Background technology
Face recognition (or recognition of face) is a kind of software application by the biological characteristic of particular individual in analysis and comparison discriminating digit image.Facial-recognition security systems is generally used for the security setting of gate inhibition, but is used to various other field more and more.Such as, some game companies use face recognition to distinguish player.
Many existing facial-recognition security systems utilize the digital code being called faceprint.Such system can identify nearly 80 nodes on human face.Node is used to the variable of measurement people's facial characteristics, as length or the width of nose, and the degree of depth of eye socket, the size of cheekbone.These systems are by the node data of human face in capturing digital image, comprehensive and store these data and produce a faceprint.These faceprint form the database of people's region feature, as the basis of recognition of face in image or video.
At present, the research and development of a lot of face recognition all concentrate in smart mobile phone application.The face recognition application of smart mobile phone comprises integration and the personal marketing of image labeling and other social networks.In Univ Carnegie Mellon, a research team develops a conceptual iPhone application program, can take human face's photo and in seconds provide and be clapped the information such as the name of people and date of birth.The design of these application programs is all the image first catching face, the faceprint then comparing this face and the faceprint database set up, and whether has a coupling to differentiate.After coupling, according to the selection of user, a series of service tracks.
One video projector, such as a laser micro-projector, project light beam irradiates screen, screen form video image.When a people comes into the region of projecting beam covering, light beam can incide the eyes of people and may cause discomfort, even injured.When operating portable or hand-hold type micro-projector, the hand holding micro-projector can be arbitrarily mobile, and this may cause the inswept space of institute's light beam and inject unintentionally other people neighbouring eyes.
Therefore, invent a kind of micro-projector safety device will benefit.When user or onlooker unintentionally close to or when entering the light path of a video projector, wish that safety device utilizes facial recognition techniques to protect the safety of user or onlooker.Desirable security mechanism needs to make fast reaction, to close projection light source to the appearance of a face in beam path.More preferably, once safety condition recovers, safety device will recover the operating state of normal projection.In addition, safety device wants simple, reliably.
Brief summary of the invention
An aim of the present invention is a kind of portable electric appts, as one with the mobile phone of laser projection, provides safety device.
According to a feature of the present invention, safety device comprises the video camera that a visual field can cover micro-projector visual field.The one pattern identification circuit be connected with video camera processes the picture signal that video camera captures and has judged whether that facial image occurs in visual field.One control circuit be connected with pattern identification circuit or electric power management circuit close a power supply of projecting apparatus thus the eyes of the light beam irradiates people preventing micro-projector from sending and cause discomfort or injury when pattern identification circuit recognizes facial image.
According to another characteristic of the invention, micro-projector comprises a video signal preprocessor, a light emission module be coupled with video signal preprocessor, and the scan module that is coupled with video signal preprocessor.The control circuit of safety device or electric power management circuit only close the light emission module power supply of micro-projector when pattern identification circuit recognizes facial image.The supply of scan module power supply can keep uninterrupted.This is of value at face once recover video-projection rapidly after leaving the visual field of video camera, and is of value to the reliability and useful life that improve micro-projector.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the power management in safety device is served as by the video signal preprocessor in micro-projector.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the solid angle of camera field of view comparatively micro-projector perspective view solid angle large 20% to 30%.
According to another characteristic of the invention, safety device also comprises an infrared sensor, and its visual field comprises the perspective view of micro projector.The power management when the hot feature of the infrared signal in infrared sensor detection viewing field and face is consistent is only had just to close projection light source.The false alarm that this function can prevent the object because of a similar face from entering visual field and cause.Infrared sensor can be integrated in video camera.
According to another supplementary features of the present invention, video camera in the electronic device and micro-projector are installed in position closely, thus benefit the miniaturization realizing electronic equipment.
According to another characteristic of the invention, when micro-projector is in running order, video camera is also arranged on operating state.
Another aim of the present invention is the method providing protection human eye in video projector's operating process.
According to a feature of invention, one protects the method for eyes to comprise when operating micro-projector: the visual field of micro-projector projected light beam perspective view is contained in definition one; Image in process visual field; Detect and wherein whether have facial image; And detect in visual field have people's face graph as time close rapidly a projecting apparatus power supply.
According to another characteristic of the invention, a camera is installed near micro-projector projection window to realize the perspective view that camera field of view contains micro-projector.The center line orientation of camera field of view is roughly consistent with the center line of micro-projector perspective view.
According to another characteristic of the invention, automatically video camera is opened when the method is also included in operation micro-projector.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the method is also included in when face not detected in camera review and opens micro-projector power supply, thus starts or recover video-projection.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the method also comprises infrared signal in field of detection; And Switching Power Supply detects face and a power supply of closing micro-projector when infrared signal that feature hot with face conforms to being detected in visual field in the picture.
