JP2012165419A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change color scheme of an image and output an eye-friendly image.SOLUTION: An image output device is a projection apparatus 100 that projects a predetermined image from a projection lens 12 based on the input image data that is output from an external device. The image output device includes a controller 39 that performs differential calculation based on the image data, extracts the contour of the image, divides the image into predetermined areas by the contour, and changes color scheme of each area so that color difference between adjacent areas becomes a predetermined value or larger. The image output device projects a corrected image whose color scheme has changed from the projection lens 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output apparatus that outputs a target image arranged in a plurality of colors.

  A projection device that converts an image into an easy-to-view color and projects it has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a technique for making an image easier to see by reversing the color density of the image has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-236650 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-23446

  However, in the case of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, it is difficult to see the original image data because the background and characters are composed of similar colors, for example, rather than changing the color scheme of the image itself. In the case of an image, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with it sufficiently.

  An object of the present invention is to change the color scheme of an image so that the image can be re-colored and output in an easier-to-view image.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a conversion unit that converts a target image arranged in a plurality of colors into a black and white image, a histogram generation unit that generates a density histogram of the target image based on the black and white image converted by the conversion unit, The image processing apparatus includes: a re-coloring unit that re-colors the target image based on the density histogram created by the histogram creating unit; and an image output unit that outputs the re-colored image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to change the color scheme of an image so that the image can be re-colored and output in a more easily viewable image.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the projection apparatus of suitable one Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is the figure which showed typically the principal part structure of the projection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the projection image which concerns on the image projection process by the projector of FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation related to the image projection processing of FIG. 3. It is the figure which showed typically the density histogram which concerns on the image projection process by the modification of a projector. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation related to the image projection processing of FIG. 5.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

  The projection apparatus according to the present embodiment extracts the contour of the image projected from the projection unit, divides the projected image into predetermined regions based on the contour, and changes the color scheme so that each region does not have a similar color to the adjacent region. A color arrangement change process is performed to project the color-changed image.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the projection device 100 viewed from the top surface side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the external configuration of the projection device 100 viewed from the bottom surface side. FIG.
The projection device 100 is composed of, for example, a projector, and displays a predetermined image on a screen based on predetermined image data (RGB image data) related to a still image or a moving image output and input from an external device (not shown). It is projected onto S (see FIG. 3).

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the projection apparatus 100 includes a projection lens 12 and two distance measuring lenses 13a, 13b and 13c, 13d and Ir on the front surface of a rectangular parallelepiped main body casing 11. A receiving unit 14 and the like are provided.

  The projection lens 12 is for projecting a light image formed by a spatial light modulation element 36 (described later) such as a micromirror element, for example. Further, the projection lens 12 can arbitrarily change the in-focus position and the zoom position (projection angle of view), for example.

  The distance measuring lenses 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d constitute, for example, part of phase difference sensors 131 and 132, which will be described later, respectively, and are based on the principle of triangulation from the parallax between these two lenses with respect to the subject image. The distance to the subject, specifically, the distance to the screen S is measured (details will be described later).

  Specifically, the distance to the subject in the vertical direction is measured with a pair of distance measuring lenses 13a and 13b arranged in the vertical direction, and the distance in the horizontal direction is measured with another distance measuring lens 13c and 13d arranged in the horizontal direction. The distance to the subject is measured.

  For example, the Ir receiver 14 receives infrared light on which a key operation signal transmitted from a remote controller is superimposed.

  Further, on the upper surface of the main body casing 11, for example, a main body main key / indicator 15, a speaker 16, a cover 17, and the like are disposed.

  The main body main key / indicator 15 includes, for example, a power key, a numeric key, a character key, and various function keys. The power ON / OFF, a focusing process start instruction, a keystone correction start instruction, an input switching instruction, and a color change instruction For example, an operation instruction to the projection apparatus 100 is received.

