JPH09247592A - Liquid crystal projector and entertainment system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the user to see a projected image sharply by preparing at least two kinds of adjustment points providing an adjustment center and selecting other point depending on the lightness around the projecting face. SOLUTION: Two kinds of modes as control modes for an aperture rate in response to the lightness around the projecting face are prepared fro the liquid crystal projector to set a luminance level at an adjustment point providing an adjustment center of lightness and contrast of a projected image. In the case of day mode with a high luminance level, a variable range of contrast is relatively high, a black level is set high and a white level is set decreasingly slightly by the use of a nonlinear region. In the case of the night mode with a low luminance level, the variable range of contrast is relatively low and a white level is set slightly lower and a black level is set slightly higher. Two kinds of adjustment points are prepared at least and either of them is selected depending on the lightness around the projection face to allow the projected image to be seen sharply.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Table of Contents] The present invention will be described in the following order. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention belongs to the related art Problem to be solved by the invention Means for solving the problem Embodiments of the invention (1) Entertainment system (FIGS. 1 and 2) (1-1) Configuration of video-on-demand system (FIGS. 1 and 2) (1-2) Configuration of liquid crystal projector device (FIGS. 1 and 3) (2) Block configuration (FIGS. 4 to 6) (2-1) Sending device (FIG. 4) (2- 2) Receiver (Fig. 4) (2-2-1) Receiver of video-on-demand system (Fig. 4) (2-2-2) Receiver of liquid crystal projector system (Figs. 5 and 6) (3) Bidirectional serial transmission standard (FIGS. 7 to 10) (4) Operation when used (5) Other embodiments Effect of the invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal projector device and an entertainment system. For example, it is suitable to be applied to an aircraft such as an aircraft which is used in a place where there is a large difference in brightness.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, an entertainment system using a projector device is built in an aircraft so that a program having the same content can be provided to a large number of passengers at one time. This is because the screen size is larger than that of the direct-view display device and the program can be provided to many passengers. Among them, the liquid crystal projector device of the type that displays an image on the screen by controlling the amount of transmitted light of each pixel for each of the three liquid crystal display panels provided on the optical paths of the primary colors (R, G, B) has recently become smaller and lighter. It is being adopted in many aircraft because it can be realized. The amount of light transmitted through each pixel changes according to the magnitude of the voltage applied to the drive circuit that drives each pixel, as shown in FIG.

[0004]

By the way, the aperture ratio is 0
When it approaches [%] or 100 [%], the linearity is impaired, and the image displayed on the screen is crushed in white or black. Therefore, the linearity is currently maintained as shown by the broken line in FIG. A method of adjusting only within a certain range is adopted. Note that there is only one adjustment point that is the center of adjustment when adjusting the brightness and contrast, and after the brightness and contrast are adjusted before the flight centering on this adjustment point, they do not change during flight.

However, in an aircraft, the brightness in the passenger compartment is extremely different depending on the flight time zone and weather conditions, and the difference between bright and dark is remarkable. Therefore, there is a problem that an image on the screen that looks relatively good when the room is dark becomes difficult to see when the room is bright.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a liquid crystal projector device capable of always clearly viewing a projected image of the liquid crystal projector device even under a situation where the brightness of the surroundings is extremely changed, and the liquid crystal projector device. It is intended to propose the entertainment system used.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the present invention, at least two kinds of adjustment points that provide the center of brightness and contrast adjustment are prepared, and the adjustment points are adjusted according to the brightness around the projection surface. To be able to switch during flight. As a result, when the periphery of the projection surface is bright, the brightness of the adjustment center is switched to a higher brightness, and when the periphery of the projection surface is dark, the brightness of the adjustment center is switched to a lower brightness, thereby enabling the adjustment. As a result, the projected image can be seen clearly regardless of the brightness around the projection surface.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Entertainment System As an example of the entertainment system, the basic system configuration of the entertainment system built in an aircraft is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, this entertainment system is a video program freely selected by passengers in a passenger cabin portion in which a plurality of seat groups, three left and right across the aisle in the cabin, are installed in multiple rows along the aisle. It is configured by a video-on-demand system that provides (video data (including still image data) and audio data) and a liquid crystal projector device system that provides common programs to all passengers. Note that the system shown in FIG.
It is a relatively small-scale system that connects 60 receivers.

