JP2008249907A - Projector and display system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector reducing the burden on users when a plurality of different images are projected by a plurality of projectors. <P>SOLUTION: Each projector 100 includes an imaging part having an imaging field of view capable of imaging at least an area other than a projection area of each image. Each projector 100 searches for another projector 100 capable of communicating therewith (step 203), acquires ID of another projector 100 (step 209), and performs the projection one by one, and the rest three perform the imaging so that the imaging results are reported mutually (steps 211 to 247). Each projector 100 recognizes its own projection position (step 251) on the basis of the imaging results of the imaging fields of view S1 to S4 of all the projectors 100, and automatically selects and projects a proper image in accordance with the position (steps 255, 257). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector that projects one image among a plurality of images that are used in cooperation with other projectors and projected simultaneously, and a display system including the projector.

  Conventionally, two or more projectors have been used in presentations, etc., one projector projects a main image such as a slide image for presentation, and the other projector uses an auxiliary image for the main image as a sub-image. May try to project as. For such a case, one of the plurality of projectors is set as a projector (master projector) that operates as a master, and the other is set as a projector (slave projector) that operates as a slave. A system is disclosed in which image data to be sent to is selected and transmitted, and the slave projector projects the received image data to synchronize the main image and the sub-image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In some cases, a plurality of projectors are used and the projection areas of the images of the projectors are connected to form one multi-screen. In such a case, it is necessary to align the projection positions of the projectors in order to connect the images projected by the projectors. Therefore, for example, a test pattern is projected on the screen from each projector, the position of the test pattern image is detected by photographing the test pattern image, and the projection position of each projector is determined based on the detection result. A technique for performing the adjustment is disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 2 to 4).

  Also, when arranging the projection areas of the images of a plurality of projectors on the screen and forming a multi-screen, taking into account the arrangement of the projection areas of the projector on the screen, an image corresponding to the position of the projection area in the arrangement, Each projector needs to be projected. For this reason, a projector is disclosed in which the user manually sets the arrangement on the multi-screen (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

  When using a plurality of projectors at the same time as in the system described in Patent Document 5, the arrangement of the projectors is grasped in advance, and each projector is set to project an appropriate image according to the arrangement. There is a need. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, four projectors 100 ′ are arranged in a horizontal row, and the main image, the sub image 1, the sub image 2, and the sub image 3 are arranged in this order from the left projector. Suppose an image needs to be projected. In this case, it is necessary to accurately arrange projectors that project the main screen, the sub image 1, the sub image 2, and the sub image 3 in order from the left.

  Further, in the system shown in FIG. 9, four projectors 100 ′ are cascade-connected via a serial communication network 105, and the leftmost projector 100 ′ is abbreviated as a personal computer (hereinafter “PC”). Connected to the personal computer 120 via a wireless LAN, and data communication with the personal computer 120 is possible. In this case, the personal computer 120 needs to transmit the image data projected as the main image, the sub-image 1, the sub-image 2, and the sub-image 3 to an appropriate destination to which the image is to be projected. Even if the projection areas of the images of the projectors are aligned and the joints of the projection areas are aligned as in the systems described in Patent Documents 2 to 4, the images projected by the projectors are appropriate. Without it, it is difficult to project each image along a predetermined scenario.

JP 2006-165949 A JP-A-8-168039 JP 2005-244835 A JP 2006-109088 A JP 2003-271118 A

  However, it is a burden on the user to install a projector or connect a communication network without making a mistake in consideration of the arrangement of images.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a projector that reduces a user's burden when simultaneously projecting a plurality of different images using a plurality of projectors.

