System and method for managing projector bulb life
First Claim
1. A system for managing projector bulb life, the system comprising:
- a luminance sensor disposed to sense the luminance of the projector bulb;
a luminance controller interfaced with the luminance sensor and a power driver of the projector bulb, the luminance controller operable to reduce the power driver output to limit projector bulb luminance at or below a setpoint level associated with a desired projector bulb life if the maximum luminance of the projector bulb is greater than a predetermined brightness.
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Abstract
Projector bulb life is managed to achieve desired performance parameters, such as a maximum life mode or maximum brightness mode, by sensing bulb luminance and applied the sensed luminance with a luminance feedback controller to drive the bulb to achieve the desired performance parameter. For instance, in maximum life mode the luminance feedback controller reduces power applied to the bulb to restrict bulb luminance to a maximum luminance setpoint when greater luminance is available with a newer bulb. In maximum brightness mode, the luminance feedback controller increases power applied to the bulb to increase bulb luminance if the sensor senses luminance below a threshold due bulb wear. Bulb life management improves project image illumination to display information in a variety of projector types, including digital mirror devices and liquid crystal displays.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for managing projector bulb life, the system comprising:
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a luminance sensor disposed to sense the luminance of the projector bulb;
a luminance controller interfaced with the luminance sensor and a power driver of the projector bulb, the luminance controller operable to reduce the power driver output to limit projector bulb luminance at or below a setpoint level associated with a desired projector bulb life if the maximum luminance of the projector bulb is greater than a predetermined brightness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for managing projector bulb life, the method comprising:
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sensing the luminance of the projector bulb;
determining that the sensed luminance exceeds a luminance threshold associated with a desired projector bulb life; and
reducing the power applied to the projector bulb to reduce the luminance of the projector bulb to at or below the luminance threshold associated with the desired projector life. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A projector for display of information, the projector comprising:
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an image operable to display the information;
a bulb operable to provide light to illuminate the image;
a power driver interfaced with the bulb and operable to provide selectable variable power to illuminate the image with selectable variable luminance;
a luminance sensor disposed to sense the luminance of the bulb; and
a luminance feedback controller interface with the power driver and the luminance sensor, the luminance feedback controller operable to control power applied by the power driver according to the luminance sensed by the luminance sensor to achieve a predetermined bulb parameter and a switch interfaced with the luminance feedback controller and operable to disengage control by the luminance feedback controller of the power driver.
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- 17. The projector of claim 17 wherein the luminance feedback controller achieves a desired bulb life by limiting power applied by the power driver to restrict luminance sensed by the luminance sensor at or below a predetermined setpoint.
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19. (canceled)
Specification