JP2008185620A - Projector, projection system, and projection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector capable of projecting an appropriate image according to the kind of input image information. <P>SOLUTION: The projector 100 includes: an input unit 110 where class information representing a class of an image active in a PC and image information representing the image are input from the PC 200; a color mode set unit 120 for setting a color mode for adjusting colors according to the class based on the class information; an image generation unit 150 for generating an image based on the image information; a projection unit 190 to project the image; and an adjustment unit 130 for adjusting the projected image by the projection unit 190 according to the color mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector, a projection system, and a projection method.

  For example, as described in JP 2006-58668 A, a notebook PC outputs image information of an image displayed on a notebook PC (Personal Computer) to a projector via a network, and the projector There is a projection system that displays the same image as that displayed on a PC. In addition, examples of application programs executed by the PC include various programs such as presentation, moving image processing, and still image processing.

However, in a general projection system, image information is processed regardless of an application program executed on the PC. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-88194 proposes a projection system that executes image processing in accordance with an application program executed on a PC. Specifically, the information processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-88194 is based on a video type determination unit that determines a video source type based on a file format and driving software, and a parameter corresponding to the video source type. Image processing means for processing the image data and generating image data corresponding to the specifications of the display device of the projector.
JP 2006-58668 A JP 2004-88194 A

  However, in order to properly project an image, it is necessary for the projector to adjust the color mode for adjusting the image. Also, when multiple types of images are displayed on the screen at the same time, it is difficult to determine the type of video source based on the file format and driving software.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector, a projection system, and a projection method capable of projecting a more appropriate image according to the type of input image information.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a projector according to the present invention includes, from an image supply device, type information indicating a type of an image active in the image supply device or identification information of the active image, and the image An input unit for inputting image information indicating the image, a process for setting a color mode for performing image adjustment according to the type based on the type information, or the type determined based on the identification information A color mode setting unit that executes processing for setting the color mode according to the type, an image generation unit that generates an image based on the image information, a projection unit that projects the image, and a color mode according to the color mode And an adjustment unit that adjusts an image projected by the projection unit.

  The projection system according to the present invention is a projection system including an image supply device and a projector, wherein the image supply device includes a determination unit that determines an image active in the image supply device, and the determination unit. An output unit that outputs type information indicating the type of the image or identification information of the image and image information indicating the image, which is determined by the projector, wherein the projector includes the type information, the image information, and the image information. And an input unit that inputs a color mode for adjusting an image according to the type based on the type information, or the type is determined based on the identification information, and the type is determined according to the type A color mode setting unit that executes a process for setting a color mode, an image generation unit that generates an image based on the image information, and projects the image A shooting unit, characterized in that it comprises a, an adjustment unit that adjusts the image projected by the projection unit in accordance with the color mode.

  The projection method according to the present invention is a projection method using a projector having an input unit, a color mode setting unit, an adjustment unit, an image generation unit, and a projection unit, wherein the input unit is active in the image supply device. The type information indicating the type of the image or the identification information of the image and the image information indicating the image are input, and the color mode setting unit sets the image according to the type based on the type information. A process for setting a color mode for performing an adjustment or a process for determining the type based on the identification information and setting the color mode according to the type is performed, and the adjustment unit performs the process according to the color mode. Adjusting the image projected by the projection unit, and the image generation unit generates an image based on the image information in a state where the adjustment is performed by the adjustment unit. , And the projection unit, characterized in that projects the image.

  According to the present invention, the projector or the like can set the color mode according to the type of the active image and perform image adjustment (for example, adjustment of at least one of the color and brightness of the image). A more appropriate image can be projected according to the type of input image information.

  The projector includes an operation unit for inputting user operation information. An image information input unit for inputting image information from at least one other image supply device, and an input source for each input source of image information. A storage unit for storing color mode data including a usage target flag indicating whether or not to be used and data indicating the color mode for each input source, wherein the color mode setting unit changes the input source. The use target flag is updated based on the operation information indicating, and the adjustment unit is projected by the projection unit according to the color mode of the input source that is the use target based on the color mode data. The image may be adjusted.

  According to this, the projector or the like can set the color mode used in the original input source when the input source is once changed to another input source and then returned to the original input source. A more appropriate image can be projected according to the type of input image information.

  The projector includes an operation unit for inputting user operation information, and the color mode setting unit is configured to change the color mode according to the type when an instruction to change the color mode is given based on the operation information. If the color mode is changed and there is no instruction to change the color mode, the color mode may not be changed even if the type is changed.