(1-1) Configuration of Video-on-Demand System First, the video-on-demand system 1 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the video-on-demand system 1 includes a transmission device 2 for transmitting a video program to a transmission line based on a passenger's request, and a video program addressed to itself among the video programs via the transmission line. Is received and displayed on the display device 3. Of these, the display device 3 is provided on the back side of the backrest of each seat 5 so that passengers in the rear seats can see it, and the receiving device 4 is provided under each seat 5.

The video-on-demand system 1 transmits information using a bidirectional serial transmission standard, which will be described later in the following paragraphs, so that the receiving devices 4 can be connected in cascade. As a result, the network structure of the video-on-demand system 1 has a very simplified structure as shown in FIG. That is, one transmission line extending in series from the front row of seats to the rear row of the seats via the receiving device 4 along the guide groove 6 provided under the floor of each seat,
It can be configured with one transmission line extending in series from the receiving device 4 of the seat 5 at one end of each row to the receiving device 4 of the seat 5 at the other end.

As described above, since only one transmission cable 7 attached to the guide groove 6 is required to connect the receiving devices 4 in series, it is not necessary to bundle a large number of transmission cables 7 as in the conventional case. Is also made good. As a result, the work for constructing the network system can be carried out without being restricted by the space where the transmission cable can be attached, which is convenient for the designer to carry out the design work.
As the type of the transmission cable 7, basically, a transmission cable 7 having a length that enables connection between the receiving devices 4 on the same row arranged at equal intervals and a length that allows connection between the receiving devices 4 on the front and rear rows are used. Since it is only necessary to prepare two types, that is, the transmission cable 7, the cost required for maintenance and the like can be reduced.

Even when the layout is changed to increase the number of seats, it is only necessary to connect one transmission cable 7 from the receiver 4 of the existing seat 5 to the receiver 4 of the new seat 5. Good, the expansion work can be completed very easily in a short time. On the contrary, even when the layout is changed to reduce the number of seats, the physical change work of the network can be completed only by removing the transmission cable 7 connected to the adjacent seat 5. There is.

(1-2) Structure of Liquid Crystal Projector Device On the other hand, the liquid crystal projector device 8 is, as shown in FIG.
A part of the system is shared with the above-mentioned video-on-demand system 1 and a necessary video program is supplied from the transmission device 2. That is, the liquid crystal projector device 8 receives the video program transmitted from the transmission device 2 via the transmission cable 7 by the reception device 9 and projects the decoding result on the screen 10.

The liquid crystal projector 8 is provided with two types of modes for controlling the aperture ratio according to the brightness inside the machine, and it is possible to switch automatically or manually according to the brightness inside the machine. It is made possible. Here, the difference between the two control modes is the brightness level at the adjustment point that gives the center for adjusting the brightness and contrast of the projected image. The higher brightness level is called the day mode, and the lower brightness level is the night mode. (Night) mode. FIG. 3 shows an example of two modes. Daytime (Day
) Mode, the variable range of contrast is relatively high and the black level is set high. On the other hand, the white level is set to be slightly crushed because the non-linear region is used. On the other hand, in the case of the night mode, the contrast level is relatively low in the variable range and the white level is set to be slightly low. On the other hand, the black level is set to be sunk because it uses a non-linear region.

(2) Block Configuration Next, a specific configuration of each device constituting the entertainment system will be described with reference to FIG.

(2-1) Sending Device First, the sending device 2 functioning as a video server is a recording device 2A composed of a large-capacity hard disk device, a control device (CONT) 2B for controlling the recording device 2A, and serial transmission described later. It is based on a transmitter / receiver (T) 2C that sends and receives data according to the standard. The storage device 2A stores various kinds of video programs so as to meet a wide variety of requests from passengers. In addition, these video programs are stored as still images (JP
EG), normal image (MPEG1 format image) and high-definition image (MPEG2 format image) are stored in three types of image quality, and the type of image can be changed according to the type of receiving device connected to the network. Has been done.

