CN112752078A

CN112752078A - Operation device, image projection system, operation method, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: CN112752078A
Application number: CN202011107756.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 藤原友未; 山内健太郎; 小西洋史
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-30
Filing date: 2020-10-16
Publication date: 2021-05-04
Also published as: JP2021071561A

Abstract

An operating device, an image projection system, an operating method, and a recording medium. The operation device (20) is an operation device (20) for operating a projector (10a) and a projector (10b) that project images into the same space (50). The operation device (20) is provided with a control unit (24), and the control unit (24) generates a 1 st control signal for causing the projector (10a) to project a region (R1) which is a part of the video (V), and a 2 nd control signal for causing the projector (10b) to project a region (R2) which is a part of the video (V) and is different from the region (R1). The operation device (20) is further provided with a communication unit (23), and the communication unit (23) transmits the generated 1 st control signal to the projector (10a) and transmits the generated 2 nd control signal to the projector (10 b).

Description

Operation device, image projection system, operation method, and recording medium

Technical Field

The invention relates to an operating device, an image projection system, an operating method and a recording medium.

Background

Conventionally, a projector capable of projecting an image desired by a user is known. Patent document 1 discloses a projector that can be installed on a ceiling or the like and that can adjust the direction in which light is projected after installation. Such projectors are used, for example, to demonstrate the space in which the projector is located.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2017-173574

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When a plurality of projectors are used to project images onto the same space to demonstrate the space, if the plurality of projectors are used to project the same images, the user may feel uncomfortable due to the same motion and composition. Therefore, for example, the user reduces the sense of incongruity in the presentation of the space by causing the plurality of projectors to project different types of images. In this case, image data for causing the plurality of projectors to project different types of images is required. Thus, in order to reduce the sense of incongruity of the user in the space presentation, there are problems that the storage capacity for holding the video data increases, and the workload for preparing a plurality of pieces of video data and setting for each projector increases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation device or the like for operating a plurality of projectors for projecting video images into the same space, which can easily reduce the sense of discomfort of a user during a space presentation.

Means for solving the problems

An operating device according to an aspect of the present invention is an operating device for operating a 1 st projector and a 2 nd projector that project images into the same space, the operating device including: a control unit that generates a 1 st control signal for causing the 1 st projector to project a 1 st area that is a part of a predetermined video image, and a 2 nd control signal for causing the 2 nd projector to project a 2 nd area that is a part of the predetermined video image and is different from the 1 st area; and a communication unit configured to transmit the generated 1 st control signal to the 1 st projector and transmit the generated 2 nd control signal to the 2 nd projector.

An image projection system according to an aspect of the present invention includes the operation device, and the 1 st projector and the 2 nd projector.

An operation method according to an aspect of the present invention is an operation method for operating a 1 st projector and a 2 nd projector that project images into the same space, and generates a 1 st control signal for causing the 1 st projector to project a 1 st area that is a part of a predetermined image, and a 2 nd control signal for causing the 2 nd projector to project a 2 nd area that is a part of the predetermined image and is different from the 1 st area; the generated 1 st control signal is transmitted to the 1 st projector, and the generated 2 nd control signal is transmitted to the 2 nd projector.

A recording medium according to an aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute an operation method is recorded.

Effects of the invention

An operation device and the like according to an aspect of the present invention can easily reduce a sense of discomfort of a user during a spatial presentation.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image projection system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image projected by the projector according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image projection system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of operation example 1 of the operation device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of operation example 2 of the operation device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram of an example of the operation of the image projection system according to the embodiment.

Description of the reference symbols

10. 10a, 10b, 10c projector

15 storage section

20 operating device

21 operation accepting part

23 communication unit

24 control part

50 space

100 image projection system

Pl, P2, P3, Rl, R2 and R3 regions

V image

Detailed Description

The embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are all illustrative and specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connection forms of the constituent elements, steps, order of the steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Further, among the components of the following embodiments, components that are not recited in the independent claims are described as arbitrary components.

The drawings are schematic and not necessarily strictly illustrated. In the drawings, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted or simplified.

(embodiment mode)

[ Structure of image projection System ]

First, the configuration of the image projection system according to the embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image projection system according to an embodiment.

As shown in fig. 1, an image projection system 100 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c and an operation device 20. The projector 10a is an example of a 1 st projector, and the projector 10b is an example of a 2 nd projector. The image projection system 100 is installed in an indoor space such as a commercial facility, a hotel, a restaurant, or a toilet. In fig. 1, 3

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c are shown, but this figure is an example, and two projectors may be used, or 4 or more projectors may be used. Hereinafter, the plurality of

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c may be collectively referred to as a projector 10.

