LCD projector

[0002] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector in which an output of a light source is set selectively.

[0003] An LCD projector is known from, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-313115 (1993). FIG. 14 shows a basic construction of this known LCD projector. In FIG. 14, a main power source 210 supplies electric power to an on-off switch 220 for turning on and off a light source 230. The known LCD projector further includes a condensing lens 240, an LCD panel 250 acting as an image forming member, a projecting lens system 260 and a screen 270.

[0004] A halogen lamp or the like is used as the light source 230. A light ray from the light source 230 not only is condensed but is converted into collimated rays by the condensing lens 240. The collimated rays are supplied from the condensing lens 240 to the LCD panel 250 in which an image is formed. Subsequently, the image of the LCD panel 250 is projected onto the screen 270 through enlargement by the projecting lens system 260 such that an enlarged image is formed on the screen 270.

[0005] As the voltage is applied across the thickness direction of the LCD panel 250, the rate of transparency T varies in an S curve as shown in FIG. 15.

[0006] Generally, in an LCD projector, it is often desirable to change luminance of a light source in accordance with its user's preference or brightness of a room in which the LCD projector is installed. For example, if luminance of the light source is reduced in accordance with the factors referred to above, service life of the light source can be lengthened as compared with a case in which the light source is driven at its maximum luminance at all times.

[0007] However, in the known LCD projector of FIG. 14, it is impossible to change luminance of the light source 230. Namely, in this known LCD projector, since the light source 230 is driven at its maximum luminance at all times, luminance of the light source 230 gradually drops merely upon lapse of integrated on-state period of the light source 230 as shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, the known LCD projector has such disadvantages that service life of the light source 230 is short and electric power consumed by the known LCD projector is large.

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an LCD projector in which service life of a light source is lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector is saved.

[0009] In order to accomplish this object of the present invention, an LCD projector according to the present invention comprises: a power source; an image data source for producing an image data; a light source which is able to provide different levels of power; an LCD panel for modifying a light ray from the light source in accordance with said image data to produce light rays of an image; a projecting lens for projecting the light rays from the LCD panel onto a screen through enlargement; a control circuit for controlling an output of the power source so as to selectively set an output power: and a correcting circuit for correcting an image data before being supplied to the LCD panel so as to compensate the disturbance of the white balance caused by the change of the power of the light source.

[0010] The correcting circuit further corrects said image data so as to compensate the light intensity change caused by the intrinsic transparency characteristics of the LCD panel.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, since luminance of the light source is changed in accordance with a user's preference or brightness of a room in which the LCD projector is installed, service life of the light source can be lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector can be saved.

[0012] FIG. 1 is block diagram of an LCD projector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a correcting circuit employed in the LCD projector of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a graph showing characteristic curves of look-up tables of the correcting circuit of FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a graph showing relation between input data and output data of an LCD panel employed in the LCD projector of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a graph showing relation between integrated-on state period and voltage in a light source of the LCD projector of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a graph showing relation between integrated on-state period and luminance in the light source of FIG. 5.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an LCD projector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operational sequence of the LCD projector of FIG. 7.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a view showing information displayed on a screen of the LCD projector of FIG. 7.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a view showing another information displayed on the screen of FIG. 9.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an LCD projector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an LCD projector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an LCD projector according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a prior art LCD projector.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a graph showing relation between voltage and transparency in an LCD panel of the prior art LCD projector of FIG. 14.

[0027] FIG. 16 is a graph showing relation between integrated-on state period and luminance in a light source of the prior art LCD projector of FIG. 14.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an LCD projector K1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the same manner as a prior art LCD projector of FIG. 14, the LCD projector K1 includes a main power source 11, a secondary power source 20, a light source 30 driven by the secondary power source 20, a condensing lens 40, an LCD panel 50 acting as an image forming member, a projecting lens system 60 and a screen 70. The light source 30 is formed by a luminescent lamp, e.g., a mercury vapor lamp.

[0029] The LCD projector K1 further includes a signal processor 90 and a correcting circuit 100 for correcting output of the LCD panel 50. Furthermore, the LCD projector K1 includes a counter 61 for counting integrated on-state period of the light source 30 via the secondary power source 20 and a memory 51 for storing the integrated on-state period of the light source 30 counted by the counter 61. The LCD projector K1 further includes a control circuit 81. The counter 61 is connected to the secondary power source 20 and the memory 51, while the memory 51 is, in turn, connected to the control circuit 81.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, a weighting circuit 62 is provided between the counter 61 and the memory 51. The counter 61 counts the time elapsed during the turn-on time of the power supplied to the light source 30 and the weighting circuit 62 puts weight on the counting value relatively to the power supplied to the light source 30. For example, when the light source 30 is supplied with the full power (as requested by a signal A) from the secondary power source 20, the increment of the count is weighted by 1. For example, when the light source 30 is supplied with 50% of the full power (as requested by the signal A) from the secondary power source 20, the increment of the count is weighted by 0.5.

