Embodiment
In the following description, in order to make the reader understand the application better many ins and outs have been proposed.But, persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that even without these ins and outs with based on the many variations and the modification of following each embodiment, also can realize each claim of the application technical scheme required for protection.
For making the purpose of this utility model, technical scheme and advantage clearer, embodiment of the present utility model is described in further detail below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.
The utility model first embodiment relates to a kind of drive unit.This drive unit is used for display device, and this display device comprises the photomodulator that is used for display image and to the light source of this photomodulator irradiates light, drive unit is used to control light source and drives photomodulator.In the present embodiment, display device is a micro projector, in other embodiment of the present utility model, also can be other display device, and is just passable as long as this display device comprises photomodulator and light source.
Fig. 3 is the simplified diagram of the structure of micro projector.
As shown in Figure 3, the light that penetrates of light source (40) is by light collecting lens (70) light harvesting and incide photomodulator (60); Photomodulator (60) utilizes transmitance or reflectivity to adjust the light of the fixedly light quantity of incident; Draw required brightness and contrast at last, the formed image of photomodulator amplifies by projection lens (80) and projects to screen (90); Finally can see final image by users.Therefore, brightness of image that shows on screen and contrast are the amounts of the light that depends on that fully light source (40) is emitted.
Especially will be used for minitype projection machine, light source not only wants volume little, also needs to form the light of high energy, and the light source that can satisfy these requirements has LASER Light Source and light emitting diode (Low EmittingDiode is called for short " LED ") light source.These two kinds all is the light source that can send high light quantity under the prerequisite of small size and low power consumption, but laser has higher energy efficiency relatively, and LED then has the lower advantage of price.Laser and LED also can form mixing (Hybrid) light source.
In the different occasions of rest image with video image (being dynamic image), it is different that its contrast requires.The contrast of rest image requires to require higher than the contrast of video image.Traditional projector is according to purposes, there is picture special-purpose and the video special use, and, carries and be used in various occasions but minitype projection machine then is users according to purposes is pre-set separately contrast, exhibiting pictures may be used for, also displaying video may be used for.If will cause power consumption to increase but be arranged to high-contrast without exception, be arranged to low contrast without exception and then can in the projection rest image, feel fuzzyyer.Therefore, for the amount of saving energy, it is the function that still picture or video image are changed corresponding contrast automatically according to image projected that embodiment of the present utility model has increased by one.
Under the rest image state,, taked to adjust the method for driving power in order to obtain good contrast.One of mode of adjusting driving power is exactly the driving power raising with light source, increases the brightness of white light.In contrast, if under the video playback condition, the light source driving power can be reduced to 80% appropriateness and reduce contrast.
Saidly in the utility model be, normal (Normal) setting state of what is called is the highest light source output quantity, the light source output quantity is lowered to the mode that 80% of normal condition reduces power consumption in that the video condition is next; Equally also can be suitable for opposite scheme, that is, the light output quantity of appropriateness is set at normally (normal) state, in the time of needs projection rest image, the light output quantity be brought up to 120%.
The frame per second of photomodulator (Frame rate) is generally more than the 60Hz, and this is to need preferably will reach more than 60 hertz because people's naked eyes are identified as the frequency of continuous image.Therefore, per second need refresh the picture signal about 60 times.
Video image can be variant between the value of these picture signals of 60 times, but in rest image, then can be considered is not change difference.Therefore, set the period of certain unit, in this period relatively the picture signal of frame (Frame) just can to distinguish it be rest image or video image.In the present embodiment, the interval period of having set 60 frames compares picture signal.The picture signal of the 1st frame and the picture signal of the 60th frame are compared, promptly be not judged as rest image, then be judged as video image if change if change.Be appreciated that the time section that also can select other according to the applicable cases of reality, as every 30 frames, 45 frames, 70 frames or the like.
In drive unit, add internal memory, just all images data storing in the frame can be got up, in order to data comparison and interpretation.
But, if all pixel datas of picture signal all will be gathered and compared, then need a lot of memory sizes, also can bring load to control chip.Therefore the best way is exactly as sampling with the specific pixel data in the picture signal.Suppose that its resolution is the VGA form, then have 640 * 480 pixels, therefore in the pixel data in the frame relatively of being separated by between 60 frames:
In the horizontal direction, press 1-213,214-426,427-640 are divided into three sections;
In vertical direction, press 1-160,161-320,321-480 are divided into three sections;
So always have 9 districts,, in each district, get a pixel, have 9 pixels as sampling spot with random fashion for comparing each time.
