US20090174866A1 - Projector and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A projector includes a projection light source, a light-off detector that detects that the projection light source is shut off, and a relighting controller that is triggered to carry out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed by the light-off detector.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims priority to JP 2008-001999 filed in Japan on Jan. 9, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
• The present invention relates to a projector in which projection light from a projection light source projects an image on a projection object, and a program.
• In the related art, when a projector detects that a projection light source fails to light up in response to a power-on action, the power-on action (lighting retry action) is repeated a preset number of times at the maximum (for example, JP-A-2001-312000, paragraph [0014] and other paragraphs). In this case, failure in lighting the projection light source results from malfunction of the projection light source or an abnormally large increase in internal temperature.
• The failure in lighting the projection light source (shut off) may occur not only in the power-on action but also in a normal process (from the point when the projection light source successfully lights up for the first time after the power is turned on to the point when the power is turned off. For example, when the projector is operated in an area where the power supply condition is unstable, the projection light source could be abruptly shut off. In such a case, a projector of the related art is cumbersome because it forces a user to manually carry out the power-on action again. In particular, in a ceiling-hanging projector (fixed type) having a reset button provided on a apparatus body, a user needs to lower the projector to a point where the user can manipulate it and then carry out the power-on action again, which requires a great deal of labor and time.
SUMMARY
• An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a projector and a program that can reduce the user's labor of carrying out the power-on action again when the projection light source of the projector is shut off.
• A projector according to an aspect of the invention includes a projection light source, a light-off detector that detects that the projection light source is shut off and a relighting controller that carries out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed by the light-off detector as a trigger.
• According to the above configuration, the relighting process for relighting the projection light source is automatically carried out when it is detected that the projection light source is shut off, the user does not need to manually carry out a power-on action again.
• “The projection light source is shut off” means that the projection light source transits from the light-on state to the light-off state, and does not mean that the light-off state continues (the projection light source has been shut off). “The light-off detector” carries out its detection in a normal process that is a state from the point when the projection light source successfully lights up for the first time after the power is turned on to the point when the power is turned off. That is, when the first lighting process immediately after the power-on action is not successfully carried out, the subsequent period is not monitored by the light-off detector because the projection light source has not transited from the light-on state to the light-off state.
• It is preferable that the projector described above further includes a storage unit that stores a maximum process number N (N is an integer greater than or equal to two) up to which the relighting process can be carried out. The relighting controller preferably counts the number of relighting processes carried out after the power-on action, carries out the relighting process N times at the maximum, and carries out error notification based on the (N+1)-th detection performed by the light-off detector as a trigger.
• According to the above configuration, because a plurality of (N) relighting processes can be carried out, the user's labor of carrying out the power-on action again can be reduced even when an unstable power supplying state continues for a long period. Further, because an error is notified when the (N+1)-th light-off state is detected, the user can recognize that lamp abnormality occurs.
• It is preferable that the projector described above further includes a maximum process number setting unit that sets the maximum process number N, and the storage unit rewrites the value of N in accordance with the setting in the maximum process number setting unit.
• According to the above configuration, the maximum process number N can be set in accordance with the usage and requirements of the projector. Further, it is conceivable that an appropriate maximum process number N differs from apparatus to apparatus, and the user can set an appropriate maximum process number N in consideration of such a situation.
• It is preferable that the projector described above further includes a process number learning unit that tabulates the numbers of relighting processes that have been carried out, and dynamically changes the maximum process number N stored in the storage unit based on the tabulation result.
• According to the above configuration, an appropriate maximum process number N can be set for each apparatus without forcing the user to carry out manual operation by tabulating the numbers of relighting processes and learning how the relighting process is carried out.
• As a learning method, it is conceivable, for example, to store an average value or a median value (the central value between the maximum and minimum values) of the numbers of relighting processes that have been carried out in the normal process as the maximum process number N, or to store the number of relighting processes that have most frequently appeared as the maximum process number N.
