JP2011059456A - Optical scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical scanner in which the deterioration in image quality is suppressed even when the period of a driving signal of a scanning part is varied according to environmental variation. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 341 determines a time interval between the moment when the scanning of laser light passes a reference position and the moment when the laser light emission starts on the basis of a specified scanning period and a projection time. An adjustment part 377 changes the pulse signal frequency generated by a driving driver 373 so that the amplitude of the laser light may become a prescribed amplitude or larger when the amplitude of the laser light is smaller than the prescribed amplitude on the basis of the detected result of the amplitude of the laser light with a mirror sensor 376. The adjustment part 377 specifies the scanning period after the frequency is changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning device that displays an image by scanning light from a laser light source onto a projection surface.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a scanning unit such as a scanner mirror used in an optical scanning device that projects an image input from the outside by laser light scans the laser beam in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by resonating by driving with an actuator, Are formed in the projection region. Such a scanning unit has characteristics that the phase, amplitude, and center position shift due to variations in mirror characteristics, temperature fluctuations, mirror and light source position fluctuations, mirror and screen position fluctuations, etc. When the display target data as shown in FIG. 10A is projected on the screen, if there is no phase shift, the video according to the data is displayed as shown in FIG. 10B. However, when a phase shift occurs, the video is blurred as shown in FIG. 11C, or the video is viewed twice as shown in FIG. 11D. There was a problem.

  In order to solve such a problem, for example, two times when the light beam passes back and forth through a specific position on the scanning line are measured, and timing data corresponding to the modulation start time or end time of the light beam within one scanning cycle, respectively. (Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-131151 A

  However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, when the period of the driving signal of the optical deflector deviates from the resonance frequency, the period is changed, but the driving timing of the light beam is updated following this. Therefore, the image quality may be deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning device capable of suppressing deterioration in image quality even when the period of a driving signal of a scanning unit is changed according to an environmental change.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes a laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with an input image signal;
A scanning unit that scans the laser beam emitted from the laser light source in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction;
A scanning signal generating means for generating a pulse signal for the scanning unit to scan the laser beam in a main scanning direction;
Drive means for reciprocating the scanning unit in the main scanning direction according to the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generating means,
In the optical scanning device that forms an image on the projection surface so that the trajectories of the laser light scanned in the main scanning direction are arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
Position detecting means for detecting a scanning position of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
A scanning period specifying means for specifying a scanning period in the main scanning direction based on a detection result by the position detecting means;
A reference position timing determining means for determining a reference position timing indicating that the scanning of the laser beam is a timing of passing a predetermined reference position based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
A projection time determining means for determining a projection time, which is a time during which laser light is output in one scanning period in the main scanning direction, based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
Based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means and the projection time of the laser light determined by the projection time determining means, the laser light is emitted after the scanning of the laser light passes through the predetermined reference position. An extraction start time determining means for determining an extraction start time until the start;
The projection time determined by the projection time determination means when the laser beam emission start time determined by the emission start time determination means after the reference position timing determined by the reference position timing determination means is reached. Laser light output control means for performing control to output laser light by the laser light source until
Amplitude detecting means for detecting the amplitude of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
Based on the detection result by the amplitude detection means, the frequency of the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generation means when the amplitude of the laser light is smaller than the predetermined amplitude, the amplitude of the laser light is greater than or equal to the predetermined amplitude. And a frequency change control means for changing so that
The scanning cycle specifying unit specifies a scanning cycle after being changed by the frequency change control unit.

The invention according to claim 2 is the optical scanning device according to claim 1,
The scanning unit scans the laser beam by changing an angle of a scanner mirror that reflects the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to the projection surface,
The position detecting means detects a scanning position by detecting an angle of the scanner mirror.

The invention according to claim 3 is the optical scanning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The frequency change control means includes a reference frequency setting means for setting a frequency at which the scanning unit resonates as a reference frequency, a wobbling signal setting means for setting a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled within a predetermined range across the reference frequency, Have
When the scanning unit resonates with a pulse signal of any frequency other than the reference frequency to be wobbled, a pulse to be generated by setting the frequency to the reference frequency by the reference frequency setting means The frequency of the signal is changed.

