Projection Apparatus Thermal Management via Ambient Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Projection apparatuses accumulate heat during operation, especially in high-temperature environments with poor heat dissipation, leading to accelerated aging and safety concerns, as existing technologies fail to effectively manage temperature-related issues.

Innovation Solution

A projection apparatus equipped with a sensor to monitor ambient temperature, coupled with a processor that selects a driving program to adjust light brightness and operation time, ensuring the light source emits lower brightness as operation time increases, thereby reducing heat accumulation and extending the device's service life and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the projection apparatus operates continuously in high-temperature environments, then the service lifetime is reduced and safety problems occur, but the projection function needs to be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifetimeVSAvoidheat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by controlling the light source to operate in cycles rather than continuously. When the ambient temperature exceeds the threshold, the system alternates between light source on-state (projection function) and off-state (heat dissipation), with the off-duration being longer than the on-duration. This periodic operation pattern allows heat accumulation to be controlled while still providing projection services intermittently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the light source operation state adjustable and controllable based on real-time temperature conditions. The control unit dynamically adjusts the light source between different operational states (on/off) according to the ambient temperature feedback, transforming the static operation mode into a dynamic adaptive mode that responds to environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Illumination intensity

If the light source brightness is maintained at high levels, then the projection quality is good, but heat accumulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight brightnessVSAvoidheat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic action to manage the trade-off between brightness and heat. By cycling the light source between on and off states, the system provides adequate brightness during on-periods while allowing heat dissipation during off-periods, thereby controlling overall heat accumulation while maintaining projection quality when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the operational parameters of the light source based on ambient temperature. When temperature is high, the system changes the duty cycle parameter (ratio of on-time to total period), reducing the on-duration to lower average power consumption and heat generation, while still maintaining projection functionality during active periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3955568B1Projection apparatus and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 CORETRONIC CORPORATION
  • EP3955568B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3955568B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3955568B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A projection apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The projection apparatus includes a light source, an optical engine, a first sensor, and a processor. The light source provides a light beam to the optical engine. The optical engine converts the light beam into an image beam and projects the same out of the projection apparatus. The first sensor senses an ambient temperature. The processor is coupled to the optical engine, the light source, and the first sensor, records a projection time of the optical engine, selects a selected temperature range in which the ambient temperature is included from multiple temperature ranges according to the ambient temperature, and selects a selected driving program from multiple driving programs corresponding to the temperature ranges according to the selected temperature range to control the light source. A brightness of light beam is negatively related to the projection time.