JP4011987B2 - Presentation system using laser pointer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a presentation system such as a lecture that is performed while pointing an image projected on a screen with a laser pointer, and in particular, a system that enables a mouse operation on a personal computer screen with a laser pointer and emitting a laser beam toward a human body. It relates to a system for preventing danger.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a presentation such as a lecture is performed using a projector or the like, a laser pointer is often used that projects a laser beam to clearly indicate an instruction point on a screen. In recent years, there have been many opportunities to give presentations by projecting a personal computer screen onto a screen using a liquid crystal projector or the like. In that case, mouse operation, one of PC input devices, is also performed. Is called. By the way, in recent years, instead of a laser pointer that is dangerous for eyes, light such as infrared light is irradiated on the screen, the irradiation spot is imaged by an imaging means, coordinates are calculated, and a point image is calculated with respect to the calculated coordinates. A system for projecting images has been proposed. Such a pointing system for presentation is known, for example, from Japanese Patent No. 2622220, Japanese Patent No. 2977559, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-85395, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-143636, and the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Currently, the presenter is operating the mouse itself connected to the personal computer, but the mouse operation can also be applied to the pointing system described in the above publication. However, in these conventional techniques, the position of an irradiation spot such as infrared light on the screen is read as only one coordinate on the imaging screen. In other words, the absolute position of the infrared light projection spot is calculated as coordinates, and the point image is projected on the screen from the calculation result. Therefore, when configuring the system, the positional relationship between the imaging means and the screen is optically determined. Need to be strictly determined. That is, the screen image picked up by the image pickup means is often distorted in a trapezoidal shape due to the difference in perspective, and various corrections are necessary to set the coordinates for the screen. It is presumed that complicated devices and electrical systems or system software will become complicated.
[0004]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention described in claim 1 is to provide a presentation system using a laser pointer capable of realizing a configuration required for projecting a pointer mark in a simple and inexpensive manner. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention described in claims 2 and 3 to provide a safe presentation system by regulating the projection of laser light toward a person or other than the screen.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a presentation system comprising screen means, projection means for projecting a visible image generated by a computer onto the screen means, and a laser pointer operated by a user to project laser light onto the screen means. The laser pointer includes an infrared light emitting means for emitting infrared light in substantially the same direction as the laser light projection direction, and a laser pointer mode for projecting laser light and infrared light from the infrared light emitting means. Switch means for switching to mouse mode, which is light emission, and infrared light sensing means for sensing a projected image of the infrared light emitted from the infrared light light emitting means to the screen means, and this infrared light Movement data that is the movement direction and movement distance of the projected image of infrared light detected by the light sensing means is generated and transferred to the computer. And a processor for supplying data, the projection means is characterized by projecting the visible image that reflects the movement data from the computer to the screen means.
[0006]
According to the present invention, it is possible to switch between the laser pointer mode in which the laser beam is projected and the mouse mode in which the mouse operation is performed by the switch means provided in the laser pointer. In the laser pointer mode, laser light is projected, and the laser light is projected onto the screen means by being directed toward the screen means. In the mouse mode, infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting means, and when the laser pointer is pointed at the screen means in this state, infrared light that is an invisible image is projected onto the screen means. The movement of the projected image of the infrared light is sensed by infrared light sensing means installed at an appropriate location, and the moving direction and moving distance of the projected image are supplied to the processing unit. The processing unit generates mouse data based on the movement data and supplies it to the computer. The computer generates a visible image reflecting the mouse data, supplies it to the projection means, and projects it on the screen means. That is, a pointer mark corresponding to the movement of the laser pointer is projected from the projection unit to the screen unit in real time.
[0007]
In the present invention, the mouse operation can be performed by intuitively moving the laser pointer in the mouse mode without using a conventional mouse or joystick. The presenter can quickly switch to either the laser pointer mode or the mouse mode with the laser pointer switch means. Therefore, there is no restriction that a personal computer is installed in the vicinity of the presenter in order to perform a mouse operation, or the presenter cannot be separated from the personal computer, and the degree of freedom of the presenter's position or movement is increased. From these things, a smooth presentation can be performed.
