BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a projection apparatus adopting the temperature controlling system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2(
a) is a schematic flow diagram of a projection apparatus adopting the temperature controlling system under a low temperature environment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2(
b) is a schematic flow diagram of a projection apparatus adopting the temperature controlling system in accordance with the present invention, in which the system begins to operate in a low temperature environment;
FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a projection apparatus adopting an alternative temperature controlling system in a low temperature environment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a projection apparatus adopting the temperature controlling system under a high temperature environment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a projection apparatus adopting an alternative temperature controlling system under a high temperature environment in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the switch between the heating mode and the cooling mode of the TE device under current changes; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the switch between the heating mode and the cooling mode of the TE device under the control of a solenoid valve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIG. 1, the temperature controlling system is adapted for a projection apparatus 1, which comprises at least one heat generating element 101. The temperature controlling system of the present invention is able to regulate the circumferential temperature of the heat generating element 101. As a result, the projection apparatus is able to operate under an anticipated and proper working temperature. It is understandable that the heat generating element 101 may comprise a digital micromirror device (DMD) 101(a), an optical engine 101(b), a color wheel 101(c), and/or other elements 101(d) that may generate heat.
The temperature controlling system comprises a liquid flow system 103, a heat generating device, and a heat transferring device. The liquid flow system 103 is preferably a closed system which comprises at least a pump 103(a), a reservoir 103(b), and a liquid pipe 103(c). The liquid flow system 103 is disposed along the heat generating element 101. The liquid flow system 103 and the heat generating element 101 are substantially connected to each other. Heat generated by the heat generating element 101 is transferred through the liquid pipe 103(c) by a circulating liquid that has high specific heat to control the temperature. The circulating liquid is preferably but not limited to, water. After the temperature of the circulating liquid gradually reaches equilibrium, the circulating liquid flows into the reservoir 103(b). Thereafter, the circulating liquid in the reservoir 103(b) is pressurized by a pump 103(a), and pushed to flow towards the heat generating element 101 along the liquid pipe 103(c). A further cycle subsequently starts to control the temperature of the interior of the projection apparatus.
The following descriptions are provided for further illustrating the features of the present invention. The heat generating device, disposed behind the pump 103(a), selectively generates heat with a positive value or a negative value in response to a temperature lower than or a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, respectively. In this embodiment, the heat generating device 105 can be a thermoelectric device (TE device). The TE device can be either a TE heater or a TE cooler for generating heat with a positive value or a negative value, respectively. The heat generating device can also be a traditional heater for generating heat with the positive value. The heat generating device changes the initial temperature of the circulating liquid to heat up or cool down the circulating liquid to the desired working temperature.
The heat transferring device 107 then transfers the heat selectively generated by the heat generating device 105 along the liquid flow system 103, thereby maintaining the operation of the projection apparatus 1 under the desired working temperature. The heat transferring device 107 can include a radiator 107(a), at least one fin 107(b), and/or at least a fan 107(c), which follow(s) the heat generating device 105 or heat generating element 101 for heat transfer in the liquid flow system 103.
Furthermore, when the projection apparatus needs to operate under a relatively low temperature environment, like an environment with a temperature lower than one required for the apparatus to start up at 5° C., an embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 2(a), is adopted for this situation. The embodiment is a projection apparatus 2 comprising the aforementioned temperature controlling system. The heat generating device is a TE heater 203 for generating heat with a positive value in response to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. The projection apparatus 2 is disposed under a low temperature environment, and therefore, the circulating liquid of the temperature controlling system bears a lower initial temperature. Once the circulating liquid flows out from the pump 201, the TE heater 203 raises the temperature of the circulating liquid by exerting heat with the positive value. The first heat transferring device 209, comprising a fan 205 and a fin 207, radiates heat with the positive value to other parts of the projection apparatus 2, especially to heat generating elements such as the lamp, to raise the overall temperature of the projection apparatus 2. The circulating liquid, with the raised temperature, flows through the DMD 211, optical engine 213, color wheel 215, and other heat generating elements 217, to raise the temperature of these elements by exerting heat with the positive value carried by the circulating liquid. The circulating liquid may further flow through a second heat transferring device 223, comprising a radiator 219 and a fan 221, to radiate the heat into the projection apparatus 2. Then, the circulating liquid flows into the reservoir 225 to complete a circulation cycle. The pump 201 dips out the circulating liquid from the reservoir 225, and then continues the next cycle to raise the temperature of the interior of the projection apparatus 2. When the projection apparatus 2 reaches the temperature for starting up the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the TE heater 203 and the first heat transferring device 209 stop working. As a result, heat with the positive value is not generated anymore to help the projection apparatus 2 start up, wherein the elements (including the TE heater 203 and the first heat transferring device 209) are omitted in this figure represents to show their termination of work.