Invention of Claim 4 is the optical scanning device of Claim 3, Comprising:
The laser light source emits laser light corresponding to the input image signal in a projection section that is a section for displaying an image in a scanning section in which the laser light is scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. Do the exit,
The wobbling signal setting means sets a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled during scanning of a non-projection section that is a section that is not a projection section of the scanning section in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. To do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with an input image signal;
A scanning unit that scans the laser beam emitted from the laser light source in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction;
A scanning signal generating means for generating a pulse signal for the scanning unit to scan the laser beam in a main scanning direction;
Drive means for reciprocating the scanning unit in the main scanning direction according to the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generating means,
In the optical scanning device that forms an image on the projection surface so that the trajectories of the laser light scanned in the main scanning direction are arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
Position detecting means for detecting a scanning position of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
A scanning period specifying means for specifying a scanning period in the main scanning direction based on a detection result by the position detecting means;
A reference position timing determining means for determining a reference position timing indicating that the scanning of the laser beam is a timing of passing a predetermined reference position based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
A projection time determining means for determining a projection time, which is a time during which laser light is output in one scanning period in the main scanning direction, based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
Based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means and the projection time of the laser light determined by the projection time determining means, the laser light is emitted after the scanning of the laser light passes through the predetermined reference position. An extraction start time determining means for determining an extraction start time until the start,
The projection time determined by the projection time determination means when the laser beam emission start time determined by the emission start time determination means after the reference position timing determined by the reference position timing determination means is reached. Laser light output control means for performing control to output laser light by the laser light source until
Amplitude detecting means for detecting the amplitude of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
Based on the detection result by the amplitude detection means, the frequency of the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generation means when the amplitude of the laser light is smaller than the predetermined amplitude, the amplitude of the laser light is greater than or equal to the predetermined amplitude. And a frequency change control means for changing so that
The scanning cycle specifying unit specifies a scanning cycle after being changed by the frequency change control unit,
The scanning unit scans the laser light by changing an angle of a scanner mirror that reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source to the projection surface,
The position detecting means detects a scanning position by detecting an angle of the scanner mirror;
The frequency change control means includes a reference frequency setting means for setting a frequency at which the scanning unit resonates as a reference frequency, and a wobbling signal setting means for setting a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled within a predetermined range across the reference frequency. Have
When the scanning unit resonates with a pulse signal of any frequency other than the reference frequency to be wobbled, a pulse to be generated by setting the frequency to the reference frequency by the reference frequency setting means Change the frequency of the signal,
The laser light source emits laser light corresponding to the input image signal in a projection section that is a section for displaying an image in a scanning section in which the laser light is scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. Do the exit,
The wobbling signal setting means sets a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled during scanning of a non-projection section that is a section that is not a projection section of the scanning section in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. To do.

  According to the present invention, even when the period of the driving signal of the scanning unit is changed according to the environmental change, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image quality.

It is an external view which shows the state in which the projector which concerns on this invention was installed. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the projector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the aspect of the scanning of the laser beam based on this invention. It is a flowchart of the program run in the projector which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart of the program run in the projector which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart of the program run in the projector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the emission timing of the laser beam in the projector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure showing the characteristic of the frequency which the scanner mirror which concerns on this invention resonates. It is a figure explaining the pulse signal in which the frequency was wobbled. It is a figure showing the projection image in the conventional optical scanning device. It is a figure showing the projection image in the conventional optical scanning device. It is a figure explaining the change of the drive frequency for driving the scanner mirror which concerns on this invention, and the period of a scanner mirror. It is a figure showing the characteristic of the frequency which the scanner mirror which concerns on this invention resonates.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated example.
In the following description, the left-right direction of the projector 100 in FIG. 1 is the X direction, the front-rear direction is the Y direction, and the height direction is the Z direction.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the projector 100 is installed on a table 120, and laser light emitted toward the screen 130 is projected as a display image 132 </ b> A used for presentation or the like by the projection unit 380. It is a projector.

  Next, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the projector 100 includes a front-end FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) 310, a laser emission unit 350, an operation panel 330, a back-end block 340, a ROM 344, a video A RAM 345 and a RAM 346 are included.

  The FPGA 310 is an LSI (Large Scale Integration) capable of programming including a timing controller 311, a data controller 312, a bit data conversion unit 313, and a data / gradation conversion unit 314. The FPGA 310 performs display control of image signals temporarily stored in the video RAM 345 together with the back end block 340.

  The timing controller 311 reads out an image signal temporarily stored in the video RAM 345 via the data controller 312 based on a command sent from the CPU 341 included in the back-end block 340. Then, the timing controller 311 acquires a synchronization signal (including a horizontal synchronization signal (HSYNC), a pixel clock signal (PCLK), and the like) included in the image signal. Further, the timing controller 311 generates a command for controlling the timing of motor driving of an actuator 374 described later based on the synchronization signal, and transmits the command to the drive driver 373. When the timing controller 311 receives a launch timing signal sent from the CPU 341, the timing controller 311 generates a command for performing laser emission of a laser emission unit 350 described later, and transmits the command to the bit data converter 313.

The data controller 312 sends the image signal read from the video RAM 345 to the bit data converter 313.
Based on a command from the timing controller 311, the bit data converter 313 converts the image signal sent from the data controller 312 into data suitable for a format for projection by laser light, and then converts the image signal to data / Send to tone conversion unit 314.

  The data / gradation conversion unit 314 converts the data output from the bit data converter 313 into gradations of colors for display as three colors of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue). The converted signals are sent to the laser emitting unit 350.

  The laser emitting unit 350 includes a laser control circuit 351, LDs 361 and 362, a polarization beam splitter 363, a laser detector 370, a lens 371, a scanner mirror 372, a drive driver 373, an actuator 374, and a mirror sensor 376. And an adjustment unit 377.

An LD (Laser Diode) 361 is a diode that emits green laser light, and an LD 362 is a diode that emits red and blue laser light, and each is controlled by a laser control circuit 351.
Note that the LD 362 according to the present embodiment is configured integrally with the LD that emits red laser light and the LD that emits blue laser light, but may be configured separately.
As described above, the LDs 361 and 362 constitute a laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with an input image signal.

  The laser control circuit 351 controls the emission amount / timing of the LDs 361 and 362 based on the signal sent from the data / gradation conversion unit 314. Further, the laser control circuit 351 detects the emission state of the laser beam from the output amount of the laser beam detected by a laser detector 370 described later, and adjusts the emission amount of the LDs 361 and 362 based on the emission state. .