The speaker 16 outputs, for example, a sound when reproducing a moving image.
The cover 17 opens and closes, for example, when operating a main body subkey (not shown). Note that the main body subkey cannot be instructed to set by using only the main body main key / indicator 15 key without using the remote controller (not shown) of the projection apparatus 100, for example, horizontal / vertical position, luminance, color adjustment, etc. It operates various operations such as screen adjustment.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 1B, an input / output connector portion 18, an Ir receiving portion 19, an AC adapter connecting portion 20, and the like are disposed on the back surface of the main body casing 11.

  The input / output connector unit 18 includes, for example, a USB terminal for inputting / outputting image and audio data to / from an external device via a connection cable (not shown), a mini-D-SUB terminal for video input, and an S terminal. And an RCA terminal and a stereo mini terminal for voice input.

For example, the Ir receiving unit 19 receives infrared light on which a key operation signal transmitted from the remote controller is superimposed, in substantially the same manner as the Ir receiving unit 14.
The AC adapter connection unit 20 connects, for example, a cable from an AC adapter (not shown) serving as a power source.

In addition, on the lower surface of the main body casing 11, for example, a pair of fixed leg portions 21, 21 are attached to the rear side, and an adjustment leg portion 22 capable of height adjustment is attached to the front side. .
The adjustment leg 22 adjusts the vertical component of the projection direction of the projection lens 12, that is, the elevation angle, by manipulating the screw rotation position manually, for example.

Next, the functional configuration of the electronic circuit of the projection apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a main configuration of the projection apparatus 100. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the projection apparatus 100 has image data of various standards output from an external device and input via the input / output connector unit 18, as an image conversion unit via the input / output I / F 31 and the system bus SB. After being unified into image data of a predetermined format at 32, it is sent to the image storage unit 40.

The image storage unit 40 is composed of, for example, a flash memory or the like, and temporarily stores a predetermined amount of image data sequentially sent from the image conversion unit 32.
The image data stored in the image storage unit 40 is sequentially read out and sent to the display encoder 33 under the control of the control unit 39.

  Note that the image storage unit 40 may be configured to temporarily store data when various operation programs executed by the control unit 39 are executed.

  For example, the display encoder 33 develops and stores the image data read and input from the image storage unit 40 in the video RAM 34, generates a video signal from the stored contents of the video RAM 34, and supplies the video signal to the display drive unit 35. Output.

The display driving unit 35 drives the spatial light modulation element (SOM) 36 at an appropriate frame rate, for example, 30 [frame / second] corresponding to the transmitted image data. The spatial light modulator 36 is irradiated with high-intensity white light emitted from a light source lamp 37 such as an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, so that an optical image is formed by the reflected light, and the projection lens 12 Is projected and displayed on the screen S.
As described above, the display drive unit 35, the spatial light modulation element 36, the light source lamp 37, and the projection lens 12 display an image corresponding to the image data on the screen based on the plurality of image data stored in the image storage unit 40. Projection means for projecting onto S is constructed.

  For example, the projection lens 12 is driven by a lens motor 38 so that the zoom position and the focus position can be appropriately changed.

The sound processing unit 41 includes a sound source circuit such as a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) sound source, for example, converts the sound data given at the time of the projection display operation into analog, and drives the speaker 16 to emit loud sound.
For example, when the acceleration sensor 42 is moved from a state where the projection apparatus 100 is installed, the acceleration sensor 42 detects the vibration and outputs the vibration to the control unit 39.

The distance measurement processing unit 43 drives, for example, a phase difference sensor 131 having distance measurement lenses 13a and 13b and a phase difference sensor 132 having distance measurement lenses 13c and 13d, respectively, and predetermined images projected and displayed on the screen S. Is measured according to the principle of distance measurement called the external light triangle method.
The phase difference sensor 131 is a sensor that measures the distance from a plurality of distance measuring points in the vertical direction from the center of the screen. The phase difference sensor 132 is a sensor that measures the distance from a plurality of distance measuring points in the horizontal direction from the center of the screen.

The key / indicator unit 45 includes the main unit main key / indicator 15 and a main unit subkey provided in the cover 17. A key operation signal output based on a predetermined operation by the user is directly input to the control unit 39. It is like that.
Note that the infrared light reception signals received by the Ir receiver 14 and the Ir receiver 19 are also directly input to the controller 39.

