JP2004336616A - Projector with projecting position variable function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly convenient projector enabling a user to vary a projecting position while viewing a projected image. <P>SOLUTION: This projector has a modulating means (160) including a modulation available region composed of a plurality of pixels capable of being driven according to video data, and optically modulating light for illuminating the modulation available region, an illumination optical system for illuminating light on the modulation available region, a video image forming means (140) for forming video image data corresponding to a driving region in which pixels are actually driven within the range of the modulation available region, a variable means (170) for varying the position of the driving region, a and projecting means for projecting the light modulated by the modulating means. The projector further has a means for inputting position information for varying the projecting position of the video image, and the variable means varies the position of the driving means on the basis of this position information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【００２２】
スクリーン上に投射された投射映像を見て、ユーザーがその投射位置を可変するとき、リモコン操作部２００または本体操作部の操作キーが操作され、投射位置の移動方向に指示される。この指示は、入力インターフェース１９０を介し制御部１８０に供給され、制御部１８０は、指示を駆動位置記憶部２２０に記憶されるとともに、駆動位置指定回路１７０に対して駆動領域を移動させるための指示を与える。これにより、駆動位置指定回路１７０は、駆動領域３０（斜線を施した領域）の位置を可変させるための位置情報をスケーラー回路１４０に出力する。図４は、駆動領域１４をＸ方向にｘ１、Ｙ方向にｙ１を移動させた例を示し、位置情報としてｘ１、ｙ１が出力される。
【００２３】
駆動領域３０の各コーナーの座標Ａ２、Ｂ２、Ｃ２、Ｄ２は、それぞれｘ１、ｙ１を加えた値となり、それらの座標データを元に、スケーラー回路１４０は映像データを形成する。
【００２４】
以上本発明の好ましい実施形態の一例について詳述したが、本発明は係る特定の実施形態に限定されるものではなく、特許請求の範囲に記載された本発明の要旨の範囲内において、種々の変形・変更が可能である。例えば、変調素子として、ＤＭＤを用いたが、これ以外にも他の液晶素子を用いることも可能である。さらにＤＭＤの変調可能領域のサイズやアスペクト比、および駆動領域のサイズやアスペクト比は、上記実施態様の例に限らず、適宜変更することも可能である。
【００２５】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、変調手段の変調可能領域内において、実質的に映像に供される駆動領域の位置を可変することで、投射映像の位置を可変することができる。これにより、従来と比較して、投射映像の位置調整作業が簡便となる。さらに、プロジェクタ本体を移動せずに投射位置を調整したり、プロジェクタ本体に取り付けられた高さ及び角度調整のためのアジャスターネジを調整する作業を、必ずしも必要とせず、利便性の高いプロジェクタを提供することが可能となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の投射位置可変の概念を説明する図である。
【図２】本発明により駆動領域の位置が可変された様子を示す図である。
【図３】本発明の実施の形態に係るプロジェクタのブロック図を示す図である。
【図４】駆動領域の位置の可変例を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１０ ＤＭＤ １２ 変調可能領域
１４ 駆動領域 １６ 入射光線
１８ 非駆動領域 ２０ 光映像
２２ 投射レンズ ２４ スクリーン
２６ 投射映像 ３０ 駆動領域
１４０ スケーラー回路 １５０ ＤＭＤフォーマット回路
１６０ ＤＭＤ １７０ 駆動位置指定回路
２２０ 駆動位置記憶部 ２００ リモコン操作部
２１０ 本体操作部[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a projector, and more particularly, to a function of changing a projection position in a DLP (Digital Light Processing) using a DMD (Digital Mirror Device): DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The DLP type projector irradiates light to a DMD made of a semiconductor element, and enlarges and projects the reflected light with a lens or the like to display an image. As shown in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 previously filed by the present applicant, light from a discharge lamp is reflected by a spheroid mirror 52, and the reflected light is arranged with R, G, and B color filters. The light is sequentially converted into RGB light by the disk-shaped color wheel 53 and is incident on the DMD 56. The DMD 56 is time-divisionally driven in synchronization with the RGB light based on the image data, and the reflected light is sequentially displayed on a screen 58 via a projection lens 57.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3,121,843
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional DLP projector has the following problems. The DMD has a modulatable area (mirror element area) in which a plurality of mirror-shaped pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array, and a light beam having a predetermined aspect ratio from a light source is applied to the modulatable area. In the modulatable area, the pixels in the drive area corresponding to the size of the video data are driven. Since the driving area is controlled to be at the center of the modulatable area, the image projected from the projector is always projected from the projector in a certain direction. Therefore, when trying to change the position of the image projected on the screen, the height and the tilt angle of the projector main body must be adjusted with an adjuster screw or the like provided on the bottom surface of the projector. Further, the adjustment work must be performed every time the projector is installed, and is inconvenient.
