JPH06242884A - Computer inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the operation of a computer device by projecting the picture of a menu screen or the like from a computer device by a projector device, and designating the menu with a write pen or the like. CONSTITUTION:The picture signal of the menu screen or the like from a computer 11 is projected through a projector part 12 on a screen 13. When a light such as an infrared ray from an infrared ray projecting part 14 is projected on a required menu position, the light is image picked-up by a camera 15, and inputted to a light position detecting part 16, the projected position of the light is detected, and a pertinent signal is inputted through an outputting part 17 to the computer 11. The computer 11 operates the switching of the screen according to the input. Also, the projector part 12 and the camera 15 operate scanning in a synchronizing state according to a synchronizing signal from a synchronizing signal generating part 18, and the light position detecting part 16 detects the position irradiated with the light by using the synchronizing signal as a reference.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer input device, and more particularly to a computer input device for operating a computer device based on the position of light such as infrared rays projected on a screen of a projector device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a projector in which an image created by a small computer or the like is projected on a large screen by a projector such as a conference room so that the explanation can be made by the image on the screen. It is convenient because it is not necessary to perform the conventional troublesome operations such as the case of projecting an image formed on a transparent film on a screen using an optical means. It is a thing. By the way, in this case, the computer is operated by the explainer himself or the operator of the computer, but when the explainer himself operates, the explainer must approach the mouse key or keyboard of the computer each time the operation is performed. However, there is a problem that the explanation is interrupted, and when a dedicated operator operates the computer, there is an invisible trouble that the cooperation with the explainer is indispensable.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a television camera (hereinafter referred to as "projected light") by projecting light such as infrared rays on the screen of a computer image projected on the screen of a projector device. , Abbreviated as camera)
To detect the corresponding position of the computer image based on the signal from the camera, input the signal to the computer device based on this detection, and switch the output image, etc., so that the screen can be operated without being bothered by computer operation. Is to provide something that can be explained.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a projector device for projecting an image output from a computer device on a screen and a position designation by the image projected on the screen. A light projection unit that projects the required light, a television camera that inputs the light projected on the screen, a synchronization signal generation unit that supplies a synchronization signal to the projector device and the television camera, and the television camera. From the optical position detecting section, and a control section for controlling the synchronizing signal generating section and the optical position detecting section, the optical position detecting section detecting the position of the light with the signal A computer input device adapted to operate a computer device based on a signal is provided.

[0005]

With the above construction, in the computer input device according to the present invention, the output image of the computer device is projected on the screen by the projector device.
When operating a computer device, for example, an image of a menu screen or the like from the computer device is displayed on the screen, and light such as infrared rays is projected at a required position on the menu screen by a light pen or a laser pointer.
Light such as infrared rays projected on the screen is imaged by a camera, the position where the light is projected is detected by the output signal of the camera, and the signal by this detection is input to the computer device. The computer device performs page switching or the like based on this signal. The output image of the computer device is projected on the screen by the projector device.

[0006]

