System and method for generating and displaying sub-frames with a multi-projector system

• US 20080002160A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Nelson Liang An, Damera-Venkata, Niranjan, Widdowson, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/480,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20080002160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/006 Geometric correction correction of chromatic aberrations adapted to be used in an image pickup device containing an electronic image sensor H04N23/10; detecting, correcting, reducing or removing artefacts resulting only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4" H04N25/61
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0693 Calibration of display systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/08 Arrangements within a display terminal for setting, manually or automatically, display parameters of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel
• 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

Abstract

A method of generating sub-frames for display by a multi-projector display system includes performing a geometric mapping of image boundaries of images projected by each of a plurality of projectors to a reference coordinate system. A global boundary is identified in the reference coordinate system that encompasses all of the image boundaries. A total display area of the multi-projector system is defined. A cropped display area is identified in the reference coordinate system that lies within the total display area. Sub-frames are generated for projection by the plurality of projectors based on the cropped display area.

Claims

1. A method of generating sub-frames for display by a multi-projector display system, the method comprising:

performing a geometric mapping of image boundaries of images projected by each of a plurality of projectors to a reference coordinate system;

identifying a global boundary in the reference coordinate system that encompasses all of the image boundaries and defines a total display area of the multi-projector system;

identifying a cropped display area in the reference coordinate system that lies within the total display area; and

generating sub-frames for projection by the plurality of projectors based on the cropped display area.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

determining a set of image characteristics associated with the total display area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cropped display area is identified based on the determined set of image characteristics.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determined set of image characteristics includes at least one of brightness and resolution at various locations in the cropped display area.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the cropped display area is identified based on the determined set of image characteristics and a set of desired characteristics specified by a user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the desired characteristics include at least one of display size, resolution, and brightness.

7. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

displaying the image boundaries and a boundary of the cropped display area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the boundary of the cropped display area is interactively adjustable by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

performing a luminance calibration and a color calibration for each of the plurality of projectors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein pixels of the generated sub-frames that will appear outside of the cropped display area when projected are assigned a common color value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference coordinate system corresponds to a hypothetical reference projector.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the projected sub-frames from the plurality of projectors are tiled sub-frames.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the projected sub-frames from the plurality of projectors are superimposed sub-frames.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the projected sub-frames from the plurality of projectors include a combination of tiled and superimposed sub-frames.

15. A multi-projector display system comprising:

a first projector adapted to project a first sub-frame onto a target surface;

a second projector adapted to project a second sub-frame onto the target surface;

a camera configured to capture at least one image of the first and second sub-frames; and

a controller configured to analyze the at least one image and determine a cropped display area.

16. A method of aligning projectors of a multi-projector display system, the method comprising:

receiving input parameters from a user;

identifying a plurality of regions of a display surface based on the input parameters;

assigning one of the regions to each projector in the display system;

displaying an image identifying a first one of the regions;

projecting a visual cue with a first one of the projectors; and

adjusting a position of the first projector to align the visual cue with the displayed first region.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the input parameters include at least one of display size, brightness, and resolution.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the regions and the visual cue have quadrilateral shapes.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the visual cue is one of a grid pattern or a solid colored area.

20. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

displaying an image identifying a second one of the regions;

projecting a visual cue with a second one of the projectors; and

adjusting a position of the second projector to align the visual cue with the displayed second region.