When the projection apparatus needs to operate under a relatively low temperature environment, which is lower than the start-up temperature of the interior elements, another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 3, is possible by replacing the TE heater with a traditional heater 301. The principle underlying the operation of this embodiment is the same as that of the aforementioned embodiment.
If the projection apparatus needs to operate under a relatively high temperature environment, like an environment with a temperature higher than that required to start up the apparatus at 35° C., an embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 4, is adapted for this situation. The embodiment is a projection apparatus 4 comprising the aforementioned temperature controlling system, while the heat generating device is a TE cooler for generating heat with a negative value in response to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature. The projection apparatus 4 is disposed in a high temperature environment, where the circulating liquid of the temperature controlling system bears a higher initial temperature. Once the circulating liquid flows out from the pump 401, the TE cooler 403 reduces the temperature of the circulating liquid by exerting beat with the negative value. The first heat transferring device 409, comprising a fan 405 and a fin 407, radiates the heat with the negative value to other parts of the projection apparatus 4 to reduce the overall temperature of the projection apparatus 4. The aforementioned heat with the negative value may be formed by ventilating air which is generated by a fan blowing over the cooled circulating liquid. The cooled down liquid flows through a DMD 411, an optical engine 413, a color wheel 415, and other heat generating elements 417, to reduce the temperature of these elements by exerting heat with the negative value that is carried by the circulating liquid. The circulating liquid may further flow through a second heat transferring device 423, comprising a radiator 419 and a fan 421, to radiate the heat into the projection apparatus 4. The circulating liquid then flows into the reservoir 425 to complete the circulation cycle. The pump 401 dips out the circulating liquid from the reservoir 425, and then continues the next circulation to reduce the temperature of the interior of the projection apparatus 4 again. When the projection apparatus 4 reaches the temperature for starting up the apparatus, the TE cooler 403 and the first heat transferring device 409 continue to generate heat with the negative value to help cool the projection apparatus 4 after start-up.
When the projection apparatus needs to operate in a relatively high temperature environment which is higher than the start-up temperature of the interior elements, another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 5, is implemented. The hot side of the TE cooler 403 of the former embodiment is connected, via a heat pipe 501, to the third heat transferring device 507 comprising a fan 503 and a radiator 505. The heat pipe 501 transfers the heat generated by the hot side of the TE cooler 403 to the third heat transferring device 507. The application of the fan 503 and the radiator 505 allows the heat to spread out rapidly to improve heat radiation efficiency of the projection apparatus 5. The principle underlying the operations of the other parts of this embodiment is the same as that of the aforementioned embodiments.
In the above-mentioned embodiments, the TE heater and the TE cooler can be included in the TE device. By applying different current directions, as shown in FIG. 6, the TE device can be switched to a heating mode or a cooling mode in response to the desired interior working temperatures of the projector under different ambient temperatures. The technology of switching the TE device to the heating mode or a cooling mode can also be implemented by a solenoid valve to achieve a similar objective, as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, replacing the TE device with other kinds of merchant TE coolers that have the dual function of switchable heating and cooling modes also achieves the objective of the present invention.
The aforementioned liquid heat transferring technology of cooling and/or heating may be utilized in assisting the projection apparatus in reaching a normal start-up temperature after evaluating the abnormal ambient temperature of the projection apparatus. People skilled in this field may apply the technology on a normally operating projection apparatus for maintaining its interior working temperature under a normal condition, thereby improving the efficiency of the projection apparatus, and extending the service life of the interior elements, especially the heat generating elements.
The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.
Patent Application
20070240429