  The polarization beam splitter 363 is an optical member that is disposed on the optical path of the laser light emitted from the LD 361 and separates the incident laser light into P-polarized light and S-polarized light. The polarization beam splitter 363 transmits part of the green laser light emitted from the LD 361 toward the lens 371 and reflects the rest toward the laser detector 370. On the other hand, the polarization beam splitter 363 transmits part of the red and blue laser beams emitted from the LD 362 toward the laser detector 370 and reflects the rest toward the lens 371.

The laser detector 370 is, for example, a sensor that detects the output amount (intensity) of laser light, and is disposed on the optical path of the laser light emitted from the LD 362.
The lens 371 condenses the laser light that has passed through the polarization beam splitter 363.

The scanner mirror 372 is a galvanometer mirror that resonates when a predetermined driving force is applied by an actuator 374 to be described later, and rotates independently in the biaxial direction by this resonance. By adjusting the direction and the vertical direction, the reflection direction of the incident light can be adjusted.
Therefore, for example, as shown in the scanning region formed on the screen 130 in FIG. 3, the laser light can be scanned by sequentially adjusting the reflection direction of the laser light transmitted through the lens 371 by the scanner mirror 372. Become.
Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the scanning position of the laser beam by the scanner mirror 372 is in the vertical (Y-axis) direction (sub-scanning) from the upper left corner (starting end) of the scanning area in the scanning forward path. The direction of movement of the X-axis is reversed at the timing when it reaches the side edge, and moves to the lower right corner (terminal part) of the scanning area. This operation is repeated until it reaches.
In this operation, when the scanning position of the laser light passes over the projection area, the laser light is emitted from the LDs 361 and 362, whereby an image is displayed on the projection area. The image projection for one frame is completed when scanning is completed over the entire projection area. At this time, in the scanning in the main scanning direction of the laser light, the emission / stop of the laser light is repeated every time a horizontal projection section that is a section passing through the projection area is reached.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3B, the scanning position of the laser beam is changed from the scanning forward path to the scanning backward path at the timing when it reaches the lower right corner of the scanning area, and the traveling direction of the Y axis is reversed rapidly. This operation is repeated until it is displaced in the X-axis direction while reaching the upper left corner and reaches (returns to) the upper left corner.
Thus, the scanner mirror 372 constitutes a scanning unit that scans the laser light emitted from the laser light source in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

For example, the drive driver 373 controls the scanning of the laser beam by the scanner mirror 372 by giving a pulse signal corresponding to the drive frequency to the actuator 374 in accordance with a command transmitted from the timing controller 311. This driving frequency is sequentially changed according to a command from an adjusting unit 377 described later.
In this way, the drive driver 373 constitutes a scanning signal generating unit that generates a pulse signal for the scanning unit to scan the laser beam in the main scanning direction.
The actuator 374 is, for example, two pulse motors connected to each of the two axes of the scanner mirror 372, and each is driven based on a drive frequency (resonance frequency) instructed by a drive driver 373 described later, and the scanner mirror 372. Is rotated by a predetermined angle.
Thus, the actuator 374 constitutes a driving unit that reciprocates the scanning unit in the main scanning direction in accordance with the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generation unit.

The mirror sensor 376 is, for example, a tilt angle detector that detects the tilt angle (shake angle) of the scanner mirror 372 in the biaxial direction, and is particularly configured to detect the tilt angle (scanning position) in the main scanning direction. ing. Further, the amplitude of the laser beam in the main scanning direction can be specified by detecting the tilt angle. The tilt angle detected by the mirror detector 376 is input to the adjustment unit 377 as an analog electric signal.
Thus, the mirror sensor 376 constitutes a position detection unit that detects a scanning position of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit.
Further, the mirror sensor 376 constitutes an amplitude detection unit that detects the amplitude of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit.

