INTERACTIVE PROJECTOR AND INTERACTIVE PROJECTION SYSTEM

• US 20160282968A1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Henninen, Svein, Njolstad, Tormod, Tanaka, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• 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 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

An interactive projector includes a projection section, a first detection light irradiation section and a second detection light irradiation section, an imaging section, and a position detection section adapted to detect a position of the pointing element based on an image, which is taken by the imaging section and includes the pointing element. The first and second detection light irradiation sections are disposed so that at least one of the following (i) and (ii) becomes higher than a threshold value: (i) a first contrast between the pointing element in a first image in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the first detection light irradiation section and the projected screen, and (ii) a second contrast between the pointing element in a second image in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the second detection light irradiation section and the projected screen.

Claims

1. An interactive projector capable of receiving an instruction of a user to a projected screen with a pointing element, comprising:

a projection section adapted to project the projected screen on a screen surface;

a first detection light irradiation section and a second detection light irradiation section each adapted to emit detection light used for detection of the pointing element toward an area of the projected screen;

an imaging section adapted to receive light in a wavelength range including a wavelength of the detection light to take an image of the area of the projected screen; and

a position detection section adapted to detect a position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on an image, which is taken by the imaging section and includes the pointing element,

wherein, in a state in which a tip of the pointing element is in contact with an arbitrary position in the area of the projected screen, the first detection light irradiation section and the second detection light irradiation section are disposed so that at least one of the following (i) and (ii) becomes higher than a threshold value set in advance for distinguishing the pointing element from the projected screen;

(i) a first contrast between the pointing element in a first image taken by the imaging section in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the first detection light irradiation section and an area of the projected screen, and

(ii) a second contrast between the pointing element in a second image taken by the imaging section in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the second detection light irradiation section and the area of the projected screen.

2. The interactive projector according to claim 1, wherein

in a state in which the tip of the pointing element is in contact with at least a part of the area in the projected screen, the first detection light irradiation section and the second detection light irradiation section are disposed so that if the first contrast is positive, then the second contrast is negative, and if the first contrast is negative, then the second contrast is positive, and

the first detection light irradiation section and the second detection light irradiation section emit the detection light toward the projected screen in a time-multiplexed manner.

3. The interactive projector according to claim 1, wherein

the first detection light irradiation section and the second detection light irradiation section are disposed on opposite sides to each other across a virtual plane including a normal line of the projected screen at a center of the projected screen.

4. The interactive projector according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third detection light irradiation section disposed at a position closer to the virtual plane than the first detection light irradiation section and the second detection light irradiation section, and adapted to irradiate the area of the projected screen with the detection light.

5. An interactive projecting system comprising:

the projector according to claim 1; and

a screen having a screen surface on which the projected screen is projected.