JP4035003B2 - Presentation system using laser pointer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a presentation system for giving a lecture, explanation, etc. while pointing an image projected on a screen with a laser pointer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a presentation in which an image is projected on a screen by a projection device such as a liquid crystal projector and various presentations and explanations are given to the audience while referring to the image, a laser pointer for indicating a specific portion of the image is provided. Well used. When the laser pointer is turned on, a laser beam is projected and a spot is projected onto the screen. However, laser light is dangerous when it enters the human eye, and it may be accidentally turned to the audience with the switch on. Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-321531 discloses a safety measure for avoiding such danger. In this publication, infrared light is projected from a laser pointer in the same direction as the laser light, and whether or not the infrared light is projected on a screen is imaged by an imaging means such as a CCD. Only when infrared light is being imaged, a signal permitting the projection of the laser light is emitted to the laser pointer, and when the laser pointer is not directed to the screen, the laser light is not projected.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the safety measures described in the above publication, it is assumed that external light interferes with the infrared light projected from the laser pointer as noise, and the infrared light projected on the screen cannot be accurately determined. Is done. In that case, there is a concern that a malfunction may occur in which the laser light is projected even if the laser pointer is not directed to the screen.
[0004]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the pointing direction of the laser pointer is within the range of the screen, so that erroneous projection of the laser light is reliably prevented, and the safety is further improved. The purpose is to provide a presentation system that uses.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a presentation system comprising a screen, a projection unit that projects a visible image on the screen, and a laser pointer that is operated by a user and projects a laser beam on the screen. A projection unit, a laser beam control unit that receives a predetermined laser beam projection permission signal, drives the laser beam projection unit to project the laser beam at the time of reception, and projects the modulated infrared light into the laser beam projection Infrared light projecting means for projecting in the same direction as the projection direction of the laser light projected from the means is provided, while detecting whether the modulated infrared light is projected on the screen. And infrared light detection means for detecting the projection position of the infrared light on the screen, and when the infrared light detection means detects the projection of the infrared light on the screen. And a transmission control means for sending laser light projection enable signal to the laser beam control means, the laser light projection enable signal is infrared light projected onto the screen, the laser beam control means of the laser pointers with laser light projection enable signal An infrared light receiving unit that receives certain infrared light is provided .
[0006]
According to the present invention, since the infrared light projected from the laser pointer is projected in the same direction as the laser light, the projected position of the infrared light substantially coincides with the projected position of the laser light. Therefore, if infrared light is projected onto the screen, it can be determined that the laser light is also projected onto the screen. Whether or not the infrared light is projected on the screen is detected by the infrared light detection means, and only when it is detected that the infrared light is projected on the screen, the laser light projection permission signal is controlled by the laser light of the laser pointer. It is sent to the means and a laser beam is projected. As a result, the laser beam is projected from the laser pointer only when the infrared light is projected onto the screen, that is, when the projection direction of the laser beam is directed to the screen, and the projection direction of the laser beam deviates from the screen. Then, the laser beam is not projected.
[0007]
Now, the infrared light for laser light control projected from the laser pointer in the present invention is modulated in advance, and the infrared light detecting means detects the inherent infrared light subjected to the modulation. Therefore, the infrared light projected on the screen is discriminated without receiving external light interference. As a result, it is accurately determined whether or not the pointing direction of the laser pointer is within the range of the screen, and erroneous projection of laser light is reliably prevented.
[0008]
In the present invention, a laser pointer mode in which laser light is projected from the laser light projection means, and infrared light is projected from the infrared light projection means without being projected from the laser light projection means. In the mouse mode, the infrared light projected from the infrared light projecting means is modulated differently from that in the laser pointer mode, and the infrared light is switched to the mouse mode. This includes a mode in which the pointer mark moves on the screen based on movement data including the moving direction and moving distance of the projected position of the infrared light on the screen detected by the detecting means.
[0009]
According to the above embodiment, the laser pointer can be switched 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. In the laser pointer mode, modulated infrared light is projected from the infrared light projection means, and if the projection direction is within the screen range, a laser light projection permission signal is returned and the laser light projection means returns the laser light. Is done. The projection position of the infrared light projected on the screen in the mouse mode is detected by the infrared light detection means. Then, movement data including the moving direction and moving distance of the infrared light projection position on the screen is sent as a mouse signal to a personal computer or the like, and the pointer mark is moved by the personal computer or the like and projected from the projection means onto the screen. That is, a pointer mark corresponding to the movement of the laser pointer is projected from the projection means onto the screen in real time. The mouse operation is performed by the presenter moving the laser pointer while looking at the pointer mark projected on the screen to move the pointer mark to a desired location. In this case, the pointer mark is a cursor, a pointer (arrow), or the like.
