JP2019057857A - Projection device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve such a problem that, when multi-projection is performed by a plurality of projection devices, the complicated work is required for performance of color adjustment.SOLUTION: Disclosed is a projection device capable of constructing a multi-projection system by use of a plurality of projection devices. This projection device includes: generation means for generating a test pattern which projects and displays; and dimming means for applying dimming processing to the overlapped area on which the projected area projected by the other projection device is overlapped; and projection means for projecting the generated test pattern. The generation means is characterized that the test pattern including a plurality of colors is generated in an overlapping device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a projection apparatus, and more particularly to color adjustment when creating one projection plane from outputs of a plurality of projection apparatuses.

  In the projection apparatus, multi-projection is performed in which ends of projection planes output from a plurality of projection apparatuses are overlapped to create one projection plane. In multi-projection, the brightness is adjusted so that the luminance value of the portion where the projection areas of adjacent projection apparatuses overlap (hereinafter referred to as edge blend area) is the same as the luminance value output by one projection apparatus. A process of attenuation (hereinafter referred to as edge blending process) is generally performed.

  In addition, a test pattern is widely used to adjust brightness and uncolored between the respective projection apparatuses constituting the multi-projection plane. Patent Document 1 discloses a test pattern suitable for color adjustment when a plurality of display devices are arranged.

JP 07-007749 A

  The test pattern function is a function for color adjustment of a single projection device, so even if the same test pattern is output by multiple projectors, the test pattern overlaps in the edge blend area described above. Therefore, it was difficult to perform color adjustment.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a test pattern for performing color adjustment on a plurality of display devices. However, since the edge blend region exists in the projection device as described above, the test pattern of Patent Document 1 is used. However, it was difficult to perform color adjustment.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a test pattern generation method suitable for color adjustment in a plurality of projection apparatuses when a multi-projection in which one projection plane is created using the plurality of projection apparatuses is performed. With the goal.

  The projection apparatus according to the present invention is a projection apparatus capable of constituting a multi-projection system including a plurality of projection apparatuses, and is generated by a generation unit for generating a test pattern to be projected and another projection apparatus. A dimming unit that performs a dimming process on a superimposition region that overlaps the projection region; and a projection unit that projects the generated test pattern, wherein the generation unit includes a test pattern including a plurality of colors in the superimposition device. It is characterized by generating.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously perform color adjustment in a plurality of projection devices when multi-projection is performed in which one projection plane is created using the plurality of projection devices.

It is an external view of a projector system that constitutes a multi-projection surface. It is a figure which shows the internal structure figure of a projector. It is a flowchart explaining the test pattern display operation | movement at the time of multi projection. It is a figure explaining the structure of a multi projection surface. It is a figure which shows the test pattern UI at the normal time, and a projector projection surface. It is a figure which shows the example of the test pattern for color adjustment at the time of multi projection. It is a figure explaining the dimming process of the edge blend area | region at the time of normal, and the dimming process of the edge blend area | region at the time of color adjustment. It is a figure explaining the external appearance at the time of color adjustment at the time of multi projection, and a color adjustment menu.

  Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention show preferred modes of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.

  Hereinafter, a projection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal projector will be described as an example of a liquid crystal display device. In addition, a single-plate type and a three-plate type are generally known as the liquid crystal projector, but either type may be used. The liquid crystal projector of this embodiment presents an image to the user by controlling the light transmittance of the liquid crystal element according to the image to be displayed and projecting the light from the light source that has passed through the liquid crystal element onto the screen. It shall be.

  FIG. 1 shows how four projectors (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) and projection surfaces (150, 150a, 150b, 150c) are partially overlapped to form one projection surface side by side in the vertical and horizontal directions. ing. In the present embodiment, the left projector 100 will be described, but the projectors 100a, 100b, and 100c have the same configuration and functions.

