Light-source lamp unit, light-source device and projection-type display apparatus and method of use

• US 6,268,799 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yajima, Akitaka, Haba, Shinji, Miyashita, Kiyoshi, Ushiyama, Tomiyoshi, Shinohara, Kazuto
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/981,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/641, 340/638, 340/654, 340/815.41, 340/815.73, 340/815.74, 340/815.75, 340/643, 324/410, 324/414, 600/323, 702/34, 355/67, 355/68, 355/69, 353/31, 353/33, 353/61
• US Class Current: 340/641
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/315 Modulator illumination systems general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20
• 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: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/25 Circuit arrangements for protecting against overcurrent

Abstract

A light-source lamp unit 100 includes a light-source lamp unit 1 detachably mounted, and CPU 101 constituting drive and control means for the light-source lamp unit. CPU 101 senses the lamp information borne by lamp-information storing block 5 in the light-source lamp unit 1, about a lamp power rating, lamp life and whether a lamp is new or not, and starts counting operation time when the lamp is lit. CPU 101 compares the lamp life sensed and the operation time count, and forces the lamp to extinguish when the life of the light-source lamp expires. Prior to this action, CPU 101 gives a warning display at a time that is earlier than the life expiration of the lamp by a fixed duration of time, to warn that a lamp replacement is needed. Since the lamp-information storing block 5 in the light-source lamp unit 1 stores the information about the lamp type and characteristics of the lamp, the light-source device 100 can properly drive the lamp to light it and determine the lamp life even when a light-source lamp unit of a different type is used.

Claims

1. A light-source lamp unit comprising:

a light-source lamp;

a lamp-information storing device that stores lamp information about the light-source lamp; and

the lamp-information storing device comprising a fuse which indicates by one of a melted-open state and a non-melted open state whether the light source lamp is a new light-source lamp.

2. The light-source lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the lamp-information storing device stores lamp information indicating a remaining life of the light-source lamp.

3. The light-source lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the lamp-information storing device stores lamp information indicating a life of the light-source lamp at a moment of a first use of the light-source lamp and lamp information indicating an operation time count of the light-source lamp.

4. The light-source lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the lamp-information storing device stores lamp information indicating a power rating of the light-source lamp.

5. The light-source lamp unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflective mirror that reflects a divergent light beam from the light-source lamp to output a parallel light beam;

a lamp housing that supports the reflective mirror; and

an electrode lead that is led out of an end of an emission tube of the light-source lamp that is projected forward out of a reflective surface of the reflective mirror and that is connected to an external connection terminal board which is positioned to a rear side of a reflective surface of the reflective mirror,

wherein the electrode lead is routed via the portion of the reflective mirror other than an effective reflective area of the reflective mirror.

6. The light-source lamp unit of claim 5, wherein the terminal board is supported at a position other than the reflective surface of the reflective mirror.

7. The light source lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the lamp-information storage device stores information about a type of light-source lamp.

8. A light-source apparatus, comprising:

a light-source lamp unit including a light-source lamp and a lamp information storing device that stores lamp information concerning whether the light-source lamp is a new light-source lamp, the lamp-information storing device including a fuse having one of a melted-open state and a non-melted open state indicating whether the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp;

a sensor that senses the information obtained by the lamp-information storing device; and

a setting device that melts the fuse when the sensor senses that the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp and further setting the information stored by the lamp-information storing device to be indicative of not the new light-source lamp.

9. The light-source apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a counter that counts an operation time of the light-source lamp;

a memory that stores an operation time count of the light-source lamp counted by the counter; and

a comparing device that compares the operation time count with a preset time,

wherein the light-source lamp is lit only when the operation time count is less than the preset time.

10. The light-source apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light-source lamp is extinguished when the operation time count exceeds the preset time.

11. The light-source apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a resetting device that resets the operation time count to an initial default value when the sensor senses that the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp.

12. The light-source apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a luminance adjuster that adjusts the luminance of the light-source lamp when the sensor senses that the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp.

13. A projector, comprising:

light-source lamp unit, including;

a light-source lamp;

a lamp-information storing device that stores lamp information about the light-source lamp; and

the lamp-information storing device comprising a fuse which indicates by one of a melted-open state and a non-melted open state whether the light source lamp is a new light-source lamp;

a modulating device that modulates an output light beam emitted by the light-source lamp unit; and

a projection lens that projects an output light beam modulated by the modulating device to a projection surface.

14. The projector of claim 13, wherein the lamp-information storing device stores lamp information indicating a remaining life of the light-source lamp.

15. The projector of claim 13, wherein the lamp-information storing device stores lamp information indicating a life of the light-source lamp at a moment of a first use of the light-source lamp and lamp information indicating an operation time count of the light-source lamp.

16. The projector of claim 13, wherein the lamp-information storing device stores lamp information indicating a power rating of the light-source lamp.

17. The projector of claim 13, wherein the light-source unit further comprises:

a reflective mirror that reflects a divergent light beam from the light-source lamp to output a parallel light beam;

a lamp housing that supports the reflective mirror; and

an electrode lead that is led out of an end of an emission tube of the light-source lamp that is projected forward out of a reflective surface of the reflective mirror and that is connected to an external connection terminal board which is positioned to a rear side of a reflective surface of the reflective mirror,

the electrode lead is routed via the portion of the reflective mirror other than an effective reflective area of the reflective mirror.

18. The projector of claim 17, wherein the terminal board is supported at a position other than the reflective surface of the reflective mirror.

19. The projector of claim 13, wherein the lamp-information storage device stores information about a type of light-source lamp.

20. A projector, comprising:

a light source apparatus, including;

a light-source lamp unit including a light-source lamp;

a lamp information storing device that stores lamp information concerning whether the light-source lamp is a new light-source lamp, the lamp-information storing device including a fuse having one of a melted-open state and a non-melted open state indicating whether the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp;

a sensor that senses the information obtained by the lamp-information storing device; and

a setting device that melts the fuse when the sensor senses that the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp and further setting the information stored by the lamp-information storing device to be indicative of not the new light-source lamp;

a modulating device that modulates an output light beam emitted by the light-source lamp unit; and

a projection lens that projects an output light beam modulated by the modulating device to a projection surface.

21. The projector of claim 20, wherein the light-source apparatus further comprises:

a counter that counts an operation time of the light-source lamp;

a memory that stores an operation time count of the light-source lamp counted by the counter; and

a comparing device that compares the operation time count with a preset time,

wherein the light-source lamp is lit only when the operation time count is less than the preset time.

22. The projector of claim 20, wherein the light-source lamp is extinguished when the operation time count exceeds the preset time.

23. The projector of claim 20, wherein the light-source apparatus further comprises a resetting device that resets the operation time count to an initial default value when the sensor senses that the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp.

24. The projector of claim 20, wherein the light-source apparatus further comprises a luminance adjuster that adjusts the luminance of the light-source lamp when the sensor senses that the light-source lamp is the new light-source lamp.