JP6020609B2 - Projector and projector control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector and a projector control method.

  Conventionally, as a method for preventing unauthorized use of a projector, a method of inputting a personal identification number from a remote controller (remote controller) is known. However, in an installation environment in which a plurality of projectors are used in the same place, it is troublesome to enter a password for all projectors every time they are activated.

Patent Document 1 discloses a projector that authenticates by attaching / detaching a USB key or holding an RF tag.
According to such a projector, unauthorized use of the projector can be prevented without inputting a personal identification number.

JP 2005-351996 A

  However, in the projector of Patent Document 1, although it is not necessary to input a personal identification number, it is necessary for the user to perform an authentication operation near all the projectors during use, and the effort before use has not been reduced. In addition, when the projector is suspended from the ceiling, there is a problem in that operations such as attaching / detaching the USB key or holding the RF tag cannot be performed.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

Application Example 1] The projector according to this application example, a projector that projects and modulating the light emitted from the light source to the image information, and. Receiving unit, an input operation unit that receives an input operation, An authentication unit that performs authentication for enabling the projector, and a control unit that controls the operation of the projector. When the authentication information is input by the input operation unit, When the authentication by the authentication information is successful, the projector is enabled, and when the use permission information of the projector is received by the receiving unit, the projector is enabled.

  According to this application example, the projector can be used upon successful authentication by the authentication unit or reception of use permission information. As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of performing an authentication operation on all the plurality of cascade-connected projectors.

Application Example 2 In the projector according to the application example includes a transmission unit, the control unit, when the projector is available, from the transmitting unit, the use permission information, the other It transmits to a projector.

  According to this application example, when the first projector connected in cascade is authenticated, the use permission information is sequentially sent to the second and subsequent projectors to enable use. As a result, all projectors can be used by authenticating only the first unit connected in cascade.

Application Example 3 In the projector according to the application example described above, the projector further includes storage means for storing first identification information for identifying the projector and second identification information for identifying the other projector. if such a projector is available, from the transmitting unit, wherein the use permission information, and the second identification information, and transmits to the other projector, the control means, than the previous SL receiving means, the use The permission information and the second identification information are received, and the projector can be used when the second identification information matches the first identification information.

  According to this application example, the first identification information for identifying the projector itself and the second identification information for identifying the next projector connected in cascade are provided, and the second identification information is transmitted to the next projector together with the use permission information. The next projector can be used when the second identification information received together with the use permission information matches the first identification information for identifying itself. This makes it possible to prevent the projector from being used when there is an illegally connected projector in the cascade connection.

Application Example 5 A projector control method according to this application example is a projector control method that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source according to image information. The projector includes a receiving unit, an input, Input control means for accepting an operation; and control means for controlling the operation of the projector. The control method includes a control step for enabling the projector by the control means , and the input operation means When authentication information is input, in the control step, when authentication by the authentication information is successful, the projector is enabled. When the receiving unit receives use permission information of the projector, the control is performed. In the step, the projector is made usable .

  According to this application example, the projector can be used depending on whether authentication by the authentication unit is successful or use permission information is received. As a result, it is possible to reduce the trouble of performing the authentication operation on all the plurality of cascade-connected projectors.

The block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a projector. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing cascade connection of projectors, where FIG. 5A is a state in which the projectors are wired, FIG. 5B is a state in which the projector PJ2 has received use permission information from the projectors PJ1, and FIG. The state in which use permission information is transmitted, (d) is a diagram showing a state in which all projectors can be used. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of a projector. It is a figure which shows an example of a warning message, (a) is when authentication fails, (b) when use permission information is not received within a predetermined time, (c) is the received identification information does not correspond. The figure which shows an example of the warning message at the time.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a projector 1 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 1 includes an image projection unit 10, an OSD processing unit 16, an image signal processing unit 17, an image signal input unit 18, a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, an input operation unit 23, and a light source control unit 25. , A power supply terminal 30, a power supply unit 31, a receiving means 41, a transmitting means 42, and the like, which are housed inside a housing of the projector 1 (not shown).

  The image projection means 10 includes a light source 11, three liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B as light modulation devices, a projection lens 13 as a projection optical system, a liquid crystal drive means 14, and the like. The image projecting means 10 modulates the light emitted from the light source 11 by the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B to form image light, and projects the image light from the projection lens 13 to project the image on the screen SC or the like. Is displayed.

  The light source 11 includes a discharge-type light source lamp 11a made of an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like, and a reflector 11b that reflects light emitted from the light source lamp 11a toward the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B. ing. Light emitted from the light source 11 is converted into light having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by an integrator optical system (not shown), and red (R), green (G), and blue, which are the three primary colors of light, by a color separation optical system (not shown). After being separated into each color light component of (B), it enters the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, respectively.