  The internal configuration of the projector 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The projector 100 includes a projection optical system 101. It includes a liquid crystal panel 102, a light source 103, a light source control unit 104, a liquid crystal drive unit 105, an optical system control unit 106, a connection unit 107, a control unit 108, an image processing unit 109, a ROM 110, a RAM 111, an operation unit 112, and a communication unit 113. The

  Next, each part mentioned above is demonstrated in detail. The projection optical system 101 is for projecting an output image on a screen, and includes a plurality of lenses and lens driving actuators. By driving the lenses with the actuators, the projection image is enlarged, reduced, and focused. And so on. The liquid crystal panel 102 generates an image dedicated to each color from each color light (red (R), green (G), blue (B)) emitted from the light source 103 and separated by a mirror (not shown). The light source control unit 104 performs adjustment of the light amount of the light source 103, control of ON / OFF of emission, and the like based on a control command sent from the control unit 108 described later. The liquid crystal driving unit 105 adjusts the transmittance for reproducing each color of RGB based on the input video signal.

  The optical system control unit 106 performs various adjustments such as zoom ratio, shift amount, and focus based on a control command sent from the control unit 108. The connection unit 107 is an interface for connecting to a video output device or the like, and is used for transmission / reception of video signals, audio signals, and various control signals. The control unit 108 performs an instruction to each unit, state management inside the projector 100, projection mode management, and the like based on a program stored in the ROM 110 described later. The image processing unit 109 performs various changes to the input image such as the resolution of the input image, the frame rate, the shape deformation of the image, the color tone conversion, the edge blending process, and the OSD overlap process such as a menu.

  The ROM 110 is used to store a program for controlling the inside of the projector, table data that should always be stored, a test pattern image, and the like. The RAM 111 is used for temporarily storing image data input from the connection unit 107 and image data when the image processing unit 109 performs image processing. The operation unit 112 is various operation buttons provided in the housing of the projector 100, and is an operation interface for performing function control and menu operation of the projector 100. The operation unit 112 includes a power button 114, a menu button 115, an enter button 116, an upper button 117, a lower button 118, a left button 119, a right button 120, and the like. The communication unit 113 communicates with an external device via a communication network such as a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.

  Next, the basic operation of the projector 100 will be described. When receiving a power ON instruction from the user via the operation unit 112 or a control remote controller (not shown), the control unit 108 instructs the power supply unit to supply power to each unit of the projector 100. The connection unit 107 is an interface for receiving a video signal from an external video output device, for example, a composite terminal, an S video terminal, a D terminal, a component terminal, an analog RGB terminal, a DVI-I terminal, a DVI-D terminal, An HDMI (registered trademark) terminal, a DisplayPort terminal, and the like are included.

  When an analog video signal is received, the received analog video signal is converted into a digital video signal. Then, the received video signal is transmitted to the image processing unit 109. Here, the video output device may be any device such as a personal computer, a camera, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a hard disk recorder, and a game machine as long as it can output a video signal. The image processing unit 109 performs processing for changing the number of frames, the number of pixels, the image shape, and the like on the received video signal and transmits it to the liquid crystal control unit 105. The image processing unit 109 includes, for example, a microprocessor for image processing.

  Further, the image processing unit 109 does not need to be a dedicated microprocessor. For example, the control unit 108 may execute the same processing as the image processing unit 109 by a program stored in the ROM 110. When displaying the test pattern image designated by the operation unit 112, the test pattern image is read from the ROM 110 and transmitted to the image processing unit 109. The image processing unit 109 can execute functions such as frame thinning processing, frame interpolation processing, resolution conversion processing, distortion aberration correction processing, keystone correction processing, edge blend processing, and OSD overlap processing.

  The liquid crystal driving unit 105 adjusts the transmittance for reproducing each color of RGB based on the input video signal. The connection unit 107 detects whether or not an image is input from the outside. If the image is not input, the connection unit 107 waits until video input is detected, and if input, performs a projection process. Here, the video input from the connection unit 107 is transmitted to the image processing unit 109 as projection processing, and the image processing unit 109 performs the above-described various processes, and then transmits the image to the liquid crystal driving unit 105. Based on the video input by the liquid crystal driving unit 105, the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel 102 is controlled so that the transmittance corresponds to the gradation level of each RGB component.