  According to this, the projector or the like changes the color mode only when there is an instruction to change the color mode, so that the color mode is frequently changed even when the image type is frequently changed in the image supply device. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately project an image by suppressing the flickering of the image due to the change of the color mode.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a projector will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the Example shown below does not limit the content of the invention described in the claim at all. In addition, all the configurations shown in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential as means for solving the invention described in the claims.

(Description of the entire system)
FIG. 1 is an overall view of the projection system. The projection system includes a projector 100 and a PC 200 which is a kind of image supply device. The projector 100 inputs image information of an image captured by the PC 200 via a cable 300 (for example, a USB cable, a LAN cable, etc.), and projects an image based on the image information.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image 400 including an active window 410 displayed on the PC. For example, the image 400 includes three windows 410 to 430. Window 420 is hidden behind window 410 and window 430 is minimized. In this case, the window 410 is an active window (image). It is assumed that the PC 200 captures an active image.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the PC 200 has a function of determining the type of an active image and outputting image information and type information to the projector 100 in a packet format. The projector 100 also has a function of setting a color mode based on the type information and adjusting an image according to the color mode. Next, functional blocks of PC 200 and projector 100 having such functions will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the projection system in the first embodiment. The PC 200 captures an active image at a predetermined timing (for example, the same timing as the vertical synchronization signal, every 1/30 seconds, etc.) and generates image information indicating the image, and the type of the image And generating a type information indicating the type, a packet generation unit 230 for generating a packet including the image information from the image capture unit 210 and the type information from the determination unit 220, and the packet as a projector And an output unit 240 that outputs to 100.

  The packet generator 230 may divide and generate a packet according to the function of the output unit 240, the type of the cable 300, the communication band, and the like. Further, the packet may be composed of, for example, a header according to the protocol used, a packet type (for example, a command, an image, a divided image, a type, etc.) and contents. Further, the image capture unit 210 may capture only a region that has changed from the previously captured image or may compress image information.

  Specifically, the determination unit 220 acquires an identification name (for example, a handle name) of the active window 410 using, for example, an API (Application Program Interface) command (for example, GetActiveWindow), and the like. The type may be determined with reference to a table showing the association between the identification name and the type. Further, the determination unit 220, for example, grasps a process running on the PC 200, determines a process having the highest CPU usage rate as an active application, and refers to a table in which the identification name and type of the application are associated with each other. Then, the type may be determined.

  For example, when the identification name is “Power Point” of Microsoft Corporation, the classification is “Presentation”, the identification name is “Media Player” of Microsoft Corporation, or Adobe ’s. The type when “Flash Player” or the like is “moving image”, and the type when the identification name is “Photo Story” or the like by Microsoft is “still image”. Note that the type that does not correspond to these types is “other”. The determination unit 220 generates type information indicating the determined type.

  Note that, for example, the following may be employed as hardware for implementing the functions of each unit of the PC 200. For example, the image capture unit 210 includes an image processing circuit, a VRAM, the determination unit 220 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores a table, the packet generation unit 230 includes a general packet generation unit, and the output unit 240 includes a network. An interface card or the like may be employed.

  Next, functional blocks of the projector 100 will be described. The projector 100 includes an input unit 110 that inputs a packet from the PC 200, a color mode setting unit 120 that sets a color mode for performing color adjustment according to the type based on the type information included in the packet, and a color mode. An adjustment unit 130 that adjusts an image according to the data, a storage unit 140 that stores various data, an image generation unit 150 that generates an image based on image information included in the packet, and a projection unit 190 that projects the image. It is comprised including.

  Note that the input unit 110 may have, for example, a function of assembling the divided packets in the original state, a function of restoring the compressed information to the original information, and the like. Further, when the image information indicates the difference image information, the image generation unit 150 may store the entire image information and overwrite the new image information to generate the entire image information.

  Further, the storage unit 140 stores type mode association data 142 in which types and color modes are associated, color mode data 144 indicating the color mode set by the color mode setting unit 120, and the like.

  Further, as the association between the type and the color mode in the type mode association data 142, for example, the color mode when the type is “presentation” is “presentation mode”, and the color mode when the type is “moving image”. Is “theatre mode”, the color mode when the type is “still image” is “photo mode”, and the color mode when the type is “other” is “sRGB mode”.

