JP2011091516A - Projector and display adjustment method of the projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for simply displaying one screen using a plurality of projectors at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: The capture part 26 of a projector 10 receives and captures a blending area and a blending amount as a mask image from a PC by a video signal. Luminance data of the captured mask image is converted to a gain. When using a video wall function, the video adjustment part 23 of the projector 10 uses an alpha blending function to reflect the gain obtained from the mask image, on a projected video. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector and a projector display adjustment method, and more particularly to a projector having a function of displaying a single image using a plurality of projectors and a projector display adjustment method.

  Conventionally, there is a technique called a video wall function for displaying one video (or image) using a plurality of projectors. For example, a plurality of projectors are installed in a matrix to form one large screen. FIG. 5 shows a “2 × 2” video wall projection in which four projectors are arranged vertically and horizontally. In order to perform such display, it is necessary to adjust an image, and a technique called edge blending is used. In this technique, the overlapping process in each video is subjected to a gradation process so that the overlap cannot be recognized when they overlap. Therefore, the projector allows the user to adjust the hue, brightness, contrast, and the like.

  If edge blending is not performed properly, the displayed image may be unsightly, and various techniques have been proposed. For example, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, an image processing device called an edge blend board is mounted on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”), and an image projected on a screen from a projector is captured by a camera. Adjust the projector. Specifically, an identity conversion function is set on the edge blend board, and projectors are projected one by one in order while sequentially changing the luminance of the graphics board output. Then, an image on the screen is taken with the camera, and each measured value is obtained as a luminance sensitivity characteristic between the projector and the camera. Based on each luminance sensitivity characteristic, a luminance correction value for correcting the luminance difference between the projectors to zero is obtained. Ask. Further, the reference brightness conversion function is corrected according to the brightness correction value to set a brightness conversion function unique to each edge blend board, and images whose brightness is corrected according to the brightness conversion function are continuously arranged and displayed on the screen. By performing such processing, the seam of the image is displayed smoothly.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-238064

  By the way, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a system equipped with a dedicated video processing device and a measuring device such as a camera for measuring the brightness of the edge boundary. As a result, although automatic adjustment is possible, there are problems such as a large system, high costs, and cases where it is difficult to introduce from the standpoint of installation. It was sought after.

  An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a technique that enables simple and low-cost display of a single screen using a plurality of projectors. is there.

The projector according to the present invention includes an image acquisition unit that acquires an edge blending mask image from the outside, a luminance data conversion unit that converts the mask image into luminance data, and a gain adjustment of the output data of the luminance data of the mask image Gain conversion means for converting to data, recording means for recording the gain adjustment data, and data reflection means for reflecting the gain adjustment data in the output video.
The gain converting means may perform a smoothing process on the gain adjustment data.
The projector may include a geometry engine, and the mask image may be generated based on a projection image corrected by the geometry engine.
Further, the data reflecting means may perform mask processing on the video to be output by alpha blending processing.
The method according to the present invention is a display adjustment method for synthesizing images projected from a plurality of projectors by edge blending, an adjusted image projecting step of projecting monochromatic images from a plurality of projectors from a PC, and the plurality A duplication identification process for identifying overlapping portions of mono-color video, a mask image projection step for outputting a mono-color mask image in which the identified overlapping portions are subjected to gradation, and a plurality of projected images. Each of the projectors obtains the mask image when the luminance of the entire video becomes the same, and a conversion step of converting the luminance data of the mask image into a gain and recording it.
The method may further include a video output step of outputting a video reflecting the gain.
The method may further include a smoothing step of performing a smoothing process on the gain gradation.
In the video output step, the mask image may be reflected on the original image by alpha blending processing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables simple and low-cost display of a single screen using a plurality of projectors.

It is a functional block diagram of a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the projection image in process of keystone adjustment based on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the projection image of the state of edge blending based on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the edge blending process sequence based on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the video wall projection of "2x2" which has arrange | positioned the four projectors based on the prior art up and down, right and left.

  Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. The projector of the present embodiment receives a blending area (shape) and blending amount (gradation) as a video signal from a PC and captures it to create an edge blending mask image (hereinafter simply referred to as “mask image”). Then, when using the video wall function, the projector reflects the mask image on the projected image using the alpha blending function or the OSD function. Conventionally, a dedicated image control device has been required for edge blending. However, in recent years, with the enhancement of the performance of an image engine incorporated in a projector, a built-in geometry engine that changes the shape and enhancement of image alpha blending have been attempted. By utilizing this function, a projector capable of edge blending while minimizing the additional configuration is provided.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the projector 10 according to the present embodiment, and mainly shows an image processing function. The projector 10 includes an input unit 12, an output unit 14, an image processing unit 20, a projection unit 30, an operation unit 40, and a communication unit 50.

  The input unit 12 acquires a video signal from an external device such as a PC or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) player. The input unit 12 is, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) or a D-sub interface. The output unit 14 is an interface that outputs a video signal, and is an HDMI or D-sub interface as described above.

  The image processing unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a video adjustment unit 23, an OSD engine 24, and a correction processing unit 25, and converts or adjusts a video signal acquired from the input unit 12 into a predetermined format. Output to the projection unit 30. The OSD engine 24 and the correction processing unit 25 are each configured by a dedicated IC.

  The CPU 21 executes a predetermined program together with a memory (not shown) to centrally control the video adjustment unit 23, the OSD engine 24, and the correction processing unit 25, and to execute the functions of these elements. Further, the CPU 21 performs input / output control of the input unit 12 and the output unit 14, performs communication control of the communication unit 50, performs display output control by the projection unit 30, and further performs user operations on the operation unit 40. And control to perform a desired operation for each component.

  Based on the video signal acquired by the input unit 12, the video adjustment unit 23 performs various image processing such as scaling processing according to a predetermined resolution, luminance adjustment, and color adjustment. The video adjusting unit 23 creates a divided video to be projected from the video signal when performing video wall display.

  The OSD engine 24 generates an OSD screen as necessary and synthesizes it with the video signal acquired by the input unit 12. For example, the OSD engine 24 forms a setting screen of the projector 10 and a video such as a warning. Further, the OSD engine 24 executes the brightness adjustment process for the overlapping area when performing edge blending. Each process of the OSD engine 24 can be realized by using a known technique. For example, an IC that is generally available on the market as an OSD engine can express 4 bits of RGB (total 4,096 colors), and a blend function that performs alpha blending processing to display colored translucent colors Also equipped. Further, the degree of transparency can be controlled by combining the OSD display and the video at various mixing ratios, and the brightness can be controlled by controlling the degree of transparency.

  The correction processing unit 25 performs keystone correction and geometry correction. General keystone correction by four-point correction will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In general, the image 91 displayed on the screen may be distorted into a trapezoid due to the relative positional relationship between the projector 10 and the screen 90, and this distortion is called keystone. Correcting the keystone distortion is called keystone correction. As a keystone correction procedure, for example, as shown in the figure, first, the upper left corner of the image 91 on the screen 90 is set to a desired position (FIG. 2A), and then the upper right corner (FIG. 2B). )), And then the lower right corner (FIG. 2C) and finally the lower left corner (FIG. 2E) are set to desired positions. By such a procedure, an appropriate image 91 (FIG. 2 (e)) is displayed on the screen 90. This correction processing may be performed manually or automatically.

  The geometry correction is a process for correcting distortion due to the shape of the screen when projection is performed in a dome facility such as a cylindrical screen or a planetarium, and is also called a geometry engine having this processing function.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The capture unit 26 acquires and stores a mask image created by the PC. Furthermore, the capture unit 26 converts the luminance data of the mask image into a gain adjustment map, corrects the tone of the gain adjustment map, and records the gain adjustment map. And a mask data storage unit 28.