According to another feature of the present invention, the method also comprises the visual field of definition large compared with perspective view about 30%.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the method is also included in visual field the power supply of closing micro-projector laser emitting module when a face being detected but keeps micro-projector scan module power supply unaffected.
the detailed description of specific embodiment
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a safety device is included into a video frequency projector, and such as, a portable electric appts comprising a micro-projector, as a mobile phone.This safety device guarantees the health, particularly eye health that use projector user.
Figure 1A and Figure 1B explaination is according to the electronic equipment 10 comprising a micro-projector 12 of the present invention.For example, but electronic equipment 10 1 mobile phone, a personal digital aid (PDA) (PDA), a panel computer (tabletcomputer) etc.Micro-projector 12 may be a micro-projector based on laser.When micro-projector 12 operationally, preferentially should ensure that the eyes of user are protected fully, from any potential injury.According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a camera 11 is arranged on electronic equipment 10 and close micro-projector 12.As shown in Figure 1A and 1B, video camera 11 has the visual field that covers the projection visual field of micro-projector 12.In addition, according to a preferred embodiment, a virtual neutral E and the minitype projection machine 12 of the video camera 11 visual field visual field virtual neutral F that projects roughly aligns or parallel.According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the visual field of video camera 11 not only covers the projection visual field of micro-projector 12, and more micro-projector 12 visual field that projects is larger, as, large 20 (20%) percent or about 30%, thus improve lsafety level further.For example, a solid angle of video camera 11 visual field to project the visual field one solid angle large about 30% than micro-projector 12.Meeting under this condition, video camera 11 both can have been pressed close to micro-projector 12 and to have installed or distance minitype projection machine 12 certain distance is installed, convenient and or the factor such as to be designed beautifully with the overall user considering electronic equipment 10.
Safety device comprises a pattern identification circuit (not showing in Figure 1A and Figure 1B) be coupled with video camera 11.According to the present invention, pattern identification circuit can be mounted in the independent circuits or integrated with a signal processor of electronic equipment 10 in electronic equipment 10, such as, one microprocessor (μ P), one microcontroller (MCU), one central processing unit (CPU), or other similar device.This pattern identification circuit configuration becomes to detect whether there is facial image in the visual field of video camera 11.This release mechanism also comprise one with the control circuit of described pattern identification which couple or electric power management circuit (not showing in Figure 1A and Figure 1B).According to the present invention, control circuit directly can be connected with pattern identification circuit or be coupled by a signal processor in device 10.According to the present invention, this control circuit can be an independent circuits or be integrated in a power circuit of micro-projector 12.This control circuit is set to, when pattern identification circuit detects facial image in the visual field of video camera 11, cut out a power supply supply of micro-projector 12, thus prevents the eyes of people by the light beam irradiates of micro-projector 12.According to a kind of preferred embodiment, when pattern identification circuit detects front face image in the visual field of video camera 11, just trigger control circuit closes a power supply supply of micro-projector 12.In this embodiment, a power supply of minitype projection machine 12 not because pattern identification electric circuit inspection is interrupted to side or back side face because when people's side direction or dorsad micro-projector 12 time eyes can not be exposed to projecting beam.
According in a preferred embodiment, minitype projection machine 12 comprises a video signal preprocessor, a light emission module be coupled with video signal preprocessor, and the scan module that is coupled with video signal preprocessor (not showing in Figure 1A and Figure 1B).Video signal preprocessor is by an interface, as a display pixel interface (DPI) following mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) agreement, is coupled with the signal processor in electronic equipment 10.Video signal preprocessor by this interface video data, and produces a light emission signal and sends to light emission module and one scan signal to send to scan module.Light emission module sends the light beam corresponding with intensity to a corresponding pixel color in video data.On the speculum that in this beam projection to scan module, a microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) drives.Light beam is pressed by the speculum that MEMS drives raster format to reflect to different directions to form image successively.
According in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when pattern identification circuit detects facial image in the visual field of video camera 11, control circuit only cuts out the light emission module power supply in micro-projector 12.In other words, the power supply supply of video signal preprocessor and scan module keeps uninterrupted.This is useful and preferred, does not interrupt because video frequency signal processing and MEMS scanning continue operation.Once face leaves the visual field of video camera 11, light emission module power supply can be opened immediately to recover rapidly video display.In addition, the hitless operation of scan module is of value to the reliability and life-span that improve scan module.
According to a specific embodiment, safety device also comprise be arranged on electronic equipment 10 or in video camera 11 an infrared ray sensor 111.Infrared sensor 111 preferably has the visual field roughly the same with video camera 11, and is set to hot feature or the temperature curve of a face in field of detection.Control circuit is when pattern identification circuit detects the hot feature that facial image and infrared sensor detect that hot feature is coincide with face or temperature curve in visual field, and control circuit cuts out a power supply supply of micro-projector 12.Meeting the power supply supply that these two conditions just close micro-projector 12 can prevent because of an object alike with face simultaneously, and as a face chart board, a model etc., cause erroneous judgement and unnecessarily close a power supply supply of micro-projector 12.
