Apparatus and method for prolonging lamp lifetime

A method for prolonging lamp lifetime by reducing unneeded luminance of at least one lamp in phases, the method comprising:

• detecting in real time statuses of image signals being input to a scaler;
• starting a timer to record an elapsed time during which no image signal is input to the scaler;
• and
• reducing a luminance of said lamp in phases, each phase comprising:
• determining in real time whether the elapsed time timed by the timer reaches a preset time;
• controlling the scaler to generate Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) waves with a particular duty cycle if the elapsed time reaches a particular preset time, wherein the PWM waves are used for reducing a luminance of said lamp to a preset corresponding percentage of a normal luminance;
• and
• maintaining said lamp at a current luminance and continuing to record the elapsed time if the elapsed time has not reached any particular time.

A method for controlling luminance of a lamp to prolong lifetime thereof, said lamp keeping normal luminance by means of recognizing a signal from an outputting unit, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting generation of said signal from said outputting unit;
• recording elapsing time in case of no generation of said signal;
• and
• reducing said luminance of said lamp proportionally by a first percentage in case that said elapsing time reaches a first preset time value;
• reducing said luminance of said lamp proportionally by a second percentage larger than said first percentage in case that no generation of said signal continues and said elapsing time reaches a second preset time value larger than said first preset time value.