JP2007017516A - Projector provided with function of projecting two-dimensional positional information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector where non-visible light indicating a position within the projection picture therein is projected in order to detect the position in the projection picture. <P>SOLUTION: The method for projecting positional information on the projection plane 430 projected by a projector comprises: the first step of projecting projection data on the projection plane 430 by visible light; and the second step of projecting positional information representing the coordinate position of the projection plane on the projection plane 430 by infrared light. The positional information is preferably composed of a plurality of discrimination patterns 400. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a front-projection or rear-projection projector that can project an image such as a television or a DVD, and in particular, a projector that projects two-dimensional position information on a projection surface by a rear-projection projector and the projection surface The present invention relates to a projector system capable of projecting the position of an input device operated above.

  2. Description of the Related Art A projection display system having an electronic blackboard function that combines and displays handwritten information on a projection image by a projector and a projector function is known. This is a device that generates ultrasonic waves at a predetermined position on the electronic blackboard, detects the position of the pen based on the principle of triangulation, creates writing information based on the detected position information, and projects it. It is synthesized with the image.

Patent Document 1 relates to an electronic blackboard system using a projector.
As shown in FIG. 12A, the signal processor 2 of the whiteboard 1 is provided with an infrared light receiving unit 21, an ultrasonic receiving unit 22, and an ultrasonic receiving unit 23. From the electronic pen 3, the infrared light pulse 4 and the ultrasonic pulse 5 are output simultaneously. The signal processor 2 uses the principle that the distance to the lightning is known in the time from when the lightning light is seen until the sound is heard. The signal processor 2 inputs the infrared light pulse 4 to the infrared light receiving unit 20 and then detects the ultrasonic wave. The distance from the electronic pen 3 to the ultrasonic receivers 21 and 22 can be known by measuring the time until the ultrasonic waves are input to the receivers 21 and 22. Since the ultrasonic receivers 21 and 22 are fixed to the signal processor 2, the position of the electronic pen 3 viewed from the ultrasonic receivers 21 and 22 can be obtained from the principle of triangulation. As shown in FIG. 12B, the projector projects an image on the whiteboard, calculates the position of the electronic pen 3 in the projected image 6, and outputs the coordinates of the electronic pen to the personal computer as a result. It also allows you to move the mouse cursor and specify icons on the screen.

JP 2005-128611 A

  However, in the electronic blackboard system as shown in Patent Document 1, a device such as an ultrasonic generator has to be provided on the projection screen of the projector, and the available place and range are limited. Furthermore, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes larger and the cost becomes higher.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a projector capable of projecting position information within a projection plane of a projector and detecting a position within the projection plane. .
Another object of the present invention is to provide a projector system capable of projecting and displaying input information such as an input pen on a projection plane by using position information in a projection screen.

  According to the present invention, a projection method for projecting position information onto a projection plane projected by a projector includes a first step of projecting image data onto a projection plane with visible light, and position information representing the coordinate position of the projection plane is visible. And a second step of projecting onto the projection surface with light other than light.

  Preferably, the second step is performed in a certain cycle during the projection by the first step, and the position information is projected by infrared light other than visible light. As a result, a normal image is projected on the projection surface, but the position information is infrared light and cannot be recognized with the naked eye.

  The position information projection method further includes a step of reading the position information projected on the projection surface, a step of creating image data based on the read position information, and a composition of the created image data and the image data for projection. And a step of projecting the synthesized image data onto a projection plane. Preferably, the step of reading the position information is performed by moving the pointing device on the projection plane, and the synthesized image data includes a movement locus of the pointing device.

  The projector according to the present invention includes position information projection means for projecting position information representing the coordinate position of the projection plane as light other than visible light during a projection operation using visible light. Preferably, the position information is displayed by DMD, and the position information projection means has a storage unit for storing the position information.

