KR102124475B1 - Projector and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing including one projection surface facing a different direction and a plurality of support surfaces, the plurality of support surfaces being configured to form a plane and form an obtuse angle with each other; An optical engine embedded in the housing and projecting an image on a screen through a projection lens provided on the projection surface when the housing is supported by one of the plurality of support surfaces; And a control unit that automatically performs keystone correction as the state of the housing is changed so that the housing is supported by the other of the plurality of support surfaces, the projector device simply changes the projection direction or projection surface in various ways. Keystone correction can be performed automatically.

Description

PROJECTOR AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a projector device and a control method capable of freely changing the projection direction or projection surface.

With the development of technology, a high-quality display is possible, and the demand for a display device in a direct view format, which has been widely used, is decreasing. On the other hand, large screen projection TVs, PDP TVs, projectors, etc. are in the spotlight as display devices. In particular, the projector has the advantage of being able to construct a large screen compared to other display devices, and as a display device of a personal computer (PC), in addition to the purpose of being used for business purposes such as seminar presentations, the purpose thereof is gradually used as a home display device. It is getting wider.

These projectors generally generate and project an image on an external screen, and are classified into two types, a rear projection type and a front projection type, depending on how the image is projected on the screen. In the rear projection type projector, a projector is mounted on a cabinet together with a screen to project an image onto a reflector disposed obliquely in the cabinet, and the projected image is reflected and projected onto the back of the screen. The front projection projector is installed so that the projector is located in front of the screen, and projects an image directly on the screen.

Most commonly used projectors have built-in focus and zoom functions. In addition, a keystone correction function is built in to compensate for the screen being displayed in an uneven state according to the tilt of the projector relative to the screen.

However, in the case of the manual focus function and the zoom function, there is a trouble that the user has to manually adjust the focus lens and the zoom lens provided on the front of the projector. In addition, in the case of the conventional motorized focus function and zoom function, the user must visually check whether the focus adjustment and the zoom adjustment are necessary and operate the key input unit.

For the keystone correction, the user must install the projector and screen, adjust the size and focus of the screen, visually check whether the keystone correction is necessary, and then operate the key input unit to command the keystone correction. In addition, there was an inconvenience in that the above process had to be repeated until the screen became flat.

The present invention is proposed to meet the above-mentioned needs, and provides a projector device and a control method thereof, which can automatically recognize a change in a projection direction or a projection surface, and automatically perform screen adjustment corresponding to the change That's the purpose.

The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. Will be able to.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a projection surface facing a different direction and a plurality of support surfaces, wherein the plurality of support surfaces are respectively configured to form a plane and form an obtuse angle with each other; An optical engine embedded in the housing and projecting an image on a screen through a projection lens provided on the projection surface when the housing is supported by one of the plurality of support surfaces; And a control unit that automatically performs keystone correction as the state of the housing is changed so that the housing is supported by another one of the plurality of support surfaces.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention, when the housing is supported by one of a plurality of support surfaces configured to form a plane and form an obtuse angle with each other, the optical engine embedded in the housing is provided with a projection on the projection surface Projecting an image on the screen through the lens; Capturing an image projected on the screen by a camera embedded in the housing; Detecting a state change of the housing when the state of the housing is changed such that the housing is supported by another one of the plurality of support surfaces; And as the state change of the housing is detected, automatically performing keystone correction based on a boundary shape of the projected image in the captured image.

The effects of the projector device and the control method according to the present invention are as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the projector can be supported by any of the plurality of support surfaces, so that the projection direction or projection surface can be simply changed. Further, when the projection direction or projection surface of the projector device is changed, keystone correction can be automatically performed according to a change in the projection direction or projection surface, without the user having to visually check and instruct keystone correction. As a result, the hassle of a user having to visually check and manually instruct keystone correction is eliminated, and accordingly, convenience can be improved.

The effects obtainable in the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. will be.

1A is a perspective view showing a state in which a housing of a projector device according to an embodiment of the present invention is supported by one of a plurality of support surfaces.
1B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the housing of the projector device according to the embodiment of FIG. 1A is supported by different support surfaces among a plurality of support surfaces.
2A to 2C are exemplary views illustrating an example of a method for automatically performing keystone correction as the arrangement state of a projector device related to an embodiment of the present invention is changed.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a projector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exemplary view showing an example of a method of receiving an image to be projected by a projector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a side view of a housing of a projector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6A and 6B are exemplary views showing a specific example of a method for performing automatic keystone correction in the projector device of the present invention.
7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical engine included in a projector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8A to 8D are exemplary views illustrating an example of a method for performing automatic rotation correction in a projector device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9A to 9C are exemplary views showing an example of a method for performing automatic zoom correction in a projector device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor appropriately explains the concept of terms in order to explain his or her invention in the best way. Based on the principle that it can be defined, it should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the configuration shown in the embodiments and drawings described in this specification is only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and does not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, and thus can replace them at the time of application. It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

In the present invention, the following terms may be interpreted based on the following criteria, and even terms not described may be interpreted according to the following spirit. Coding may be interpreted as encoding or decoding in some cases, and information is a term that includes values, parameters, coefficients, and elements. Can be interpreted differently, so the present invention is not limited thereto. The suffixes'modules' and'parts' for the components used in the following description are given or mixed only considering the ease of writing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinguished from each other. The term'unit' is used to refer to a basic unit of image processing or a specific location of an image, and in some cases, it may be used interchangeably with terms such as'block','partition', or'region'.

