METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISCHARGE LAMP OF A PROJECTION ARRANGEMENT AND PROJECTION ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, a method for operating a discharge lamp of a projection arrangement is provided. The method includes storing the first commutation scheme in the ballast, such that the first commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a first criterion, wherein the first criterion represents an electrode burnback; storing of the second commutation scheme in the ballast, such that the second commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a second criterion; and operation of the discharge lamp with the alternation of the first and the second commutation schemes; characterized in that, a periodic brightness fluctuation in the discharge lamp is employed as the second criterion.

Claims

1. A method for operating a discharge lamp of a projection arrangement, wherein the projection arrangement comprises a predefined rotatable color wheel and the discharge lamp for the illumination of the color wheel, wherein the discharge lamp has two electrodes, wherein the projection arrangement has a ballast for the discharge lamp, which ballast provides a lamp current, configured as an alternating current, having at least one first waveform when the projection arrangement of the discharge lamp is operated, the waveform having a first definable commutation scheme, which is described by a first commutation vector, and a second definable waveform having a second definable commutation scheme, which is described by a second commutation vector, wherein each commutation vector has a binary value for each position defined by the color wheel as a potential point of current commutation, such that a polarity of the electrodes is commutated in accordance with the respective commutation scheme; the method comprising: storing the first commutation scheme in the ballast, such that the first commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a first criterion, wherein the first criterion represents an electrode burnback; storing the second commutation scheme in the ballast, such that the second commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a second criterion; and operating the discharge lamp with the alternation of the first and the second commutation schemes; wherein a periodic brightness fluctuation in the discharge lamp is employed as the second criterion.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, determining at least one operating parameter for the discharge lamp; and setting a time ratio between operation in accordance with the first commutation scheme and operation in accordance with the second commutation scheme, in relation to the operating parameter determined.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the average lamp current is employed as an operating parameter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein at an average lamp current below a definable threshold value, the proportion of operation in accordance with the second commutation scheme is predominant whereas, at an average lamp current which exceeds the definable threshold value, the proportion of operation in accordance with the first commutation scheme is predominant.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the average arc voltage is employed as an operating parameter.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the average power conversion of the discharge lamp is employed as an operating parameter.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first commutation scheme is selected such that the lamp arc voltage associated with operation according to the first commutation scheme, over a definable time interval, does not increase by more than 0.05 V/h.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first commutation scheme is selected such that a lamp current can be delivered at a frequency between 30 Hz and 300 Hz.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein an asymmetrical commutation scheme is selected as the first commutation scheme.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second commutation scheme is selected such that operation with the second commutation scheme reduces periodic fluctuations in brightness.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a symmetrical commutation scheme is selected as the second commutation scheme in relation to the image refresh rate of the projection arrangement.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second commutation scheme is selected such that the time within which a first electrode, which is set to a first polarity and a first color segment, is switched to a second polarity and switched back again to the first polarity and the first color segment, is equal to or lower than 20 ms, corresponding to a minimum repetition frequency of 50 Hz.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein alternation proceeds statically.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein alternation varies dynamically.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein variation proceeds such that, after a definable time, the set time ratio between operation according to the first commutation scheme and operation according to the second commutation scheme is achieved.

16. A projection arrangement having a predefined rotatable color wheel and a discharge lamp for the illumination of the color wheel, wherein the discharge lamp has two electrodes, wherein the projection arrangement has a ballast for the discharge lamp, which ballast can provide a lamp current, configured as an alternating current, having at least one first waveform when the projection arrangement of the discharge lamp is operated, the waveform having a first definable commutation scheme, which can be described by a first commutation vector, and a second definable waveform having a second definable commutation scheme, which can be described by a second commutation vector, wherein each commutation vector has a binary value for each position defined by the color wheel as a potential point of current commutation, such that a polarity of the electrodes is commutatable in accordance with the respective commutation scheme, wherein the projection arrangement has a memory device in which the first commutation scheme and the second commutation scheme are stored, wherein the first commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a first criterion, wherein the first criterion represents an electrode burnback, wherein the second commutation scheme fulfils a specification with respect to a second criterion, wherein the ballast is designed for the alternating operation of the discharge lamp according to the first and the second commutation schemes, wherein the second criterion represents a periodic brightness fluctuation in the discharge lamp.

17. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first commutation scheme is selected such that the lamp arc voltage associated with operation according to the first commutation scheme, over a definable time interval, does not increase by no more than 0.01 V/h.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first commutation scheme is selected such that a lamp current can be delivered at a frequency between 45 Hz and 150 Hz.

19. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the asymmetrical commutation scheme has a frequency modulation factor equal to or greater than 3, and equal to or lower than 8.

20. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein alternation varies stochastically or erratically.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0034] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a projection arrangement according to the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the setting of a time ratio between operation according to a first commutation scheme (KS_B) and operation according to a second commutation scheme (KS_A), in relation to the average arc voltage or the average lamp current;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of examples of the time characteristic of a lamp current according to a waveform (WF_A), which generates limited scintillations, and according to a waveform (WF_B) which results in limited electrode burnback; and

[0038] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a static alternation of the two waveforms (FIG. 4a)), and a randomized variation (FIG. 4b)).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] A projection arrangement 10 according to the present disclosure includes a predefined rotatable color wheel 14 with filter segments 15a, 15i, by means of which the required color fractions are filtered out of the light emitted by a white light source 12, specifically a high-pressure discharge lamp, using color filters. The discharge lamp 12 has two electrodes, which are not represented in greater detail. The projection arrangement 10 moreover includes a ballast 16 for the discharge lamp 12, which ballast provides a lamp current, configured as an alternating current, having at least one first waveform WF_B when the projection arrangement 10 of the discharge lamp 12 is operated, said waveform having a first definable commutation scheme KS_B, which is described by a first commutation vector, and a second definable waveform WF_A having a second definable commutation scheme KS_A, which is described by a second commutation vector. Each commutation vector has a binary value for each position defined by the color wheel 14 as a potential point of current commutation, such that a polarity of the electrodes is commutated in accordance with the respective commutation scheme.

[0040] The first commutation scheme KS_B and the second commutation scheme KS_A are stored in a memory 18 of the ballast 16. The first commutation scheme KS_B, which generates the waveform WF_B, is configured such that said scheme produces a limited electrode burnback. The second commutation scheme KS_A is configured such that the waveform resulting therefrom generates limited scintillations, i.e. limited periodic brightness fluctuations in the discharge lamp. Exemplary waveforms are described in greater detail hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3.

[0041] According to the present disclosure, the discharge lamp 12 essentially operates alternately with the first waveform WF_B and the second waveform WF_A.

[0042] The ballast 16 has an input E for the infeed of the image content to be projected. The ballast 16 includes a device 22 for the determination of an operating parameter of the discharge lamp 12. Specifically, the average lamp current IL, the average arc voltage U.sub.B, and the average power P converted in the discharge lamp 12 are considered for this purpose. The ballast 16 is designed to set a time ratio between operation according to the first commutation scheme KS_B and operation according to the second commutation scheme KS_A, in relation to the operating parameter determined. Specifically, an operating parameter is to be determined which permits the establishment of a reliable conclusion in respect of, firstly, the situation regarding electrode burnback, and secondly the situation regarding the risk of periodic brightness fluctuations.

[0043] In this regard, the ballast 16 can be designed such that the power delivered to the discharge lamp 12 is set to a constant value, for example 300 W. The arc voltage U.sub.B is critically dependent upon the clearance between the electrodes in the discharge lamp 12, and upon the internal pressure in the discharge chamber of the discharge lamp 12. In principle, in the light of easier measurability during the operation of the discharge lamp at rated capacity, evaluation of the arc voltage U.sub.B as the operating parameter is recommended accordingly.

[0044] In an optional dimmed mode, it can be provided that the ballast 16 is designed to deliver reduced power to the discharge lamp in relation to the rated capacity, e.g. in the aforementioned example 250 W rather than 300 W. In this case, however, according to a first approximation, the arc voltage U.sub.B remains the same. Accordingly, this parameter does not reflect the increased risk of periodic brightness fluctuations. In dimmed operation, however, the average lamp current IL is subject to change. In this case, evaluation of the lamp current IL as the operating parameter is therefore more strongly recommended.

[0045] Although the setting of the time ratio in relation to the instantaneous value of at least one operating parameter is particularly advantageous, the static setting of a fixed ratio delivers sufficient advantages in relation to the prior art, in specific applications. The determination and evaluation of at least one operating parameter, and the setting of the time ratio between operation according to the first (KS_B) and the second commutation scheme KS_A, in relation to the at least one operating parameter determined, can then be omitted.

