JP2008187362A - Projector and projected image adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector capable of determining the position of a projected image by own equipment when a plurality of projectors project images, and performing processing according to the position. <P>SOLUTION: A projector 100 comprises a projection portion 190, an imaging portion 110, a determination portion 120, and a processing portion 150. The projection portion 190 projects a calibration image. The imaging portion 110 photographs a region including at least a part of the calibration image projected by the projection portion 190 and at least a part of a calibration image projected by at least one set of other projectors to generate an imaging information. The determination portion 120 determines a position of the calibration image projected by the projection portion 190 in the whole projected image by each projector. The processing portion 150 performs processing according to the position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector and a projected image adjustment method using a plurality of projectors.

  As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-50255, there is a case where one image is projected using a plurality of projectors. In such a case, conventionally, identification information is manually set for each projector according to the position of each projector, an image is assigned according to the identification information, or the identification information is specified with a remote controller to set the projector environment. And so on.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-50255 describes calculating the average luminance in the projected image of each projector and adjusting the light amount of the light source of each projector so as to eliminate the difference from the average luminance.
JP 2006-50255 A

  However, manually setting the identification information for each projector is a laborious operation. Further, in a state where the light source of the projector is deteriorated, a sufficient amount of light cannot be obtained even if the light amount of the light source of each projector is increased so as to eliminate the difference from the average luminance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector and a projection image adjustment method capable of determining the position of a projection image of the apparatus itself and executing processing corresponding to the position when projecting images with a plurality of projectors. It is in.

  In order to solve the above problems, a projector according to the present invention includes a projection unit that projects a calibration image in a projector that projects an image onto a projection target area in cooperation with at least one other projector, and the projection unit. An imaging unit that generates imaging information by imaging an area including at least a part of the calibration image projected by the at least one calibration image projected by at least one other projector; A determination unit that determines a position of the calibration image projected by the projection unit in an entire projection image by each projector based on imaging information; and a processing unit that executes a process according to the position. And

  The projection image adjustment method according to the present invention is a projection image adjustment for projecting an image to a projection target area in cooperation by a plurality of projectors having a projection unit, an imaging unit, a determination unit, and a processing unit. In the method, the projection unit projects a calibration image, and the imaging unit projects at least a part of the calibration image projected by the projection unit and a calibration projected by at least one other projector. An image including at least a part of the image is imaged to generate imaging information, and the determination unit is configured to position the calibration image projected by the projection unit in the entire projection image by each projector based on the imaging information. The processing unit executes processing according to the position.

  According to the present invention, when an image is projected by a plurality of projectors, the projector can determine the position of its own projected image based on the imaging information, and can execute processing according to the position.

  The processing unit may include an identification information setting unit that sets identification information for distinguishing from other projectors according to the position.

  According to this, since the projector can automatically set the identification information according to the position, it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user when projecting an image using a plurality of projectors.

  The processing unit includes an image generation unit, the determination unit determines a display charge area in the entire projection image based on the position, and the image generation unit generates an image of the display charge area. The projection unit may project the image.

  According to this, the projector can project an image in the display charge area according to the position. Thereby, a plurality of projectors can share and project one image.

  The projector includes a storage unit that stores arrangement data indicating the number of projectors in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, and the determination unit determines the position based on the imaging information and the arrangement data. You may judge.

  According to this, the projector can determine the position more accurately by using the arrangement data.

  Further, the projection unit may project an image different from the calibration image of another projector as the calibration image.

  According to this, the projector can easily determine whether the calibration image is projected by the own apparatus according to the difference in the calibration image in the captured image, and can determine the position more accurately.

  The projector includes an adjustment unit that adjusts the brightness of the image, the projection unit projects the same image as a calibration image of another projector as the calibration image, and the determination unit includes: The brightness of each projected image by each projector may be determined based on the imaging information, and the adjustment unit may adjust the brightness of the image on the basis of the brightness of the darkest image in each projected image.

  According to this, the projector can match the brightness of the image with the brightness of the projected image by the other projector, and can project an appropriate image in cooperation with the other projector.

  The determination unit may determine a difference in color of each projection image by each projector based on the imaging information, and the adjustment unit may adjust the color of the image according to the difference.