Hereinafter, a projector device 100 related to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 5.

1A is a perspective view of a projector device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the arrangement state of the projector device 100 of FIG. 1A is changed.

1A and 1B, a projector device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 101 including a projection surface 1011 and a plurality of support surfaces 1012, and It includes an optical engine 110 embedded in the housing 101 and a control unit 120 (see FIG. 3) for controlling the optical engine 110.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the housing 101 includes one projection surface 1011 and a plurality of support surfaces 1012. The plurality of support surfaces 1012 are directed to different directions, and the single projection surface 1011 is also configured to face different directions from each support surface 1012. In the present specification, when the projection surface 1011 or the support surface 1012 faces a specific direction, it means that each surface is disposed such that a vertical line with respect to each surface faces the specific direction. On the non-planar projection surface 1011, the projection surface 1011 may be disposed such that a vertical line passing through the center of the housing 101 and perpendicular to the projection surface 1011 faces the specific direction.

Each of the plurality of support surfaces 1012 forms a plane, and is configured to form an obtuse angle with each other. On the other hand, the projection surface 1011 may be made of a flat surface, but may be made of a curved surface or a curved surface rather than a flat surface.

That is, the projection surface 1011 does not need to form a plane, and the surface provided with the projection lens 112 of the optical engine 110 embedded in the housing 101 becomes the projection surface 1011. Preferably, the direction of the projected image projected from the projection lens 112 may be perpendicular to the projection surface 1011. 1A, a camera 130 for capturing a projected image may be mounted inside the housing 101, in which case the imaging lens of the camera 130 is attached to the projection surface 1011. It can be provided together. The operation of the camera 130 will be described later.

The housing 101 may have only one projection surface 1011 and a plurality of support surfaces 1012 on its outer surface. In this case, the edges of the projection surface 1011 and each support surface 1012 may be connected to each other. Alternatively, a projection surface 1011 and a respective support surface 1012 may be formed on a part of the outer surface of the housing 101. The shape of the projection surface 1011 or the support surface 1012 is not limited, and the projection lens 112 of the optical engine 110 is provided, and the surface on which the projected image is emitted becomes the projection surface 1011, and the projection surface The surface made of a plane while facing the direction different from (1011) becomes the support surface (1012).

In addition, the housing 101 may be composed of only one projection surface 1011 and a plurality of support surfaces 1012 that form an obtuse angle with each other, or another that forms a right angle or acute angle with at least one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012. It may be configured to further include a support surface (1012).

According to an embodiment, the projection surface 1011 and the plurality of support surfaces 1012 may be formed in a polygonal shape, and the housing 101 may have edges of polygonal projection surfaces 1011 and support surfaces 1012 each other. It may be a polyhedron formed by being connected.

For example, the housing 101 may be a regular polyhedron having six or more faces. When the housing 101 is a regular polyhedron, a projection lens 112 is formed on one of the surfaces of the regular polyhedron, and the other surface can be a support surface 1012. As another example, the housing 101 may be a polygonal column. In this case, the projection lens 112 is formed on one of the bottom surfaces of the polygonal pillars, and the other bottom and side surfaces can be the support surface 1012.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the one projection surface 1011 is a polygon formed of a quadrangular shape, and the plurality of support surfaces 1012 is one back support surface 1012, 4 It may be composed of four side support surfaces (1012a) and eight corner support surfaces (1012b). That is, the housing 101 may be a 14-sided body composed of one projection surface 1011, one back support surface 1012, four side support surfaces 1012a, and eight corner support surfaces 1012b.

At this time, as shown in Fig. 1A, the back support surface (not shown) is a square parallel to the projection surface 1011, and each side support surface 1012a has a vertex of its projection surface 1011. It may be a rectangle that comes into contact with but forms a right angle with the projection surface 1011. In addition, each corner support surface 1012b may be a triangle formed between any one of the projection surface 1011 and the back support surface 1012 and the side support surface 1012a.

The optical engine 110 is built in the housing 101, and when the housing 101 is supported by one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012, it is attached to the screen through the projection lens 112 provided on the projection surface 1011. Project the image.

As described above, the direction in which the image is projected from the projection lens 112 may be perpendicular to the projection surface 1011, but may also form an acute angle. However, the direction in which the image is projected from the projection lens 112 is preferably fixed to the projection surface 1011. That is, when the projection surface 1011 faces a specific direction, the projection direction of the image may be fixed to the direction of the projection surface 1011. When the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed such that the projection surface 1011 faces the other direction, the projection direction of the image may be fixed to the direction of the changed projection surface 1011.