Further, the control device 2B is based on the request of each receiving device 4 received via the transmitting / receiving device 2C, and is based on the storage device 2
In addition to controlling the read operation of A, the read video program is packetized in accordance with a request and each packet is attached with a header and is output to the transceiver 2C.
In addition, the transmitter / receiver 2C sets 100 [MBpP depending on the transmission speed allowed in the network system in which the video program is built.
s], 200 [MBps], and 400 [MBps], the information is transmitted and received at a transmission rate of one.

(2-2) Receiving Device (2-2-1) Receiving Device of Video-on-Demand System First, each seat 5 constituting the video-on-demand system 1
The receiving device 4 includes a transmitting / receiving device (T) 4A that receives the video program sent from the sending device 2, and a control device (CON) that extracts an information program addressed to itself from the received video program.
T) 4B and a decoding device 4C for decoding the extracted information program and converting it into a video signal. Of these, a control unit (CU) 11 is connected to the control device 4B, and an instruction corresponding to a user instruction input from the control device 4B is sent to the sending device 2 side as control data.

The control unit 11 is an operation terminal for passengers that can be fixed to or detached from an armrest portion of the seat 5 and performs various operations such as selection, reproduction, pause, fast forward, and rewind of video programs. You can enter. The decoding device (DEC) 4C is a device that decodes a compression-coded video program and displays it on the display device (LCD) 3. Incidentally, in this embodiment, a liquid crystal display is used as the display device 3.

(2-2-2) Receiving Device of Liquid Crystal Projector Device System On the other hand, the basic configuration of the liquid crystal projector device 8 is the same as that of the video-on-demand system 1, and the sending device 2 sends it out based on the request of the receiving device 9. A transmitting / receiving device 4A for receiving the extracted video program, a control device 4B for extracting an information program addressed to itself from the received video program, and a decoding device 4C for decoding the extracted information program and converting it into a video signal. Become.

The control device 4 of the liquid crystal projector device 8
In addition to the above-described processing, B performs the operation mode determination based on the processing operation shown in FIG. That is, the control device 4B is always in the current operation mode during the day (Day).
It is determined whether or not the mode is set (step SP1), and when a positive result is obtained, the bias value and gain value for the daytime (Day) mode are output (step SP2), and when a negative result is obtained. Bias value and gain value for Night mode are output (step SP
3). The operation mode is switched from the control unit 12 including a remote control device to the control device 4B by infrared rays.
It is designed to be transmitted to.

The liquid crystal projector 14 is constructed as shown in FIG. The bias setting circuit 40A and the gain setting circuit 40B are provided for the brightness of the image signal output from the JPEG / MPEG decoder 9C according to the bias value and the gain value given from the control device (CPU) 9B via the transmission / reception device (T) 9A. This is a circuit for instructing switching of bias and contrast gains (that is, switching of adjustment points). The control device 9B sends a control signal by infrared rays or the like via the light receiver 40C by the control unit. In addition,
The NTSC (National Television System Committee) signal is converted into a component signal by the video signal processing unit 40D, and the gain is switched by this conversion signal. The bias setting circuit 40A and the gain setting circuit 40B are digital / analog conversion circuits, respectively.
The respective values of the primary color (R, G, B) signals given from the control device 9B having the configuration via the 8-bit serial bus are converted into analog signals and output.

The RGB decoder 40E is a circuit for adjusting the brightness level and contrast of the image signal expanded by the JPEG / MPEG decoder 9C based on the control of the setting circuits 40A and 40B. R, G, B) signals are output. The primary color (R, G, B) signals are sent to the γ circuit 40F.
LCD panel driver 40G after gamma conversion in
LCD display panels 14R, 14G,
It is designed to be used for driving 14B.

(3) Bidirectional Serial Transmission Standard Next, the bidirectional serial transmission standard used in these entertainment systems will be described. The bidirectional serial transmission standard used in this entertainment system requires a transmission cable 7 having three lines of a power supply line, a data line and a strobe line, and at least 100
It is designed to send and receive data at a transmission speed of [MBps] or higher. In the case of the video-on-demand system 1 shown in this example, 100 [MBps], 200 [MBps], 400
Three transmission speeds of [MBps] can be selected.

Here, the power supply line is a line for supplying a DC power supply to each connected device, and the network can be changed without considering the supply of the power supply even when the layout is changed such as expansion. The presence of this power supply line allows the repeater to be used in an active state at all times, and the video program can be transmitted without worrying about reflection or interference from the receiving device 4. Further, the data line is the only line used to transmit the data related to the video program, and as shown in FIG.
The Z-encoded NRZ data is serially transmitted.