[0046] Regarding the setting of the ratio in relation to the at least one operating parameter, reference is made to FIG. 2 which shows that, as the arc voltage U.sub.B rises, the percentage fraction of the time ratio during which operation is executed with the waveform WF_A increases. Correspondingly, the fraction of operation with the waveform WF_B decreases. For example, in the exemplary embodiment with an arc voltage U.sub.B of 120 V, the fraction of WF_A is 68% and the fraction of WF_B is 32%. A decline in the arc voltage U.sub.B is associated with a rise in the lamp current IL wherein, at a high lamp current IL, the preferred fraction of WF_A is low and the preferred fraction of WF_B is high. Below an average lamp current IL of approximately 3 A (in the exemplary embodiment), the fraction of WF_B is predominant whereas, above this threshold value, the fraction of WF_A is predominant.

[0047] At a lamp current IL of, for example, 4.3 A, which corresponds to an arc voltage U.sub.B of 70 V in the embodiment, the fraction of WF_A is approximately 18%, whereas the fraction of WF_B, correspondingly, is approximately 82%.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary time characteristic of the lamp current IL for a waveform WF_A which generates limited scintillations, and for a waveform WF_B which is associated with limited electrode burnback. Accordingly, in the embodiment, the waveform WF_A is based upon a symmetrical commutation scheme, in the present case with a frequency of 60 Hz. In the embodiment, the waveform WF_B is based upon an asymmetrical commutation scheme, in the present case with a frequency of 90 Hz. Naturally, both waveforms WF_A, WF_B are designed for operation with one and the same color wheel 14.

[0049] In general, the first commutation scheme KS_B is selected such that the lamp arc voltage U.sub.B during operation with the first commutation scheme KS_B over a definable time interval, for example five hours, does not rise by more than 0.05 V/h, and advantageously by no more than 0.01 V/h. Specifically, this scheme is selected such that a lamp current IL with a frequency between 30 Hz and 300 Hz, and specifically with a frequency between 45 Hz and 150 Hz, can be delivered. An asymmetrical commutation scheme is specifically preferred, wherein asymmetrical commutation schemes with a frequency modulation factor of ≧3 and ≦8, as described heretofore, are predominantly employed.

[0050] The second commutation scheme KS_A employed in the present disclosure is characterized in that, during operation with the second commutation scheme KS_A, periodic brightness fluctuations are reduced, specifically in comparison with operation according to the first commutation scheme KS_B. A measure of periodic brightness fluctuations associated with a specific commutation scheme can be simply established by the measurement of the time characteristic for brightness at the location of the projection screen, for example the measurement of light intensity using a lux meter.

[0051] The second commutation scheme KS_A is advantageously a symmetrical commutation scheme, advantageously with an even number of commutations in relation to the image refresh rate of the projection arrangement 10. In this connection, second commutation schemes KS_A are in particular selected such that the time within which one electrode, which is set to a first polarity and a first color segment, switches to a second polarity and back again to the first polarity and the first color segment, is ≦20 ms, corresponding to a minimum repetition frequency of 50 Hz.

[0052] The variation between the commutation schemes, i.e. between operation with the first waveform WF_B and operation with the second waveform WF_A, can be executed statically. However, this variation can also be executed dynamically and, specifically, randomly. In the last-mentioned embodiment, variation can proceed such that, after a definable time, the set time ratio between operation according to the first commutation scheme KS_B and operation according to the second commutation scheme KS_A is achieved. Further examples of first commutation scheme KS_B can be obtained, for example, from DE 10 2011 089 592 A1, c.f. FIG. 5 therein.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment, wherein a ratio of 90% WF_A to 10% WF_B is to be achieved. The basic unit considered is advantageously a multiple of one frame or one rotation of the color wheel. According to FIG. 4a, variation is executed statically, i.e. every nine units of WF_A are followed by one unit of WF_B. In the sequence represented in FIG. 4b, variation is executed stochastically or erratically such that, after a definable time, the set time ratio, in this case of 90 to 10, is achieved. At an image repetition frequency of, for example 60 Hz, the setting of the required ratio thus involves nine units of WF_A of respective duration 16.67 ms to one unit of WF_B of duration 16.67 ms.

[0054] While the disclosed embodiments have been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosed embodiments is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.