IP Library Granted Patent US 7,508,144
Granted Patent B2
US 7,508,144 · App. 11/882,026 · Granted Mar 24, 2009

Light source device, lighting and driving method thereof and projector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,508,144
App. No.
11/882,026
Granted
Mar 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light source device, including: a high pressure discharge lamp in which an electric discharge is generated between a pair of electrodes; a lighting device that supplies drive current having a predetermined frequency to the high pressure discharge lamp to light and drive the high pressure discharge lamp; and a control device that controllably drives the lighting device, the control device including: a power-change controller that controls drive power supplied from the lighting device to the high pressure discharge lamp to be changeable at least between a first power and a second power lower than the first power; and a frequency-change controller that controls a frequency of the drive current supplied from the lighting device to the high pressure discharge lamp to be changeable, in a second power drive mode in which the second power is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp by the power-change controller, the frequency-change controller changing the frequency of the drive power to a frequency higher than a frequency in a first drive mode in which the first power is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp by the power-change controller.

Claims (27)

1. A light source device, comprising:

a high pressure discharge lamp in which an electric discharge is generated between a pair of electrodes;

a lighting device that supplies drive current having a predetermined frequency to the high pressure discharge lamp to light and drive the high pressure discharge lamp; and

a control device that controllably drives the lighting device, the control device including a power-change controller and a frequency-change controller, the power-change controller controlling drive power supplied from the lighting device to the high pressure discharge lamp to be changeable at least between a first power and a second power lower than the first power, the frequency-change controller controlling a frequency of the drive current supplied from the lighting device to the high pressure discharge lamp to be changeable, in a second power drive mode in which the second power is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp by the power-change controller, the frequency-change controller changing the frequency of the drive power to a frequency higher than a frequency in a first power drive mode in which the first power is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp by the power-change controller.

2. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein

the frequency in the first power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which a flicker judging value based on a change rate of illuminance measured at a predetermined interval is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the light source device is driven in the first power drive mode.

3. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein

the frequency in the second power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which the flicker judging value based on the change rate of illuminance measured at a predetermined interval is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the light source device is driven in the second power drive mode.

4. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein

the frequency in the first power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which a lamp voltage of the high pressure discharge lamp has a value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period when the light source device is driven in the first power drive mode.

5. The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein

the frequency in the second power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which the lamp voltage of the high pressure discharge lamp has a value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period when the light source device is driven in the second power drive mode.

6. A driving method for driving a high pressure discharge lamp, a power supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp being changeable between two or more levels, the method comprising steps of:

supplying first power with first frequency to the pressure discharge lamp;

supplying second power with second frequency to the pressure discharge lamp, wherein the second power is lower than the first power and the second frequency is higher than the first frequency.

7. A projector, comprising:

a light source device including a high pressure discharge lamp, a lighting device and a control device, in the high pressure discharge lamp an electric discharge being generated between a pair of electrodes, the lighting device supplying drive current having a predetermined frequency to the high pressure discharge lamp to light and drive the high pressure discharge lamp, the control device controllably driving the lighting device, the control device including a power-change controller and a frequency-change controller, the power-change controller controlling drive power supplied from the lighting device to the high pressure discharge lamp to be changeable in two or more levels of power including rated power, the frequency-change controller controlling a frequency of the drive current supplied from the lighting device to the high pressure discharge lamp to be changeable, in a second power drive mode in which the second power is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp by the power-change controller, the frequency-change controller changing the frequency of the drive power to a frequency higher than a frequency in a first power drive mode in which the first power is supplied to the high pressure discharge lamp by the power-change controller;

an optical modulator that modulates a light beam irradiated from the light source device in accordance with image information to form an optical image; and

a projection optical device that projects the optical image formed by the optical modulator in an enlarged manner.

8. The projector according to claim 7 , wherein

the frequency in the first power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which a flicker judging value based on a change rate of illuminance measured at a predetermined interval is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the light source device is driven in the first power drive mode.

9. The projector according to claim 7 , wherein

the frequency in the second power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which the flicker judging value based on the change rate of illuminance measured at a predetermined interval is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the light source device is driven in the second power drive mode.

10. The projector according to claim 7 , wherein

the frequency in the first power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which a lamp voltage of the high pressure discharge lamp has a value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period when the light source device is driven in the first power drive mode.

11. The projector according to claim 7 , wherein

the frequency in the second power drive mode is preset at a frequency in which the lamp voltage of the high pressure discharge lamp has a value equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period when the light source device is driven in the second power drive mode.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP.
To: COLUMBIA PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 058952/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2007
From: YAMAUCHI, KENTARO; TANAKA, KAZUHIRO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019664/0618 →