[0005]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems and provides a projector capable of changing a projection position by a method different from the conventional method.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient projector capable of changing a projection position while watching a projection image.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
When projecting an image of a size that does not use all of the modulatable area of the DMD, the projector according to the present invention moves the image in a desired direction and distance from the center of the modulatable area to thereby project the image projection position. Is changed.
[0007]
The projector according to the present invention has the following configuration. A modulating unit that includes a modulatable region including a plurality of pixels, each pixel is drivable in accordance with video data, and modulates light that illuminates the modulatable region optically; and irradiates the modulatable region with light. An illumination optical system, a video forming unit that forms video data corresponding to a driving region in which pixels are substantially driven within the range of the modulatable region, a variable unit that changes a position of the driving region, and the modulation. Projection means for projecting the light modulated by the means. By changing the position of the drive area in the modulatable area, the projection position can be changed without changing the position of the projector body. Thereby, it is not always necessary to operate the adjuster screw for adjusting the height and the angle, which is attached to the bottom of the projector main body. Of course, it does not prevent the combined use with the adjuster screw.
[0008]
Preferably, the projector further includes input means for inputting position information for changing a projection position of an image projected by the projection means, and the change means changes the position of the drive area based on the position information. Thus, the user can input an instruction to move the position in the up, down, left, and right directions while watching the projected image projected on the screen, thereby improving the operability.
[0009]
The input unit includes, for example, a wireless communication unit (remote controller) and operation keys for inputting up, down, left and right directions, and inputs position information by operating the keys. Further, the input means can input position information by operating up, down, left or right keys provided on the projector main body.
[0010]
Further, the projector preferably includes storage means for storing position information from the input means. By using a non-volatile memory as the storage means and storing the previous position information, this position information can be used at the next projection by the projector.
[0011]
Preferably, the modulatable area has the number of pixels M in the horizontal direction and the number of pixels N in the vertical direction. When the number of pixels in the driving area is M1 in the horizontal direction and the number of pixels in the vertical direction is N1, M1 <M, N1 < N. Further, the aspect ratio (M: N) of the modulatable area is 4: 3, and the aspect ratio (M1: N1) of the drive area is 16: 9.
[0012]
Further, the image forming means can expand and contract the image data in accordance with the aspect ratio of the drive area. Further, the modulating means includes a DMD. In this case, the semiconductor mirror element in the drive area is driven according to the video data, but the semiconductor mirror element in the area other than the drive area is used in the off state or black display, and is not driven according to the video data. Further, the modulation means may be a light valve other than the DMD, and for example, a liquid crystal device may be used.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of changing the projection position according to the present invention. It is assumed that the modulatable area 12 in the DMD 10 in which the semiconductor mirror elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array has an aspect ratio (horizontal direction H: vertical direction V) of 4: 3. When projecting an image having an aspect ratio of, for example, 16: 9 using the modulatable area 12, a drive area 14 having a size of 16: 9 is formed within the range of the modulatable area 12. The center is coincident with the center of the modulatable area 12. The drive region 14 is a region where the semiconductor mirror element is substantially driven in accordance with the size or aspect ratio of video data, and the non-drive region 18 other than the drive region 14 is a region that is not actually used for video. This area 18 is used for displaying a black image. The present invention utilizes the area 18 not used as the drive area 14 of the modulatable area 12 to move the position of the drive area 14 in the up, down, left, and right (U, D, L, R) directions. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the projected image from the camera.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state when the position of the drive area is changed. An incident light beam 16 having an aspect ratio corresponding to the aspect ratio of the modulatable region 12 is incident from the illumination optical system. Here, since the displayable area 12 has an aspect ratio of 4: 3, the incident light beam 16 also has a corresponding aspect ratio of 4: 3, and irradiates the modulatable area 12. In the modulatable area 12, the semiconductor mirror element in the drive area 14 is driven by video data having a size having an aspect ratio of 16: 9. In the default state, the center of the drive area 14 is coincident with the center of the modulatable area 12, and therefore, there is a non-drive area 18 symmetrical to the left and right, which is not provided to the projected image of the upper and lower objects substantially around the drive area 14. . The optical image 20 reflected from the displayable area 12 is displayed as a projected image 26 (an area surrounded by a solid line) on a screen 24 via a projection lens 22. The peripheral area 28 of the projection image 26 is displayed in black corresponding to the non-drive area 18.