  In order to achieve the above object, a projector according to claim 1 includes a projection unit that projects an image, and a light receiving unit that can receive at least light from a region outside the projection region of the image by the projection unit. A search unit that searches for another projector that can communicate, a notification unit that mutually notifies the light reception result of the light receiving unit, the light reception result of the light receiving unit, and the other projector A positional relationship recognition unit for recognizing a positional relationship of a plurality of projection regions including a projection region of an image by the projection unit and a projection region of an image of the other projector based on the light reception result notified from The projection unit projects an image corresponding to the position of the projection region of the image by the projection unit in the plurality of projection regions.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the first aspect, the projection unit can project a unique pattern image, and the light receiving unit is located outside an image projection area of the projection unit. An image sensor having an imaging field of view capable of capturing at least an area, and the positional relationship recognition unit determines a projection area of an image of the other projector based on a pattern image pattern included in an imaging result of the image sensor. In particular, the positional relationship between the plurality of projection areas is recognized.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the first or second aspect, an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode according to a position of a projection region of an image by the projection unit in the plurality of projection regions. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the third aspect, the operation mode setting unit includes a table that associates the position of each projection area in the plurality of projection areas with the operation mode. The operation mode is set with reference to the table.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the third or fourth aspect, the image data of the first image as the main image displayed first and the second data associated with the first image are displayed. Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of an image, wherein the operation mode setting unit is configured to change the first mode according to a position of a projection area of the image by the projection unit in a positional relationship recognized by the positional relationship recognition unit. Either a first mode for projecting one image or a second mode for projecting the second image can be set, and when the first mode is set, the first mode is set. A data processing unit that selects image data of an image and transmits the image data of the second image to the other projector is provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the projector according to the fifth aspect, the image data of the second image includes a plurality of different image data, and the data processing unit has the first mode. When set, the image data of the second image corresponding to the position of the projection area of the image of each of the other projectors in the positional relationship recognized by the positional relationship recognition unit is distributed to each of the other projectors. And transmitting.

  A display system according to a seventh aspect includes a plurality of projectors according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

  According to the projector of the first aspect, the light receiving unit having the light receiving surface capable of receiving at least light from a region outside the projection region of the image by the projection unit is provided. Therefore, if the light received by the light receiving unit includes light from the projection region of the image of the other projector, the projection region of the image of the other projector and the projection of the projection unit based on the light reception result It becomes possible to roughly recognize the positional relationship with the region.

  In addition, according to this projector, a search unit that searches for another projector that can communicate is provided, and the light reception result of the light receiving unit is mutually notified with the searched other projectors. Therefore, since the positional relationship recognition unit can acquire the light reception results of the light receiving units in all projectors, it can recognize the position of the projection region by the projection unit in the positional relationship of the projection regions of the images of all projectors. become able to. As a result, an appropriate image corresponding to the position of the projection area of the image of the projection unit in the positional relationship can be automatically projected by the projection unit, so that a plurality of different images can be obtained using a plurality of projectors. It is possible to reduce the work burden on the user when projecting at the same time.

  According to the projector of the second aspect, the projection unit can project a unique pattern image. Therefore, if the pattern is picked up by the image pickup device and the pattern is extracted from the image pickup result, it is possible to specify a projector that includes a projection area within the image pickup field of the image pickup device.

  According to the projector of the third aspect, it is possible to automatically set the operation mode corresponding to the position of the projection area of the image by the projection unit in the positional relationship of the plurality of projectors. By setting the operation mode, it is possible to automatically select an appropriate image according to the position of the projection area of the image of the projection unit in the positional relationship.

  According to the projector of the fourth aspect, since the operation mode setting unit has a table that associates the position of each projection area and the operation mode in the plurality of projection areas, It becomes easy to set an operation mode according to the position of the projection area of the image by the projection unit.

  According to the projector of the fifth aspect, the image data acquisition means for acquiring the image data of the first image as the main image and the image data of the second image accompanying the first image. I have. In addition, the operation mode setting unit outputs a first mode for projecting the first image and a second image according to the position of the projection area of the image by the projection unit in the positional relationship recognized by the positional relationship recognition unit. One of the second modes for projection is set. Furthermore, when the first mode is selected, the data processing unit selects the image data of the first image and transmits the image data of the second image to another projector. In this way, the projector can function as both a projector that projects the first image and a projector that projects the second image according to its own projection position in the positional relationship of the plurality of projection areas. Become.

  According to the projector of the sixth aspect, when the first mode is set and there are a plurality of projectors operating in the second mode, the projection of the image of the projection unit of each projector is performed. The appropriate second image is distributed and transmitted according to the position of the area, so the burden on the user when simultaneously projecting three or more different images using three or more projectors is reduced. It becomes possible to do.

