Projector and dimming method
With the purpose of controlling a light source to appropriately reduce the brightness of reflected light at the time of starting projection according to the conditions under which a projector is being used, the projector includes a solid-state light source unit that emits light, a power supply unit that supplies driving electric power to the solid-state light source unit, an image display device that modulates the light emitted from the solid-state light source unit according to an image signal and that projects the modulated light onto a projection surface, and a detection unit that detects the intensity of the ambient light of the projection surface.
1. A projector comprising:
a light source that emits light;
a supply unit that supplies driving electric power to said light source;
a projection unit that modulates light that is emitted from said light source according to an image signal and projects said modulated light onto a projection surface;
a detection unit that detects an intensity of ambient light; and
a control unit that, upon receiving a lighting signal that indicates that said light source is to be lit, controls said supply unit according to the intensity of light that is detected by said detection unit to incrementally increase the driving electric power that is supplied from said supply unit to said light source;
wherein said detection unit includes a temperature detection unit that detects an internal temperature in a vicinity of said light source; and
said control unit, upon receiving said lighting signal, causes said supply unit to supply said driving electric power to said light source when the internal temperature that was detected by said temperature detection unit surpasses a predetermined temperature threshold value, and incrementally increases an amount of the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source when the internal temperature that is detected by said temperature detection unit is lower than said predetermined temperature threshold value.
2. The projector as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said control unit, upon receiving said lighting signal, causes said supply unit to supply said driving electric power to said light source when the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit surpasses a predetermined optical threshold value, and incrementally increases the amount of the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source when the intensity of the light detected by said detection unit is lower than said predetermined optical threshold value.
3. The projector as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises a light-emitting diode.
4. The projector as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises a laser diode.
5. A projector comprising:
a light source that emits light;
a supply unit that supplies driving electric power to said light source;
a projection unit that modulates light that is emitted from said light source according to an image signal and projects said modulated light onto a projection surface;
a detection unit that detects an intensity of ambient light; and
a control unit that, upon receiving a lighting signal that indicates that said light source is to be lit, controls said supply unit according to the intensity of light that is detected by said detection unit to incrementally increase an amount of the driving electric power that is supplied from said supply unit to said light source;
wherein said detection unit includes a measurement unit that measures an elapsed time when said light source is extinguished until said lighting signal is received; and
wherein, said control unit, upon receiving said lighting signal, causes said supply unit to supply said driving electric power to said light source when the elapsed time that is measured by said measurement unit is shorter than a predetermined time threshold value, and incrementally increases the amount of the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source when the elapsed time that is measured by said measurement unit surpasses said predetermined time threshold value.
6. The projector as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said control unit, upon receiving said lighting signal, causes said supply unit to supply said driving electric power to said light source when the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit surpasses a predetermined optical threshold value, and incrementally increases the amount of the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source when the intensity of the light detected by said detection unit is lower than said predetermined optical threshold value.
7. The projector as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said light source comprises a light-emitting diode.
8. The projector as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said light source comprises a laser diode.
9. A dimming method of a projector that includes a light source that emits light, a supply unit that supplies driving electric power to said light source, a projection unit that modulates light that is emitted from said light source according to an image signal and projects said modulated light onto a projection surface, and a detection unit that detects an intensity of ambient light, said dimming method comprising:
upon receiving a lighting signal indicating that said light source is to be lit, controlling said supply unit according to the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit to incrementally increase an amount of the driving electric power that is supplied from said supply unit to said light source;
wherein said detection unit includes a temperature detection unit that detects an internal temperature in a vicinity of said light source; and
wherein said control unit, upon receiving said lighting signal, causes said supply unit to supply said driving electric power to said light source when the internal temperature that is detected by said temperature detection unit surpasses a predetermined temperature threshold value, and incrementally increases the amount of the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source when the internal temperature that is detected by said temperature detection unit is lower than said predetermined temperature threshold value.
10. The dimming method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein, regarding the incremental increase of driving electric power that is supplied to said light source:
said driving electric power is supplied to said light source from said supply unit upon receiving said lighting signal when the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit surpasses a predetermined optical threshold value, and when the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source is incrementally increased when the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit is lower than said predetermined optical threshold value.
11. A dimming method of a projector that includes a light source that emits light, a supply unit that supplies driving electric power to said light source, a projection unit that modulates light that is emitted from said light source according to an image signal and projects said modulated light onto a projection surface, and a detection unit that detects an intensity of ambient light and includes a measurement unit, said dimming method comprising:
upon receiving a lighting signal indicating that said light source is to be lit, controlling said supply unit according to the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit to incrementally increase an amount of the driving electric power that is supplied from said supply unit to said light source;
wherein, said control unit, upon receiving said lighting signal, causes said supply unit to supply said driving electric power to said light source when an elapsed time that is measured by said measurement unit is shorter than a predetermined time threshold value, and incrementally increases the amount of the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source when the elapsed time that is measured by said measurement unit surpasses said predetermined time threshold value.
12. The dimming method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein, regarding the incremental increase of driving electric power that is supplied to said light source:
said driving electric power is supplied to said light source from said supply unit upon receiving said lighting signal when the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit surpasses a predetermined optical threshold value, and when the driving electric power that is supplied to said light source is incrementally increased when the intensity of the light that is detected by said detection unit is lower than said predetermined optical threshold value.