JP2013148802A - Projector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projector capable of effectively performing projection by determining the information of an obstacle, even when the obstacle is detected.SOLUTION: The projector includes a housing, a projection part 12 stored in the housing and projecting an image to the placing surface of the housing, a detection part 18 detecting the information of the obstacle on the placing surface, a determination part 4 whether or not the obstacle is a problem object working against the projection by the projection part, based on the information and a setting part 4 re-setting the projected area of the image in the placing surface, when it is determined that the obstacle is the problem object by the determination part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector.

  A projector that stops projection by stopping the emission of light from a light source when an obstacle is detected is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-178342 A

  By the way, when an obstacle is detected in this projector, the projection is always stopped. However, in a projector that projects on a mounting surface such as a desktop projection type projector, even if an obstacle is detected, the projection is not performed. There are cases where there is no problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector that can perform projection effectively by determining information on an obstacle even when the obstacle is detected.

  A projector according to the present invention includes a housing, a projection unit that is housed in the housing and projects an image onto a placement surface of the housing, and a detection that detects information on an obstacle on the placement surface. A determination unit that determines whether the obstacle is an obstacle that hinders projection by the projection unit based on the information, and the determination unit determines that the obstacle is the obstacle And a setting unit for resetting a projection area of the image on the placement surface.

  According to the projector of the present invention, even when an obstacle is detected, it is possible to perform projection effectively by determining the information of the obstacle.

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the state at the time of the projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the state at the time of projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a flowchart which shows the obstacle detection process and projection area reset process of a projector which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state at the time of the projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the state at the time of projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the top. It is a figure which shows the projection area | region after the reset of the projector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state at the time of the projection of the projector which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the projection area | region after reset of the projector which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  A projector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the projector according to the embodiment. The projector 2 includes a CPU 4, and the CPU 4 is connected to a light source 6 composed of an LED (light emitting diode) or a laser, and a display unit 8 composed of an LCOS (reflection type liquid crystal element) and the like for displaying a projected image. Yes. Here, the light source 6 and the display unit 8 constitute a projection unit 12. In addition, the CPU 4 includes an image storage unit 10 that stores image data of a projection image, a battery 14 that supplies power to the projection unit 12, and the like, an infrared irradiation unit 16 that irradiates obstacles with infrared light, and an infrared camera. Infrared detector 18 configured to detect infrared light reflected by the obstacle, and processing such as movement, enlargement, and reduction described later on the projection image displayed on display unit 8 according to the information on the obstacle. An image processing unit 20 to be performed, a power switch 22, and an operation unit 24 for receiving a projection start instruction and the like by a user are connected.

  Here, the projection unit 12 is provided inside a case 26 (see FIG. 2) described later, and projects a projection image read by the light emitted from the light source 6, the display unit 8, and the light source 6. (Not shown).

  FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state during projection of the projector according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a view of the projection area at the time of projection of the projector according to the embodiment as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 2, the projector 2 is a desktop projection type projector, is placed on a placement surface G such as a desk, and projects a projection image onto a projection area P on the placement surface G. In addition, the projector 2 includes a housing 26, and the housing 26 is provided with the infrared irradiation unit 16, the infrared detection unit 18, the opening 28, and the mirror 30, and the light emitted from the projection lens of the projection unit 12 is the opening 28. Through the mirror 30. The infrared irradiation unit 16 is provided on the front surface of the housing 26, and the infrared detection unit 18 is provided on the upper portion of the housing 26.

  Here, the mirror 30 has a reflecting surface that reflects incident light and sets the projection direction to the mounting surface G direction. In addition, when the projector 2 is installed on the mounting surface G that is a horizontal plane, the projection distance of the image from the mirror 30 to the mounting surface G is uniquely determined, so that a clear image is obtained at a position separated by the projection distance. The projection unit 12 and the mirror 30 can be fixed at predetermined positions in the housing 26 in advance so as to form an image.

  Next, the projector obstacle detection process and the projection area resetting process according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the user turns on the power switch 22 and gives an instruction to start projection via the operation unit 24, the CPU 4 starts projection by the projection unit 12 (step S1). That is, the CPU 4 reads out the projection image from the image storage unit 10 and displays it on the display unit 8 to turn on the light source 6.

  Next, CPU4 starts the irradiation of the infrared light by the infrared irradiation part 16 (step S2). Then, the CPU 4 determines whether or not infrared light reflected by the obstacle is detected by the infrared detection unit 18 (step S3). Here, the infrared irradiation unit 16 is provided so as to emit infrared light having a predetermined height H such as 15 mm with respect to the mounting surface G and parallel to the mounting surface G. Yes. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the obstacle 34 having a height H or higher exists on the projection area P of the placement surface G, the infrared detector 18 causes the obstacle 34 to face the projector 2. The infrared light reflected by 36 is detected. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, even when an obstacle 32 such as a notebook having a thickness of 10 mm exists on the projection area P of the placement surface G, the height of the obstacle 32 is less than H. In some cases, infrared light is not detected by the infrared detector 18. The height H can be defined as appropriate. For example, the infrared irradiation unit 16 having a structure capable of changing the height H may be provided in the housing 26.

