JP2007249482A - Projector and pointer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector having a pointer function which is excellent in operability and convenience and a pointer program for achieving the pointer function. <P>SOLUTION: The projector executes a pointer program for achieving a static image detecting means for detecting a static image in an image signal when the image signal is input; an OCR means for extracting a character area including characters from among the detected static images; and a cursor display means for superimposing cursor display for making any one character area among the extracted character areas highlight on the static image. Furthermore, when receiving a movement signal for moving the cursor display from a remote controller as an operation means, the cursor display is moved from the selected character area to the adjacent character area, for example, form a character area 71 to a character area 72 according to the movement signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector that projects an image, and more particularly to a technique for indicating a desired part in a projected image.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in schools and businesses, there are increasing opportunities to present and present materials created by a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) by using a projector connected to the PC.
When giving a presentation using a projector, in order to make it easier to understand the contents of the presentation, while pointing to a specific part of the projected image, for example, a sentence part being explained or a diagram (hereinafter referred to as “pointer function”) The method of publishing was common.
As a means for indicating a specific part, for example, there are a method using a laser pointer and a method for indicating a desired part on the PC side supplying an image signal to the projector.

When the laser pointer is used, the user directs the light emitting portion of the laser pointer to the projection screen and irradiates the spot-like laser beam to the part to be pointed. However, since the laser pointer is operated manually, there is a problem that the irradiation point is not stable due to camera shake and is difficult to see. In addition, there is a possibility that the light emission part may face the viewer due to an erroneous operation, which may affect the visual function of the viewer.
In addition, when using a PC, the cursor can be moved to a desired part with a PC mouse or a pointing device such as a trackball. However, this method is used only when a presenter performs a presentation while operating the PC. Or an environment in which there is an operator who can operate the PC in addition to the presenter. In other words, it is difficult to use the means in an environment where the presenter cannot operate the PC as intended.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how the conventional projector is used. In view of such a problem, for example, a projector as shown in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.
The conventional projector 200 includes a plurality of remote controllers 210 and 211, and each remote controller 210 and 211 has a unique cursor 220 and 221. The projector 200 superimposes the image data representing the cursors 220 and 221 on the image signal of the projection image 201 and moves the cursors on the image according to the operation of the corresponding remote controllers 210 and 211, respectively. In addition, the cursors 220 and 221 are moved by four movement buttons including an upper button 215, a lower button 216, a left button 217, and a right button 218 corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions of the projected image 201 provided on the remote controllers 210 and 211. It was done by.

JP-A-9-325411

However, with the pointer function of the conventional projector 200, the cursor position must always be watched while the remote controller is being operated, and the cursor positioning is distracted. There was a risk of interruption.
For example, when moving the cursor 220 at the position of the point P (x1, y1) to the point Q (x2, y2) as a desired part on the projection image 201, first, as shown by the arrow a, It is necessary to continue pressing the right button 218 of the remote controller 210 until the position comes near the coordinate x2, and then keep pushing the upper button 215 until the position of the cursor 220 comes near the coordinate y2, as indicated by an arrow b. Note that the operation order may be that the upper button 215 is operated first. Although this operation seems to be easy, since the cursor 220 is also moved in units of pixels while the movement button is pressed, it is necessary to always keep an eye on the positional relationship of the cursor 220 in the image 201, which is very troublesome. It was a thing.
Further, when the eye measurement is wrong, it is necessary to correct the position of the cursor 220 by operating the left button 217 or the down button 216.

In addition, in order to improve such annoying operability, a function of increasing the moving speed of the cursor 220 when the moving button is kept pressed for a certain period of time has been proposed, but in reality, the moving speed has increased. The cursor 220 becomes difficult to control, and the cursor 220 often goes too far over the target position.
In addition, in the case of a document mainly composed of a plurality of character areas 71 to 74 as in the image 201, it is desired to perform explanation while roughly pointing to each character area in the order of explanation. In the method of moving in units of pixels along the x-axis and the y-axis, the cursor 220 is distracted and there is a risk that the explanation of the important point will be obscured.
As described above, the pointer function in the projector 200 of the related art has a problem that it is difficult to point a desired part smoothly along the flow of explanation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a projector having an easy-to-use and easy-to-use pointer function, and a pointer program for realizing the pointer function.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the projector according to the present invention projects an image represented by an input image signal, and detects still images by observing image transitions in time series. Means, an OCR means for extracting a portion including characters from the detected still image as a character area divided into paragraphs, and a cursor for making any one of the extracted character areas stand out. Cursor display means for superimposing the display on a still image, and operation means for moving the cursor display from the initial character area where the cursor display is made in the initial setting to the adjacent character area.