[0031] The main power source 10 supplies electric power to the secondary power sources 20. The secondary power source 20 includes a voltage controller such as a D/A converter to selectively change the voltage supplied to the light source 30. The secondary power source 20 converts the electric power supplied by the main power source 11 into optimum electric power for driving the light source 30 and supplies the optimum electric power to the light source 30. A light ray from the light source 30 not only is condensed but is converted into collimated rays by the condensing lens 40. The collimated rays are supplied from the condensing lens 40 to the LCD panel 50 in which an image is formed. Subsequently, the image of the LCD panel 50 is projected onto the screen 70 through enlargement by the projecting lens system 60 such that an enlarged image is formed on the screen 70.

[0032] Image data inputted to the LCD projector K1 is subjected to signal processing by the signal processor 90 and then, is applied to the correcting circuit 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the correcting circuit 100 includes a plurality of look-up tables T1 to Tn and a changeover switch 105 for effecting changeover of the look-up tables T1 to Tn. Each of the look-up tables T1 to Tn is formed by a read-only memory (ROM). In the correcting circuit 100, it is to be noted here that an arrangement including the look-up tables T1 to Tn and the changeover switch 105 is provided for each of three primary colors R, G and B but only one arrangement of the look-up tables T1 to Tn and the changeover switch 105 is illustrated in FIG. 2 for the sake of brevity.

[0033] In response to a signal A on at which luminance the light source 30 should be set, the control circuit 81 produces a voltage control signal which is digital data and is supplied to the secondary power source 20. In the secondary power source 20, the voltage to be supplied to the light source 30 is changed in accordance with the voltage control signal. Thus, the luminance of the light source 30 is changed accordingly. The signal A is produced based on a user's preference by manually operating a remote control unit or the like but may also be produced automatically by a sensor for detecting brightness of a room in which the LCD projector K1 is installed. Meanwhile, if luminance of the light source 30 is changed, such inconveniences are incurred that white balance is disturbed and components of three primary colors R, G and B in output of the light source 30 deviate from an appropriate ratio. In order to eliminate these inconveniences, the correcting circuit 100 corrects such deviations as will be explained below.

[0034] The LCD panel 50 receives generally uniform light rays from the light source 30 and also receives image data from the correcting circuit 100. In the LCD panel 50, the light rays from the light source 30 are modified in accordance with the image data received from the correcting circuit 100 to produce light rays of the image.

[0035] According to the present invention, the correcting circuit 100 corrects the image data in two different aspects: the first aspect is to correct the intrinsic transparency characteristics (real line in FIG. 15) of the LCD panel 50; and the second aspect is to compensate the disturbance of the appropriate white balance caused by the change of the power of the light source 30.

[0036] The correction according to the first aspect is to change the image data in accordance with the dotted curve line shown in FIG. 15 so as to compensate the light intensity change caused by the intrinsic transparency characteristics of the LCD panel 50 and to present a linear relationship between the voltage applied to the LCD panel 50 and the transparency.

[0037] The correction according to the second aspect is to change the image data in accordance with the dotted line or dot-dash line shown in FIG. 3 so as to compensate the disturbance of the appropriate white balance caused by the change of the power of the light source 30. The change of the power of the light source 30 eventually changes the color of the light source 30, so that the white balance of the uniform light impinging on the LCD panel 50 is disturbed to show, for example, greenish light rays or reddish light rays, depending on the power supplied to the light source 30.

[0038] The correction degree regarding the first aspect can be expressed as ΔC1 and the correction degree regarding the second aspect can be expressed as ΔC2. Thus, when the total correction degree is expressed as C, the following relationship is obtained.

[0039] C=ΔC1×ΔC2

[0040] The correction degree ΔC1 is constant as long as the same LCD panel 50 is used. However, the correction degree ΔC2 varies according to the change of the power applied to the light source 30. Thus, according to the present invention, a number of look-up tables T1, T2, - - - , Tn are provided to accomplish the correction for different voltages applied to the light source 30. For example, the look-up table T1 is provided for a case when the light source 30 is produces light rays with no disturbance in the white balance. In this case, ΔC2 may be equal to 1. The look-up table T2 is provided, for example, for a case when the light source 30 produces greenish light rays. In this case, ΔC2 may be equal to 0.8 during impinging of green light rays. The look-up table Tn is provided, for example, for a case when the light source 30 produces reddish light rays. In this case, ΔC2 may be equal to 0.9 during impinging of red light rays.

