JP2007174398A - Information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system capable of surely providing information by means of a video image with excellent visibility in spite of the adoption of a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The information providing system achieves the task above through the provision of: a projector 16 for projecting information as the video image; a plurality of fixed mirrors 17<SB>n</SB>for respectively guiding the video image projected from the projector 16 to corresponding projection areas; a video generating section 11A for generating the video image projected by the projector 16; and a video correction section 11B for applying image processing to the video image generated by the video generating section 11A on the basis of the installation conditions of the projector 16 and the plural fixed mirrors 17<SB>n</SB>with respect to the projection areas and a visual recognition position of a user so as to correct distortion of the video image caused when the video image is projected to the projection areas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information presentation system that presents information to a user, and more particularly, to an information presentation system that presents information in a video having good visibility while having a simple configuration.

  With the development of information society, it is very important to present more information reliably. In response to such a request, a method of presenting predetermined information to the user using an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or a projection type image display device such as a projector has been devised.

For example, there has been devised a multi-screen projection device that satisfies this requirement by separating a potentially separable multi-screen image projected from the video projection device and guiding it to a desired display position. (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-305683 A

  However, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that a mechanism for guiding a projected image becomes very complicated depending on a display position, and thus adjustment at the time of installation is difficult. There is. Furthermore, when the display position is, for example, a non-planar screen, the projected video is distorted and a video that conveys information cannot be presented well.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed based on the above-described facts, and an object thereof is to provide an information presentation system capable of reliably presenting information with a video having good visibility while having a simple configuration. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the information presentation system of the present invention projects a projector that projects information as an image, a plurality of fixed mirrors that respectively guide the image projected from the projector to a corresponding projection area, Image processing for generating an image to be projected by the projector, and image processing for the image generated by the image generation unit based on the projector, the installation conditions of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and the user's viewing position with respect to the projection area Thus, image correction means for correcting distortion generated when the projection area is projected is provided.

  As described above, the information presentation system according to the present invention makes it possible to reliably present information with a video having good visibility while having a simple configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an information presentation system 1 shown as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the information presentation system 1 includes a video processing unit 11, a projector 16, and a lighting device 15A having a plurality of fixed mirrors 17 _n (n is a natural number).

Such information presentation system 1, for example, is installed in the front door of the residence space is information presentation space as shown in FIG. 2, the projector 16 of the lighting device 15A, via a fixed mirror 17 _n, a predetermined projection Predetermined information is presented as an image in the area.

The information presentation system 1 does not have a movable mechanism and can have a very simple configuration. Therefore, the information presentation system 1 has many advantages such as reduction in maintenance management load and cost reduction in long-term use. However, when the image projected from the fixedly installed projector 16 is reflected and guided by the fixed mirror 17 _n that is also fixedly installed, it is necessary to perform some correction processing on the image projected from the projector 16. . This correction process is very important in order to make the user feel comfortable when viewing the image projected on the projection area.

Therefore, the information presentation system 1 shown as the embodiment of the present invention has a simple configuration in which an image projected from the projector 16 is reflected and guided to a desired projection area using the fixed mirror 17 _n. Also, a correction processing function for realizing a good video presentation to the user is provided.

  The video processing unit 11. It is a control means for comprehensively controlling the information presentation system 1 and can be realized by, for example, a PC (Personal Computer). The video processing unit 11 selects a video generation unit 11A that generates a video to be projected, a video correction unit 11B that corrects the video generated by the video generation unit 11A, and an output image area of the video that has been corrected by the video correction unit 11B. The video output processing unit 11C that outputs to the projector 16. Each function of the video generation unit 11A, the video correction unit 11B, and the video output processing unit 11C can be implemented as a program executed by the video processing unit 11.

  The video material generated by the video generation unit 11A may be acquired from a server on the network, for example, or may be acquired from a home server or various storage media (not shown). The video generation unit 11A uses the video material acquired in this way to generate a video to be projected from the projector 16 by image processing or the like.

Image correction unit 11B is the fixedly installed projector 16, also is projected against fixedly installed fixed mirror 17 _n, good images when obtained by guiding the light reflected to a predetermined projection area is presented As described above, a predetermined correction process is performed on the video generated by the video generation unit 11A.