Embodiments of the computer input device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of essential parts of an embodiment of a computer input device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a computer device which outputs an image signal. A projector device 2 projects an image on the screen 3 based on a signal from the computer device 1, captures infrared light projected on the screen by a built-in camera, and inputs the infrared light to the computer device 1. 4 is a light pen, for example, provided at the tip of the pointer rod, LED
Infrared light is emitted by a (light emitting diode) or the like to form a light spot 5 on the screen 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes a laser pointer, which emits visible light, for example, and is switched to light including infrared light by the LED or the like by a button operation or the like to form a light spot 7 by infrared light on the screen 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of essential parts of an embodiment of a computer input device according to the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a computer unit (corresponding to the computer device 1),
Outputs image signals such as still images. A projector unit (projector unit built in the projector device 2) 12 projects an image on a screen 13 (corresponding to the screen 3) based on an image signal from the computer unit 11. An infrared projection unit 14 corresponds to the light pen 4 or the laser pointer 6. Reference numeral 15 denotes a camera (built in the projector device 2), which is, for example, an infrared camera that is sensitive only to infrared light, and images infrared light projected on the screen 13. Reference numeral 16 denotes a light position detection unit that detects the position of infrared light based on a signal from the camera 15. An output unit 17 outputs a signal from the optical position detection unit 16. Reference numeral 18 denotes a sync signal generator which generates a sync signal for synchronizing the projector unit 12 and the camera 15. A storage unit 19 stores a control program for the apparatus. A control unit 20 controls each unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an essential part of an example of a projector device incorporating a camera of a computer input device according to the present invention. In the figure, 31 is a light source of the projector device, which outputs, for example, white light. A dichroic mirror 32 transmits green light and reflects blue light and red light. 33
Is a total reflection mirror. A condenser lens 34 condenses the green light from the light source 31. A liquid crystal panel 35 is driven based on a green image signal and appropriately transmits the green light from the condenser lens 34. A dichroic mirror 36 transmits green light from the liquid crystal panel 35 and reflects blue light described later. A dichroic mirror 37 reflects green light and blue light and transmits red light and infrared light, which will be described later. 38 is a projection lens
The three-color light 39 from the dichroic mirror 37 is projected on a screen (not shown), and infrared light from the screen described later enters. A dichroic mirror 40 transmits red light, reflects blue light, and makes the reflected blue light enter a condenser lens 41. Reference numeral 42 denotes a liquid crystal panel, which is driven based on a blue image signal, appropriately transmits the light from the condenser lens 41, and emits the light to the dichroic mirror 36. A total reflection mirror 43 reflects the red light transmitted through the dichroic mirror 40. A condenser lens 44 condenses the red light from the mirror 43. A liquid crystal panel 45 is driven based on a red image signal, appropriately transmits the red light from the condenser lens 44, and emits the red light to the dichroic mirror 37. Reference numeral 46 is an infrared reflection mirror, which reflects only infrared light 47 from the screen. 48
Is a total reflection mirror, which reflects the infrared light reflected by the infrared reflection mirror 46. 49 is an imaging lens system. Reference numeral 50 denotes a camera, which captures an image of an infrared point incident through the imaging lens system 49.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the main part of another example of a projector device incorporating a camera of a computer input device according to the present invention. In the figure, 51 is an infrared transmissive mirror,
Only infrared light 47 from the screen that has passed through the dichroic mirror 37 is transmitted, and red light or the like from the liquid crystal panel 45 is reflected. The other reference numerals are the same as those in FIG. 3 and therefore will not be described.

Next, the operation of the computer input device according to the present invention will be described. For example, when the menu screen from the computer device 1 is displayed on the screen 3 and the screen is switched by operating the light pen 4 or the laser pointer 6, the image signal from the computer unit 11 is input to the projector unit 12, Project on screen 13. For example, a menu screen as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the screen 13. Therefore, the tip of the light pen 4 or the output light beam of the laser pointer 6 is projected to a desired menu display position. The light pen 4 is provided with, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) or the like at the tip of a pointer to emit infrared light. Also, the laser pointer 6
For example, normally only the beam of visible light such as red light is emitted, traced on the screen with the tip of this beam, and when the tip of the beam reaches the desired position, press a button etc. Switch to a state in which infrared light is mixed and emitted. Screen in this way
The camera 15 takes an image of the infrared light spot 5 or 7 projected onto the infrared light 13. The camera 15 is, for example, an infrared camera, which is sensitive to only light in the infrared wavelength range and is insensitive to other light. The signal from the camera 15 is input to the optical position detector 16.

The projector unit 12 and the camera 15 are
Through the control unit 20, the sync signal from the sync signal generation unit 18 is used as a reference to operate so that the scanning positions on the screen coincide with each other. That is, for example, when the scanning position of the image of the projector unit 12 is at the screen center of the screen 13, the camera 15
Also operates so as to scan the central position of the screen. Thus, with the signal from the synchronization signal generation unit 18 as a reference, in the light position detection unit 16, the position of the light spot signal of the signal from the camera 15 is at any position of the image signal from the computer unit 11. Can be detected. Optical position detector
The signal from 16 is sent to the computer unit 11 from the output unit 17 via the control unit 20 so that the image signal of the designated menu or the like is output. The storage unit 19 stores a control program of the apparatus and the like, and the control unit 20 controls by this program.

