Color wheel index aligning device and alignment method thereof

A color wheel index aligning apparatus for a projection display apparatus and an alignment method thereof. The color wheel index aligning apparatus has a signal supply unit for supplying a predetermined image signal to the display apparatus, a color detection unit for detecting the color of the image signal output to the screen, a storage unit for storing a color coordinate value, and a control unit for measuring the color coordinate of the color detected at the color detection unit based on the color coordinates stored in the storage unit, and using the measured color coordinate value, providing the display apparatus with an alignment value for aligning the color wheel index. Increasing and decreasing the delay time of the output timing of an R, G and B color signal in correspondence with the increase and decrease of the alignment value, the display apparatus automatically adjusts aligns the color wheel index.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-86116, filed Dec. 28, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a projection display apparatus using a color wheel such as a digital light processing projection television, and more particularly to a color wheel index aligning apparatus and an alignment method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a projection display apparatus such as a digital light processing projection television uses a color wheel in order to separate light from a light source into color lights, in which a desired color is properly displayed on a screen of the display apparatus only when the reference color of the color wheel aligns with the color of the image signal processed at the projection display apparatus.

A reference point is indicated on the color wheel for aligning the respective starting positions of a corresponding image signal and the color wheel. A detection element is provided to detect the reference point. A reference point signal, the resultant signal of detecting the reference point, is provided to the image signal processor, and accordingly, the color of the image signal is made to align with the separated color from the color wheel by delaying the corresponding image signal at the image signal processor.

However, the respective positions of the detection element and the reference point of the color wheel often vary in respective lots due to errors made during an assembling process. Conventionally, in order to compensate for such variance, a delay of a color wheel index was manually adjusted by slightly varying the mounting position of the detection element. Since this method relies on the guesswork of the adjusting person, alignment was sometimes inaccurate if the adjuster changes, or due to various changes in surrounding conditions. Another problem was that it took a lengthy time for the alignment process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consistently, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a color wheel index aligning apparatus which shortens the alignment time and improves accuracy of alignment through the automation of a color wheel index alignment process of a digital light processing (DLP) projection display apparatus and an alignment method thereof.

In order to achieve the above aspects and/or features of the present invention, a color wheel index aligning apparatus for a display apparatus having a color wheel as a color separator includes a signal supply unit which supplies a predetermined image signal to the display apparatus, the predetermined image signal being processed at the display apparatus and output to a screen, a color detection unit which detects the color of an image signal output to the screen, a storage unit which stores color coordinates with respect to red, green and blue colors, and a control unit which measures a color coordinate value of the color detected at the color detection unit based on the color coordinates stored in the storage unit, and using the measured color coordinate value, providing the display apparatus with an alignment value for aligning a color wheel index.

The above aspects are additionally achieved with a color wheel index aligning apparatus for a display apparatus having a color wheel as a color separator, comprising means for supplying a predetermined image signal to the display apparatus, the predetermined image signal being processed at the display apparatus and output to a screen, means for detecting the color of an image signal output to the screen, means for storing color coordinates with respect to red, green and blue colors, and means for measuring a color coordinate value of the color detected at the color detection means based on the color coordinates stored in the storage means, and using the measured color coordinate value, providing the display apparatus with an alignment value for aligning a color wheel index.

The signal supply unit supplies at least one of the image signal of red, green and blue colors, and the control unit adjusts the alignment value based on the color coordinate value of one of the image signals of red, green and blue colors being supplied from the signal supply unit.

The control unit compares a first color coordinate value with respect to the color of the image signal currently output to the screen and a second color coordinate value with respect to the color of the image signal previously output to the screen, and when the first color coordinate value is equal to, or greater than the second color coordinate value, the control unit increases and decreases the alignment value and provides the display apparatus with the alignment value.

The display apparatus includes an image signal processor for processing the supplied predetermined image signal into R, G and B color signals and outputting the processed R, G and B color signals, and a system control unit for controlling an output timing of the R, G and B color signals from the image signal processor. The system control unit controls the image signal processor to increase and decrease the delay time of the output timing for the R, G and B color signals in correspondence with the increased and decreased alignment value provided from the control unit.

Consistent with the present invention, an alignment method of a color wheel index aligning apparatus which is for a display apparatus having a color wheel as a color separator, includes a signal supply step for supplying a predetermined image signal to the display apparatus, a display step for processing the predetermined image signal and outputting the processed signal to a screen of the display apparatus, a color detection step for detecting the color of the image signal output to the screen of the display apparatus, an adjusting step for measuring the color coordinate value of the color detected in the color detection step based on the pre-stored color coordinates, and using the measured color coordinate value, aligning and adjusting an alignment value for aligning a color wheel index, and a providing step for providing the display apparatus with the alignment value adjusted in the adjusting step.