  The projector system according to the present invention includes a projector and a pointing device capable of data communication with the projector, and the pointing device reads the position information projected on the projection surface and transmits the read data. The projector includes means for creating image data based on the transmitted read data, means for synthesizing the created image data and image data for projection, and means for projecting the synthesized data onto the projection surface And have.

  Preferably, the pointing device includes a calculation unit that calculates a coordinate position of the pointing device based on the read position information, and a transmission unit that transmits the coordinate position information to the projector, and the projector receives the coordinate position information. including.

  According to the present invention, since the position information indicating the coordinate position of the projection plane is projected onto the projection plane of the projector with light other than visible light, the position information is displayed without interfering with the image display during normal operation. By utilizing this, it is possible to detect a movement trajectory by a pointing device such as a pen input device, and synthesize it on the projection surface and project it.

  Hereinafter, a preferred configuration of the projector system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a projector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The projector system 10 includes a rear projection type projector 100 and a pointing device 200 operated on a projection surface by the projector 100. The pointing device 200 can transmit data to the projector 100 by wire or wirelessly, and as will be described later, the user virtually inputs characters, figures, and the like for an image projected on the projection surface. It can also function as an input device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general configuration of the projector 100. This figure shows a DLP projector using DMD (Digital Micro-mirror Device). The light emitted from the lamp 110 is reflected by an elliptical mirror 112 which is a condensing mirror and is incident on a light tunnel or an optical integrator 114 which is an optical component. The light having a uniform light flux in the light tunnel 114 is incident on the color wheel 116.

  The color wheel 116 has R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color filters and an infrared light transmission filter arranged on the circumference, and these are rotated by a motor 118. The light incident on the color wheel 116 is separated into R, G, and B visible light and infrared light other than visible light. The R, G, B light, and infrared light are sequentially returned to the condenser lens 120 and folded. The DMD 128 is illuminated via the plane mirror 122 for use, the second spherical mirror 124 for folding, and the second condenser lens 126. The reflected light of the DMD 128 is incident on the projection lens 130, where it is magnified and projected on a screen.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the color wheel. As described above, the color hole 116 includes the R, G, and B color filters 140, 142, and 144 and the infrared light transmission filter 146. The light emitted by the lamp 110 includes the wavelength of visible light and the wavelength of infrared light, and this light is incident on the rotating color wheel 116 substantially perpendicularly. As a result, the R, G, B light selected by the color filters 140 to 144 is sequentially emitted from the color wheel 116, and the red selected by the infrared light filter 146 each time the color wheel is rotated once. External light is emitted. That is, the light emitted from the lamp 110 is separated into visible light and infrared light by the color wheel 116.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the DMD. The DMD 128 has a plurality of mirrors 150 arranged in a two-dimensional array on a silicon substrate. The mirror 150 is arranged in M rows × N columns. For example, a number of mirrors corresponding to the resolution such as XGA, SVGA, and the like are arranged. Each mirror 150 is rotatably supported by, for example, a hinge, and each mirror 150 is tilted by ± 12 degrees (on / off). The surface of the mirror 150 functions as a mirror and reflects the irradiated light. Each mirror 150 is controlled by a digital signal and is switched on and off at high speed at a high speed of several thousand times per second.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the projector. The projector 100 includes a data communication unit 300 that performs data communication with the pointing device 200, a lamp driving circuit 310 that drives the lamp 110, a color wheel 116 and a color wheel driving circuit 320 that drives the motor 118, and a DMD driving circuit that drives the DMD 128. 330, an image processing circuit 340 that generates image data projected by the DMD 128, a memory 350 that stores position information projected on the projection plane, a movement trajectory of the pointing device, program data, and the like, and a CPU 360 that controls each unit according to the program. Is included.

  The image processing circuit 340 generates digital image data having R, G, and B format planes corresponding to the mirror pixels of the DMD 128, and the CPU 360 drives the DMD driving circuit 330 based on these frame data. The image processing circuit 340 further generates image data corresponding to position information representing the coordinate position of the projection plane stored in the memory 350.

