other models cannot be obtained. It was very inconvenient when replacing the lamp.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge type lamp unit that can use lamps having different operating conditions in one projector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a projector that is compatible with lamps having different operating conditions.

  The cartridge-type lamp unit used in the projector according to the present invention includes a lamp that emits light and a holding unit that holds information regarding the operating conditions of the lamp. Preferably, the information related to the operating condition includes lamp driving power, a lamp driving method, and operation information of a cooling fan for cooling the lamp. For example, the driving power includes power information corresponding to the brightness (lumen) of the lamp, the driving method includes driving information of AC lighting or DC lighting of the lamp, and operation information of the cooling fan includes lamp output (heat generation). ) According to the cooling drive information.

  As the holding means, for example, a memory that stores information related to operating conditions can be used. As the memory, a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory can be preferably used. The holding means can use a dip switch as a switch for setting information related to the operating condition.

  A projector according to the present invention includes a lamp unit having the above characteristics, a control unit that controls driving of the lamp in accordance with information about an operating condition held in the holding unit when the lamp unit is attached, and an output from the lamp. Modulation means for modulating light and projection means for projecting the modulated light.

  The projector is, for example, a front projection type projector or a rear projector. Preferably, the control means is configured using a microcomputer or the like, and controls operation of the firmware program of the microcomputer. The control means controls the driving of the cooling fan according to the information regarding the operating condition, preferably reads out the information regarding the operating condition from the memory, and controls the driving of the lamp according to the read information. Further, the usage time of the lamp may be written in the memory.

  According to the present invention, since the lamp unit holds information on the operating condition of the lamp, the projector can grasp the operating condition of the lamp of the lamp unit when the lamp unit is attached to the projector. Accordingly, the projector can drive the lamp corresponding to the lamp having different operating conditions, and can drive the lamp with compatibility even if the lamp is different in kind.

  The lamp unit according to the present invention is preferably used in a DLP projector. Hereinafter, it will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the projector according to the present embodiment. The projector 10 includes a rectangular housing 20. A projection lens 30 is attached to the front surface 22 of the housing 20, and a slit-like opening 40 for supplying and exhausting air is formed. An opening / closing window 50 for attaching / detaching the cartridge type lamp unit is attached to the bottom surface 24 of the housing 20, and the opening / closing window 50 is fixed to the bottom surface 24 by an opening / closing screw 52.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the internal configuration of the projector 10. When the opening / closing window 50 is removed from the housing 20, the space 26 inside the housing is exposed. A cartridge type lamp unit 100 can be mounted in the space 26.

  The lamp unit 100 includes a lamp 120, a memory 130, and connectors 140 and 150 in a frame 110. The lamp 120 includes, for example, a discharge lamp such as a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, or a mercury lamp, and a reflector surrounding the discharge lamp in order to collect light emitted from the discharge lamp. An explosion-proof wire mesh 122 when the glass of the discharge lamp is ruptured is attached to the front surface of the lamp 120. The electrode of the lamp 120 is electrically connected to the connector 140 via power supply lines 124 and 126.

  A memory 130 is attached at a position separated from the lamp 120. The memory 130 is preferably a readable / writable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory that does not require a backup power source, and the memory 130 stores information on the operating conditions of the lamp 120. The operating conditions include, for example, a driving power, a driving method, a cooling fan driving condition, and the like as shown in the table of FIG.

  The driving power is power used when driving the lamp 120 mounted on the lamp unit 100. If the type of lamp is different, the driving power is different accordingly. For example, if the lamp is for 2000 lumens, information on the rated drive power is held, and if the lamp is for 1000 lumens, information on the rated drive power is held. In addition, information on the optimum driving power is held according to the types of xenon lamp, mercury high pressure lamp, mercury low pressure lamp, metal halide lamp, and the like.

  The driving method is a driving method for driving the lamp 120 mounted on the lamp unit, and holds information for identifying, for example, AC lighting or DC lighting. The cooling fan drive conditions include information on the number of rotations of the cooling fan corresponding to the output of the lamp used or the amount of heat generated. For example, if the lamp is for 2000 lumens, the rotation speed N1 of the cooling fan is held, and if the lamp is 1000 lumens, the rotation speed N2 (N1> N1) is held.

  The memory 130 is electrically connected to the connector 150 through a signal line. The signal line includes an address line, a data line, a power line, and the like. In the lamp unit 100, the periphery of the lamp 120 becomes very hot, so it is desirable to shield the memory 130 from such heat. For example, a heat shield plate may be disposed between the memory 130 and the lamp 120. Further, the memory 130 may store the lamp usage time as necessary.

  Connectors 142 and 152 connected to the connectors 140 and 150 of the lamp unit 100 are attached to the space 26 of the housing 20. For example, when the connectors 142 and 152 are female, the connectors 140 and 150 are male, and both connectors are connected so that they can be easily attached and detached.