  Further, according to the projector of the seventh aspect, a plurality of projectors according to any one of the first to sixth aspects are provided. Those projectors mutually notify each other of the light reception results of the light receiving unit, automatically recognize the positional relationship of the projection regions, and respectively select an appropriate image according to the position of the projection region of the projection unit in the positional relationship. Projectors can automatically project. As a result, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user when simultaneously projecting a plurality of different images using a plurality of projectors.

  First, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the display system 200 according to the present embodiment includes four projectors 100 and one personal computer 120. The four projectors 100 are the same type of projection apparatus that projects an image on a screen. The four projectors 100 and the personal computer 120 are connected via a communication network 104 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Instead of this LAN, data communication between the projectors may be possible by a cascade connection of a wireless LAN or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. In addition, each projector 100 is equipped with a remote control 102 for remotely operating each projector 100 with infrared rays. The remote controller 102 transmits various operation commands to the projector 100, and the projector 100 operates according to the operation commands.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each projector 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the projector 100 includes a projection unit 10, an image processing unit 20, a control unit 30, an internal bus 40, and an imaging unit 50. The projection unit 10 has various optical systems for emitting projection light for projecting an image onto the screen S. Further, the image processing unit 20 performs a series of image processing to form an image projected by the projection unit 10. The control unit 30 performs overall control of the projection unit 10 and the image processing unit 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the projection unit 10 includes a lamp control circuit 11, a lamp 12, an illumination optical system 13, a light modulation element 14, and an imaging optical system 15. The lamp control circuit 11 turns on the lamp 12 under the overall control of the control unit 30. The lamp 12 emits illumination light for projection. The illumination light emitted from the lamp 12 enters the illumination optical system 13 and is shaped. The illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system 13 illuminates the light modulation element 14 uniformly. For example, a liquid crystal panel is used as the light modulation element 14, but a digital mirror device or the like may be used. An image to be projected is formed on the light modulation element 14 by driving an image processing unit 20 described later. Therefore, the illumination light that has passed through the light modulation element 14 becomes light including the image information. The illumination light that has passed through the light modulation element 14 enters the imaging optical system 15 and reaches the screen S via the imaging optical system 15. The light modulation element 14 and the screen S are in a conjugate relationship, and the imaging optical system 15 forms an image formed on the light modulation element 14 on the screen S. The lamp control circuit 11 is connected to the internal bus 40.

  The image processing unit 20 includes a video signal input unit 21, an image processing circuit 22, and a light modulation element drive circuit 23. An external video signal is input by the video signal input means 21. The input video signal is input to the image processing circuit 22. The image processing circuit 22 performs predetermined image processing on the input video signal and outputs the image data signal. This image data signal is input to the light modulation element drive circuit 23. The light modulation element drive circuit 23 generates a drive signal corresponding to the image data signal, and drives the light modulation element 14 according to the drive signal. As a result, an image is formed on the light modulation element 14. The image processing circuit 22 is connected to the internal bus 40. The image processing circuit 22 can also input a digital signal to be projected as image data from the internal bus 40.

  The search unit, the positional relationship recognition unit, the operation mode setting unit, the image data acquisition unit, and the control unit 30 as a data processing unit are configured around a microcomputer 31. The microcomputer 31 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM (all not shown), and the like, and the CPU 100 performs overall control of the projector 100 by executing a control program stored in the memory. In addition to the microcomputer 31, the control unit 30 includes a communication unit 32 that communicates with other projectors 100 and the personal computer 120 via the communication network 104. The control unit 30 includes an operation panel 34 as a man-machine interface. The control unit 30 includes an infrared control unit 36 and an infrared light receiving unit 37 as an interface of the remote controller. The contents of the operation input from the operation panel 34 are transmitted to the microcomputer 31. The microcomputer 31 analyzes the operation contents and controls the projector 100 according to the operation contents. Thereby, the projector 100 comes to operate according to the operation content of the operation panel 34. Hereinafter, the operation of the remote controller 102 or the operation panel 34 is simply abbreviated as the operation of the remote controller 102 or the like. Further, the microcomputer 31 and various interfaces are connected to the internal bus 40.