[0015]
When moving the projection image 26 on the screen 24 in the upward, downward, left, or right direction, the position of the drive area 14 of the modulatable area 12 is changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the position of the drive area 14 of the modulatable area 12 is moved upward (U) by the distance S, the optical image 20a (broken line) reflected from the drive area 14 becomes the distance S Only shifted upwards. Then, on the screen 24, a projection image 26a (a region surrounded by a wavy line) in which the distance corresponding to the distance S is shifted upward is displayed. The periphery of the projection image 26a is displayed in black corresponding to the non-drive area 18. Thus, by changing the position of the drive area 14 in the modulatable area 12, the position of the projection image can be easily changed. In the above example, the aspect ratio of the modulatable area 12 is 4: 3, and the aspect ratio of the drive area 14 is 16: 9. However, this is an example, and it is of course possible to use other aspect ratios. is there. In short, it is only necessary that the size of the drive area 14 is smaller than the size of the modulatable area 12.
[0016]
Next, FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a DLP type projector according to the present embodiment. In the figure, a video analog signal such as a composite is input to a decoder 100, where it is separated into a luminance signal, a chroma signal, and a synchronization signal. The separated luminance signal and chroma signal are converted into digital video data in the A / D conversion circuit 110. The digital video data is written to the video RAM 120 under the clock control of the memory controller 130. As the video RAM, for example, a dual port type VRAM or FIFO is used, and data is read and written at a timing synchronized with a clock signal.
[0017]
The scaler circuit 140 enlarges or reduces the digital video data written in the video RAM 120 as necessary. This enlargement / reduction is performed in accordance with an instruction command 181 from the control unit 180, whereby video data corresponding to the drive area 14 in the modulatable area 12 is formed. The enlargement of the data is performed, for example, by interpolating the data between the pixels, and the reduction is performed by thinning out the data of a predetermined pixel. The DMD format circuit 140 converts the digital video data from the scaler circuit 140 into a data format necessary for driving the DMD 160. The DMD 160 is generally driven in synchronization with R, G, and B lights from a color wheel in which RGB color filters are arranged. Therefore, the DMD format circuit 140 forms a data format synchronized with the R, G, and B lights.
[0018]
The drive position specifying circuit 170 specifies the position of the drive area 14 in the modulatable area 12. The drive position designation circuit 170 outputs the position information 171 of the drive area 14 to the scaler circuit 140 according to the drive position command 182 from the control unit 180.
[0019]
Remote controller operation section 200 and main body operation section 210 are input to control section 180 via an input interface. Remote control operation section 200 includes a wireless communication function and a plurality of operation keys, and an instruction from the operation keys is given to control section 180 of the projector main body via wireless communication. The main body operation unit 210 includes input keys provided on the projector main body, and gives an instruction to the control unit 180 via the key operation. The remote control operation unit 200 and the main body operation unit 210 include up, down, left, and right keys for changing the position of the projection image, and by operating these keys, an instruction for changing the position of the projection image is issued. input. The video position storage unit 220 stores, when a user inputs an instruction to change the projection position from the remote control operation unit 200 or the main body operation unit 210, the instruction input.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows how the position of the drive area can be changed. The number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the modulatable area 12 is M, the number of pixels in the vertical direction is N, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the drive area 14 is M1, and the number of pixels in the vertical direction is N1. When the corners A, B, C, and D of the modulatable area 12 are represented in pixel units of the X and Y coordinate systems, the coordinates are A (0, 0), B (M, 0), C (0, N) and D (M, N). When the drive area 14 is in a default state (an area surrounded by a chain line), the coordinates A1, B1, C1, and D1 of each corner are as follows.