[0010]
In recent years, there have been increasing opportunities to make presentations by reflecting the screen of a personal computer on a screen. In that case, a mouse operation as one of input devices for the personal computer is also performed. Therefore, by adopting the above form, it is not necessary to use a mouse connected to a personal computer, so that a smooth presentation is possible.
[0011]
As the infrared light detection means in the present invention, two-dimensional PSD (Position Sensitive Detectors) is preferably used. This PSD is an image sensor that can detect the two-dimensional information of the incident light, that is, the position, by changing the value of the current flowing out from the four sides according to the position of the light incident on the surface. Since PSD can detect infrared light that has been modulated, it can identify the type of infrared light that has undergone different modulation, and is therefore suitable as the infrared light detection means of the present invention.
[0012]
Further, the laser light projection permission signal in the present invention includes infrared light projected on a screen. In this case, the laser light control unit of the laser pointer is equipped with an infrared light receiving unit that receives the infrared light, and the laser light projection unit is driven when the infrared light receiving unit receives the infrared light reflected from the screen. Thus, the laser beam may be projected.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows an overall system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a screen, 20 denotes a liquid crystal projector (projection means) that projects a liquid crystal image on the screen 10, 30 denotes a PSD (infrared light detection means), 40 denotes an infrared light processing unit, 50 denotes a personal computer, and 60 denotes a personal computer. It is a laser pointer that a presenter (not shown) has. The personal computer 50 processes various commands and generates or edits image data. An image based on the image data is projected from the liquid crystal projector 20 onto the screen 10 as a visible image.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the laser pointer 60 and the infrared light processing unit 40. The laser pointer 60 includes a laser light control unit (laser light control means) 62 and an infrared light control unit 63 that operate when the power supply 61 is turned on. The laser light control unit 62 is connected with a laser light projection unit (laser light projection means) 64 formed of a laser diode and an infrared light receiving unit 65. On the other hand, the infrared light control unit 63 is connected to an infrared light projection unit (infrared light projection means) 66 that projects infrared light that is invisible light. The projection direction of the infrared light from the infrared light projection unit 66 is set in the same direction as the laser light projected from the laser light projection unit 64. The wavelength of the infrared light projected from the infrared light projection unit 66 is, for example, 950 nm, which is significantly different from the infrared wavelength around 10 μm emitted from the human body. When the infrared light receiving unit 65 receives driving infrared light described later, the laser light control unit 62 drives the laser light projection unit 64 to project the laser light.
[0015]
The laser pointer 60 is provided with various switch buttons that are divided into a mode switching unit (switch) 67 and a communication unit 68. In the mode switching unit 67, a laser pointer mode “LD” for projecting laser light, a mouse mode “M” when the laser pointer 60 is used instead of a mouse, and a state that is neither the laser pointer mode nor the mouse mode are set. An “OFF” switch button is provided. In the laser pointer mode in which “LD” is pressed, infrared light that has been modulated by 25 kHz is projected from the infrared light projection unit 66 (in this case, infrared light is referred to as instruction infrared light). If the projection direction is within the range of the screen 10, a laser light projection permission signal is returned and the laser light is projected from the laser light projection unit 64. In the mouse mode in which “M” is pressed, laser light is not projected, but infrared light modulated at 10 kHz from the infrared light projection unit 66 (in this case, infrared light is used as mouse infrared light). Will be projected only. In addition, the communication unit 68 executes “RC” corresponding to right click of the mouse for the personal computer, “LC” corresponding to left click, “N” for advancing the page of the screen, and “P” for returning the page. Each switch button is provided. When each switch button of the communication unit 68 is pressed, the infrared light projection unit 66 projects infrared light modulated by 38.4 kHz (the infrared light in this case is referred to as communication infrared light). Is done.