According to this configuration, since the operating means moves the cursor display from the initial character area to the adjacent character area, the pointer function in the projector of the present invention is performed in units of character areas in the projected image.
Therefore, unlike the conventional projector pointer function, where the cursor moves while moving in dot units, the pointer function of the projector of the present invention is designed to position a part including characters for each paragraph. Since the cursor moves in units of divided character areas, the cursor can be moved to a desired character area in a large and quick manner with a simple operation.
In addition, since the character area is automatically extracted by the OCR unit when the still image detecting unit detects a still image, the user only has to select a desired character area from the extracted character area. Good and easy to use.
Note that a still image in the present specification refers to an image having no image transition within a predetermined time.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a projector having a pointer function that is excellent in operability and easy to use.

  According to the projector of the present invention, the operation means is a remote control for remotely operating the projector, and the remote control moves corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions in the still image for moving the cursor display to the adjacent character area. It is preferable to provide a plurality of operation buttons including buttons.

According to this configuration, the remote control includes the movement buttons corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions in the still image for moving the cursor display to the adjacent character area. The cursor display can be moved to the adjacent character area.
Therefore, the cursor display can be moved to a desired character area by a simple operation on a remote control capable of remote control.
Further, since a remote control for remote control is generally attached to the projector, no special hardware configuration is required.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a projector having a simple configuration that has excellent operability and an easy-to-use pointer function.

  According to the projector according to the present invention, the initial character area is located at the uppermost position when the projected image by the still image is directly opposed, and there are a plurality of character areas located at the uppermost position. In some cases, it is preferable that the position is selected on the basis of being located on the left side.

In general, a document for presentation is composed of paragraphs from the top to the bottom of the document so as to follow the order of presentation. In the case of a horizontally long document, the paragraph structure is made from left to right in the same direction as the flow of the sentence.
According to this configuration, the initial character area is located at the uppermost position when the projected image of the still image is directly opposed, and when there are a plurality of character areas located at the uppermost position. Is selected on the basis that it is located on the left side, the character area that is likely to be presented first in the still image is selected as the initial character area.
Therefore, when a still image is detected, an initial character area that is likely to be presented first can be highlighted by a cursor display without requiring a special operation.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a projector having an easy-to-use pointer function.

  According to the projector of the present invention, the cursor display includes a block cursor display for highlighting the entire selected character area, and a partial cursor display indicating a part of the selected character area. The plurality of cursor displays are preferably provided so as to be selectable.

According to this configuration, since a plurality of cursor displays including a block cursor display and a partial cursor display are provided so as to be selectable, an appropriate cursor display can be selected according to the contents of the presentation.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a projector having an easy-to-use pointer function.

  According to the projector of the present invention, the cursor display means has an enlargement function for enlarging and displaying the selected character area including the cursor display, and is selected when an operation for executing the enlargement function is performed by the remote control. It is preferable to enlarge the displayed character area on the screen of the projected image.

Some presentation materials are made up of small character fonts, so they may be difficult to read even if they are enlarged and projected by a projector.
According to this configuration, when an operation for executing the enlargement function is performed by the remote controller, the selected character area is enlarged and displayed on the projection screen, so that the character area including a small character font can be enlarged and displayed. it can.
Therefore, it is possible to make a character area including a small character font stand out and to easily read a character.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a projector having an easy-to-use pointer function.

  The projector according to the present invention further includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of scalable fonts. When an operation for executing the enlargement function is performed, the font of the selected character area is displayed in the corresponding scalable unit of the storage unit. It is preferable to enlarge the character area after replacing the font.

When a small character font in a presentation material is enlarged, a character image represented by a bitmap font is enlarged, resulting in jaggy and display of characters that are difficult to read.
According to this configuration, when the operation for executing the enlargement function is performed, the character area is enlarged and displayed after the font of the selected character area is replaced with the corresponding scalable font in the storage unit. The characters in the character area are displayed as easy-to-read characters without jaggies.
Therefore, it is possible to make a character area including a small character font stand out and to easily read a character.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a projector having an easy-to-use pointer function.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the pointer program of the present invention is executed by a projector that projects an image represented by an input image signal, and displays a cursor in a character area that is a part including a selected character. A step of observing image transitions in time series to detect a still image, a step of extracting a character area divided into paragraphs from the detected still image, and a cursor are displayed in an initial setting. When the initial character area is selected from the detected character areas and a cursor is displayed in the initial character area and a movement signal for moving from the initial character area to the adjacent character area is received, Moving the cursor display.