  Then, the light source controller 104 controls the light output from the light source 103. The light output from the light source 103 is separated into red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and each light is supplied to the liquid crystal panel 102. The amount of light of each color supplied to the liquid crystal panel 102 is limited for each pixel of each liquid crystal panel. The red (R), green (G), and blue (B) lights transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 102 are combined again through a prism (not shown) and projected through the projection optical system 101.

  The communication unit 113 communicates with an external device via a network, and includes an interface such as 1 Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark), for example. Control commands (various image processing, input switching instruction, power supply control instruction, acquisition and change of various setting values) can be transmitted and received via the communication unit 113. As described above, the projector 100 according to the present embodiment can project a video output from an external video output device or the like, or a test pattern image. Furthermore, various settings and projector status acquisition can be performed via a network through communication with an external device.

  Next, a characteristic operation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2, an operation flow diagram mainly including a projector (FIG. 3), and FIG.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, after a part of the projection surfaces of a plurality of projectors are installed in an overlapping manner, a test pattern for color adjustment, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, is displayed. The flow of will be described. For simplification of description, it is assumed that the projector 100, the projector 100a, the projector 100b, and the projector 100c have been adjusted in position and the adjustment of the edge blend area has been completed. In addition, it is assumed that each of the projections has started, and communication with each other is possible. (For simplicity of explanation, the IP addresses of the projectors are assumed to be 192.168.254.1, 192.168.254.2, 192.168.254.3, and 192.168.254.4 in this order)

  With reference to FIG. 3, an operation sequence when display of a test pattern image is instructed by the user operation via the operation unit 112 in the projector 100 will be described. The operation sequence of FIG. 3 is performed by the control unit 108 of the projector, and is a processing flow for selecting test pattern images that can be selected by the user. In this description, the projector 100 will be described as an example, but the same flow can be implemented in the projector 100a, the projector 100b, and the projector 100c, which are other projectors constituting the multi-projection plane.

  In 100, the control unit 108 determines whether multi-projection is being performed. If multi-projection is being performed, the process proceeds to S104, and if not, the process proceeds to S101.

  Here, the setting as to whether or not multi-projection is being performed is set in the projector 100 in advance by a user operation. In the RAM 111 of the projector 100 in advance, “multi-projection surface size” and “the number of projectors constituting the multi-projection surface” are stored as multi-projection information. Further, it is assumed that “area in charge” and “IP address” are stored for each projector.

  For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the four coordinate values shown in FIG. 4A, that is, four projectors with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 constitute a multi-projection plane of 3740 × 2060 with an edge blend width of 100 pixels. In this case, “3740 × 2060” is set as the “multi-projection surface size” as shown in FIG. “4 projectors” as the “number of projectors constituting a multi-projection plane”. Further, “area in charge” and “IP address” are set as shown in the figure for the four constituent projectors.

  Here, as information of the projector 1, the IP address of the projector 100 and the assigned area on the multi-projection surface of the projection surface 150. As information of the projector 2, the IP address of the projector 100a and the assigned area on the multi-projection surface of the projection surface 150a. As information of the projector 3, the IP address of the projector 100b and the assigned area on the multi-projection surface of the projection surface 150b. As information of the projector 4, the IP address of the projector 100c and the assigned area on the multi-projection surface of the projection surface 150c.

  Each of the above information is set. Note that the method for setting these information is not the essence of the present invention and will not be described in detail. For example, in any one of a plurality of projectors constituting a multi-projection surface, various information settings shown in FIG. Is input via the operation unit 112 while referring to the OSD menu on the projector projection surface, and then the setting value is synchronized between the projectors via the communication unit 113.

  If the above-described setting for multi-projection is not performed, the process proceeds to S101. This flow is the same as that of a conventional projector.

  In S101, the control unit 108 generates a normal test pattern UI, projects and displays it as an OSD menu, and proceeds to S102.

  In S102, the control unit 108 waits for the selection of the test pattern type in response to an input from the operation unit 112. If selected, the process proceeds to S103. If the selection is canceled, the test pattern UI display performed in S101 is stopped. Then, the test pattern selection sequence ends.