The strobe line is a line for transmitting a strobe signal that changes the signal state as shown in FIG. 7B when two consecutive bits of the NRZ data have the same state, and via this line. By obtaining the exclusive OR of the transmitted strobe signal and the NRZ data, the clock signal can be reproduced on the receiver side as shown in FIG. 7C. As a result, data can be transmitted without error regardless of signal transmission delay. Note that from the clock signal and NRZ data to NRZ
Figure 8 shows an encoder that outputs data and strobe signals.
(A) shows NRZ data and strobe signal
A decoder for decoding the Z data and the clock signal is shown in FIG.
It shows in (B).

Next, the communication protocol adopted in this bidirectional serial transmission standard will be described. According to this bidirectional serial transmission standard, 8000 unit transmission intervals (hereinafter, 1
A predetermined period from the start of each cycle is used for a period in which a video program is distributed from the transmitting device 2 to each receiving device 4, and the following predetermined period is output from the receiving device 4 to the transmitting device 2. It is designed to be assigned to a period for receiving a request signal.

There are two types of methods for use in one cycle. One is, as shown in FIG. 9A, a period in which program information can be transmitted from the sending device 2 to the receiving device 4 in one cycle period is equally divided, and each equally divided small period is divided into a plurality of receiving devices. Each receiving device 4 assigned to one of the four
This is a method of transmitting the program information addressed to the time division. The state of transmission at this time is shown in FIG. By the way, in this example, 3
Since nine receivers 4 are connected to the transmitter 2, the numbers 1 to 39 are given to each small period, but the length of each small period varies depending on the number of connected units. To do.

The other is, as shown in FIG. 9 (B), the entire period of one cycle period during which program information can be transmitted from the transmitting device 2 to the receiving device 4 is used, and each receiving device is addressed during the period. It is a method of transmitting the program information in sequence. The state of transmission at this time is shown in FIG. In either case, the beginning period of each cycle is used to transmit the cycle start data indicating the beginning of the cycle, and the following predetermined period (indicated by arb in the figure) is a single interrupt request line that is the transmission cable 7 It is designed to be used to assign usage rights in the order of priority.

At the end of the period during which the program information can be transmitted, end data indicating the end of transmission of the program information is transmitted. Incidentally, at the time of transmission shown in FIG. 9A, the narrow period provided between each small period is a non-transmission period not used for communication. On the other hand, in the period for receiving the request signal output from the receiving device 4 to the transmitting device 2 in one cycle period, both systems have the same structure, and the first period (indicated by arb in the figure) is
It is used to assign the usage rights of the transmission cable 7 in descending order of priority so that a plurality of transmission requests do not conflict.

After the end of this period, the request signal is transmitted from each receiving device 4 as an asynchronous packet, and the end data is sent at the end of the transmission. Therefore, at the end of one cycle period, the positive response period (ac
k) is provided. The transmitting device 2 is adapted to transmit serial data based on the above rules.

(4) Operation during use When the power of the entire system is turned on in the entertainment system, an ID is assigned to each receiving device 4 and the liquid crystal projector device 8 using the ID addition function (Self ID function), Initial settings so that can operate normally. After this setting is made, the entertainment system becomes ready to send the video program from the sending device 2 to each terminal. After that, when the passenger selects the channel with the control unit 11 at hand, the desired video program is displayed on the screen of the display device 3 of each seat 5.

On the other hand, the video program selected by the crew in the control unit 12 is projected on the screen 10 so that all passengers can enjoy the video program, including passengers who do not have the display device 3 attached to the seat 5. ing. As mentioned above, the brightness of the cabin is different between daytime and nighttime, and even during the daytime, the brightness is considerably different when the window shade is opened and when it is closed.

When the cabin is bright, the control unit 12 selects the day mode. When the cabin is dark, the control unit 12 selects the night mode. In this way, even if the inside of the machine is bright, an image with a high brightness level is projected on the screen 10, so that a clear image can be recognized on the screen 10 without being confused by the ambient brightness. On the contrary, when the inside of the aircraft is dark, the image whose brightness level is slightly lowered is projected on the screen 10, so that the brightness level is not too high and the image does not look dazzling, and a clear image is recognized on the screen 10 with an appropriate amount of light. can do.