The adjustment unit 377 includes, for example, an arithmetic unit for arithmetic operation, a comparator, an amplifier for analog signal amplification, an A / D converter, and the like, which are not illustrated, and are input from the mirror sensor 376. The analog electric signal related to the tilt angle of the mirror 372 is adjusted to a desired value through amplification, arithmetic operation, comparison, etc., converted into a digital signal, and transmitted to the CPU 341 and the drive driver 373.
In other words, the resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372 varies depending on the installation environment (for example, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, etc.), and the scanning position of the laser beam may be shifted. When the corner is detected, the adjustment unit 377 measures the amplitude of the scanner mirror 372. Then, the adjustment unit 377 transmits data instructing the drive frequency to the drive driver 373 so that the drive frequency of the actuator 374 becomes a resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372 by wobbling based on the measured amplitude of the scanner mirror 372. . Although specifically described later, the adjustment unit 377 finds the resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372 by performing wobbling, sets the frequency as a reference frequency, and then performs wobbling in a predetermined range across the reference frequency. .
Further, the adjustment unit 377 measures the period of the signal from the mirror sensor 376 in the main scanning direction, and based on the measured period, a reference position timing indicating that the scanner mirror 372 passes through a predetermined reference position. To decide. In this case, the adjustment unit 377 can change the reference value of the signal from the mirror sensor 376 according to the measured period, and the mirror sensor in one period in order to determine the center in the horizontal projection section as the reference position. The reference value is appropriately adjusted so that the ratio (duty ratio) between the time when the level of the signal from 376 exceeds the reference value and the time when the signal level falls below the reference value is 50:50. Then, the timing at which the adjusted reference value matches the level of the signal from the mirror sensor 376 is determined as the reference position timing. There are two timings at which the reference value matches the level of the signal from the mirror sensor 376 in one cycle, but any timing may be adopted as the reference position timing.
In the present embodiment, the period of the scanner mirror 372 is measured by measuring the period of the signal from the mirror sensor 376 in this way, and the reference position timing is determined based on the measurement result. Laser light can be emitted at a timing according to the operation of the scanner mirror 372. Here, for example, when the reference position timing is determined based on the drive frequency of the drive driver 373, for example, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the drive frequency is changed from f0 to f0 ′, the scanner As shown in FIG. 12B, the period of the mirror 372 gradually changes over time from f0 to f0 ′, so that the pulse period of the drive driver 373 and the period of the scanner mirror 372 During this period, the reference position timing does not correspond to the period of the scanner mirror 372, the laser beam emission timing is shifted, and the image is disturbed. . Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the drive frequency of the drive driver 373 is changed, the reference position timing is determined based on the detection result of the period of the scanner mirror 372. Therefore, even if the phases of both periods occur. The reference position timing is not shifted, and as a result, the image is prevented from being disturbed.
Then, the adjustment unit 377 transmits a reference position timing signal to the CPU 341 when the reference position timing is reached.
In addition, when the resonance frequency is changed as a result of measuring the cycle as described above, the adjustment unit 377 transmits a signal indicating the changed cycle to the CPU 341.
At this time, the measurement result of the cycle is sampled, the average of the measurement result of the cycle sampled every predetermined period (for example, every frame or every predetermined number of scans) is calculated, and the average of the calculated cycle is shown. A signal may be transmitted to the CPU 341.
Thus, the adjustment unit 377 constitutes a scanning cycle specifying unit that specifies the scanning cycle in the main scanning direction based on the detection result by the position detecting unit.
Further, the adjustment unit 377 determines a reference position timing determining unit that determines a reference position timing indicating that the scanning of the laser beam passes a predetermined reference position based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying unit. Configure.
Further, the adjustment unit 377 sets the frequency of the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generation unit when the amplitude of the laser beam is smaller than the predetermined amplitude based on the detection result by the amplitude detection unit. The frequency change control means is configured to change so as to be equal to or greater than the amplitude.
The adjustment unit 377 constitutes a reference frequency setting unit that sets a frequency at which the scanning unit resonates as a reference frequency.
The adjustment unit 377 constitutes a wobbling signal setting unit that sets a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled within a predetermined range with the reference frequency interposed therebetween.

  The operation panel 330 is provided, for example, on the surface or side surface of the casing of the projector 100, and includes a display device (not shown) for displaying operation details, buttons for the user to perform input operations on the projector 100, And a switch (not shown). Then, when an operation by the user is executed, the operation panel 330 transmits a signal corresponding to the operation to the CPU 341.

  The back end block 340 is a back end portion of the projector 100 configured to include a CPU 341, a video I / F 342, and an external I / F 343.

The CPU 341 controls the overall operation of the projector 100 by reading various processing programs stored in the ROM 344, executing the programs, and transmitting output signals to the respective units.
When the CPU 341 receives a signal indicating the period from the adjustment unit 377, the CPU 341 reads a launch timing determination program 344a from the ROM 344, which will be described later, and sets the projection time corresponding to the signal indicating the period received by the laser light from the LDs 361 and 362 to the ROM 344. The laser light emission timing is also determined.
When the CPU 341 receives the reference position timing signal from the adjustment unit 377, the CPU 341 reads the reference position timing signal reception program 344b from the ROM 344, and monitors the timing until the signal indicating the laser beam emission timing is output to the timing controller 311. To start.
Further, the CPU 341 reads the launch timing monitoring program 344c from the ROM 344 every predetermined time, and outputs a signal indicating the laser beam emission timing to the timing controller 311 when it is the laser beam emission timing.
Further, the CPU 341 controls projection of video based on an image signal input to the projector 100 via the video I / F 342 and the external I / F 343 based on a signal transmitted from the operation panel 330. That is, the CPU 341 communicates with the timing controller 311 of the FPGA 310 to control the display of video based on the image signal temporarily stored in the video RAM 345.
As described above, the CPU 341 executes the launch timing determination program 344a, and thus is a projection that is a time during which the laser beam is output in one scanning period in the main scanning direction based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying unit. Projection time determining means for determining the time is configured.
Further, the CPU 341 executes the launch timing determination program 344a, so that the scanning of the laser light is predetermined based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means and the projection time of the laser light determined by the projection time determining means. And an emission start time determining means for determining an emission start time from when the laser beam passes through the reference position to when the laser beam starts to be emitted.
Further, the CPU 341 executes the launch timing monitoring program 344c, so that the emission start time of the laser beam determined by the emission start time determination unit is reached after reaching the reference position timing determined by the reference position timing determination unit. Sometimes, laser light output control means is configured to perform control to output laser light from the laser light source until the projection time determined by the projection time determination means elapses.

  The video I / F 342 is an interface for connecting to an image output device 150 such as a PC (Personal Computer), for example, and inputting an image signal output from the image output device 150.