It should be noted, the video camera 11 in electronic equipment 10 may also have other function except the part as safety device.Such as, video camera 11 also may be used for taking quiet photograph frame or video pictures, and quiet photograph frame or video pictures is stored in electronic equipment 10 and is sent to another equipment by wired or wireless transmission in a memory or by photo or video.Therefore, video camera 11 can run independent of micro-projector 12.But when micro-projector 12 is in running status, safety device also should run, therefore video camera 11 should be in running order, to guarantee that the eyes of people around obtain adequately protecting from any potential injury.Therefore, safety device preferably also comprises a switching circuit (not showing in Figure 1A and Figure 1B).When micro-projector 12 does not run, video camera 11 can open arbitrarily or cut out.When micro-projector 12 runs, video camera 11 will be unlocked.
Fig. 2 explaination protects method or the process 20 of the eye protection of people according to of the present invention one.For example, guard method or process 20 can realize in above with reference to the electronic installation 10 described by Figure 1A and Figure 1B.According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, whenever user opens a projecting function, such as, when unlatching is above with reference to the micro-projector 12 in the electronic installation 10 described by Figure 1A and Figure 1B, method or process 20 are activated and enter running status.
Protection process 20 starts from a step 22: definition one covers the visual field in the projection visual field of a projecting apparatus.Above with reference in the electronic installation 10 described by Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the visual field of video camera 11 comprises, containing lid or cover micro-projector 12 and to project the visual field.According to a preferred embodiment, visual field not only covers the projection visual field, also than the projection visual field large about 30 (30%) percent.
Protection process 20 proceeds to a step 24: the image in process visual field.Above with reference in the electronic installation 10 described by Figure 1A and Figure 1B, the image that signal processor processes video camera 11 absorbs.After image procossing, in next step 25, protection process 20 judges in visual field, whether has facial image in the image that namely video camera 11 absorbs.
If a facial image do not detected in visual field in step 25, this meaning transmitted beam in the projection visual field is safe.Process 20 enters next step 27: judge projector's power supply, or more preferably projector's laser emitting module power supply, whether is in closed condition.If projector's power supply is in closed condition, process 20 proceeds to a step 26: open projector's power supply, then turns back to step 24 and continues image in process visual field.If projector's power supply is in opening, process 20 directly turns back to step 24 and continues image in process visual field.
If step 25 detects a facial image in visual field, this meaning transmitted beam in the projection visual field may be irradiated to the eyes of people and damage, process 20 enters a step 29: judge projector's power supply, or more preferably whether projector's laser emitting module power supply is in opening.If projector's power supply supply is in opening, process 20 continue next step 28: close projector power supply, or more preferably close light emission module power supply.Then process 20 is back to step 24 and continues image in process visual field.If projector's power supply is in closed condition, process 20 is directly back to step 24 and continues image in process visual field.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, this process 20 is also included in visual field and senses infrared signal, and determines whether this infrared signal meets hot feature or the Temperature Distribution of human body face.In another embodiment such, only have when a facial image being detected and the infrared signal of hot feature or the Temperature Distribution meeting human body face detected in visual field, process 20 just performs step 28 and closes projector's power supply.
So far, the present invention should be understood and provided the method protecting human eye in micro-projector safety device and a video-projection process.According to the present invention, safety device comprises the video camera that has the visual field containing the lid projector projection visual field.Whether facial image is had within the scope of one signal processing unit field of detection.If facial image do not detected in field range, open or continue projecting function.If facial image do not detected in field range, close or continue to close projecting function, with the eyes preventing projected light beam from irradiating unintentionally people, thus the eyes of protection people are not by potential injury.In order to prevent false alarm, safety device also can comprise an infrared sensor.Only having when the facial image that feature hot with human face or Temperature Distribution conform to being detected in field range, just closing projecting function.The portable electric appts that safety device of the present invention can have a projecting function any one realizes.Safety device of the present invention is simple and reliable, and does not disturb the operation of other function of electronic equipment.
Illustrate various embodiment of the present invention with reference to accompanying drawing, the people in the related with common skill can make various amendment to the present invention according to the above description.Such as, micro-projector is described to a micro-projector based on laser.Such as, but safety arrangement in accordance with the present invention is also applicable to the projector of other types, based on the projector of light-emitting diode (LED), traditional projecting apparatus etc.Therefore, the detailed description in specification, should not be interpreted as limiting scope of invention.Scope of the present invention only limit by claims.