[0008]
When imaging a mouse, the absolute position of the projected image of infrared light is calculated as coordinates, and the pointer mark is not projected on the screen means from the calculation result. A projection image of external light is sensed, and mouse data is generated by converting only the moving direction and moving distance. In other words, since the coordinates are generated by relatively grasping the projected image of the infrared light on the screen, the program of the device and the processing unit constituting the system does not need a complicated one, and can be configured at low cost. . The mouse operation by the presenter is performed by adjusting the movement of the pointer mark to a desired location while the presenter sees the pointer mark projected on the screen means.
[0009]
In the present invention, a human body sensor that senses the heat generated by the human body existing in the direction in which the laser beam is projected from the laser pointer, and a laser beam control means that regulates the projection of the laser beam from the laser pointer when the human body sensor is activated. And an additional configuration.
[0010]
According to this configuration, if a person is present in the laser light projection direction, the human body detection sensor detects the person, and the laser light control unit regulates the laser light projection. In this case, the restriction of the laser light projection is to stop the laser light projection or to reduce the intensity of the laser light harmlessly. With this configuration, the danger of projecting laser light into the human eye in the laser pointer mode is avoided. The human body sensor may be mounted on, for example, a laser pointer, or may be installed on a screen unit, a projection unit, or the like. As the human body sensor, a sensor that detects infrared rays emitted from the human body is preferably used.
[0011]
In addition to the above, laser beam danger avoiding means may include the following configuration. That is, while the infrared light projection means for projecting infrared light toward almost the entire surface of the screen means is provided, the laser pointer is directed in the same direction as the projection direction of the laser light and is projected from the infrared light projection means. An infrared light receiving unit that receives infrared light reflected from the screen means, and a laser light control unit that projects laser light only when the infrared light receiving unit receives infrared light. .
[0012]
According to this configuration, the infrared light receiving unit provided on the laser pointer receives the infrared light reflected from the screen means while the laser pointer is directed to the screen means, and at this time, the laser light is emitted from the laser pointer. Is projected, and the laser beam is projected onto the screen means. On the other hand, in a state where the direction of the laser pointer is removed from the screen means, the infrared light receiving unit does not receive the infrared light reflected from the screen means, and the laser light is not projected. That is, the laser beam is projected only when the laser pointer is directed to the screen means. With this configuration, the danger of projecting laser light into the human eye in the laser pointer mode is avoided.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 schematically shows an overall system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a screen (screen means), 2 is a liquid crystal projector (projection means) for projecting a liquid crystal image on the screen 1, 3 is an image processing section (processing section), 4 is a personal computer (computer), and 5 is not shown. It is a laser pointer that the presenter holds. A visible image generated by the personal computer 4 is projected onto the screen 1 by the liquid crystal projector 2.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is an external view of the laser pointer 5, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the laser pointer 5. The laser pointer 5 includes a laser light emitting element 52 and a laser light projection unit 52a, and further includes an infrared light emitting unit (infrared light emitting means) 53. The light emitting direction of the infrared light from the infrared light emitting unit 53 is set to be substantially the same as the direction of the laser light projected from the laser light projecting unit 52a. The wavelength of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 53 is, for example, about 850 to 950 nm, and is significantly different from the infrared wavelength around 10 μm emitted from the human body.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 3, the laser pointer 5 is provided with a switch (switch means) 54 for switching the use mode between the laser pointer mode and the mouse mode across the OFF position. By directing the tip of the laser pointer 5 toward the screen 1 and switching the switch 54 from OFF to the laser pointer mode (ON), the laser light is projected from the projection unit 52 a of the laser light emitting element 52 toward the screen 1. On the other hand, when the switch 54 is switched to the mouse mode, the laser pointer 5 can be used in place of the mouse as described later with the laser light emitting element 52 stopped. The laser pointer 5 is provided with a left button 55 and a right button 56 that are used in the mouse mode. The mode switching signal of the switch 54 and the operation signals of the buttons 55 and 56 are supplied to the control unit (laser light control means) 57. The laser pointer 5 has a wireless signal receiving unit 58 that receives a drive stop signal for a laser light emitting element 52, which will be described later. When receiving the signal, the control unit 57 stops driving the laser light emitting element 52. .
