JP2008176139A - Projector, program, and information storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector capable of projecting an image playing a role of making the image during stoppage be checked and a role as illumination. <P>SOLUTION: The projector 100 is constituted by including a projection section 160 which projects the image including a source image display region based on the image information and an unused region other than the source image display region, a determination section 120 for determining whether the illumination transition state to shift to the illumination state from the ordinary projection state is attained or not, and a controller 150 for controlling the projection section 160 so as to enhance the brightness value of the nonuse region when the illumination transition state is attained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector, a program, and an information storage medium.

  In general, when watching a movie by playing a DVD or the like using a projector at home, the projector is used in the absence of illumination. In such a case, if the reproduction of the DVD is stopped or interrupted, the user needs to work without lighting and is difficult to work.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-94475 describes a projector that projects a guide image indicating that the vehicle is stopped based on a stop signal from the operation unit at a predetermined brightness that also serves as illumination. Has been.
JP 2005-94475 A

  However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-94475, when the reproduction of the DVD is interrupted, it is difficult for the user to grasp which scene is resumed when the reproduction is resumed. In addition, the gazette describes that an image when paused is used as a part of the guidance image. However, since the image differs greatly from the original image, the user feels uncomfortable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector, a program, and an information storage medium capable of projecting an image that plays a role of confirming an image when stopped and a role of illumination.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a projector according to the present invention includes a projection unit that projects an image including a source image display area based on image information and an unused area other than the source image display area, and illumination from a normal projection state. A determination unit that determines whether or not an illumination transition state that transitions to a state is reached, and a control unit that controls the projection unit to increase the brightness value of the unused area when the illumination transition state is reached. It is characterized by including.

  The program according to the present invention is a program readable by a computer of a projector including a projection unit that projects an image including a source image display area based on image information and an unused area other than the source image display area. A determination unit for determining whether or not the computer enters a lighting transition state in which a transition from the normal projection state to the lighting state is performed; and the brightness value of the unused area is increased in the case of the lighting transition state. It is made to function as a control part which controls the projection part.

  The information storage medium according to the present invention can be read by a computer of a projector including a projection unit that projects an image including a source image display area based on image information and an unused area other than the source image display area. An information storage medium storing a program, wherein the program is stored.

  According to the present invention, the projector can make the user confirm the image at the time of stoppage by projecting the image including the source image display area. Further, according to the present invention, the projector can project an image serving as illumination by brightening the unused area when the illumination transition state is entered.

  In addition, the projector includes an input unit for inputting user operation information, and the determination unit is configured when the operation information is information for instructing to stop or interrupt display of a source image based on the image information. It may be determined that the lighting transition state has been reached.

  According to this, the projector can project an image serving as illumination according to a user instruction.

  The determination unit may determine based on the image information that the illumination transition state has been reached when a source image based on the image information has not changed for a certain period of time.

  According to this, the projector can project an image serving as illumination according to the state of the source image.

  The projector may include an unused area grasping unit that grasps the unused area based on the aspect ratio of the source image based on the image information and the aspect ratio of the image display area in the projection unit.

  According to this, the projector can grasp the unused area according to the difference in aspect ratio.

  The unused area grasping unit determines whether the ratio of the unused area in the entire image is less than a predetermined value, and the control unit determines the source image display area when the ratio is less than the predetermined value. The projection unit may be controlled to reduce the size.

  According to this, when the ratio of the unused area is too small, the projector can increase the brightness of the entire image by increasing the ratio of the unused area, and project an image serving as illumination. it can.

  Further, the control unit stores a brightness value of the unused area in the normal projection state when the illumination transition state is entered, and the unused area when returning from the illumination state to the normal projection state. The projection unit may be controlled so that is projected at the brightness value.

  According to this, when returning to the normal projection state, the projector can allow the user to appreciate the image without giving the user a sense of discomfort by returning the brightness value of the unused area to the original value.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a projector will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the Example shown below does not limit the content of the invention described in the claim at all. In addition, all the configurations shown in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential as means for solving the invention described in the claims.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which a projector grasps an unused area other than a source image display area based on image information in a projection image based on an aspect ratio, and uses the unused area as illumination when reproduction is interrupted.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a projector 100 in the first embodiment. The projector 100 incorporates a DVD player 170. The projector 100 also includes an input unit 110 that inputs user operation information, a determination unit 120 that performs various determinations, and an unused region grasping unit 130 that grasps unused regions other than the source image display region based on image information. And a storage unit 140 that stores various data, a control unit 150 that performs various controls, and a projection unit 160. The projection unit 160 includes an image generation unit 162 that generates an image and an image projection unit 164 that projects the image.