• In the projector described above, it is preferable that the storage unit further stores a maximum retry number M (M is an integer greater than or equal to two) up to which a retry action of lighting the projection light source is allowed to be carried out in the relighting process, and the relighting controller counts the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out during the execution of the relighting process, judges that the relighting process has failed when the projection light source does not light up even after the M lighting retry actions, and carries out the error notification process.
• According to the above configuration, because a plurality of (M) lighting actions are repeated (the lighting retry actions are carried out) even when a single lighting action does not light the projection light source in the relighting process, the probability of failure of the relighting process, that is, the rate of occurrence of lamp abnormality can be lowered.
• It is preferable that the projector described above further includes a maximum retry number setting unit that sets the maximum retry number M, and the storage unit rewrites the value of M in accordance with the setting in the maximum retry number setting unit.
• According to the above configuration, the maximum retry number M can be set in accordance with the usage and requirements of the projector. Further, it is conceivable that an appropriate maximum retry number M differs from apparatus to apparatus, and the user can set an appropriate maximum retry number M in consideration of such a situation.
• It is preferable that the projector described above further includes a retry number learning unit that tabulates the numbers of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until the projection light source successfully lights up, and dynamically changes the maximum retry number M stored in the storage unit based on the tabulation result.
• According to the above configuration, an appropriate maximum retry number M can be set for each apparatus without forcing the user to carry out manual operation by tabulating the numbers of lighting retry actions and learning how the lighting action is carried out.
• As a learning method, it is conceivable, for example, to store an average value or a median value (the central value between the maximum and minimum values) of the numbers of lighting retry actions as the maximum retry number M, or to store the number of lighting retry actions that have most frequently appeared as the maximum retry number M.
• It is preferable that the projector described above further includes a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the projection light source, and the relighting controller does not carry out the relighting process when the light-off detector detects that the projection light source is shut off after the temperature detector detects a temperature higher than or equal to a predetermined value.
• When an abnormally high temperature of the projection light source is detected, the projection light source is shut off in some cases from safety reasons. According to the above configuration, the relighting process will not be carried out in such a case (when it is detected that the projection light source is shut off due to detection of an abnormally high temperature), whereby safety is ensured.
• A program according to another aspect of the invention causes a computer to serve as the portions of the projector described above.
• Using the program can achieve a projector that can reduce the user's labor of carrying out the power-on action again when the projection light source is shut off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a projector according to a first embodiment.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show setting information and log information stored in a storage unit.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a startup process of the projector.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a startup lighting process of the projector.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal process of the projector.
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a relighting process of the projector.
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a projector according to a second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
• A projector and a program according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of aprojector10. As shown inFIG. 1, theprojector10 includes apower supply apparatus21, adetection apparatus22, anoperation apparatus25, alight source apparatus26, alighting apparatus27, acooling apparatus28, anerror notification apparatus29, and acontrol apparatus30.
• Thepower supply apparatus21 includes aprimary power supply41 that supplies electric power supplied from anexternal power supply71 to the above portions in theprojector10, and asecondary power supply42 that supplies the electric power supplied from theexternal power supply71 only to thecontrol apparatus30 in a standby mode.
• Thedetection apparatus22 includes atemperature detector61 that detects the temperature of the light source apparatus26 (light source lamp46) at predetermined time intervals, a lighting-failure detector62 that detects that a lighting action carried out by thelighting apparatus27 does not light thelight source lamp46, and a light-offdetector63 that detects that thelight source apparatus26 is shut off in a normal process (thelight source apparatus26 transitions from the light-on state to the light-off state). When the “lighting-failure detector62” detects lighting failure, a lighting retry action is repeated a maximum retry number of times at the maximum set by a user through an operation of theoperation apparatus25. “In the normal process” refers to being in a state starting from the point when a lighting process is successfully carried out for the first time after theprimary power supply41 is turned on to the point when theprimary power supply41 is turned off. A relighting process for relighting thelight source apparatus26, which will be described later in detail, is carried out based on the detection performed by the “light-offdetector63” as a trigger. The light-off state detected by the “light-offdetector63” conceivably results from unstable power supply to the power supply apparatus26 (primary power supply41) or other factors.