The projector 10 is an embedded type (in other words, downlight type) projector embedded in the ceiling of the space 50. The space 50 is, for example, a closed space of a house or the like.

The image projected by the projector 10 is, for example, a monochrome image (in other words, a grayscale image) simulating a natural object such as sunlight (tree shadow) passing through a leaf gap, a beach, or a water surface. Specifically, the image may be an image obtained by projecting a shadow caused by natural light such as sunlight or water surface transmitted through a space between leaves. Such imagery is used, for example, for the presentation of space 50. The subject is a target of a projected image representation of a natural object, a building, a landscape, or the like. The video may be a presentation video having a lower contrast than a normal video. The contrast of the image is, for example, 100: 1 or less. The contrast is a physical quantity indicating how many times the brightness of the brightest portion (white) is when the darkest portion (black) of the video is 1. The contrast was 100: 1 or less means that the luminance of the brightest portion is 100 or less when the luminance of the darkest portion is 1. This reduces the difference in brightness on the projection plane of the video image, and enables a space of natural impression to be presented. The video herein refers to a moving image, but may be a still image.

The

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c project images into the same space 50. Specifically, the

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c project images that are not integrated on the projection surface 51 onto the projection surface 51 of the same space 50. The non-integrated image is 1 image which is not entirely continuous, and the images projected on the projection surface 51 by the

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c are not described.

The projector 10a projects an image onto the region P1 of the projection surface 51, the projector 10b projects an image onto the region P2 of the projection surface 51, and the projector 10c projects an image onto the region P3 of the projection surface 51. In the present specification, the region P1 is an example of the 3 rd region, and the region P2 is an example of the 4 th region. In fig. 1, the projection plane 51 is a floor of the space 50, but the projection plane 51 may be a wall or a ceiling. Moreover, a plurality of projection surfaces 51 may be provided. The

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c are projectors for projecting images for presenting the same space 50. Therefore, the regions Pl, P2, and P3 are located on the same projection plane 51, for example. When the regions P1, P2, and P3 are located across a plurality of projection surfaces, for example, the regions P1, P2, and P3 are located on a plurality of adjacent projection surfaces such as the floor and the wall of the space 50, or on a plurality of opposing projection surfaces such as the floor and the ceiling of the space 50.

The

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c project images of a part of the same image and different areas. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image projected by the projector 10. Fig. 2 shows a scene of a video V projected based on 1 piece of video data. The video V is an example of a predetermined video. For example, the projector 10a projects a region R1 that is a part of the image V, the projector 10b projects a region R2 that is a part of the image V and is different from the region R1, and the projector 10c projects a region R3 that is a part of the image V and is different from the regions R1 and R2. In the present specification, the region R1 is an example of the 1 st region, and the region R2 is an example of the 2 nd region.

In this way, by the

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c projecting images of partial regions of the same image and different regions, respectively, it is possible to avoid the composition and motion of the image becoming the same, and to reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50. For example, when the image is an image in which a shadow caused by natural light such as sunlight or water passing through a space between leaves is projected, since the same shadow is not formed in different places in an actual natural phenomenon, the sense of incongruity is reduced by projecting different shadows. In addition, when a shadow due to natural light is projected, even if there is no continuity between a plurality of images projected in the space 50 (even if the images are not unified images), the sense of incongruity is less likely to occur.

The projection shape of the image projected by the projector 10, in other words, the shapes of the regions P1, P2, and P3 projected by the projector 10 and the regions R1, R2, and R3 of a part of the image V are rectangular as shown in fig. 1 and 2, for example. The projection shape of the image projected by the projector 10 may be any shape, and may be a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, a star, or the like. The regions Pl, P2, P3, Rl, R2 and R3 may be the same or different in shape and size.

The operation device 20 is a remote controller that receives an operation by a user and operates the projector 10 in accordance with the received operation. The operation device 20 transmits a control signal for operating the projector 10. The operation device 20 is implemented by installing an application in a general-purpose portable terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The operation device 20 may be an operation remote controller, a wall-mounted controller, a wall switch, or the like.

Next, the plurality of

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c and the operation device 20 constituting the image projection system 100 will be described in detail. For example, the

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c have the same functional configuration. Therefore, the following description will be given taking the projector 10a as a representative example among the plurality of

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10 c. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the projector 10a and the operation device 20 constituting the image projection system according to the embodiment.

Specifically, the projector 10a includes a power supply unit 11, a projection unit 12, a communication unit 13, a control unit 14, and a storage unit 15. The

projectors

10b and 10c also have the same configuration as the projector 10 a.

The power supply unit 11 is a power conversion circuit that converts ac power supplied from an ac power supply 30 outside the projector 10a into dc power. The on/off of the power supply from the ac power supply 30 is performed by an operation panel such as a wall switch 31.

