EP2016577B1 - Device for representing image data - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for the representation of picture information (2) has a first display unit (1) with a first screen (3), a first control unit (5), a first drive unit (4) in a mechanical interaction with the first screen for its movement, and a position sensor (9) connected to the control unit to determine an actual position of the first screen, wherein the first control unit has means to calculate the picture information to be displayed from at least one actual basic picture, taking into account actual picture change parameters and also actual position of the first screen.

Description

The invention relates to a device for displaying image information with a screen and a drive unit for moving the screen.

Such a device is for example from the DE 103 13 023 B4 known. It is intended for the attention-grabbing presentation of sales messages at sales outlets, at fairs and in public transport. By means of a control unit, a movement of the screen and an image information to be displayed are dynamically synchronized. The screen movement is adjusted depending on the image information. For this purpose, a control loop is provided with a bidirectional data transmission between the drive unit and the control unit, wherein the actual value of the image information with the target value of the screen movement and the actual value of the screen movement with the target value of the image information constantly compared become.

This double feedback in the control loop is expensive. In addition, there is always a fixed link specification for the current screen movement and the current image information. This requires high demands on the dynamics and positioning accuracy of the drive unit. The device is sensitive to positioning error of the drive unit, so that overall results in a limitation of the possible applications.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the type described, which is tolerant of positioning inaccuracies of the drive unit and has high flexibility.

To solve this problem, a device according to the features of claim 1 is given. The inventive device for displaying image information comprises a first display unit with a first screen, a first control unit, a first drive unit, which is in mechanical mechanical connection with the first screen for movement thereof, and a position sensor connected to the first control unit for detecting a current one Position of the first screen; wherein the first control unit comprises calculating means for calculating the image information to be displayed from at least one current basic image taking into account current image modification parameters as well as the current position of the first screen.

In the device according to the invention, in contrast to the known device, no feedback of the currently displayed image information to the drive unit is provided. In particular, the effort for a control loop with a bidirectional data transmission is also eliminated. Instead, only the position of the first screen is captured and included in the current calculation of the image information from the basic image. A positioning inaccuracy of the drive unit plays virtually no role, since it does not depend on a predetermined, but on the actual present and detected by means of the position sensor position of the first screen. As a result, the device according to the invention can be used very flexibly. In addition, the demands on the dynamics and positioning accuracy of the drive unit are much lower than in the known device according to the prior art. The device according to the invention is very fault tolerant with respect to the drive. Also due to the recourse to the current basic picture and due The current calculation of the image information to be displayed on the basis of this current basic image, the inventive device for image information presentation can be used extremely flexible and with relatively little effort to create a variety of presentations. Above all, there is no need in the movie studio elaborately prepared and stored in the memory of the device film sequences, which then z. B. serve as a target value specifications for the image information to be displayed and with which the actual screen movement would have to be brought again in a complicated manner in agreement.

Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention will become apparent from the features of the dependent claims of claim 1.

A variant in which the first drive unit is designed to move the first screen independently of the image information is advantageous. This reduces the implementation effort and increases flexibility.

Preferably, in the first control unit, a control program for image calculation and display and in the first drive unit, a control program for screen movement deposited, both control programs are independent of each other.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the first control unit and the first drive unit are designed as separate units. In particular, only one connection can be provided for transmitting current position information of the first screen from the first drive unit to the first control unit.

According to another preferred variant, the first screen has a refresh rate and the calculation means are designed to calculate the image information to be displayed at the rate of the refresh rate and in particular in real time. This allows a very accurate representation of the image information done. Even very rapid changes to the displayed image information can be displayed.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the current image modification parameters describe a section to be displayed from the current basic image, wherein a current section size parameter for adjusting a size of the section to be displayed, a current section displacement parameter for adjusting a displacement position of the section to be displayed and a current section angle parameter is provided for adjusting an angular position of the section to be displayed. Basically, the clipping can cover the whole basic picture. On the basis of these image modification parameters, a section to be displayed can be determined from the basic image in a simple and very flexible manner.

Preferably, it is additionally provided that the calculation means are designed for the calculation of the current clipping size parameter, the current clipping shift parameter and the current clipping angle parameter taking place in time with the refresh rate by means of an interpolation between predefinable interpolation point values. As a result, the support point density can be reduced. The interpolation also supplies default values at times which lie between the interpolation points.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the position sensor is designed to detect a current shift position of the first screen and a current angular position of the first screen, as well as the control unit designed for a determination derived therefrom of a current screen shift parameter and a current screen angle parameter. These parameters are particularly suitable for taking into account the current screen position when calculating the image information to be displayed.