  The liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are configured by a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of transparent substrates. The liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are formed with a plurality of pixels (not shown) arranged in a matrix, and a driving voltage can be applied to the liquid crystal for each pixel. When the liquid crystal driving unit 14 applies a driving voltage corresponding to the input image information to each pixel, each pixel is set to a light transmittance corresponding to the image information.

  For this reason, the light emitted from the light source 11 is modulated by transmitting through the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, and image light corresponding to image information is formed for each color light. The formed image light of each color is synthesized for each pixel by a color synthesis optical system (not shown) to become color image light, and then enlarged and projected onto the screen SC or the like by the projection lens 13.

  In the embodiment described above, the projector 1 that projects using the light source lamp 11a as the light source 11 is exemplified, but the present invention is also applied to a projector that projects using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source or a laser light source as the light source. be able to. In the above-described embodiment, the image projection unit 10 is exemplified by the transmission type liquid crystal type projection optical system using the light source 11 and the three liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B as the light modulation device. You may employ | adopt the light modulation apparatus of other display systems, such as a liquid crystal display system and a micromirror device system (light switch display system).

The control means 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) used for temporary storage of various data, and the like, and operates according to a control program (not shown) stored in the storage means 21. As a result, the overall operation of the projector 1 is controlled. That is, the control unit 20 functions as a computer together with the storage unit 21.
The control means 20 is an authentication means 201 for authenticating the projector 1, and a mode setting for setting one of a first mode in which the projector 1 operates as the head of the cascade connection and a second mode in which the projector 1 operates as the second and subsequent in the cascade connection Means 202 and a timer 20a for measuring time are included.

The storage means 21 is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory or FeRAM (Ferroelectric RAM). The storage unit 21 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the projector 1, various setting data for defining operation conditions of the projector 1, and the like. The storage unit 21 stores, as setting data, first identification information 21a that identifies the projector 1 and second identification information 21b that is cascade-connected to the projector 1 and that identifies the destination projector to which the transmission unit 42 transmits information. Is done.
If the authentication is successful with the authentication information input by the input operation means 23 described later, the projector 1 transmits the use permission information P1 together with the second identification information 21b if there is a projector registered in the second identification information 21b. Transmit by means 42.

The input operation means 23 is for the projector 1 to accept input operations from the user, and although not shown, the input operation means 23 includes a plurality of operation keys for the user to give various instructions to the projector 1. The main body key provided on the outer surface of one housing or a remote controller (remote controller) for performing an input operation by remote operation is used.
The operation keys provided in the input operation means 23 include a power key for alternately switching on / off the power, an input switching key for switching a plurality of image input terminals input to the image signal input means 18, and various settings. Menu key for superimposing a setting menu for performing operation, a cursor key for selecting a setting item from the menu, a determination key, an escape key, and an authentication operation key for inputting authentication information for enabling the projector 1 (For example, numeric keys).

  When the user operates various operation keys of the input operation unit 23, the input operation unit 23 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation content of the user to the control unit 20. The input operation means 23 may have a configuration having a remote control signal receiving means (not shown) and a remote control (not shown) capable of remote operation. In this case, the remote control emits an operation signal such as an infrared ray corresponding to the operation content of the user, and the remote control signal receiving means receives this and transmits it to the control means 20 as control information.

  The image signal input means 18 includes a plurality of image input terminals, and image information is input from each image input terminal from an external image output device such as a video reproduction device or a personal computer via a cable (not shown). .

  The image signal processing unit 17 converts the image information input from the image signal input unit 18 into image information representing the gradation of each pixel of the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B. Here, the converted image information is for each color light of R, G, and B, and is composed of a plurality of pixel values corresponding to all the pixels of the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B. The pixel value defines the light transmittance of the corresponding pixel, and the intensity (gradation) of light transmitted through each pixel and emitted is defined by this pixel value.

The OSD processing unit 16 performs processing for superimposing and displaying an OSD (on-screen display) image such as a menu image or a message image on the projection image based on an instruction from the control unit 20. The OSD processing unit 16 includes an OSD memory (not shown), and stores OSD image information representing graphics, fonts, and the like for forming an OSD image.
When the control unit 20 instructs to superimpose the OSD image, the OSD processing unit 16 reads necessary OSD image information from the OSD memory, and outputs an image signal so that the OSD image is superimposed at a predetermined position on the projected image. The OSD image information is synthesized with the image information input from the processing means 17. The image information combined with the OSD image information is output to the liquid crystal driving means 14.
When there is no instruction to superimpose the OSD image from the control unit 20, the OSD processing unit 16 outputs the image information input from the image signal processing unit 17 to the liquid crystal driving unit 14 as it is.

