Image display apparatus

Abstract

A projector (image display apparatus) having enhanced visual mute or A / V mute functions includes a light modulation element for displaying an image, a lamp for illuminating the light modulation element, and a fan for cooling the lamp; the image display apparatus further includes a visual mute means for setting a visual mute mode in which no image or a predetermined image is displayed on a display screen thereof, and a lamp output luminance adjusting means for adjusting the output luminance of the lamp in response to the setting and canceling of the visual mute mode by the visual mute means.

Description

[0001]This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 379,576 filed Mar. 6, 2003. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, and, more specifically, to a projector including an image display element, a lamp for illuminating the image display element, and a fan for cooling the lamp. The invention also relates to a technique for setting a mode in which no image or a predetermined image is displayed on a display screen of the image display apparatus, without stopping the action of the lamp, and to a technique for canceling such setting.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Generally, in a projector of the related art, when the user selects a mode to display no image, or a predetermined image on a display screen (hereinafter referred to as “Visual Mute Mode”), keeping a main power supply in the ON-st...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In view of such problems, an object of the invention is to provide an image display apparatus wherein the output luminance of the lamp and the undesired sound of the fan are suitably lowered when setting the visual mute mode or the A / V mute mode, so that the effect of the setting of the mode may be heightened. It is another object of the invention to provide an image display apparatus that is able to restore the normal display quickly when the setting of such a mute mode is canceled.

[0012]Preferably, the lamp output luminance adjusting means functions in such a manner that the output luminance of the lamp is lowered in accordance with the setting of the visual mute mode by the visual mute means, and the output luminance of the lamp is restored to a state before setting the visual mute mode in accordance with the cancellation of the setting. In this arrangement, when the image display apparatus is in the visual mute mode, the visual mute is effectively achieved by eliminating the influence of the illumination light on the display screen, and when the visual mute mode is cancelled, the normal image can be displayed quickly on the screen.

[0014]Preferably, the fan speed adjusting means functions in such a manner that the revolution speed of the fan decreases in accordance with the setting of the visual mute mode by the visual mute means, and is restored to a state before the setting of the visual mute mode in accordance with the cancellation of the setting. In this arrangement, when the image display apparatus is in the visual mute mode, the visual mute is effectively achieved by reducing the revolution speed of the fan and hence reducing its undesired sound, and when the visual mute mode is cancelled, the revolution speed of the fan can be restored to the revolution speed under normal control.

[0016]Preferably, the audio adjusting means functions in such a manner that the output of the speaker is stopped in accordance with the setting of the visual mute mode by the visual mute means, and the output of the speaker is restored in accordance with the cancellation of the setting. In this arrangement, when the image display apparatus is in the visual mute mode, the audio output is completely stopped, and when the visual mute mode is cancelled, the sound can be quickly output in accordance with the normal image display.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, when a blackened image is displayed on the display screen of the image display element, illumination light is transmitted through the display screen and thus the image on the display screen cannot be made completely black.

Further, since the cooling fan keeps operating, undesired sound of the fan stands out, and thus the effect of the visual mute or the A / V mute is not achieved sufficiently.

On the other hand, if the illumination lamp is turned OFF when setting the visual mute mode or the A / V mute mode, it takes too long to restore the display in the case of canceling the setting of the mode.

Therefore, electrons can hardly move from cathode to anode even when high voltage at a high frequency is applied in such state, so that discharge cannot be started soon in the tube.

As a consequence, it is impossible to relight the lamp immediately.

Therefore, switching the mode of the display screen between a display mode and the visual mute mode as desired by turning the lamp ON and OFF requires a long waiting time, and hence is inappropriate in terms of users' environments.

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