JP5446753B2 - Projection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a projection apparatus that projects an image.

  An image projection apparatus that can project an image on an installation surface of the apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-310194 A

  By the way, the image projection apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a mirror that reflects a projection image and a hinge that supports the mirror, so that the projection angle of the image can be changed by changing the mirror angle or the hinge height. The operation is complicated because it is necessary to adjust the focus and to adjust the focus of the optical system housed in the apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projection apparatus that can project an image by an easy operation without requiring various adjustments.

The projection device of the present invention is imaged by the projection unit including an optical system that projects an image, a housing that houses the projection unit, an imaging unit that captures a projection plane that projects the image, and the imaging unit. A projection area determining unit that determines a projection area in which the projection unit can project the image using a captured image of the projection plane, and the casing is used as an installation plane when the casing is installed. and the surface of the body, are parallel to the projection plane, the projection unit, the projection image on the projection plane, most of the range of possible projecting the image on the projection surface by the projection unit the housing wherein by fixing the one side of the projectable range close to, have row scaling processing by processing an image signal, characterized by projecting the image on the projection area

  According to the projection device of the present invention, it is possible to project an image with an easy operation without requiring various adjustments.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a projector according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st state at the time of the image projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd state at the time of the image projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure inside the projection unit which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the expansion / contraction process at the time of the image projection of the projector which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure inside the projection unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the projector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of the image projection of the projector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st state at the time of the image projection of the projector which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd state at the time of the image projection of the projector which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure inside another projection unit.

  Hereinafter, a projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a projector 2 as a projection apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 2 includes a housing 4 made of metal or plastic, and a projection window 8 of a projection unit 80 (see FIG. 4) built in the housing 4 is provided on the front surface 6 of the housing 4. Is provided. On the upper surface 10 of the projector 2, a power switch 12 and an operation unit 14 for setting various functions are provided. Various input terminals, cooling air vents, and the like (not shown) are provided on the side surface of the housing 4.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first state when the projector 2 projects an image. As shown in FIG. 2, the projector 2 is installed upright so that the lower surface, which is the surface facing the upper surface 10 of the housing 4, is in contact with the horizontal plane G. Further, the projection light is projected obliquely downward from the projection window provided on the front surface of the housing 4, and the projection image P is projected on the horizontal plane G. The horizontal plane G is a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface such as a desk surface.

  Here, the lower surface of the housing 4 functions as an installation surface used when installing the housing 4 and is a projection surface of the projection image P from the projection window 8 provided on the front surface 6 of the housing 4. It also functions as a distance reference plane that defines the distance to the horizontal plane G. That is, when the casing 4 is installed on the horizontal plane G with the lower surface down, the distance from the projection window 8 provided on the front surface 6 of the casing 4 to the placement surface G is uniquely determined. At this time, the lower surface of the housing 4 as the distance reference plane and the horizontal plane G as the projection plane on which the projection image P is projected are parallel to each other. In this way, the projection distance of the image by the projector 2 is uniquely determined, so that an optical member in the projection unit 80 described later can form a clear projection image at a position separated by the projection distance. Furthermore, the projection unit 80 is fixed in advance at a predetermined position.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second state when an image is projected by the projector 2 as the projection apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the projector 2 is installed such that the rear surface facing the front surface 6 of the housing 4 is in contact with the horizontal plane G, and the lower surface is in contact with the wall surface H that is a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane G. ing. Further, the projection light is projected obliquely upward from the projection window provided on the front surface of the housing 4, and the projection image P is projected on the wall surface H.

  Here, the rear surface of the housing 4 functions as an installation surface used when the housing 4 is installed, and the lower surface of the projection image P from the projection window 8 provided on the front surface 6 of the housing 4. It functions as a distance reference plane that defines the distance to the wall surface H that is the projection plane. That is, the casing 4 is installed on the horizontal plane G with the rear side down, and the bottom surface is in contact with the wall surface H, so that the projection window 8 provided on the front surface 6 of the casing 4 can be changed to the wall surface. The distance to H is uniquely determined. At this time, the lower surface of the housing 4 as the distance reference surface and the wall surface H as the projection surface on which the projection image P is projected are parallel to each other. Thus, also when the housing 4 is installed on the horizontal plane G and an image is projected onto the wall surface H, the projection distance of the image is uniquely determined.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the projection unit 80 provided in the projector 2 according to this embodiment. Here, the projection unit 80 is an oblique projection system unit including the projection lens group 90 and the mirror 92. 4 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front of the projection unit 80, that is, from the front side of the casing 4 of the projector 2. As shown in FIG. Projection light emitted from the LED 82 serving as a light source for emitting projection light is converted into parallel light by the condenser lens group 84 and then enters a PBS (polarization beam splitter) 86, and is 45 in the traveling direction of the incident light. Irradiated to the polarization separation film 86a provided at an angle of °. Of the irradiated projection light, only the S-polarized light is reflected by the polarization separation film 86a and emitted downward from the lower surface of the PBS 86, and then is a normally black type as an image display unit installed below the PBS 86. The light enters the LCOS (reflection type liquid crystal element) 88. On the other hand, the P-polarized light that has passed through the polarization separation film 86a is incident on and absorbed by the side surface of the PBS 86 that has been subjected to non-reflective processing such as black processing.