  The external I / F 343 is an interface for an external storage medium to which a memory card 151 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) flash memory or an SD memory card can be mounted, for example, and reads an image signal stored in the memory card 151. Input to the projector 100 is possible.

  The video RAM 345 temporarily stores an image signal input via the video I / F 342 or the external I / F 343. The video RAM 345 is configured such that an image signal is read by the data controller 312 at a timing generated by the timing controller 311 when display control is performed by the FPGA 310.

The ROM 344 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, and includes a storage area for programs executed by the CPU 341 and various data necessary for executing the programs. Specifically, the ROM 344 stores control programs such as a launch timing determination program 344a, a reference position timing signal reception program 344b, and a launch timing monitoring program 344c.
The RAM 346 is used as a work area of the CPU 341, for example, and stores processing results generated when various programs are executed by the CPU 341, input data, and the like.

  Next, in the projector 100 having the above-described configuration, a process for determining timing for emitting laser light from the LDs 361 and 362 will be described. The CPU 341 performs launch timing determination processing shown in FIG. This launch timing determination process is a process that is started when a periodic signal is received from the adjustment unit 377. This process is realized by executing the launch timing determination program 344a.

First, the CPU 341 reads out data indicating the projection time corresponding to the periodic signal transmitted from the adjustment unit 377 from, for example, a table provided in the ROM 344 (step S101). This projection time is the projection time of the laser light in one cycle. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 to be described later, the CPU 341 calculates the blanking time based on one cycle time (T) specified from the periodic signal and the read projection time (2A) (step). S102). Here, the blanking time (B + C) is a time other than the projection time in one cycle. The blanking time is obtained as follows. Note that the blanking time (B) indicates the time for passing through the non-projection area on the left side of the scanning area, and the blanking time (C) indicates the time for passing through the non-projection area on the right side of the scanning area.
B + C = T-2A (1)
The relationship between blanking time (B) and blanking time (C) is
B = C (2)
It has become.
Then, the CPU 341 calculates a time (D) until the emission of the main scanning forward path (step S103). The time (D) until the emission of the main scanning forward path is obtained as follows.
D = A / 2 + C (3)
Here, when the detection of the mirror sensor 376 causes a predetermined delay (Δtd) with respect to the operation of the scanner mirror 372, this is taken into consideration, and Δtd which is the delay time is further subtracted from Equation (3). D may be obtained.

  Then, the CPU 341 stores the time (D) until the emission of the main scanning forward path calculated by the equation (3) in the RAM 346 (step S104).

Next, the CPU 341 calculates a time (E) until emission from the main scanning backward path (step S105). The time (E) until the emission of the main scanning return path is obtained as follows.
E = D + A + B (4)
Then, the CPU 341 stores in the RAM 346 the time (E) until emission from the main scanning return path calculated by the equation (4) (step S106).

  Next, a process for starting monitoring of the timing for emitting laser light from the LDs 361 and 362 will be described. The CPU 341 performs processing at the time of receiving the reference position timing signal shown in FIG. This reference position timing signal reception process is a process that is started when a reference position timing signal is received from the adjustment unit 377. This process is realized by executing the reference position timing signal reception program 344b.

  First, the CPU 341 sets the time until emission of the main scanning forward path stored in the RAM 346 in step S104 of the launch timing determination process as a forward launch timer (step S201). Then, the CPU 341 sets the time until emission of the main scanning return path stored in the RAM 346 in step S106 of the launch timing determination process as a return path launch timer (step S201). The forward launch timer and the return launch timer set in this way are subtracted each time a predetermined time (for example, 1 ms) elapses.

  Next, processing for emitting laser light from the LDs 361 and 362 will be described. The CPU 341 performs launch timing monitoring processing shown in FIG. This launch timing monitoring process is started every predetermined time (for example, 1 ms). This process is realized by executing the launch timing monitoring program 344c.

First, the CPU 341 determines whether or not the forward launch timer set in step S201 of the reference position timing signal reception process has become 0 (step S301). When the CPU 341 determines that the forward launch timer has reached 0 (step S301: Y), the CPU 341 transmits to the timing controller 311 a forward launch timing signal indicating the laser beam emission timing in the main scanning forward pass. (Step S302). At this time, the CPU 341 transmits a signal to the timing controller 311 by including data corresponding to the periodic signal transmitted from the adjustment unit 377 in the forward launch timing signal. Thereby, the timing controller 311 is controlled so that the laser emitting unit 350 starts emitting laser light and the laser light is output at a timing according to the cycle. On the other hand, when it is not determined that the forward launch timer has become 0 (step S301: N), the process of step S303 is executed without executing the process of step S302.
Next, the CPU 341 determines whether or not the return path launch timer set in step S202 of the reference position timing signal reception process has become 0 (step S303). When the CPU 341 determines that the return path launch timer has reached 0 (step S303: Y), the CPU 341 transmits to the timing controller 311 a return path launch timing signal indicating the laser beam emission timing in the main scan return path. (Step S304), the process ends. On the other hand, when the CPU 341 does not determine that the return path launch timer has reached 0 (step S303: N), this process ends without executing the process of step S304.