In the following specification, it is assumed that the projection lens 112 is installed so that the projection direction of the image is perpendicular to the projection surface 1011. However, as described above, the projection direction of the image is not limited to the above conditions.

When each of the support surfaces 1012 of the housing 101 forms a plane, as shown in FIG. 1A, when one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012 comes in contact with a floor, a table, etc., the housing ( 101) can be supported. According to FIG. 1A, when the housing 101 is supported by the first support surface 1012 that is one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012, the projection surface 1011 has a different direction from the first support surface 1012. The image is projected in a direction perpendicular to the projection surface 1011.

At this time, the user can change the arrangement state of the housing 101 such that the second support surface 1012, which forms an obtuse angle with the first support surface 1012, contacts the floor or table, as shown in FIG. 1B. Simply, the user can roll the housing 101 to change its placement.

1B, when the housing 101 is supported by the second support surface 1012 facing in a different direction from the first support surface 1012, the projection surface 1011 is the first support surface ( 1012). Accordingly, the image projected from the projection lens 112 also faces a different direction than when supported by the first support surface 1012. That is, as the surface supporting the housing 101 is changed from the first support surface 1012 to the second support surface 1012, the direction in which the projection surface 1011 faces and the projection direction of the image may be changed.

When the external screen is fixed, when the direction of the projected image is changed, the projected image on the external screen is displayed unevenly. If the projection direction of the image is perpendicular to the external screen when the housing 101 is supported by the first support surface 1012, the state is changed so that the housing 101 is supported by the second support surface 1012. This is because the projection direction of the image is also changed so that the projection direction of the image is no longer perpendicular to the external screen.

When the state of the housing 101 is changed such that the housing 101 is supported by the other of the plurality of support surfaces 1012, the controller 120 (refer to FIG. 3) smoothly corrects the projected image. The keystone correction is automatically performed as the state of the housing 101 changes.

Specifically, FIGS. 2A to 2C show exemplary views when automatic keystone correction is performed in the projector device 100 of the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, an image 20 may be projected from the projector device 100 according to the present embodiment to an external screen. The projector device 100 of FIG. 2A is placed in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1A, and the projection direction of the image is arranged to be perpendicular to the external screen. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, the image 20 projected on the external screen shows a straight rectangular border shape.

In this state, the arrangement state of the housing 101 of the projector device 100 can be changed. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the arrangement state of the housing 101 may be changed such that the housing 101 is supported by one of the edge support surfaces 1012b (see FIG. 1A ). This may be in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1B. As the housing 101 is supported by the edge support surface 1012b, the projection direction of the image is no longer perpendicular to the external screen. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2B, the boundary shape of the image 20 projected on the external screen has a shape that is not straight and distorted like a trapezoid.

When the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed as described above, the controller 120 of the projector device 100 of the present invention can automatically perform keystone correction. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the controller 120 may perform keystone correction so that the projected image has a straight rectangular shape while maintaining the arrangement state of FIG. 2B. To this end, the controller 120 may correct an image before projection input to the optical engine 110. 2C, the image 30 projected on the external screen after keystone correction may be displayed without distortion.

According to the present invention, the user can simply change the projection direction of the image by rolling the projector device 100 so that the housing 101 is supported by another support surface 1012. In addition, by using a plurality of support surfaces 1012 facing different directions, the user can also conveniently change the projection surface 1011 on which the image is projected. Since the plurality of support surfaces 1012 form an obtuse angle with each other, the projection direction of the image may be changed by a predetermined size smaller than a right angle, or the projection lens 112 may be rotated by a predetermined size smaller than a right angle. As a result, the projection direction of the image can be adjusted in various ways.

When the projection direction or projection surface 1011 of the image is simply changed as described above, the projector device 100 automatically performs keystone correction. Accordingly, even if the projection direction or the projection surface 1011 is changed, the shape of the projected image can always be kept straight. As a result, since the user does not need to operate the projector device 100 for the command of keystone correction after confirming the shape of the image projected with the naked eye, usability of the projector device 100 may be improved.

3 is a block diagram of a projector device 100 and an optical engine 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a projector device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. ) Is an example of a method of receiving an image to be projected. 5 is a side view of the projector device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the projector device 100 of the present invention, as well as the optical engine 110 and the control unit 120, the camera 130, the gravity sensor 140, the wireless communication unit 150 according to the embodiment , It may further include at least one of the touch sensor 160, the storage unit 170, the speaker 180, and the battery 190.