  The imaging unit 50 as a light receiving unit includes a CCD (charge coupled device) camera as an imaging device. FIG. 3 schematically shows the positional relationship between the imaging range of the CCD camera and the image by the projection unit 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the CCD camera includes a projection area A of an image by the projection unit 10 and has an imaging field of view SA larger than the projection area A. Note that the imaging field of view of the CCD camera is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and it is only necessary to have an imaging field of view that can capture at least an area outside the projection area A of the image by the projection unit 10. A CMOS image sensor may be used instead of the CCD camera. Here, the area outside the image projection area A is preferably an area that is substantially in the same plane as the image projection area A and that is adjacent to the image projection area A. This is because this makes it easier to grasp the position of another projector 100 arranged adjacent to the projector 100.

  As described above, each component of the projection unit 10, the image processing unit 20, the control unit 30, and the imaging unit 50 is connected to the internal bus 40. Data communication of each part is performed via this internal bus 40, and the microcomputer 31 of the control unit 30 performs overall control of each part via this internal bus 40.

  Returning to FIG. 1, in the display system 200, each image is projected in the order of the main image, the sub-image 1, the sub-image 2, and the sub-image 3 in order from the left. Here, the main image is an image that is projected first among all images, and is, for example, a slide image of slide show software. The sub-images 1 to 3 are images accompanying the main image, and these images are related to each other.

  The data of each image is stored in advance in the personal computer 120 and transmitted from the personal computer 120 to each projector 100. In the present embodiment, the personal computer 120 first transmits data of the main image and the sub-images 1 to 3 to the projector 100 that projects the main image. The projector 100 that projects the main image extracts data corresponding to the main image from the data received from the personal computer 120, projects an image based on this data, and projects the sub-images 1 to 3. This is distributed to the projector 100 to be transmitted. The projector 100 that projects the sub-images 1 to 3 acquires the image data received from the projector 100 that projects the main image as data corresponding to the sub-image, and projects the sub-image based on this data.

  The projector 100 can set two operation modes: a main mode for projecting a main image and a sub mode for projecting a sub image. That is, when the main mode is set, the image data is received from the personal computer 120, the image data of the main image is extracted, and the image data of the sub image is transmitted to another projector 100. When the sub mode is set, image data is received from the projector 100 set to the main mode, and an image is projected based on the received image data.

  FIG. 4 shows an arrangement example of four projectors 100 in the present embodiment. Each projector 100 is given an ID as an identification number. In FIG. 4, for example, four projectors 100 whose IDs are ID1 to ID4 are installed. Since the user randomly installs the projectors 100 without considering this ID, the arrangement and the IDs of the projectors 100 are irrelevant.

  Next, the operation of the projector 100 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a control program executed in the microcomputer 31 of the projector 100. As shown in FIG. 5, first, in step 201, projector 100 startup processing (processing after power-on) is performed. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the activation processing of all projectors 100 having ID1 to ID4 is performed. In the next step 203, a search for another projector 100 is performed via the communication unit 32. By this search, the function of the search unit is realized.

  In step 205, it is determined whether or not there is another projector 100. If this determination is denied, the process proceeds to step 207, and projection processing is performed as one projector 100.

  If the determination in step 205 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 209 to acquire the ID of another projector 100. Here, in the arrangement example shown in FIG. 4, if the projector 100 has an ID of ID1, ID2 to ID4 of the other projectors 100 are acquired. In the next step 211, it is determined whether or not the own ID is small. If this determination is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 212, and if not, the process proceeds to step 231. Here, if the user's ID is ID1, the determination is affirmed, and if not, the determination is denied.

  That is, in the system shown in FIG. 4, this determination is affirmed only with the projector 100 with ID1, and the determination is denied with the projector 100 with ID2 to ID4. Hereinafter, the operation in the projector 100 with ID1 and the operation in the projector 100 with ID2 to ID4 will be described in parallel with reference to this flowchart.

  In step 212, the projector 100 with ID 1 transmits a dummy projection command addressed to itself to the other projectors 100. Here, the projection command is originally a command for projecting an image to another projector 100, but here is a dummy projection command because it is addressed to itself. On the other hand, the projectors 100 of ID2 to ID4 wait in step 231 until a projection command is transmitted. Here, when a projection command is sent from the projector 100 with ID1, the determination at step 231 is affirmed, and the projector 100 with ID2 to ID4 proceeds to step 233. In step 233, it is determined whether or not the received projection command is addressed to itself. Since the projection command sent here is addressed to the projector 100 with ID 1, the determination is denied and the process proceeds to step 241.