[0016]
In the laser pointer 60, infrared light is always projected from the infrared light projection unit 66 in either the laser pointer mode or the mouse mode (either the instruction infrared light or the mouse infrared light is used). However, in order to distinguish the modes, the infrared light control unit 63 modulates the infrared light. Another modulation is also applied to the infrared light for communication projected when each switch button of the communication unit 68 is pressed. The modulation is performed in three cases (laser pointer mode, mouse mode, and when each switch of the communication unit 68 is pressed: during communication). For example, the instruction infrared light in the laser pointer mode is modulated at 25 kHz, the mouse infrared light in the mouse mode is modulated at 10 kHz, and the communication infrared light during communication is modulated at 38.4 kHz.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the present system, an infrared light processing unit 40 including the PSD 30 is installed adjacent to the liquid crystal projector 20. The PSD 30 captures the entire surface of the screen 10 and projects the pointing infrared light or mouse infrared light (infrared light in the laser pointer mode or mouse mode) projected from the laser light projection unit 64 of the laser pointer 60. Is projected on the screen 10 and the projection position of the infrared light on the screen 10 is detected. The infrared light processing unit 40 receives infrared light having a wavelength (for example, 850 nm) different from the infrared light projected from the laser pointer 60 (in this case, the infrared light is referred to as driving infrared light). A driving infrared light projecting unit 70 that projects 33 kHz with a modulation of 33 kHz is provided. This driving infrared light corresponds to the laser light projection permission signal of the present invention. Further, the infrared light processing unit 40 includes a communication infrared light including a photodiode that detects that the communication infrared light projected from the laser light projection unit 64 of the laser pointer 60 is projected onto the screen 10. A light receiving unit 80 is installed.
[0018]
When the instruction infrared light (infrared light modulated at 25 kHz) when the PSD 30 is in the laser pointer mode is detected, the detection signal is supplied to the control unit (transmission control means) 42 through the PSD processing circuit 41. Further, a signal is supplied from the control unit 42 to the driving infrared light projection unit 70, and the driving infrared light is projected from the driving infrared light projection unit 70 onto the screen 10. The driving infrared light is reflected by the screen 10, and the reflected driving infrared light is received by the infrared light receiving unit 65 of the laser pointer 60. Then, the laser beam control unit 62 of the laser pointer 60 drives the laser beam projection unit 64 to project the laser beam.
[0019]
When the mouse infrared light (infrared light modulated at 10 kHz) is projected onto the screen 10 when the laser pointer 60 is in the mouse mode, the projection position of the mouse infrared light on the screen 10 is projected. The moving direction and the moving distance are detected by the PSD 30 one by one, and the detection signal is processed by the PSD processing circuit 41 and supplied to the control unit 42. The control unit 42 generates movement data based on the movement direction and the movement distance, and supplies the movement data to the personal computer 50 as a mouse signal. Then, the personal computer 50 moves a pointer mark, that is, an arrow, a cursor, or the like based on the mouse signal and supplies it to the liquid crystal projector 20. Thereby, the pointer mark moves on the screen 10 in accordance with the movement of the laser pointer 60.
[0020]
Further, when any one of the switches of the communication unit 68 of the laser pointer 60 is pushed and communication infrared light (infrared light modulated at 38.4 kHz) is projected onto the screen 10, the communication infrared light is projected. Light is detected by the infrared light receiving unit 80 for communication. The detection signal is supplied to the control unit 42 of the infrared light processing unit 40, and the control unit 42 generates a command signal corresponding to the switch and supplies the command signal to the personal computer 50 as a keyboard signal. The personal computer 50 executes a command corresponding to the switch based on the command signal, and the command is reflected in the visible image on the screen 10.
[0021]
The above is the configuration of the presentation system according to the embodiment. Next, the operation of this system will be described.
When the presenter points the laser pointer 60 toward the screen 10 on which a visible image is projected from the liquid crystal projector 20 and presses the switch “LD” to enter the laser pointer mode, the infrared light projection unit 66 modulates 25 kHz. The PSD 30 detects that the instruction infrared light is projected and the instruction infrared light is projected on the screen 10. The detection signal is supplied to the control unit 42 via the PSD processing circuit 41 of the infrared light processing unit 40, and further, the signal is supplied from the control unit 42 to the driving infrared light projection unit 70, and the driving infrared light projection is performed. The driving infrared light is projected from the unit 70 onto the screen 10. The driving infrared light is reflected by the screen 10, and the reflected driving infrared light is received by the infrared light receiving unit 65 of the laser pointer 60. Then, the laser light control unit 62 of the laser pointer 60 drives the laser light projection unit 64. As a result, laser light is projected onto the screen 10. That is, in the laser pointer mode, if the laser pointer 60 is pointed at the screen 10, the spot intended by the presenter can be indicated by the projected laser beam spot.
[0022]
Next, when the mouse operation is performed with the laser pointer 60, the switch “M” of the laser pointer 60 is pressed to switch to the mouse mode, and the laser pointer 60 is directed to the screen 10. Then, infrared light for a mouse modulated at 10 kHz is projected from the infrared light projection unit 66 of the laser pointer 60. Then, the movement direction and the movement distance of the projection position of the mouse infrared light on the screen 10 are detected one by one by the PSD 30, and the detection signal is processed by the PSD processing circuit 41 of the infrared light processing unit 40, and the control unit 42. Subsequently, movement data based on the moving direction and moving distance of the mouse infrared light on the screen 10 is generated by the control unit 42, and the movement data is supplied to the personal computer 50 as a mouse signal. Then, the pointer mark generated by the personal computer 50 based on the mouse signal is supplied to the liquid crystal projector 20. Thereby, the pointer mark moves on the screen 10 in accordance with the movement of the laser pointer 60. That is, since a pointer mark corresponding to the movement of the laser pointer 60 is projected on the screen 10, the presenter adjusts the movement of the pointer mark to a desired location while viewing the pointer mark.