  Note that, for example, the following may be employed as hardware for implementing the functions of each unit of the projector 100. For example, the input unit 110 is a network interface card, the color mode setting unit 120, the adjustment unit 130 is a CPU, the storage unit 140 is a RAM, the image generation unit 150 is an image processing circuit, the projection unit 190, and the like. A lamp, a liquid crystal light valve, a projection lens, or the like may be employed.

  Next, a projection procedure in the projection system will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a projection procedure in the first embodiment. First, processing in the PC 200 will be described. The image capture unit 210 identifies the active window 410, captures an image of the window 410, and generates image information (step S1).

  The determination unit 220 determines the type by referring to the table from the identification name (application name or the like) of the window 410 specified by the image capture unit 210, and generates type information (step S2). Here, it is assumed that the identification name is “Power Point” and the type is “presentation”.

  The packet generation unit 230 generates a packet including the image information from the image capture unit 210 and the type information from the determination unit 220, and the output unit 240 outputs the packet to the projector 100 via the cable 300 (step). S3). Note that the packet generator 230 generates packets in the order of, for example, an output start packet, a type notification packet including type information, an image information packet including image information, an image information packet, an image information packet, and an output end packet. May be. Further, the packet generation unit 230 may generate the type notification packet only when the type has changed.

  Next, processing in the projector 100 will be described. The input unit 110 inputs a packet from the PC 200 (step S4). The color mode setting unit 120 determines the type corresponding to the type information included in the type notification packet from the type mode association data 142 and the color mode corresponding to the type, and updates the color mode data 144 to update the current mode. It is set that the color mode is the color mode (step S5). Here, since the type is “presentation”, the color mode is set to “presentation mode”.

  The adjusting unit 130 refers to the color mode data 144 to grasp the current color mode, and adjusts the image according to the color mode (step S6). Specifically, for example, the adjustment unit 130 includes data for adjustment in the image generation unit 150 (for example, a color conversion matrix, a color adjustment three-dimensional lookup table, a brightness adjustment one-dimensional lookup table, a gamma curve, etc. ) Or the brightness of the lamp in the projection unit 190 is adjusted.

  For example, when the color mode is “presentation mode”, the adjustment unit 130 places importance on the brightness. Therefore, the brightness adjustment one-dimensional lookup table is set so as to increase the lamp brightness or the color temperature or saturation. Adjust the gamma characteristics or set the emphasis on bright areas. For example, when the color mode is “theater mode”, the adjustment unit 130 emphasizes the expression in a dark scene, and therefore reduces the luminance of the lamp or sets the gamma characteristics to emphasize the dark part.

  Then, the image generation unit 150 generates an image based on the image information, adjustment data, and the like included in the image information packet (step S7), and the projection unit 190 projects the image (step S8). Thereby, for example, when the image of “Power Point” is displayed in the active window 410 of the PC 200, the projector 100 sets the “presentation mode” suitable for displaying “presentation”, and sets the “presentation mode”. An image can be projected.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can set the color mode according to the type of the active image and can adjust the image, so that it can be adjusted according to the type of the input image information. A more appropriate image can be projected.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the projector 100 can obtain an appropriate setting by acquiring the type of an active image even when a plurality of windows 410 to 430 and images exist in one image 400. Can project an image.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a case where image information is input to the projector from the PC 200 and a DVD player 290 which is a kind of other image supply device will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the projection system in the second embodiment. Since the configuration of the PC 200 is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The projector 101 includes an image information input unit 160 that inputs image information from the DVD player 290, an operation unit 180 that inputs operation information indicating a user operation, and image information from the PC 200 or a DVD player in accordance with the user operation. An input unit 110, a control unit 170 for controlling the image information input unit 160, and the like so as to input image information from 290 are configured.

  Further, the color mode data 144 of the second embodiment indicates a color mode for each input source of the projector 101. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the color mode data 144 in the second embodiment. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the color mode when the input source of image information to the projector 100 is “PC” is “presentation mode”, and the color mode when the input source is “DVD player” is “Theater mode”.

  The color mode data 144 also includes a “use flag” indicating whether or not the adjustment unit 130 is a use target. For example, if the “use flag” is “1”, the object is used, and if the “use flag” is “0”, the object is not used. Since the other configuration of the projector 101 is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Note that, for example, the following may be employed as hardware for implementing the functions of these units. For example, the image information input unit 160 may be an image input terminal or a video decoder, the control unit 170 may be a CPU, the operation unit 180 may be a button, a remote controller, or the like.

