PROJECTION-TYPE DISPLAY AND CONTROL THEREOF

• US 20100302515A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Honeywood Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/85
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/142 Adjusting of projection optics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

A projection display device that includes a set of light source units (e.g., lasers or LEDs) and a control mechanism that monitors performance of each of the units, as well as external factors, e.g., time, ambient temperature, etc. is provided. The control mechanism may dynamically adjust each light source unit, for example, to maximize longevity. In operation, an optical modulator is configured to selectively transmit light produced by a subset of the light source units according to video data included in a video signal provided to the projection-type display device. A projection lens system is configured to project light transmitted by the optical modulator along a projection path. A sensor detects real time readings related to the performance of the set of light source units. In accordance with the readings, a control circuitry dynamically controls the laser set to dynamically vary the luminance of the set of light source units.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating management of light produced by a projection device, comprising:

a detection component configured to monitor at least one parameter related to a light source in real time; and

a controller component configured to dynamically adjust the light source based at least in part upon the at least one parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of diode lasers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of diode lasers comprise a red or blue set of diodes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is one of diode laser luminance, ambient light, diode laser temperature, or time of operation.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors that facilitate capture of diode laser information, wherein the diode laser information defines the parameter.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an analysis component configured to generate the parameter by processing information associated with the light source.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment component configured to toggle a portion of the light source off as a function of the parameter.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment component configured to toggle a portion of the light source on as a function of the parameter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

10. A computer-implemented method for controlling a light source of a projection-type display device comprising a set of lasers, the method comprising:

employing a processor that executes computer-executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium to implement the following acts;

producing an amount of light;

monitoring a real time reading that at least one of measures video data to be projected or measures an image projected by the projection-type display device; and

dynamically controlling a subset of the lasers based at least in part upon the real time reading to dynamically vary the luminance of each of the subset of the lasers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the monitoring of the real time reading includes measuring video data to be projected by the projection-type display device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the monitoring of the real time reading includes measuring an image projected by the projection-type display device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting an amount of light based on the real time readings;

turning off the subset of the lasers when the real time readings is lower than a predetermined threshold; and

turning on the subset of the lasers when the real time reading is greater than a predetermined threshold.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting a luminance of ambient light of an environment of the projection-type display device;

increasing the adjusted amount of light when the luminance of the ambient light is greater than a predetermined luminance; and

decreasing the adjusted amount of light when the luminance of ambient light is less than the predetermined luminance.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a temperature of each of the set of lasers; and

turning off a laser diode having the highest temperature among the set of lasers.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

measuring an amount of time which each of the lasers has been turned on; and

turning off each of the lasers which have been on for more than a predetermined amount of time.

17. A projection-type display device comprising:

a set of lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs) that produce a desired amount of light;

an optical modulator configured to selectively transmit light produced by at least one of the lasers or LEDs according to video data included in a video signal provided to the projection-type display device;

an optics system configured to receive light produced by the at least one laser or LED before receipt by the optical modulator and to increase flux area of the light;

a projection lens system configured to project the light transmitted by the optical modulator along a projection path;

a luminance sensor configured to detect real time readings and to measure at least one image projected by the projection-type display device; and

a controller configured to dynamically control the set of lasers or LEDs based on the real time readings to dynamically vary the luminance of the set of lasers or LEDs.

18. The projection-type display device of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to update the desired amount of light based upon the real time readings, and to selectively turn off a subset of the lasers or LEDs when the real time reading is lower than a predetermined threshold.

19. The projection-type display device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to update the desired amount of light based on the real time readings, and to selectively turn on a subset of the lasers or LEDs when the real time reading exceeds a predetermined threshold.

20. The projection-type display device of claim 18, further comprising an ambient light sensor, wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to detect a luminance of ambient light of a projection environment, and, the controller is further configured to increase the updated desired amount of light when the luminance of the ambient light is greater than a predetermined luminance level, and to decrease the updated desired amount of light when the luminance of the ambient light is less than the predetermined luminance level.

21. The projection-type display device of claim 18, wherein the set of lasers or LEDs is configured to produce a predetermined amount of light which is greater than the desired amount of light.

22. The projection-type display device of claim 18, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the set of lasers.

23. The projection-type display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the subset of lasers based on a temperature of each laser in the set of lasers.

24. The projection-type display device of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to turn off a laser having a highest temperature among the set of lasers.

25. The projection-type display device of claim 18, further comprising a timer configured to measure a length time that the set of lasers is continuously generating light, wherein the timer triggers a switch to turn off at least one of the subset of lasers if the length of time is greater than a predetermined amount of time.

26. A system for facilitating management of light produced by a set of lasers, comprising:

means for dynamically monitoring criteria associated with a set of lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

means for selectively and dynamically adjusting each of the set of lasers or LEDs based upon the criteria.

27. The system of claim 26, comprising means for toggling a subset of the lasers or LEDs on or off based upon a comparison of the criteria to a predetermined threshold.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the criteria is at least one of a laser luminescence, or an ambient light in an environment of one or more images projected by the set of lasers.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for dynamically monitoring is associated with a set of lasers and wherein the criteria includes a temperature associated with the set of lasers.