  The control unit 39 controls all operations of each circuit. For example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which an operation program executed by the CPU is fixedly stored, a work piece, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a memory is used.

  In the ROM, for example, an area classification program, a boundary superimposition program, a color arrangement change program, and the like (all not shown) are stored.

The area classification program causes the CPU to function as area classification means. That is, the area classification program extracts a contour portion of the image G1 based on the image data stored in the image storage unit 40, and performs a function related to a region classification process for dividing the image into a predetermined region R by the contour portion. Is a program for causing the CPU to realize the above. Specifically, the region classification program performs a differential operation such as a first derivative (gradient) or a second derivative (Laplacian) on the basis of image data by the CPU, and abrupt changes occur in the density and color of the image G1. This is for extracting a certain point as a line (outline) representing the outer edge of various objects in the image G1.
For example, the boundary part between the pie chart and the background of the image G1, the boundary part between the elements (fan-like parts) constituting the pie chart, and the like are obtained as boundaries (see FIG. 3A).
Thereby, the contour extraction of the image G1 can be appropriately performed by differential calculation, and the more attractive projection device 100 can be provided.

The boundary superimposing program causes the CPU to function as boundary superimposing means. That is, the boundary superimposing program is a program for causing the CPU to realize a function related to the boundary superimposing process for superimposing the boundary line L on the boundary between adjacent regions R of the image with a color not similar to the color of the region R. . Specifically, the boundary superimposing program edits the image data so as to superimpose a border line L (see FIG. 3B) formed of a thick solid line by the contour extracted in the region segmentation process. .
Thereby, the boundary of adjacent area | region R can be emphasized more by the boundary line L, and it can be set as a more legible image.

The color arrangement changing program causes the CPU to function as color arrangement changing means. That is, the color arrangement changing program causes the CPU to realize a function related to the color arrangement changing process for changing the color arrangement so as not to be similar to the color of the area R adjacent to the area R for each area R divided by the area dividing process. It is a program for. Specifically, the color arrangement changing program is for the CPU to change the color arrangement so that the color difference between adjacent regions R constituting the image G2 becomes a predetermined value or more based on the RGB image data ( (Refer FIG.3 (b)).
Thereby, it is possible to arrange colors so that similar colors do not come close to each other adjacent regions R of the image G2, and it is possible to easily distinguish each region R from the adjacent region R.

  In the color change process, it is preferable to change the color arrangement so that the colors of the adjacent regions R do not resemble the color of the boundary line L that separates the regions R. Thereby, the boundary line L can be emphasized more effectively, and a more easily viewable image can be projected.

  As a color to be arranged, for example, a color that can be clearly identified and has a large color difference from the adjacent region R, such as RGBCMYWK, may be selected. In other words, if it is difficult to see, it is possible to select a color in which the color difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and less than a specific value in consideration thereof. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a projection image that is easier to see while sufficiently ensuring the distinguishability of each region R of the image.

Next, image projection processing by the projection apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation related to the image projection processing.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, when image data output from an external device is input to the projection apparatus 100 via the input / output connector unit 18, the image data is stored in the image storage unit 40 under the control of the CPU. Is temporarily stored (step S1).
When a predetermined amount of image data is stored in the image storage unit 40, the image data stored in the image storage unit 40 are sequentially read out from the old image data under the control of the CPU. An image G1 corresponding to the data is projected from the projection lens 12 onto the screen S (step S2).

  At this time, when it is determined by the user that the projected image G1 is difficult to see and a predetermined button for instructing execution of the color change process is pressed (step S3; YES), the control unit 39 executes the area division process. That is, the CPU of the control unit 39 reads out the area division program from the ROM and develops it in the RAM, executes the area division program, performs a differential operation based on the image data of the projection image G1, and performs an outline of the image G1. Is extracted, and the image G1 is divided into predetermined regions R based on the contours (step S4).