Projectors 16, a plurality of fixed mirrors 17 _n is configured in the illumination device 15A, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, will be provided, such as on the ceiling of the space to information presentation.

Thus, the projector 16, to provide a fixed mirror 17 _n in the illumination device 15A, in the information presentation system 1, the projector 16, the fixed mirror 17 _n, when installed in residential space, the views of living space This is to prevent damage. That is, since the projector 16 and the fixed mirror 17 _n are included in the lamp shade 15S of the lighting device 15A, the scenery of the living space is maintained.

  In addition, by providing the projector 16 in the illumination device 15A as described above, there is an advantage that light emitted from the projector 16 can be used as part of illumination light.

For example, the projector 16 uses a transmissive liquid crystal display element as a spatial modulation element, spatially modulates the light emitted from the light source lamp by the liquid crystal display element, and further uses the optical system to set light having a desired magnification in the projection region. By projecting, video information and text information are presented to the user as video. The fixed mirror 17 _n is fixedly installed on the ceiling or the like with the angle of the reflection surface adjusted so that the light spatially modulated by the presentation information emitted from the projector 16 is reflected and projected onto a predetermined projection area. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, three fixed mirrors 17 ₁ and 17 ₂ are provided for each projection area FD1 provided on the entrance door, projection area FD2 provided on the floor, and projection area FD3 provided on the storage cabinet. , 17 ₃ are prepared, each reflecting surface is setting such that the angle corresponding to the projection area. Installation information such as the angle of the reflecting surface of the fixed mirror 17 _n is stored in a storage unit (not shown) of the video processing unit 11. The video processing unit 11 also stores installation information that defines the projection direction of the projector 16 and installation information of each projection area that is reflected and projected by each fixed mirror 17 _n in a storage unit (not shown).

The video correction unit 11B starts distortion correction on the video generated by the video generation unit 11A based on the installation information of the projector 16, the fixed mirror 17 _n , and each projection area, and corrects hue and brightness. Apply. For example, one frame of the image generated by the image generating unit 11A not subjected to image correction by the image correction unit 11B is as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the image area to be projected Among the fixed mirror 17 _n Is an image region GF. Therefore, when an image that has not been subjected to image correction by the image correction unit 11B is projected as it is from the projector 16 onto the projection area FD, the image is distorted and thus protrudes from the projection area FD as shown in FIG. It will be.

Such distortion of the projected image includes a projector 16 for fixedly installed, which arises from the installation of flexibility limits of the fixed mirror 17 _n, advance to finely adjust the installation position and relative angle to each other Thus, the area that protrudes can be reduced, but it occurs due to the limitation of the setting, such as the position of the projection area where the image is projected and the case _where it corresponds to the plurality of fixed mirrors 17 _n . Therefore, the video correction unit 11B corrects the distortion of the video projected on the projection area that occurs in this way. For example, when an image for one frame corresponding to the fixed mirror 17 _n generated by the video generation unit 11A is corrected by the video correction unit 11B, the image region GF is corrected as shown in FIG. When the corrected image is projected, it can be made to coincide with the projection area FD as shown in FIG.

  The video correction unit 11B can also correct the color and brightness of the video generated by the video generation unit 11A based on information such as the color and brightness of the projection area acquired in advance.

In order to realize such video correction by the video processing unit 11, the information presentation system 1 is installed in detail before the correction processing for the video generated by the video generation unit 11A by the video correction unit 11B. In the system initial setting stage, it is necessary to appropriately install the fixed mirror 17 _n and to obtain correction parameters determined according to the installed conditions in advance. Therefore, the system initial setting of the information presentation system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the adjustment of the installation position of the fixed mirror 17 _n. At this time, the fixed mirror 17 with respect to the projection region for projecting the image and the projector 16 for projecting the image so that the image correction unit 11B can minimize the correction to the image generated by the image generation unit 11A. Adjust the installation position of _n . The adjustment of the installation position of the fixed mirror 17 _n is performed by generating an image on which a grid pattern is formed by the image generation unit 11A, projecting it from the projector 16 onto the projection area, and visually recognizing the grid pattern projected on the projection area. It can be done very simply.