  The light incident on the LCOS 88 is reflected by the LCOS 88 and enters the PBS 86 again. Here, a liquid crystal layer (not shown) constituting the LCOS 88 functions as a phase plate for incident light when a voltage is applied. Accordingly, of the light emitted from the LCOS 88, the light transmitted through the pixel region to which a voltage is applied by the liquid crystal layer is converted from S-polarized light to P-polarized light. On the other hand, of the light emitted from the LCOS 88, the light transmitted through the pixel region to which no voltage is applied by the liquid crystal layer proceeds as S-polarized light.

  Of the light emitted from the LCOS 88 and re-entering the PBS 86, only the P-polarized light that has passed through the pixel region to which the voltage of the LCOS 88 is applied passes through the polarization separation film 86a and is separated from the S-polarized light. The P-polarized light is emitted upward from the PBS 86 and then projected to the projection lens group 90 for projecting an optical image for projection, and a mirror for deflecting the projection direction of the optical image emitted from the projection lens group 90. The light is emitted from the projection unit 80 through 92 and projected through the projection window 8 provided on the front surface 6 of the housing 4 of the projector 2.

  Here, the mirror 92 is composed of a curved mirror having a predetermined curvature so that trapezoidal correction can be performed on the projection image P projected onto the projection plane. Further, all optical members constituting the projection optical system in the projection unit 80 are fixed with respect to the projection unit 80. As described above, in the projector 2 according to this embodiment, when the projector 2 is installed on the horizontal plane G, the projection distance of the image is uniquely determined. Therefore, a clear projection image is obtained at a position separated by the projection distance. The optical member in the projection unit 80 can be fixed in advance at a predetermined position.

  Next, a projection image size enlargement / reduction process performed by the projection apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the enlargement / reduction process is being performed on the image projected by the projector 2. As shown in FIG. 5, when the projection image P projected on the projection plane G is enlarged or reduced, one side closest to the housing 4 of the projection image P is fixed. By performing the enlargement / reduction of the image in this way, the required projection area of the image can be minimized. That is, according to the projector 2, since an image is often projected onto a surface having a relatively small projection area such as a desk surface, the projection image P is enlarged and reduced in this way, so It is possible to prevent the image projection area from being enlarged. In addition, since the user can easily recognize the position serving as a reference for enlargement / reduction, the user can easily handle the position.

  Here, the projection image P is enlarged or reduced while maintaining the aspect ratio of the image displayed on the LCOS 88 of the projection unit 80 in a state where one side corresponding to the one side of the projection image P is fixed. Is done by doing. Since all the optical members accommodated in the projection unit 80 are fixed with respect to the projection unit 80, the projection image P is enlarged or reduced by such electrical control.

  Note that the projector 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include another projection unit 180 shown in FIG. 6 instead of the projection unit 80. The projection unit 180 includes a transmissive liquid crystal display as an image display unit in the unit, but has the same configuration as the projection unit 80 except for this point. Therefore, in the description of the projection unit 180, the description of the same configuration as the projection unit 80 is omitted. In the description of the projection unit 180, the same components as those of the projection unit 80 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the projection unit 180. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the projection unit 180 when viewed in the lateral direction, that is, from the side surface side of the housing 4 of the projector 2. As shown in FIG. 6, a unit 180 having a rectangular cross section includes an LED 82, a condenser lens group 84, a first polarizing plate 182 that transmits only the P-polarized component of the projection light, and an LCD as an image display element. (Transmission type liquid crystal display) 184, a second polarizing plate 186 that transmits only the S-polarized component of the projection light, a projection lens group 90, and a mirror 92 are disposed.