  In the housing 20, the lamp lighting circuit 200 connected to the connector 142 via the power supply line 144, the cooling fan 210 for cooling the lamp cartridge, and the light from the lamp 120 at least red (R), green (G) , Color wheel device 220 for separating blue (B), DMD 230 for modulating R, G, B light, DMD driving circuit 240 connected to DMD 230 via signal line 232, video holding frame image of DMD A memory (VRAM) 250 and a CPU 260 that controls each unit are included. The CPU 260 stores firmware (program) in the RAM or ROM, and controls the operation of each unit according to the firmware.

  The color wheel device 220 includes a motor that is controlled and rotated by the CPU 260, and a disk-shaped color wheel is mounted on the rotation shaft of the motor. A color filter that selectively transmits at least R, G, and B light is disposed on the outer periphery of the color wheel. R, G, B (or white light) light sequentially output from the color wheel device 220 is incident on the light tunnel 222 (or light integrator), where it is emitted as light of uniform intensity. The emitted light illuminates DMD 230 through lens 224, first reflection mirror 226, and second reflection mirror 228. The light modulated by the DMD 230 is incident on the projection lens 30, where it is magnified and projected.

  The CPU 260 processes the video data source, writes the image data converted into the R, G, B frame format of the DMD 230 into the VRAM 250, and the written image data is read out at a timing synchronized with the rotation of the color wheel device. It is supplied to the DMD driving circuit 240. The DMD driving circuit 240 drives the DMD 230 according to the image data. Further, the CPU 260 is connected to the connector 152 via the signal line 262, reads information on the operating conditions stored in the memory 130, and controls the operations of the lamp lighting circuit 200 and the cooling fan 210 based on the information.

  Next, the operation of the projector will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the projector is turned on (step S101), the CPU 260 accesses the memory 130 in response to a power-on reset signal (not shown) (step S102). When the access to the memory 130 is normally performed (step S103), the CPU 260 reads information on the operating condition of the lamp stored in the memory 130 (step S104) and stores it in the RAM or the like (step S105). .

  CPU 260 sets an operation mode corresponding to the information related to the read operation condition (step S106). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of operation modes (a, b, c, d... N) corresponding to a plurality of operation conditions are prepared, and the optimum operation mode is selected from these. May be selected. CPU 260 controls the operation of lamp lighting circuit 200 and cooling fan 210 based on the set operation mode (step S107).

  The lamp lighting circuit 200 performs AC driving or DC driving at the rated power depending on the type of lamp. The cooling fan 210 cools the lamp 120 at a rotational speed corresponding to the type of the lamp. On the other hand, when the access to the memory 130 is not normally performed, an error display is performed (step S108).

  Even when the lamp unit is replaced due to the lamp life or the like, the above operation flow is performed, so that a predetermined operation mode is selected and a different type of lamp is appropriately used without updating the firmware of the CPU 260. be able to.

  Note that the CPU 260 writes the usage time of the lamp 120 in the memory 130 to determine that the lamp life is reached when the cumulative usage time exceeds a certain value, and gives an instruction to prompt the replacement of the lamp unit. You may do it. The instruction may be, for example, to turn on an indicator lamp attached to the surface of the housing.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which information on the operating condition of the lamp is stored in the memory is shown. However, instead of the memory, information on the operating condition is held by using a dip switch which is one of setting switches. Also good. In addition to the dip switch, the operation condition may be set using a jumper switch.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed.

  The light source unit according to the present invention can be used in an image display apparatus such as a projector or a television using DMD, liquid crystal, or other modulation elements.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a projector according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the internal structure of a projector. It is a figure which shows the information regarding an operating condition. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of a present Example. It is a figure explaining an operation mode.

Explanation of symbols

10: projector 26: space 20: housing 50: open / close window 100: lamp unit 120: lamp 130: memory 140, 150: connector 200: lamp lighting circuit 210: cooling fan 220: color wheel device 230: DMD
240: DMD drive circuit 250: Video memory 260: CPU

Claims (10)

A cartridge type lamp unit used in a projector,
A lamp that emits light;
Holding means for holding information on the operating conditions of the lamp;
Having a lamp unit. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the operating condition includes information on driving power of the lamp. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the operating condition includes information on a lamp driving method. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the operation condition includes operation information of a cooling fan for cooling the lamp. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a memory that stores information on operating conditions. The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a switch that sets information regarding an operation condition. A lamp unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
When the lamp unit is mounted, the control means for controlling the driving of the lamp according to the information on the operating condition held by the holding means, the modulation means for modulating the light output from the lamp, and the modulated light is projected. A projector having projection means; The projector according to claim 7, wherein the control unit further controls the driving of the cooling fan in accordance with the information on the operating condition. The projector according to claim 7, wherein the control unit reads information related to operating conditions from a memory and controls driving of the lamp according to the read information. The projector according to claim 9, wherein the control means writes a lamp usage time in a memory.

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