• Theoperation apparatus25 is implemented in the form of an operation panel or a remote controller (not shown) provided in a body of theprojector10. Theoperation apparatus25 includes a powersupply operation unit43 through which theprimary power supply41 is turned on and off, a maximum processnumber setting unit44 that sets how many times the relighting process can be carried out at the maximum in the normal process, and a maximum retrynumber setting unit45 that sets how many times the lighting retry action can be repeated at the maximum in a single relighting process. The maximum processnumber setting unit44 and the maximum retrynumber setting unit45 can respectively set a maximum process number N that limits how many times the relighting process can be carried out and a maximum retry number M that limits how many times the lighting retry action can be carried out to integers greater than or equal to two. The setting is carried out by using an OSD (On Screen Display) capability to display a setting menu on the screen (not shown) and increasing and decreasing a default value of each of the maximum process number N and the maximum retry number M.
• Thelight source apparatus26 includes thelight source lamp46 in which discharge between a pair of electrodes induces light emission, aprimary reflection mirror47 including an ellipsoidal reflector or a reflector having other shapes, and a parallelizingconcave lens48. Theprimary reflection mirror47 collects and outputs light fluxes radiated from thelight source lamp46 in such a way that the exiting directions of the light fluxes are aligned to be oriented forward from thelight source apparatus26, and the parallelizingconcave lens48 parallelizes the light fluxes. A halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, and a high-pressure mercury lamp can be used as thelight source lamp46. A “projection light source” in the claims refers to thelight source lamp46. Theprimary reflection mirror47 is not necessarily an ellipsoidal reflector but a parabolic reflector that reflects and substantially parallelizes light fluxes emitted from thelight source lamp46. When a parabolic reflector is used, no parallelizingconcave lens48 is required.
• Thelighting apparatus27 is provided to light thelight source apparatus26 under the control of thecontrol apparatus30 and includes anigniter51, aninverter52, acurrent controller53, and aDC power supply54. Theigniter51 includes a booster circuit and applies a high pulse voltage, when thelight source lamp46 is started, between the pair of electrodes to cause dielectric breakdown so that a discharge circuit is created. Theinverter52 and thecurrent controller53 are provided to supply a current having a predetermined electric power and a predetermined frequency to thelight source lamp46. Specifically, a switching device provided in theinverter52 is driven in accordance with a signal from thecontrol apparatus30 to convert the direct current from theDC power supply54 into a rectangular-wave alternate current having a predetermined frequency. Thecurrent controller53 temporarily increases the magnitude of the current to be supplied to thelight source lamp46 in accordance with an instruction from thecontrol apparatus30. In the following description, “the action of lighting thelight source lamp46” refers to the series of actions described above.
• Thecooling apparatus28 is provided to lower the temperature of the interior of the projector10 (portions around thelight source apparatus26, in particular), and includes afan motor56 and afan controller57 that controls thefan motor56. When thecontrol apparatus30 judges that the detection result from thetemperature detector61 indicates that the temperature is abnormally high, thefan controller57 rotates thefall motor56 at high speed in response to an instruction from thecontrol apparatus30 until the temperature in theprojector10 is lowered to a normal value. When the powersupply operation unit43 is operated to turn off theprimary power supply41, thefan controller57 rotates thefan motor56 for a predetermined period by using the power supplied from thesecondary power supply42 and then stops the operation of thefan motor56.
• Theerror notification apparatus29 includes a lampabnormality display unit58 that displays abnormality of thelight source lamp46, if any, detected by thecontrol apparatus30, and a temperatureabnormality display unit59 that displays temperature abnormality, if any, detected by thecontrol apparatus30. Each of the lampabnormality display unit58 and the temperatureabnormality display unit59 notifies abnormality by lighting or blinking an LED provided for each type of information. As theerror notification apparatus29, in addition to notification by means of display, a loudspeaker may be provided to notify an error by means of audio (electronic sounds or audio guidance), or a communication unit may be provided to send a message indicative of abnormality to an administrator, for example, by means of LAN networking or electronic mailing.
• Thecontrol apparatus30 uses a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a primary component to carry out centralized control of the portions in theprojector10. Thecontrol apparatus30 includes asignal input unit31, animage processing unit32, astorage unit33, astartup lighting controller34, and a relightingcontroller35.