According to this pointer program, cursor display is performed in units of character areas in the projected image.
Therefore, unlike the conventional projector pointer function, where the cursor moves while moving in units of dots, the pointer function of the pointer program of the present invention moves the part including characters into paragraphs. Since the cursor moves in character area units divided into two, the cursor can be moved to a desired character area in a large and quick manner with a simple operation.
In addition, since the method includes a step of extracting character areas divided into paragraphs from the detected still image, the user only has to select a desired character area from the detected character areas. Is good.
The still image detection means, OCR means, and cursor display means described above can be realized by executing a pointer program by a projector having a hardware configuration substantially equivalent to that of a conventional projector.
Therefore, no special hardware configuration is required to realize the pointer function of the present invention.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a pointer program that realizes an easy-to-use pointer function with excellent operability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
<Schematic configuration of projector>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a schematic configuration of the projector 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The projector 100 divides the light from the light source unit 5 into three primary color components of red (R) light, green (G) light, and blue (B) light, and each color light is a light modulation device for each color light. This is a so-called “liquid crystal three-plate projector” that modulates the liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B according to an image signal and enlarges and projects the combined full-color modulated light. The liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B are active matrix type liquid crystal display devices having a plurality of pixels corresponding to the resolution, and are included in the configuration of the optical unit 7.

The projector 100 includes a light source unit 5, an optical unit 7, a projection lens 10, an image signal converter 11, an image signal processing unit 12, an image signal correction unit 16, a liquid crystal panel driving unit 18, a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, and an operation receiving unit. 23, a remote controller 24, a power supply unit 26, a lamp driving unit 27, and the like.
The light source unit 5 includes a discharge lamp 1 that can obtain high luminance such as a metal halide lamp or a high-pressure mercury lamp, and a reflector 3 that collects light emitted from the lamp 1 and emits the light toward an optical system 7. Has been.
The optical unit 7 separates the light from the light source unit 5 into light having a stable luminance distribution and the light components having a stable luminance distribution into light components of the three primary colors red, green, and blue. Then, a separation optical system that supplies the liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B for each color light, and a combination optical system that combines again each color light modulated according to the image signal for each color light by the liquid crystal light valve. (Both not shown).
The projection lens 10 is a wide-angle zoom lens, enlarges and projects the modulated light from the optical system 7, and projects a full color image on a screen or the like.

The image signal converter 11 is a video decoder incorporating a 3-channel AD conversion circuit (not shown). For example, when the image signal supply device 80 is a PC, the input analog RGB signal is AD-converted for each color image signal, and is output to the image signal processing unit 12 as a digital image signal. When the input image signal is a composite signal (Y / C) or a component signal (YUV, YCrCb), AD conversion is performed after decoding into an RGB signal.
The image signal converter 11 includes a sampling clock generation circuit (not shown) including a PLL (Phase Locked Loop), and a sampling clock obtained by multiplying the horizontal synchronization frequency of the image signal generated by the sampling clock generation circuit. To perform AD conversion. Note that the sampling clock generation circuit may be included in the image signal processing unit 12.
The image signal may be input via a LAN (Local Area Network). In this case, the image signal is imaged from a LAN card via a cable or a wireless LAN card via an I / O bridge unit (not shown) such as a south bridge equipped with a card controller and a bus line Bus. It is input to the signal converter 11.

The image signal processing unit 12 is a scaler, and a frame buffer 13 is attached.
The frame buffer 13 includes, for example, three frame memories configured by DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and storing image data based on color image signals for each color light of RGB (hereinafter referred to as “frame memories R and G for classification”). , B ") and two frame memories for storing predetermined images (hereinafter referred to as" frame memories D and E "for classification). The frame buffer 13 can also store luminance (Y) data in the component signal derived by performing a matrix operation on the RGB image data.

