IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING IMAGE DISPLAY PROGRAM STORED THEREIN

• US 20110058109A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nishigaki, Hiroshi, Chikaoka, Atsuhiko, Hirano, Atsuya, Nishioka, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• 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: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

A projector is provided which divides and projects a single image onto two different projection surfaces and appropriately performs virtual user interface through one projection surface. The projector projects a VUI screen image on a desk and projects a main projected screen image on a wall. The projector includes a light-receiving element. The light-receiving element is installed at a position that receives light emitted to the desk (the projection surface of the VUI screen image) and reflected (or scattered) by an object in the vicinity of the desk. The projector calculates a position of the object based on a light detection timing of the light-receiving element and a scanning position of light at each time. The projector changes a projected image based on the calculated position. The projector displays a designated region of the VUI screen image (for example, a region including the position of the object or an icon display region or a region surrounding an icon) to be brightened.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus for emitting laser light, displaying a first image on a first projection surface, and displaying a second image on a second projection surface comprising:

a laser light source for outputting said laser light;

a scanner for scanning said laser light;

a light splitting element for splitting said laser light scanned by said scanner into a first laser beam directed to said first projection surface and a second laser beam directed to said second projection surface;

a photodetector for detecting said second laser beam reflected by an external object on said second projection surface; and

a controller for controlling an operation of said image display apparatus, said controller being configured;

to allow said scanner to operate at a prescribed scanning frequency,

to execute processing of accepting image data and increasing luminance of a pixel in a designated region included in accepted said image data,

to control output of said laser light by said laser light source based on said image data subjected to said processing and said scanning frequency,

to calculate a position of said external object based on a scanning position of said laser light at a light detection timing of said photodetector, and

to create an instruction to change said second image based on calculated said position.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to set said pixel in said designated region to white.

3. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to define a region including calculated said position as said designated region.

4. The image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a size of said designated region is larger than a distance of movement of said object in a time interval between changes of said second image.

5. The image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to calculate a predicted position of said object based on a change of said position and a time interval between changes of said second image and define a region including said predicted position as said designated region.

6. The image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to increase luminance of said pixel in a prescribed region when said position is not calculated.

7. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to create said instruction when calculated said position is in said designated region.

8. The image display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said designated region is an icon display region or a region surrounding said icon display region.

9. An image display apparatus for emitting laser light, displaying a first image on a first projection surface, and displaying a second image on a second projection surface comprising:

a laser light source for outputting said laser light,

said laser light source including

a two-color laser for outputting red laser light and blue laser light, and

a green laser for outputting green laser light;

a resonant MEMS mirror for scanning said laser light;

a beam splitter for splitting said laser light scanned by said resonant MEMS mirror into a first laser beam directed to said first projection surface and a second laser beam directed to said second projection surface;

a photodiode for detecting said second laser beam reflected by an external object on said second projection surface; and

a controller for controlling an operation of said image display apparatus, said controller being configured;

to allow said resonant MEMS mirror at a prescribed scanning frequency,

to execute processing of accepting image data and setting to white a pixel in a designated region included in accepted said image data,

to control output of said laser light by said laser light source based on said image data subjected to said processing and said scanning frequency,

to calculate a position of said external object based on a scanning position of said laser light at a light detection timing of said photodiode,

to create an instruction to change said second image based on calculated said position, and

to set a region including calculated said position as said designated region,

wherein a size of said designated region is larger than a distance of movement of said object in a time interval between changes of said second image.

10. An image display apparatus for emitting laser light, displaying a first image on a first projection surface, and displaying a second image on a second projection surface comprising:

a laser light source for outputting said laser light,

said laser light source including

a two-color laser for outputting red laser light and blue laser light, and

a green laser for outputting green laser light;

a resonant MEMS mirror for scanning said laser light;

a beam splitter for splitting said laser light scanned by said resonant MEMS minor into a first laser beam directed to said first projection surface and a second laser beam directed to said second projection surface;

a photodiode for detecting said second laser beam reflected by an external object on said second projection surface; and

a controller for controlling an operation of said image display apparatus, said controller being configured;

to allow said resonant MEMS minor to operate at a prescribed scanning frequency, and

to execute processing of accepting image data and setting to white a pixel in a designated region included in accepted said image data,

wherein said designated region is an icon display region or a region surrounding said icon display region,

said controller being further configured;

to control output of said laser light by said laser light source based on said image data subjected to said processing and said scanning frequency,

to calculate a position of said external object based on a scanning position of said laser light at a light detection timing of said photodiode, and

to create an instruction to change said second image based on calculated said position,

wherein said controller is further configured to create said instruction when calculated said position is in said designated region.

11. A method for emitting laser light, displaying a first image on a first projection surface, and displaying a second image on a second projection surface, using an image display apparatus,

said image display apparatus having:

a laser light source for outputting said laser light,

a scanner for scanning said laser light,

a light splitting element for splitting said laser light scanned by said scanner into a first laser beam directed to said first projection surface and a second laser beam directed to said second projection surface, and

a photodetector for detecting said second laser beam reflected by an external object on said second projection surface,

said method comprising the steps of;

executing processing of accepting image data and increasing luminance of a pixel in a designated region included in accepted said image data;

allowing said scanner to operate at a prescribed scanning frequency and controlling output of said laser light by said laser light source based on said image data subjected to said processing and said scanning frequency;

calculating a position of said external object based on a scanning position of said laser light at a light detection timing of said photodetector; and

changing said second image based on calculated said position.

12. A recording medium having a program stored therein for allowing an image display apparatus to emit laser light, display a first image on a first projection surface, and display a second image on a second projection surface,

said image display apparatus having:

a laser light source for outputting said laser light,

a scanner for scanning said laser light,

a light splitting element for splitting said laser light scanned by said scanner into a first laser beam directed to said first projection surface and a second laser beam directed to said second projection surface, and

a photodetector for detecting said second laser beam reflected by an external object on said second projection surface,

when said program is read out, said program causing a computer to execute the steps of;

executing processing of increasing luminance of a pixel in a designated region included in image data applied to said computer;

allowing said scanner to operate at a prescribed scanning frequency and controlling output of said laser light by said laser light source based on said image data subjected to said processing and said scanning frequency;

calculating a position of said external object based on a scanning position of said laser light at a light detection timing of said photodetector; and

changing said second image based on calculated said position.