• Thesignal input unit31 receives image data and control signals as inputs from an external apparatus72, such as a personal computer and a video recorder. In this case, thesignal input unit31 is implemented in the form of an interface that receives RGB signals outputted from a personal computer or a composite signal outputted from a video recorder. Thesignal input unit31 may alternatively be configured to acquire image data and other information from an external recording medium (not shown). In this case, thesignal input unit31 is implemented in the form of a memory card slot that reads a memory card or an optical disk drive that reads an optical disk.
• Theimage processing unit32 carries out predetermined image processing on the image data inputted to thesignal input unit31 based on a prestored image processing program. Examples of the predetermined image processing may include keystone distortion correction, image quality adjustment, image size adjustment, and gamma correction.
• Thestorage unit33 includes a settinginformation storage section33athat stores the maximum process number N set by the maximum processnumber setting unit44 and the maximum retry number M set by the maximum retrynumber setting unit45, and a loginformation storage section33bthat stores log information. Each of the settinginformation storage section33aand the loginformation storage section33bincludes a non-volatile, rewritable memory, such as a flash ROM. Although not particularly illustrated, theprojector10 is also equipped with a memory, such as a non-rewritable ROM, in which a variety of control programs including the image processing program described above are stored.
• Thestartup lighting controller34 controls a startup lighting process, which is the first lighting process after theprimary power supply41 is turned on. Thestartup lighting controller34 carries out the lighting process (startup lighting process) only once at the time of startup. When the lighting process has failed, the start-uplighting controller34 instructs the lampabnormality display unit58 to display an error. In the startup lighting process, when the lighting action does not lead to successful lighting (when the lighting-failure detector62 detects that thelight source lamp46 does not light up), the lighting retry action is repeated the maximum retry number (M) of times at the maximum, which is stored in the settinginformation storage section33a.When thelight source lamp46 does not light up even after the M lighting retry actions, the startup lighting process is judged to fail.
• The relightingcontroller35 controls the relighting process in the normal process. The relightingcontroller35 carries out the lighting process (relighting process) based on the detection performed by the light-off detector63 as a trigger. The relighting process is carried out the maximum process number (N) of times at the maximum, which is stored in the settinginformation storage section33a.Therefore, when the light-off detector63 detects the (N+1)-th light-off state, it is judged that thelight source lamp46 malfunctions (the light source is burned-out, for example) and instructs the lampabnormality display unit58 to display an error. In the relighting process as well, when the lighting action does not lead to successful lighting, the lighting retry action is repeated the maximum retry number (M) of times, which is stored in the settinginformation storage section33a.When thelight source lamp46 does not light up even after the M lighting retry actions, the relighting process is judged to fail.
• In addition to the components described above, theprojector10 further includes an illumination optical apparatus that emits an illumination flux, a light modulator (liquid crystal panel) that modulates the light flux emitted from the illumination optical apparatus in accordance with image data to form image light, a color combining optical apparatus (cross dichroic prism) that forms a color image, and a projection optical apparatus that enlarges and projects the modulated image light. These other apparatus will not be described in detail because they can be implemented by applying existing technologies.
• The setting information and log information stored in thestorage unit33 will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 2A and 2B. As described above, the settinginformation storage section33ain thestorage unit33 stores the maximum process number N set by the maximum processnumber setting unit44 and the maximum retry number M set by the maximum retrynumber setting unit45. The maximum retry number M can be set for the startup process and the normal process separately. The settinginformation storage section33atherefore stores the maximum process number N, the maximum retry number Ma for the startup lighting process, and the maximum retry number Mb for the relighting process as shown inFIG. 2A.
• On the other hand, the loginformation storage section33bin thestorage unit33 stores a variety of types of log information shown inFIG. 2B (“1. The number of lamp abnormality states that have occurred,” “2. Total operation period,” “3. Abnormal log,” “4. The number of relighting processes,” and “5. The number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until successful lighting”).
• “1. The number of lamp abnormality states that have occurred” refers to the accumulated number representing how many times the lighting process has failed in the past startup processes and relighting processes, and corresponds to the number displayed on the lampabnormality display unit58. “2. Total operation period” refers to the accumulated working period of the projector10 (the period when at least one of theprimary power supply41 and thesecondary power supply42 is working).
• What is recorded as “3. Abnormal log” includes the type of abnormality (error) that occurs in the interior of theprojector10 or in the communication with the external apparatus72, and the elapsed time from the startup (when theprimary power supply41 is turned on) to the point when the abnormality occurs. In theprojector10 of the present embodiment,16 latest abnormality logs are stored and referred at the time of failure and maintenance of theprojector10.