  According to this, the projector can match the color of the image with the color of the image projected by another projector, and can project an appropriate image in cooperation with the other projector.

  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)
First, as a first embodiment, a case in which one image is shared and projected using two projectors will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a projection state of the projector 100 during calibration in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 100-1 projects a calibration image 310-1 on the left half of the image 300, and the projector 100-2 arranged on the right of the projector 100-1 projects the right half of the image 300. The calibration image 310-2 is projected onto the screen. In this embodiment, the projector 100 has a function of capturing an area slightly larger than the calibration image 310 projected by the own apparatus, determines the position of the projected image of the own apparatus based on the imaging information, and sets the position to the position. It has a function of executing a corresponding process (for example, setting of identification information, generation of an image according to a position, etc.).

  Next, functional blocks of projector 100 having such a function will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the projector 100 in the first embodiment.

  Projector 100 is projected by projection unit 190 that projects calibration image 310 and the like, at least a part of calibration image 310-1 projected by projection unit 190, and at least one other projector 100-2. An imaging unit 110 that captures an area including at least a part of the calibration image 310-2 to generate imaging information 143, and a projection unit 190 in the entire projection image (image 300) by each projector 100 based on the imaging information 143. The determination unit 120 that determines the position of the calibration image 310-1 projected by the above and the processing unit 150 that executes processing according to the position are configured.

  The processing unit 150 includes an identification information setting unit 152 that sets the identification information 144 and an image generation unit 154 that generates an image such as the calibration image 310.

  In addition, the projector 100 includes an input unit 160 that inputs user operation information from a remote controller (remote controller) and the like, an information input / output unit 180 that inputs and outputs luminance information 145, color information 146, and the like, and an image that inputs image information. The information input unit 170 includes a storage unit 140 that stores various data, and an adjustment unit 130 that adjusts the color, brightness, and the like of the image 300.

  The storage unit 140 also includes calibration image data 141 for generating the calibration image 310, arrangement data 142 indicating the arrangement of the projector 100, imaging information 143, identification information 144 for identifying each projector 100, and luminance information. 145, color information 146 and the like are stored.

  Note that, for example, the following may be employed as hardware for implementing the functions of these units. For example, the input unit 160 is an infrared communication interface, the determination unit 120, the adjustment unit 130, the identification information setting unit 152 is a CPU, the input unit 110 is a CCD camera, and the image information input unit 170 is an image input terminal. The information input / output unit 180 may be a USB interface, the storage unit 140 may be a RAM, the image generation unit 154 may be an image processing circuit, the projection unit 190 may be a lamp, a liquid crystal panel, a lens, or the like. .

  Next, a projection adjustment procedure using these units will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a projection adjustment procedure in the first embodiment.

  First, the user installs each projector 100 so that the projection image of each projector 100 is in contact, and operates the remote controller to set the number of projectors 100 in the vertical direction and the number of projectors 100 in the horizontal direction. The input unit 160 inputs the operation information, and the determination unit 120 sets the arrangement data 142 based on the operation information (step S1). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the number of projectors 100 in the vertical direction is 1, and the number of projectors 100 in the horizontal direction is 2.

  The image generation unit 154 generates a calibration image 310 of all white (the whole image is white) based on the calibration image data 141, and the projection unit 190 projects the calibration image 310 on a screen or the like (step S2). .

  The imaging unit 110 captures an area including the calibration image 310 projected on a screen or the like (step S3), and stores the imaging information 143 in the storage unit 140.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a captured image 400 in the first embodiment. For example, when the projector 100-1 captures an image in the state shown in FIG. 1, the captured image 400 includes a part of the calibration image 310-2 on the right side of the calibration image 310-1 projected by the own apparatus. It is.

  The determination unit 120 determines the position of the calibration image 310-1 in the image 300 based on the imaging information 143 (step S4). For example, in the case of the captured image 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, a part of the calibration image 310-2 is included on the right side of the calibration image 310-1, and thus the determination unit 120 includes the calibration image 310-1 in the image 300. Can be determined to be on the left. Note that the determination unit 120 may also determine the position with reference to the arrangement data 142.

  The identification information setting unit 152 sets the identification information 144 according to the position determined by the determination unit 120 (step S5). For example, in the method of assigning a number (ID) to the projector 100 in order from the upper left in the arrangement of the projector 100 as the identification information, the number is 1 if the position is on the left.