Also favorable is a variant in which the calculation means are designed for calculating the image information to be displayed by means of matrix multiplications. These mathematical operations can be very well programmed and executed as software modules on a microprocessor. The matrix multiplications very easily allow for consideration of both the image modification parameters and the screen parameters. They are also suitable for a very fast calculation of image information. In particular, an associated matrix is set up for each of the current image change parameters and for each of the current screen position parameters. Overall, therefore, there are preferably up to five separate matrices, one of which is assigned to the current clipping size parameter, the current clipping shift parameter, the current clipping angle parameter, the current screen shift parameter, and the current screen angle parameter. The image information to be displayed results from a multiplication of the matrices associated with the current image change parameters and the current screen position parameters with the current basic image.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the first screen and the first control unit are combined to form a common structural unit. This results in a low construction volume and it can possibly existing calculation capacity anyway be used twice. Also advantageous are the resulting short signal paths. Especially with high-frequency signals, this prevents unwanted radiation. Furthermore, integration eliminates the need for an electrical sliding contact that would otherwise be required to transfer the graphics signals from the first control unit to the first screen to bridge the mechanically movable location of the screen support. However, a suitable for transmitting the high-frequency graphics signals slip ring is associated with considerable effort, which can be avoided by the advantageous integration.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the current basic image is an instantaneous image of a video sequence or a predefinable image sequence. The basic image can come from a largely arbitrary source. So there is a very large variety of applications.

In addition, it is favorable to design the calculation means in such a way that the image information to be displayed is determined from a superimposition of at least two partial image information, which are respectively calculated from a current basic image taking into account current image modification parameters and from the current position of the first screen. This further increases the application potential.

According to another preferred variant, at least one second display unit with a second screen, a second control unit, a second drive unit, which is in mechanical mechanical connection with the second screen for its movement, and a position sensor connected to the second control unit for detecting a current position provided the second screen. This can be done make the presentations of the picture information even more impressive and varied. Basically, the number of presentation units is not limited. Thus, it is also possible to provide three, four or even more presentation units.

In addition, there is another favorable embodiment, in which the first and the second presentation unit have a common coordination unit. This serves to synchronize or at least coordinate the beginning of the partial presentations that take place on the respective presentation units. This avoids an undesirable time offset between the partial presentations. In principle, however, any other type of synchronization can also be realized with the coordination unit. The coordination unit can be designed as a separate unit or be part of one of the presentation units. In particular, it may be formed by one of the control units.

According to another advantageous refinement, a simulation unit which can be detachably connected to the first control unit and to the first drive unit is provided for simulating the representation of the image information. In particular, the simulation unit can also be detachably connected to all other possibly existing control and drive units. The simulation unit enables the creation and testing of a new image presentation in a very simple and convenient way, without the need for the display units themselves or / and put into operation.

Furthermore, the simulation unit is preferably designed to generate transferable control sequences to the first control unit and to the first drive unit. The control sequences can be stored in particular in the form of script files and transmitted to the presentation units become. In this way, the information obtained during the testing can also be used for the image presentation that finally takes place on the presentation unit.

The features and advantages described above for the device according to the invention apply in the same or at least similar manner to the method (s) implemented or executed on the device according to the invention. These methods are also attributable to the invention.

Fig. 1

ein Blockschaltbild einer Darstellungseinheit zur Bildpräsentation mit einem mittels einer Antriebseinheit bewegbaren Bildschirm und mit einer Steuereinheit,

Fig. 2

ein detailliertes Blockschaltbild der Darstellungseinheit gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 und 4

Ausführungsbeispiele von Grundbildern und einer daraus ermittelten auf dem Bildschirm der Darstellungseinheit gemäß Fig. 1 und 2 darzustellenden Bildinformation, und

Fig. 5

ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung zur Bildpräsentation mit drei Darstellungseinheiten gemäß Fig. 1 und 2 sowie mit einer anschließbaren Simulationseinheit und einer Koordinierungseinheit.

Further features, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

1 is a block diagram of a presentation unit for image presentation with a screen which can be moved by means of a drive unit and with a control unit;

Fig. 2

a detailed block diagram of the display unit according to Fig. 1 .