• What is recorded as “4. The number of relighting processes” includes the histogram for the relighting processes that have been carried out in the past normal processes. That is, after theprimary power supply41 is turned on, the frequency representing how many times the light-off detector63 detects the light-off state is recorded. For example, assuming that the maximum settable number as the maximum process number N is Nm, the histogram for the number of relighting processes, which ranges from zero to Nm, is recorded as follows: the number of normal processes in which no relighting process has been carried out in the past is aa, the number of normal processes in which one relighting process has been carried out in the past is bb, and so on. “4. The number of relighting processes” is used as a reference value when the user sets the maximum process number N. That is, “4. The number of relighting processes” can be accessed by the external apparatus72 or referred through an operation of theoperation apparatus25.
• What is recorded as “5. The number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until successful lighting” includes the histogram for the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out in the past startup lighting processes and the histogram for the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out in the past relighting processes. That is, in each of the lighting processes, the frequency representing how many times the lighting-failure detector62 detects lighting failure is recorded. For example, assuming that the maximum settable value as the maximum retry number Ma at the time of startup is Mma, the histogram for the number of lighting retry actions, which ranges from zero to Mma, is recorded as follows: the number of startup lighting processes in which no lighting retry action has been carried out is ee, the number of startup lighting processes in which one lighting retry action has been carried out in the past is ff, and so on.
• Similarly, assuming that the maximum settable value that as the maximum retry action Mb in the normal process is Mmb, the histogram for the number of lighting retry actions, which ranges from zero to Mmb, is recorded as follows: the number of relighting processes in which no lighting retry action has been carried out is ii, the number of relighting processes in which one lighting retry action has been carried out in the past is jj, and so on. “5. The number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until successful lighting”!, as in the case of “4. The number of relighting processes,” can be accessed by the external apparatus72 or referred through an operation of theoperation apparatus25, and used as a reference value when the user sets the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb.
• The startup process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 3 and the flowchart of a subroutine therein shown inFIG. 4. In the following flowcharts (FIGS. 3 to 6), the subject of each action is the projector10 (control apparatus30), and the sentences are written in passive voice as appropriate to avoid redundant description.
• As shown inFIG. 3, when theprimary power supply41 is turned on (S01: Yes), theprojector10 carries out initialization, such as resetting a variety of flags and counter values (S02), and then carries out the startup lighting process (S03). When the startup lighting process is carried out and successfully done (when thelight source lamp46 lights up) (S04: Yes), the control proceeds to the normal process (seeFIG. 5). On the other hand, when the startup lighting process has failed (when thelight source lamp46 does not light up even after the lighting retry action is repeated Ma times, which is the maximum retry number) (S04: No), error processes including displaying an error on the lamp abnormality display unit58 (error notification process) are carried out (S05), and the startup process is terminated.
• The startup lighting process, which corresponds to the step S03 inFIG. 3, will be described with reference toFIG. 4. Theprojector10 first carries out, as the startup lighting process, the lighting action for lighting thelight source lamp46 by using the lighting apparatus27 (S11). When thelight source lamp46 lights up (S12: Yes), it is judged that the startup lighting process has been successfully carried out (S13). A counter that counts the number of lighting retry actions is reset (S14), and the process is terminated.
• On the other hand, when thelight source lamp46 does not light up even after the lighting action has been carried out (S12: No), it is judged whether or not the number of lighting retry actions is greater than or equal to the maximum retry number Ma (S15). When the number of lighting retry actions is smaller than the maximum retry number Ma (S15: No), the lighting retry action is carried out (S16), and the counter value representing the number of lighting retry actions is incremented by one (S17). The lighting retry action is then repeated (S12, S15 to S17). When the number of lighting retry actions reaches the maximum retry number Ma (S15: Yes), it is judged that the startup lighting process has failed (S18). The counter that counts the number of lighting retry actions is reset (S14) and the process is terminated.