  6A to 6D are diagrams for explaining position information representing coordinate positions. The position information has a plurality of identification patterns 400 for identifying coordinate positions. One identification pattern 400 includes 6 × 6 pixels, and the number of identification patterns corresponding to the number of pixels of the DMD 128 is prepared. Each pixel of the identification pattern 400 is composed of binary information (shown in white or black in the figure). All the identification patterns 400 include a reference pattern 410 in which the three pixels are black (for example, binary information is “1”) in the upper left corner area. In the pixel area other than the reference pattern 410, a unique position pattern 420 indicating the coordinate position of the identification pattern is configured.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a projection surface by DMD and an identification pattern. When the DMD 128 has M × N pixels, M × N pixels are projected onto the projection plane 430. In the projection plane 430, the uppermost 6 × 6 pixel region P1 corresponds to one identification pattern 400. As described above, the identification pattern 400 includes the reference pattern 410 and a unique position pattern 420 for identifying the coordinate position. A boundary region 440 for one pixel is assigned around the identification pattern 400, and the next identification pattern 400 is arranged across the boundary region. The boundary region 440 is set to a value that does not include position information (for example, binary data is “0”). In this way, the identification pattern 400 is arranged on the entire area of the projection surface 430 by DMD via the boundary area 440.

  These identification patterns 400 are stored in the memory 350 as position information, and the image processing circuit 340 converts the position information read from the memory 350 into DMD 128 format information. The converted position information is projected at a timing when the DMD is illuminated by infrared light.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the pointing device. The pointing device 200 includes an imaging device 220 including a CCD for detecting infrared light in a pen-shaped housing 210, an analog / digital converter 230 that converts an imaging signal captured by the imaging device 220 into a digital signal, An image processing circuit 240 that pattern-matches the converted digital signal with an identification pattern, and a transmission circuit 250 that transmits data to the projector 100 are included.

  A writing part 260 is provided at the tip of the housing 210, and an objective lens (not shown) is attached in the writing part 260. By bringing the writing unit 260 into contact with or close to the projection surface, optical reading in a certain range can be performed through the objective lens. In this embodiment, the reading range by the imaging device 220 is an area corresponding to 12 × 12 pixels. The signal read by the imaging device 220 is binarized by the analog / digital converter 230 and supplied to the image processing circuit 240.

  The image processing circuit 240 stores a plurality of identification patterns 400 in a memory, and performs pattern matching between the read pixel pattern and the identification pattern. In pattern matching, first, a reference pattern is searched from the read image pattern, and a region to be matched is cut out. Next, the position patterns included in the cut out region are compared. Thereby, the coordinate position where the writing unit 260 of the pointing device 200 is located on the projection surface is calculated. The image processing circuit 240 supplies the calculated coordinate position to the transmission circuit 250, and the transmission circuit 250 transmits the coordinate position to the projector 100.

  In addition, as the pointing device, a plurality of line types, for example, for thin lines, a medium line, and a thick line are prepared, and a plurality of colors, for example, red, blue, and black are prepared. An identification code is assigned to each pointing device, and the transmission circuit 250 transmits the identification code together with data transmission.

  Next, the operation of the projector system of this embodiment will be described. The lamp 110 is turned on and the light is incident on the rotating color wheel 116. The visible light and infrared light of R, G, B from the color wheel 116 irradiate the DMD 128. In the DMD 128, the mirror pixel is turned on / off in response to the image data generated by the image processing circuit 340, and this on / off control is performed in synchronization with the rotation of the color wheel 116. Thus, the image data is projected on the projection surface.

  Further, in the DMD 128, the mirror pixels are ON / OFF controlled in response to the position information generated by the image processing circuit 340 in synchronization with the infrared light timing of the color wheel 116. Thereby, position information by infrared light is displayed on the projection plane while normal image data is being projected. The positional information is displayed for a certain period at a rate of once per rotation of the color wheel 116, but this positional information is displayed by infrared light, so it is not recognized by the naked eye on the projection plane, and therefore There is no interference with the projected image.