  In step S103, the control unit 108 reads out the test pattern type selected in step S102 from the ROM 110, and transfers it to the image processing unit 109, thereby performing the projected display of the test pattern, and further stopping the display of the test pattern UI. Then, the test pattern selection sequence ends.

  Here, the normal test pattern UI will be described with reference to FIG. Through the above-described S101, the projection plane shown in FIG. The normal test pattern UI is the form shown in 160, and the type of the test pattern to be displayed is switched as shown in FIG. 5B by pressing the upper button 117 and the lower button 118 of the operation unit 112. be able to. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the selected test pattern may be immediately output and displayed on the projection plane as shown in FIG. The user can confirm the type of test pattern to be displayed by pressing the enter button 116 of the operation unit 112, whereby the normal test pattern UI 160 disappears and only the selected test pattern is output from the projection plane. It will be.

  Subsequently, the setting regarding the above-described multi-projection is performed, and the case where the process proceeds to S104 will be described.

  In step S <b> 104, the control unit 108 acquires the edge blend width of the projectors 100 a to 100 c via the communication unit 113.

  In step S <b> 105, the control unit 108 generates a test pattern image including a plurality of colors as shown in FIG. 6A from the edge blend width obtained in step S <b> 103, and stores the test pattern image in the RAM 111.

  The test pattern in FIG. 6A is composed of six concentric circles of red (R), green (G), blue (B), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, since the edge blend width is 100 and the height of the projection surface is 2060, the radii 170, 340, Six concentric patterns are generated as 510, 680, 850, and 1020, respectively.

  Note that other colors may be used as long as they are suitable for color adjustment. The test pattern is not limited to a concentric circle, and any test pattern may be used as long as the edge blend region includes a plurality of colors. For example, a radial figure as shown in FIG. 6B or other objects may be used. Further, the size of the test pattern is not limited to this, and the test pattern may be appropriately generated from the edge blend width and the size of the entire projection plane.

  By using such a test pattern, it is possible to perform color matching of the projectors 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c at the same time, and an effect of reducing the burden on the operator who installs the multi-projection environment can be obtained.

  In this embodiment, an example of four projectors is shown. However, for example, when a total of nine projectors (three horizontal and three vertical) are used, each edge blend area includes a plurality of colors. The test pattern can be generated. For example, a pattern as shown in FIG. 6C may be generated.

  In S <b> 106, the control unit 108 cuts out an area in charge of each projector from the test pattern generated in S <b> 105 and distributes it to the projectors 100 a, 100 b, and 100 c via the communication unit 113.

  In step S <b> 107, the control unit 108 instructs the image processing unit 109 to change the setting of the darkening parameter of the edge blend region. The processing of S107 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). FIG. 7A schematically shows a dimming process when normal projection is performed by the projector 100 and the projector 100a. The vertical axis of the graph represents the luminance, and the horizontal axis represents the position. The thin line represents the dimming process of the projector 100, and the thick line represents the dimming process of the projector 100a. In normal projection, in order to make the joint between the two projectors inconspicuous in the edge blend area, control is performed to reduce the luminance as it goes to the end of its own area in charge of projection.

  This makes the connection between the two projectors inconspicuous. However, if such dimming processing is performed at the time of color adjustment, the projection images of the projectors are mixed at the boundary between the two projectors, so that strict color adjustment cannot be performed. Therefore, in S107, the dimming process is changed so that the luminance of each other becomes 0 at the midpoint of the edge blend region as shown in FIG. 7B. By changing the dimming process in this way, the color difference between adjacent projectors becomes clear, and the color adjustment can be performed more finely. Note that the change of the dimming process is not limited to FIG. 7B, and a gap may be formed between the two projectors as shown in FIG. 7C.

  In S <b> 108, the control unit 108 cuts out an area in charge of the test pattern generated in S <b> 105 and projects the pattern.

  The projectors 100a, 100b, and 100c receive the test pattern distributed from the projector 100 in S106 via the communication unit 113, change the dimming parameter of the edge blend area in the same manner as the projector 100, and display the test pattern.