According to an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the projector device 100 may further include a wireless communication unit 150 that wirelessly transmits and receives images. The wireless communication unit 150 may be embedded in the housing 101, and may transmit and receive images to and from the wireless communication unit 150 of other devices. When an image is received from another device through the wireless communication unit 150, the control unit 120 transmits the received image to the liquid crystal screen 118 in the optical engine 110 so that the received image can be projected on an external screen. Can print The other device may preferably be a mobile terminal.

Specifically, the wireless communication unit 150 may transmit and receive images with a mobile terminal through a Wi-Di (Wireless Display) communication method. To this end, a wireless communication unit 150 that implements Wi-Di communication may be provided in other devices. In addition, when the wireless communication unit 150 transmits and receives an image wirelessly, not only an image but also a sound linked to the image may be transmitted and received.

The operation of the projector device 100 according to this embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the projector device 100 may receive the image 20 wirelessly from the mobile terminal 200. The received image 20 is output to the liquid crystal screen 118 in the optical engine 110, and may be projected on an external screen through a projection lens 112 formed on the projection surface 1011. That is, the projector device 100 can communicate with the mobile terminal 200 without a physical connection, and as a result, the image 20 stored in the mobile terminal can be projected on the external screen.

As the image to be projected is received wirelessly, wiring for connection with other devices may be omitted. As a result, discomfort from complicated wiring can be reduced, and the arrangement state of the projector device 100 can be changed or moved.

The projector device 100 may store an image received through the wireless communication unit 150. To this end, the projector device 100 may further include a storage unit 170. In addition to the image received through the wireless communication unit 150, the storage unit 170 may further store a system image for manipulation of the projector device 100 itself. The system image may include one or more menus for executing various functions of the projector device 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012 of the housing 101 may function as an operation panel. To this end, one or more manipulation icons 1019 may be displayed on one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the projector device 100 may further include a touch sensor 160. The touch sensor 160 may be built in the housing 101.

According to another embodiment, a touch screen may be provided on one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012. In this case, the touch sensor 160 embedded in the housing 101 may constitute a part of the touch screen, and one or more operation icons 1019 may be displayed on the touch screen instead of being displayed on the support surface 1012. Can be.

The touch sensor 160 embedded in the housing 101 may detect a touch operation performed on the operation icon 1019. When a touch operation is detected by the touch sensor 160, the controller 120 of the projector device 100 may control the operation of the optical engine 110 according to the detected touch operation.

For example, the controller 120 may start projecting an image by applying power to the optical engine 110, or cut off power to the optical engine 110 to end projecting the image. Alternatively, the controller 120 may control the optical engine 110 to project various menu screens, and when a specific item is selected in the menu screen, the optical engine may project an effect corresponding to the specific item ( 110) can be controlled.

As another example, when a touch operation is performed on a specific icon, the controller 120 may not perform the automatic keystone correction described above. As will be described later, when the control unit 120 performs auto focus adjustment, auto rotation correction, etc. together with automatic keystone correction, the control unit 120 does not perform automatic sharpness adjustment, automatic rotation correction, etc., as well as automatic keystone correction. It may not.

In this case, when the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed and the projection direction or projection surface 1011 of the image is changed, keystone correction and focus may be manually adjusted by the user. In addition, when the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed and the projected image is rotated, the projected image may remain rotated.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of heat radiation holes 1014 may be formed on at least one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012 included in the housing 101. The heat dissipation hole 1014 may be formed through at least one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012, and functions as a passage through which heat generated by the operation of the optical engine 110 is discharged to the outside of the housing 101. can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the projector device 100 from overheating, and to prevent the optical engine 110 from failing due to overheating.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the projector device 100 may further include a speaker 180 built in the housing 101. At this time, when the optical engine 110 projects an image, the controller 120 may control the speaker 180 so that sound related to the projected image is output.

For example, the sound related to the projected image may be a sound linked to the image. The sound may be transmitted to the projector device 100 wirelessly from other devices along with the image.

When the speaker 180 is further mounted inside the housing 101 according to the present embodiment, a hole of the speaker 180 may be formed in the housing 101. The speaker 180 hole may be formed through at least one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012. According to an embodiment, the speaker 180 hole may be mixed with a heat dissipation hole 1014 formed in the housing 101 for heat dissipation of the projector device 100. That is, when a plurality of holes are formed on at least one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012 of the speaker 180 hole of the housing 101, the plurality of holes are only passages for emitting sound output from the speaker 180 to the outside. In addition, it can also function as a passage for dissipating heat generated from the optical engine 110 to the outside.

According to FIG. 3, the projector device 100 may further include a battery 190 embedded in the housing 101. The battery 190 may supply power to the optical engine 110 and the control unit 120. The battery 190 may be electrically connected to an external power source for charging, and may be detachably configured inside the housing 101.

By providing the battery 190 itself, wiring for power connection may be omitted. As a result, discomfort from complicated wiring can be reduced, and the arrangement state change or movement of the projector device 100 can be facilitated.

Hereinafter, a specific example of a method of performing automatic keystone correction in the projector device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B along with FIG. 3.