The projection unit 12 projects an image under the control of the control unit 14. The projection unit 12 includes a light source driving unit 12a, a light source 12b, an image device 12c, and a projection lens 12 d.

The light source driving unit 12a is a circuit for adjusting the brightness of the light source 12b using the power supplied from the power supply unit 11. The light source driving unit 12a operates based on a control signal output from the control unit 14.

The light source 12b is a light source that emits white light. The Light source 12b is realized by a Light Emitting Diode (LED), in particular. The light source 12b may be implemented by a semiconductor laser, an organic EL (electro luminescence), an inorganic EL, or the like. The light emitted from the light source 12b is not limited to white light. The light source 12b may include a plurality of LEDs having different light colors. When the light source 12b includes a plurality of LEDs having different colors, the control unit 14 may adjust the amount of current to each light source to adjust the color of the light emitted from the light source 12 b.

The image element 12c modulates the light emitted from the light source 12b, and emits the modulated light as an image. The image device 12c is specifically a light-transmitting image device such as a transmissive liquid crystal panel, but may be a reflective image device such as a micromirror array or a reflective liquid crystal panel.

The projection lens 12d is an optical element that projects the image emitted from the image element 12c onto a projection surface such as the floor surface.

The communication unit 13 is a communication circuit (in other words, a communication module) for the projector 10a to communicate with the operation device 20. The communication unit 13 receives a control signal from the operation device 20. The communication unit 13 performs wireless communication such as radio wave communication and optical communication, but may perform wired communication. The communication specification of the communication performed by the communication unit 13 is not particularly limited.

The control unit 14 is a control device that controls the light source 12b (more specifically, the light source driving unit 12a) and the imaging element 12 c. The control unit 14 operates by the electric power supplied from the power supply unit 11. The control unit 14 causes the projection unit 12 to project an image based on the control signal received by the communication unit 13. The control unit 14 performs processing for cutting out a region of a part of the video V using, for example, video data of the video V stored in the storage unit 15, and performs control for projecting the cut-out region. For example, the control unit 14 performs control to cause the projection unit 12 to zoom the image V, thereby projecting a region of a part of the image V.

Further, the control unit 14 may cause the projection unit 12 to project an image with a blur effect in the outline. For example, the control unit 14 performs image processing for setting a blur effect to the contour after the area trimming processing of a part of the video.

The control unit 14 is specifically realized by a microcomputer, but may be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit.

The storage unit 15 stores image data of at least 1 type of image, such as the image V projected by the projector 10 a.

The storage unit 15 also stores a program executed by the control unit 14. The storage unit 15 stores various data referred to or generated by the control unit 14. The storage unit 15 is specifically realized by a volatile storage device such as a static RAM (random Access memory) or a dynamic RAM, or a nonvolatile storage device such as a magnetic disk, an optical magnetic disk, a rom (read Only memory), or a flash memory.

The storage units 15 of the

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c store, for example, the same type of image data. The

projectors

10a, 10b, and 10c project different areas that are part of the same image using the image data stored in the storage unit 15.

Next, the operation device 20 will be explained. The operation device 20 includes an operation receiving unit 21, a display unit 22, a communication unit 23, a control unit 24, and a storage unit 25.

The operation receiving unit 21 receives a user operation related to the operation of the projector 10 and the image projected by the projector 10. The operation receiving unit 21 receives an operation for determining the region R1 and the region R2 from the user, for example. The operation receiving unit 21 is realized by, for example, a touch panel, a switch, a hardware button, and the like.

The display unit 22 displays an image based on the control of the control unit 24. Specifically, the display unit 22 is implemented by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. The operation device 20 may not include the display unit 22.

The communication unit 23 is a communication module (communication circuit) for the operation device 20 to communicate with the projector 10 via a local communication network. The communication unit 23 transmits a 1 st control signal to be described later to the projector 10a and transmits a 2 nd control signal to the projector 10 b. The 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal are signals for operating the projector 10. The communication performed by the communication unit 23 is, for example, wireless communication, but may be wired communication. The communication specification used for communication is not particularly limited.

The control unit 24 performs various information processes related to the operation of the operation device 20. The control unit 24 generates, for example, a 1 st control signal for causing the projector 10a to project an image and a 2 nd control signal for causing the projector 10b to project an image. The 1 st control signal is a signal for causing the projector 10a to project an area R1 that is a part of a predetermined video image (for example, the video image V). The 2 nd control signal is, for example, a signal for projecting a region R2 that is a part of a predetermined video (for example, the video V) and is different from the region R1. The 2 nd control signal may be a signal for causing the projector 10b to project the region R2 in synchronization with the timing of the 1 st control signal for causing the projector 10a to project the region R1. The control unit 24 is realized by a processor, a microcomputer, or the like.