  On the other hand, the user can input characters, figures, and the like on the projection surface using the pointing device 200. When the writing unit 260 of the pointing device is moved on the projection surface, the imaging device 220 reads position information on the projection surface, that is, the identification pattern 400. The reading area of the writing unit 260 is 12 × 12 pixels, and for example, a pattern as shown in FIG. 9 is read. The image processing circuit 240 cuts out the read data based on the reference pattern 410 of the read identification pattern 400, pattern-matches the identification pattern included in the extracted read data, and specifies the position pattern included therein To do. Thereby, the identification pattern 400, that is, the coordinate position of the writing unit 260 is calculated. The image processing circuit 240 calculates the movement locus of the writing unit 260 from the read data sequentially sent from the imaging device 220. The transmission circuit 250 transmits the calculated coordinate position to the projector 100.

  In the projector 100, when the data communication unit 300 receives the coordinate position and the identification code of the pointing device from the pointing device 200, the CPU 360 decodes the identification code and determines the line type and color of the pointing device. At the same time, the CPU 360 causes the image processing circuit 340 to generate image data corresponding to the movement locus of the pointing device 200 based on the received coordinate position.

  The image processing circuit 340 combines the image data corresponding to the movement locus of the pointing device 200 and the image data projected on the projection plane. The synthesized image data is displayed on the projection plane by the DMD 128. In this way, characters, figures, and the like drawn by the pointing device 200 on the projection surface are combined and displayed as if they were overwritten on the projected image.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the pointing device 200 includes the analog / digital converter 230 and the image processing circuit 240. However, the analog / digital converter 230 and the image processing circuit 240 are provided on the projector side. It may be. In this case, the signal read by the pointing device 200 is transmitted to the projector by the transmission circuit 250. The projector digitally converts the received read signal, pattern-matches this, and calculates the coordinate position of the pointing device. Accordingly, the configuration on the pointing device side can be simplified, and the pointing device can be reduced in size, weight, and cost. Note that an analog / digital converter 230 may be provided in the pointing device, and an image processing circuit 240 may be provided on the projector side.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the pointing device. In the third embodiment, the pointing device is provided with a pen switching circuit 270 for switching line types and colors. As shown in FIG. 10B, the pen switching circuit 270 stores a combination of line type and color in a memory or the like in advance, and an identification code corresponding to the selected line type and color is identified by the pointing device. Send instead of code. This eliminates the need to prepare a plurality of pointing devices for each line type and color.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, the pointing device may include an input switching circuit 280 for enabling or disabling the reading function of the pointing device. The input switching circuit 280 can be turned on / off by a user operation, for example. When ON is selected, the input switching circuit 280 gives a permission signal indicating that the transmission circuit 250 can operate effectively to the transmission circuit 250. When OFF is selected, the transmission circuit 250 operates. A non-permission signal indicating that it is impossible is given. Alternatively, the input switching circuit 280 may give a permission signal or a non-permission signal to the imaging device 220.

  When the transmission is disabled or the reading is disabled, the pointing device 200 can actually draw characters, figures, etc. on a projection surface (for example, an electronic blackboard) as a normal pen such as a magic pen. In addition, the movement trajectory of the pointing device can be combined with the image data and projected.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fifth embodiment, an electronic blackboard is applied to the projection surface of the rear projector. As shown in FIG. 11, the electronic blackboard 500 has a drawing surface 510 for drawing characters, graphics, and the like. Further, a projector 520 is connected to the lower part of the electronic blackboard 500. The projector 520 configures the optical system of FIG. 2 so as to project image data onto the projection surface 510. That is, the drawing surface 510 functions as a writing surface and a projection surface. When the pointing device 200 is moved on the projection plane 510 while an image is being projected on the projection plane 510 by the projector, image data corresponding to the movement locus is generated in the projector, and the image data is synthesized. Projected onto the projection surface 510.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed.