  Further, the determination unit 120 determines a display charge area according to the position (step S6). For example, if the image 300 has 1280 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction, and the position is on the left, the display area is 1 to 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and 1 to 480 in the vertical direction. If it is a pixel and the position is on the right, the display area is 641 to 1280 pixels in the horizontal direction and 1 to 480 pixels in the vertical direction.

  Further, the adjustment unit 130 controls the image generation unit 154 to adjust the color and brightness based on the imaging information 143 (step S7). Specifically, for example, when the image generation unit 154 adjusts the color using a three-dimensional lookup table, the adjustment unit 130 updates the three-dimensional lookup table, and the image generation unit 154 When the brightness is adjusted using the lookup table, the adjustment unit 130 updates the one-dimensional lookup table.

  The adjustment unit 130 may adjust the color according to the color of one of the calibration images 310, but adjusts the brightness according to the brightness of the darker calibration image 310. It is preferable. Even when the projector 100 is dark due to deterioration of the light source or the like, the projector 100 maintains the brightness, and another projector 100 having the brightness adjustment capability adjusts the brightness. This is because the entire image 300 can be displayed with the same brightness.

  With the above procedure, the image information input unit 170 inputs image information (for example, RGB signals) from a PC (Personal Computer) or the like in a state where the color and brightness of each calibration image 310 are aligned (Step S8). ). Based on the image information, the image generation unit 154 generates an image of the display charge area determined by the determination unit 120, and the projection unit 190 projects the image (step S9).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a projection state of the projector 100 after calibration in the first embodiment. Each projector 100 projects the images 301-1 and 301-2 by the above procedure, so that the image 301 whose brightness and color are adjusted can be displayed.

  The projector 100 determines whether or not there is an end instruction based on the operation information from the input unit 160 (step S10), and ends the process if there is an end instruction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the image 301 is projected by the plurality of projectors 100, the projector 100 determines the position of the projected image of the own apparatus based on the imaging information, and according to the position. Processing can be executed.

  For example, since the projector 100 can automatically set the identification information 144 according to the position, it is possible to reduce the user's trouble when projecting an image using the plurality of projectors 100. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the number 1 is automatically assigned to the left projector 100-1 and the number 2 is automatically assigned to the right projector 100-2, so that the user does not need to manually assign a number. In addition, this allows the user to individually set the environment of the desired projector 100 by operating the remote controller or the like to specify the number.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the determination unit 120 can determine the display charge area according to the position, the projector 100 can project the display charge area image 301 according to the position. As a result, a plurality of projectors 100 can project and share one image 301.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can match the color and brightness of the image 301 with the color and brightness of the image 301 by the other projector 100, so that the image 301 cooperates with the other projector 100. It is possible to project an appropriate image 301 in which the color and brightness of the image does not change significantly at the boundary portion of the image 301.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 can match the color and brightness of the image 301 with the color and brightness of the image 301 by the other projectors 100. Color unevenness can also be adjusted.

(Second embodiment)
Next, as a second embodiment, a case will be described in which one image is shared and projected using nine projectors 100. In the second embodiment, the projector 100 uses a calibration image for position determination and a calibration image for adjustment as the calibration image 310. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a projection state of the projector 100 in the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, nine projectors 100-1 to 100-9, three in the vertical direction and three in the horizontal direction, each share an area and project one image 302. Since the configuration of the projector 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a projection adjustment procedure in the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a projection adjustment procedure in the second embodiment.

  First, the user installs the projector 100 so that the projection images of the projectors 100 touch each other, and operates the remote controller to set the number of projectors 100 in the vertical direction and the number of projectors 100 in the horizontal direction. The input unit 160 inputs the operation information, and the determination unit 120 sets the arrangement data 142 based on the operation information (step S11). For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the number of projectors 100 in the vertical direction is 3, and the number of projectors 100 in the horizontal direction is 3.

  The image generation unit 154 generates a position determination calibration image based on the calibration image data 141, and the projection unit 190 projects the position determination calibration image onto a screen or the like (step S12). In the present embodiment, the position determination calibration image is an image that differs for each projector 100 (for example, an image having a different color, pattern, shape, or the like).