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal projector 2 includes an infrared light sensing unit (infrared ray) that captures a projected image of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 53 of the laser pointer 5 and projected onto the screen 1. (Light sensing means) 21 is installed. The infrared light sensing unit 21 uses an image sensor such as a CCD, PSD, or multi-division photodiode (for example, 4-division type), and senses the center of the projected image of infrared light. When the laser pointer 5 is pointed at the screen 1 and the switch 54 is set to the mouse mode, the projected image on the screen 1 is moved to move the required amount, and the switch 54 is turned OFF, the projected image on the screen 1 moves. It is sensed by the infrared light sensing unit 21. The image processing unit 3 is supplied with the moving direction and moving distance of the center of the projected image of the infrared light on the screen 1 detected by the infrared light sensing unit 21, and the image processing unit 3 uses the movement data to move the mouse. Data is generated and supplied to the personal computer 4. The personal computer 4 generates a visible image reflecting the mouse data and supplies it to the liquid crystal projector 2. As a result, the pointer mark moves on the screen 1 in accordance with the movement of the laser pointer 5.
[0017]
In addition, various commands (for example, range designation, image scrolling and page turning) can be performed by performing the same operation as a conventional mouse operation while appropriately clicking the left and right buttons 55 and 56 of the laser pointer 5 in the mouse mode. Etc.) can be reflected in the visible image. In the mouse mode, when the pointer mark is moved as described above and when the buttons 55 and 56 are clicked, the wavelength of the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 53 of the laser pointer 5 is set. Infrared lights having different wavelengths are detected by the infrared light detection unit 21. In the click operation using the buttons 55 and 56, the button operation signal based on each infrared light is transmitted from the infrared light sensing unit 21 to the image processing unit 3, and the image processing unit 3 converts the button operation signal into mouse data. Is supplied to the personal computer 4, and the personal computer 4 generates a visible image reflecting the mouse data and supplies it to the liquid crystal projector 2.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal projector 2 is provided with a human body sensor 22. The human body sensor 22 detects the heat generated by the human body around the liquid crystal projector 2. Specifically, the human body sensor 22 receives infrared rays in an amount corresponding to the temperature difference between the surface of the human body, which is a heat source, and the background. This is to detect whether or not there is. Incidentally, the human body emits the most infrared rays in the vicinity of 10 μm, and the human body sensor 22 senses infrared rays having such a wavelength. The operating state of the human body sensor 22 (whether or not a human body has been detected) is detected one by one by the control unit (laser light control means) 23 installed in the liquid crystal projector 2. Then, when the human body sensor 22 senses a human body and operates, the control unit 23 transmits a drive stop signal for the laser light emitting element 52 to the wireless signal receiving unit 58 of the laser pointer 5 by a wireless signal. The signal is transmitted from the wireless signal receiver 58 to the controller 57 within the pointer 5. Thus, when the human body sensor 22 is activated, the laser pointer 5 is controlled so that the laser beam is not projected.
[0019]
According to the above embodiment, the presenter directs the laser pointer 5 toward the screen 1 on which the visible image is projected from the liquid crystal projector 2, switches the switch 54 to the laser pointer mode, and projects the laser light. Give a presentation while instructing a visible image. Here, when a human is present around the human body sensor 22 and the human body sensor is activated, a drive stop signal for the laser light emitting element 54 is issued from the control unit 23 to the control unit 57 of the laser pointer 5, and the laser light is projected. It will not be done. Therefore, the danger of projecting the laser beam to the human eye in the laser pointer mode is avoided.
