Projector and control method

• US 10,353,657 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Khoo, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US16/156,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20190042174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/40 Privacy aspects, i.e. devices showing different images to different viewers, the images not being viewpoints of the same scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

A projector includes a transmitter that transmits a signal, a receiver that receives a signal transmitted from another projector, and a control unit that achieves synchronization of the signals between the projector and the another projector based on the signal transmitted from the another projector and received by the receiver. The control unit includes a synchronization judgment portion that judges whether or not the projector is synchronized with the another projector, and a state judgment portion that judges whether or not the synchronization with the another projector is stable.

Claims

1. A projector that projects an image on a projection surface and that is capable of recognizing a position where a first light emitting pen has emitted light, the projector comprising:

a transmitter which transmits a first signal to the first light emitting pen;

an imager that captures an image of light emitted from the first light emitting pen, the light being emitted from the first light emitting pen in response to a reception of the first signal;

a receiver that receives an infrared light; and

a processor configured to act as a control unit that achieves, when the receiver receives the infrared light transmitted from another projector to a second light emitting pen, synchronization of a timing of the first signal and the infrared light between the projector and the another projector such that the first signal and the infrared light are transmitted at a same time, wherein

the control unit includes;

a synchronization judgment portion that judges whether or not the projector is synchronized with the another projector; and

a state judgment portion that judges whether or not the synchronization with the another projector is stable.

2. The projector according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit includes:

a timing determination portion that determines a timing at which the transmitter transmits the first signal based on a judgment result made by the synchronization judgment portion.

3. The projector according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit includes:

a mode determination portion that determines a mode of the projector to be one of the following modes based on a judgment result made by the state judgment portion;

a primary mode in which the another projector is synchronized with the projector; and

a secondary mode in which the projector is synchronized with the another projector.

4. The projector according to claim 3, wherein

the control unit includes:

a number determination portion that determines, when the state judgment portion judges that the synchronization between the projector and the another projector is not stable, to increase or decrease a number of transmitters to be used among a plurality of transmitters.

5. The projector according to claim 1, wherein

the state judgment portion judges whether or not the synchronization with the another projector is stable based on whether a result representing that the synchronization is achieved is received within a predetermined time period and at a frequency higher than or equal to a predetermined value.

6. A method for controlling a projector that projects an image on a projection surface and that is capable of recognizing a position where a first light emitting pen has emitted light, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to the first light emitting pen;

capturing an image of light emitted from the first light emitting pen, the light being emitted from the first light emitting pen in response to a reception of the first signal;

achieving, when an infrared light transmitted from another projector to a second light emitting pen is received, synchronization of a timing of the first signal and the infrared light between the projector and the another projector such that the first signal and the infrared light are transmitted at a same time;

judging whether or not the projector is synchronized with the another projector; and

judging whether or not the synchronization with the another projector is stable.

7. The method for controlling the projector according to claim 6, comprising:

determining a timing at which the first signal is transmitted based on a result of the judgment whether or not the projector is synchronized with the another projector.

8. The method for controlling the projector according to claim 6, comprising:

determining a mode of the projector to be one of the following modes based on a result of the judgment whether or not the synchronization with the another projector is stable;

a primary mode in which the another projector is synchronized with the projector; and

a secondary mode in which the projector is synchronized with the another projector.

9. The method for controlling the projector according to claim 8, comprising:

when it is judged that the synchronization between the projector and the another projector is not stable, determining to increase or decrease a number of transmitters to be used among a plurality of transmitters.

10. The method for controlling the projector according to claim 6, comprising:

judging whether or not the synchronization with the another projector is stable based on whether a result representing that the synchronization is achieved is received within a predetermined time period and at a frequency higher than or equal to a predetermined value.