JP2009063959A - Projector and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector restraining a light source from being inadvertently lit due to operation by an infant or the like, and also to provide its control method. <P>SOLUTION: In the projector 1, input operation to a power supply key is made ineffective temporarily when an operation key other than the power supply key is operated by a predetermined number of times (three times in this embodiment) for a predetermined time (ten seconds in this embodiment) in a standby state. To put it concretely, a flag (power supply turn-on flag) showing whether the input operation to the power supply key is effective or ineffective is stored in a storage part 21. A control part 20 sets the power supply turn-on flag to "ineffective", whereby the projector 1 is set to a power supply turn-on ineffective state where it is not shifted to a power supply turn-on state even when ordinary on-operation (input operation to the power supply key) is performed. In such a state, a user can shift the projector 1 to the power supply turn-on state by performing ineffective state releasing operation where a help key and the power supply key are operated (depressed) simultaneously. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source and a control method therefor.

If a projector that modulates the light emitted from a light source such as an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp and projects it from a projection lens onto a screen or the like is used at home, if the projector is left in a position where it can be reached by an infant, May accidentally turn on the power, turn on the light source, and look into the projected light. If you look directly into the projection light of the projector, you may feel intense glare and temporarily lose visual acuity.
Patent Document 1 proposes a battery-driven small video projector in which a power switch is turned on by performing an operation of extending a projection lens so that the light source does not turn on carelessly.

JP-A-6-186522

However, the video projector described in Patent Document 1 is effective in preventing the power switch from being turned on inadvertently while being stored in a bag or the like, but the operation of extending the projection lens is easy for an infant. Therefore, it is not effective for preventing an infant from looking into the projection light.
In addition, there is a projector having an openable lens cover on the front surface of the projection lens, but there is a risk that the lens cover may be forgotten to be closed or an infant may open the lens cover.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A projector according to this application example is a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source, and includes a power key for shifting the projector from a power-off state to a power-on state. An input operation unit that receives an input operation on the plurality of operation keys, and the projector when the input operation is performed on the power key while the projector is turned off. A control unit that turns on the light source by shifting to a power-on state, and the control unit performs an input operation on the operation keys other than the power key when the projector is in a power-off state. In this case, the input operation to the power key is temporarily invalidated.

  According to this projector, when an operation key other than the power key is input while the power is off, the plurality of operation keys provided in the input operation unit are randomly operated to invalidate the input operation to the power key. Even if the power key is accidentally operated during the operation, the projector will not shift to the power-on state. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the light source from being inadvertently turned on by an operation of an infant or the like.

  Application Example 2 In the projector according to the application example described above, the control unit performs a predetermined number of input operations within a predetermined time with respect to the operation keys other than the power key when the projector is in a power-off state. In this case, it is desirable to temporarily disable the input operation for the power key.

  According to this projector, when an input operation is performed a predetermined number of times with respect to operation keys other than the power key within a predetermined time, an authorized user mistakenly selects other than the power key to invalidate the input operation to the power key. Even if the operation key is operated, the power key is prevented from being invalidated, and convenience is improved.

  Application Example 3 In the projector according to the application example described above, it is preferable that the projector further includes a notification unit that notifies that the input operation to the power key is invalid when the input operation to the power key is invalid.

  According to this projector, since the notification unit that notifies that the input operation to the power key is invalid is further provided, the user is confused by operating the power key without knowing that the power key is invalid. It becomes possible to avoid the situation.

  Application Example 4 In the projector according to the application example described above, when the input operation to the power key is invalid, the control unit turns on the projector when the plurality of operation keys are simultaneously input. You may make it transfer to a state.

  According to this projector, the control unit shifts to the power-on state when a plurality of operation keys are operated at the same time when the input operation to the power key is invalid. It is possible to suppress the shift to the power-on state.

  Application Example 5 In the projector according to the application example described above, when the input operation with respect to the power key is invalid, the control unit performs an input operation with respect to the power key when a plurality of the operation keys are simultaneously input. May be made valid from invalid.

  According to this projector, the control unit suppresses being inadvertently enabled by an operation of an infant or the like to enable an input operation to the power key when a plurality of operation keys are operated simultaneously. It becomes possible.

