Projector comprising a microcomputer for controlling zoom and focus adjustments utilizing pattern generation and calculation means

• US 6,592,228 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawashima, Masahiro, Gyoten, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J.
• Application Number:
  US09/831,467
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 353/101, 353/100, 353/69, 353/70, 353/79, 353/30, 353/31, 353/34, 353/37, 349/5, 349/6, 349/7, 349/8, 352/140, 348/745, 348/806
• US Class Current: 353/101
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/11 for microfilm reading
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53

Abstract

A projector that can be easily set up and adjusted is disclosed. In accordance with a projection condition inputted into a microcomputer via a remote-controller, the microcomputer selects an optimum projection lens by referring to correlation data showing a relation among a projection lens, a projection display size, and an optimum projection distance. The microcomputer has a screen to indicate an optimum projection lens and projection distance that satisfy the inputted projection condition. The microcomputer calculates the amounts of zoom and focus adjustments to be made to the projection lens with reference to the correlation data so as to attain the projection display size and the microcomputer automatically drives the projection lens via a zoom driving unit and a focus driving unit.

Claims

1. A projector that projects an image displayed on an image display device onto a screen via a projection lens, the projector comprising:

a lens driving means for driving the projection lens;

a receiving means for receiving an input of at least one projection condition;

a parameter determining means for determining a control parameter to control the lens driving means, in accordance with the received projection condition; and

a control means for controlling the lens driving means in accordance with the determined control parameter;

wherein the lens driving means includes;

a zoom ratio adjusting mechanism for adjusting a zoom ratio of the projection lens; and

a focus adjusting mechanism for adjusting a focus of the projection lens.

2. The projector as in claim 1,

wherein the parameter determining means

includes a storing means for storing correlation data that shows a plurality of projection conditions and, for each projection condition, a control parameter that satisfies the projection condition, and

determines the control parameter in accordance with the correlation data.

3. The projector as in claim 2,

wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of the projection conditions that include a projection distance and a projection display size.

4. The projector as in claim 1,

wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of the projection conditions that include a projection distance and a projection display size.

5. The projector as in claim 4,

wherein the lens driving means includes:

a zoom ratio adjusting mechanism for adjusting a zoom ratio of the projection lens; and

a focus adjusting mechanism for adjusting a focus of the projection lens.

6. The projector as in claim 1,

wherein the projection conditions include information regarding a distance measured in a vertical direction from a vertical center of the screen to an optical axis of the projection lens,

wherein the lens driving means includes a vertical alignment changing means for changing a vertical alignment of the projection lens and the image display device.

7. The projector as in claim 2,

wherein the projection conditions include information regarding a distance measured in a vertical direction from a vertical center of the screen to an optical axis of the projection lens,

wherein the lens driving means includes a vertical alignment changing means for changing a vertical alignment of the projection lens and the image display device.

8. A projector that projects an image displayed on an image display device onto a screen via an interchangeable projection lens, the projector comprising:

a lens driving means for driving the projection lens;

a receiving means for receiving inputs respectively regarding at least one projection condition and the projection lens attached to the projector;

a parameter determining means for determining a control parameter to control the lens driving means, in accordance with the received inputs regarding the projection condition and the projection lens; and

a control means for controlling the lens driving means in accordance with the determined control parameter.

9. The projector as in claim 8,

wherein the parameter determining means

includes a storing means for storing correlation data for each projection lens, the correlation data showing a plurality of projection conditions and, for each projection condition, a control parameter that satisfies the projection condition, and

determines the control parameter in accordance with the correlation data.

10. The projector as in claim 9,

wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of the projection conditions that include a projection distance and a projection display size.

11. The projector as in claim 9,

wherein the projection conditions include information regarding a distance measured in a vertical direction from a vertical center of the screen to an optical axis of the projection lens,

wherein the lens driving means includes a vertical alignment changing means for changing a vertical alignment of the projection lens and the image display device.

12. The projector as in claim 8, further comprising:

an entry screen displaying means for displaying an entry screen on which the user inputs a content that is to be received by the receiving means; and

an entry screen control means for having the entry screen show the content that is received by the receiving means from the user.

13. The projector as in claim 8,

wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of the projection conditions that include a projection distance and a projection display size.

14. The projector as in claim 8,

wherein the projection conditions include information regarding a distance measured in a vertical direction from a vertical center of the screen to an optical axis of the projection lens,

wherein the lens driving means includes a vertical alignment changing means for changing a vertical alignment of the projection lens and the image display device.

15. The projector as in claim 8, further comprising:

an entry screen displaying means for displaying an entry screen on which the user inputs a content that is to be received by the receiving means; and

an entry screen control means for having the entry screen show the content that is received by the receiving means from the user.

16. A projector that projects an image displayed on an image display device onto a screen via an interchangeable projection lens, the projector comprising:

a receiving means for receiving an input of at least one projection condition;

a storing means for storing information regarding a characteristic for each of a plurality of interchangeable projection lenses;

a selecting means, in accordance with the information stored in the storing means, for selecting a projection lens from the plurality of projections lenses as an optimum projection lens, the characteristic of the selected projection lens most satisfying the received projection condition; and

a displaying means for indicating the projection lens selected as the optimum projection lens.

17. The projector as in claim 16,

wherein the receiving means receives a plurality of projection conditions that include a projection distance and a projection display size,

wherein the information stored in the storing means for each projection lens relates to a projection distance that is required to attain a projection display size using the projection lens, and

wherein the selecting means finds the projection distance required to attain the received projection display size for each projection lens, and selects a projection lens as an optimum projection lens, the projection distance of the selected projection lens being a closest to the projection distance received as the projection condition by the receiving means.

18. The projector as in claim 17,

wherein the displaying means further indicates the projection distance required to attain the received projection display size using the projection lens selected as the optimum projection lens.

19. The projector as in claim 16,

wherein the displaying means further indicates the projection distance required to attain the received projection display size using the projection lens selected as the optimum projection lens.

20. The projector as in claim 16, further comprising:

an entry screen displaying means for displaying an entry screen on which the user inputs a content that is to be received by the receiving means; and

an entry screen control means for having the entry screen show the content that is received by the receiving means from the user.

21. A projector that projects an image displayed on an image display device onto a screen via a projection lens, the projector comprising:

a lens driving means for driving the projection lens;

a receiving means for receiving an input from a user;

a control means for controlling the lens driving means in accordance with the input received from the user;

a pattern generating means for displaying a predetermined pattern formed from a plurality of pattern images on the image display device so that the plurality of pattern images are respectively displayed at a plurality of positions on a display area of the image display device;

a calculating means for calculating errors in setting conditions of the projector in accordance with amounts of control to be performed by the control means for each pattern image through an input operation which the user performed to adjust a projection state of the pattern image projected on the screen; and

a displaying means for indicating the errors calculated by the calculating means.

22. The projector as in claim 21,

wherein the setting conditions include horizontal and vertical inclinations of the projector.

23. The projector as in claim 22,

wherein the plurality of positions at which the pattern images are respectively displayed include at least three positions that positionally correspond to three out of four corners of the screen.

24. The projector as in claim 21,

wherein the plurality of positions at which the pattern images are respectively displayed include at least three positions that positionally correspond to three out of four corners of the screen.

25. The projector as in claim 21, further comprising:

an entry screen displaying means for displaying an entry screen on which the user inputs a content that is to be received by the receiving means; and

an entry screen control means for having the entry screen show the content that is received by the receiving means from the user.