The storage unit 25 is a storage device that stores an application program or the like executed by the control unit 24. The storage unit 25 stores various data referred to or generated by the control unit 24. The storage unit 25 may store data on a video projected by the projector 10 such as the video V. The data of the image projected by the projector 10 may be the image data of the image projected by the projector 10, or may be data of a frame of a part of the image projected by the projector 10. The storage unit 25 may store a video list, which is a list of types of videos that can be projected by the projector 10.

The storage unit 25 is specifically realized by a volatile storage device such as a static RAM or a dynamic RAM, or a nonvolatile storage device such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an opto-magnetic disk, a ROM, or a flash memory.

[ operation of operating device ]

Next, an operation example of the operation device 20 of the image projection system 100 according to the embodiment will be described. In the following operation example, a case where the two

projectors

10a and 10b project a part of the area of the image V shown in fig. 2 by the operation of the operation device 20 will be described. The number of projectors for projecting an image by operating the operating device 20 is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

As described above, when a plurality of projectors are caused to project images into the same space to demonstrate the space, if the plurality of projectors are caused to project the same images, the same motion and composition are observed, and thus the user tends to feel uncomfortable. For example, the user's sense of incongruity can be reduced by causing the plurality of projectors to project different types of images, but image data for causing the plurality of projectors to project different types of images is required. In this case, there are problems such as an increase in the storage capacity for holding video data, an increase in the workload for preparing a plurality of pieces of video data and setting each projector, and the like in order to reduce the sense of incongruity of the user in the space presentation. In contrast, in the operation of the plurality of

projectors

10a and 10b by the operation device 20, it is possible to project an image that can easily reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the spatial presentation. Hereinafter, an operation example 1 of the operation device 20 will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart of operation example 1 of the operation device 20.

First, the operation receiving unit 21 receives a selection of a projector to be operated from the user (S11). For example, the operation receiving unit 21 receives, from the user, the selection of the

projectors

10a and 10b as the projector to be operated. In addition, step S11 may be omitted when the projectors to be operated are determined in advance such as when all the projectors are to be operated.

Next, the operation receiving unit 21 receives a selection of images that can be projected by the selected

projectors

10a and 10b from the user (S12). For example, the control unit 24 refers to the video list stored in the storage unit 25, and causes the display unit 22 to display selectable video options. The operation receiving unit 21 receives the video V selected from the options displayed on the display unit 22 from the user. If the number of selectable videos is 1, or if a video is predetermined, step S12 may be omitted.

Next, the controller 24 determines the region R1 and the region R2 based on the luminance information in the video data of the video V selected in step S12 (S13). Specifically, when the video data is stored in the storage unit 25 as the data relating to the video V, the control unit 24 refers to the storage unit 25 and determines the region R1 and the region R2 based on the luminance information in the video data stored in the storage unit 25. For example, the controller 24 determines the positions of the region R1 and the region R2 in the video V under the condition that the average luminance of the region R1 and the average luminance of the region R2 are within a predetermined range. The predetermined range of the average luminance is set to a range that does not become a substantially black image or a substantially white image, for example, so that the region R1 and the region R2 become regions in which the object of the image V can be recognized. The controller 24 may determine the region R1 and the region R2 under the condition that the average luminances of the region R1 and the region R2 are substantially the same. Thus, the region R1 and the region R2 more suitable for the presentation of the space 50 are determined. When the image data of the image V is not stored in the storage unit 25, the control unit 24 may acquire the luminance information in the image data of the image V from the projector 10 via the communication unit 23.

Further, the controller 24 may cause the display 22 to display an image indicating the positions of the region R1 and the region R2 in the determined video V.

Next, based on the determination in step S13, the control unit 24 generates a 1 st control signal that specifies the position of the region R1 in the video V and a 2 nd control signal that specifies the position of the region R2 in the video V (S14). For example, the 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal include information on coordinates such as a vertex of the region R1 or R2 in the video V, and the position is specified by specifying the coordinates such as a vertex of the region R1 or R2. For example, the 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal may include information of coordinates (e.g., center coordinates of the region R1 or R2) as the size and the starting point of the region R1 or R2 in the video V.

Then, the control unit 24 causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the generated 1 st control signal to the projector 10a, and causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the generated 2 nd control signal to the projector 10b (S15). The storage unit 15 of each of the

projectors

10a and 10b stores video data of the video V, and the projector 10a projects the region R1 based on the 1 st control signal and the projector 10b projects the region R2 based on the 2 nd control signal.