  Application Example 6 A projector control method according to this application example is a projector control method that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source. The projector is in a power-on state when the projector is in a power-off state. An input operation accepting step for accepting an input operation on a plurality of operation keys including a power key for shifting, and a power on invalid state judging step for judging whether or not the input operation on the power key is an invalid power on invalid state And determining whether the input operation received in the input operation receiving step is an input operation to the power key when it is determined that the power-on invalid state is not in the power-on invalid state determining step. A power-on disable step for shifting to the power-on disable state when an operation key other than the power key is input. When it is determined that the power-on invalid state is determined in the power-on invalid state determining step, it is determined whether a plurality of the operation keys are simultaneously input in the input operation receiving step, and the plurality of the operation keys are determined. A power-on invalid state releasing step for canceling the power-on invalid state when input operations are performed simultaneously, and a notifying step for notifying that the input operation to the power key is invalid in the power-on invalid state. It is characterized by having.

  According to this projector control method, when an operation key other than the power key is input while the power is off, a plurality of operation keys provided in the input operation unit are not provided in order to invalidate the input operation to the power key. Even if the power key is accidentally operated during the operation, the projector will not shift to the power-on state. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the light source from being inadvertently turned on by an operation of an infant or the like. In addition, when a plurality of operation keys are operated at the same time in the power-on invalid state where the input operation to the power key is invalid, the power-on invalid state is canceled, so that it may be inadvertently canceled by an operation of an infant or the like. It becomes possible to suppress. Furthermore, in order to notify that the input operation to the power key is invalid in the power-on invalid state, the situation where the user operates the power key without knowing that the power key is invalid is avoided. Is possible.

  Further, in the case where the above-described projector and its control method are constructed using a computer (CPU) provided in the projector, the form and the application example described above are a program for realizing the function, or the program. It is also possible to configure in the form of a recording medium or the like that is recorded so as to be readable by the computer. As recording media, flexible disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punch cards, printed matter on which codes such as barcodes are printed, projector internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM), Various media that can be read by the computer, such as an external storage device, can be used.

  Hereinafter, a projector that projects an image (input image) based on input image information and displays the input image on a screen, a wall surface, or the like will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a projector according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 1 includes an image projection unit 10, a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, an operation panel 22, a remote control 23, an operation signal reception unit 24, an input terminal group 25, an input source selection unit 26, image processing. A unit 27, a power circuit 28, a light source control unit 29, an LED display unit 30, and the like.

  The image projection unit 10 includes a light source 11, three liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B as light modulation devices, a projection lens 13 as a projection optical system, a light valve drive unit 14, and the like. The image projection unit 10 corresponds to a display unit, and modulates the light emitted from the light source 11 with the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B to form image light. By projecting, an image is displayed on the screen SC or the like.

  The light source 11 includes a discharge-type light source lamp 11a made of an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like, and a reflector 11b that reflects light emitted from the light source lamp 11a toward the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B. ing. Light emitted from the light source 11 is converted into light having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by an integrator optical system (not shown), and red (R), green (G), and blue, which are the three primary colors of light, by a color separation optical system (not shown). After being separated into each color light component of (B), it enters the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, respectively.

  The liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are configured by a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of transparent substrates. The liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are formed with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a driving voltage can be applied to the liquid crystal for each pixel. When the light valve driving unit 14 applies a driving voltage corresponding to the input image information to each pixel, each pixel is set to a light transmittance corresponding to the image information. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 11 is modulated by passing through the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, and image light corresponding to image information is formed for each color light. The formed image light of each color is synthesized for each pixel by a color synthesis optical system (not shown) to become image light representing a color image, and then enlarged and projected onto the screen SC or the like by the projection lens 13.

  The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) used for temporary storage of various data, and the like, and operates according to a control program stored in the storage unit 21 to operate the projector 1. Centrally control the operation. That is, the control unit 20 functions as a computer together with the storage unit 21. Further, the control unit 20 is provided with a timer 20a as a time measuring unit for measuring time.

  The storage unit 21 includes a non-volatile memory such as a mask ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, or an FeRAM (Ferroelectric RAM). The storage unit 21 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the projector 1, various setting data for defining operation conditions of the projector 1, and the like.

  The operation panel 22 and the remote controller 23 correspond to an input operation unit that receives an input operation from the user, and include a plurality of operation keys for the user to give various instructions to the projector 1. The operation keys provided on the operation panel 22 and the remote controller 23 include a “power key” for switching power on / off, a “menu key” for displaying a setting menu for performing various settings, selection of an item in the setting menu, and the like. "Cursor key" used for, "decision key" to determine the item selected in the setting menu, "cancel key" to cancel the operation, etc., to switch the input source (image information supply source) “Input source switching key”, “help key” for displaying a help screen for explaining an operation method and the like. When the user operates various operation keys on the operation panel 22, the operation panel 22 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation content of the user to the control unit 20. When the user operates various operation keys of the remote controller 23, the remote controller 23 emits an infrared operation signal corresponding to the user's operation content, and the operation signal receiving unit 24 receives this and transmits it to the control unit 20.

