Lamp protection system and method
View Patent ↗A video display system such as a liquid crystal display television receiver projection system typically uses a high-intensity discharge lamp of the type that should not be re-started or turned on immediately after being turned off. An improved system protecting the lamp from restarts during a cooling off period. The system maintains the lamp, once energized to produce an image, in an off condition during a predetermined cool-down period following receipt of a power-off. Advantageously, the system automatically powers the lamp on at the end of the cool-down period upon receipt a power-on command during the cool-down period.
1. A video display system comprising
a lamp which is energized to produce an image,
means for receiving a power-off command,
means for maintaining the lamp in an off-condition during a predetermined cool-down period of time following receipt of the power-off command,
means for receiving a power-on command during the predetermined cool-down period of time, and
means for automatically powering on the lamp at the end of the predetermined cool-down period of time if the power-on command is received during the predetermined cool-down period of time.
2. The video display system of claim 1 having means for signaling receipt of a power-on command during the cool-down period of time.
3. The video display system of claim 1 having a power light emitting diode (LED) and means for blinking the power LED for the remainder of the cool-down period of time upon receipt of a power-on command during the cool-down period of time.
4. The video display system of claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining the lamp in an off condition during the cool-down period of time comprises a timer.
5. The video display system of claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining the lamp in an off condition during the cool-down period of time comprises a counter.
6. A method of powering on a video display system having a lamp energized to produce an image comprising the steps of
(a) maintaining the lamp in an off condition during a predetermined cool-down period of time following receipt of a power-off command and
(b) automatically powering on the lamp at the end of the cool-down period of time if a power-on command was received during the cool-down period of time.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of signaling receipt of a power-on command during the cool-down period of time.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of blinking an indicator for the remainder of the cool-down period of time following receipt of a power-on command during the cool-down period of time.
9. A computer readable medium encoded with a program which when executed by a processor maintains a lamp in an off condition during a cool down period of time and automatically powers on the lamp following the cooling down period of time if a power-on signal is received during the cool-down period of time.