  Subsequently, the control unit 39 executes boundary superimposition processing. That is, the CPU of the control unit 39 reads the boundary superimposition program from the ROM, expands it in the RAM, executes this boundary superimposition program, and projects the projection image G1 on the boundary between adjacent regions R (see FIG. 3A). A border line L that is thicker than the one at is superimposed (step S5).

Next, the control unit 39 executes a color arrangement changing process. That is, the CPU of the control unit 39 reads the color arrangement change program from the ROM, develops it in the RAM, executes this color arrangement change program, and executes the color arrangement change program to determine the color of the adjacent areas R divided by the area division process and the area R. The color scheme is changed so that the color of the boundary line L separating the two is not similar (step S6).
Thereafter, under the control of the control unit 39, the modified image G2 (see FIG. 3B) related to the image data whose color scheme has been changed is projected from the projection lens 12 onto the screen S (step S7).

  As described above, according to the projection device 100 of the present embodiment, the contour of the image G1 can be appropriately extracted by the differential operation, and the image G1 can be divided into the predetermined region R by this contour, and the adjacent regions The color scheme can be changed for each region R so that the color difference between R is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. As a result, it is possible to arrange the colors so that the similar colors do not come close to each other between the adjacent regions R, so that each region R and the adjacent region R can be easily identified, and a more easily viewable image G2 can be obtained. Can be projected.

  Further, the boundary line L can be superimposed on the boundary between the adjacent regions R of the image G1 with a color that is not similar to the color of the region R, and the boundary between the adjacent regions R is more emphasized by the boundary line L. As a result, the image can be made easier to see.

  In the above embodiment, the boundary superimposing process for superimposing the boundary line L on the boundary between the adjacent regions R is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and whether or not the boundary superimposing process is performed is determined. It can be changed as appropriate.

  In the contour extraction in the above embodiment, the control is performed based only on the differential calculation of the image data under the control of the control unit 39. However, the present invention is not limited to this. After the contour extraction, the color difference between the adjacent regions R divided by the contour may be calculated, and the contour may be confirmed based on the color difference. As a result, a more appropriate contour can be extracted, and a more attractive projection device 100 can be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and design changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, in the area classification process, based on the execution of the area classification program by the CPU, the image contour is extracted by performing a differential operation such as a primary differentiation (gradient) or a secondary differentiation (Laplacian). However, it is not limited to this.
Below, the modification of an area | region division process is demonstrated.

<Modification 1>
In the projection apparatus of Modification 1, for example, under the control of the control unit 39, template matching may be performed based on the image data of the projection image to extract the contour of the image. Specifically, for example, a predetermined standard pattern (not shown) representing the contour of the image is stored (prepared) in the image storage unit 40 or the like, and the control unit 39 compares the pattern with a part of the image. Thus, a part of a similar image is determined as a contour part.
According to the first modification, the contour extraction of the image can be appropriately performed by template matching, and a more attractive projection device can be provided.

<Modification 2>
In the projection apparatus of the second modification, under the control of the control unit 39, a density histogram H (see FIG. 5) of the image G1 is created based on the image data of the projection image, and the density of the density histogram H You may make it classify | categorize into the area | region R based on a value.
That is, under the control of the control unit 39, after converting the projection image G1 into a black and white image, the density distribution of the image is acquired, the horizontal axis is the density value based on this density distribution, and the vertical axis is the number of pixels. A density histogram H is created. Then, the control unit 39 includes density values from the density histogram H (for example, peaks A, B, and C in FIG. 5A), that is, density values before and after the peak that tends to be a main component of the image. After acquiring the portion as one region R, the portions other than these peak portions (for example, portions corresponding to the density value levels 1 to 4, 6 to 10, 12 to 13, and 15 to 16 in FIG. 5B) are predetermined. Divide by a predetermined density value width according to the threshold. Subsequently, the control unit 39 divides the image into a plurality of small regions R based on the divided density values of the density histogram H.
Note that even peaks extracted from the density histogram H may be omitted if they are too small than the predetermined threshold.