(Description of color adjustment flow)
Next, the procedure for the user to adjust the colors of a plurality of projectors will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a state after the test pattern display flow of FIG. 3 is performed, and 170 represents a color adjustment menu. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of 170 color adjustment menus. In FIG. 8B, 171 is a projector selection unit, and 172a, 172b, and 172c are menus for adjusting the hue, saturation, and brightness of yellow (Y). Hue, saturation, and brightness can be individually adjusted for red (R), magenta (M), green (G), cyan (C), and blue (B). FIG. 8B shows a state where the projector 2 (the projector 100a in FIG. 8A) is selected and color adjustment is performed.

  For example, when the yellow (Y) hue adjustment menu 172a is + 1-operated in FIG. 8B, a control command “+1” for the yellow (Y) hue is sent from the projector 100 to the projector 100a. Sent through. The control unit 108 of the projector 100 a that has received the control command from the projector 100 via the communication unit 113 performs setting for setting the yellow (Y) hue to “+1” in the image processing unit 109. When the setting is performed, the color of the yellow portion of the projection surface 150a of the projector 100a, that is, the color of the yellow (Y) concentric circle portion of 150a in FIG. 6A changes.

  As described above, the user uses the color adjustment menu 170 to perform color adjustment so that the color of the projection surface is uniform while selecting the projectors 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c as needed.

  In this embodiment, the color adjustment menu 170 is displayed on the projector 100 and the color adjustment is performed while selecting the projectors 100a, 100b, and 100c. However, the color adjustment menu 170 is displayed on each projector, Adjustments may be made individually.

  In this embodiment, the projector 100 acquires the edge blend information of the projectors 100a, 100b, and 100c and distributes the test pattern after generation. However, each projector is configured to generate a test pattern independently. You may do it. That is, the projectors 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c may acquire edge blend information from adjacent projectors, calculate their own drawing areas, and generate their own test patterns.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which a test pattern display instruction from the user is received and the test pattern for color adjustment shown in FIG. 3 is generated and displayed has been described, but in FIGS. 8A and 8B, FIG. When the displayed color adjustment menu 170 is displayed, the flow of FIG. 3 may be automatically executed to generate and display a test pattern.

[Other Examples]
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to the apparatus. At this time, the computer (or CPU or MPU) including the control unit of the supplied apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, the OS (basic system or operating system) running on the apparatus performs part or all of the processing based on the instruction of the program code described above, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say, cases are also included.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium may be written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the apparatus or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized. Needless to say, it is included. At this time, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100: Projector 101: Projection optical system 102: Liquid crystal panel 103: Light source 104: Light source control part 105: Liquid crystal drive part 106: Optical system control part 107: Connection part 108: Control part 109: Image processing part 110: ROM
111: RAM
112: Operation unit 113: Communication unit 114: Power button 115: Menu button 116: Enter button 117: Up button 118: Down button 119: Left button 120: Right button 150: Projector projection surface 160: Normal test pattern UI
170: Color adjustment UI for multi-projection

Claims (5)

A projection apparatus capable of constituting a multi-projection system by a plurality of projection apparatuses,
Generating means for generating a test pattern for projection display;
A dimming unit that performs a dimming process on a superimposed region that is superimposed on a projection region projected by another projection device;
Projecting means for projecting the generated test pattern;
The projection device characterized in that the generation means generates a test pattern including a plurality of colors in the superimposing device.   The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a test pattern generated from the generation unit is changed in accordance with a width of the overlapping region. Furthermore, a color correction means is provided,
3. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection unit projects the test pattern including a plurality of colors in a superimposed region when the color correction unit is adjusted. 4.   The projection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the test pattern including a plurality of colors is projected on the overlapping region, the dimming process of the dimming unit is changed. A method for controlling a projection apparatus capable of constituting a multi-projection system using a plurality of projection apparatuses,
A dimming step of performing a dimming process on a superimposed region that is superimposed on a projection region projected by another projection device;
A generation process for generating a test pattern to be projected and displayed;
Projecting the generated test pattern; and
The method for controlling a projection apparatus, wherein the generating step generates a test pattern including a plurality of colors in the superimposing apparatus.