  The input terminal group 25 includes a plurality of input terminals 25a capable of inputting various types of image information from an external image output device (not shown) such as a video reproduction device or a personal computer. The image information input to each input terminal 25a is output to the input source selection unit 26.

  The input source selection unit 26 selects one input terminal 25 a based on an instruction from the control unit 20 among the plurality of input terminals 25 a, and outputs image information input to the input terminal 25 a to the image processing unit 27. When the user operates the input source switching key provided on the remote controller 23 to designate a desired input terminal 25a, the control unit 20 outputs the image information input to the input terminal 25a to the image processing unit 27. The input source selection unit 26 is instructed.

  The image processing unit 27 uses various types of image information input from the input source selection unit 26 as image information representing the gradation of each pixel of the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, that is, a drive voltage applied to each pixel. Convert to image information for prescription. Further, on the basis of an instruction from the control unit 20, image quality adjustment processing for adjusting brightness, contrast, sharpness, hue, and the like on the converted image information, and for superimposing a setting menu on the input image Performs OSD (On Screen Display) processing. Image information that has undergone image quality adjustment and the like in the image processing unit 27 is output to the light valve driving unit 14.

  When the light valve driving unit 14 drives the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B according to the image information input from the image processing unit 27, the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B form image light corresponding to the image information. The image light is projected from the projection lens 13 onto the screen SC.

  The power supply circuit 28 is supplied with commercial power such as AC 100V from the outside. The power supply circuit 28 converts a commercial power supply (AC power supply) into a DC power supply having a predetermined voltage and supplies power to each unit of the projector 1. The control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 28 to operate between receiving and stopping power supply from the power supply circuit 28 to switch between supply and stop of power (operating power) necessary for image projection. be able to.

  The light source control unit 29 controls the supply and stop of power to the light source 11 based on an instruction from the control unit 20, and switches between turning on and off the light source 11.

  The LED display unit 30 is an indicator (notification unit) composed of one or a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes), and switches the display state based on an instruction from the control unit 20 to allow the user to operate the projector 1 in an operating state ( Power on state, standby state, etc.). The LED display unit 30 can represent a large number of operating states by appropriately switching the display state, that is, lighting, blinking, extinguishing, emission color, and the like.

Next, the operation of the projector 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
When commercial power is supplied to the projector 1, the power supply circuit 28 supplies power (standby power) to the control unit 20, the storage unit 21, the operation panel 22, the operation signal reception unit 24, and the LED display unit 30 to control the power supply. The unit 20 receives this power supply and starts an operation according to the control program. Immediately after the commercial power is supplied, the projector 1 is in a standby state (also referred to as a power-off state). In this state, the control unit 20 displays the LED display unit 30 in a predetermined color (in this embodiment, The input operation (ON operation) to the power key of the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23 is monitored. When detecting the ON operation, the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 28 to start supplying the operating power to turn on the projector 1, and instructs the light source control unit 29. Necessary initial operations such as turning on the light source 11 are performed. As a result, an image (input image) corresponding to the image information input from the image output apparatus is projected from the image projection unit 10.

  Further, in the projector 1 according to the present embodiment, in the standby state, the operation keys other than the power key are operated a predetermined number of times N (three times in the present embodiment) within a predetermined time T (in the present embodiment, 10 seconds). In such a case, the input operation for the power key is temporarily disabled. Specifically, the storage unit 21 stores a flag (power on flag) indicating whether the input operation to the power key is valid or invalid, and the control unit 20 sets the power on flag to “invalid”. As a result, the power-on invalid state that does not shift to the power-on state even when a normal on-operation (input operation to the power key) is performed is set. In this state, the user can shift the projector 1 to a power-on state by performing an invalidation canceling operation that simultaneously operates (presses) the help key and the power key.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of projector 1 in the standby state. When the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23 accepts an input operation to any of the operation keys in the standby state, the control unit 20 operates according to the flow shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in step S <b> 101, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the power-on invalid state, that is, whether or not the power-on flag stored in the storage unit 21 is set to “invalid”. to decide. As a result, when the power-on flag is set to “invalid”, the process proceeds to step S114, and when the power-on flag is set to “valid”, the process proceeds to step S102.