  Next, the laser beam emission operation of the LDs 361 and 362 in the projector 100 controlled as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the horizontal angle of the scanner mirror 372 changes with a period (T) as shown in the figure by driving the actuator 374.
Then, after adjusting the reference value based on the signal from the mirror sensor 376, the adjusting unit 377 sends a reference position timing signal indicating the reference position timing to the CPU 341 at a timing when the signal level falls below the reference value. Send to.
Then, the CPU 341 performs control so that the laser light is emitted from the LDs 361 and 362 after the elapse of time (D) from the reference position timing to the emission of the main scanning forward path. Thereby, the laser light is emitted by the LDs 361 and 362 during the projection time (A), that is, in the horizontal projection section. Further, the CPU 341 performs control so that the laser light is emitted from the LDs 361 and 362 after the elapse of time (E) from the reference position timing to the emission of the main scanning return path. Thereby, the laser light is emitted by the LDs 361 and 362 during the projection time (A). Then, after the laser light is emitted in the main scanning forward path and the main scanning backward path, a blanking period (B) or a blanking period (C) is entered. The blanking period (B) is the time (t2) from the elapse of the projection time in the main scanning return path until the left end of the scanning area is reached and the projection time in the main scanning forward path from the left end of the scanning area. Time (t2), and each time is equal. Similarly, in the blanking period (C), after the elapse of the projection time in the main scanning forward path, the time until the scanning area reaches the right end (t1) and the projection time in the main scanning return path from the right end of the scanning area. Time (t1), and each time is equal.
As described above, the projector 100 emits laser light from the LDs 361 and 362 at a timing corresponding to the driving cycle of the scanner mirror 372. Even if the driving cycle of the scanner mirror 372 changes, the laser is emitted at a timing corresponding to this. Since light can be emitted, the projection phase is hardly shifted, and the video quality can be kept good.

  Next, the characteristics of the scanner mirror 372 will be described with reference to FIG.

The scanner mirror 372 has a characteristic that the amplitude (scanning angle) increases when a pulse signal corresponding to a specific driving frequency (resonance frequency) is applied to the actuator 374, and the laser beam can be scanned with a small amount of power. Is possible. The scanner mirror 372 has a characteristic that the resonance frequency varies depending on the ambient temperature. As shown in FIG. 8, the resonance frequency decreases as the temperature decreases.
In the case of using such a scanner mirror, if the drive frequency is adjusted by current, the adjustable temperature range becomes narrow. For example, the resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372 changes from temperature A to temperature B. In such a case, the attenuation due to the change in the characteristics of the scanner mirror 372 can be compensated, but when the temperature A changes to the temperature C, the attenuation cannot be compensated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since wobbling control described later is performed, even if the ambient temperature of the scanner mirror 372 changes greatly and the resonance frequency changes, it is possible to follow the change.

  Next, wobbling control in this embodiment will be described.

  The wobbling control is control for setting, for example, a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled in the adjustment unit 377 within a predetermined range across the resonance frequency.

Specifically, the adjustment unit 377 as a wobbling signal setting unit is a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled within a predetermined range (Δf) sandwiching the reference frequency f ₀ as shown in FIG. 9A, for example. A pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled at a predetermined wobbling period is set. The frequency wobbling means, for example, that the frequency of the drive signal (pulse signal) is temporally changed within a minute frequency range (Δf) centering on the reference frequency f ₀ . As described above, in this embodiment, since the driving frequency is wobbled so as to change in the minute frequency range, even if the driving frequency is changed to follow the resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372, the image is disturbed. It is hard to occur.
Then, the drive driver 373 generates a pulse signal set to wobble, thereby approximating the frequency of any one of the wobbled pulse signals to the resonance frequency to generate a pulse signal. If the pulse signal has a frequency approximate to the resonance frequency, the left and right swing width of the scanner mirror 372, which is an example of an electromagnetically driven scanning mirror, can be made to conform to the resonance frequency.

For example, the adjustment unit 377 as a wobbling signal setting unit sets a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled in the non-projection period.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, for example, the non-projection section is divided into eight, and the frequency is wobbled by a wobbling period with one of the eight non-projection sections as one period. Different frequencies are set for each period (first period to eighth period). Of the wobbled pulse signals, setting the frequency of the first period and the pulse signal of the fifth period in the non-projection interval to the reference frequency f _0.
Here, the projection section is a section in which laser light is scanned on the projection area shown in FIG. 3, and the non-projection section is a non-projection area other than the projection area in the scanning area. This is the section to be scanned.
Further, the projection section and the non-projection section shown in FIG. 9 indicate those in the sub-scanning direction.

