Lamp power pulse modulation in color sequential projection displays

Abstract

A frame sequential color display projection system ( 110 ) of this invention includes an arc lamp ( 112 ) having a predetermined power rating for providing a source of polychromatic light that propagates through a color wheel ( 120 ) that sequentially provides R, G, B, and optionally, W light colors during respective sequential time periods. A display controller ( 131 ) is synchronized with the color wheel to generate color image data during the respective time periods. A light valve, such as a DMD ( 130 ), receives the color image data for generating the frame sequential color display. A lamp ballast ( 156 ) is also synchronized with the color wheel to provide nominal and boosted power levels ( 212 ) to the arc lamp during selected ones of the time periods such that the projector provides a brighter, color-adjusted display without requiring the arc lamp to operate at an average power level exceeding its predetermined power rating.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the first and second time periods at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , in which the color display system is a projection display system. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , in which the color modulator is a color wheel and at least the first and second light colors are produced by filtering the polychromatic light with corresponding color wheel filter segments selected from a red filter segment, a green filter segment, a blue filter segment, and a white filter segment. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , in which the second light color is white. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , in which the second light color is red. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further including a third light color and a third time period, and in which the color modulator sequentially propagates the first, second, and third light colors during respective first, second, and third time periods, the method further comprising driving the arc lamp during the third time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , in which the polychromatic light includes unequal amounts of red, green, and blue light and in which the color modulator sequentially propagates at least red, green, and blue light colors during respective first, second, and third time periods having predetermined durations that compensate for the unequal amounts of red, green, and blue light produced by the arc lamp. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , in which the color modulator is a color wheel having filter segments and in which the predetermined durations are determined by red, green, and blue filter segments having angular extents corresponding to the predetermined durations. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , in which at least two of the angular extents are unequal. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, in which the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the second light color includes a boosted color, and a red time period is greater than a blue time period, which is greater than a boosted color time period. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1, in which the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the second light color includes a boosted color, and a red time period is greater than a green time period, which are both greater than a boosted color time period. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1, in which the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the second light color includes a boosted color, and a green time period is greater than a blue time period, which is greater than a boosted color time period. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1, in which the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the second light color includes a boosted color, and a red time period is greater than a boosted color time period, a green time period is greater than the boosted color time period, and a blue time period is greater than the boosted color time period. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 1, in which the second light color is a color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the first light color is at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue excluding the second light color, and the second time period is shorter than the first time period. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1, in which the second light color is a color selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue and white, the first light color is at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue and white excluding the second light color, and the second time period is shorter than the first time period. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1, in which the second light color is white, the first light color is at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue, and the second time period is shorter than the first time period. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 1, in which the second light color includes a boosted color, the boosted color is white, a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a white segment that spans substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1, in which the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the second light color includes a boosted color, a red time period is provided before a green time period, the green time period is provided before a boosted color time period, and the boosted color time period is provided before a blue time period, in a color rotation. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 1, in which the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue, the first time period includes at least one time period selected from the group consisting of a red time period, a green time period and a blue time period, the second time period includes a transition period from the green period to the blue period. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 1, a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a red segment, a green segment, a blue segment, and a boosted color segment, the boosted color segment being arranged between the blue and green segment. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 1, a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a red segment, a green segment, a blue segment, and a boosted color segment, the boosted color segment being a a plurality of transition segments that are arranged between the red segment and green segment, between the green segment and blue segment, and between the blue segment and red segment. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 1, in which a difference between the boosted power level and arc lamp power rating is greater than a difference between the low power level and the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       23. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during and throughout respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during and throughout the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during and throughout the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during and throughout the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during and throughout the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during and throughout the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during and throughout the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness, wherein the second time period is shorter than the first time period.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, in which the color display system is a projection display system. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 23, in which the color modulator is a color wheel and at least the first and second light colors are produced by filtering the polychromatic light with corresponding color wheel filter segments selected from a red filter segment, a green filter segment, a blue filter segment, and a white filter segment. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 23, in which the second light color is white. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 23, in which the second light color is red. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 23, further including a third light color and a third time period within the frame cycle, and in which the color modulator sequentially propagates the first, second, and third light colors during and throughout respective first, second, and third time periods, the method further comprising driving the arc lamp during and throughout the third time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 23, in which the polychromatic light includes unequal amounts of red, green, and blue light and in which the color modulator sequentially propagates at least red, green, and blue light colors during and throughout respective first, second, and third time periods having predetermined durations that compensate for the unequal amounts of red, green, and blue light produced by the arc lamp. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, in which the color modulator is a color wheel having filter segments and in which the predetermined durations are determined by red, green, and blue filter segments having angular extents corresponding to the predetermined durations. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, in which at least two of the angular extents are unequal. 
     
