Projection apparatus and method for switching operation modes thereof

Abstract

A projection apparatus includes a light source module, a first color wheel, a second color wheel and a control unit. The light source module provides an illuminating light beam. The first and the second color wheels are disposed on an optical path of the illuminating light beam. The first and the second color wheels respectively have a first white segment and a second white segment with unequal areas. The control unit is electrically coupled to the first and the second color wheels. In a first mode, the control unit controls the first white segment to stop on the optical path and controls the second color wheel to rotate. In a second mode, the control unit controls the second white segment to stop on the optical path and controls the first color wheel to rotate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration showing main elements of a conventional DLP projector.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration partially showing a structure of a conventional DLP projector using a dual-layer color wheel.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing main elements of a DLP projector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for switching operation modes of the projection apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration showing main elements of another DLP projector according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing main elements of still another DLP projector according to still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing a color segment arrangement of a color wheel according to the invention.

Claims

1. A projection apparatus having a first mode and a second mode, the projection apparatus comprising: a light source module for providing an illuminating light beam;a first color wheel and a second color wheel disposed on an optical path of the illuminating light beam and respectively having a first white segment and a second white segment, wherein an area of the first white segment is unequal to an area of the second white segment;a control unit electrically coupled to the first color wheel and the second color wheel, for controlling the first white segment of the first color wheel to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam and controlling the second color wheel to rotate when being in the first mode, and for controlling the second white segment of the second color wheel to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam and controlling the first color wheel to rotate when being in the second mode;a light valve electrically coupled to the control unit, for generating an image light beam; anda projection lens disposed on the optical path of the image light beam for projecting the image light beam to display an image.

2. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating light beam passing through the first color wheel and the second color wheel has a first cross section and a second cross section respectively, the areas of the first white segment and the second white segment are larger than or equal to the areas of the first cross section and the second cross section, respectively.

3. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first mode is a video mode, the second mode is a data mode, and the area of the first white segment is larger than the area of the second white segment.

4. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light integration rod disposed on the optical path of the illuminating light beam, wherein the first color wheel and the second color wheel are disposed on one end of the light integration rod.

5. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light integration rod disposed on the optical path of the illuminating light beam, wherein the first color wheel and the second color wheel are disposed on two ends of the light integration rod.

6. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third color wheel disposed on the optical path of the illuminating light beam, wherein the third color wheel comprises a third white segment, an area of the third white segment is unequal to the areas of the first white segment and the second white segment, and the control unit controls the third white segment of the third color wheel to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam when being in the first mode and the second mode, and the control unit controls the first white segment and the second white segment to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam and controls the third color wheel to rotate when being in a third mode.

7. The projection apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a first light integration rod and a second light integration rod disposed on the optical path of the illuminating light beam, wherein the first color wheel, the second color wheel and the third color wheel are respectively disposed on a light inlet of the first light integration rod, a light outlet of the first light integration rod and a light outlet of the second light integration rod.

8. The projection apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a lens unit disposed between the first light integration rod and the second light integration rod, for converging the illuminating light beam outputted from the first light integration rod into the second light integration rod.

9. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first light integration rod, a prism and a second light integration rod disposed on the optical path of the illuminating light beam, wherein an optical axis of the first light integration rod is perpendicular to an optical axis of the second light integration rod, the prism is disposed between the first light integration rod and the second light integration rod and reflects the illuminating light beam outputted from the first light integration rod into the second light integration rod, and the first color wheel and the second color wheel are respectively disposed on an inlet of the first light integration rod and an outlet of the second light integration rod.

10. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source module is selected from a group consisting of: a high-pressure mercury lamp, a white light OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), a metal halide light (MHL) and a halogen lamp.

11. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensing unit coupled to the control unit, for sensing rotation angles of the first color wheel and the second color wheel and outputting a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively; anda braking unit coupled to the control unit, for stopping the first color wheel and the second color wheel,wherein the control unit controls the braking unit to stop the first white segment of the first color wheel or the second white segment of the second color wheel on the optical path of the illuminating light beam according to the first sensing signal or the second sensing signal.

12. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing unit for sensing rotation angles of the first color wheel and the second color wheel and outputting a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively, wherein the first color wheel and the second color wheel respectively output a first control signal and a second control signal to the control unit according to the passed illuminating light beam, the control unit controls the first white segment to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam according to the first control signal and the first sensing signal, and alternatively controls the second white segment to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam according to the second control signal and the second sensing signal.

13. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light valve is selected from a group consisting of: a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon).

14. A method for switching operation modes of a projection apparatus, the projection apparatus comprising a light source module, a first color wheel and a second color wheel, the light source module providing an illuminating light beam, the first color wheel comprising a first white segment, the second color wheel comprising a second white segment having an area unequal to an area of the first white segment, the method comprising the steps of: judging whether the projection apparatus is in a first mode or a second mode; andcontrolling one of the first color wheel and the second color wheel to rotate, and the first white segment or the second white segment of the other color wheel to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam, when the projection apparatus being in the first mode, the second color wheel rotates and the first white segment being stopped on the optical path of the illuminating light beam to perform an operation of the first mode; and when the projection apparatus being in the second mode, the first color wheel rotates and the second white segment being stopped on the optical path of the illuminating light beam to perform an operation of the second mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of performing the operation of the first mode comprises: controlling the first color wheel to rotate and sensing a rotation angle of the first color wheel to output a first sensing signal; andcontrolling the first white segment of the first color wheel to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam according to the first sensing signal.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of performing the second mode comprises: controlling the second color wheel to rotate and sensing a rotation angle of the second color wheel to output a second sensing signal; andcontrolling the second white segment of the second color wheel to stop on the optical path of the illuminating light beam according to the second sensing signal.