FIG. 6A shows an exemplary view of capturing a projected image using the built-in camera 130 in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B shows an example of a method of correcting an image before projection for keystone correction. It is shown.

According to FIG. 3, the projector device 100 may further include a camera 130. The camera 130 is built in the housing 101 and can capture an image projected on an external screen. 1A, the camera 130 may be installed inside the housing 101 so that the lens of the camera 130 is exposed through the projection surface 1011.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the camera 130 may capture an image 20 projected on a screen. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 6A, the imaging area of the camera 130 may be larger than the projection area of the optical engine 110. When the imaging area of the camera 130 is larger than the projection area of the optical engine 110, the entire boundary of the projected image 20 may be included in the image input through the camera 130.

The controller 120 may analyze the shape of the boundary of the projected image based on the image captured from the camera 130. If the shape of the boundary of the projected image is distorted unevenly, the controller 120 may correct the keystone of the image before projection based on the analyzed shape. At this time, the controller 120 may correct the image before projection so that distortion of the projected image is compensated. Preferably, the correction of the image before projection may be performed by the image correction unit 122 (refer to FIG. 3) included in the control unit 120. The pre-projection image is an image input to the optical engine 110 for projection.

Specifically, the image before projection may be corrected as shown in FIG. 6B. The correction of FIG. 6B shows an example of correction that can be performed on an image before projection for keystone correction shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. As shown in FIG. 6B, the image correction unit 122 of the control unit 120 may correct the keystone of the original image 20 before projection so that distortion of the projected image is compensated.

For example, in FIG. 2B, when the original image 20 is projected on an external screen, the image is distorted so that the boundary forms a long trapezoid. In this case, the image correction unit 122 may correct the original image 20 to form a trapezoid with a long upper boundary as shown in FIG. 6B.

The controller 120 may correct the image before projection as described above and output it to the liquid crystal screen 118 of the optical engine 110 (see FIG. 7 ). When the keystone corrected image 30 is input to the liquid crystal screen 118 of the optical engine 110, the keystone corrected image 30 is projected from the optical engine 110. As the keystone-corrected image 30 in a trapezoidal shape is projected on an external screen, distortion of the image is compensated, and an image having a straight rectangular border can be displayed on the external screen.

According to this embodiment, the camera 130 provided with the optical engine 110 for projecting an image on an external screen functions as a kind of image acquisition system. When the camera 130 photographs the image projected on the external screen in real time, when the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed and the projected image is distorted, the controller 120 uses the image of the camera 130 By doing so, it is possible to immediately recognize that distortion has occurred in the projected image. As distortion occurs in the projected image, the controller 120 may correct the image before projection so that the distortion is compensated. As a result, keystone correction can be automatically performed whenever the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed.

According to an embodiment, the control unit 120 may control the camera 130 to capture the projected image only when a change in the arrangement state of the housing 101 is detected. In this case, in order to detect a change in the arrangement state of the housing 101, the projector device 100 may further include a gravity sensor 140, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like. According to this embodiment, since the camera 130 does not constantly image the external screen, power consumption may be reduced.

Specifically, when it is detected that the arrangement state of the housing 101 is changed by the gravity sensor 140 or the like, the controller 120 may apply power to the camera 130 to capture an image projected on an external screen. Then, if the change of the arrangement state of the housing 101 is not sensed again for a predetermined time, the control unit 120 may stop the operation of the camera 130. Alternatively, when the boundary shape of the projected image is analyzed in a straight shape, the controller 120 may stop the operation of the camera 130.

Hereinafter, a detailed structure of the optical engine 110 included in the projector device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for automatically adjusting the sharpness performed in the projector device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. do.

7 is a block diagram of an optical engine 110 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical engine 110 provided in the projector device 100 according to an embodiment includes a laser light source 114, a focus control unit 116, a liquid crystal screen 118, and a projection lens 112 ).

The laser light source 114 may include an R/G/B laser diode and emit light of a color corresponding to each diode. The laser light source 114 may be configured by packaging a set of R/G/B laser diodes, and may operate to sequentially irradiate R/G/B light. The optical engine 110 may further include various lenses and mirrors, and the R/G/B light source irradiated from the laser light source 114 may be aligned while communicating the lenses and mirrors.

The light irradiated from the laser light source 114 and aligned is incident on the liquid crystal screen 118. The liquid crystal screen 118 may form an image image by selectively transmitting, blocking, or changing an optical path of the incident light. The liquid crystal screen 118 selectively turns on/off the liquid crystal to form an image, and may be controlled by the controller 120 to receive an image to be projected as shown in FIG. 7. When the keystone correction described above is performed by the image correction unit of the control unit 120, the corrected image is input to the liquid crystal screen 118.

The corrected image is input to the liquid crystal screen 118 and displayed on the liquid crystal screen 118. As a result, the light irradiated from the laser light source 114 and incident on the liquid crystal screen 118 passes through the liquid crystal screen 118 and is given an image of the corrected image and can be emitted from the liquid crystal screen 118. The emitted light may pass through the projection lens 112 and be projected onto an external screen.