[0041] If the light source 30 is driven at its maximum luminance at all times, luminance of the light source 30 gradually drops upon lapse of integrated on-state period of the light source 30 as shown in FIG. 16. Thus, service life of the light source 30 is shortened. However, according to the present invention, the LCD projector K1 has a control circuit 81 which controls the secondary power source 20 to provide a voltage to the light source 30 to generally illuminate at a level (standard use luminance) lower than the maximum luminance as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the service life of the light source 30 can be extended compared to the case shown in FIG. 16. Also the voltage supplied to the light source 30 can be reduced from the very beginning of the use of the LCD projector K1.

[0042] After a certain period of use, the efficiency of the light source may be reduced as shown by a dot-dash line in FIG. 6 due to the aging. If such a reduction of the efficiency takes place, the voltage supplied to the light source 30 is increased as shown in FIG. 5 by the control of the control circuit 81 to maintain the standard use luminance at a constant level. Therefore, the light source 30 is maintained at a standard use luminance lower than a maximum luminance as shown in FIG. 6.

[0043] Consequently, in the LCD projector K1, since luminance of the light source 30 is changed in accordance with the user's preference or brightness of the room in which the LCD projector K1 is installed, service life of the light source 30 can be lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector K1 can be saved.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows an LCD projector K2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the same manner as the LCD projector K1, the LCD projector K2 includes the condensing lens 40, the LCD panel 50, the projecting lens system 60, the screen 70, the counter 61, the memory 51 and the control circuit 81. The LCD projector K2 further includes a main power source 11, a secondary power source unit 21 having a plurality of secondary power sources 21ato 21deach of which is an ON-OFF switch, and a light source unit 31 having a plurality of light sources 31ato 31ddriven by the secondary power sources 21ato 21d, respectively. The counter 61 counts integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dvia the secondary power sources 21ato 21d, respectively and the memory 51 stores the integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dcounted by the counter 61. The secondary power sources 21ato 21dare, respectively, connected to the light sources 31ato 31d.

[0045] Meanwhile, the secondary power sources 21ato 21dreceive respective control signals B1 to B4 from the control circuit 81 such that supply of the optimum electric power to the light sources 31ato 31dby the secondary power sources 21ato 21dis subjected to on-off control by the control signals B1 to B4. When the light sources 31ato 31dare turned on, a signal A on how many ones of the light sources 31ato 31dshould be turned on is produced based on a user's preference by manually operating a remote control unit or the like and is inputted to the control circuit 81. The control circuit 81 produces the control signals B1 to B4 on the basis of the signal A and transmits the control signals B1 to B4 to the power sources 21ato 21d, respectively.

[0046] In this embodiment, the user produces the signal A based on his preference by manually operating the remote control unit or the like as described above but the signal A may also be produced automatically by a sensor for detecting brightness of a room in which the LCD projector K2 is installed.

[0047] Hereinafter, operational sequence of the LCD projector K2 of the above described arrangement is described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 8. Initially at step S1, the signal A on how many ones of the light sources 31ato 31dshould be turned on is inputted to the control circuit 81 and the number R of retrials for turning on all the light sources 31ato 31dis reset. By way of example, it is assumed here that the signal A commands that two of the light sources 31ato 31dshould be turned on. Then, at step S2, all the light sources 31ato 31dare supplied with power from the secondary power sources 21ato 21d. Subsequently, at step S3, it is judged whether or not the number “N” of usable ones of the light sources 31ato 31dis larger than or equal to the numeral “2” designated by the signal A. In the case of “YES” at step S3, it is selected by priority in increasing order of the integrated on state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dwhich ones of the light sources 31ato 31dshould be used at step S4. Then, at step S5, unnecessary ones of the light sources 31ato 31dare turned off. Thereafter, at step S6, information on the light sources 31ato 31dis displayed on the screen 70 as shown in, for example, FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, characters “Lamps 1 to 4” represent the light sources 31ato 31dhaving integrated on-state periods of 1,800, 1,600, 1,000 and 2,500 hours, respectively. Meanwhile, characters “OK” denote that the corresponding light source is usable and characters “NG” denote that the corresponding light source is defective, while characters “ON” denote that the corresponding light source is in ON state. Furthermore, in FIG. 9, since a display portion 75 having lamps 1 to 4 corresponding to the light sources 31ato 31d, respectively is provided beside the screen 70, display on the screen 70 may not be performed in accordance with the user's preference. In FIG. 9, since the screen 70 displays that the light sources 31band 31care in ON state, the lamps 2 and 3 corresponding to the light sources 31band 31c, respectively, are turned on in the display portion 75.