  When the liquid crystal driving unit 14 drives the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B in accordance with the image information input from the OSD processing unit 16, the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B form images according to the image information. An image is projected from the projection lens 13.

  The light source control unit 25 controls the supply and stop of power to the light source 11 based on an instruction from the control unit 20, and switches between turning on and off the light source 11.

  The power supply unit 31 is supplied with electric power such as AC 100V from the outside via the power supply terminal 30. The power supply unit 31 converts input power (AC power) into predetermined DC power and supplies the power to each unit of the projector 1. In addition, the power supply unit 31 stops supplying power (operating power) necessary for image projection to each unit (power-on state) and operating power supply based on an instruction from the control unit 20. It is possible to switch between a state (standby state) of waiting for an operation for turning on.

  The receiving means 41 communicates with other projectors connected in cascade, and receives the use permission information P1 and the second identification information 21b.

  The transmission means 42 communicates with other projectors connected in cascade, and transmits use permission information P1 and second identification information 21b.

Next, a cascade connection operation of the projector according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2A shows a state in which projectors PJ1, PJ2, and PJ3 are connected by wire. In the cascade connection state, the transmission means 42a of the projector PJ1 is connected to the reception means 41b of the projector PJ2, and the transmission means 42b of the projector PJ2 is connected to the reception means 41c of the projector PJ3. The first projector PJ1 in the cascade connection is set to the first mode, and the second and subsequent projectors PJ2 and PJ3 are set to the second mode. At this time, all the projectors PJ1, PJ2, and PJ3 are in a use standby state.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the projector PJ1 at the head of the cascade connection performs authentication by inputting the personal identification number from the input operation means 23a. When the authentication is successful, the projector PJ1 becomes usable as shown in FIG. 2B, and use permission information P1 is transmitted from the projector PJ1 to the projector PJ2. At this time, the second identification information 21b is also transmitted by the transmitting means 42a, but is omitted in the description here.
In FIG. 2B, when the projector PJ2 receives the use permission information P1 from the projector PJ1, the projector PJ2 becomes usable as shown in FIG. 2C, and the use permission information P1 is transmitted from the projector PJ2 to the projector PJ3. Is done.
In FIG. 2C, when the projector PJ3 receives the use permission information P1 from the projector PJ2, as shown in FIG. 2D, the projector PJ3 can be used, and all the projectors can be used.

Next, the operation of the projector of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the projector 1 is turned on by the power-on operation of the input operation unit 23 (step S101), the control unit 20 determines whether the first mode is set in the mode setting unit 202 (the projector 1 is cascade-connected). It is checked whether or not it is at the head (step S102).
When the first mode is set in the mode setting means 202 (step S102: Y), the process proceeds to step S103. When the first mode is not set in the mode setting unit 202, that is, when the second mode is set (step S102: N), the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S103, the authentication unit 201 performs authentication by inputting a personal identification number from the input operation unit 23, and the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, the control means 20 checks whether or not the authentication in step S103 is successful. If the authentication is successful (step S104: Y), the process proceeds to step S105. When the authentication fails (step S104: N), the process proceeds to step S116.

  In step S105, the control means 20 checks whether valid information is stored in the second identification information 21b. When valid information is stored in the second identification information 21b (step S105: Y), the process proceeds to step S106. When valid information is not stored in the second identification information 21b (step S105: N), the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S106, the control unit 20 transmits the use permission information P1 and the second identification information 21b by the transmission unit 42, and the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, the control means 20 projects the image signal input from the image signal input means 18 by the image projection means 10, and ends this flow.

  In step S110, the control means 20 starts timing by the timer 20a, and transitions to step S111.

In step S111, the control means 20 checks whether or not the timer 20a has passed a predetermined time T1 (for example, 20 seconds). When the timer 20a has passed the time T1 (step S111: Y), a warning message M2 is projected for a predetermined time (step S112), and the process proceeds to step S103. An example of the warning message M2 at this time is shown in FIG.
On the other hand, when the timer 20a has not elapsed the time T1 (step S111: N), the process proceeds to step S113.

  In step S113, the control unit 20 checks whether or not the use permission information P1 and the second identification information 21b are received from the receiving unit 41. When the usage permission information P1 and the second identification information 21b are received (step S113: Y), the process proceeds to step S114. When the usage permission information P1 and the second identification information 21b are not received (step S113: N), the process proceeds to step S111.