Also consistent with the present invention, an alignment method of a color wheel index aligning apparatus which is for a display apparatus having a color wheel as a color separator, comprising supplying a predetermined image signal to the display apparatus, processing the predetermined image signal and outputting the processed signal to a screen of the display apparatus, detecting the color of the image signal output to the screen of the display apparatus, measuring the color coordinate value of the color detected in the color detection step based on the pre-stored color coordinates, and using the measured color coordinate value, aligning and adjusting an alignment value for aligning a color wheel index, and providing the display apparatus with the alignment value adjusted in the adjusting step.

In the signal supply step, at least one of the image signal of red, green and blue colors is supplied, and in the adjusting step, the alignment value is adjusted based on the color coordinate value of one of the image signal of red, green and blue colors being supplied in the signal supply step.

The adjusting step includes the comparing step of comparing a first color coordinate value with respect to the color of the image signal currently output to the screen and a second color coordinate value with respect to the color of the image signal previously output to the screen, and the increasing/decreasing step of, when the first color coordinate value is equal to, or greater than the second color coordinate value, increasing and decreasing the alignment value.

The display step includes the output step of processing the supplied predetermined image signal into R, G and B color signals, and outputting the processed R, G and B color signals, and the output step increases and decreases the delay time of the output timing for the R, G and B color signals in correspondence with the increase and decrease of the alignment value.

As the delay of the output timing of the R, G, B color signals from the image signal processor is adjusted in synchronization with the periodicity of the R, G, B color beams which are separated through the color wheel, the index of the color wheel is adjusted automatically. Accordingly, the adjustment process is automated, and adjustment time for color wheel index processing is shortened. As a result, mass production is carried out more efficiently. Furthermore, since a possible error from the manual adjustment or the variations in respective sets can be avoided, adjustment accuracy improves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram of the projection display apparatus100, which includes a light source10, a color wheel20, an image signal processor40, a display element50, a projection lens60, a screen70, a signal input unit80, and a system control unit90.

The light source10includes a lamp such as a metal halide lamp to generate a white light.

The color wheel20, has 3 or 3n of red, green and blue color filters arranged at uniform intervals to selectively pass corresponding color beams from the light source10.

The image signal processor40processes image signals. That is, the image signal processor40includes an analog-to-digital (AD) converter (not shown) that digitalizes an analog image signal, and a luminance/chrominance (Y/C) separator that processes and separates an image signal into an R, G, B color signal and separates a brightness signal from the R, G, B color signal.

The display element50includes a spatial light modulator (SML) such as, inter alia, a digital micromirror device (MD).

The light is emitted from the light source10into the color wheel20, and due to the rotating of the color wheel20, R, G, B color beams are sequentially illuminated onto the display element50(hereinafter briefly called ‘DMD’), and as a result, a color image signal is realized. Based on the R, G, B color beams from the color wheel20, an R, G, B color signal processed at the image signal processor40is sequentially input to the DMD50. Micro-mirrors51, which are arranged in the DMD50in correspondence with the respective pixels, are inclined a predetermined angle according to the input image signal, and the color beams from the color wheel20are reflected from the micro-mirrors51to fall incident on the projection lens60.

Then as the color beams, magnified by the projection lens60, are formed on the screen70, realization of the color image signal is completed. As described above, the image signal is displayed on the screen70with the synchronization of the incident R, G, B color beams on the DMD50and the R, G, B color signal.

The signal input unit80receives an input of a predetermined signal from an external device. That is, the signal input unit80receives an input of the R, G, B color signal and a predetermined control signal from the color wheel index aligning apparatus200.

The system control unit90controls overall operation of the system of the projection display apparatus. In other words, the system control unit90aligns the color wheel index of the projection display apparatus in accordance with the predetermined control signal input from the color wheel index aligning apparatus200.

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram of the color wheel index aligning apparatus200according to the present invention, illustrating the color wheel index aligning apparatus200being connected with the projection display apparatus100.

The color wheel index aligning apparatus200includes a signal supply unit210, a color detection unit230, a storage unit250and a control unit270.

The signal supply unit210supplies to the projection display apparatus100at least one of the R, G, B color signals for aligning the color wheel index of the projection display apparatus100.

The color detection unit230detects the color of the image signal being output through the screen of the projection display apparatus100. The color detection unit230may be, for one example, a photo sensor.

The storage unit250stores a CIE color coordinate system as shown inFIG. 3, which has predetermined coordinates (X, Y) corresponding to the R, G, B colors. The coordinates of the CIE coordinate system ofFIG. 3have the following characteristics. The R signal has maximum X coordinate value and minimum Y coordinate value, the G signal has a minimum X coordinate value and maximum Y coordinate value, and B signal has a minimum X coordinate value and minimum Y coordinate value.

The control unit270compares the color of the image signal on the screen which is detected at the color detection unit230, with the CIE coordinates stored in the storage unit250, and accordingly increases and decreases the adjustment of the color wheel index. More specifically, the control unit230compares the first color coordinates of the color of the image signal currently output on the screen70, with the second color coordinates of the color of the image signal previously output on the screen70. If the first color coordinates are greater than the second color coordinates, the adjustment is accordingly increased or decreased and provided to the display apparatus.

Referring toFIG. 5, a flowchart illustrating a method for aligning a color wheel index according to the present invention, and additionally referring toFIGS. 3 and 4A,4B,4C and4D, a method for aligning the color wheel index will be described below.