[0020]
Subsequently, when a mouse operation is performed, the laser pointer 5 is directed toward the screen 1 and the switch 54 is switched to the mouse mode. Then, the center of the projected image of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 53 and projected onto the screen 1 is detected by the infrared light sensing unit 21, and moved in accordance with the movement of the laser pointer 5 (mouse operation). Mouse data based on the data is generated by the image processing unit 3. The mouse data is supplied to the personal computer 4, a visible image reflecting the mouse data is generated, supplied to the liquid crystal projector 2, and projected onto the screen 1. That is, since a pointer mark corresponding to the movement of the laser pointer 5 is projected on the screen 1, the presenter adjusts the movement of the pointer mark to a desired location while viewing the pointer mark. Further, various commands (for example, range designation, image scrolling, page turning, etc.) are made visible by performing operations similar to the conventional mouse operation while appropriately pressing the left and right buttons 55, 56 of the laser pointer 5. It can be reflected.
[0021]
In the above-described embodiment, the mouse operation can be performed by switching the laser pointer 5 to the mouse mode toward the screen 1 and moving it while looking at the pointer mark on the screen 1 without using a mouse as in the prior art. The presenter can quickly switch to either the laser pointer mode or the mouse mode with the switch 54 of the laser pointer 5. Therefore, there is no restriction that the personal computer 4 is installed in the vicinity of the presenter in order to perform the mouse operation, and the presenter cannot be separated from the personal computer 4, and the position of the presenter or the freedom of movement increases. From these things, a smooth presentation can be performed.
[0022]
Further, when imaging the mouse, the absolute position of the projected image of infrared light on the screen 1 is calculated as coordinates, and the pointer mark is not projected on the screen 1 from the calculation result, but infrared. The light sensing unit 21 senses a projected image of infrared light, and the image processing unit 3 converts only the moving direction and the moving distance into a pointer mark. That is, since the coordinates of the pointer mark are generated by relatively grasping the projected image of the infrared light on the screen 1, the program of the image processing unit 3 is not required to be complicated, and thus the increase in cost can be suppressed.
[0023]
(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 4 schematically shows an entire system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The screen 1, the liquid crystal projector 2, the image processing unit 3 and the same as those in the first embodiment are shown. A personal computer 4 is provided. In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 3 is provided with an infrared light projection unit 31 (infrared light projection means) that projects infrared light toward almost the entire surface of the screen 1. The infrared light projected from the infrared light projection unit 31 and the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emission unit 53 of the laser pointer 6 are separated by a certain amount in order to avoid mutual interference, and are modulated. It is desirable that For example, the wavelength of infrared light projected from the infrared light projection unit is set to about 850 nm, and the wavelength of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emission unit 53 of the laser pointer 6 is set to about 950 nm. It should be noted that the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 53 emits infrared light having different wavelengths when the pointer mark is moved in the mouse mode and when the buttons 55 and 56 are clicked.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the laser pointer 6 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the laser pointer 6. As with the first embodiment, the laser pointer 6 includes a laser light emitting element 52 and a laser light projection unit 52a for laser pointer mode, an infrared light emitting unit 53 for mouse mode, and left and right buttons 55 and 56. I have. The laser pointer 6 further includes an infrared light receiving unit 61. The infrared light receiving unit 61 is directed in the same direction as the projection direction of the laser light from the laser light projection unit 52a, and receives infrared light projected from the infrared light projection unit 31 and reflected from the screen 1. The amount of infrared light projected from the infrared light projection unit 31 is attenuated by reflection on the screen 1, and the amount of infrared light received by the infrared light receiving unit 61 is within the range of the attenuated light amount. Is set to
[0025]
The control unit 57 of the laser pointer 6 drives the laser light emitting element 52 only when the switch 54 is in the laser pointer mode and the infrared light receiving unit 61 is receiving infrared light. The drive of the light emitting element 52 is stopped. That is, the control unit 57 performs control so that the laser light is projected from the laser pointer 6 when the infrared light receiving unit 61 is receiving infrared light, and is not projected when it is not receiving light.