  Next, in step 213, the projector 100 with ID1 projects an image. The image at this time may be any image, but the brightness of the projected image is such that the projection region and other portions can be distinguished from each other by the difference in luminance in the imaging result of the imaging unit 50. It is necessary to. On the other hand, the projector 100 having ID2 to ID4 proceeds to step 241 and performs imaging by the imaging unit 50. In step 243, the imaging result is transmitted / received to / from another projector 100. Here, for the projector 100 with ID 1, in step 215, these imaging results are received from the other projectors 100. That is, here, mutual notification of imaging results is performed between projectors. The notification unit is realized by the operations of steps 215 and 243.

  At this stage, each projector 100 has acquired the imaging results of the imaging fields of view S2, S3, and S4 shown in FIG. Here, since only the projector 100 with ID1 is projecting an image, as shown in FIG. 7A, the projection images are included in the imaging results of the imaging fields of view S2 and S4. In addition, let these imaging results be the first imaging results.

  Thereafter, the projectors 100 of ID2 to ID4 determine whether or not the position calculation command is transmitted in step 247. Here, the position calculation command is a command that instructs a certain projector 100 to calculate the projection position to the other projector 100. This position calculation command is transmitted from the projector 100 with ID1 to the projector 100 with ID2 to ID4 when the determination at step 223 described later is denied to the projector 100 with ID1. Here, since the position calculation command has not been transmitted, the determination is denied and the process returns to step 231.

  On the other hand, in step 217, the projector 100 with ID1 transmits a projection command to the projector 100 with the next largest ID. Here, a projection command addressed to the projector 100 with ID2 is transmitted. The projectors ID2 to ID4 are again waiting for a projection command in step 231, and when this projection command is received, the process proceeds to step 233. In step 233, the determination is made only for the projector 100 with ID 2, the process proceeds to step 235, and the remaining projectors 100 proceed to step 241.

  Thereafter, the projector 100 with ID1 performs imaging by the imaging unit 50 in the next step 219, the projector 100 with ID2 performs projection in step 235, and the projector 100 with ID3 and ID4 performs imaging in step 241. Do. Then, the projectors 100 other than the projector 100 of ID2 transmit and receive the respective imaging results in steps 221 and 243.

  At this stage, each projector 100 has acquired the imaging results of the imaging fields S1, S3, and S4 shown in FIG. Here, since only the projector 100 of ID2 is projecting the image, as shown in FIG. 7B, the projection image is included only in the imaging result of the imaging field of view S1. Note that these imaging results are the second imaging results.

  In step 223, the projector 100 with ID1 determines whether there is a projector that has not received a projection command. At this stage, the determination is affirmed and the process returns to step 217. On the other hand, the projectors 100 of ID2 to ID4 determine whether or not a position calculation command is transmitted in step 247. Here, the determination is denied, and the process returns to step 231.

  Thereafter, similarly, transmission of a projection command from the projector 100 with ID1 to the projector 100 with 1D3 (step 217), projection with the projector 100 with ID3 (step 235), and photographing with the projector 100 with ID1, ID2, and ID4 (step 219) 241), and mutual notification of the imaging results (steps 221, 243). Thereby, an imaging result as shown in FIG. 7C is obtained. The imaging result acquired at this time is set as the third imaging result. Thereafter, transmission of a projection command from the projector 100 with ID1 to the projector 100 with 1D4 (step 217), projection of the projector 100 with ID4 (step 235), imaging with other projectors 100 (steps 219 and 241), and imaging results Mutual notification (steps 221 and 243) is performed. The imaging result acquired at this time is set as the fourth imaging result.

  When there is no projector 100 that has not received the projection command in the projector 100 with ID1, the determination in step 223 is denied. At this time, the projector 100 with ID1 transmits a position calculation command to the other projectors 100. To do. As a result, in the projectors 100 having ID2 to ID4, the determination in step 247 is affirmed. As a result, the projectors 100 having ID1 to ID4 proceed to step 251.