  Non-polarized projection light emitted upward from the LED 82 and converted into parallel light by the condenser lens group 84 is converted into P-polarized linearly polarized light by the first polarizing plate 182 and then enters the LCD 184. Here, in the pixel area constituting the LCD 184, light transmitted through the pixel area to which no voltage is applied is converted from P-polarized light to S-polarized light. On the other hand, the light transmitted through the pixel area to which the voltage is applied does not change in the polarization characteristics and is emitted as P-polarized light. In the projection light emitted from the LCD 184 as mixed light of P-polarized light and S-polarized light, only the S-polarized light passes through the second polarizing plate 186 and enters the projection lens group 90. The projection light emitted from the projection lens group 90 is reflected by a mirror 92 composed of a curved mirror, the projection direction is deflected, and the projection image is trapezoidally corrected and projected from the projection window 188 of the projection unit 180. Is done.

  Note that, similarly to the projection unit 80 described above, all optical members constituting the projection optical system in the projection unit 180 are also fixed to the projection unit 180. As described above, in the projector 2 according to this embodiment, when the projector 2 is installed on the horizontal plane G, the projection distance of the image is uniquely determined. Therefore, a clear projection image is obtained at a position separated by the projection distance. The optical member in the projection unit 180 can be fixed in advance at a predetermined position.

  According to the projection apparatus according to this embodiment, the distance from the projection window provided in the housing to the projection surface for projecting the image is uniquely determined by using the installation surface provided in the housing on the horizontal plane. Therefore, all the optical members of the optical system included in the projection unit can be fixedly arranged with respect to the projection unit. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a focus adjustment mechanism or the like, and it is possible to simplify the projection unit, and thus the mechanism of the projection apparatus, to achieve weight reduction, size reduction, cost reduction, and the like. In addition, since there are no moving parts, the accuracy of the projection optical system can be prevented and reliability can be improved, and a clear image can be projected without performing operations such as focus adjustment when the apparatus is used. Therefore, the operability is greatly improved.

  In addition, according to the projection apparatus according to this embodiment, the projection unit performs enlargement / reduction processing on the projected image by fixing one side close to the casing of the projection apparatus. Can be easily changed, and the required projection area of the image can be minimized.

  As described above, according to the projection device according to this embodiment, it is possible to project an image with an easy operation without requiring various adjustments.

  Next, a second projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the projector 102 as the second projection apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state when the projector 102 projects an image. It is. As shown in FIG. 7, the projector 102 includes a control unit 104 that comprehensively controls the functions of each unit, and a projection unit 106 having the same configuration as the projection unit 80 included in the projector 2 described above. An imaging unit 108 that images light incident through an imaging window 122 (see FIG. 8) provided in front of the housing 120 is provided. In addition, the projector 102 includes a projection area determination unit 110 that determines a projection area on which an image is projected based on an image captured by the imaging unit 108.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the imaging unit 108 images a front area F including a projection area of a projection image projected by the projection unit 106 from an imaging window 122 provided in front of the housing 120. The projection area determination unit 110 determines a projection area to project an image based on the captured image. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the projector 102 is installed on the surface of a desk and the projection area is limited by the shape (edge) of the desk, the projection area determination unit 110 includes a housing 120. Based on the captured image obtained by capturing the front area F, the projection area is determined so that the projection area of the projection image P does not deviate from the surface of the desk.

  When the projection area is determined, the control unit 104 transmits a control signal to the projection unit 106 and instructs to project the projection image P so as to be within the projection area. That is, the projection unit 106 displays an image displayed on the LCOS 88 with an appropriate size, and electrically controls the image size so as to be within the projection area. Note that the image size determination process as described above may be performed before the projection image P is projected, or at the same time as the projection of the projection image P, that is, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. You may perform the process which changes the size of the projection image P initially projected into the size after correction shown by a solid line.

  According to the projection apparatus according to this embodiment, a projection area in which an image can be projected by the projection unit is determined using an imaging unit that images the projection plane and a captured image of the projection plane captured by the imaging unit. A projection area determining unit for projecting an image within the determined projection area, so that the projection size is optimized for a projection surface with a limited projection area such as a desk surface. Projection images can be projected.

  Next, a third projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first state when an image is projected by the projector 202 as the third projection apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the projector 202 includes a housing 204 made of metal or plastic, and an upper surface 206 provided with an operation unit and the like for setting a power switch and various functions on the upper portion of the housing 204. And a cover 208 provided to be openable and closable upward. When the projector 202 is used, the cover 208 is opened by rotating the cover 208 around the rotation axis 210 by a predetermined angle automatically or manually, and the mirror 212 installed on the lower side of the cover 208 is exposed. The angle is a predetermined angle and is not changed. When the cover 208 is opened, the projection window 216 provided at the center of the second upper surface 214 of the housing 204 is exposed. The projector 202 has a projection unit (not shown) inside the housing 204, and the projection image P projected from the projection unit is reflected by the mirror 212 after passing through the projection window 216, and the housing 204 is installed. Projected onto the horizontal plane G.