  The projection unit 30 includes a lamp unit, predetermined light modulation means such as a liquid crystal panel and a DMD chip, and an optical unit such as a projection lens. The projection unit 30 receives a video signal output from the image processing unit 20 under the control of the CPU 21. Projects onto the screen 90.

  The operation unit 40 acquires an operation instruction from the user for the projector 10. The instruction may be acquired directly from an operation panel (not shown) provided in the projector 10, or the remote control light receiving unit 41 included in the operation unit 40 may acquire an instruction from the remote control 42. The acquired operation instruction is sent to the CPU 21 of the image processing unit 20.

  An edge blending processing procedure when displaying a video wall by the projector 10 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a projected image in the edge blending state. Hereinafter, for convenience, the left and right videos are also referred to as “divided images”, and the combined video 91 is also referred to as “combined image 91”. In the first divided image 91a, a predetermined width at the right end is set as the blending portion 93a. Similarly, in the second divided image 91b, a predetermined width at the left end is set as the blending portion 93b. The two blending portions 93a and 93b have the same width, and the same image is displayed in this area, and the luminance decreases in proportion from the inside toward the outside. These blending portions 93a and 93b correspond to mask images.

  FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the gradient of brightness of the two blending portions 93 a and 93 b formed by the OSD engine 24, that is, the gradient. As shown in the figure, in the blending part 93a of the first divided image 91a, the luminance magnification is 100% at the start part 95a, linearly decreases toward the right end part 94a, and becomes 0% at the right end part 94a. . Similarly, in the blending unit 93b of the second divided image 91b, the luminance magnification is 100% at the start unit 95b, linearly decreases toward the left end 94b, and becomes 0% at the left end 94b. When the two blending portions 93a and 93b are properly matched, the luminance magnification at each position is combined to 100%. In addition, the brightness | luminance of the start parts 95a and 95b, the right end part 94a, and the left end part 94b is not restricted to said magnification (%). Further, the luminance gradient is not limited to linear, and it is sufficient that the luminance gradient is 100% when synthesized.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an edge blending processing procedure. First, the user arranges the two projectors 10 on the left and right (S10). Here, the projectors 10 arranged on the left side of the screen 90 are referred to as “set 1”, and the projectors 10 arranged on the right side are referred to as “set 2”.

  Next, the user operates each operation unit 40 (or remote controller 42) of set 1 and set 2, projects an image on the screen 90, and performs keystone adjustment so that the projected image has a desired shape. (S12). At this time, the overlapping position of the images in the set 1 and the set 2 is adjusted to a desired position. In the case of curved projection, the shape is matched by performing geometry correction or the like.

  Subsequently, the user calibrates the brightness of each of set 1 and set 2 (S14). For example, a black image with the lowest luminance and a white image with the highest luminance of a mask created by a PC are projected onto a projector to be remembered. More specifically, an image such as left white right black is used. In addition, as long as brightness calibration and brightness adjustment can be performed appropriately, the image is not limited to a monochrome image, and may be a monocolor image such as red or blue.

  Then, the adjustment images are projected from the projectors 10 of the set 1 and the set 2 (S16). This adjustment image is a white image output from the PC. Hereinafter, for convenience, the adjustment image projected from the set 1 is referred to as “set 1 adjustment image”, and the adjustment image projected from the set 2 is referred to as “ It is referred to as “set 2 adjustment image”.

  Next, the user first confirms the images projected from the projectors 10 in the set 1 and the set 2 using the PC, and first sets the image for adjusting the set 1 as the shape of the mask image that is the area to be subjected to the gradient. The shape of the mask image corresponding to is specified, and the mask image for the set 1 is graded (S18). Similarly, the user first specifies the shape of the mask image corresponding to the set 2 adjustment image, and performs gradient on the mask image for set 2 (S20).

  Then, the user adjusts the gradient of each mask image of the set 1 adjustment image and the set 2 adjustment image so that the luminance is constant over the entire projected screen (S22). If the luminance is not constant on the entire screen (N in S24), the above gradation adjustment processing is continued until it becomes constant (S22).