  The imaging unit 110 captures an area including the position determination calibration image projected on the screen or the like (step S13), and stores the imaging information 143 in the storage unit 140.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a captured image 401 at the time of projecting a position determination calibration image in the second embodiment. For example, in the state shown in FIG. 6, when the projector 100-1 arranged at the upper left picks up an image, the picked-up image 401 is displayed at the center on the right side of the position determination calibration image 312-1 projected by the own device. A part of the position determination calibration image 312-2 projected by the projector 100-2 disposed in the projector 100-2 is included, and the projector 100- disposed in the middle at the lower right of the position determination calibration image 312-1. 5 includes a part of the position determination calibration image 312-5 projected by the projector 5, and the position determination projected by the projector 100-4 disposed at the center left below the position determination calibration image 312-1. A part of the calibration image for image 312-4 is included.

  The determination unit 120 determines the position of the position determination calibration image 312-1 in the image 302 based on the imaging information 143 and the arrangement data 142 (step S14). For example, in the case of only the captured image 401 shown in FIG. 8, the projector 100-1 is only found to be at the upper left, and is the projector 100-1 at the upper left arranged in two vertical directions and two horizontal directions. It is not possible to determine whether the projector 100-1 is located in the upper left and is arranged in three vertical directions and two horizontal directions. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 120 can accurately determine the position of the projector 100 configured by up to three units in the vertical and horizontal directions by using the arrangement data 142.

  The identification information setting unit 152 sets the identification information 144 according to the position determined by the determination unit 120 (step S15). Further, the determination unit 120 determines a display charge area according to the position (step S16).

  Next, the image generation unit 154 generates an adjustment calibration image based on the calibration image data 141, and the projection unit 190 projects the adjustment calibration image on a screen or the like (step S17). Note that the adjustment calibration image is an image common to all the projectors 100, and may be an all-white image, for example.

  The imaging unit 110 captures an area including the calibration image for adjustment projected on a screen or the like (step S18), and stores the imaging information 143 in the storage unit 140.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a captured image 402 at the time of projecting the calibration image for adjustment in the second embodiment. Based on the imaging information 143, the adjustment unit 130 recognizes the color difference in the captured image 402, adjusts the color (step S19), and adjusts the brightness according to the brightness of the darkest calibration image 314. (Step S20). Since the adjustment method is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Note that the processing in steps S17 to S20 may be executed by the projector 100-5 that has been determined to be in the middle in step S14. That is, in the case of the projector 100-5 arranged in the middle, the captured image 402 includes all the calibration images for adjustment 314 projected by all the projectors 100-1 to 100-9, so that it is efficient. Can be adjusted.

  Further, when each projector 100 executes the processing of steps S17 to S20, the information input / output unit 180 uses the brightness information 145 and the color information 146 of the calibration image 314 for the own apparatus in the captured image 402 as the other projectors 100. The brightness information 145 and color information 146 of the projector 100 are input from the other projector 100, and all the brightness information 145 and color information 146 are stored in the storage unit 140. It is also possible to adjust the brightness.

  With the above procedure, the image information input unit 170 inputs image information from a PC or the like in a state where the color and brightness of the image are aligned (step S21), and the image generation unit 154 determines the determination unit based on the image information. An image of the display charge area determined by 120 is generated, and the projection unit 190 projects the image (step S22). The projector 100 determines whether or not there is an end instruction (step S23), and ends the process when there is an end instruction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the image 301 is projected by the nine projectors 100, the projector 100 accurately determines the position of the projected image of the own apparatus based on the imaging information and the arrangement data 142. In addition, processing corresponding to the position can be executed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the projector 100 projects the position determination calibration image 312 having a different pattern or the like according to the difference in the position determination calibration image 312 in the captured image 401. It is easy to determine whether or not the image is a position determination calibration image 312, and the position can be determined more accurately.

  Further, according to this embodiment, for example, when images are projected by nine projectors 100, the middle projector 100-5 mainly adjusts the color and brightness of the image, thereby more efficiently. The color and brightness of the image can be adjusted.

(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 projector 100 may repeatedly execute the above-described imaging, color adjustment, and brightness adjustment (steps S18 to S20). According to this, even if the number of projectors 100 to be adjusted is large, it is possible to adjust more accurately.

