Image projection method and image projector

• US 6,575,581 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsurushima, Katsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US09/751,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 353/42, 353/50, 353/66, 353/75, 353/76, 353/79, 353/98, 353/122, 353/30, 353/31, 353/32, 353/102, 353/121, 353/94, 348/744, 348/764, 348/818, 348/819, 359/196, 250/202, 250/221, 250/222.1
• US Class Current: 353/121
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2086 Security or safety means in lamp houses
• 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 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

An image projection method for projecting laser beams and an image projector that projects laser beams are adapted to shut down the laser beams instantaneously when an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams is detected. A detection wave is projected onto a display screen along with the laser beams for displaying an image. The reflection wave of the detection wave reflected from the display screen is detected so as to find out whether the obstacle, if any, is intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

Claims

1. An image projection method for projecting laser beams onto a display screen to display an image, wherein a detection wave is projected onto the display screen along with the laser beams by way of objective lens of an optical modulator unit that also projects the laser beams, and the detection wave reflected by the display screen is detected so as to find out an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

2. The image projection method according to claim 1, wherein the detection wave is an infrared ray or an ultrasonic wave.

3. The image projection method according to claim 1, wherein the projection area of the detection wave is made larger than that of the laser beams.

4. The image projection method according to claim 1, wherein the laser beams are shut down upon detecting an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

5. An image projection method for projecting a projected image with laser beams onto a display screen to display an image within a projection area, the laser beams being projected by way of objective lens of an optical modulator unit, wherein the image displayed on the display screen is picked up, and a difference between the projected image to be displayed and the displayed image on the display screen with an obstacle intruding is detected so as to find out an obstacle is intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

6. The image projection method according to claim 5, wherein the laser beams are shut down upon detecting an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

7. An image projection method for projecting laser beams onto a display screen to display an image, wherein the laser beams are projected also onto a detection area of the display screen located outside the displayed image by way of objective lens of an optical modulator unit, and the laser beams reflected by the detection area of the displayed screen are detected so as to find out an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

8. The image projection method according to claim 7, wherein the laser beams are shut down upon detecting an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams.

9. An image projector comprising:

a laser beam source for projecting laser beams by way of objective lens of an optical modulator unit to display an image;

a detection wave source for projecting a detection wave;

a display screen to which the laser beams and detection wave are projected;

a reflected wave detection means for detecting the detection wave reflected by the display screen so as to find out an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams; and

a laser beam shutdown mechanism for shutting down the laser beams according to the detection signal output from the reflected wave detection means.

10. An image projector comprising:

a laser beam source for projecting laser beams by way of objective lens of an optical modulator unit to display an image;

a display screen to which the laser beams are projected;

an image pickup means for picking up the image displayed on the display screen;

an image processing means for detecting the difference between the image to be displayed and the detection signal output from the image processing means.

11. An image projector comprising:

a laser beam source for projecting laser beams to display an image and also projecting laser beams onto a detection area located outside the displayed image by way of objective lens of an optical modulator unit;

a display screen to which the laser beams are projected;

a reflected beam detection means for detecting the laser beams reflected by the detection area of the display screen so as to find out an obstacle intruding into the projection area of the laser beams; and

a laser beam shutdown mechanism for shutting down the laser beams according to the detection signal output from the reflected beam detection means.