  When the adjustment is completed so that the brightness is constant over the entire screen (Y in S24), the capture unit 26 of the projector 10 in the set 1 uses the mask image for the set 1, and the capture unit 26 in the projector 10 in the set 2 uses the set 2 A mask image is taken in (S26).

  Next, in the capture unit 26 of each projector 10, the data conversion unit 27 converts the luminance data of the captured mask image into a gain adjustment map (S28), performs tone correction of the gain adjustment map, and sets the gain adjustment map. The gradation is made smooth (S30). For example, when the captured luminance is 0 (black), the gain is “0.0”, and the luminance of the original pixel in the projected image × 0.0. When the captured luminance is 255 (white), the gain is “1.0” and the original pixel luminance × 1.0 in the projected image. Further, when the OSD processing has more gradations than the input image, smoothing is performed so that there is no luminance gradation step by linear interpolation or the like. If there is noise in the captured mask image, the noise is removed in the smoothing process.

  Then, when the video wall projection is performed, the OSD engine 24 reflects the gain adjustment map in the output image and projects it (S32). In a dark place, the luminance is converted so that the output RGB pixels become dark. In practice, a composite function such as an OSD or a splash screen provided by the image processing IC of the projector is used.

  Although the gain adjustment map is stored in the mask data storage unit 28, captured mask image data may be recorded. In this case, the OSD engine 24 performs edge blending processing during video wall projection. The gain adjustment data may be generated.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the transparency function built in the projector 10 is used, a dedicated brightness correction device is not required.
(2) Since the mask setting can be registered as an image without passing it as data such as RS232C, network or USB memory, complicated procedures and unique communication software are not required.
(3) Since it is not necessary to use a dedicated device for brightness adjustment, a mask creation method can be selected by means that are easy for the user to use, such as a general PC and general-purpose software.
(4) The shape of the blending can be freely made as long as it can be made by a PC other than a rectangle.
(5) A mask image template can be disclosed and distributed on the Web.
(6) When projecting onto a curved surface or the like, conventionally, it is necessary to adjust the image itself input to the projector 10, and a general-purpose device such as a DVD player or a game machine can be connected and used. There wasn't. However, in this embodiment, since the mask image is recorded on the projector 10, there is no limitation on the video source.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. . For example, although the user manually performs mask creation, the technique shown in Patent Document 1 may be used.

10 Projector 20 Image Processing Unit 21 CPU
23 Image adjustment unit 24 OSD engine 25 Correction processing unit 26 Capture unit 27 Data conversion unit 28 Mask data storage unit

Claims (8)

Image acquisition means for acquiring a mask image for edge blending from the outside;
Gain conversion means for converting the luminance data of the mask image into gain adjustment data of the output image;
Recording means for recording the gain adjustment data;
Data reflecting means for reflecting the gain adjustment data in the output video;
A projector comprising:   The projector according to claim 1, wherein the gain conversion unit performs a smoothing process on the gain adjustment data. With a geometry engine,
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the mask image is generated based on a projection image corrected by the geometry engine.   The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data reflection unit performs a mask process on the video to be output by an alpha blending process. A display adjustment method for synthesizing images projected from a plurality of projectors by edge blending,
An adjustment image projection step of projecting a monocolor image from the plurality of projectors from a PC;
An overlapping specifying step for specifying an overlapping portion of the plurality of monochromatic images;
A mask image projecting step for outputting a monochromatic mask image (luminance data) obtained by performing gradation on the identified overlapping portion;
A capture step of acquiring the mask image in each projector when the luminance of the entire video composed of a plurality of projected images is the same;
A conversion step of converting luminance data of the mask image into gain and recording;
A display adjustment method comprising:   6. The display adjustment method according to claim 5, further comprising a video output step of outputting a video reflecting the gain.   The display adjustment method according to claim 5, further comprising a smoothing step of performing a smoothing process on the gain gradation.   8. The display adjustment method according to claim 5, wherein in the video output step, the mask image is reflected on an original image by an alpha blending process.

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