  When the power-on flag is set to “valid” and the process proceeds to step S102, the control unit 20 determines whether the input operation performed on the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23 is an operation on the power key (on operation). Judging. As a result, when an on operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S103, and when an input operation is performed on an operation key other than the power key, the process proceeds to step S106.

  When the process proceeds to step S103, the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 28 to start the supply of operating power to shift the projector 1 to the power-on state, and in the subsequent step S104, the control unit 20 Changes the display state of the LED display unit 30 to a state of lighting in green in order to notify the user that the projector 1 is in the on state. In step S105, the control unit 20 performs a necessary initial operation such as instructing the light source control unit 29 to turn on the light source 11, and ends the flow. As a result, an image (input image) corresponding to the image information input from the image output apparatus is projected from the image projection unit 10.

  Further, when an operation key other than the power key is operated in step S102 and the process proceeds to step S106, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the timer 20a is measuring time for measuring the predetermined time T. to decide. If the time is being measured, the process proceeds to step S109. If the time is not being measured, the process proceeds to step S107.

  If the timer 20a has not timed and the process proceeds to step S107, the control unit 20 starts timekeeping by the timer 20a in order to measure the predetermined time T. The timer 20a is configured to stop timing when a predetermined time T has elapsed from the start of timing. The storage unit 21 also includes a counter (not shown) for storing the number of times an operation key other than the power key is operated. In step S108, the control unit 20 clears the counter and sets the value. Set to 0.

  In step S109, the control unit 20 increments (+1) the value of the counter. In subsequent step S110, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the counter value has reached a predetermined value (predetermined number of times N). As a result, if the value of the counter has reached a predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S111. If the value has not reached the predetermined value, the flow is terminated at this point.

  When the process proceeds to step S111, the control unit 20 stops the timing by the timer 20a, and in the subsequent step S112, the control unit 20 sets the power-on flag to “invalid” to enter the power-on invalid state. Let In step S113, the control unit 20 changes the display state of the LED display unit 30 to a state of blinking orange in order to notify the user that the projector 1 is in the power-on invalid state, and ends the flow. To do.

  On the other hand, in step S101, when the process proceeds to step S114 because the power-on is invalid, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the input operation performed on the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23 is an invalidity canceling operation. To do. As a result, when the invalidation canceling operation is performed, that is, when the help key and the power key are simultaneously operated, the process proceeds to step S115, and when any other input operation is performed, any processing is performed. End the flow without

  When the invalidation canceling operation is performed and the process proceeds to step S115, the control unit 20 cancels the power on invalid state by setting the power on flag to “valid”. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S103, where the projector 1 is shifted to a power-on state, and in step S104, the display state of the LED display unit 30 is changed to a state where it is lit in green. In step S105, the control unit 20 performs a necessary initial operation such as instructing the light source control unit 29 to turn on the light source 11, and ends the flow. As a result, an image (input image) corresponding to the image information input from the image output apparatus is projected from the image projection unit 10.

  Since the control unit 20 operates according to the above flow every time any key operation is performed in the standby state, when an operation key other than the power key is operated a predetermined number N within a predetermined time T, the projector 1 Becomes a power-on invalid state, and a normal on-operation by the power key is invalidated. This power-on invalid state is a state in which only the invalidity canceling operation is accepted, and the user can cancel the power-on invalidating state and shift the projector 1 to the power-on state by performing this invalidation canceling operation. .

As described above, according to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, when the operation unit other than the power key is operated in the standby state, the control unit 20 invalidates the on operation for the power key, so that the operation panel 22 or the remote controller Even if the power key is accidentally operated while operating the plurality of operation keys provided in 23 at random, the projector 1 does not shift to the power-on state. For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress that the light source 11 is inadvertently turned on by an operation of an infant or the like.

  (2) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, when an input operation is performed a predetermined number of times N within a predetermined time T with respect to operation keys other than the power key, the on operation for the power key is invalidated. Even when a legitimate user accidentally operates an operation key other than the power key, the power key is prevented from being invalidated, and convenience is improved.

  (3) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, in the power-on invalid state, the LED display unit 30 notifies that the on-operation with respect to the power key is invalid. It is possible to avoid a situation where the user is confused by operating the power key without knowing.

  (4) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 20 is in the power-on state when a plurality of keys (help key and power key) in a predetermined combination are operated simultaneously in the power-on invalid state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an inadvertent transition to the power-on state due to an operation of an infant or the like.