[0026]
In the second embodiment, the operations of the laser pointer mode and the mouse mode are the same as in the first embodiment. In the laser pointer mode, the infrared light receiving unit 61 receives infrared light reflected from the screen 1 with the laser pointer 6 facing the screen 1. At this time, the laser light is emitted from the laser pointer 6. Projected onto the screen 1. On the other hand, in a state where the direction of the laser pointer 6 is removed from the screen 1, the infrared light receiving unit 61 does not receive the infrared light reflected from the screen 1 and no laser light is projected. That is, the laser beam is projected only when the laser pointer 6 is directed toward the screen 1.
[0027]
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the projection of laser light is turned on / off by a change in the amount of infrared light reflected from the screen 1, and the laser pointer 6 is directed toward the screen 1 to transmit infrared light within a predetermined range. When receiving a wavelength (range B), a laser beam is projected. Further, when the laser pointer 6 is directed to the infrared light region projected from the infrared light projection unit 31 (range C), the laser light is not projected. Further, even when the laser pointer 6 is directed outside the infrared light region projected from the screen 1 and the infrared light projection unit 31 (range A), the laser light is not projected. Therefore, erroneous projection of laser light can be prevented and presentation can be performed safely.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the movement direction and the movement distance of the projected image of the infrared light projected on the screen means are read as movement data relative to the screen means, and based on this movement data Since the pointer mark is projected on the screen means, the configuration required for the projection of the pointer mark can be realized simply and inexpensively.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laser pointer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a laser pointer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a laser pointer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a laser pointer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing an ON / OFF state of a laser pointer corresponding to a light amount range of infrared light in the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Screen (screen means)
2 ... Liquid crystal projector (projection means)
3. Image processing unit (processing unit)
5, 6 ... Laser pointer 21 ... Infrared light sensing unit (infrared light sensing means)
22 ... human body sensor 23, 57 ... control unit (laser light control means)
31 ... Infrared light projection unit (infrared light projection means)
53. Infrared light emitting section (infrared light emitting means)
54 ... Switch (switch means)
61. Infrared light receiving part

Claims (3)

Screen means;
Projection means for projecting a computer generated visible image onto the screen means;
In a presentation system comprising a laser pointer operated by a user and projecting laser light onto the screen means,
The laser pointer includes infrared light emitting means that emits infrared light in substantially the same direction as the laser light projection direction, laser pointer mode that is the projection of laser light, and infrared light from the infrared light light emitting means. Switch means for switching to the mouse mode, which is the light emission of
And infrared light sensing means for sensing a projected image of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting means to the screen means;
A processing unit that generates moving data that is a moving direction and a moving distance of a projected image of infrared light that is detected by the infrared light sensing means, and that supplies the moving data to the computer,
The presentation system using a laser pointer, wherein the projection means projects a visible image reflecting the movement data from the computer onto the screen means. A human body sensor for detecting heat generated by the human body existing in the direction in which the laser beam is projected from the laser pointer, and a laser beam control unit for regulating the projection of the laser beam from the laser pointer when the human body sensor is activated. The presentation system using a laser pointer according to claim 1. While provided with infrared light projection means for projecting infrared light toward almost the entire surface of the screen means, the laser pointer is directed in the same direction as the projection direction of the laser light and projected from the infrared light projection means. And an infrared light receiving part for receiving infrared light reflected from the screen means, and a laser light control means for projecting laser light only when the infrared light receiving part is receiving infrared light. The presentation system using a laser pointer according to claim 1, wherein:

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