• The normal process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 5 and the flowchart of a subroutine therein shown inFIG. 6. The normal process is a process to be carried out after the startup lighting process has been successfully carried out, and a process to be carded out in a state in which an image can be actually projected on a screen. As shown inFIG. 5, when the light-off detector63 detects that thelight source lamp46 is not lit (S21: Yes), theprojector10 judges whether or not the number of relighting processes that have been so far carried out (carded out after theprimary power supply41 had been turned on) is greater than or equal to the maximum process number N (S22). When the number of relighting processes is smaller than the maximum process number N (S22; No), the relighting process is carried out (S23), and the counter value representing the number of relighting processes is incremented by one (S24). When the relighting process in the step S23 is successfully carried out (S25: Yes), the normal process is continued.
• On the other hand, when the number of relighting processes reaches the maximum process number N (S22: Yes), error processes including displaying an error on the lamp abnormality display unit58 (error notification process) are carried out (S26). A counter that counts the number of relighting processes is reset (S27), and the normal process is terminated. When theprimary power supply41 is turned off during the normal process (S28: Yes), the counter that counts the number of relighting processes is also reset (S27), and the normal process is terminated.
• The relighting process that corresponds to the step S23 inFIG. 5 will be described with reference toFIG. 6. The relighting process has a procedure including actions substantially the same as those in the startup lighting process shown inFIG. 4. That is, theprojector10 first carries out, as the relighting process, the lighting action for lighting thelight source lamp46 by using the lighting apparatus27 (S31). When thelight source lamp46 lights up (S32: Yes), it is judged that the relighting process has been successfully carried out (S33). The counter that counts the number of lighting retry actions is reset (S34), and the process is terminated.
• On the other hand, when thelight source lamp46 does not light up even after the lighting action has been carried out (S32: No), it is judged whether or not the number of lighting retry actions is greater than or equal to the maximum retry number Mb (S35). When the number of lighting retry actions is smaller than the maximum retry number Mb (S35: No), the lighting retry action is carried out (S36), and the counter value representing the number of lighting retry actions is incremented by one (S37). The lighting retry action is then repeated (S32, S35 to S37). When the number of lighting retry actions reaches the maximum retry number Mb (S35: Yes), it is judged that the relighting process has failed (S38). The counter that counts the number of lighting retry actions is reset (S34), and the process is terminated.
• As described above, because theprojector10 of the present embodiment automatically carries out the relighting process for relighting thelight source lamp46 when it is detected that thelight source lamp46 is shut off due to an unstable power supply state or other factors, the user does not need to manually turn on the power supply again. Further, because the maximum process number N can be arbitrarily set in accordance with the usage and requirements of theprojector10, theprojector10 is a user-friendly apparatus. Moreover, because the number of relighting processes that have been carried out can be recorded as log information and referred to, the user can set an optimal maximum process number N for each apparatus.
• Because the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb up to which the lighting retry action is allowed to be repeated in the startup lighting process and the relighting process can be arbitrarily set, theprojector10 can be used in accordance with requirements of individual users. Further, because the histogram of the numbers of retry actions in the startup lighting process and the relighting process can also be recorded as log information, each of the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb can be set to an optimal value for each apparatus.
• While in the above embodiment, the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb acceptable in each lighting process at the time of startup and in the normal process can be set individually, a single common value may be alternatively set. Still alternatively, the maximum retry number Ma in the startup lighting process may be a fixed value, whereas the user may set only the maximum retry number Mb in the relighting process.
• While in the above embodiment, the relightingcontroller35 carries out the relighting process when it is detected as a trigger that thelight source lamp46 is shut off, the relighting process may be carried out when a certain condition is satisfied. For example, when the light-off detector63 detects that thelight source lamp46 is shut off after thetemperature detector61 has detected a temperature higher than a predetermined value, the relighting process may not be carried out. That is, the relighting process may be carried out only when the temperature detected by thetemperature detector61 is lower than the predetermined temperature. When an abnormally high temperature is detected in the projector (around thelight source apparatus26, in particular), thelight source lamp46 is shut off in some cases for safety reasons. According to the above configuration, the relighting process will not be carried out in such a case (when it is detected that thelight source lamp46 is shut off due to detection of an abnormally high temperature), whereby safety is ensured. When it is detected that thelight source lamp46 is shut oft but the execution of the relighting process is terminated due to detection of an abnormally high temperature, it is preferable, for example, that thecooling apparatus28 rotates thefan motor56 at high speed to quickly cool the interior of the projector.
• Alternatively, the relighting process may be carried out only when “the power supplying state is unstable.” In this case, the state of supplying power to thepower supply apparatus21 is monitored, and the relighting process is carried out when it is detected that the power supplying state is unstable and that thelight source lamp46 is shut off.