In step S13, the conditions for determining the region R1 and the region R2 are not limited to the conditions based on the luminance information. For example, the controller 24 may determine the region R1 and the region R2 under the condition that the overlapping range of the region R1 and the region R2 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined area. The predetermined area differs depending on the number of projectors 10 operated by the operation device 20. The predetermined area is set so that the smaller the number of projectors 10 to be operated, the smaller the area. For example, when the number of operated projectors 10 is equal to or less than a certain number, the predetermined area is set to zero (that is, the region R1 and the region R2 do not overlap). The predetermined area may be set based on the area of the video V and the areas of the regions R1 and R2. When the overlapping range of the region R1 and the region R2 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined area, the overlapping of the patterns of the region R1 and the region R2 can be suppressed.

Further, the storage unit 25 stores the relative positional relationship between the region P1 and the region P2, and the controller 24 may determine the region R1 and the region R2 under the condition that the relative positional relationship between the region R1 and the region R2 is different from the relative positional relationship between the region P1 and the region P2. This eliminates the need to strictly determine the positions of the region R1 and the region R2, and thus the region R1 and the region R2 can be easily determined.

The controller 24 may determine the region R1 and the region R2 under the condition that the region R1 and the region R2 do not overlap and are not continuous.

The controller 24 randomly (using a random number) determines the regions R1 and R2, for example, under conditions including at least 1 of the above conditions.

Next, operation example 2 of the operation device 20 will be described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart of operation example 2 of the operation device 20. Operation example 2 differs from operation example 1 in that the determination of the region R1 and the determination of the region R2 are performed by a user operation. In the description of operation example 2, description about the matters already appearing in operation example 1 will be omitted or simplified.

First, the operation receiving unit 21 receives a selection of a projector to be operated from the user (S21). Next, the operation receiving unit 21 receives a selection of images that can be projected by the selected

projectors

10a and 10b from the user (S22). In step S22, for example, the operation receiving unit 21 receives the selection of the video V from the user. Steps S21 and S22 are similar to steps S11 and S12.

Next, the operation reception unit 21 receives an operation of determining the region R1 and the region R2 of the selected video V from the user (S23). Specifically, the control unit 24 causes the display unit 22 to display a still image of 1 frame, which is representative of the video V. The operation reception unit 21 receives an operation of selecting the region R1 and the region R2 different from the region R1 from the still image on the display unit 22 from the user. When the operation reception unit 21 receives the selection of the same region as the region R1 and the region R2, the control unit 24 may discard the received selection and display the discarded message on the display unit 22. In step S23, the user can arbitrarily determine the region R1 and the region R2.

Next, the controller 24 generates a 1 st control signal for specifying the position of the region R1 in the video V and a 2 nd control signal for specifying the position of the region R2 in the video V based on the operation received in step S23 (S24). Then, the control unit 24 causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the generated 1 st control signal to the projector 10a, and causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the generated 2 nd control signal to the projector 10b (S25). Step S25 is the same operation as step S15 described above.

According to operation examples 1 and 2 of the operation device 20, the control unit 24 generates the 1 st control signal for causing the projector 10a to project the region R1, which is a part of the video V, and causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the 1 st control signal to the projector 10 a. The controller 24 also generates a 2 nd control signal for causing the projector 10b to project an area R2 that is a part of the video V and is different from the area R1, and causes the communication unit 23 to transmit the 2 nd control signal to the projector 10 b. Thus, the operating device 20 causes the

projectors

10a and 10b to project the same image V in different regions R1 and R2, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the composition and motion of the images projected by the

projectors

10a and 10b from becoming the same, and to reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50. Further, since the

projectors

10a and 10b can project images having different compositions and motions based on the 1 type of image data, it is possible to reduce the workload for preparing and setting different image data. This allows the operation device 20 to easily reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50.

[ example of operation of image projection System ]

Next, an operation example of the image projection system 100 will be described. In the following operation example, a case where the

projectors

10a and 10b project images by the operation of the operation device 20 will be described. Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram of an example of the operation of the image projection system 100.

First, the operation device 20 generates the 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal (S31). Then, the operation device 20 transmits the generated 1 st control signal to the projector 10a and transmits the generated 2 nd control signal to the projector 10b (S32). Steps S31 and S32 are the same as steps S11 to S15 in operation example 1 of operation device 20 or steps S21 to S25 in operation example 2 of operation device 20, for example, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted. The 1 st control signal transmitted in step S32 is received by the communication unit 13 of the projector 10a, and the 2 nd control signal transmitted in step S32 is received by the communication unit 13 of the projector 10 b.

