Abstract:
Projectors and lighting modules thereof. A projector comprises a light source, a solar collector and a microprocessor. The microprocessor connects and controls the light source. The solar collector connects the microprocessor and receives light from the light source. The solar collector transmits an alarm signal to the microprocessor when suffering excessive temperature.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The invention relates in general to projectors and in particular to lighting modules of projectors with solar collectors capable of converting light energy into electric energy.  
         [0002]     A conventional projector generally comprises a lighting module with a lamp serving as a light source, thereby providing light to project images via an optical engine. The efficiency of light energy utilization, however, is about 70˜80% with 20˜30% light dissipation in a conventional projector.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     Projectors and lighting modules are provided. An embodiment of a projector comprises a light source, a solar collector and a microprocessor. The microprocessor connects and controls the light source. The solar collector connects the microprocessor and receives light from the light source. The solar collector transmits an alarm signal to the microprocessor when suffering excessive temperature.  
         [0004]     An embodiment of a lighting module comprises a lamp box, a light source disposed in the lamp box, and a solar collector. The solar collector is disposed between the light source and the lamp box and connected to an inner surface of the lamp box for receiving light and converting light from the light source into electric energy.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is an exploded diagram of an embodiment of a lighting module;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram of an embodiment of a lighting module;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of a lighting module;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the lighting module in  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a projector. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     An embodiment of the invention provides a lighting module of a projector with a solar collector. The solar collector can receive light and convert light energy into electric energy.  
         [0011]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a lighting module is disposed in a projector (not shown), comprising a hollow lamp box  10 , a light source  20 , such as a halogen lamp, and a solar collector  12  disposed therebetween. The solar collector  12 , as shown in FIGS.  2 ˜ 4 , is a flat plate disposed on an inner surface of the lamp box  10  with the light source  20  disposed therein. In  FIG. 4 , the solar collector  12  is disposed beside the light source  20  and parallel to an central axis C of the light source  20 . The solar collector  12  can receive dissipative light diverged from the central axis C, as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 4 , and further convert light energy into useful electric energy.  
         [0012]     Light from the light source  20  progresses primarily in direction A along the central axis C. The solar collector  12  is disposed beyond the light source  20  in direction A, thereby efficiently receiving light dissipated from the light source  20 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a projector with the described lighting module. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the projector comprises a light source  20 , a solar collector  12 , a microprocessor  30 , a cooling system  40  and a power system  50 . The cooling system  40  is used to cool the light source  20 . The microprocessor  30  and the light source  20  are electrically connected, enabling microprocessor  30  to control and switch the light source  20 . The light source  20  emits light while the projector is on, and light dissipated from the light source  20  can be received and converted into electric energy by the solar collector  12 .  
         [0014]     Specifically, the solar collector  12  can also be utilized for detection of excessive temperature in the lighting module due to operation of the light source  20 . When the solar collector  12  is overheated by the light source  20 , an alarm signal is transmitted from the solar collector  12  to the microprocessor  30 . Subsequently, the microprocessor  30  activates the cooling system  40  to cool the light source  20 . In some embodiments, the microprocessor  30  can increase the speed of a fan in the cooling system  40 , thereby cooling the light source  20  to prevent overheating. The microprocessor  30  may also transmit a breaking signal to shut off the light source  20 , thereby preventing the light source  20  from failure due to overheating.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the microprocessor  30  also electrically connects the power system  50  and the solar collector  12 . Dissipative light energy from the light source  20  can be converted into electric energy by the solar collector  12 , thus recycling electric power to the power system  50 . In some embodiments, the power system  50  may include a rechargeable battery device electrically charged by recycling power from the solar collector  12 . Thus, the power system  50  is capable of supplying electrical power for the microprocessor  30  and other systems in the projector without external power supply.  
         [0016]     As mentioned, the projector and the lighting module thereof with solar collector can recycle dissipated light energy, thereby potentially saving energy and cost. During operation of the light source, the solar collector converts dissipative light into electric energy and transmits a signal to the microprocessor. When the cooling system does not function normally, the microprocessor  30  may transmit a breaking signal to shut off the light source  20 , thereby preventing the light source  20  from failure due to overheating. Thus, the solar collector not only recycles dissipative light energy, but may also potentially prevent the system from overheating, thereby extending life of the lighting module and the projector.  
         [0017]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.