3 and 4

Embodiments of basic images and a determined therefrom on the screen of the display unit according to Fig. 1 and 2 to be displayed image information, and

Fig. 5

a block diagram of a device for image presentation with three presentation units according to Fig. 1 and 2 as well as with a connectable simulation unit and a coordination unit.

Corresponding parts are in the Fig. 1 to 5 provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 an embodiment of a display unit 1 designed as a device for displaying an image information 2 is shown. The display unit 1 comprises a movable screen 3, a drive unit 4 and a control unit 5, which together with the screen 3 forms a structural unit. The screen 3 and the drive unit 4 are coupled together by means of a mechanical operative connection 6, so that the drive unit 4 can move the screen 3. This movement can be carried out as a rotation and / or as a displacement movement. In Fig. 1 This is indicated by a rotation arrow 7 and a translational arrow 8.

For detecting the current position of the screen 3, a position sensor 9 is provided, which is assigned in the embodiment of the drive unit 4, but is also connected to the control unit 5. The position sensor 9 detects the position of the screen 3 in the embodiment so indirectly via a position detection on the drive unit 4. In principle, however, the position detection can also be done in other ways. Thus, the position sensor 9 can also be arranged at a different location within the display unit 1, for example directly on the screen 3.

In Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the display unit 1 according to Fig. 1 shown. The executed in the embodiment as a TFT or LCD screen screen 3 is electrically connected to the control unit 5, which is designed as a computer or as a computer assembly and a standard graphics card 10, a calculation unit 11 and a memory 12 includes. The graphics card 10 delivers the image information 2 to be displayed on the screen 3. The latter can basically also be designed as a plasma screen or as a large screen, for example in the form of an LED display wall. The high tolerance with respect to the positioning accuracy inherent in the presentation unit 1 also makes it possible to use it and, in particular, to move a very heavy screen. The memory 12 is formed in the embodiment as a hard disk. The calculation unit 11 comprises a microprocessor or microcontroller module.

The control unit 5 also has a measuring input 13, which is designed, for example, as a parallel interface (LPT) or as a USB interface. The measuring input 13 is connected to the position sensor 9. Furthermore, the control unit 5 has a network input 14 and a video input 15. The network input 14 and the video input 15 are optional.

The drive unit 4 comprises a motor control 16, a motor 17, a gear 18, a turntable 19 designed as a support for the screen 3, a reflected light barrier 21 detecting a reference point 20 on the turntable 19, an incremental encoder 22 arranged on the motor 17 and a counter 23.

The motor 17, the gear 18 and the turntable 19 are mechanically interconnected so that the motor 17 can cause a rotational movement of the turntable 19. Depending on the configuration of the mechanical operative connection between the motor 17 and the turntable 19, a displacement of the turntable 19 can also be made possible.

The motor control 16 is connected to the motor 17 by means of a control line 24, to the incremental encoder 22 and to the reflected light barrier 21 by means of signal lines 25 and 26 and to the counter 23 by means of a reset line 27. According to the embodiment Fig. 2 the position sensor 9 is executed in two parts. It comprises the incremental encoder 22 and the counter 23, which are interconnected by means of a signal line 28.

The following are also with reference to the 3 and 4 the mode of action and special advantages of the presentation unit 1 described.

In the calculation unit 11 of the control unit 5, the image information 2 to be displayed is recalculated within each image repetition period and forwarded to the graphics card 10, which causes the actual display on the screen 3.

Regardless of this carried out by means of the control unit 5 calculation and display of the image information 2, the motor controller 16 determines the drive unit 4, whether a change in the drive and thus the screen position is to be made and causes this, if necessary. In the motor control 16, the control signals for the motor 17 are also determined taking into account the measured values supplied by the incremental encoder 22 and by the retro-reflective sensor 21. The incremental encoder 22 detects a position of the motor 17 and reports a change in the drive position in the form of counting pulses both to the motor controller 16 and to the counter 23. The reflected light barrier 21 detects the reference point 20 on the turntable 19 and also provides this information to the motor controller 16 available.

In the control unit 5 and in the drive unit 4 is a respective control program with specifications regarding the respective task, ie the image calculation and display or the screen movement, stored. Both control programs are independent of each other.