  Note that the projector 100 does not need to perform color adjustment when there is almost no color difference between the calibration images 310 in the captured image 401, and there is a brightness difference between the calibration images 310 in the captured image 401. If there is almost no brightness adjustment, there is no need to adjust the brightness.

  Further, each projector 100 may input image information of only the display charge area instead of the entire image. Further, each projector 100 may project an image in cooperation, and it is not always necessary to input image information from the same image supply device (for example, a PC, a DVD player, etc.). Further, since each projector 100 grasps the display charge area, it is possible to enlarge / reduce the image.

  Moreover, the projection image by each projector 100 is not limited to the state of contact, and may be separated as long as they enter the imaging range, or may partially overlap. In addition, the image generation unit 154 indicates a position confirmation image (for example, an image indicating a position such as “upper left” or identification information such as “1”) for allowing the user to confirm the position according to the determined position. Image), and the projection unit 190 may project the image. According to this, the user can check whether the position determined by the projector 100 is compatible with the one intended by the user.

  Further, the imaging unit 110 does not necessarily have to capture the entire calibration image 310 projected by the projection unit 190, and may capture a part thereof. This is because the determination unit 120 can determine that the calibration image 310 having the largest area in the captured image is an image projected by the projection unit 190 of the own apparatus.

  As the projector 100, for example, a liquid crystal projector, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) projector, a projector using a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), or the like may be used. DMD is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.

It is a figure which shows the projection state of the projector at the time of the calibration in a 1st Example. It is a functional block diagram of the projector in a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the projection adjustment procedure in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the captured image in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the projection state of the projector after the calibration in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the projection state of the projector in a 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the projection adjustment procedure in a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the captured image at the time of the calibration image for position determination in 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the captured image at the time of the calibration image for adjustment in a 2nd Example being projected.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Projector, 110 Image pick-up part, 120 Judgment part, 130 Adjustment part, 140 Storage part, 141 Calibration image data, 142 Arrangement data, 143 Image pick-up information, 144 Identification information, 145 Luminance information, 146 Color information, 150 Processing part, 152 Identification information setting unit, 154 image generation unit, 160 input unit, 170 image information input unit, 180 information input / output unit, 190 projection unit, 300-302 image, 310 calibration image, 312 position determination calibration image, 314 adjustment Calibration image, 400-402 captured image

Claims (8)

In a projector that projects an image toward a projection target area in cooperation with at least one other projector,
A projection unit for projecting a calibration image;
An imaging unit that captures an area including at least a part of the calibration image projected by the projection unit and at least a part of the calibration image projected by at least one other projector to generate imaging information When,
A determination unit that determines the position of the calibration image projected by the projection unit in the entire projection image by each projector based on the imaging information;
A processing unit that executes processing according to the position;
Including a projector. The projector according to claim 1, wherein
The projector includes an identification information setting unit that sets identification information for distinguishing from another projector according to the position. The projector according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
The processing unit includes an image generation unit,
The determination unit determines a display charge area in the entire projection image based on the position,
The image generation unit generates an image of the display charge area,
The projector is characterized in that the projection unit projects the image. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A storage unit that stores arrangement data indicating the number of projectors in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction;
The determination unit determines the position based on the imaging information and the arrangement data. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The projector, wherein the projection unit projects an image different from a calibration image of another projector as the calibration image. In the projector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An adjustment unit for adjusting the brightness of the image;
The projection unit projects the same image as the calibration image of another projector as the calibration image,
The determination unit determines the brightness of each projection image by each projector based on the imaging information,
The projector is characterized in that the adjustment unit adjusts the brightness of the image based on the brightness of the darkest image in each projection image. The projector according to claim 6, wherein
The determination unit determines a difference in color of each projection image by each projector based on the imaging information,
The projector, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the color of the image according to the difference. In a projection image adjustment method for projecting an image toward a projection target area in cooperation with a plurality of projectors having a projection unit, an imaging unit, a determination unit, and a processing unit,
The projection unit projects a calibration image,
The imaging unit captures imaging information by imaging an area including at least a part of the calibration image projected by the projection unit and at least a part of the calibration image projected by at least one other projector. Produces
The determination unit determines the position of the calibration image projected by the projection unit in the entire projection image by each projector based on the imaging information,
The projected image adjustment method, wherein the processing unit executes a process according to the position.

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