Subsequently, in step S2 and step S3, on the image for one frame of the image projected from the projector 16 under the installation conditions installed in step S1, an image area corresponding to the projection area and each fixed mirror 17 installed. Each image region corresponding to _n is detected. Steps S2 and S3 may be detected in any order, and either one may be detected first.

  In order to detect an image area corresponding to the projection area, for example, an image in which a light spot appears at a different position is generated from the image generation unit 11A and projected from the projector 16. When the light spot of the image projected from the projector 16 appears on the outline of the projection area, the image area of the projection area can be detected by connecting the positions of the light spots on the image forming the image. it can.

  In addition, an image in which a grid pattern is formed is generated by the image generation unit 11A, projected from the projector 16, and adjusted so that the grid pattern is within the projection area, thereby detecting an image area corresponding to the projection area. be able to. In this way, by generating an image on which a grid pattern is formed, projecting it onto the projection area, and adjusting the grid pattern so that it falls within the projection area, for example, as shown in FIG. The image areas SG1, SG2, and SG3 corresponding to the projected areas FD1, FD2, and FD3, respectively, can be detected by a very simple method.

The image area corresponding to each fixed mirror 17 _n can be detected by generating an image on which a grid pattern is formed by the image generation unit 11 _</ b _{> A} and projecting it from the projector 16. In this way, by generating an image on which a grid pattern is formed and projecting it onto the projection area, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the images correspond to the fixed mirrors 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ , and 17 ₃ shown in FIG. The image regions MG1, MG2, and MG3 can be detected by a very simple method.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an optical system such as a mirror is separately arranged so that the optical axis of the imaging camera 12 connected to the video processing unit 11 and the optical axis of the projector 16 coincide with each other, and the projection region is imaged. It is also possible to automatically detect an image area corresponding to the fixed mirror 17 _n by performing image processing on the captured image of each projection area. The imaging camera 12 may be integrated with the projector 16.

Further, _if the adjustment of the fixed mirror 17n in step S1 is performed using the image of the projection area imaged by the imaging camera 12, the adjustment can be executed very simply.

In step S4, distortion correction parameters used when the image correction unit 11B performs distortion correction processing are set. The distortion correction parameter is a parameter for making an image without distortion when the image projected from the projector 16 and reflected by the fixed mirror 17 _n and projected onto the projection area is viewed from the user's viewpoint. The distortion correction parameter is obtained, for example, as an adjustment amount when the grid pattern is projected onto the projection area as described above and adjusted so that the grid pattern is within the projection area without being distorted when viewed from the user's viewpoint. You can In other words, when the grid pattern is projected onto the projection area, the degree of distortion can be visually recognized, and therefore the degree of correction (correction amount) for correcting this distortion can also be known.

In addition, the optical system can be arranged so as to be the user's viewpoint position, the projection area can be captured by the imaging camera 12, and the distortion correction parameter can be automatically and simply acquired by image processing using the captured image. Furthermore, when the shape of the projection area is strictly measured, the distortion correction parameter can be obtained by calculation by performing geometric calculation using the installation information of the projector 16 and the fixed mirror 17 _n with respect to the projection area. .

  In step S5, a color / brightness correction parameter, which is a correction amount for correcting the hue and brightness of the projected image, is set according to the projection area where the image is projected. The color / brightness correction parameter is obtained by, for example, imaging a projection area in a state in which no image is projected by the imaging camera 12 with a color image, and the color temperature of the captured image and a preset white color temperature as a reference. It is set as a correction image generated by taking the difference.

In step S6, the fixed mirror 17 _n of the image projected from the projector 16 to set the image area does not reach. In one frame of the image of the image projected from the projector 16 shown in FIG. 7, the image region LG is the fixed mirror 17 _n is an image region does not reach, and reaches directly to the lampshade 15S. The surface of the lamp shade 15S is subjected to a process for diffusing light, and the image light emitted from the projector 16 can be used as part of the illumination light of the illumination device 15A.

  Therefore, the image area LG can be used as illumination light by allowing the projection light from the projector 16 to be used as illumination light by leaving the image as it is without being formed, or it can be erased as a black image and cannot be used as illumination light. Like that. In step S6, how to use such an image region LG is set.