  The image signal processing unit 12 writes an image represented by each color image signal into the frame buffer 13 for each RGB color light at the resolution of each color image signal, and can be displayed on the liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B. Scaling processing is performed after conversion to. Furthermore, in order to prevent the display image from becoming unnatural due to pixel thinning or interpolation processing in scaling processing, image processing using a digital filter is further performed on the scaled image signal. For image processing, using the luminance (Y) data of the component signal converted from the RGB image data, a boundary due to a gradation difference between pixels (also referred to as “edge”) is extracted by a digital filter such as a Laplacian filter, Processing such as contour correction (also referred to as “sharpness correction”) for emphasizing the gradation difference is included.

The image signal correction unit 16 includes an image correction circuit including a 1D (Dimension) -LUT, a 3D-LUT, and the like, a phase expansion circuit, a DA conversion circuit (all not shown), and the like. .
The image correction circuit is a γ correction that corrects the VT characteristics (characteristics of applied voltage and transmittance) for each of the liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B by the 1D-LUT, and a unique characteristic for each liquid crystal light valve by the 3D-LUT. Image correction such as color unevenness correction and color gamut correction are performed.
The phase development circuit converts the image data in the serial data format subjected to the image correction into parallel data of a plurality of phases. This is performed in order to reliably write an image signal to each of the high-resolution liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B.
The DA conversion circuit is a three-channel DA converter that performs DA conversion for each color image signal on digital RGB signals that have undergone various types of image processing.

The image signal correction unit 16 is provided with an OSD memory 17. The OSD memory 17 stores graphic data of various operation menu screens for operating the projector 100, a plurality of cursor display data, font data including a scalable font, and the like.
The image signal correction unit 16 reads out data designated from the OSD memory 17 by a command from the control unit 21, generates image data represented by the data, and manages an OSD (On Screen Display) function for superimposing the image data on the image signal. . The OSD memory 17 is not limited to being provided exclusively. For example, by increasing the storage capacity of the storage unit 21 and causing the storage unit 21 to store all the storage data of the OSD memory 17, only the storage unit 21 can be stored. It is good also as a structure.

The liquid crystal panel drive unit 18 supplies each color analog image signal and drive signal from the image signal correction unit 16 to the liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B.
The control unit 20 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls the operation of the projector 100 by exchanging signals with each unit including the image signal processing unit 12 and the image signal correction unit 16 via the bus line Bus.
The storage unit 21 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as a mask ROM, flash memory, or FeRAM, for example. The storage unit 21 stores various programs for controlling the operation of the projector, such as an activation program that defines the order and contents for activating the projector 100, and accompanying data.
Various programs include a pointer program for pointing a character area, which is a part including characters in a projected image, with a cursor. The pointer program incorporates an OCR (Optical Character Reader) program, and can extract characters and character areas from image data written in the frame buffer 13.
The storage unit 21 can also substitute for a part of the function of the frame buffer 13 (for example, storing a still image).

The operation accepting unit 23 includes a receiving circuit (not shown) that receives a radio signal from the remote controller 24, and an operation unit 25 is attached. When an operation is performed on the remote controller 24 or the operation unit 25, the operation reception unit 23 receives the operation and sends an operation signal serving as a trigger for various operations to the control unit 20.
The remote controller 24 as an operation means is a remote controller for remotely operating the projector 100 and includes a plurality of operation buttons for operating the projector 100. In addition to a “power button” for starting and shutting down the projector 100 and a “Menu button” (not shown) for displaying various operation menus, a plurality of operation buttons are projected as cursors. Includes four movement buttons such as an upper button 31, a lower button 32, a left button 33, and a right button 34, and an enlarge button 35 for enlarging and displaying a selected character area. It is. In the operation menu, when a menu screen for selecting a desired cursor display from a plurality of cursor displays is displayed, the cursor display can be selected by four movement buttons.
The operation unit 25 is an operation panel provided on the upper surface of the projector 100, and is an operation means including a plurality of operation buttons similar to the remote controller 24.

The power supply unit 26 is stabilized by introducing AC power from the external power supply 85 from the inlet and performing a process such as transformation, rectification, and smoothing in a built-in AC / DC conversion unit (both not shown). Electric power is supplied to each part of the projector 100.
The lamp drive unit 27 is supplied with power from the power supply unit 26, generates an high voltage to turn on the lamp 1, and forms a discharge path, and maintains a stable lighting state after lighting. A ballast circuit (both not shown) is included.

<< One aspect of pointer function >>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart (flow chart) showing the flow of the pointer function. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the transition of the projected image. Here, an aspect of the pointer function in the projector 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the projector 100 detects an image signal input from the outside, the projector 100 executes a pointer program in the storage unit 21 that realizes the pointer function of the present invention. In the initial setting, the predetermined image memory frames D and E in the frame buffer 13 are cleared.