The focus adjustment unit 116 improves the sharpness of the image projected on the external screen. The focus control unit 116 may be provided between the laser light source 114 and the liquid crystal screen 118 as shown in FIG. 7, or may be provided between the liquid crystal screen 118 and the projection lens 112. . The focus adjustment unit 116 may improve the sharpness of the projected image by adjusting the focus of light projected from the projection lens 112. Alternatively, the focus adjustment unit 116 may improve the clarity of the projected image by canceling an interference pattern that may occur as light emitted from the laser light source 114 passes through or diffuses through the optical system.

As an example, the focus adjustment unit 116 may include a lens driving unit. The lens driving unit may focus the light emitted from the projection lens 112 on the external screen by moving the lens assembly provided in the optical engine 110 in the optical axis direction. The lens assembly may or may not include a projection lens 112 provided on the projection surface 1011 of the housing 101.

As another example, the focus control unit 116 may further include a diffuser. The diffuser is an optical element including a diffusion element and a driving element that rotates or vibrates the diffusion element. When the focus control unit 116 includes a diffuser, the R/G/B light emitted from the laser light source 114 may pass through the diffuser at a stage before reaching various lenses and mirrors. The interference pattern may be diffused by the diffuser. If the diffusion element is rotated or vibrated faster than the human eye can detect, the interference pattern may appear to disappear, and the sharpness may be improved.

According to one embodiment, the control unit 120 is the optical engine 110 so that the clarity of the projected image is automatically improved as the arrangement state is changed so that the housing 101 is supported by the other of the plurality of support surfaces 1012 ) Can be controlled. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the control unit 120 may control the focus adjustment unit 116 in the optical engine 110.

For example, as described above, the projector device 100 may further include a camera 130 that captures an image projected on an external screen. Then, the control unit 120 analyzes the sharpness of the image projected on the external screen from the captured image, and when the analyzed sharpness is lower than a preset sharpness, the optical engine 110 may improve the sharpness of the projected image. The focus control unit 116 can be controlled.

When the focus adjustment unit 116 includes a lens driving unit, the control unit 120 may move the lens assembly forward or backward by operating the lens driving unit. Even when the lens assembly is moved by the lens driving unit, the camera 130 continues to capture an external screen, and the controller 120 analyzes the clarity of the projected image and inspects it in real time. When the sharpness of the projected image becomes equal to the preset sharpness, the controller 120 may end the operation of the lens driver.

Alternatively, when the focus control unit 116 includes a diffuser, the control unit 120 may change the rotation or vibration speed of the diffuser. The controller 120 may analyze the clarity of the projected image in real time using the image of the external screen input from the camera 130. When the sharpness of the projected image becomes equal to the preset sharpness, the control unit 120 may control the focus adjustment unit 116 to maintain the rotational or vibration speed of the diffuser.

According to the above embodiment, the projected image can be clearly maintained regardless of the arrangement state of the projector device 100. In particular, when the arrangement state of the projector state is changed, the sharpness of the projected image can be automatically adjusted. Therefore, the user does not need to perform operations such as focus adjustment to improve the sharpness after confirming the sharpness of the projected image with the naked eye, so that the usability of the projector device 100 can be improved.

Hereinafter, various examples of a method in which the projector apparatus 100 related to an embodiment of the present invention performs automatic rotation correction together with the automatic keystone correction described above with reference to FIGS. 8A to 9C together with FIG. 3 will be described. .

8A to 8D show an example of an automatic rotation correction method performed when the projector device 100 is rotated by an angle less than 90 degrees.

According to FIG. 3, the projector device 100 may further include a gravity sensor 140. The gravity sensor 140 is built in the housing 101, detects the rotation of the housing 101, and may further measure the lateral rotation angle of the housing 101. Rotation of the housing 101 may occur as the arrangement state of the housing 101 changes such that it is supported by the plurality of other support surfaces 1012 in a state supported by one of the plurality of support surfaces 1012. For example, the rotation of the housing 101 may occur while changing from the arrangement shown in FIG. 1A to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1B.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the projector device 100 may project an image on an external screen in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1A before rotation. According to FIG. 8A, in this case, the image 20 projected on the external screen is arranged in the forward direction.

In this state, the arrangement state of the housing 101 of the projector device 100 can be changed as shown in FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 8B, as the housing 101 is supported by the edge support surface 1012b, lateral rotation occurs in the housing 101. The gravity sensor 140 built in the housing 101 can detect the lateral rotation. And, as shown in Figure 8b, the image 20 projected on the external screen by the rotation of the housing 101 appears rotated by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction. At the same time, as the projection direction of the image and the external screen are no longer vertical, the boundary shape of the projected image 20 has an unevenly distorted shape like a trapezoid.