[0023]
Next, the presenter can cause the personal computer 50 to execute a command corresponding to the switch by pressing the switch of the communication unit 68 of the laser pointer 60. That is, when any switch of the communication unit 68 of the laser pointer 60 is pressed, the infrared light for communication modulated at 38.4 kHz is projected onto the screen 10. The communication infrared light is detected by the communication infrared light receiving unit 80, and a command signal corresponding to the switch is generated by the control unit 42 of the infrared light processing unit 40, and the command signal is used as a keyboard signal for the personal computer 50. To be supplied. The personal computer 50 executes a command corresponding to the switch based on the keyboard signal, and the command is reflected in the visible image of the screen 10.
[0024]
According to the embodiment, the laser light is projected from the laser pointer 60 only when the PSD 30 detects that the instruction infrared light projected from the laser pointer 60 is projected on the screen 10. Thereby, the laser light is projected from the laser pointer 60 only when the instruction infrared light is projected onto the screen 10, that is, when the projection direction of the laser light is directed toward the screen 10. When the laser light projection direction deviates from the screen 10, the laser light is not projected. For this reason, the danger of erroneously projecting the laser beam to the audience in the laser pointer mode is avoided.
[0025]
The instruction infrared light for laser light control projected from the laser pointer 60 is previously modulated, and the PSD 30 detects the specific instruction infrared light that has been modulated. Therefore, the instruction infrared light projected on the screen 10 is accurately determined without receiving external light interference. As a result, it is reliably determined whether or not the pointing direction of the laser pointer 60 is within the range of the screen 10, and safety is improved.
[0026]
In the mouse mode, a mouse operation can be performed by moving the laser pointer 60 toward the screen 10, and various commands can be executed by pressing a switch of the communication unit 68. As a result, it is not necessary to use a mouse connected to the personal computer 50, and a smooth presentation can be performed.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the infrared light modulated from the laser pointer is projected in the same direction as the laser light, and whether or not the infrared light is projected on the screen is infrared. Since the laser beam is projected only when infrared light is detected by the light detection means, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the pointing direction of the laser pointer is within the screen range. There is an effect that the erroneous projection of light is surely prevented and the safety is further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a laser pointer and an infrared light processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... screen, 20 ... liquid crystal projector (projection means),
30 ... PSD (infrared light detection means), 42 ... control unit (transmission control means),
60 ... laser pointer, 62 ... laser light control section (laser light control means),
64 ... laser light projection unit (laser light projection means),
65 ... infrared light receiving part, 66 ... infrared light projection part (infrared light projection means),
67. Mode switching section (switch).

Claims (3)

In a presentation system comprising a screen, a projection means for projecting a visible image on the screen, and a laser pointer operated by a user to project laser light on the screen,
The laser pointer includes
Laser light projection means;
Laser light control means for receiving a predetermined laser light projection permission signal and driving the laser light projection means at the time of reception to project laser light;
Infrared light projection means for projecting the modulated infrared light in the same direction as the projection direction of the laser light projected from the laser light projection means is provided,
On the other hand, infrared light detection means for detecting whether the modulated infrared light is projected on the screen, and detecting a projection position of the infrared light on the screen;
A transmission control means for sending the laser light projection permission signal to the laser light control means when the infrared light detection means detects the projection of the infrared light on the screen ;
The laser light projection permission signal is infrared light projected on the screen, and the laser light control means of the laser pointer includes an infrared light receiving unit that receives infrared light that is a laser light projection permission signal. A presentation system using a laser pointer. A laser pointer mode in which laser light is projected from the laser light projection means and only infrared light is projected from the infrared light projection means to the laser pointer without being projected from the laser light projection means. There is a switch to switch to the mouse mode that becomes
In the mouse mode, the infrared light projected from the infrared light projecting means is modulated differently from the laser pointer mode,
2. The pointer mark is moved on the screen based on movement data including a moving direction and a moving distance of the projected position of the infrared light on the screen detected by the infrared light detecting means. Presentation system using the laser pointer described in 1.   3. The presentation system using a laser pointer according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light detecting means is a PSD.

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