Projector apparatus and methods

• US 20060087622A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US11/035,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087622A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/57
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating

Abstract

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, data can be read from an optical element, and an operational parameter of a projector component can be adjusted based on the data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

reading data from an optical element; and

,

adjusting an operational parameter of a projector component based on the data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the projector component is a power supply for a cooling system for the optical element.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the cooling system includes a fan and wherein adjusting an operational parameter of the projector component includes adjusting a rotational speed of the fan.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the projector component includes an imager.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the imager includes a spatial light modulator and wherein adjusting an operational parameter of the projector component includes defining or adjusting control signals sent to the spatial light modulator.

6. The method of claim 1, and wherein the data is indicative of a light characteristic of the optical element.

7. The method of claim 6, and wherein the light characteristic of the optical element is a light frequency spectral characteristic.

8. The method of claim 6, and wherein the light characteristic of the optical element is a light intensity characteristic.

9. The method of claim 1, and wherein the data is stored as digital electronic data in a memory device supported on the optical element.

10. The method of claim 1, and wherein the data is stored as optically readable data.

11. The method of claim 1, and wherein:

the data is in the form of a unique identifier; and

,

the method further comprises acquiring an operational characteristic of the optical element based on the unique identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, and wherein acquiring an operational characteristic of the optical element based on the unique identifier comprises searching a memory device for specific data matching the unique identifier.

13. The method of claim 1, and wherein the operational parameter is a level of cooling provided to the optical element.

14. The method of claim 1, and wherein the operational parameter is a light frequency spectral characteristic of an image produced, at least in part, by the optical element.

15. The method of claim 1, and wherein the optical element is at least a portion of a Digital Mirror Device projector.

16. The method of claim 1, and wherein the optical element is at least a portion of a Liquid Crystal Display projector.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a lamp; and

,

data stored on the lamp, the data being indicative of an operational characteristic of a projector component.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, and wherein the data is indicative of a power rating of the lamp.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, and wherein the data is indicative of a light characteristic of the lamp.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising the projector component, wherein the projector component comprises a reader configured to read the data from the lamp.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, and further comprising a controller operatively supported by the projector component and configured to adjust an operational parameter of the projector component based on the data.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising a memory device supported by the lamp, wherein the data is digital data stored in the memory device.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, and wherein the data is substantially in the form of optically readable data.

24. A projector, comprising:

a reader supported by the projector and configured to read the data from a lamp; and

,

a controller configured to control an operational parameter of a projector component based on the data.

25. The projector of claim 24, and further comprising a cooling system supported by the projector and configured to cool the lamp, wherein the operational parameter is a level of cooling provided by the cooling system.

26. The projector of claim 24, and further comprising an imager supported by the projector and configured to generate an image by employing light produced by the lamp, wherein the operational characteristic is a light frequency spectral characteristic of the lamp.

27. A projector apparatus, comprising:

a means for storing data at a lamp; and

,

a means for adjusting an operational parameter of a projector component associated with the lamp based on the data.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, and further comprising a means for cooling the lamp, wherein the operational parameter is a level of cooling provided by the means.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, and further comprising a means for generating an image, wherein the operational parameter is a light frequency spectral characteristic of the image.

30. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable steps configured to cause a processor to:

read data stored at a lamp; and

,

adjust an operational parameter of a projector component as a function of the data.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the operational parameter is a level of cooling provided to the lamp.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the projector component is configured to produce a projected image; and

,

the operational parameter is a light frequency spectral characteristic of the projected image.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the operational parameter defines an operating aspect of a spatial light modulator.

34. A projector system, comprising:

a first projector component;

a second projector component configured to operate in cooperation with the first projector component, the second projector component including a data record; and

,

control electronics that receive information from the data record and in response adjust an operational parameter of the first projector component.

35. The projector system of claim 34, further comprising a power supply configured to supply power to the second projector component when the second projector component is properly installed in the projector system.

36. The projector system of claim 34, wherein the first projector component is an imager, and wherein the information defines at least one operational parameter of the imager.

37. The projector system of claim 34, wherein the first component is configured to modulate light originating from the second component, and wherein the information defines at least one aspect of the light modulation performed by the first component.

38. The projector system of claim 34, wherein the second component is a lamp.