Projection system and method for controlling projection system

• US 10,437,544 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Tomita, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Van N
• Application Number:
  US15/824,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20180150273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A projection system includes a first projector that projects an image based on image data in a first projection direction, a second projector that projects an image based on image data in a second projection direction, and a storage section that stores the image data representing the image projected by the first projector. The projection system can switch the image projected by the second projector to the image based on the image data stored in the storage section.

Claims

1. A projection system comprising:

a first projector that projects an image based on image data in a first projection direction;

a second projector that projects an image based on image data in a second projection direction; and

a storage section that stores the image data representing the image projected by the first projector,

wherein the image projected by the second projector is allowed to be switched to the image based on the image data stored in the storage section.

2. The projection system according to claim 1 further includes an acceptance section that accepts an instruction input, wherein the image projected by the second projector is switched to the image based on the image data stored in the storage section in accordance with the instruction input accepted by the acceptance section.

3. A projection system comprising:

a first projector including

a first acquisition section that acquires image data,

a first projection section that projects an image based on the image data acquired by the first acquisition section,

a first storage section that stores the image data representing the image projected by the first projection section, and

a first communication section that transmits the image data stored in the first storage section to the second projector; and

a second projector including

a second acquisition section that acquires image data,

a second projection section that projects an image based on the image data acquired by the second acquisition section,

a second communication section that receives the image data from the first projector, and

a second storage section that stores the image data received by the second communication section,

wherein the second projector can perform an action in which the second projection section projects the image based on the image data acquired by the second acquisition section and an action in which the second projection section projects the image based on the image data stored in the second storage section with the two actions switched from one to the other.

4. The projection system according to claim 3,

wherein the first projector includes a switching control section that produces control data that instructs the second projector to perform image switching and causes the first communication section to transmit the control data to the second projector, and

the second projector, upon reception of the control data via the second communication section, switches the action in which the second projection section projects the image based on the image data acquired by the second acquiring section to the action in which the second projection section projects the image based on the image data stored in the second storage section and vice versa.

5. The projection system according to claim 4,

wherein the first projector projects an image for operation based on data representing the image for operation, and

includes an acceptance section that accepts operation performed on the image for operation projected by the first projection section, and

the switching control section produces the control data based on the operation accepted by the acceptance section and causes the first communication section to transmit the control data to the second projector.

6. The projection system according to claim 3,

wherein the first projector includes

a position detecting section that detects a position input, and

an image producing section that produces an image based on a position detected by the position detecting section,

the first projection section projects an image based on combined image data formed of image data representing the image produced by the image producing section combined with the image data acquired by the first acquisition section,

the first storage section stores the combined image data, and

the first communication section transmits the combined image data stored in the storage section to the second projector.

7. The projection system according to claim 3,

wherein the first projector includes a third projection section that projects an image in a direction different from a direction in which the first projection section projects an image, and

the first projector can cause the third projection section to project an image based on the image data acquired by the first acquisition section and an image based on the image data stored in the first storage section with the two images switched from one to the other.

8. The projection system according to claim 7, wherein in a case where the third projection section projects the image based on the image data stored in the first storage section, the orientation of the image can be changed.

9. The projection system according to claim 3,

wherein the second projector includes a fourth projection section that projects an image in a direction different from a direction in which the second projection section projects an image, and

the second projector can cause the fourth projection section to project an image based on the image data acquired by the second acquisition section and an image based on the image data stored in the second storage section with the two images switched from one to the other.

10. The projector according to claim 9, wherein in a case where the fourth projection section projects the image based on the image data stored in the second storage section, the orientation of the image can be changed.

11. A method for controlling a projection system including a first projector that projects an image based on image data in a first projection direction and a second projector that projects an image based on image data in a second projection direction, the method comprising

storing the image data representing the image projected by the first projector and switching the image projected by the second projector to the image based on the stored image data.

12. A method for controlling a projection system including a first projector that projects an image based on image data in a first projection direction and a second projector that projects an image based on image data in a second projection direction, wherein

the first projector

causes a first acquisition section to acquire image data,

projects an image based on the image data acquired by the first acquisition section,

stores the image data on the projected image, and

transmits the stored image data to the second projector, and

the second projector

causes a second acquisition section to acquire image data,

projects an image based on the image data acquired by the second acquisition section, and

receives the image data from the first projector, stores the received image data, and performs an action of projecting the image based on the image data acquired by the second acquisition section and an action of projecting the image based on the stored image data with the two actions switched from one to the other.