• A second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 7. While in the first embodiment described above, the maximum process number N and the maximum retry numbers Ma, Mb set through an operation of theoperation apparatus25 are stored as setting information, the present embodiment differs in that the setting information is dynamically changed based on log information. The points different from the first embodiment will be primarily described below.
• As shown inFIG. 7, aprojector10 according to the present embodiment differs from theprojector10 according to the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1 in that the maximum processnumber setting unit44 and the maximum retrynumber setting unit45 are omitted from theoperation apparatus25, but a processnumber learning unit36 and a retrynumber learning unit37 are newly added into thecontrol apparatus30.
• The processnumber learning unit36 tabulates the numbers of relighting processes that have been carried out and dynamically changes the maximum process number N stored in the settinginformation storage section33abased on the tabulation result. “Dynamically changing the maximum process number N” specifically refers to averaging the tabulated values of “4. The number of relighting processes” recorded as log information (seeFIG. 2B). Therefore, when the average of the numbers of relighting processes that have been carried out is calculated to be, for example, three, the relighting process is repeated three times at the maximum, and the error processes are carried out when a fourth light-off state is detected.
• The retrynumber learning unit37 tabulates the numbers of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until thelight source lamp46 successfully lights up separately in the startup process and the normal process, and dynamically changes the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb stored in the settinginformation storage section33abased on the tabulation result. “Dynamically changing the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb” specifically refers to averaging the tabulated values of “5. The number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until successful lighting” recorded as log information (seeFIG. 2B). Therefore, when the average of the numbers of lighting retry actions that have been carried out is calculated to be, for example, five, the lighting retry action is repeated five times at the maximum. When thelight source lamp46 does not light up even after five lighting retry actions, it is judged that the lighting process has failed.
• The timing when “the number of relighting processes that have been carried out” and “the number of lighting retry actions in the startup process and the normal process” are tabulated and the timing when the data stored in the settinginformation storage section33ais rewritten (the timing when the maximum process number N and the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb are changed) may be at the time of power-on as a trigger, or the above operations may be carried out at predetermined operation time intervals or when a predetermined instruction is received from theoperation apparatus25 or the external apparatus72.
• As the learning method, instead of averaging the numbers of relighting processes and the numbers of lighting retry actions as described above, the median value of the above numbers (the central value between the maximum and minimum values) may be calculated, or the number of relighting processes and the number of lighting retry actions that have most frequently appeared may be determined as the maximum process number N and the maximum retry numbers Ma and Mb. Alternatively, as the learning method, the user may specify one of the plurality of candidates.
• As described above, according to the second embodiment, an appropriate maximum process number N and maximum retry number M can be set for each apparatus without forcing the user to carry out manual operation by tabulating the numbers of relighting processes and the numbers of lighting retry actions and learning how the relighting process and the lighting action are carried out.
• In the second embodiment as well, the number of lighting retry actions in the startup process and the normal process may be learned as a whole, and the value of a common maximum retry number M may be stored in the settinginformation storage section33a.Further, in the second embodiment as well, when it is detected that thelight source lamp46 is shut off due to detection of an abnormally high temperature, it is preferable that the relighting process is not carried out.
• While the second embodiment has a configuration without the maximum processnumber setting unit44 and the maximum retrynumber setting unit45, it is conceivable to employ a configuration in which the user uses a learned maximum process number N and maximum retry number M as default values to set a preferred maximum process number N and maximum retry number M.
• Each of the components in theprojector10 shown in the exemplary embodiments described above can be provided as a program. Such a program can be stored on any of a variety of recording media (such as a CD-ROM and a flash memory) to be provided. That is, the scope of the exemplary embodiments encompasses a program that causes a computer to serve as each portion of theprojector10, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.
• While the above embodiments employ a liquid crystal display method, any other display principles may be employed, such as a CRT display method and a light-switch display method (a method using a micromirror device). Further, the above embodiments can be changed as appropriate to the extent that such changes do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims (22)