These control programs include breakpoints on a time scale. In the drive unit 4, at least one drive displacement parameter and at least one drive angle parameter are stored for each support point, which indicate a displacement position or an angular position which is to be set by the drive unit 4 at the time of this support point. Between the individual interpolation points, which can be provided in a basically arbitrary temporal distance from each other, the motor controller 16 determines the default values for the displacement position and the angular position in the exemplary embodiment by means of a linear interpolation. Other methods for determining the between the support points lying default values for the control of the motor 17 are also possible. This also applies in particular to nonlinear interpolation methods.

Support points with image modification parameters are also stored on a time scale in the control unit 5. The image modification parameters stored per support point comprise at least one detail size parameter, at least one detail displacement parameter and at least one detail angle parameter. These parameters describe the size, the displacement position and the angular position of an example in Fig. 3 shown section 29 from a basic image 30. The cutout 29 corresponds essentially to be displayed on the screen 3 Image information 2. He can fill the display field of the screen 3 either completely or only partially.

The basic image 30 may change over time or remain constant. It is also possible to provide a superimposition of two partial images 32 and 33 as the basic image 31. This is in Fig. 4 shown. The overlay is particularly advantageous if the cutout 29 is moved beyond the edge of the first partial image 32 in the course of the presentation, as is the case, for example, during a rotation of the in Fig. 4 Section 29 would be the case. In order to avoid that the cutout 29 then has an undefined content in this area, the second partial image 33 is deposited at this location on the first partial image 32.

The above-mentioned image modification parameters, that is to say the detail size parameters, the detail displacement parameters and the detail angle parameters, are stored per sample point, wherein the sample points can again be provided in any time sequence. Between the interpolation points as well as in the drive unit 4, an interpolation.

In one embodiment, not shown, the image information 2 to be displayed is composed of more than one section 29. The individual cutouts can lie next to each other or at least partially over each other. Here, the known per se Einblendtechnik is used.

In addition to the image modification parameters, information about which basic image 30 and / or 31 is to be used at the respective time is also stored in the memory 12. This is done in the embodiment in the form of a script file 34. The respectively used basic images 30 and 31 are present in the embodiment as media files. Their content and also the origin of these media files are largely arbitrary.

They can be stored as text ticker files 35, as image files 36 and as video files 37 in the memory 12. Likewise, however, they can be fed via the network input 14 or the video input 15 currently from a data network, such as the Internet, or from a currently recording digital video camera. In the script file 34 is deposited, which of the available sources to be used at the time. It is also possible for several sources to be used at the same time for generating the image information 2 to be displayed.

Via the measuring input 13, the control unit 5 receives indirect information about the displacement position and the angular position of the screen 3. Based on the data provided by the counter 23 with respect to the displacement position and the angular position of the motor 17 current screen shift parameters and current screen angle parameters are determined. These are also included in the determination of the image information 2.

In the calculation unit 11, matrix multiplications are carried out, wherein for the three image change parameters, that is to say the current cutout size parameter, the current cutout shift parameter and the current cutout angle parameter, as well as for the current screen shift parameter and the current screen angle parameter Matrix is set up, which the respective displacement, Rotation or sizing according to the rules of general algebra for coordinate transformation describes. After multiplication of these five matrices with the selected current basic image 30 and / or 31, the image information 2 to be displayed is present for the current image repetition period. For each image information 2 to be displayed, five matrix multiplications are thus carried out in each case. This determination of the image information 2 by matrix operation takes place in real time, ie in time with the refresh rate of the screen 3.

Advantageously, neither the drive displacement parameters nor the drive angle parameters, ie the setpoint values for the displacement position or angular position of the motor 17 stored in the drive unit, enter into the determination of the image information 2. Instead, the (indirectly) measured, actually present displacement position and rotational position of the screen 3 is used. As a result, problems resulting from too low dynamics or positioning inaccuracy of the drive unit 4 are avoided. The control unit 5 is able to adapt the displayed image information 2 to the current screen position.

Conversely, the control of the motor 17 in the drive unit 4 is independent of the currently displayed image information 2. The only decisive factors are the default values at the support points that are stored in the drive unit 4. The drive displacement parameters and the drive rotation parameters of the respective support points are also stored in a script file 38.

Overall, the presentation unit 1 is very robust and insensitive to interference. It also allows for every single display image Image information 2 calculated in the cycle of the refresh rate is a very flexible adaptation to a wide variety of applications.