(Modification)
The embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, when the invalidation canceling operation is performed in the power-on invalid state (step S114), the power-on invalid state is canceled (step S115) and the projector 1 is shifted to the power-on state (step S103). However, as shown in FIG. 3, after canceling the power-on invalid state (step S115), the flow may be ended in the standby state. In this case, in order to shift from the power-on invalid state to the power-on state, it is necessary to perform an invalidity canceling operation and then perform a normal on operation using the power key. Even in such a configuration, in order to cancel the power-on disabled state, it is necessary to operate a plurality of operation keys at the same time. Therefore, the power-on disabled state is canceled carelessly by an operation of an infant or the like. It becomes possible to suppress the situation.

  In the embodiment, the LED display unit 30 changes the display state at the timing when the power-on invalid state is entered, but the timing for notifying the user that the power-on invalid state is not limited thereto. For example, the display state may be changed at the timing when the power key is turned on in the power-on invalid state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the LED display unit 30 notifies the user that the power-on is disabled. However, other display means may notify the user, or the sound output means (not shown) may notify the user. You may make it alert | report by an audio | voice.

  In the embodiment, when the help key and the power key are operated at the same time in the power-on invalid state, the power-on invalid state is canceled. However, the combination of the operation keys for performing the invalidity canceling operation is described above. It is not limited to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmissive liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are used as the light modulator. However, it is also possible to use a reflective light modulator such as a reflective liquid crystal light valve. In addition, it is possible to use a micromirror array device that modulates light emitted from a light source by controlling the emission direction of incident light for each micromirror as a pixel.

  In the embodiment, the light source 11 is constituted by the discharge-type light source lamp 11a. However, a solid light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source or other light sources may be used.

  As described in the above embodiment, “invalidate input operation to the power key” in this specification means to invalidate the operation when the power key is operated alone (ON operation). If the power key is operated at the same time as another operation key (help key in the embodiment), the operation is not necessarily invalidated.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a projector according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a standby state of the projector according to the embodiment. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a standby state of a projector according to a modification.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Projector, 10 ... Image projection part, 11 ... Light source, 11a ... Light source lamp, 11b ... Reflector, 12R, 12G, 12B ... Liquid crystal light valve, 13 ... Projection lens, 14 ... Light valve drive part, 20 ... Control part, 20a ... timer, 21 ... storage unit, 22 ... operation panel, 23 ... remote control, 24 ... operation signal receiving unit, 25 ... input terminal group, 25a ... input terminal, 26 ... input source selection unit, 27 ... image processing unit, 28 ... power supply circuit, 29 ... light source control unit, 30 ... LED display unit, SC ... screen.

Claims (6)

A projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source,
An input operation unit having a plurality of operation keys including a power key for shifting the projector from a power-off state to a power-on state, and receiving an input operation on the plurality of operation keys;
A control unit that turns on the light source by moving the projector to a power-on state when an input operation is performed on the power key while the projector is in a power-off state;
With
The control unit temporarily disables an input operation on the power key when an input operation is performed on the operation keys other than the power key while the projector is turned off. Projector. The projector according to claim 1,
The control unit temporarily performs an input operation on the power key when a predetermined number of input operations are performed within a predetermined time with respect to the operation keys other than the power key while the projector is turned off. A projector characterized by being disabled. The projector according to claim 1 or 2,
The projector further comprising a notification unit that notifies that the input operation to the power key is invalid when the input operation to the power key is invalid. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit causes the projector to shift to a power-on state when a plurality of the operation keys are simultaneously input in a state where the input operation to the power key is invalid. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit enables the input operation for the power key from invalid to valid when a plurality of the operation keys are simultaneously input in a state where the input operation for the power key is invalid. A method of controlling a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source,
An input operation receiving step for receiving input operations for a plurality of operation keys including a power key for shifting to a power-on state when the projector is in a power-off state;
A power-on invalid state determination step for determining whether an input operation to the power key is an invalid power-on invalid state; and
When it is determined in the power-on invalid state determination step that the power-on invalid state is not determined, it is determined whether the input operation received in the input operation reception step is an input operation for the power key, A power-on disable step for shifting to the power-on disable state when an operation key other than the power key is input; and
When it is determined that the power-on invalid state is determined in the power-on invalid state determining step, it is determined whether a plurality of the operation keys are simultaneously input in the input operation receiving step, and the plurality of the operation keys are determined. Power on invalid state cancellation step for canceling the power on invalid state when both are operated simultaneously,
A notification step of notifying that the input operation to the power key is invalid in the power-on invalid state;
A projector control method comprising:

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