  Next, a projection procedure in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a projection procedure in the second embodiment. Since the general projection procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Based on the operation information from the operation unit 180, the control unit 170 determines whether there is an instruction to change the input source (step S11). If there is an instruction to change the input source, the control unit 170 disables the input unit (the input unit 110 or the image information input unit 160) that has input image information before the input source is changed (step S100). S12).

  For example, when the input unit 110 is disabled, the control unit 170 disables the packet input function of the input unit 110, cuts off the connection with the PC 200, and can use the video decoder of the image information input unit 160. Put it in a state. Further, for example, when the image information input unit 160 is disabled, the control unit 170 disables the video decoder of the image information input unit 160, sets the packet input function of the input unit 110 to be enabled, and the PC 200 Establish a connection with.

  Further, when there is an instruction to change the input source based on the operation information from the operation unit 180, the color mode setting unit 120 updates the color mode data 144 so as to change the usage target (step S13). Specifically, for example, when the input source is changed from the PC 200 to the DVD player 290, the color mode setting unit 120 sets the “use flag” for “PC” from “1” to “0” in the color mode data 144. And change the “use flag” for “DVD player” from “0” to “1”.

  The adjustment unit 130 determines whether it is necessary to adjust the image according to the color mode by comparing the current color mode with the color mode of the input source to be used in the color mode data 144. (Step S14). For example, when the current color mode is “presentation mode” and the color mode of the input source that is the target of use is “theater mode”, it is necessary to adjust the image according to the color mode. is there.

  When it is necessary to adjust the image according to the color mode, the adjustment unit 130 adjusts the image according to the color mode described in the first embodiment (step S15). When the input source is the image information input unit 160, the image generation unit 150 generates an image based on the image information input by the image information input unit 160 (step S16), and the projection unit 190 projects the image. (Step S17). When the input source is the PC 200, the projector 101 projects an image according to the procedure described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the projector 101 changes the color mode used in the original input source when the input source is once changed to another input source and then returned to the original input source. Since it can be used, it is possible to project a more appropriate image according to the type of input image information.

  That is, even if the user changes the input source from the PC 200 to the DVD player 290, for example, the user does not need to change the color mode according to the DVD player 290. Thereby, the projector 101 can improve the ease of use of the projector 101 by the user.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a case will be described in which a packet output start request or the like is made from the projector to the PC with a configuration close to that of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the projection system in the third embodiment.

  The PC 201 in the third embodiment has an input / output unit 242 instead of the output unit 240. The projector 102 in the third embodiment has an input / output unit 112 instead of the input unit 110. The input / output unit 242 and the input / output unit 112 have a packet input / output function. Since other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a projection procedure in the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a projection procedure in the third embodiment. Since the general projection procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Based on the operation information from the operation unit 180, the packet generation unit 114 determines whether to input image information from the PC 201 by changing the input source (step S21). When inputting image information from the PC 201, the packet generator 114 generates an output start request packet, and the input / output unit 112 outputs the output start request packet to the PC 201 via the cable 300 (step S22).

  When the input / output unit 242 receives the output start request packet, the PC 201 starts the processes of steps S1 to S3 described in the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, when image information is input from the DVD player 290 by changing the input source, the packet generator 114 generates an output stop request packet, and the input / output unit 112 sends the output stop request packet to the PC 201 via the cable 300. Output (step S23).

  When the input / output unit 242 receives the output stop request packet, the PC 201 ends the processes of steps S1 to S3 described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the processing of the PC 201 can be controlled from the projector 102. Accordingly, for example, when the input source is changed from the PC 201 to the DVD player 290, the projector 102 can cause the PC 201 to stop outputting packets, stop unnecessary processing in the PC 201 and the projector 102, and the PC 201 In addition, the projector 102 can be operated comfortably.

(Other examples)
In addition, application of this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, the projectors 100 to 102 change the color mode based on the type information or the like when the operation unit 180 instructs to change the color mode automatically, and when the operation unit 180 instructs to not change the color mode. The color mode may not be changed regardless of the type information. According to this, the user can prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the color mode is frequently changed due to frequent changes in the active applications of the PCs 200 and 201.

  In the above-described embodiment, the projectors 100 to 102 input the type information indicating the type of the active image from the PCs 200 and 201. However, the input unit 110 and the input / output unit 112 replace the identification information with the image. The color mode setting unit 120 determines a type corresponding to the identification information by referring to a table in which the identification information and the type are associated, and sets the color mode according to the type. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, packet input / output is performed, but the communication method for image information and the like is arbitrary, and is not limited to packet communication. The cable 300 is not essential. For example, when the communication system in the projection system is a wireless communication system, the cable 300 is not necessary.