In this embodiment, when the resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372 varies depending on the installation environment, the adjustment unit 377 causes resonance of the scanner mirror 372 at a frequency other than the reference frequency f ₀ during execution of wobbling. detected, the control for updating the frequency when the resonance to the reference frequency f ₀ is performed.
More specifically, as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 9B, the adjustment unit 377 performs the wobbling in the range of Δfa with the reference frequency f ₀ a, and the frequency is f ₀ b. When it is detected that the scanner mirror 372 has resonated, the reference frequency is updated to f ₀ b from the current non-projection interval, and the drive frequency is maintained at f ₀ b until the next non-projection interval. Control to continue. In the next non-projection section, wobbling is performed in the range of Δfb with the reference frequency as f ₀ b. When the frequency at which the scanner mirror 372 resonates does not change from the reference frequency f ₀ a, the adjustment unit 377 performs the current non-projection section as shown by the chain line in FIG. 9B. Continues wobbling in the range of Δfa with the reference frequency as f ₀ a.
In this case, when the amplitude (scanning angle) of the scanner mirror 372 reaches a predetermined upper limit, if this is set as the reference frequency, the amplitude of the scanner mirror 372 can be kept constant, and the image It is possible to make it difficult to cause disturbance. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the ambient temperature changes from the temperature D to the temperature E and the resonance driving frequency of the scanner mirror 372 changes from the frequency d to the frequency e, the scanner mirror 372 Even if the amplitude peak differs between the frequency d and the frequency e due to characteristics and the amplitude peak of the scanner mirror 372 at the driving frequency e exceeds the upper limit value α, it corresponds to the upper limit value α of the amplitude. By setting the drive frequency f0 ′ as the reference frequency, the amplitude of the scanner mirror 372 can be kept constant, and image disturbance can be made difficult to occur.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the adjustment unit 377 specifies the scanning period in the main scanning direction based on the detection result of the position of the scanner mirror 372 by the mirror sensor 376. Then, the adjusting unit 377 determines the reference position timing based on the specified scanning cycle. Then, the CPU 341 determines the projection time in one scanning cycle in the main scanning direction based on the scanning cycle specified by the adjustment unit 377. Then, the CPU 341 determines the time from when the scanning of the laser light passes the reference position until the emission of the laser light starts based on the specified scanning cycle and projection time. Then, the CPU 341 performs control to output the laser light until the projection time elapses when the laser light emission start time comes. Then, the adjusting unit 377 determines the frequency of the pulse signal generated by the drive driver 373 when the amplitude of the laser beam is smaller than a predetermined amplitude based on the detection result of the amplitude of the laser beam by the scanner mirror 372 by the mirror sensor 376. Is changed so that the amplitude of the laser beam becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined amplitude. And the adjustment part 377 specifies the scanning period after the frequency was changed. As a result, even if the resonant frequency of the scanner mirror 372 changes depending on the installation environment or the like, the frequency can be adjusted appropriately, and the drive timings of the LDs 361 and 362 are adjusted appropriately according to the change in frequency. Therefore, the projection phase shift can be prevented, the image quality can be kept good, and it can be used in a wider temperature range.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the mirror sensor 376 detects the scanning position based on the angle of the scanner mirror 372, it is difficult for the signal to be temporally shaken (jitter). Is possible.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the adjustment unit 377 wobbles the frequency generated by the drive driver 373 within a predetermined range that sandwiches the reference frequency. Then, when the scanner mirror 372 resonates at a frequency other than the reference frequency among the wobbling frequencies, the adjustment unit 377 sets the frequency to the reference frequency, thereby generating the frequency of the pulse signal to be generated. To change. As a result, even if the resonance frequency of the scanner mirror 372 changes depending on the installation environment or the like, an appropriate resonance frequency can be quickly found and adjusted, so that the image quality can be further improved.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since wobbling is performed during the scanning of the laser beam in the non-projection section, the scanning period does not change in the projection section, and the deterioration of the video quality can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the scanning position of the scanner mirror 372 by the mirror sensor 376 is detected by detecting the tilt angle of the scanner mirror 372. For example, a halfway is provided between the scanner mirror 372 and the projection unit 380. A mirror is provided so that part of the laser light reflected by the scanner mirror 372 is transmitted toward the projection unit 380 and the rest is reflected toward the mirror sensor 376. For example, the mirror sensor 376 may receive the laser beam reflected by the half mirror and detect the tilt angle (deflection angle) of the scanner mirror 372 in the biaxial direction.
Alternatively, the displacement amount of the scanner mirror 372 may be detected.
Alternatively, the projection unit 380 may be provided with an optical sensor, and the scanning position may be detected by detecting the laser beam with the optical sensor.
In any of these detection methods, detection is preferably performed at the scanning center position or the center of displacement of the mirror sensor 376.

  In the present embodiment, the frequency at which the scanner mirror 372 resonates is detected while performing frequency wobbling within a predetermined range across the reference frequency, and the reference frequency is set. However, the scanner mirror 372 is set by other methods. The resonance frequency may be detected. For example, a plurality of predetermined frequencies are output by the drive driver 373 a predetermined number of times (one or two or more), and the one having the largest amplitude is detected. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, wobbling is performed in the non-projection section. However, wobbling may be performed so that the frequency is changed for each frame. Further, the frequency may be wobbled within a predetermined range across the reference frequency so as to switch a plurality of types of frequencies for each non-projection section. Further, wobbling may be performed in the projection section.