  Note that these units can be mounted on the projector 100 using the following hardware, for example. For example, the input unit 110 is an infrared receiving unit that receives a signal from a remote controller (remote controller), the determination unit 120, the unused area grasping unit 130, the control unit 150 is a CPU, the storage unit 140 is a RAM, and the like. The image generation unit 162 may employ an image processing circuit or the like, and the image projection unit 164 may employ a lamp, a liquid crystal panel, a projection lens, or the like.

  Further, the projector 100 may read the program from the information storage medium 200 storing the program for implementing the function of each unit and implement the function of each unit. As such an information storage medium 200, for example, a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, ROM, RAM, HDD or the like can be applied, and the program reading method may be a contact method or a non-contact method. Good.

  Next, the flow of processing using these units will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the normal projection state, illumination state, and normal projection state change in the first embodiment.

  When the DVD player 170 is reproducing a DVD such as a movie, that is, in a normal projection state, the image generation unit 162 includes an image including a source image (for example, a movie image) based on image information from the DVD player 170. And the image projection unit 164 projects the image (step S1).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image 300 in a normal projection state in the first embodiment. For example, when the aspect ratio (horizontal: vertical ratio) of the image display area of the liquid crystal panel in the image projection unit 164 is 16: 9 and the aspect ratio of the source image is 4: 3, the image 300 displays the source image. An unused area 320 is included at the left and right external positions of the source image display area 310 to be processed. In the normal projection state, the unused area 320 is displayed in black.

  Based on the operation information from the input unit 110, the determination unit 120 determines whether there is a playback interruption instruction (for example, playback pause of the DVD player 170) (step S2). Further, the determination unit 120 determines whether there is an end instruction (for example, power off of the projector 100) based on the operation information from the input unit 110 (step S3). If there is an end instruction, the projector 100 ends the process. When there is no interruption instruction or end instruction, the projector 100 continues the normal projection state.

  When a reproduction interruption instruction is given, the projector 100 transitions to an illumination transition state that is a state before transition from the normal projection state to the illumination state. In this case, the unused area grasping unit 130 grasps an unused area based on the aspect ratio of the source image and the aspect ratio of the image display area of the liquid crystal panel (step S4). For example, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the unused area grasping unit 130 can grasp 12.5% of the left and right edges of the image 300 as the unused area 320.

  The control unit 150 stores the luminance value (brightness value) of the unused area grasped by the unused area grasping unit 130 in the storage unit 140 (Step S5). Note that, as the brightness value, for example, an image signal value, a luminance value, a control value of the light source of the image projection unit 164, and the like are applicable. Here, a luminance value is used as the brightness value. For example, if the unused area 320 is black, the luminance value is zero.

  And the control part 150 adjusts the brightness of the unused area | region 320 so that the unused area | region 320 may become the brightest (step S6). For example, the control unit 150 controls the image generation unit 162 to set the luminance value of the unused area 320 to 255, that is, white.

  The image generation unit 162 generates an image with the brightness value of the unused area 320 adjusted, and the image projection unit 164 projects the image (step S7). As a result, the projector 100 transitions from the illumination transition state to the illumination state. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image 301 in an illumination state according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the image 301 in the illumination state, the unused area 320 is displayed in white, and even though the source image display area 310 is an image having a low luminance, the unused area 320 has a high luminance. The image 301 functions as illumination.

  Based on the operation information from the input unit 110, the determination unit 120 determines whether there is a restart instruction indicating a DVD playback instruction (step S8). Further, the determination unit 120 determines whether there is an end instruction (for example, power off of the projector 100) based on the operation information from the input unit 110 (step S9). If there is an end instruction, the projector 100 ends the process. When there is no restart instruction or end instruction, projector 100 continues the illumination state.

  When a restart instruction is given, the projector 100 transitions from the illumination state to the normal projection state. In this case, the control unit 150 refers to the luminance value of the unused area 320 stored in the storage unit 140 and controls the image generation unit 162 so that the original luminance value is obtained, whereby the luminance of the unused area 320 is determined. The value is set to the original value (step S10).

  Then, the image generation unit 162 generates the image 300 including the source image display area 310 based on the image information from the DVD player 170, and the image projection unit 164 projects the image 300 (step S1).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 projects the image 301 including the source image display area 310 when the DVD playback is interrupted, thereby allowing the user to confirm the image from the DVD player 170 at the time of stop. be able to. Further, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can project the image 301 serving as illumination by brightening the unused area 320 when the illumination transition state is entered.

  Accordingly, the user can easily work even in a dark room state, and can smoothly enjoy watching a movie after resuming image projection.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can project an image 301 that serves as illumination in accordance with a user instruction. Further, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can grasp the unused area 320 according to the difference between the aspect ratio of the image and the aspect ratio of the image display area.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 allows the user to view the image without giving a sense of incongruity by returning the brightness value of the unused area 320 to the original value when returning to the normal projection state. be able to.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the ratio of the unused area 320 to the entire image is 25%, but in the second embodiment, the ratio of the unused area 320 to the entire image is too small (for example, 10 The case of less than% is explained.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image 302 in a normal projection state according to the second embodiment. For example, when the aspect ratio of the image display area of the liquid crystal panel is 4: 3 and the aspect ratio of the image is 4: 3, the unused area 320 hardly exists. In the example shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the source image display area 310 is slightly reduced by the image enlargement / reduction function (electronic tele-wide function) of the projector 100.