At this time, when the lateral rotation of the housing 101 is detected by the gravity sensor 140, the control unit 120 may rotate and correct the image before projection so that the image projected on the screen is changed in the forward direction. Furthermore, if it is determined that keystone correction is necessary together, the controller 120 may perform keystone correction while performing rotation correction on an image before projection. The rotation correction may be performed by the image correction unit 122 of the control unit 120 as well as the keystone correction.

In the state in which the housing 101 is rotated in the lateral direction, the control unit 120 allows the projected image to have the same rotational state as before the rotation of the housing 101 so that the image before correction is rotated in the lateral direction of the housing 101. It can be corrected to rotate as much as possible. To this end, the projector device 100 may measure the lateral rotation angle of the housing 101.

According to an embodiment, the projector may further include a camera 130 that is embedded in the housing 101 and captures an image projected on an external screen as described above. When the camera 130 captures the image of the projected image and delivers it to the control unit 120, the control unit 120 may analyze the rotation angle of the projected image after rotation of the housing 101 from the imaged image. .

The rotation angle analysis may be performed by comparing the projected image before rotation is detected and the projected image after rotation is detected. Alternatively, the rotation angle analysis may be performed by comparing the arrangement of the boundary of the projected image after the rotation is detected and the direction of gravity sensed by the gravity sensor 140.

According to another embodiment, as described above, the lateral rotation of the housing 101 may be measured by the gravity sensor 140. The gravity sensor 140 can detect the rotation of the housing 101 and at the same time detect the lateral rotation angle.

When the rotation angle of the housing 101 is measured by the above method, the image correction unit 122 of the control unit 120 may perform rotation correction on the image before projection according to the measured rotation angle. And, as described above, keystone correction may be performed together with the rotation correction if necessary. FIG. 8C shows an example in which the image correction unit 122 performs keystone correction and rotation correction on an image before projection.

In FIG. 8B, the image projected on the external screen by changing the arrangement state of the housing 101 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction, and the boundary has a long trapezoidal shape. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, the image correction unit 122 may first correct the original image 20 to form a trapezoid with a long right boundary (keystone correction). Then, the keystone corrected image 30 may be corrected to rotate by the predetermined angle counterclockwise (rotational correction). The keystone correction and rotation correction may be performed in any order.

The control unit 120 may correct the image before projection as described above and output it to the liquid crystal screen 118 of the optical engine 110. When the keystone corrected and rotated corrected image 40 is input to the liquid crystal screen 118, the keystone corrected and rotated corrected image 40 is projected on the external screen. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 8D, an image arranged in a forward direction (a direction before rotation) may be displayed on the external screen having a straight rectangular border.

According to the above-described example, even if the rotation of the housing 101 occurs by changing the arrangement state of the housing 101, the image projected on the external screen can always be maintained in the forward direction. Keystone correction is also performed automatically, so that the projected image always has a straight shape and can be arranged in a forward direction even if the user places the projector device 100 in any way. Therefore, the mobility and usability of the projector device 100 can be improved.

9A to 9C show an example of an automatic rotation correction method performed when the projector device 100 is rotated by 90 degrees.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, when the detected lateral rotation angle of the housing 101 is 90 degrees, the controller 120 may correct the enlarged or reduced image before projection at a preset ratio. At this time, the enlargement or reduction correction may be accompanied by rotation correction, and the preset ratio may be a ratio of the horizontal length to the vertical length of the projection area formed by the light emitted from the optical engine 110 on the external screen. have. The enlargement or reduction correction may also be performed by the image correction unit 122 of the control unit 120 like the keystone correction and rotation correction.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, the projector device 100 may project an image on an external screen in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1A before rotation. According to FIG. 9A, the image 21 projected on the external screen is arranged in the forward direction.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 9B, the housing 101 of the projector device 100 can be rotated 90 degrees laterally. As the housing 101 is rotated, the image 21 projected on the external screen also appears rotated 90 degrees. That is, the vertically arranged image is rotated 90 degrees clockwise to be displayed horizontally.

As rotation is detected, the image correction unit 122 may perform rotation correction on the image before projection. Since the housing 101 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, the image before projection can be corrected to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise. At this time, since the rotation angle is 90 degrees, magnification correction may be further performed on the image before projection. The reason that the magnification correction is performed is because the projection area of the projector device 100 is formed horizontally long before rotation, but vertically long after rotation. Therefore, the image before projection can be enlarged so that the vertically long image fills the projection area within the projection area formed vertically long after rotation. Specifically, the image correcting unit 122 may enlarge the image before projection, after rotation correction, at a ratio of the horizontal length to the vertical length of the projection area.

The control unit 120 may output the image 51 on which both the rotation correction and the magnification correction are performed as described above to the liquid crystal screen 118 of the optical engine 110. When the corrected image 51 is projected, as shown in FIG. 9C, the housing 101 is rotated 90 degrees, and the external screen is arranged in the same direction as before the rotation, so that the enlarged image fills the projection area. Can be displayed.