100 projector (optical scanning device)
130 Screen 310 FPGA
311 Timing controller 312 Data controller 313 Bit data converter 314 Data / gradation converter 340 Backend block 341 CPU (projection time determination means, emission start time determination means, laser light output control means)
344 ROM
344a Launch timing determination program 344b Reference position timing signal reception program 344c Launch timing monitoring program 345 Video RAM
350 Laser emitting unit 351 Laser control circuit 361 LD (laser light source)
362 LD (laser light source)
370 Laser detector (light detector)
372 Scanner mirror (scanning unit)
373 Drive driver (scanning signal generating means)
374 Actuator (drive means)
376 Mirror sensor (position detection means, amplitude detection means)
377 Adjustment unit (scanning cycle specifying means, reference position timing determining means, frequency change control means, reference frequency setting means, wobbling signal setting means)

Claims (5)

A laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with an input image signal;
A scanning unit that scans the laser beam emitted from the laser light source in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction;
A scanning signal generating means for generating a pulse signal for the scanning unit to scan the laser beam in a main scanning direction;
Drive means for reciprocating the scanning unit in the main scanning direction according to the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generating means,
In the optical scanning device that forms an image on the projection surface so that the trajectories of the laser light scanned in the main scanning direction are arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
Position detecting means for detecting a scanning position of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
A scanning period specifying means for specifying a scanning period in the main scanning direction based on a detection result by the position detecting means;
A reference position timing determining means for determining a reference position timing indicating that the scanning of the laser beam is a timing of passing a predetermined reference position based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
A projection time determining means for determining a projection time, which is a time during which laser light is output in one scanning period in the main scanning direction, based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
Based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means and the projection time of the laser light determined by the projection time determining means, the laser light is emitted after the scanning of the laser light passes through the predetermined reference position. An extraction start time determining means for determining an extraction start time until the start,
The projection time determined by the projection time determination means when the laser beam emission start time determined by the emission start time determination means after the reference position timing determined by the reference position timing determination means is reached. Laser light output control means for performing control to output laser light by the laser light source until
Amplitude detecting means for detecting the amplitude of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
Based on the detection result by the amplitude detection means, the frequency of the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generation means when the amplitude of the laser light is smaller than the predetermined amplitude, the amplitude of the laser light is greater than or equal to the predetermined amplitude. And a frequency change control means for changing so that
The optical scanning device characterized in that the scanning period specifying means specifies a scanning period after being changed by the frequency change control means. The scanning unit scans the laser beam by changing an angle of a scanner mirror that reflects the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to the projection surface,
The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the position detecting unit detects a scanning position by detecting an angle of the scanner mirror. The frequency change control means includes a reference frequency setting means for setting a frequency at which the scanning unit resonates as a reference frequency, a wobbling signal setting means for setting a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled within a predetermined range across the reference frequency, Have
When the scanning unit resonates with a pulse signal of any frequency other than the reference frequency to be wobbled, a pulse to be generated by setting the frequency to the reference frequency by the reference frequency setting means 3. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the signal is changed. The laser light source emits laser light corresponding to the input image signal in a projection section that is a section for displaying an image in a scanning section in which the laser light is scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. Do the exit,
The wobbling signal setting means sets a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled during scanning of a non-projection section that is a section that is not a projection section of the scanning section in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. The optical scanning device according to claim 3. A laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with an input image signal;
A scanning unit that scans the laser beam emitted from the laser light source in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction;
A scanning signal generating means for generating a pulse signal for the scanning unit to scan the laser beam in a main scanning direction;
Drive means for reciprocating the scanning unit in the main scanning direction according to the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generating means,
In the optical scanning device that forms an image on the projection surface so that the trajectories of the laser light scanned in the main scanning direction are arranged in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
Position detecting means for detecting a scanning position of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
A scanning period specifying means for specifying a scanning period in the main scanning direction based on a detection result by the position detecting means;
A reference position timing determining means for determining a reference position timing indicating that the scanning of the laser beam is a timing of passing a predetermined reference position based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
A projection time determining means for determining a projection time, which is a time during which laser light is output in one scanning period in the main scanning direction, based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means;
Based on the scanning period specified by the scanning period specifying means and the projection time of the laser light determined by the projection time determining means, the laser light is emitted after the scanning of the laser light passes through the predetermined reference position. An extraction start time determining means for determining an extraction start time until the start;
The projection time determined by the projection time determination means when the laser beam emission start time determined by the emission start time determination means after the reference position timing determined by the reference position timing determination means is reached. Laser light output control means for performing control to output laser light by the laser light source until
Amplitude detecting means for detecting the amplitude of the laser beam in the main scanning direction by the scanning unit;
Based on the detection result by the amplitude detection means, the frequency of the pulse signal generated by the scanning signal generation means when the amplitude of the laser light is smaller than the predetermined amplitude, the amplitude of the laser light is greater than or equal to the predetermined amplitude. And a frequency change control means for changing so that
The scanning cycle specifying unit specifies a scanning cycle after being changed by the frequency change control unit,
The scanning unit scans the laser light by changing an angle of a scanner mirror that reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source to the projection surface,
The position detecting means detects a scanning position by detecting an angle of the scanner mirror;
The frequency change control means includes a reference frequency setting means for setting a frequency at which the scanning unit resonates as a reference frequency, and a wobbling signal setting means for setting a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled within a predetermined range across the reference frequency. Have
When the scanning unit resonates with a pulse signal of any frequency other than the reference frequency to be wobbled, a pulse to be generated by setting the frequency to the reference frequency by the reference frequency setting means Change the frequency of the signal,
The laser light source emits laser light corresponding to the input image signal in a projection section that is a section for displaying an image in a scanning section in which the laser light is scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. Do the exit,
The wobbling signal setting means sets a pulse signal whose frequency is wobbled during scanning of a non-projection section that is a section that is not a projection section of the scanning section in the sub-scanning direction of the laser light. Optical scanning device.

Images