  When infrared light is detected by the infrared detecting unit 18, the CPU 4 determines that the detected obstacle is an obstacle that hinders projection, and resets the projection area (step S4). Here, the CPU 4 can recognize at which position of the projection area an obstacle is present based on the infrared light detected by the infrared detector 18. That is, the infrared detector 18 can image the infrared light reflected by the obstacle in two dimensions and recognize the position of the obstacle.

  Here, a case where a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box 34 having a height of 30 mm is present on the projection region P as an obstacle as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. The infrared light emitted from the infrared irradiation unit 16 is reflected by the surface 36 on the projector 2 side of the box 34 and enters the infrared detection unit 18. The CPU 4 recognizes the presence position of the surface 36 located on the projector 2 side of the box 34 that is an obstacle based on the infrared light detected by the infrared detection unit 18, and is more than the surface 36 in the projection region P. A region located on the side far from the projector 2 is set as a non-projection region P ′ (a region indicated by dots in FIG. 7).

  In addition, the CPU 4 determines the region having the maximum area among the regions excluding the non-projection region P ′ from the projection region P while maintaining the aspect ratio such as 16: 9 or 4: 3 as the projection region P1 (FIG. 7 is reset as an area indicated by hatching).

  When the projection area is reset, the CPU 4 reduces and displays the projection image in the area projected on the projection area P1 on the display unit 8 and displays black in the area projected outside the projection area P1 in the projection area P. Display on the display unit 8 is performed so that the image is projected, and projection is resumed (step S5).

  When infrared light is not detected (step S3: No), it returns to step S2 and performs infrared light irradiation processing. That is, by emitting infrared light from the infrared irradiation unit 16 every predetermined time, it can be confirmed whether or not an obstacle that becomes an obstacle exists in the projection region P during projection.

  According to the projector according to the present embodiment, even when an obstacle is detected, it is possible to perform projection effectively by determining information on the obstacle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the infrared light irradiation is performed after the start of projection. However, after the projection start instruction, the infrared light irradiation process shown in step S2 and the infrared light detection process shown in step S3 are performed first. May be. In this case, projection is started when infrared light is not detected, and when infrared light is detected, projection is started after performing the resetting process of the projection area shown in step S4.

  In the above-described embodiment, after resetting the projection area and restarting projection (steps S4 to S5), the processes shown in steps S2 to S5 may be performed. That is, after resetting the projection area, the CPU 4 causes the infrared irradiation unit 16 to emit infrared light, and when the infrared detection unit 18 does not detect infrared light (step S3: No), the CPU 4 returns to step S2. Infrared light irradiation treatment is performed. On the other hand, when infrared light is detected by the infrared detector 18 (step S3: Yes), the projection area is reset (step S4), and projection is resumed (step S5). In this case, it is possible to perform projection corresponding to a case where an obstacle that is an obstacle moves after resetting the projection area. For example, when the obstacle moves out of the projection area P, the original projection area P in which the non-projection area P ′ does not exist can be reset as the projection area, and the maximum projection area P that the projector 2 can project is set. Can project a projected image.

  In the above-described embodiment, the infrared detection unit 18 is an infrared camera. However, as shown in FIG. 8, a camera 36 that captures infrared light and visible light may be provided instead of the infrared detection unit 18. Good.

  In this case, the CPU 4 recognizes the position of the obstacle 38 based on the captured image obtained by imaging the infrared light reflected by the obstacle 38 by the camera 36, and further, based on the captured image obtained by imaging visible light. The height of the obstacle 38 is recognized. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 4 calculates the area that becomes the shadow 40 of the obstacle 38 when the projector 2 performs projection, and the area where the obstacle 38 is placed and the area of the shadow 40 are non-projected areas. Set to P ′ (area indicated by dots in FIG. 9). Next, the CPU 4 determines a region having the maximum area among the regions obtained by removing the non-projection region P ′ from the projection region P while maintaining an aspect ratio such as 16: 9 or 4: 3. The area is reset as a hatched area in FIG. Then, the CPU 4 reduces and displays the projection image on the area projected on the projection area P1 on the display unit 8, and displays the black image on the area other than the projection area P1 in the projection area P. The display in the unit 8 is performed and projection is performed.