As described above, the projection lens 38 allows the light of the image from the projector unit 12 to the screen 13 to pass therethrough, and at the same time allows the reflected infrared light from the screen 13 to pass therethrough.
That is, the projection lens 38 is the projection lens of the projector unit 12 and simultaneously operates as a part of the imaging lens system of the camera 15. Thus, for example, even when the screen size is changed to a large screen and the projector device is lowered backward, if the focus adjustment of the projection image of the projector device is performed, the focus adjustment of the camera is performed at the same time by this adjustment. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately adjust the projection image and the captured image each time. It should be noted that this device can be applied to, for example, a game machine or the like to enhance the commercial value.

It is also possible to enlarge a part of the image projected on the screen. In this case, the enlarged portion of the image on the screen is set as the cutout range by designating the upper left end point and the lower right end point, for example. This designation is performed by the light pen 4 or the laser pointer 6. These designated positions are detected by the optical position detection unit 16 with a signal from the camera 15, and for example, the image data in the set range is read out from the frame data of the projected image recorded in the frame memory etc. The data is transferred to a memory or the like and recorded, and data interpolation or the like is appropriately performed according to the cutout ratio (the ratio of the cutout image size to the original image size), the data is recorded in the buffer memory or the like, and projected on the screen by the projector device .

[0014]

As described above, according to the computer input device of the present invention, the computer device is provided by irradiating the screen of the computer image projected on the screen by the projector device with light such as infrared rays with a light pen or the like. For example, when the explainer explains with the image projected on the screen,
In the past, the operator had to operate the mouse keys or the keyboard of the computer device in cooperation with the explainer himself or the explainer.
It is a convenient thing that you can operate the computer device without taking your eyes off the screen. In addition, if a camera for capturing the position of a light spot such as infrared rays is built in the projector device and the projection lens of the projector device is used as the imaging lens of the camera, for example, the size of the screen or the projector device. When the distance from the screen to the screen is changed, if the focus of the projection system is adjusted by the projector, it is not necessary to adjust the image pickup system of the camera.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a computer input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of essential parts of an embodiment of a computer input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram of an example of a projector device having a built-in camera of a computer input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram of another example of a projector device incorporating a camera of a computer input device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer device 2 Projector device with built-in television camera 3 Screen 4 Light pen 5 Point of projected light 6 Laser pointer 11 Computer device 12 Projector section 13 Screen 14 Infrared projection section 15 Television camera 16 Optical position detection section 17 Output section 18 Sync signal generator 19 Storage 20 Control 38 Projection lens 46 Infrared reflection mirror 47 Infrared light 48 Infrared reflection mirror 51 Infrared transmission mirror

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A projector device for projecting an image output from a computer device on a screen, a light projecting unit for projecting light necessary for designating a position on the image projected on the screen, and the screen. A television camera that inputs the projected light, a synchronization signal generator that supplies a synchronization signal to the projector device and the television camera, and a position of the light based on the synchronization signal based on a signal from the television camera. A computer input configured to operate a computer device based on a signal from the optical position detection unit, and a control unit that controls the synchronization signal generation unit and the optical position detection unit. apparatus. 2. A projector device for projecting an image output from a computer device onto a screen through a projection lens, and a light projecting unit for projecting light required for designating a position on the image projected on the screen. A television camera for inputting the light projected on the screen through the projection lens, a synchronization signal generator for supplying a synchronization signal to the projector device and the television camera, and a signal from the television camera. A light position detection unit that detects the position of the light with the synchronization signal as a reference, and a control unit that controls the synchronization signal generation unit and the light position detection unit, and a computer based on the signal from the light position detection unit. A computer input device adapted to operate the device. 3. An image of a menu screen or the like from a computer device is projected on a screen by the projector device, and a menu is designated by the image of the screen by the required light by the light projecting unit on the screen. The computer input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a signal from the position detector is input to a computer device to switch a screen projected on the screen.