  Further, the color mode is not limited to the above-described mode, and various modes (for example, a living mode, a dynamic mode, a blackboard mode, etc.) can be adopted depending on the projector to be applied. The adjustment unit 130 may adjust both the color and brightness of the image, may adjust only the color of the image, or may adjust only the brightness of the image.

  Further, the image capture unit 210 captures the image of the active window 410. However, the image capture unit 210 may capture the entire image 400 including the active window 410, or may capture an image that is displayed on the full screen. Good. That is, the image indicated by the image information is not limited to the image of the window 410, and various images can be adopted.

  Further, as the projectors 100 to 102, for example, a liquid crystal projector, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) projector, a projector using a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), or the like may be used. DMD is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.

  Further, the image supply device is not limited to the PCs 200 and 201 and the DVD player 290, and may be, for example, a game device or a mobile phone. That is, the functions of the PCs 200 and 201 described above can be mounted on a DVD player 290, a game device, a mobile phone, or the like.

1 is an overall view of a projection system. It is a figure which shows the image containing the active image displayed by PC. It is a functional block diagram of the projection system in a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the projection procedure in a 1st Example. It is a functional block diagram of the projection system in a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the color mode data in a 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the projection procedure in a 2nd Example. It is a functional block diagram of the projection system in a 3rd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the projection procedure in a 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

  100 to 102 projector, 110 input unit, 112 input / output unit, 114 packet generation unit, 120 color mode setting unit, 130 adjustment unit, 140 storage unit, 142 type mode association data, 144 color mode data, 150 image generation unit, 160 Image information input unit, 170 control unit, 180 operation unit, 190 projection unit, 200 PC, 210 image capture unit, 220 determination unit, 230 packet generation unit, 240 output unit, 242 input / output unit, 290 DVD player, 300 cable 400 images, 410-430 windows

Claims (5)

An input unit for inputting type information indicating the type of an image that is active in the image supply device or identification information of the active image and image information indicating the image from the image supply device;
A process for setting a color mode for adjusting an image according to the type based on the type information or a process for determining the type based on the identification information and setting the color mode according to the type A color mode setting section to be executed;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the image information;
A projection unit for projecting the image;
An adjustment unit that adjusts an image projected by the projection unit according to the color mode;
Including a projector. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
Including an operation unit for inputting user operation information,
An image information input unit for inputting image information from at least one other image supply device;
A storage unit that stores color mode data including a use target flag indicating whether or not the input source is a use target for each input source of image information, and data indicating the color mode for each input source;
Including
The color mode setting unit updates the use target flag based on the operation information indicating that an input source is changed,
The projector adjusts an image projected by the projection unit in accordance with the color mode of an input source to be used based on the color mode data. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
Including an operation unit for inputting user operation information,
The color mode setting unit changes the color mode according to the type when there is an instruction to change the color mode based on the operation information, and when there is no instruction to change the color mode, The projector characterized by not changing the color mode even when the type is changed. In a projection system including an image supply device and a projector,
The image supply device includes:
A determination unit for determining an active image in the image supply device;
An output unit that outputs type information indicating the type of the image determined by the determination unit or identification information of the image, and image information indicating the image;
Including
The projector is
An input unit for inputting the type information and the image information;
A process for setting a color mode for adjusting an image according to the type based on the type information or a process for determining the type based on the identification information and setting the color mode according to the type A color mode setting section to be executed;
An image generation unit that generates an image based on the image information;
A projection unit for projecting the image;
An adjustment unit that adjusts an image projected by the projection unit according to the color mode;
A projection system comprising: In a projection method by a projector having an input unit, a color mode setting unit, an adjustment unit, an image generation unit, and a projection unit,
The input unit inputs type information indicating a type of an image active in the image supply device or identification information of the image, and image information indicating the image,
The color mode setting unit determines the type based on the process for setting a color mode for performing image adjustment according to the type based on the type information or the identification information, and determines the type according to the type. Execute the process to set the color mode,
The adjustment unit adjusts an image projected by the projection unit according to the color mode,
The image generation unit generates an image based on the image information in a state where the adjustment is performed by the adjustment unit,
A projection method, wherein the projection unit projects the image.

Images