In step S1, the control unit 20 monitors a change in image data in the frame memory R of the red image signal in the frame buffer 13 in time series. Specifically, the image data for one frame of the red image signal is stored in the predetermined image memory frame D, and the image data and, for example, the image data of the frame memory R after 0.5 seconds are used. Compare. Alternatively, monitoring may be performed using luminance (Y) data of a green or blue image signal or component signal. Alternatively, a method may be used in which a contour extraction image used for contour correction is stored in a frame memory for two frames in time series, and the difference between them is obtained.
In step S2, the control unit 20 confirms whether still images having the same time-series data are detected in the monitoring of the frame buffer 13 in step S1. If a still image is detected, the process proceeds to step S3. If a still image is not detected, the process returns to step S1 and monitoring of the frame buffer 13 is continued. In the present specification, the still image detection function by the control unit 20 and the frame buffer 13 in steps S1 and S2 is a still image detection means.

In step S3, the control unit 20 confirms whether the still image detected in step S2 is a new still image. Specifically, the image data of the predetermined image memory frame D storing the still image detected in step S2 and the predetermined image memory frame E storing the still image detected in the past are stored. Compare. Alternatively, the same comparison may be performed using the storage area of the storage unit 21. If it is a new still image, the process proceeds to step S4. If it is not a new still image, the process returns to step S1.
In step S4, the control unit 20 executes the OCR program and extracts a character area from the still image. Specifically, the character area is extracted from the image data of the predetermined image memory frame D by the OCR program. In the OCR program, a character area is extracted as a block unit obtained by dividing a part including characters into paragraphs. In addition, it is not limited to a paragraph unit, but may be extracted in line units or itemized units.
An image 51 in FIG. 3 shows one aspect of the character area extracted by the OCR program. In the image 51, the character area is extracted as four blocks of character areas 71 to 74 for each paragraph of the sentence. Further, all characters in the extracted character areas 71 to 74 are associated with corresponding font data in the OSD memory 17 by the OCR program.

In step S5, the control unit 20 confirms whether the character area has been extracted by executing the OCR program in step S4. If a character area has been extracted, the process proceeds to step S6. If no character area is extracted, the process returns to step S1. In this specification, the execution of the OCR program by the control unit 20 in step S5 is referred to as OCR means.
In step S6, the control unit 20 determines an initial character area in which the cursor is displayed in the initial setting. Further, the image data of the still image is stored in the memory frame E. In addition, the initial character area is located at the uppermost position when a projected image by a still image is directly opposed, and when there are a plurality of character areas located at the uppermost position, It is selected based on being located on the left side. For example, the initial character area on the screen 51 is the character area 71.
Further, the arrangement of the initial character area is not limited to the arrangement described above, and may be set to a position that suits the user's preference. For example, the character area located at the center of the image may be set as the initial character area.

In step S7, the control unit 20 causes the image signal correction unit 16 functioning as a cursor display unit to display a cursor in the initial character area. For example, the image 52 in FIG. 3 shows an aspect of cursor display in the initial character area 71. In the case of the image 52, the entire character area 71 is a square block cursor display, and the characters are highlighted in white.
In step S8, the control unit 20 compares the latest image data of the frame memory R in the frame buffer 13 with the image data of the predetermined image memory frame D, and confirms whether an image has changed. If there is a change in the image, the process proceeds to step S12. If there is no change in the image, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the control unit 20 receives an extended function operation such as an operation of enlarging the selected character area. The details of the extended function that is made into a subroutine will be described later.
In step S <b> 10, the control unit 20 confirms whether a movement signal for moving the cursor is received from an operation unit such as the remote controller 24. If a movement signal has been received, the process proceeds to step S11. If no movement signal is received, the process returns to step S8.
In step S11, the control unit 20 causes the image signal correction unit 16 to move the cursor display to the adjacent character area in accordance with the movement signal received in step S10. For example, the image 53 in FIG. 3 shows one mode when the cursor display is moved. In the case of the image 53, since the lower button 32 of the remote control 24 is pressed once while the cursor is displayed on the character area 71 of the image 52, the character area 72 adjacent to the character area 71 and positioned below is selected. The entire character area 72 is displayed as a block cursor.

