Underwater image projection system and method

• US 10,469,811 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2019
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Reddy, Rakesh, Johnson, Bruce, Doyle, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US16/254,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20190182461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/53 Means for automatic focusing, e.g. to compensate thermal effects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/608 Fluid screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 Video signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3182 Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

An underwater projection system includes a controller designed to generate a map based on the boundary of a projection area, receive image content, and generate a control output based on the image content and the map. A projector is in communication with the controller to project the control output through the fluid onto the projection area.

Claims

1. An underwater projection system, the underwater projection system comprising:

a controller to;

generate a map based on the boundary of a projection area,

receive image content, and

generate a control output based on the image content and the map; and

a projector in communication with the controller to project the control output through the fluid onto the projection area.

2. The projector system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is water and the controller generates the control output based on one or more of water temperature, water salinity, water visibility, and water depth.

3. The projector system of claim 1, wherein the projector is an underwater projector.

4. The projector system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the image content via a user interface.

5. The projector system of claim 1, wherein the projector is a first projector and further comprising a second projector in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is designed to transition projection of the control output from the first projector to the second projector.

6. An underwater projection system, comprising:

a projector to project images onto a projection area; and

a controller in communication with the projector to;

transmit boundary shapes to the projector for projection onto the projection area,

receive boundary shape placement information,

determine a projection area boundary based on the boundary shape placement information,

generate a correction map based on the projection area boundary,

receive image content,

generate a control output based on the image content and the correction map, and

transmit the control output to projector for projection onto the projection area.

7. The projection system of claim 6, wherein the projector is an underwater projector designed for use in a water feature.

8. The projection system of claim 6, further comprising a memory, wherein the correction map and the image content are stored in the memory.

9. The projection system of claim 6, wherein to generate the control output, the controller adjusts the image content across the projection area according to variance values of the correction map.

10. The projection system of claim 6, wherein the controller receives the image content and the boundary shape placement information via a user interface.

11. The projection system of claim 10, wherein a user adjusts placement of the boundary shapes in the projection area via the user interface.

12. The projection system of claim 10, wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the user interface.

13. A projection system for underwater use in a water feature, comprising:

a projector to project images onto a projection area;

a sensor to generate boundary information of the projection area; and

a controller in communication with the projector and the sensor to;

determine a projection area boundary based on the boundary information,

generate a correction map based on the projection area boundary,

receive image content,

generate a control output based on the image content and the correction map, and

transmit the control output to the projector for projection onto the projection area.

14. The projection system of claim 13, wherein the projector is an underwater projector.

15. The projection system of claim 13, wherein the controller determines the projection area boundary using edge detection.

16. The projection system of claim 13, wherein to generate the control output, the controller adjusts the image content across the projection area according to variance values of the correction map.

17. The projection system of claim 13, wherein the controller receives the image content via a user interface.

18. The projection system of claim 17, wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the user interface.

19. The projection system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a passive sensor.

20. The projection system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is an active sensor.