After these 9 pixel datas are stored, in the 60th frame thereafter, choose the pixel data of same position, compare mutually and interpretation.These sampling comparison point are not each fixing, but in 9 districts at random (Random) selected.Therefore just need be in picture signal in the probe unit (test section) of selected pixels data, set the software of above-mentioned (Random) at random function.
For example, certain once relatively the time position of specific pixel can be the distribution of Fig. 4, and next time relatively the time position of specific pixel can be the distribution of Fig. 5.
Behind picture portion, select at random to participate in pixel relatively in each district, both significantly reduced operand, quite high accuracy is arranged again.
In addition, be appreciated that, also can select specific pixel with other mode, for example can in full frame, select N pixel at random, perhaps be divided into each district, 4 districts and select M pixel at random, perhaps in specific application according to the characteristics of picture in fixing choice of location plurality of pixels or the like, wherein M and N are positive integer.
Photomodulator (60) is meant that the light with incident carries out selectivity by, blocking-up or change the element that optical path forms the image picture.The representative instance of photomodulator (60) has Digital Micromirror Device (DigitalMicromirror Device, abbreviation " DMD "), liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display, abbreviation " LCD ") element, liquid crystal on silicon (Liquid Crystal On Silicon is called for short " LCOS ") or the like.
DMD is used in digital light to handle (Digital Light Processing, abbreviation " DLP ") element of projector, it utilizes a type of drive of sequential (field sequential), uses the digital mirror of arranging with the as many matrix form of pixel quantity (DIGITAL MIRROR).DLP is meant that the light that goes out from light source irradiation regulates optical path with digital mirror, and reflects the projector that reaches gradual change (Gradation) or form image with dividing plate.
Liquid crystal display cells (LCD) is meant that optionally the ON/OFF liquid crystal forms visual element.Use in the projector of LCD element, direct viewing type (direct-view), porjection type and reflection-type are arranged.The direct viewing type projection is that the bias light of liquid crystal display cells back forms image and mode that can Direct observation by the LCD panel; The porjection type projection is to project screen after the image that will form by liquid crystal display cells utilizes projection lens to amplify, and observes from the mode of the image of screen reflection; The structure of reflection-type and porjection type is basic identical, and the difference part is that reflection-type is provided with reflectance coating on the substrate below LCD, and the light of reflection is exaggerated and projects on the screen.
LCOS belongs to reflective liquid crystal and shows, it in the past the lower substrate in the two sides substrate of liquid crystal display end change silicon substrate into by transparent glass, thereby operate with the reflection-type mode.
Above-mentioned micro projection machine actuating device can use above the above-mentioned various display panel.
Projection lens (80) is made of a plurality of lens, will be gone up to screen (90) by the image that photomodulator (60) form and amplify projection.
Fig. 1 is according to an example of the present utility model, is the rough schematic of drive unit in a sequential (field sequential) minitype projection machine.
The drive unit of minitype projection machine is made of parts such as image processor (10), control chip (20), light source drive (40), frame buffering (50), photomodulators (60).
The frame of image is input in the control chip (20) by image processor (10), and what control chip played is and the identical effect of video-stream processor (Video Processor).
Light source in the present embodiment can use LED light or the laser of R (red) G (green) B (indigo plant).Also useful in the past high-pressure sodium lamp or fluorescent light are as light source, but high-pressure sodium lamp or fluorescent light are difficult to regulate light quantity, and therefore LED and laser are suitable for the utility model easily then than being easier to regulate light quantity.
Sequential (field sequential) is a kind of frame time (Frame time) to be divided into three, divide into the subframe (sub-frame) of Red (red)/Green (green)/Blue (indigo plant), drive the display mode of view data of all kinds in the period respectively at each sub-frame.Therefore, the frame frequency (Frame rate) of this moment is 180Hz, and people's naked eyes then can get up to be identified as complete coloured image with light compositing of all kinds.For this reason, as showing among Fig. 1, when the image of n-1 order drives in display panel, the picture signal input that enters into the n sequence frames of image processor temporarily can be removed and exist among the frame buffering (FrameBuffer).Present embodiment is an example with 3 light sources, and in other embodiment of the present utility model, light source also can be other number, for example 1 etc.In general, if light source has K, photomodulator is divided into the K section with the time of a frame, every section demonstration and the corresponding picture signal of light source, and wherein K is a positive integer.
Equally, when originally n the view data that stores in the frame buffering drove in display panel, the view data of n+1 can be stored among the frame buffering in turn.According to the sequential of this view data, chip for driving meeting driving light source driver, it is luminous to allow light source cooperate photomodulator to carry out.
