Projector cooling system with time dependent temperature threshold

• US 7,976,171 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kameoka, Ayumu, Noda, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko; Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reilly-Diakun; Jori S
• Application Number:
  US12/187,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20090040468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 353/52, 353/55, 353 57- 58, 353 60- 61, 353/122, 353/85
• US Class Current: 353/57
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2086 Security or safety means in lamp houses

Abstract

The image projection apparatus includes a temperature detector that detects a temperature inside of the apparatus, and a controller that performs a protection operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature. The controller measures an elapsed time from when a power of the apparatus is turned on, and changes the predetermined temperature in accordance with the elapsed time. This apparatus can avoid mistaken activation or inactivation of a protection function at the time of re-lighting of the light source due to the influence of the residual heat after the light source is turned off.

Claims

1. An image projection apparatus that projects an image using light from a light source, comprising:

a temperature detector that detects a temperature inside of the apparatus; and

a controller that performs a protection operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature,

wherein the controller measures an elapsed time from when a power of the apparatus or the light source is turned on, and changes the predetermined temperature in accordance with the elapsed time.

2. An image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller sets the predetermined temperature, before the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time, higher than the predetermined temperature, after the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time.

3. An image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller sets the predetermined temperature, before the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time, lower than the predetermined temperature, after the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time.

4. An image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller measures a first elapsed time from when the power of the apparatus or the light source is turned off to when the power of the apparatus or the light source is next turned on, and measures a second elapsed time that is the elapsed time from when the power of the apparatus or the light source is next turned on,

wherein, before the first elapsed time reaches a first predetermined time, the controller sets the predetermined temperature, before the second elapsed time reaches a second predetermined time, higher than the predetermined temperature, after the second elapsed time reaches the second predetermined time, and

wherein, after the first elapsed time reaches the first predetermined time, the controller sets the predetermined temperature, before the second elapsed time reaches the second predetermined time, lower than the predetermined temperature, after the second elapsed time reaches the second predetermined time.

5. An image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protection operation includes at least one of displaying a warning, generating a warning sound, turning off the light source, and increasing a rotating speed of a fan used for cooling the apparatus.

6. An image projection apparatus that projects an image using light from a light source, comprising:

a temperature detector that detects a temperature inside of the apparatus; and

a controller that performs a protection operation when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature,

wherein the controller measures an elapsed time from when a power of the apparatus or the light source is turned off to when the power of the apparatus or the light source is next turned on, and changes the predetermined temperature in accordance with the elapsed time.

7. The image projection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the protection operation includes at least one of displaying a warning, generating a warning sound, turning off the light source, and increasing a rotating speed of a fan used for cooling the apparatus.