     
       32. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during and throughout respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during and throughout the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during and throughout the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during and throughout the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during and throughout the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during and throughout the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during and throughout the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness, wherein, for each frame cycle, the arc lamp is operated above the arc lamp power rating for a shorter period of time than the arc lamp is operated below the arc lamp power rating.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32, in which the color display system is a projection display system. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 32, in which the color modulator is a color wheel and at least the first and second light colors are produced by filtering the polychromatic light with corresponding color wheel filter segments selected from a red filter segment, a green filter segment, a blue filter segment, and a white filter segment. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32, in which the second light color is white. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 32, in which the second light color is red. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 32, further including a third light color and a third time period within the frame cycle, and in which the color modulator sequentially propagates the first, second, and third light colors during and throughout respective first, second, and third time periods, the method further comprising driving the arc lamp during and throughout the third time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 32, in which the polychromatic light includes unequal amounts of red, green, and blue light and in which the color modulator sequentially propagates at least red, green, and blue light colors during and throughout respective first, second, and third time periods having predetermined durations that compensate for the unequal amounts of red, green, and blue light produced by the arc lamp. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 38, in which the color modulator is a color wheel having filter segments and in which the predetermined durations are determined by red, green, and blue filter segments having angular extents corresponding to the predetermined durations. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 39, in which at least two of the angular extents are unequal. 
     
     
       41. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle each available light color being propagated for a respective color time period, the frame sequential color display system further including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness, wherein 
 the first color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue, 
 the second color includes a boosted color, and 
 a red color time period is greater than a blue color time period, which is greater than a boosted color time period. 
 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, in which the boosted color is white. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 42, in which a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a white segment that spans substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel. 
     
     
       44. The method of claim 41, in which the first light color includes red, green, and blue. 
     
     
       45. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle each available light color being propagated for a respective color time period, the frame sequential color display system further including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the first color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue,   the second color includes a boosted color, and   a red color time period is greater than a green color time period, which is greater than a boosted color time period.   
     
     
       46. The method of claim 45, in which the boosted color is white. 
     
     
       47. The method of claim 46, in which a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a white segment that spans substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel. 
     
     
       48. The method of claim 45, in which the first light color includes red, green, and blue. 
     
     
       49. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle each available light color being propagated for a respective color time period, the frame sequential color display system further including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the first color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue,   the second color includes a boosted color, and   a green color time period is greater than a blue color time period, which is greater than a boosted color time period.   
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, in which the boosted color is white. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 49, in which the boosted color is red. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 50, in which a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a white segment that spans substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 49, in which the first light color includes red, green, and blue. 
     
     
       54. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle each available light color being propagated for a respective color time period, the frame sequential color display system further including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the first color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue,   the second color includes a boosted color, and   a red color time period is greater than a boosted color time period, a green color time period is greater than the boosted color time period, a blue color time period is greater than the boosted color time period.   
     
     
       55. The method of claim 54, in which the boosted color is white. 
     
     
       56. The method of claim 55, in which a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a white segment that spans substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel. 
     
     
       57. The method of claim 54, in which the first light color includes red, green, and blue. 
     
     
       58. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein. 
 the second light color is one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue, 
 the first light color is at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue excluding the second light color, and 
 the second time period is shorter than the first time period. 
 
     
     
       59. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein 
 the second light color is one color selected from the group consisting of one of red, green, blue and white, 
 the first light color is at least one color selected from the group consisting of one of one of red, green, blue and white excluding the second light color, and 
 the second time period is shorter than the first time period. 
 
     
     
       60. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein 
 the second light color is white, 
 the first light color is at least one color selected from the group consisting of one of red, green, and blue, and 
 the second time period is shorter than the first time period. 
 
