Projection display apparatus

• US 6,448,715 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Shuichi, Akaiwa, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu, Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US09/403,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 315/129, 315/132, 315/133, 315/136, 315/119, 315/74, 315/360, 315/362, 340/641, 340/635, 340/500, 340/638
• US Class Current: 315/129
• 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: H05B 41/2855 against abnormal lamp operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2925 against abnormal lamp operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A projection display apparatus is provided which forms an optical image corresponding to image information by optically processing a light beam emitted from a light source lamp and projects this optical image with a projection lens unit on a projection screen under magnification. The projection display apparatus may include a lighting count detector that detects a lighting count of the light source lamp, and a replacement warning unit that outputs a warning signal, which urges a user to replace the light source lamp, in case where the lighting count detected by the lighting count detector reaches a predetermined value, making it possible to more accurately determine the lifetime of the light source lamp by detecting the lighting count which affects the lifetime of the light source lamp.

Claims

1. A projection display apparatus that forms an optical image corresponding to image information by optically processing a light beam emitted from a light source lamp and projects this optical image with a projection lens unit on a projection screen under magnification, comprising:

a lighting count detector that detects a lighting count of the light source lamp, wherein the lighting count is equal to a number of times that the light source lamp is turned on;

a replacement warning unit that outputs a warning signal, which urges a user to replace the light source lamp, in case where the lighting count detected by the lighting count detector reaches a predetermined value; and

a display unit that displays at least one of the lighting count and the warning signal.

2. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lighting inhibitor that inhibits the lighting of the light source lamp when the lighting count reaches a lifetime value set for the light source lamp.

3. The projection display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a lifetime warning unit that outputs on the display unit a warning signal that signals that the light source lamp has reached the lifetime value.

4. The projection display apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an operation time detector that detects an operation time of the light source lamp.

5. The projection display apparatus according to claim 4, the replacement warning unit issuing the warning signal when any one of the lighting count detected by the lighting count detector, and the operation time detected by the operation time detector, reaches a predetermined value.

6. The projection display apparatus according to claim 5, the lighting count detector comprising a lighting count recorder that records the lighting count.

7. The projection display apparatus according to claim 6, the lighting count recorder comprising at least a portion of a nonvolatile memory.

8. The projection display apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a forcible extinguishing unit that forcibly extinguishes the light source lamp when the operation time detected by the operation time detector reaches a lifetime value.

9. The projection display apparatus according to claims 3, the lighting count detector comprising a lighting count recorder that records the lighting count.

10. The projection display apparatus according to claim 9, the lighting count recorder comprising at least a portion of a nonvolatile memory.

11. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation time detector that detects an operation time of the light source lamp.

12. The projection display apparatus according to claim 11, the replacement warning unit issuing the warning signal when any one of the lighting count detected by the lighting count detector, and the operation time detected by the operation time detector, reaches a predetermined value.

13. The projection display apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a forcible extinguishing unit that forcibly extinguishes the light source lamp when the operation time detected by the operation time detector reaches a lifetime value.

14. The projection display apparatus according to claim 13, the lighting count detector comprising a lighting count recorder that records the lighting count.

15. The projection display apparatus according to claim 14, the lighting count recorder comprising at least a portion of a nonvolatile memory.

16. The projection display apparatus according to claim 12, the lighting count detector comprising a lighting count recorder that records the lighting count.

17. The projection display apparatus according to claim 16, the lighting count recorder comprising at least a portion of a nonvolatile memory.

18. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1, the lighting count detector comprising a lighting count recorder that records the lighting count.

19. The projection display apparatus according to claim 18, the lighting count recorder comprising at least a portion of a nonvolatile memory.

20. The projection display apparatus according to claim 1, the display unit being an image display unit.