Hereinafter, image projection processing by the projection apparatus according to the second modification will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that, in the image projection processing of FIG. 6, the description of the same processing as that in the image projection processing (see FIG. 4) of the above embodiment is simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 6, first, almost the same processing as Step S <b> 1 to Step S <b> 3 of the image projection processing of the above embodiment is performed, and when a user presses a predetermined button for instructing execution of the color change processing ( Step S3; YES), the control unit 39 executes an area division process. That is, the CPU of the control unit 39 reads the area division program from the ROM, expands it in the RAM, executes the area division program, converts the image into a black and white image based on the image data of the projection image G1 ( Step S24), a density histogram H is created (Step S25). Subsequently, the control unit 39 acquires a predetermined number of peak parts from the density histogram H, divides the part other than the peak part by a predetermined density value width, and converts the image G1 into a plurality of small regions R based on the density values. Partition (step S26).

Next, the control unit 39 executes a color arrangement changing process. That is, the CPU of the control unit 39 reads the color arrangement change program from the ROM, develops it in the RAM, executes this color arrangement change program, and the colors of the adjacent small areas R divided by the area division processing are not similar. Thus, the color scheme is changed (step S27).
Thereafter, under the control of the control unit 39, the modified image G2 related to the image data whose color scheme has been changed is projected from the projection lens 12 (step S7).

According to the second modification, the image can be divided into the small regions R based on the density value of the density histogram H of the image, whereby the contour image can be appropriately created.
As a result, it is possible to arrange colors so that similar colors do not come close to each other between adjacent regions R, and it is possible to project a more easily viewable image G2.

Of course, in the image projecting process of the second modification, the boundary superimposing process may be executed under the control of the control unit 39.
Further, in the area classification process of the modified example 2, the part other than the peak portion of the density histogram H is divided according to the density value so as to be a plurality of areas, but is not limited to this. For example, You may make it divide | segment according to the number of pixels so that the total number of pixels of each area | region may become substantially equal.

  Further, the spatial light modulation element 36 of the above embodiment may be any one of DMD, LCD, LCOS, G × L, and the like, for example.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the projection apparatus 100 has been described by taking the front projection type as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a rear projection type may be used.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the functions as the area sorting unit, the color scheme changing unit, and the boundary superimposing unit are realized by executing a predetermined program or the like by the CPU of the control unit 39. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a logic circuit or the like for realizing various functions may be used.

100 Projector 12 Projector Lens (Projector)
35 Display driver (projection means)
36 Spatial light modulator (projection means)
37 Light source lamp (projection means)
39 Control unit (area sorting means, color scheme changing means, boundary superimposing means)
H Density histogram L Boundary line R Region

Claims (7)

Conversion means for converting a target image arranged in multiple colors into a black and white image;
Histogram creation means for creating a density histogram of the target image based on the black and white image converted by the conversion means;
Re-coloring means for re-coloring the target image based on the density histogram created by the histogram creating means;
Image output means for outputting the re-colored image;
An image output apparatus comprising: The re-coloring unit divides the target image into a plurality of areas based on the density histogram, and re-colors the target image so that the color arrangement of each of the divided areas is different between adjacent areas. To
The image output apparatus according to claim 1. The re-coloring unit acquires a predetermined number of peak portions based on the density histogram, divides the portions other than the peak portions by a predetermined density value width, and selects a plurality of the target images based on the divided density values. To subdivide
The image output apparatus according to claim 2. And an instruction means for instructing a color change of the target image,
The color arrangement determination means determines the color arrangement of each small area when an instruction to change the color arrangement is made by the instruction means.
The image output apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The recoloring means divides the target image into a plurality of areas based on the density histogram, and adds boundary lines to the boundaries of the divided areas;
The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The boundary adding means adds a boundary line in a color that is not similar to the color re-colored between adjacent areas of the image;
The image output apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: A program for controlling a computer of an image output device,
The computer,
Conversion means for converting a target image arranged in a plurality of colors into a monochrome image;
A histogram creation means for creating a density histogram of the target image based on the black and white image converted by the conversion means;
Recoloring means for recoloring the target image based on the density histogram created by the histogram creating means;
Image output means for outputting the re-colored image;
A computer-readable program characterized by functioning as a computer.

Images