  In step 251, each projector 100 recognizes the positional relationship of the projection areas of the four projectors 100 based on the imaging results acquired so far. Specifically, the microcomputer 31 performs image processing on the first to fourth imaging results, and extracts a portion of each imaging result whose luminance is higher than a predetermined level, that is, a projection area of the image. Thus, the projector 100 that projects the image is specified. In the present embodiment, since the projector 100 that projects an image at a certain timing has only one ID, the projector can be identified by extracting a portion with high luminance.

  For example, according to the first imaging result shown in FIG. 7A, the projection image of the projector 100 with ID1 is the right end of the imaging field S2 of the projector 100 with ID2, and the left end of the imaging field S4 of the projector 100 with ID4. Therefore, the brightness of those portions is high. In this case, the microcomputer 31 can recognize that the ID 100 projector 100 is installed on the right side of the ID 2 projector 100 and on the left side of the ID 4 projector 100.

  Further, according to the second imaging result shown in FIG. 7B, the luminance is increased only on the left side of the imaging visual field S1, and in this case, the microcomputer 31 uses the ID1 projector 100 as the ID1 projector 100. It can be recognized that it is installed on the left side. Moreover, according to the imaging result of the 3rd time shown by FIG.7 (C), the brightness | luminance of the microcomputer 31 is high only to the right side of imaging visual field S4. In this case, the microcomputer 31 can recognize that the ID3 projector 100 is installed on the right side of the ID4 projector 100. Further, according to the fourth imaging result shown in FIG. 7D, the luminance on the right side of the imaging visual field S1 and the left side of the imaging visual field S3 is high. In this case, the microcomputer 31 can recognize that the ID4 projector 100 is installed on the right side of the ID1 projector 100 and on the left side of the ID3 projector 100.

  Then, the microcomputer 31 calculates, as a final recognition result, that the arrangement of the four projectors 100 is, in order from the left, ID2 → ID1 → ID4 → ID3 from the above recognition results. The positional relationship recognition unit is realized by the operation of step 251.

  In the present embodiment, the microcomputer 31 holds a table in which the relationship between this arrangement and the operation mode is described. According to this table, the projector 100 arranged on the leftmost side is set to the main mode, and the other projectors 100 are set to the sub mode. Therefore, in the next step 253, it is determined whether or not it is arranged at the leftmost position. This determination is affirmed only for the projector 100 with ID2. The projector 100 with ID2 proceeds to step 255, where the main mode is set, and thereafter operates in the main mode. On the other hand, the projectors 100 with ID1, ID3, and ID4 proceed to step 257 to set the sub mode, and thereafter operate in the sub mode. The operation mode setting unit is realized by the operation of step 253.

  That is, ID2 projector 100 receives image data from personal computer 120 and extracts main image data from the image data. Then, the remaining image data is divided into sub-image 1, sub-image 2, and sub-image 3 data according to the arrangement of the projector 100 set in the sub mode, and the image data of sub-image 1 is sent to the projector 100 of ID1. The image data of the sub-image 2 is transmitted to the projector 100 with ID4, and the image data of the sub-image 3 is transmitted to the projector 100 with ID3. Projectors 100 with ID1, ID3, and ID4 project images based on the received image data. That is, the image data acquisition means and the data processing unit are realized by step 255.

  In the next step 259, the process waits until it is determined whether another projector 100 is newly added. If this determination is affirmative, it is necessary to re-recognize the positional relationships of all the projectors 100, so the process returns to step 209 and the above-described processing is performed again.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the imaging unit 50 corresponds to the light receiving unit, and the control unit 30 includes a search unit, a notification unit, a positional relationship recognition unit, an image data acquisition unit, and data processing. Corresponding to the part. 5 corresponds to the search unit, steps 221 and 243 correspond to the notification unit, step 251 corresponds to the positional relationship recognition unit, step 253 corresponds to the operation mode setting unit, Reference numeral 255 corresponds to an image data acquisition unit and a data processing unit.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the imaging unit 50 having an imaging field capable of imaging at least an area outside the projection area by the projection unit 10 is provided. Here, since the imaging result of the imaging unit 50 has an imaging field of view that allows imaging outside the projection area of the projection unit 10, the imaging result may include a projection image of an image of another projector 100. For example, based on the imaging result, it is possible to recognize the approximate positional relationship between the projection area of the image of the other projector 100 and the projection area of the projection unit 10. In the present embodiment, the imaging result of the imaging unit 50 is mutually notified with another projector 100. In this way, each projector 100 can recognize the positional relationship of the projection areas of the images of all the projectors 100 based on all the imaging results. As a result, each projector 100 can automatically project an appropriate image according to the position of the projection area of the image of the projection unit in the positional relationship by the projection unit 10.

