Projector Exhaust Shutter Closure During Power Interruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing projection display devices fail to reliably close the exhaust port when the external power source is interrupted, leading to potential dust and insect ingress, especially in dust-prone environments, and result in unnecessary power consumption and increased capacity of the standby power source.

Innovation Solution

A projection display device equipped with an electricity storage section and a control section that detects power interruptions, transitioning the device to a low-power state and driving a shutter to close the exhaust port, thereby reducing irrelevant power consumption and ensuring the shutter is closed reliably.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a drive motor is used to drive the opening and closing mechanism, then the exhaust port can be closed, but it takes time before the exhaust port is completely closed and the user has to wait

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexhaust port closure reliabilityVSAvoidclosure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical drive motor system with an elastic member (spring) that automatically drives the shutter to the closed position. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for powered actuation and significantly reduces closure time while ensuring reliable closing even during power interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member is pre-loaded during normal operation to store potential energy. When power is interrupted or the shutter needs to close, this pre-stored energy is immediately released to rapidly close the shutter, eliminating the delay associated with motor activation and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Temperature

If power is supplied from a standby power source section after power interruption, then cooling can be performed, but power is consumed before the exhaust port is closed making it impossible to close the exhaust port

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling functionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member is pre-loaded during normal operation when power is available, storing potential energy in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when power is interrupted, the stored energy can immediately drive shutter closure without requiring additional power consumption at the critical moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system operates in periodic cycles: during normal operation the elastic member is gradually loaded and cooling is performed; upon power interruption, the stored energy is rapidly discharged to close the shutter. This periodic charging and discharging allows the system to balance cooling requirements with the ability to close the shutter when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the plug is disconnected, the opening and closing mechanism cannot be driven and therefore the exhaust port cannot be closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplug connection convenienceVSAvoidexhaust port closure reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrically-driven mechanical system with a passively-operated mechanical system using an elastic member. This substitution eliminates the dependency on external power for the closing function, allowing the shutter to close reliably even when the plug is disconnected, while maintaining ease of operation during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic member provides self-service by automatically driving the shutter to the closed position using stored potential energy without requiring external power input. This self-powered mechanism ensures the exhaust port closes reliably regardless of plug connection status, while the system remains easy to operate during normal powered operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for reliable closure of the exhaust port during power interruptions, reducing power consumption, preventing dust and insect ingress, and optimizing the power source storage capacity, thus enhancing the device's usability and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

an electricity storage section (22B) that stores power from the external power source and supplies the stored power as operating power when the external power source is interrupted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitor energy storage: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS9354495B2Projection display device and method for controlling the same

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

In at least one embodiment, a projection display device comprises a device main body, a shutter that opens and closes an opening for ventilation, and an electricity storage section that stores power from an external power source. If an interruption detecting section detects a power supply from the external power source is stopped and a time in which the power supply is stopped is longer than a predetermined time, the interruption detecting section detects that the external power source is interrupted. If the interruption of the external power source is detected, a control section performs a control to reduce a power consumption of the device main body and a control to drive the shutter so that the shutter is closed by the power supplied from the electricity storage section.