Methods and systems for improving operation of a video projector

• US 20070024823A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optoma Technology Incorporated (Coretronic Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Optoma Technology Incorporated (Coretronic Corporation)
• Inventors: Chung, Yau
• Application Number:
  US11/272,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/85
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3144 Cooling systems cooling of liquid crystal cells in general G02F1/133382; cooling of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/16

Abstract

A method of operating a video device includes determining an operating temperature, determining if the operating temperature is above normal operating temperature for the video projector, and setting the video projector in economy mode if the operating temperature is above the normal operating temperature.

Claims

1. A method for operating a video device, comprising:

determining an operating temperature;

determining if the operating temperature is above normal operating temperature for the video projector; and

setting the video projector in economy mode if the operating temperature is above the normal operating temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the video projector in economy mode comprises:

reducing power supplied to a light source of the video projector.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the power supplied to the light is reduced by approximately 20%.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the normal operating temperature is between approximately 0 degrees Celsius and approximately 35 degrees Celsius.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continually measuring the operating temperature; and

maintaining the video projector in economy mode until the operating temperature is within normal operating temperature.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining if the operating temperature is above a critical temperature;

powering down the video projector if the operating temperature is above the critical temperature.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the critical temperature is approximately 45 degrees Celsius.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying a notice image before powering down the video projector.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying the notice image in response to a command to power up after powering down.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an air pressure within the video projector; and

modifying the normal operating temperature based on the air pressure.

11. A video device comprising:

a video projector;

a controller coupled to the video projector;

a light source coupled to the controller for illuminating the video projector to produce video;

a temperature sensor coupled to the controller;

logic coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor, and the light source for determining an operating temperature;

logic coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor, and the light source for determining if the operating temperature is above normal operating temperature for the video projector; and

logic coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor, and the light source for setting the video projector in economy mode if the operating temperature is above the normal operating temperature.

12. The video device of claim 11, further comprising:

logic coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor, and the light source for reducing power supplied to the light source of the video projector.

13. The video device of claim 11, further comprising:

an air pressure sensor coupled to the controller.

14. The video device of claim 13, further comprising:

logic coupled to the controller, the air pressure sensor, and the light source for determining an air pressure within the video projector; and

logic coupled to the controller, the air pressure sensor, and the light source for modifying the normal operating temperature based on the air pressure.