Next, the controller 14 of the projector 10a refers to the video data stored in the storage unit 15 based on the received 1 st control signal, and causes the projector 12 to project a video (the region R1 in the video V) (S33). Specifically, in the projector 10a, the control unit 14 causes the projection unit 12 to project an image of the region R1 corresponding to the position (for example, coordinates) specified by the received 1 st control signal. Similarly to the projector 10a, in the projector 10b, the controller 14 refers to the video data in the storage unit 15 based on the received 2 nd control signal, and causes the projector 12 to project a video (the region R2 in the video V) (S34). Specifically, in the projector 10b, the control unit 14 causes the projection unit 12 to project an image of the region R2 corresponding to the position (for example, coordinates) specified by the received 2 nd control signal.

In the present operation example, the 2 nd control signal is a control signal for causing the projector 10b to project the region R2 in synchronization with the timing for causing the projector 10a to project the region R1 in the 1 st control signal. Therefore, in steps S33 and S34, the

projectors

10a and 10b project the respective different regions of the part of the video V at substantially the same reproduction timing. That is, the operation device 20 can cause the

projectors

10a and 10b to project images synchronized in motion through steps S31 to S34. This can further reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50. In particular, when a shadow of natural light is projected, the intensity of the shadow during motion is similar even in different regions of the image due to the influence of natural phenomena such as the intensity of wind. Therefore, the effect of reducing the sense of incongruity is made more remarkable by projecting the video at substantially the same reproduction timing.

Next, the controller 14 of the projector 10a generates the 1 st information indicating the position of the region R1 in the video V for use in projecting the video, based on the 1 st control signal received (S35). In the projector 10a, the control unit 14 causes the storage unit 15 to store the generated 1 st information. That is, the 1 st information generated is stored in the storage unit 15 of the projector 10 a. The 1 st information includes, for example, information of coordinates such as a vertex of the region R1 in the video V, and is information for specifying the position of the region R1 in the video V. Thus, the projector 10a can project the region R1, which is a part of the video V, even when the 1 st control signal is not received.

Similarly to the projector 10a, in the projector 10b, the controller 14 generates the 2 nd information indicating the position of the region R2 in the video V for use in projecting the video based on the received 2 nd control signal (S36). In the projector 10b, the control unit 14 causes the storage unit 15 to store the generated 2 nd information. That is, the generated 2 nd information is stored in the storage unit 15 of the projector 10 b. The 2 nd information includes, for example, information of coordinates such as a vertex of the region R2 in the video V, and is information for specifying the position of the region R2 in the video V. Thus, the projector 10b can project the region R2, which is a part of the video V, even when the 2 nd control signal is not received.

Thus, the 1 st information and the 2 nd information are information for specifying a position including the coordinates of the region R1 or R2. Accordingly, the

projectors

10a and 10b do not need to hold the video data of the region R1 or R2 of the video V separately from the video data of the video V, and an increase in the storage capacity of the

projectors

10a and 10b can be suppressed.

Next, the wall switch 31 of each of the projector 10a and the projector 10b in the on state is turned off by the user operation, and the power supply to the projector 10a and the projector 10b is stopped (S38 and S39). Thereby, the

projectors

10a and 10b stop projecting the images.

Next, the wall switch 31 of the projector 10a is turned on by the user operation, and power supply to the projector 10a is started (S41). Thereby, the projector 10a is started. When the power supply is started, the control unit 14 causes the projection unit 12 to project the video image based on the 1 st information stored in the storage unit 15 in the projector 10a (S42). The 1 st information is information for projection of a video, and is information indicating the position of the region R1 of the video V generated in step S35, for example. Thus, in the projector 10a, the controller 14 causes the projector 12 to project the region R1 of the video image V based on the position of the region R1 indicated by the 1 st information. For example, the projector 10a projects a video image based on the 1 st information generated before the start and the reception of the control signal. Specifically, the projector 10a projects a video image based on the 1 st information generated in step S35 during a period from the start to the time when the operation of step S32 is performed again and the 1 st control signal is newly received.

Similarly to the projector 10a, the wall switch 31 of the projector 10b is turned on by the user operation, and the power supply to the projector 10b is started (S43). Thereby, the projector 10b is started. When the power supply is started, the control unit 14 causes the projection unit 12 to project the video image based on the 2 nd information stored in the storage unit 15 in the projector 10b (S44). The 2 nd information is information for projection of a video, and is information indicating the position of the region R2 of the video V generated in step S36, for example. Thus, in the projector 10b, the controller 14 causes the projector 12 to project the region R2 of the video image V based on the position of the region R2 indicated by the 2 nd information. For example, the projector 10b projects a video image based on the 2 nd information generated before the start and the reception of the control signal. Specifically, the projector 10b projects the video image based on the 2 nd information generated in step S36 during the period from the start to the time when the operation of step S32 is performed again and the 2 nd control signal is newly received.