  The projector 202 is installed on the horizontal plane G so that the lower surface, which is the surface facing the upper surface 206 of the housing 204, is in contact with the horizontal plane G. Here, the lower surface functions as an installation surface used when installing the housing 204 and also defines a distance from the projection window 216 of the housing 204 to the horizontal plane G that is the projection surface of the projection image P. Also functions as a reference plane. That is, when the casing 204 is installed on the horizontal plane G with the lower surface down, the distance from the projection window 216 of the casing 204 to the horizontal plane G is uniquely determined. At this time, the lower surface of the housing 204 as the distance reference plane and the horizontal plane G as the projection plane on which the projection image P is projected are parallel to each other. In this way, the projection distance of the image by the projector 202 is uniquely determined, so that the optical member of the above-described projection unit housed in the housing 204 can be projected clearly at a position separated by the projection distance. In order to form an image, the projection unit is fixed in advance at a predetermined position.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second state when an image is projected by the projector 202 as the projection apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the projector 202 is installed such that the rear surface of the housing 204 is in contact with the horizontal plane G and the lower surface is in contact with a wall surface H that is a plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane G. Further, the projection image P projected from the projection window 216 provided on the housing 204 is reflected on the wall H after being reflected by a mirror 212 (not shown in FIG. 10) provided on the cover 208 of the housing 204. ing.

  Here, the rear surface of the housing 204 functions as an installation surface used when the housing 204 is installed, and the lower surface is from the projection window 216 of the housing 204 to the wall surface H that is the projection surface of the image. It functions as a distance reference plane that defines the distance. That is, the casing 204 is installed on the horizontal plane G with the rear side down, and the lower surface is in contact with the wall surface H, so that the projection window 216 provided on the casing 204 can extend from the wall surface H to the wall surface H. The distance is uniquely determined. At this time, the lower surface of the housing 204 as a distance reference plane and the wall surface H as a projection plane on which an image is projected are parallel to each other. Thus, also when the housing 204 is installed on the horizontal plane G and an image is projected onto the wall surface H, the projection distance of the image is uniquely determined.

  According to the projection apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to project an image with an easy operation without requiring various adjustments.

  The projection unit according to each of the above-described embodiments includes a mirror 92 that is configured by a curved mirror having a predetermined curvature and has a concave reflecting surface as shown in FIG. Instead of the mirror 92, a mirror that is formed of a free-form surface mirror and has a concave reflecting surface may be provided.

  Moreover, it may replace with the mirror 92 and you may make it provide the mirror 100 which is comprised from a free-form surface mirror and has a convex-shaped reflective surface as shown in FIG. When this convex mirror 100 is provided, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism or the like for forming an intermediate image, as compared with the case where a concave mirror 92 that needs to form an intermediate image is provided. Can be reduced in weight, reduced in size, and reduced in cost.

  Further, at least one surface of the optical member constituting the projection optical system in the projection unit may be configured by a free curved surface. In this case, since all the optical members constituting the projection optical system in the projection unit are fixed with respect to the projection unit, it is possible to prevent a decrease in accuracy of the optical member having a free-form surface and to easily distort the optical member. It is possible to form a projection image without any image.

2, 102, 202 ... projector, 4, 120, 204 ... housing, 8, 216 ... projection window,
80, 180 ... projection unit, 122 ... imaging window, 212 ... mirror, F ... front region, G ... horizontal plane, H ... wall surface, P ... projected image

Claims (4)

A projection unit comprising an optical system for projecting an image;
A housing that houses the projection unit ;
An imaging unit for imaging a projection plane for projecting the image;
A projection region determining unit that determines a projection region in which the projection unit can project the image using the captured image of the projection surface captured by the imaging unit;
The plane of the casing used as an installation surface when installing the casing and the projection plane are parallel,
The projection unit is
For the image projected on the projection plane, one side of the projectable range closest to the housing among the range capable of projecting the image onto the projection plane by the projection unit is fixed, and an image signal There row scaling processing by processing the projection apparatus characterized by projecting the image on the projection area. The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical system includes a free-form surface mirror that performs trapezoidal correction on the image and makes an image projected on the projection plane a rectangular shape. The housing is
Provided in the casing that functions as a distance reference plane that defines a distance from a projection window provided in the casing to a projection plane that projects the image, and a first installation plane that is used when the casing is installed. The first aspect;
Perpendicular to the first surface, the claims, characterized in that it comprises a second surface provided in the housing which serves as a second mounting surface to be used when installing the housing 1 or The projection apparatus according to 2 . The optical member constituting the optical system is
In the state that projecting the image projection apparatus according to any one of claim 1 to 3, characterized in that it is all fixed relative to the projection unit.

Images