1. A projector comprising:

a projection light source;

a light-off detector that detects that the projection light source is shut off; and

a relighting controller that carries out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed by the light-off detector.

2. The projector according toclaim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores a maximum process number N (N is an integer greater than or equal to two) up to which the relighting process can be carried out,

wherein the relighting controller counts the number of relighting processes carried out, carries out the relighting process N times at the maximum, and carries out error notification based on the (N+1)-th detection performed by the light-off detector.

3. The projector according toclaim 2, further comprising:

a maximum process number setting unit that sets the maximum process number N,

wherein the storage unit rewrites the value of N based on the maximum process number N set by the maximum process number setting unit.

4. The projector according toclaim 2, further comprising:

a process number learning unit that tabulates the number of the relighting processes that have been carried out, and dynamically changes the maximum process number N stored in the storage unit based on the tabulation result.

5. The projector according toclaim 2,

wherein the storage unit further stores a maximum retry number M (M is an integer greater than or equal to two) up to which a retry action of lighting the projection light source is allowed to be carried out in the relighting process, and

the relighting controller counts the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out during the execution of the relighting process, judges that the relighting process has failed when the projection light source does not light up even after the M lighting retry actions, and carries out the error notification.

6. The projector according toclaim 5, further comprising:

a maximum retry number setting unit that sets the maximum retry number M,

wherein the storage unit rewrites the value of M in accordance with the setting in the maximum retry number setting unit.

7. The projector according toclaim 5, further comprising:

a retry number learning unit that tabulates the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until the projection light source successfully lights up, and dynamically changes the maximum retry number M stored in the storage unit based on the tabulation result.

8. The projector according toclaim 1, further comprising:

a temperature detector that detects a temperature of the projection light source,

wherein the relighting controller does not carry out the relighting process when the light-off detector detects that the projection light source is shut off after the temperature detector detects a temperature higher than or equal to a predetermined value.

9. A program embodied on a computer readable medium that causes a computer to serve as the portions of the projector according toclaim 1.

10. A method of relighting a projection light source of a project, the method comprising:

detecting that the projection light source is shut off;

carrying out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed.

11. The method of relating a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 10, further comprising:

storing a maximum processed number N (N is an integer greater than or equal to two) up to which the relighting process can be carried out; and

counting the number of relighting processes carried out, carrying out the relighting process N times at the maximum, and carrying out error notification based on the (N+1)-th detection performed.

12. The method of relighting a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 11, further comprising:

setting the maximum process number N, and rewriting the set value of N.

13. The method of relighting a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 11, the method further comprising:

tabulating the number of the relighting processes that have been carried out, and dynamically changing the maximum process number N stored based on the tabulation result.

14. A method of relighting a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 11, the method farther comprising:

storing a maximum retry number M (M is an integer greater than or equal to two) up to which a retry action of lighting the projection light source is allowed to be carried out; and

counting the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out during the execution of the relighting process, judging that the relighting process is failed when the projection light source does not light up even after the M lighting retry actions, and carrying out the error notification.

15. The method of relighting a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 14, further comprising:

setting the maximum retry number and method, and rewriting the value of M based on the set maximum retry number and method.

16. The method or relighting a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 14, further comprising:

tabulating the number of lighting retry actions that have been carried out until the projection light source successfully lights up, and dynamically changing the maximum retry number M stored in a storage unit based on the tabulation result.

17. The method of relighting a projection light source of a projector according toclaim 10, the method further comprising:

detecting a temperature of the projection light source, and under the condition that the projection light source is detected to be shut off and the temperature is detected to be higher than or equal to a predetermined value, not carrying out the relighting process.

18. A program embodied on a computer readable medium that causes a computer to perform the method ofclaim 10.

19. A system for relighting a projection light source of a projector, the system comprising:

means for detecting that the projection light source is shut off;

means for carrying out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed.

20. A projector comprising:

a light source;

a detector that detects whether the light source is turned on or turned off; and

a controller that automatically turns the light source on using a relighting process when the detector detects that the light source is turned off.

21. The projector ofclaim 20 wherein the controller counts a number of times the relighting process is sequentially carried out and sends an error notice when the number exceeds a predetermined value.

22. The projector ofclaim 20 farther comprising:

a sensor that monitors a temperature of the projection light source, wherein the controller does not turn the light source on if the temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

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