According to this embodiment, the projection area formed on the external screen can be used efficiently. For example, in order to project a vertically long image as in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the user rotates the housing 101 so that the projection area is also vertically long, so that the image is displayed while filling the entire projection area. can do. As a result, images of various ratios can be effectively projected on the external screen.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential features of the present invention.

Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but should be considered illustrative. The scope of the invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the invention are included in the scope of the invention.

100: projector unit 101: housing
1011: Projection surface 1012: Support surface
110: optical engine 130: camera
180: control unit 200: mobile terminal

Claims (20)

It includes a single projection surface facing a different direction and a plurality of support surfaces, the plurality of support surfaces is formed in a polygonal shape and the edges of the projection surface and the plurality of support surfaces are configured to be connected to each other by forming an obtuse angle housing;
An optical engine embedded in the housing and projecting an image on a screen through a projection lens provided on the projection surface when the housing is supported by one of the plurality of support surfaces;
A gravity sensor detecting rotation of the housing; And
Controlling the optical engine to project the first image through the optical engine and correct the rotation of the first image in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the housing when the rotation of the housing is detected by the gravity sensor. Projector device comprising a control unit. delete According to claim 1,
The projection surface is made of a rectangular shape,
The plurality of support surfaces
Parallel to the projection surface and the back support surface made of a rectangular shape,
The projection surface and the vertices are in contact with each other and form a right angle with the projection surface, the four side support surfaces formed in a rectangular shape, and
A projector device formed between any one of the projection surface and the rear support surface and the side support surface and including eight corner support surfaces formed in a triangular shape. According to claim 1,
It is embedded in the housing, and further includes a touch sensor for sensing a touch operation performed on the operation icon displayed on one of the plurality of support surfaces,
The control unit controls the operation of the optical engine according to the sensed touch operation. The method of claim 4,
The touch sensor constitutes a part of the touch screen formed on one of the plurality of support surfaces,
The operation icon is displayed on the touch screen projector device. According to claim 1,
A projector device having a plurality of heat radiation holes formed on at least one of the plurality of support surfaces. According to claim 1,
The camera is embedded in the housing and further includes a camera that captures an image projected on the screen.
The controller analyzes a shape formed by the boundary of the projected image from the captured image, and projects a keystone correction image based on the analyzed shape so that distortion of the projected image is compensated. The method of claim 7,
The imaging lens of the camera is a projector device provided on the projection surface. According to claim 1,
The control unit
A projector device for controlling the optical engine to automatically improve the clarity of the projected image as the arrangement state is changed such that the housing is supported by the other of the plurality of support surfaces. The method of claim 9,
The camera is embedded in the housing and further includes a camera that captures an image projected on the screen.
The controller analyzes the sharpness of the projected image from the captured image, and controls the optical engine to improve the sharpness of the projected image when the analyzed sharpness is lower than a preset sharpness. delete delete delete According to claim 1,
The control unit
When the rotation angle of the housing is 90 degrees, the projector device to enlarge or reduce the image before projection at a preset ratio. According to claim 1,
Built in the housing, and further includes a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving images wirelessly,
The control unit is a projector device that outputs the received image to the liquid crystal screen in the optical engine so that the image received from the wireless communication unit is projected. According to claim 1,
Further comprising a speaker built in the housing,
The control unit controls the speaker so that sound related to the projected image is output when the optical engine projects the image. According to claim 1,
A projector device embedded in the housing, further comprising a battery that supplies power to the optical engine and the control unit. A housing including one projection surface and a plurality of support surfaces facing different directions, wherein the projection surface and the edges of the plurality of support surfaces are configured to form an obtuse angle with each other;
An optical engine embedded in the housing and projecting an image on a screen through a projection lens provided on the projection surface when the housing is supported by one of the plurality of support surfaces;
A gravity sensor detecting rotation of the housing; And
And a control unit that controls the optical engine to project the second image by correcting the first image when projecting the first image through the optical engine and detecting the rotation of the housing by the gravity sensor.
The plurality of support surfaces
Parallel to the projection surface and the back support surface made of a rectangular shape,
The projection surface and the vertices are in contact with each other and form a right angle with the projection surface, and four side support surfaces formed in a rectangular shape, and
A projector device formed between any one of the projection surface and the rear support surface and the side support surface and including eight corner support surfaces formed in a triangular shape. The method of claim 18,
The control unit,
When the rotation angle of the housing is 90 degrees, the optical engine is controlled to project the second image by rotationally correcting the first image in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the housing,
When the rotation angle of the housing is less than 90 degrees, the optical engine is controlled to project the second image by correcting the first image in the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the housing and simultaneously correcting the keystone of the distorted screen. Projector device. The method of claim 18,
A heat dissipation hole located on at least one edge support surface; And
Projector device further comprises a speaker for outputting sound through the heat dissipation hole.

Images