[0048] On the other hand, in the case of “NO” at step S3, the program flow proceeds to. step S7 at which “1” is added to the number R of retrials. Then, at step S8, it is judged whether or not the number R of retrials is smaller than a predetermined number of, for example, 3. In the case of “YES” at step S8, the program flow returns to step S2. On the contrary, in the case of “NO” at step S8, only the usable ones of the light sources 31ato 31dare turned on at step S9. Then, at step S10, information on the light sources 31ato 31dis displayed on the screen 70 by only the usable ones of the light sources 31ato 31d, for example, by only the light source 31cas shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, since the screen 70 displays that only the light source 30cis in ON state, only the lamp 3 corresponding to the light source 31cis turned on in the display portion 75.

[0049] In the LCD projector K2, since all the light sources 31ato 31dare initially turned on by the secondary power sources 21ato 21d, respectively, maximum luminance of the LCD projector K2 can be secured. In addition, at this time, since it is proved which ones of the light sources 31ato 31dare defective, subsequent erroneous selection of the defective ones of the light sources 31ato 31dcan be prevented and information on which ones of the light sources 31ato 31dare defective can be displayed on the screen 70 by the remaining ones of the light sources 31ato 31dand the display portion 75.

[0050] Furthermore, in the LCD projector K2, the integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dare counted by the counter 61 and are stored in the memory 51 such that combination of some of the light sources 31ato 31dto be used is changed by priority in increasing order of the integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dby the control circuit 81.

[0051] Consequently, in the LCD projector K2, since the light sources 31ato 31dare turned on selectively in accordance with the user's preference or brightness of the room in which the LCD projector K2 is installed, service life of the light sources 31ato 31dcan be lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector K2 can be saved.

[0052] FIG. 11 shows an LCD projector K3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the LCD projector K3, the secondary power source unit 21 is replaced in the LCD projector K2 by a D/A converter unit 110 having a plurality of D/A converters 110ato 110d. Since other constructions of the LCD projector K3 are the same as those of the LCD projector K2, the description is abbreviated for the sake of brevity.

[0053] In the LCD projector K3, the main power source 11 supplies electric power to the D/A converters 110ato 110d. The electric power supplied by the main power source 11 is applied to each of the D/A converters 110ato 110d. Thus, according to the control signals B1, B2, B3 and B4, which are digital data, the voltage produced from the D/A converters 110ato 110dvaries and in turn, the luminance of the light sources 31ato 31dchanges.

[0054] Therefore, in the LCD projector K3, luminance of each of the light sources 31ato 31dis changed by each of the D/A converters 110ato 110dand combination of some of the light sources 31ato 31dto be used is changed by priority in increasing order of integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dby the control circuit 81.

[0055] Consequently, in the LCD projector K3, since not only luminance of each of the light sources 31ato 31dis changed but the light sources 31ato 31dare turned on selectively in accordance with a user's preference or brightness of a room in which the LCD projector K3 is installed, service life of the light sources 31ato 31dcan be lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector K3 can be saved.

[0056] FIG. 12 shows an LCD projector K4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The LCD projector K4 has an arrangement in which the signal processor 90 and the correcting circuit 100 of the LCD projector K1 is provided in the LCD projector K2. Since other constructions of the LCD projector K4 are the same as those of the LCD projector K2, the description is abbreviated for the sake of brevity. Therefore, in the LCD projector K4, output of the LCD panel 50 is corrected by the correcting circuit 100 and combination of some of the light sources 31ato 31dto be used is changed by priority in increasing order of integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dby the control circuit 81.

[0057] Accordingly, in the LCD projector K4, since the light sources 31ato 31dare turned on selectively in accordance with a user's preference or brightness of a room in which the LCD projector K4 is installed, service life of the light sources 31ato 31dcan be lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector K4 can be saved.

[0058] FIG. 13 shows an LCD projector K5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The LCD projector K5 has an arrangement in which the signal processor 90 and the correcting circuit 100 of the LCD projector K1 is provided in the LCD projector K3. Since other constructions of the LCD projector K5 are the same as those of the LCD projector K3, the description is abbreviated for the sake of brevity. Therefore, in the LCD projector K5, luminance of each of the light sources 31ato 31dis changed by each of the D/A converters 110ato 110dand output of the LCD panel 50 is corrected by the correcting circuit 100. Furthermore, combination of some of the light sources 31ato 31dto be used is changed by priority in increasing order of integrated on-state periods of the light sources 31ato 31dby the control circuit 81.

[0059] Accordingly, in the LCD projector K5, since not only luminance of each of the light sources 31ato 31dis changed but the light sources 31ato 31dare turned on selectively in accordance with a user's preference or brightness of a room in which the LCD projector K5 is installed, service life of the light sources 31ato 31dcan be lengthened and electric power consumed by the LCD projector K5 can be saved.