  In the above embodiment, light from a single lamp is divided into visible light and infrared light using a color wheel. However, a light source for infrared light may be used separately from a light source for visible light. Good. In this case, if the DMD is illuminated with light from the light source for infrared light at a fixed timing, it is not necessary to provide an infrared light transmission filter on the color wheel. As in the first embodiment, the position information is projected onto the DMD 128 in synchronization with the timing when the infrared light illuminates the DMD 128. Furthermore, although a single DMD 128 is used, an optical system using a plurality of DMDs may be used. In this case, if one DMD is used for displaying position information by infrared rays, the position information is always projected onto the projection plane by the DMD. Furthermore, the light source of the lamp may be a discharge lamp, or a diode or a laser other than that. Further, a film in which position information is formed by an infrared light transmission region and a non-transmission region without forming position information by the DMD 128, and a film that transmits visible light, is only disposed in front of the DMD 128. But you can.

  The projector and the projector system according to the present invention can be used as a display device with an input function for displaying images and the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the projector system which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical system of the projector which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of a color wheel. It is a top view of DMD. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the projector which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the positional information showing a coordinate position. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the projection surface by a projector, and an identification pattern. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a pointing device. It is a figure which shows the example of a reading pattern. It is a figure which shows the structure of the pointing device which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic blackboard which concerns on the 4th Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional electronic blackboard system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Projector system 100: Projector 110: Lamp 116: Color wheel 128: DMD 140-144: Color filter 146: Infrared light transmission filter 150: Reflection mirror 200: Pointing device 210: Housing 220: Imaging device 250: Transmission circuit 260 : Writing part 400: Identification pattern 410: Reference pattern 420: Unique pattern 430: Projection plane 440: Boundary area 500: Electronic blackboard

Claims (15)

A projection method for projecting position information onto a projection surface projected by a projector,
A first step of projecting image data with visible light onto a projection surface;
A second step of projecting position information representing the coordinate position of the projection plane onto the projection plane with light other than visible light;
A method for projecting position information, including: The position information projecting method according to claim 1, wherein the second step is performed during the projection of the first step. The position information projecting method according to claim 1, wherein the second step projects the position information with infrared light. The position information projection method according to claim 1, wherein the projected position information includes a plurality of identification patterns corresponding to the projection plane. The projection method of position information is further
Reading position information projected on the projection plane;
Creating second image data based on the read position information;
Combining the created second image data and image data for projection;
Projecting the synthesized image data onto a projection plane;
A method for projecting position information. The method of projecting position information according to claim 5, wherein the step of reading the position information is performed by moving a pointing device on the projection surface. The position information projection method according to claim 5, wherein the synthesized image data includes a movement trajectory of the pointing device. A projector that projects image data on a projection surface,
A projector having position information projection means for projecting position information representing a coordinate position of a projection plane as light other than visible light during a projection operation using visible light. The projector according to claim 8, wherein the position information projection unit includes a storage unit that stores position information. The projector according to claim 8, wherein the position information projecting unit projects the position information at a constant cycle. The position information projection means includes extraction means for extracting infrared light out of light emitted from the light source, and the position information projection means projects position information with the extracted infrared light. Projector. 12. The projector according to claim 8, wherein the position information projection unit drives the DMD illuminated with infrared light based on the position information. A projector according to any one of claims 8 to 12,
A pointing device capable of data communication with the projector,
The pointing device includes means for reading position information projected on the projection surface, and transmission means for transmitting the read data.
The projector includes means for creating image data based on the transmitted read data, means for synthesizing the created image data and image data for projection, and means for projecting the synthesized image data onto a projection plane. Projector system. 14. The projector system according to claim 13, wherein the pointing device further includes calculation means for calculating a coordinate position of the pointing device based on the read position information. The projector system according to claim 8, wherein the image data is projected on a drawing surface of the electronic blackboard.

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