Through steps S42 and S44, the

projectors

10a and 10b can project the video image of the presentation space 50 even when they do not receive the control signal.

In addition, the order of step S33 and step S35 and the order of step S34 and step S36 may be replaced.

After step S35 and step S36, the control unit 24 of the operation device 20 may cause the communication unit 23 to transmit a reproduction instruction signal for projecting a video based on the 1 st information or the 2 nd information to the

projectors

10a and 10 b. The operation device 20 transmits the reproduction instruction signal to the

projectors

10a and 10b at substantially the same timing, for example. Thus, the

projectors

10a and 10b project images based on the 1 st information or the 2 nd information at substantially the same timing as in step S42 or S44. When the

projectors

10a and 10b receive the reproduction instruction signal and project the video based on the 1 st information or the 2 nd information, step S33 and step S34 may be omitted.

In addition, the control unit 14 may generate the 1 st information or the 2 nd information about the plurality of types of images and cause the storage unit 15 to store the generated 1 st information or the 2 nd information in the

projectors

10a and 10 b. Thus, for example, the

projectors

10a and 10b can project different regions of a part of the same video by receiving only signals indicating videos for which the 1 st information and the 2 nd information are generated, among a plurality of types of videos, from the operation device 20.

[ Effect and the like ]

As described above, the operation device 20 is the operation device 20 for operating the projector 10a and the projector 10b that project images into the same space 50. The operation device 20 includes a controller 24, and the controller 24 generates a 1 st control signal for causing the projector 10a to project a region R1 which is a part of the video V, and a 2 nd control signal for causing the projector 10b to project a region R2 which is a part of the video V and is different from the region R1. The operation device 20 further includes a communication unit 23, and the communication unit 23 transmits the generated 1 st control signal to the projector 10a and transmits the generated 2 nd control signal to the projector 10 b.

Thus, the operating device 20 can cause the

projectors

10a and 10b can project images having different compositions and motions based on 1 type of image data, it is possible to reduce the workload for preparing and setting different image data. This allows the operation device 20 to easily reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50. Further, since the above-described effects can be obtained even with 1 type of prepared video data, the cost for creating the video data can be reduced as compared with the case of creating a plurality of pieces of video data, and the user's sense of incongruity in the presentation of the space 50 can be reduced at low cost by the operation device 20.

The projector 10a and the projector 10b each include a storage unit 15 for storing video data of the video V. The 1 st control signal is a signal for specifying the position of the region R1 in the video V, and the 2 nd control signal is a signal for specifying the position of the region R2 in the video V.

Thus, the operating device 20 can cause the

projectors

10a and 10b to project the different regions R1 and R2 of the same type of video V, respectively, by generating only a signal specifying the position of the region. That is, the 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal may not include the actual image data for projecting the region R1 or R2. This reduces the processing load on the operation device 20 and the communication load between the operation device 20 and the

projectors

10a and 10 b.

The operation device 20 further includes an operation receiving unit 21, and the operation receiving unit 21 receives operations for determining the region R1 and the region R2 from the user. The control unit 24 generates a 1 st control signal and a 2 nd control signal based on the received operation.

Thus, the user can arbitrarily determine the region R1 and the region R2.

The image projection system 100 includes an operation device 20 and

projectors

10a and 10 b.

This makes it possible to realize the video projection system 100 capable of easily reducing the sense of incongruity of the user during the presentation of the space 50.

The operation method according to the embodiment is a method for operating the projector 10a and the projector 10b that project images into the same space 50. The operation method generates a 1 st control signal for causing the projector 10a to project the region R1 that is part of the picture V, and a 2 nd control signal for causing the projector 10b to project the region R2 that is part of the picture V and is different from the region R1. The operation method also transmits the generated 1 st control signal to the projector 10a and transmits the generated 2 nd control signal to the projector 10 b.

This enables the

projectors

10a and 10b to project different regions R1 and R2 in the same image V, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the composition and motion of the images projected by the

projectors

10a and 10b from becoming the same, and to reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50. Further, since images having different compositions and motions can be projected based on 1 type of image data, the workload for preparing and setting different image data can be reduced. Thus, the operation method according to the embodiment can easily reduce the sense of discomfort of the user during the presentation of the space 50.

(other embodiments)

The embodiments have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, although the projector 10 projects a monochrome image (in other words, a gray-scale image) in the above embodiment, a color image may be projected.

In the above embodiment, for example, the projector 10 is a ceiling-embedded projector, but may be a general projector installed on a desk. As described above, the present invention can be applied to a general projector. Further, the space in which the projector 10 is installed may be an outdoor space. That is, the projector may be installed outdoors to project an image.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image data is stored in the storage unit 15 of the projector 10, but the projector 10 may project an image of the image data stored in an external storage device by communicating with the external storage device. Examples of the external storage device include the storage unit 25 of the operation device 20 and an external server.