  In step S114, the control means 20 checks whether or not the second identification information 21b received in step S113 matches the first identification information 21a. If they match (step S114: Y), the process proceeds to step S105. If they do not match (step S114: N), the process proceeds to step S115.

  In step S115, the control unit 20 projects the warning message M3 by the image projection unit 10 for a predetermined time, and the process proceeds to step S117. An example of the warning message M3 at this time is shown in FIG.

  In step S116, the control means 20 projects the warning message M1 by the image projection means 10 for a predetermined time, and the process proceeds to step S117. An example of the warning message M1 at this time is shown in FIG.

  In step S117, the control unit 20 turns off the power of the projector 1 to shift to the standby state, and ends this operation flow.

  As described above, according to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the projector 1 can be used by either authentication by the authentication unit 201 or reception of the use permission information P1. As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of performing the authentication operation on all the plurality of cascade-connected projectors.

  In addition, when the first projector connected in cascade is authenticated and usable, the use permission information P1 is sequentially sent to the second and subsequent projectors to enable use. This makes it possible to use all projectors by authenticating only one head projector connected in cascade.

Further, the first identification information 21a for identifying the projector PJ1 and the second identification information 21b for identifying the next projector PJ2 connected in cascade are provided, and the second identification information 21b is transmitted to the next projector PJ2 together with the use permission information P1. To do.
The next projector PJ2 enables the projector PJ2 when the second identification information 21b received together with the use permission information P1 matches the first identification information 21a for identifying the projector PJ2.
This makes it possible to prevent the projector 1 from being used when there is an illegally connected projector 1 in the cascade connection.

  When operating as the second and subsequent projectors PJ2 in the cascade connection, if the use permission information P1 is not received within a predetermined time, the authentication unit 201 performs authentication in the same manner as the first projector PJ1 in the cascade connection. As a result, when the projector PJ1 connected for some reason cannot transmit the use permission information P1, authentication can be performed by the projector PJ2 connected in cascade, and the use permission information P1 can be transmitted. Therefore, the authenticated projector PJ2 and the projector (PJ3) connected thereafter can be used.

Moreover, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
(Modification 1)
In the projector 1 of the above embodiment, when the first mode is set in the mode setting unit 202, the authentication unit 201 performs authentication by an input operation from the input operation unit 23, but the authentication information is acquired from the external storage medium. Thus, it is possible to authenticate all of the projectors connected in cascade by connecting a storage medium storing authentication information to one projector.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Projector, 10 ... Image projection means, 11 ... Light source, 12R, 12G, 12B ... Liquid crystal light valve, 13 ... Projection lens, 14 ... Liquid crystal drive means, 16 ... OSD processing means, 17 ... Image signal processing means, 18 ... Image signal input means, 20 ... control means, 201 ... authentication means, 202 ... mode setting means, 20a ... timer, 21 ... storage means, 21a ... first identification information, 21b ... second identification information, 23 ... input operation means, 25 ... Light source control means, 30 ... Power supply terminal, 31 ... Power supply section, 41 ... Reception means, 41 ... Transmission means, P1 ... Use permission information.

Claims (4)

A projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source according to image information,
Receiving means;
A transmission means;
An input operation means for receiving an input operation;
An authentication means for performing authentication for enabling the projector;
Control means for controlling the operation of the projector;
With
The control means includes
When authentication information is input by the input operation means, if authentication by the authentication information is successful, the projector can be used,
When the use permission information of the projector is received by the receiving means, the projector can be used ,
When the projector becomes usable, the transmission unit transmits use permission information of another projector to the other projector. The projector according to claim 1 ,
Further comprising a storage means for storing first identification information for identifying the projector,
Before SL control means from said receiving means, said use permission information of the projector accepts second identification information及beauty, when the first identification information and the second identification information match, enable the projector A projector characterized by being made.   The projector according to claim 1,
  Storage means for storing second identification information for identifying the other projector;
  When the projector becomes usable, the control unit transmits the use permission information and the second identification information of the other projector to the other projector from the transmission unit. A projector. A method of controlling a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source according to image information,
The projector is
Receiving means;
A transmission means;
An input operation means for receiving an input operation;
Control means for controlling the operation of the projector;
Have
The control method is:
A control step of enabling the projector by the control means ;
When the projector becomes usable, a transmission step of transmitting the use permission information of the other projector to the other projector from the transmission unit;
Have
When authentication information is input by the input operation means, if authentication by the authentication information is successful in the control step, the projector is enabled.
When the receiving unit receives use permission information of the projector, the control step includes enabling the projector in the control step.

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