     
     
       61. The method of claim 60, in which a color wheel is selected as the color modulator, and the color wheel is configured to include a white segment that spans substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel. 
     
     
       62. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve in the form of a DMD made of an array of micro mirrors that are switched based on time sequential pulsed width modulation bits, the light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein 
 the second time period is longer than a brightness rise time, wherein the brightness rise time is a time necessary for the arc lamp to change power levels, and 
 the second time period is longer than the pulse width modulation bits driving the DMD. 
 
     
     
       63. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the second color includes a boosted color, the boosted color being white, and   the color modulator being a color wheel configured with a white segment that contains substantially 40 degrees of the color wheel.   
     
     
       64. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle each available light color being propagated for a respective color time period, the frame sequential color display system further including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the first light color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue,   the second light color includes a boosted color, and   a red color time period is provided in advance of a green color time period, the green color time period is provided in advance of a boosted color time period, the boosted color time period is provided in advance of a blue color time period, in a color rotation.   
     
     
       65. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle each available light color being propagated for a respective color time period, the frame sequential color display system further including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein 
 the first color includes at least one color selected from the group consisting of red, green and blue, 
 the first time period includes at least one time period selected from the group of a red color time period, a green color time period, and a blue color time period, and 
 the second time period includes a transition period from the green color time period to the blue color time period. 
 
     
     
       66. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and 
 driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein 
 the color modulator is selected to be a color wheel, the color wheel is configured with a red segment, a green segment, a blue segment, and a boosted color segment, and 
 the boosted color segment is arranged between the green segment and the blue segment. 
 
     
     
       67. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the color modulator is selected to be a color wheel, the color wheel is configured with a red segment, a green segment, a blue segment, and a boosted color segment, and   the boosted color segment is a plurality of transition segments that are arranged between the red segment and green segment, between the green segment and blue segment, and between the blue segment and red segment.   
     
     
       68. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a low power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness, wherein   a first difference between the boosted power level and the arc lamp power rating is greater than a second difference between the low power level and the arc lamp power rating.   
     
     
       69. The method of claim 68, in which a difference between the boosted power level and the low power level is substantially equal to 33 percent of the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       70. The method of claim 68, in which a difference between the boosted power level and the low power level is substantially equal to 90 watts. 
     
     
       71. The method of claim 68, in which a difference between the low power level and the arc lamp power rating is substantially equal to 3.7 percent of the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       72. The method of claim 68, in which a difference between the low power level and the arc lamp power rating is substantially equal to 10 watts. 
     
     
       73. The method of claim 41, in which a difference between the boosted power level and the arc lamp power rating is substantially equal to 30 percent of the arc lamp power rating. 
     
     
       74. The method of claim 68, in which a difference between the boosted power level and the arc lamp power rating is substantially equal to 80 watts. 
     
     
       75. In a method for color balancing a display generated by a frame sequential color display system that sequentially propagates a predetermined number of available light colors within a frame cycle including an arc lamp having a power rating and providing polychromatic light including different amounts of a first light color and a second light color, a color modulator receiving the different amounts of light colors and propagating the first and second light colors during respective first and second time periods within the frame cycle, a display controller generating first and second image data during the respective first and second time periods, a light valve generating the display in response to receiving the first and second light colors and the first and second image data during the first and second time periods, a lamp ballast driving the arc lamp during the first time period at less than the arc lamp power rating and driving the arc lamp during the second time period at the arc lamp power rating such that the arc lamp operates at an average power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating to color balance the display by reducing an arc lamp brightness during the first time period, thereby reducing an average brightness of the display, an improvement comprising:
 driving the arc lamp during the first time period at a power level that is less than the arc lamp power rating; and   driving the arc lamp during the second time period at a boosted power level that is greater than the arc lamp power rating, such that the arc lamp operates during the frame cycle, which includes the first and second time periods, at an average power level that substantially equals the arc lamp power rating and the display is color balanced by boosting the arc lamp brightness during the second time period and reducing the arc lamp brightness during the first time period without reducing the display average brightness; wherein   the color modulator is configured to produce a red, green, blue, and white colored light, and   the second time period includes a time during which the white colored light and one of the red, green and blue lights are transmitted.