[0021]

[0022]
When the user looks at the projection image projected on the screen and changes the projection position, the operation keys of the remote control operation unit 200 or the main body operation unit are operated, and the movement direction of the projection position is instructed. This instruction is supplied to the control unit 180 via the input interface 190, and the control unit 180 stores the instruction in the drive position storage unit 220 and instructs the drive position designation circuit 170 to move the drive area. give. As a result, the drive position specifying circuit 170 outputs position information for varying the position of the drive area 30 (the shaded area) to the scaler circuit 140. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the drive area 14 is moved by x1 in the X direction and y1 in the Y direction, and x1 and y1 are output as position information.
[0023]
The coordinates A2, B2, C2, and D2 of each corner of the drive area 30 have values obtained by adding x1 and y1, respectively, and the scaler circuit 140 forms video data based on the coordinate data.
[0024]
Although an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. Deformation and modification are possible. For example, although the DMD is used as the modulation element, other liquid crystal elements can be used. Further, the size and aspect ratio of the modulatable area of the DMD and the size and aspect ratio of the drive area are not limited to the example of the above embodiment, and can be appropriately changed.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to change the position of the projected image by changing the position of the drive region substantially used for the image within the modulatable area of the modulation unit. This makes it easier to adjust the position of the projected image as compared with the related art. Further, a highly convenient projector is provided which does not necessarily require adjusting the projection position without moving the projector main body or adjusting the height and angle of the adjuster screw attached to the projector main body. It is possible to do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a variable projection position according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the position of a driving area is changed according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block diagram of a projector according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a variable example of a position of a driving area.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 DMD 12 Modulatable area 14 Driving area 16 Incident light beam 18 Non-driving area 20 Optical image 22 Projection lens 24 Screen 26 Projected image 30 Driving area 140 Scaler circuit 150 DMD format circuit 160 DMD 170 Driving position designation circuit 220 Driving position storage unit 200 Remote control operation unit 210 Main unit operation unit

Claims (9)

A projector that projects an image using light from a light source,
A modulating unit including a modulatable area composed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel is drivable according to video data, and a modulation unit for optically modulating light illuminating the modulatable area,
An illumination optical system that irradiates the modulatable area with light,
Image forming means for forming image data corresponding to a drive area in which pixels are substantially driven within the range of the modulatable area;
Variable means for varying the position of the drive area,
Projection means for projecting light modulated by the modulation means,
Projector having a. The projector further includes an input unit for inputting position information for changing a projection position of an image projected by the projection unit, and the variable unit changes a position of the drive area based on the position information. The projector according to claim 1. The input unit includes at least one operation key and a wireless communication unit for inputting an up, down, left or right direction instruction, and the position information is transmitted by the at least one operation key through the wireless communication unit. The projector according to claim 2, which inputs. 3. The projector according to claim 2, wherein the input unit has at least one operation key for inputting an instruction in an up, down, left, or right direction on the projector body, and inputs the position information using the at least one operation key. 4. projector. The projector according to claim 2, wherein the projector further includes a storage unit configured to store position information from the input unit. The modulatable area has a two-dimensional array of a number M of pixels in the horizontal direction and a number N of pixels in the vertical direction. When the number M1 of pixels in the horizontal direction and the number N1 of pixels in the vertical direction of the driving area are M1, The projector according to claim 7, wherein a relationship of <M, N1 <N is satisfied. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the modulatable area has an aspect ratio of 4: 3, and the drive area has an aspect ratio of 16: 9. 8. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the image forming unit is capable of expanding and expanding image data according to an aspect ratio of the drive area. 9. 9. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the modulation unit includes a DMD, and the displayable area other than the drive area performs black projection.

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