  In this way, in the information presentation system 1, various correction parameters are set according to the installation conditions when installed in the video presentation space. Based on the various correction parameters that have been set, the projector 16 projects an image that has been optimally corrected according to the projection area. Next, the video presentation processing operation by the information presentation system 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S11, the image generating unit 11A of the image processing unit 11, according to the operation of the user, installed image area corresponding to the fixed mirror 17 _n are, as well, the image for image region LG shown in FIG. 7 Generate using video material.

7, the image region MG1 when they do not match, not overlapping the image region SG1 as an image area MG1 corresponding to the image region SG1, fixed mirror 17 ₁ installed corresponding to the projection region FD1 is The black image will be erased so that the image is erased. However, when ignoring the projection area and projecting an image on the entire room, the projected image including this image area should be formed. Also good.

At this time, when the image region LG is used as illumination light, for example, a light-shielding portion that forms some shape such as a shadow picture by shielding the projection light from the projector 16 around the fixed mirror 17 _n is provided. It is also possible to produce a spatial effect such that a shadow is projected through the lamp shade 15S. At this time, the image projected on the fixed mirror 17 _n is also generated as a similar shadow-like image, so that the image presented in the entire information presentation system 1 can be rendered with a sense of unity.

  In step S12, the video correction unit 11B of the video processing unit 11 performs distortion correction processing on the video generated by the video generation unit 11A using the distortion correction parameters set in step S4 described above. In step S13, the video processing unit 11 uses the color / brightness correction parameters set in step S5 described above to perform correction processing such as the hue and brightness of the video generated by the video generation unit 11A. .

  In step S14, the video output processing unit 11C of the video processing unit 11 selects (masks) the output image area of the video that has been subjected to the correction processing by the video correction unit 11B in accordance with a user request or a setting condition. )

  For example, when the projection of the image onto the projection area FD2 provided on the floor and the projection light projected from the projector 16 are used as illumination light, as shown in FIG. 9, the image area MG2 (SG2), The image regions MG1 and MG3 other than the image region LG are masked by generating a black image (shown by shading). In addition, when the image is projected onto the projection / projection area FD1 provided on the entrance door and the image is projected onto the projection area FD3 provided on the storage cabinet, the projection light projected from the projector 16 is not used as illumination light. As shown in FIG. 10, the image areas other than the image areas SG1 and SG3 are masked by generating a black image (shown by shading).

In step S15, the image processing unit 11 outputs the image that has been masked by the image output processing unit 11C to the projector 16, is projected to the projection area from the projector 16 via the fixed mirror 17 _n.

  Note that the processing shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is not only performed in real time when video presentation is performed in the information presentation system 1, but also the system initial setting of the information presentation system 1 based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Can be executed at any time after For example, when it is not executed in real time, based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, a video to be presented in advance is generated using video material, and further, distortion correction, hue and brightness correction, and image area selection are executed. The data is stored in a storage medium (not shown) connected to the processing unit 11. Then, in response to a request from the user, the video processing unit 11 reproduces the corrected video stored in the storage medium and projects it onto the projection area via the projector 16.

As described above, the information presentation system 1 shown as the embodiment of the present invention is configured so that the projector 16 and the fixed mirror 17 _{n that} are fixedly installed have the installation conditions and the user The distortion correction process according to the visual recognition position is performed.

  Therefore, since it is a very simple system configuration that has no moving parts, etc., it can facilitate maintenance management during long-term use, achieve cost reduction, and present good images without distortion. it can.

  In addition, when a video is presented simultaneously to different projection areas that are visually recognized by a plurality of users, or only when the video is presented only in a projection area that is viewed by a single user, the video is displayed. Since the presentation area to be presented is not switched by a mechanical drive mechanism, it can be executed instantaneously without any driving sound. Therefore, a lot of information can be presented quickly and reliably. It is also possible to propose various video presentation possibilities such as a space where a quiet situation is required.

In addition, the information presentation system 1 can easily set the distortion correction parameter that is the correction amount of the distortion correction by projecting the grid pattern generated by the video generation unit 11A onto the projection region. As a result, when there is a change in the projection area or the user's viewing position, it is sufficient to adjust the distortion correction parameter without readjusting the installation position of the fixed mirror 17 _n again. Can be realized. Further, the projection adjustment of the grid pattern onto the projection area makes it possible to easily execute the installation adjustment of the fixed mirror 17 _n at the time of system initial setting.