  In this case, when the obstacle 38 exists on the side close to the projector 2 in the projection area P, the projection area can be reset in consideration of the shadow 40 of the obstacle 38.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the infrared irradiation unit 16 is provided on the front surface of the casing 26, and infrared light is emitted from the infrared irradiation unit 16 in parallel with the mounting surface G. FIG. An infrared irradiation unit may be further provided on the upper portion of the housing 26 such as in the vicinity of the position where the infrared detection unit 18 shown is provided. In this case, even if the height of the obstacle on the projection area P is lower than the predetermined height H, the surface state is not suitable for projection, such as when the surface material of the projection area P is a metal. Can be set as a non-projection region. That is, the infrared light is emitted from the infrared irradiation unit installed at the upper portion to the projection region P, and the CPU 4 detects a region where the intensity of the reflected wave detected by the infrared detection unit 18 is equal to or less than a preset intensity. Set to. Then, the CPU 4 resets the region having the largest area as the projection region P1 while maintaining the aspect ratio such as 16: 9 or 4: 3 among the regions excluding the non-projection region from the projection region.

  In addition, the infrared light is emitted from the infrared irradiation unit installed in the upper portion to the projection region P, and the CPU 4 sets the region where there is a certain difference or more in the intensity of the reflected wave detected by the infrared detection unit as the non-projection region. It may be set. In this case, projection according to the degree of unevenness on the surface of the projection region P can be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the non-projection area may be set by a gesture such as drawing a line with the finger on the projection area P or creating a line by extending an arm. In this case, based on the infrared light detected by the infrared detecting unit 18, the position of a line drawn by a finger or a line drawn by a finger is recognized, and the CPU 4 in the projection area P A region located farther from the projector 2 than the recognized line position is set as a non-projection region. Moreover, you may set the area | region with a small area among the area | regions divided by the recognized line as a non-projection area | region. When the non-projection area is set, the CPU 4 determines the area having the maximum area among the areas excluding the non-projection area from the projection area P while maintaining the aspect ratio such as 16: 9 or 4: 3. Reset as P1. In this case, in order to prevent a malfunction when a finger or arm accidentally enters the projection area P, non-gestation is performed only when the finger or arm exists in the projection area P for a predetermined time or longer. It is good also as a structure which sets a projection area | region.

  In the above-described embodiment, the projector 2 may be provided with a movement amount detection unit configured on the lower surface of the housing 26, for example, a biaxial laser type sensor used for a mouse. In this case, the CPU 4 recognizes the position of the obstacle that is an obstacle by the above-described infrared light irradiation processing and infrared light detection processing by coordinates with a specific point such as one corner of the projection region P as the origin. And set a non-projection area. When the projector 2 moves, the absolute position of the obstacle does not change, and the absolute position of the projection area P moves, so the relative position of the obstacle to the projection area P changes. It will be. Therefore, the CPU 4 recognizes the position in the projection area P after the movement of the projector 2 by adding the movement amount detected by the movement amount detection unit to the coordinates of the obstacle. In addition, once the non-projection area is set, the infrared light irradiation process and the infrared light detection process are not performed, and the CPU 4 resets the non-projection area based on the movement amount.

  In this case, when the projector 2 moves, the non-projection area can be reset based on the movement amount of the projector 2, so that infrared light detection such as imaging by the infrared detector 18 is performed after the movement. Thus, it is possible to suppress the power used compared to the case of resetting the non-projection area. Further, the CPU 4 resets the projection area P based on the non-projection area set after the movement of the projector 2.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the non-projection area is set, the CPU 4 is configured to reset the area having the maximum area among the areas excluding the non-projection area from the projection area P as the projection area P1. However, when the area of the projection region P1 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined area, the user may be notified of that fact. In this case, for example, the notification may be made by projecting as a projection image, or when the housing 26 has an indicator configured by an LED or a liquid crystal that displays an operation state of the projector 2, the LED or the indicator. You may alert | report by displaying on, and when the housing | casing 26 has a speaker, you may alert | report by sound.

2 ... projector, 4 ... CPU, 6 ... light source, 8 ... display unit, 12 ... projection unit, 16 ... infrared irradiation unit, 18 ... infrared detection unit, 26 ... housing

Claims (9)

A housing,
A projection unit that is housed in the housing and projects an image onto a placement surface of the housing;
A detection unit for detecting information on obstacles on the mounting surface,
A determination unit that determines whether the obstacle is an obstacle that hinders projection by the projection unit based on the information;
A projector comprising: a setting unit configured to reset a projection region of the image on the placement surface when the determination unit determines that the obstacle is the obstacle.   The projector according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the height of the obstacle as information on the obstacle.   The projector according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the placement surface or a surface state of the obstacle on the placement surface as information on the obstacle.   The projector according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit resets the projection area based on an aspect ratio of the image.   The projector according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit resets a maximum area that can be projected on the placement surface as the projection area.   The projector according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user that a maximum area that can be projected on the placement surface is a predetermined area or less. A movement detector for detecting movement of the housing;
The projector according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit resets the projection area when the movement detection unit detects a movement of the housing.   The said setting part resets the said projection area | region, when the said determination part determines that the said obstruction is no longer the said obstruction, The said projection area is reset, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Projector.   9. The setting unit according to claim 1, wherein when the obstacle is not detected by the detection unit, the setting unit sets a maximum area that can be projected by the projection unit as the projection region. The projector according to item.

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