Next, the case where there is a change in the image in step S8 will be described.
In step S12, the control unit 20 causes the image signal correction unit 16 to stop the cursor display, and then returns to step S1.
Note that, at any timing in the flowchart described above, when the operation signal of the shutdown operation and the reset operation is received from the operation unit, the control unit 20 ends the pointer program.

《Cursor display mode》
FIG. 4 is a projected image diagram including a different form of cursor display. Here, different modes of cursor display will be described with reference to FIG.
The cursor display is not limited to the reverse display as described with reference to FIG. 3, and various modes can be selected according to the atmosphere of the presentation.
For example, in the image 54, the outer periphery of the character area 72 is displayed as a block cursor with a frame line, and the character is underlined.
In the image 55, the character area 72 is not a rectangle, but is displayed by a balloon-shaped block cursor with a thorn, and the characters are displayed in reverse video. Note that a color tone may be added to the background of each block cursor, a frame line, or the like. In this case, preferably, a color tone different from the color tone of the background image is selected.
Further, in the image 56, there is no frame line indicating the outer shape of the character area 72, and an arrow-shaped partial cursor 76 points to the character area 72.
Note that these cursor displays can be selected on the cursor display setting menu screen in the operation menu of the projector 100.

<< One aspect of the extended function >>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart (flow chart) showing the flow of the cursor display enlargement function. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of a projected image including an enlarged cursor display. Here, an enlarged function of cursor display, which is one of the extended functions of the pointer function of the projector 100, will be described with reference to FIGS.
In step S9 of the main program in FIG. 2, the control unit 20 executes an enlarged display program which is one of subroutine programs.

In step S <b> 21, the control unit 20 confirms whether or not an operation signal for enlarging and displaying the character area selected from the operation means such as the remote controller 24 has been received. If an operation signal has been received, the process proceeds to step S22. If no operation signal is received, the process proceeds to step S10 of the main program in FIG.
In step S22, the control unit 20 assigns a scalable font from the font data in the OSD memory 17 associated in step S4 of the main program in FIG.
In step S23, the control unit 20 causes the image signal correction unit 16 to switch the selected cursor display to the enlarged display, and further causes the character data to be enlarged and displayed using the scalable font assigned in step S22. For example, if the character area selected before the enlarged display is the character area 74 shown in the image 57 of FIG. 6, the character area 74 is enlarged and displayed in step S23, as shown in the image 58. The area 74 can be enlarged by about twice the area ratio before enlargement. Note that when the enlarged display is performed without using the scalable font, the bitmap font obtained by OCR of the image data is enlarged, so that it becomes an unsightly character with jaggy.

In step S24, the control unit 20 confirms whether or not an operation signal for enlarging and displaying the character area selected from the operation means such as the remote controller 24 has been received. In the enlargement display program, for example, the enlargement display is executed cyclically when the enlargement button 35 of the remote controller 24 is operated once, and the enlargement display is canceled when the operation is performed again. And the release is done. If the operation signal is received again, the process proceeds to step S25. When the operation signal is not received, the process proceeds to step S10 of the main program in FIG. 2 while continuing the enlarged display. It should be noted that the display returns to the main program while continuing the enlarged display, and when a movement signal is received in step 10 of the main program, the enlarged display is canceled using the movement signal as a trigger.
In step S25, the control unit 20 cancels the enlarged display of the selected character area by the image signal correction unit 16, returns the cursor display (including the character font) to the original size, and then returns to the main in FIG. Proceed to step S10 of the program.

An image 59 in FIG. 6 shows a projected image including an enlarged cursor display in a different mode.
In the image 59, the outer periphery of the character area 74 is displayed as a block cursor by a frame line, and the character is underlined. Further, the size of the block cursor display is about four times the area ratio of the block cursor display of the character area 74 in the image 57. Furthermore, an italic scalable font is used as the character font.
These cursor display enlargement functions can also be selected on the menu screen for setting the cursor display expansion in the operation menu of the projector 100.
In addition, the enlargement function is executed in a stepwise operation step such that when the enlargement button 35 is operated once, the enlargement is simply displayed, and when the enlargement button 35 is operated once again, the enlargement is further enlarged using a scalable font. It may be.

(1) As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The remote control 24 transmits a movement signal for moving the cursor display from the selected character area to the adjacent character area in response to an operation on the movement button, and the projector 100 that has received the movement signal is selected. Move the cursor display from the current character area to the adjacent character area in character area units.
Thus, the pointer function in the projector 100 moves the cursor in units of character areas obtained by dividing a part including characters into paragraphs, so that the cursor can be moved greatly and quickly to a desired character area with a simple operation.
In addition, since the character area is automatically extracted by the OCR unit when the still image detecting unit detects a still image, the user only has to select a desired character area from the extracted character area. Good and easy to use.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the projector 100 that has an excellent operability and an easy-to-use pointer function.

