Reflector assembly with a startup element

• US 7,307,376 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Myers, Timothy F., Koegler, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy; Sikha
• Application Number:
  US10/769,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 313/607, 313/594
• US Class Current: 313/113
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/547 using an auxiliary electrode outside the vessel H01J61/544 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A reflector assembly for use in a digital projector includes a reflector having a reflector opening defined therein, and a startup element fixedly coupled to the reflector such that the reflector and the startup element are configured to allow the replaceable coupling of a lamp assembly to the reflector assembly.

Claims

1. A reflector assembly for use in a digital projector, comprising:

a reflector including a reflector opening, and

a startup element permanently coupled to said reflector and fixed in position at a designated distance from said reflector opening for insertion of a lamp assembly, wherein said reflector and said startup element are configured to allow a replaceable coupling of the lamp assembly to said reflector assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said startup element comprises a coil.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said startup element comprises a shield.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a potential coupler configured to couple said startup element to a potential source.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a structural element coupled to said reflector and said startup element;

wherein said potential coupler rims along said structural element.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said potential coupler comprises a structural element for supporting said startup element.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a latching assembly configured to engage a lamp header of said lamp assembly.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises a parabolic reflector.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprise an elliptical reflector.

10. A method of forming a reflector assembly used in digital projectors, comprising:

affixing a startup element to a reflector such that said startup element is supported at a predetermined location within said reflector prior to coupling of a lamp assembly with said reflector assembly; and

coupling a latching assembly to an opening defined in said reflector wherein said startup element and said latching assembly cooperate to allow replaceable coupling of a lamp assembly to said reflector assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said startup element comprises a startup coil.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising coupling a wire to said startup element wherein said wire is configured to couple said startup element to a potential source.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

coupling a structural element to said reflector for supporting said startup element;

wherein said wire runs along said structural element.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said wire comprises a structural element configured to support said startup element.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said latching assembly is configured to engage a lamp header of said lamp assembly.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said reflector comprises a parabolic reflector.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said reflector comprise an elliptical reflector.

18. A reflector assembly for use in a digital projector, comprising:

a reflector including a reflector opening,

a startup element fixedly coupled to said reflector,

a startup element fixedly coupled to said reflector and fixed in position at a designated distance from said reflector opening for insertion of a lamp assembly, a support structure, separate from the lamp assembly, for fixedly coupling said startup element to said reflector, said support structure being coupled to said reflector and to said startup element to support said startup element within said reflector, wherein said startup element is configured to receive a portion of the lamp assembly that is removably coupled to said reflector assembly.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein said startup element comprises a coil.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein said startup element comprises a shield.

21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein said support structure further comprises a potential coupler configured to couple said startup element to a potential source.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said support structure comprises a rod and said potential coupler comprises a wire running along said rod.

23. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said support structure is also coupled to a potential source to provide a potential to said startup element.