FIGS. 4A,4B,4C and4D illustrate some exemplary cases where the color wheel index is not aligned.

More specifically,FIG. 4Aillustrates R, G, B color beams being repeatedly and periodically output from the color wheel20according to a predetermined cycle. The image processor40delays an output timing of the image signal by a predetermined time, i.e., according to the reference point signal detected by the detection element (not shown) that detects the reference point (not shown) indicated on the color wheel20. At this time, the respective positions of the detection element (not shown) and the reference point of the color wheel20vary in each lot, or according to the errors made during the assembling process.

FIG. 4Billustrates an R color signal from the image signal processor40being misaligned from the output timing of the R, G, B color beams from the color wheel20.FIG. 4Cillustrates the misalignment of the R color signal input to the DMD50and the R color beam output from the color wheel20.FIG. 4Dillustrates a subsequent display of the image signal on the screen70in a mixture of R and G color beams.

When the color wheel index is misaligned due to errors of the reference point signal, the projection display apparatus100is connected with the color wheel index aligning apparatus200. Then, power is supplied to the system for color wheel index alignment, i.e., to the projection display apparatus100and the color index aligning apparatus200in operation S11.

The control unit270of the color wheel index aligning apparatus200controls the signal supply unit210to supply a predetermined color signal, for example an R signal, to the projection display apparatus100. At this time, an R image signal is input through the signal input unit80of the projection display apparatus100in operation S13. The R image signal is processed at the image signal processor40into an R signal, and input to the DMD50.

At this time, as shown inFIG. 4D, an image signal of a mixture of R and G is output.

The color detection unit230, detecting the R+G color, provides the control unit270with the data about the color of the image signal being currently output through the screen70.

The control unit270in operation S15measures X coordinate value X1to correspond to the mixture of R+G color based on the CIE color coordinates (X, Y) stored in the storage unit250.

Next, the control unit270goes on into a preparation stage for the color wheel index alignment, with the first operation, which increases a delay time for the output timing of the R color signal, i.e., the alignment value, from the image signal processor40.

The output timing of the R color signal, which is output from the image signal processor40and incident on the DMD50, is delayed by a predetermined time in operation S17. The R color signal is input to the DMD50according to the delayed output timing, and accordingly, after the DMD50and the projection lens60, the image signal corresponding to the delayed R color signal is output through the screen70. The color detection unit230detects the color of the output image signal on the screen70, and the control unit270measures the X coordinate value X2corresponding to the detected color of the image signal based on the CIE color coordinates stored in the storage unit250.

The control unit270in operation S21compares the currently measured X coordinate value X2with the previously measured X coordinate value X1. When the currently measured X coordinate value X2is equal to, or greater than the previously measured X coordinate value X1, the control unit270holds the currently measured X coordinate value X2in operation S23, and lengthens the delay time in operation S17.

Meanwhile, when the currently measured X coordinate value X2is smaller than the previously measured X coordinate value X1, as a next stage, a second operation of shortening the delay time is performed.

More specifically, the control unit270decreases a delay time corresponding to the currently measured X coordinate value X2by a predetermined time in operation S25. Then through the same processes as described above, the color coordinate value corresponding to the color of the image signal displayed on the screen70, i.e., an X coordinate value X3is measured in operation S27.

The control unit270compares the currently measured X coordinate value X3with the previously measured X coordinate value X2in operation S29. When the currently measured X coordinate value X3is equal to, or greater than the previously measured X coordinate value X2as a result of comparison, the control unit270holds the currently measured X coordinate value X3in operation S31, and decreases the delay time in operation S25.

Meanwhile, when the currently measured X coordinate value X3is smaller than the previously measured X coordinate value X2as a result of comparison, the control unit270provides a system control unit90of the projection display apparatus100with a delay time corresponding to the previously measured X coordinate value X2.

The system control unit90applies the delay time provided from the control unit270, and accordingly, it delays the output timing of the image signal, i.e., of the R signal being output from the image signal processor40and input to the DMD50according to the delay time in operation S33.

In the above description, the case of supplying an R signal from the signal supply unit210to align the color wheel index has been described. However, it will be understood that the other signals, i.e., G or B signal can also be supplied for the purpose of color wheel index alignment. Furthermore, the first operation of increasing and the second operation of decreasing the delay time in the alignment of the color wheel index can be performed in opposite order.

Since the R, G, B color beams separated at the color wheel20are synchronized with the image signals, i.e., with the R, G, B signal processed at the image signal processor40and input to the DMD50, index of the color wheel20is aligned automatically.

Consistent with the present invention, by controlling whether or not to delay the output timing of the R, G, B color signal from the image signal processor in accordance with the cycle of the R, G, B color beams separated at the color wheel20, index of the color wheel20can be aligned automatically.

As the alignment process is automated, alignment time during the manufacturing process is shortened. Also, as the possibility of having an error in alignment due to changes in adjuster or variances of each set is minimized, precise alignment is guaranteed.