According to the above construction, the liquid crystal projector 8 has two brightness control functions, a day mode and a night mode, and these two modes can be freely switched according to the operating environment. As a result, the liquid crystal projector device 8 and the liquid crystal projector device 8 which can provide a passenger with a video program with a clear image even in a use environment such as an airplane in which a change in brightness is extremely reflected are used. It is possible to realize an entertainment system.

(5) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the sending device 2 and the receiving device 4 are used.
Alternatively, a relatively small-scale entertainment system that is directly connected to the liquid crystal projector device 8 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of sending devices 2 and receiving devices 4 or the liquid crystal projector device 8 can be switched and converted by an ATM switch. It can also be applied to a large-scale entertainment system connected via a device.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sending device 2
The video program stored in the storage device 2A built in the still image (JPEG), normal image (MPEG1), high-definition image (MPEG2)
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any one or any two of these three types of images may be stored.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the case of constructing the entertainment system in the aircraft has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is widely used in the case of constructing the entertainment system in various moving bodies such as ships and passenger cars. Applicable. Further, the invention is not limited to such a mobile body, and can be widely applied to the case of constructing an entertainment system of this kind in an accommodation facility.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the brightness level of the light beam emitted by the liquid crystal projector 8 is set to the daytime (Da
The case of switching between the y) mode and the night mode has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the switching mode may have three or more stages. In this way, finer and more precise adjustment of the brightness level can be realized.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the brightness level of the light beam emitted by the liquid crystal projector device 8 is remotely controlled by the crew unit control unit 12 has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and switching control may be automatically performed by the control of the control device 2B on the sending device 2 side that manages the entire system.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the brightness of the adjustment center can be switched to a higher brightness when the periphery of the projection surface is bright, and the brightness of the adjustment center can be switched to a lower brightness when the periphery of the projection surface is dark. Therefore, the image can be projected with an appropriate brightness according to the brightness around the projection surface. As a result, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal projector device and an entertainment system that can always obtain a clear projected image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of construction of an entertainment system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a network configuration of an entertainment system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic curve diagram for explaining mode characteristics.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a transmission device and a reception device.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a mode determination processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a liquid crystal projector device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a data transmission protocol.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configurations of an encoder and a decoder.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of one cycle.

FIG. 10 is a signal waveform diagram showing a bidirectional serial transmission standard used in the entertainment system of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a characteristic curve diagram showing conventional characteristics.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... video-on-demand system, 2 ... sending device,
3 ... Display device, 4, 9 ... Receiving device, 4A, 9A ...
Transmitter / receiver device 4B, 9B ... Control device 4C, 9C ..
Decoding device, 5 ... Seat, 6 ... Guide groove, 7 ... Transmission cable, 8 ... Liquid crystal projector device, 10 ... Screen, 11, 12 ... Control unit, 13 ... Photo receiver, 1
4R, 14G, 14B ... Liquid crystal display panel, 4
0A: bias setting circuit, 40B: gain setting circuit, 40C: JPEG / MPEG decoder, 40E: RGB
Decoder, 40F ... γ circuit, 40G ... Liquid crystal display panel driver.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. At least two kinds of adjustment points serving as adjustment centers when adjusting brightness and contrast, and having a function capable of switching the adjustment points during flight according to the brightness around the projection surface. Liquid crystal projector device. 2. A discriminating means for switching the adjustment center to an adjustment point side having a higher brightness when the periphery of the projection surface is bright, and for switching the adjustment center to an adjustment point side having a lower brightness when the periphery of the projection surface is dark. The liquid crystal projector device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A transmitting device for reproducing and transmitting a video program from a storage unit, a receiving device for receiving the video program transmitted from the transmitting device, and at least for providing an adjustment center when adjusting brightness and contrast. The brightness and the contrast of the video program received by the receiving device are appropriately adjusted during flight on the basis of the selected adjustment point out of the two or more kinds of adjustment points provided, and the video program of the video program is displayed on the projection surface. An entertainment system comprising a liquid crystal projector device for projecting an image.