For example, in the above embodiment, the controller 24 generates the 1 st control signal for specifying the position of the region R1 in the video V and the 2 nd control signal for specifying the position of the region R2 in the video V, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal may be signals including video data of the region R1 or R2 in the video V, respectively.

For example, in the above embodiment, the function of the operation device 20 may be included in any projector 10. That is, other projectors 10 may be operated by the operation of a certain projector 10.

In the above embodiment, the processing executed by a specific processing unit such as the control unit may be executed by another processing unit. Note that the order of the plurality of processes may be changed, or the plurality of processes may be executed in parallel.

In the above-described embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

Each component may be implemented by hardware. Each component may be a circuit (or an integrated circuit). These circuits may constitute 1 circuit as a whole, or may be different circuits. These circuits may be general circuits or dedicated circuits.

The overall and specific aspects of the present invention can be realized by a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the present invention can be realized by any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

For example, the present invention can also be realized as the image projection system of the above embodiment. The present invention can also be implemented as a control method for a projector. The present invention can also be realized as a processing method for operating a device. The present invention may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute a processing method of an operation device, or may be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

In addition, the present invention includes a form obtained by applying various modifications that will occur to those skilled in the art to each embodiment, or a form realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within a scope that does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. An operation device for operating a 1 st projector and a 2 nd projector for projecting images in the same space, the operation device being characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a control unit for generating a 1 st control signal and a 2 nd control signal, wherein the 1 st control signal is used for enabling the 1 st projector to project a 1 st area which is a part of a predetermined image; the 2 nd control signal is for causing the 2 nd projector to project a 2 nd area which is a part of the predetermined image and is different from the 1 st area; and

and a communication unit for transmitting the generated 1 st control signal to the 1 st projector and transmitting the generated 2 nd control signal to the 2 nd projector.

2. Operating device according to claim 1,

the 1 st projector and the 2 nd projector each include a storage unit in which image data of the predetermined image is stored;

the 1 st control signal is a signal for specifying a position of the 1 st area in the predetermined video, and the 2 nd control signal is a signal for specifying a position of the 2 nd area in the predetermined video.

3. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,

the 2 nd control signal is a signal for causing the 2 nd projector to project the 2 nd area in synchronization with a timing for causing the 1 st projector to project the 1 st area.

4. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,

when the 1 st projector projects an image to the 3 rd area of the space and the 2 nd projector projects an image to the 4 th area of the space,

the relative positional relationship between the 1 st region and the 2 nd region is different from the relative positional relationship between the 3 rd region and the 4 th region.

5. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,

the control unit determines the 1 st area and the 2 nd area based on luminance information in the video data of the predetermined video.

6. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,

a projector operated by the operation device, the projector including a plurality of projectors including the 1 st projector and the 2 nd projector;

the control unit determines the 1 st region and the 2 nd region on the condition that an overlapping range of the 1 st region and the 2 nd region is equal to or smaller than a predetermined area;

the predetermined area is different depending on the number of the plurality of projectors.

7. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,

an operation receiving unit that receives an operation for determining the 1 st area and the 2 nd area from a user;

the control unit generates the 1 st control signal and the 2 nd control signal based on the operation.

8. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2,

the predetermined image is an image obtained by projecting a shadow caused by natural light.

9. An image projection system is characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

the handling device of any of claims 1 to 8; and

the 1 st projector and the 2 nd projector.

10. The image projection system of claim 9,

the 1 st projector generates 1 st information indicating a position of the 1 st area in the predetermined video, which is used for projection of the video, based on the received 1 st control signal;

the 2 nd projector generates 2 nd information indicating a position of the 2 nd area in the predetermined video, which is used for projection of the video, based on the received 2 nd control signal.

11. The image projection system of claim 10,

the 1 st projector projects an image based on the 1 st information during a period from the start to the reception of the control signal;

the 2 nd projector projects a video based on the 2 nd information during a period from the start to the reception of the control signal.

12. An operating method for operating a 1 st projector and a 2 nd projector for projecting images into the same space, said operating method being characterized in that,

generating a 1 st control signal and a 2 nd control signal, the 1 st control signal causing the 1 st projector to project a 1 st area which is a part of a predetermined video; the 2 nd control signal is for causing the 2 nd projector to project a 2 nd area which is a part of the predetermined image and is different from the 1 st area;

the generated 1 st control signal is transmitted to the 1 st projector, and the generated 2 nd control signal is transmitted to the 2 nd projector.

13. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium, characterized in that,

a program that causes a computer to execute the operation method according to claim 12 is recorded.