  When the image generation unit 162 enters the lighting transition state in such a state, the image generation unit 162 further reduces the source image display area 310 using the image enlargement / reduction function. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image 303 in an illumination state according to the second embodiment.

  Specifically, for example, the unused area grasping unit 130 determines whether the ratio of the unused area 320 in the entire image is less than a predetermined value, and the control unit 150 determines that the source The image generation unit 162 is controlled to reduce the image display area 310. In addition, the ratio of the unused area | region 320 to the whole image may be calculated | required by 1-panel usage rate x image expansion / contraction rate, for example. For example, when the aspect ratio of the image display area of the liquid crystal panel is 4: 3 and the aspect ratio of the source image is 16: 9, the panel usage rate is 0.75, and the image enlargement / reduction ratio is 0.9. The ratio is 0.325 (32.5%).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 increases the brightness of the entire image by increasing the ratio of the unused area 320 when the ratio of the unused area 320 is too small. An image 303 that plays the role of can be projected.

(Other examples)
In addition, application of this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, the unused area grasping unit 130 may grasp the unused area 320 based not only on the aspect ratio and the enlargement / reduction ratio of the source image but also on the display position of the source image.

  In addition, the projector 100 includes the DVD player 170, but the DVD player 170 may not be included. For example, the projector 100 may project an image based on image information from an external image supply device (eg, DVD player, HDD recorder, PC, etc.).

  In such a case, based on the image information from the image supply device, the determination unit 120 determines that the lighting transition state has occurred when the source image based on the image information has not changed for a certain time (for example, 1 minute). Also good. According to this, the projector 100 can project an image that serves as illumination according to the state of the source image.

  Further, the projector 100 may determine that the lighting transition state is entered not only when the reproduction is interrupted but also when the reproduction is stopped, and the unused area 320 may be brightened.

  Further, the projector 100 may be provided with an illuminance sensor or the like, and the brightness of the unused area 320 may be adjusted according to the illuminance. According to this, the projector 100 can adjust the brightness of the unused area 320 according to the brightness of the room. That is, the unused area 320 is not necessarily adjusted to the highest brightness.

  Further, the projector 100 is not limited to a projector using a liquid crystal panel, and may be a projector using a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), for example. DMD is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.

It is a functional block diagram of the projector in a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the case of changing into the normal projection state in the 1st Example, an illumination state, and a normal projection state. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of the normal projection state in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of the illumination state in 1st Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of the normal projection state in a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of the illumination state in a 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

  100 projector, 110 input unit, 120 determination unit, 130 unused area grasping unit, 140 storage unit, 150 control unit, 160 projection unit, 162 image generation unit, 164 image projection unit, 200 information storage medium, 300-303 image, 310 Source image display area, 320 unused area

Claims (8)

A projection unit that projects an image including a source image display area based on image information and an unused area other than the source image display area;
A determination unit that determines whether or not an illumination transition state in which a transition from the normal projection state to the illumination state has occurred;
A control unit that controls the projection unit to increase the brightness value of the unused area when the illumination transition state is reached;
Including a projector. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
Including an input part for inputting user operation information,
The determination unit determines that the lighting transition state has been reached when the operation information is information for instructing to stop or stop displaying a source image based on the image information. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
The determination unit determines, based on the image information, that the illumination transition state has been reached when a source image based on the image information has not changed for a predetermined time or more. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A projector comprising: an unused area grasping unit for grasping the unused area based on an aspect ratio of a source image based on the image information and an aspect ratio of an image display area in the projection unit. The projector according to claim 4, wherein
The unused area grasping unit determines whether the ratio of the unused area in the entire image is less than a predetermined value,
The control unit controls the projection unit to reduce the source image display area when the ratio is less than a predetermined value. In the projector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The control unit stores the brightness value of the unused area in the normal projection state when the illumination transition state is entered, and the unused area is changed to the normal projection state when returning from the illumination state to the normal projection state. A projector that controls the projection unit to project at a brightness value. A program readable by a computer of a projector including a projection unit that projects an image including a source image display area based on image information and an unused area other than the source image display area,
Computer
A determination unit that determines whether or not an illumination transition state in which a transition from the normal projection state to the illumination state has occurred;
A program that functions as a control unit that controls the projection unit to increase the brightness value of the unused area when the illumination transition state is entered. An information storage medium storing a computer-readable program of a projector including a projection unit that projects an image including a source image display area based on image information and an unused area other than the source image display area,
An information storage medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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