In Fig. 5 an embodiment of a device 39 for image presentation with a total of three display units 40, 41 and 42 is shown in block diagram representation. The display units 40 to 42 correspond in structure and their mode of operation of the display unit 1 according to the Fig. 1 to 4 , In addition, a simulation unit 43 and a coordination unit 44 are provided. The simulation unit 43 is detachably connected to the drive units 4 and control units 5 of the display units 40 to 42. The coordination unit 44 is connected to the control units 5 of the display units 40 to 42.

The simulation unit 43 is executed in the embodiment as a stand-alone computer, which is designed to prepare a slide presentation on the device 39. For this purpose, the movements of the screens 3 of the display units 40 to 42 and the respective image information 2 to be displayed are completely simulated in the simulation unit 43 in order to try out the sequence of the interpolation points with their parameters to be stored in the drive units 4 and control units 5 and definitively determine if a satisfactory Image presentation is achieved. These nodes and the associated parameter values are then recorded in the script files 34 and 38. The script files 34 and 38 thus created are transmitted for storage to the control units 5 or drive units 4 of the presentation units 40 to 42. Subsequently, the connection to the display units 40 to 42 can be released again. The simulation unit 43 is not required for performing the image presentation. It primarily serves to prepare the image presentation.

The optional coordination unit 44 is provided above all when the image information 2 shown in the presentation units 40 to 42 is to be synchronized. If this is not the case, the coordination unit 44 can also be omitted. Otherwise, the main function of the coordination unit 44 is to initiate the partial presentations that take place in the presentation units 40 to 42 at the same time. Thereafter, the respective partial presentations run on the display units 40 to 42 independently.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the coordinating task can also be taken over by one of the control units 5.

Claims (14)

1. Device for displaying visual information (2) comprising

   a) a first display unit (1; 40, 41, 42) incorporating a first screen (3) a first control unit (5), a first actuator unit (4) that is in mechanical linkage (6; 19) with the first screen (3) for movement of the same, and incorporating a position sensor (9) that is connected to the first control unit (5) for detection of a current position of the first screen (3), wherein

   b) the first control unit (5) comprises calculation means (11) for calculation of the visual information (2) to be displayed from at least one current base image (30, 31), under inclusion of current image change parameters and of the current position of the first screen (3).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first actuator unit (4) is designed to provide for a movement of the first screen (3) independently from the visual information.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first screen (3) has a refresh rate and the calculation means (11) are designed for calculation of the visual information (2) to be displayed, to be performed in the cycle or the refresh rate and especially in real time.
4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the current image change parameters describe a segment (29) to be displayed of the current base image (30; 31), wherein a current segment size parameter is provided for adjustment of a size of the segment (29) to be displayed, a current segment displacement parameter for adjustment of a displacement position of the segment (29) to be displayed, and a current segment angle parameter for adjustment of an angle position of the segment (29) to be displayed.
5. Device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the calculation means (11) are designed for calculation in the cycle of the refresh rate of the current segment size parameter, current segment displacement parameter and current segment angle parameter by means of an interpolation between specifiable interpolation point values.
6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the position sensor (9) is designed for detection of a current displacement position of the first screen (3) and current angle position of the first screen (3), and the control unit (5) is designed for a determination derived therefrom of a current screen displacement parameter and current screen angle parameter.
7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the calculation means (11) are designed for calculation of the visual information (2) to be displayed by means of matrix multiplications.
8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first screen (3) and the first control unit (5) are combined to form a shared component.
9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the current base image (30; 31) is a snapshot of a specifiable video sequence or image sequence.
10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the calculation means (11) are designed for determination of the visual information (2) to be displayed from a superimposition of the information of at least two partial images, each of which is calculated from a current base image (30; 31) under inclusion of current image change parameters and of the current position of the first screen (3).
11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one second display unit (41, 42) is provided, incorporating a second screen (3), a second control unit (5), a second actuator unit (4) that is in mechanical linkage with the second screen (3) for movement of the same, and incorporating a position sensor that is connected to the second control unit (5) for detection of a current position of the second screen (3).
12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the first and second display unit (40, 41, 42) have a common coordination unit (44).
13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a simulation unit (43) is provided that is removably connectable to the first control unit (5) and to the first actuator unit (4) for simulation of the display of the visual information (2).
14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the simulation unit (43) is designed for the generation of control sequences that are transmittable to the first control unit (5) and first actuator unit (4).

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