(2) Since the remote controller 24 includes the movement buttons 31 to 34 corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions in the still image for moving the cursor display to the adjacent character area, the remote control 24 can be operated by one operation of the movement button. The cursor display can be moved to the adjacent character area.
Therefore, the cursor display can be moved to a desired character area by a simple operation on the remote controller 24 that can be operated remotely.
The remote control 24 and the projector 100 have substantially the same hardware configuration as that of the conventional projector 200, but the projector 100 executes a pointer program, thereby realizing still image detection means, OCR means, and cursor display means. Has been.
Therefore, no special hardware configuration is required to realize the pointer function of the present invention.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the projector 100 having a simple configuration that has an excellent operability and an easy-to-use pointer function.

(3) The initial character area should be directed to the uppermost position when there is a plurality of character areas located at the uppermost position when the projected image formed by a still image is directly opposed. Therefore, the character area that is likely to be presented first in the still image is selected as the initial character area.
Therefore, when a still image is detected, an initial character area that is likely to be presented first can be highlighted by a cursor display without requiring a special operation.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the projector 100 having an easy-to-use pointer function.

(4) For cursor display, a desired cursor display is displayed from a plurality of cursor displays including block cursor display and partial cursor display by operating the movement button of the remote controller 24 in the cursor display setting menu in the operation menu of the projector 100. You can choose.
Therefore, an appropriate cursor display can be selected according to the content of the presentation.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the projector 100 having an easy-to-use pointer function.

(5) When the projector 100 receives an operation signal for enlarging the selected character area from the operation means such as the remote controller 24, the projector 100 allocates a scalable font from the OSD memory 17 and enlarges the selected cursor display. In addition, the character data is enlarged and displayed using a scalable font.
As a result, the cursor display is more prominent due to the enlarged display, and the enlarged characters are also easy-to-read characters that are free from jaggies using scalable fonts, so that it is easy to read the characters even in character areas containing small characters. Can do.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the projector 100 having an easy-to-use pointer function.

(6) Since the still image detection means in steps S1 and S2 detects a still image by comparing time-series image data in the frame buffer 13, a moving image and a presentation effect such as a wipe effect are activated. The still image is determined as a moving image and is surely excluded.
Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect still images that require cursor display.
If there is a change in the image in step S8, the cursor display is stopped in step S12 and the process returns to step S1. When the image of the image signal changes from a still image to a moving image, the cursor display is promptly displayed. Erase and wait for the next still image.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably identify an image that requires cursor display.
In step S11, the cursor display is moved to the adjacent character area in accordance with the operation movement signal from the operation means such as the remote controller 24 received in step S10. Therefore, the cursor display moves in units of character areas.
Therefore, by quickly moving the cursor display along the explanation flow, a desired part can be pointed smoothly along the explanation flow.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a pointer program that realizes an easy-to-use pointer function with excellent operability.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. A modification will be described below.

(Modification 1)
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the embodiment, the projector 100 may further include a speech synthesis function that reads the selected character area as an extended function.
A general projector including the projector 100 includes an audio reproduction unit (not shown) including an amplifier and a speaker for reproducing an audio signal of an image signal. In addition to this configuration, by adding speech data corresponding to font data and a speech synthesizer that synthesizes the speech data to the storage unit 21, a speech synthesis function can be realized.
According to this configuration, the speech synthesizer synthesizes speech data corresponding to the character information recognized by the OCR function of the pointer program, and reads the selected character area, so that the presentation is given to those who have difficulty in speaking. One means can be provided.
The voice may be uttered at the timing when the cursor display is moved to a new character area, or the utterance button for uttering may be provided on the remote control 24.

(Modification 2)
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the embodiment, the projector 100 may further include a translation function that translates the text in the selected character area into another language as an extended function.
In order to realize the translation function, dictionary data for translating the character information recognized by the OCR function of the pointer program into another language is required. The dictionary data may be stored in the storage unit 21, or may be accessed via a LAN to a server PC that stores a plurality of dictionary data.
The translated text may be displayed on the selected character area or may be displayed using a pop-up dialog so as to be adjacent to the character area.
According to this configuration, the projector 100 can realize a simple simultaneous translation function of presentation contents.

