System and method for automatically modifying an image prior to projection

• US 20080013057A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bullock, Roger Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/121
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• 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: 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

A system and method for automatically modifying an image prior to projection are disclosed. The system includes an image forming element configured to project an image to a projection surface having at least one property and a detection module coupled to the image forming element, the detection module capable of detecting at least one property with respect to the surface. The system further includes at least one processor configured to modify an outgoing image in response to the at least one property of the surface, such as color, texture and surface curvature.

Claims

1. A system for automatically modifying an image prior to projection comprising:

an image forming element configured to project an image to a projection surface having at least one property;

a detection module coupled to the image forming element, the detection module capable of determining at least one property with respect to the surface; and

at least one processor configured to modify an outgoing image in response to the at least one property of the surface, where the at least one property of the surface includes texture.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one property includes color, distance from the detection module to the surface, and surface curvature.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises a liquid crystal display.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises digital light processing.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises liquid crystal on silicon.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor modifies the outgoing image using embedded routines.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detection module detects the at least one property of the surface by projecting a plurality of colors and detecting reflected light to create a profile.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the profile is modified using color correction tables.

9. A method for modifying an image prior to projection comprising the steps of:

emitting light rays onto a projection surface;

detecting reflected light rays from the projection surface;

determining at least one property of the projection surface and creating a profile, the at least one property including texture;

creating an overlay by comparing the profile to a standard profile;

utilizing the overlay to modify an image to be projected; and

projecting the modified image to the projection surface.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one property includes color, distance from the detection module to the surface, and surface curvature.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of projecting is performed using a liquid crystal display projector.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of projecting is performed using a digital light processing projector.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of:

detecting is performed using a wireless device, the wireless device configured to transmit detected information to an image projector.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of modifying the overlay to create a user preference overlay indicative of image adjustments preferred by a user.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing an RFID tag storing at least one of the overlay and the at least one property.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the RFID tag is provided in proximity to the projection surface.

17. A video projector comprising:

a detection module capable of emitting light rays and detecting at least one property of a projection surface, where the at least one property of the projection surface includes texture;

at least one processor configured to modify an outgoing image in response to the at least one property of the projection surface;

a video receiving unit connected to the at least one processor and configured to receive the at least one modified outgoing image; and

an image forming element configured to allow the modified outgoing image to pass therethrough.

18. The video projector according to claim 17, further comprising at least one spectral sensor, the sensor configured to measure color values of the projection surface.

19. The video projector according to claim 17, further comprising embedded routines stored within at least one processor housed within the projector.

20. The video projector according to claim 19, wherein the modified outgoing image is created using embedded routines which include color correction and intensity correction routines.