Furthermore, the information presentation system 1 can automatically execute the setting of the distortion correction parameter serving as the correction amount of the distortion correction by performing image processing on the video of the projection area captured by the imaging camera 12. Thereby, when there is a change in the projection area or the user's viewing position, it is sufficient to automatically adjust the distortion correction parameter without readjusting the installation position of the fixed mirror 17 _n again. Labor saving can be realized. Further, an image of the projection area captured by the imaging camera 12 by the image processing, it is possible to easily perform the installation adjustment of the fixed mirror 17 _n of system initialization.

  Furthermore, the information presentation system 1 can automatically execute setting of color / brightness parameters as correction amounts for correcting hue and brightness from a color image obtained by imaging a projection area with the imaging camera 12. As a result, even when the projection area is not a flat surface such as a floor surface, a wall surface, a ceiling, or the surface of furniture, or a color that is not uniform, the user can see a good color. Can be presented as a video of brightness.

  In the illumination device 15A of the information presentation system 1 shown as the embodiment of the present invention, when the projection light projected from the projector 16 is used as illumination light, the illumination light amount required in the installation space is satisfied. If not, a separate light source may be provided in the illumination device 15A.

Further, the illumination device 15A is not only installed on the ceiling in the information presentation space as described above, but can also be installed on a wall surface or a floor surface by a stand, for example. Lighting apparatus 15A using the fixed mirror 17 _n, since it no moving mechanism, since degree of freedom of installation is very high, can be readily combined with other devices, such as enhancing the stage effect other than the video presentation , It is possible to execute cooperation that creates new effects.

  Also, the shape of the lamp shade 15S can be of various shapes depending on the space for presenting the image and the image to be presented. For example, in addition to the lamp shade 15S being a sealed type as described above, an open type can also be obtained by removing a transparent member that transmits an image reflected from each mirror. In the case of a sealed type, it can be used in a bathroom or the like by further waterproofing.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and according to the design or the like, as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from other embodiments. Of course, various modifications are possible.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the information presentation system shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the application example of the information presentation system shown as embodiment of this invention. In the information presentation system shown as embodiment of this invention, it is the figure which showed a mode that it projected on a projection area | region. (A) when the video correction processing is not executed is a diagram showing the state of the projected image, and (b) is a diagram showing the state of the video projected on the projection region. (A) at the time of performing a video correction process is the figure which showed the mode of the projection image, (b) is the figure which showed the mode of the image | video projected on a projection area | region. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement performed at the time of the initial setting of the information presentation system shown as embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the projection image projected from the information presentation system shown as embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the projection processing operation | movement of the information presentation system shown as embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the projection image which masked in order to project an image | video only to a desired projection area | region. It is the figure which showed an example of the projection image which masked in order to project an image | video only to a desired projection area | region.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information presentation system 11 Image | video process part 11A Image | video production | generation part 11B Image | video correction | amendment part 11C Image | video output process part 12 Imaging camera 15A Illumination device 15S Lamp shade 16 Projector 17 _n Fixed mirror

Claims (4)

A projector that projects information as an image;
A plurality of fixed mirrors each guiding the image projected from the projector to a corresponding projection area;
Video generation means for generating video projected by the projector;
Distortion that occurs when the video generated by the video generation means is projected onto the projection area by performing image processing based on the projector, the installation conditions of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and the user's viewing position with respect to the projection area. An information presentation system comprising: an image correcting means for correcting. The image generation means generates a grid pattern,
The projector projects the grid pattern generated by the video generation means,
The video correction unit performs image processing on the video generated by the video generation unit based on a correction amount indicated by a grid pattern projected from the projector and guided to a projection region by the fixed mirror. The information presentation system according to claim 1, wherein distortion generated when the projection area is projected is corrected. Comprising imaging means for imaging the projection area;
The video correction unit automatically performs distortion processing when projecting on the projection region by performing image processing on the video generated by the video generation unit based on the video of the projection region captured by the imaging unit. The information presenting system according to claim 1, wherein the information presenting system is corrected. The imaging means images the projection area as a color image,
The video correction means corrects the hue and brightness by performing image processing on the video generated by the video generation means based on the color video imaged by the imaging means. Information presentation system.

Images