As Fig. 2, in the utility model, be provided with: from the picture signal that is recorded in frame buffering in the frame (first frame and the 60 frame) of a section of sampling the pixel data of ad-hoc location and be stored into internal memory probe unit, whether consistent the pixel data of the pixel data of first picture frame signal and the 60 picture frame signal compared to judge interpretation unit, to convert the adjustment of light source light quantity to the light source converting unit of standard signal, to reach the different light source driving condition of employing in rest image and video image according to the information of institute's interpretation.
In the present embodiment, above-mentioned probe unit, interpretation unit and converting unit are embedded among the control chip (ControlIC) that plays video-stream processor (Video Processor) effect with the form of (On-chip) on chip.Be appreciated that, probe unit, interpretation unit and converting unit all are logical blocks, and the physics realization form can be diversified, except embed control chip with the form of (On-chip) on chip among, also can realize, perhaps realize by software by independent chip.
In the present embodiment, the picture signal that is input to frame buffering by analysis comes process decision chart to look like to be video image or rest image, to regulate light source according to default light source drive condition and drive, thereby reaches the optimization configuration of power consumption.
The utility model second embodiment relates to a kind of minitype projection machine light source driving method, and its flow process as shown in Figure 6.
In step 601, judge that current in progress image is rest image or video image.
If rest image then enters step 602, light source uses first driving power.
If video image then enters step 603, light source uses second driving power.
Wherein first driving power is higher than second driving power.In general, second driving power the chances are 75% to 85% of first driving power can certainly be other proportionate relationship.In the typical example, second driving power is 80% of first driving power.
After the step 602 and 603, come back to step 601 and judge next time.
Rest image is used the power drive light source higher than video image, can reach the optimization configuration of power consumption.
In a preferred example, the judgement of step 601 further comprises following substep:
In the time section of setting (as the interval period of 60 frames), choose the pixel data of ad-hoc location in first picture frame signal and last picture frame signal.
The pixel data that detects in the pixel data that detects in first picture frame signal and last picture frame signal is compared, if identical then be rest image, if difference then be moving image.
The pixel of front and back image at ad-hoc location compared, adjust the light quantity of light source according to comparative result, can avoid showing the different image of contrast demand with the highest light quantity always, thereby under the prerequisite that guarantees visual effect, saved electric power, prolonged the life-span of portable minisize projector battery.
In addition, be appreciated that, the determination methods that other also can be arranged, for example, former and later two image respective pixel being subtracted each other, is moving image if the result is non-vanishing, if be zero then be rest image, and for example can when generating image, set in advance sign, represent that this image is static or motion, directly judges the type of image according to sign during broadcast.
In the present embodiment, ad-hoc location is meant that with image in level and each trisection of vertical direction, being divided into is 9 districts, selects a location of pixels as ad-hoc location at random in each district.In other embodiment of the present utility model, also can select specific pixel with other mode, for example can select N pixel at random by full frame, perhaps be divided into each district, 4 districts and select M pixel at random, perhaps in specific application according to the characteristics of picture in fixing choice of location plurality of pixels or the like, wherein M and N are positive integer.
First embodiment is and the corresponding equipment embodiment of present embodiment, present embodiment can with the enforcement of working in coordination of first embodiment.The correlation technique details of mentioning in first embodiment is still effective in the present embodiment, in order to reduce repetition, repeats no more here.Correspondingly, the correlation technique details of mentioning in the present embodiment also can be applicable in first embodiment.
Method embodiment of the present utility model can be realized in software, hardware, firmware or the like mode.No matter the utility model be with software, hardware, or the firmware mode realize, instruction code can be stored in the storer of computer-accessible of any kind (for example permanent or revisable, volatibility or non-volatile, solid-state or non-solid-state, medium fixing or that change or the like).Equally, storer can for example be programmable logic array (Programmable Array Logic, be called for short " PAL "), random access memory (Random Access Memory, be called for short " RAM "), programmable read only memory (Programmable Read Only Memory, be called for short " PROM "), ROM (read-only memory) (Read-Only Memory, be called for short " ROM "), Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM, be called for short " EEPROM "), disk, CD, digital versatile disc (Digital Versatile Disc is called for short " DVD ") or the like.
Though by reference some preferred embodiment of the present utility model, the utility model is illustrated and describes, but those of ordinary skill in the art should be understood that and can do various changes to it in the form and details, and do not depart from spirit and scope of the present utility model.