(Modification 3)
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the embodiment, the projector 100 may further include a confidentiality holding function for masking a confidential portion in character information recognized by OCR as an extended function.
For example, when confidential information such as a development code of a new product or personal information is stored in the storage unit 21 in advance and the character information of the presentation material is recognized by the OCR function of the pointer program, the confidential information in the storage unit 21 and When the same character information is detected as compared with personal information, the portion is masked. Alternatively, a display method other than confidential information and personal information, such as blank display or replacement with other characters, may be used.
According to this configuration, the projector 100 can prevent unexpected information leakage of the presentation contents in the presentation.

(Modification 4)
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the above embodiment, the movement button of the remote controller 24 is composed of four independent operation buttons, that is, the upper button 31, the lower button 32, the left button 33, and the right button 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
For example, the remote controller 24 may be provided with a pointing device such as a trackball or a pointing stock, and the cursor display may be moved by the pointing device.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide the projector 100 having a pointer function that is more operable and easy to use.

(Modification 5)
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the projector 100 includes the transmissive liquid crystal light valves 8R, 8G, and 8B as the light modulation device, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the projector 100 is configured to include a single-plate liquid crystal light valve in which red, green, and blue color filters are regularly arranged in a lattice pattern, and a single sheet can emit full-color modulated light. Also good. Further, a configuration using a reflective liquid crystal display device or a tilt mirror device may be used.
Further, the applied electronic device is not limited to the projection type projector, and may be, for example, a rear projector provided with an optical system including a light modulation device and a transmission type screen in one individual.
Even if it is these structures, the effect similar to the said embodiment can be acquired.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a projector according to an embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of a pointer function. The figure which shows the transition of a projection image. The projection image figure containing the cursor display of a different aspect. The flowchart which shows the flow of a cursor display expansion function. The figure which shows the one aspect | mode of the projection image containing the enlarged cursor display. The figure which shows the usage condition of the conventional projector.

Explanation of symbols

8R, 8G, 8B: liquid crystal light valve as a light modulation device, 12: image signal processing unit, 13: frame buffer, 16: image signal correction unit, 17: OSD memory, 20: control unit, 21: storage unit, 24 ... remote control as operation means, 25 ... operation section as operation means, 31 ... upper button as a movement button, 32 ... lower button as a movement button, 33 ... left button as a movement button, 34 ... right as a movement button Buttons 51 to 59 ... Still images, 71 to 74 ... Character area, 76 ... Partial cursor display, 100 ... Projector.

Claims (7)

A projector that projects an image represented by an input image signal,
Still image detection means for observing the transition of the image in time series and detecting a still image;
OCR means for extracting a part including characters from the detected still image as a character area divided into paragraphs;
Cursor display means for superimposing a cursor display for highlighting any one of the extracted character areas on the still image;
An operation means for moving the cursor display from an initial character area where the cursor is displayed in an initial setting to an adjacent character area.   The operation means is a remote control for remotely operating the projector, and the remote control includes a move button corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions in the still image for moving the cursor display to the adjacent character area. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of operation buttons.   When the initial character area is located at the uppermost position when the projected image of the still image is viewed directly, and when there are a plurality of the character areas located at the uppermost position, the initial character area is directed. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the projector is selected based on being located on the left side.   The cursor display includes a block cursor display for making the entire selected character area stand out, and a partial cursor display showing a part of the selected character area. The projector according to claim 2, wherein the projector is provided so as to be selectable. The cursor display means includes an enlargement function for enlarging and displaying the selected character area including the cursor display,
5. When the operation for executing the enlargement function is performed by the remote controller, the selected character area is enlarged and displayed in the screen of the projection image. The projector described. Furthermore, a storage unit for storing a plurality of scalable fonts is provided,
6. When the operation for executing the enlargement function is performed, the character area is enlarged and displayed after the font of the selected character area is replaced with the corresponding scalable font of the storage unit. Projector. A pointer program that is executed by a projector that projects an image represented by an input image signal and displays a cursor in a character area that is a part including a selected character,
Observing the transition of the image in time series and detecting a still image; and
Extracting the character area divided into paragraphs from the detected still image;
Selecting an initial character area in which the cursor is displayed in the initial setting from the detected character area and displaying the cursor in the initial character area;
And a step of moving the cursor display to the destination character area when a movement signal for moving from the initial character area to the adjacent character area is received.