  That is, even when a plurality of projectors 100 are arranged appropriately, each projector 100 can automatically recognize the projection position and project images in the correct order.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the main mode and the sub mode can be automatically set according to the positions of the projection areas of the images of the plurality of projectors 100. This eliminates the need for the user to manually set the master-slave relationship of the projector 100 or discriminate the main projector, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, each projector 100 projects the main image according to the position of the projection area of the image by the projection unit 10 in the positional relationship between the plurality of recognized projection areas, and the sub image. Set one of the sub-modes that project. Each projector 100 can acquire the image data of the main image and the image data of the sub image accompanying the main image. When the main mode is set, the image data of the main image is acquired. The image data of the remaining sub-image is extracted and transmitted to another projector 100. When the sub mode is set, an image based on the received image data is projected as a sub image. In this way, the projector 100 can operate as both the projector 100 that projects the main image and the projector 100 that projects the sub-image.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the main mode is set and there are a plurality of projectors 100 operating in the sub mode, the image of the projection unit 10 in the positional relationship according to the positional relationship. It is possible to automatically project appropriate sub-images (sub-images 1 to 3) according to the position of the projection area by each of the other projectors 100.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the table that associates the position of each projection area and the operation mode in the positional relationship between the plurality of projection areas is provided, It becomes easy to set an operation mode according to the position of the projection area.

  Note that the operation modes that can be set depending on the positional relationship of the projection areas are not limited to the main mode and the sub mode. For example, when the projection areas of the projectors 100 are connected in a 2 × 2 matrix to form one multi-screen, the projector 100 having the projection area located on the upper left projects the upper left image. You may make it set to.

  In the present embodiment, the projector 100 that projects an image can be specified from the imaging result by shifting the projection timing of each projector 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if each projector 100 can project a unique pattern image, the pattern image is captured by the CCD camera of the imaging unit 50, and the pattern is extracted from the imaging result, the imaging of the CCD camera of the imaging unit 50 is performed. Since it is possible to specify the projector 100 including the projection area within the field of view, the position of the projection area of each projector 100 in the projection areas of all the projectors 100 is specified based on these imaging results. It is also possible to do.

  FIG. 8 shows the relationship between these unique pattern images and the imaging field of view of the imaging unit 50. For example, the projector 100 with ID1 can project a unique pattern 1, the projector 100 with ID2 can project a unique pattern 2, and the projector 100 with ID3 can project a unique pattern 3. Assume that the projector 100 with ID 4 can project a unique pattern 4. In this way, if a pattern image projected on any one of the imaging visual fields S1 to S4 is included, the microcomputer 31 performs image processing and extracts the patterns 1 to 4 to extract the pattern. The projector 100 that projects an image can be specified.

  In this way, as in the above-described embodiment, all the projectors 100 can perform projection and imaging at one time without shifting the image projection timing, so that the positional relationship of the projection areas is recognized. It is possible to shorten the time until.

  In addition, the projector 100 may be specified by projecting images of different colors, characters, and symbols depending on the projector 100.

  In addition, according to the display system 200 according to the present embodiment, since the projector 100 having a plurality of the imaging units 50 is provided, the projectors 100 mutually notify the imaging result of the imaging unit 50 and capture the images. Based on the result, it is possible to automatically recognize the positional relationship of the projection regions and automatically project an appropriate image according to the position of the projection region of the projection unit 10 in the positional relationship.

  In the above embodiment, the positional relationship is grasped by employing an algorithm based on the projector 100 having the smallest ID, but the reference ID may be the smallest or largest, It can be arbitrary.

  In the above-described embodiment, the imaging field of view of the imaging unit 50 of the projector 100 is wide enough to include a part of the projection area of an adjacent image. Also good. For this reason, it is possible to introduce a wide-angle lens into the imaging unit 50. Further, in the above embodiment, it is sufficient that the projector 100 including the projection area within the imaging field of the CCD camera can be identified from the imaging result, so that the number of CCD camera pixels is reduced as much as possible to reduce the cost. It is also possible to do.

  In the above embodiment, the information for recognizing the positional relationship of the projection areas is the imaging result by the imaging device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a light receiving element may be simply provided instead of the imaging element. In this case, the light receiving element has a light receiving surface capable of receiving at least light from a region outside the image projection region by the projection unit 10, and light included in the received light depending on the light reception result of the light receiving element. It is necessary to be able to identify the projector that issued the message. In general, in order to be able to specify light from a plurality of regions outside the projection region, it is preferable to include a plurality of light receiving elements corresponding to each direction.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the main image and the subimages 1-3 are arranged in the right-and-left 1 row, these may be an up-down direction etc., and this invention is not restrict | limited to these arrangement methods.

  In the above embodiment, each image data is transmitted from the personal computer 120 to the projector 100. However, each image data is stored in an information recording medium such as a USB memory connected to the USB interface of the projector 100. It may be stored and read from the information recording medium. Also in this case, the user need not consider which projector 100 the information recording medium is connected to.

  In the present embodiment, all projectors have the same type. This is because the manufacturing cost of the projector can be reduced. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and different types of projectors can be included in the system within a range that satisfies the gist of the present invention.

  As described above, the projector and the display system of the present invention are suitable for simultaneously projecting a plurality of different screens in a specified arrangement.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the display system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the projector of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the imaging visual field of an imaging part, and the projection area | region of a projection part. It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of a some projector. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the projector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the imaging visual field in the display system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the image projected. FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D are diagrams illustrating examples of imaging results in the display system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the recognition method of the positional relationship of a projection area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating another network form which can be utilized in a display system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Projection part 11 Lamp control circuit 12 Lamp 13 Illumination optical system 14 Light modulation element 15 Imaging optical system 20 Image processing part 21 Image signal input means 22 Image processing circuit 23 Light modulation element drive circuit 30 Control part 31 Microcomputer 32 Communication part 34 Operation panel 36 Infrared control unit 37 Infrared light receiving unit 40 Internal bus 50 Imaging unit 100, 100 ′ Projector 101 USB memory 102 Remote control 104, 105 Communication network 120 Personal computer (personal computer)
200 Display System S Screen

Claims (7)

A projection unit for projecting an image;
A light receiving unit having a light receiving surface capable of receiving at least light from a region outside the projection region of the image by the projection unit;
A search unit for searching for another projector capable of communication;
A notification unit that mutually notifies the light reception result of the light receiving unit with the other projector;
Positions of a plurality of projection areas including a projection area of the image by the projection section and a projection area of the image of the other projector based on the light reception result of the light receiving section and the light reception result notified from the other projector A positional relationship recognition unit for recognizing the relationship,
The projector projects an image according to the position of the projection region of the image by the projection unit in the plurality of projection regions by the projection unit. The projection unit can project a unique pattern image,
The light receiving unit includes an imaging element having an imaging field of view capable of imaging at least an area outside a projection area of an image by the projection unit;
The positional relationship recognition unit
2. The positional relationship between the plurality of projection areas is identified by identifying a projection area of an image of the other projector based on a pattern image pattern included in an imaging result of the imaging element. Projector.   The projector according to claim 1, further comprising an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode according to a position of a projection region of an image by the projection unit in the plurality of projection regions. The operation mode setting unit
A table associating the position of each projection area in the plurality of projection areas with the operation mode;
The projector according to claim 3, wherein the operation mode is set with reference to the table. Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of a first image as a main image to be displayed first and image data of a second image accompanying the first image;
The operation mode setting unit
The first mode for projecting the first image and the second for projecting the second image according to the position of the projection area of the image by the projection unit in the positional relationship recognized by the positional relationship recognition unit. Can be set to any of the modes
A data processing unit is provided that selects image data of the first image and transmits the image data of the second image to the other projector when the first mode is set. The projector according to claim 3 or 4. There are a plurality of different image data as the image data of the second image,
The data processing unit
When the first mode is set, the image data of the second image corresponding to the position of the projection area of the image of each of the other projectors in the positional relationship recognized by the positional relationship recognition unit, The projector according to claim 5, wherein the projector is distributed and transmitted to the other projector.   A display system comprising a plurality of projectors according to claim 1.

Images