Projection type image display system, projector, program, information storage medium and image projection method capable of avoiding obstacles in the projection area

• US 7,292,252 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Matsuda, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier; Jeffery A
• Application Number:
  US10/438,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/619, 345/620, 345/660, 345/667, 345/672, 345/682, 345/589, 345/690, 348/581, 348/582, 348/578, 348/744, 348/745, 348/747, 353/30, 353/31
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/745 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7416 involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal
• 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

To provide a projection type image display system, projector, program, information storage medium and image projection method which can project an image applicable to viewing environment of a changed projection position, a liquid crystal projector is provided with: a sensor for sensing a projection target area and outputting sensing information; an edge detection section for outputting detection information based on the sensing information; a projectable area determination section for determining a projectable area based on the detection information; a projection area selecting section for selecting a projection area from the projectable area; a sensing data generation section for generating sensing data applicable to viewing environment of the selected projection area, based on the sensing information of the selected projection area; an LUT data generation section for generating LUT data; a correction section for correcting image information based on the generated LUT data; and an image projection section for projecting an image onto the projection area based on the corrected image information.

Claims

1. A projection type image display system comprising:

a sensing section which senses a projection target area and outputs sensing information;

a detection section which performs edge detection based on the sensing information and outputting detection information which indicates edge in a sensed image;

a projectable area determination section which determines a projectable area having no obstacle in the projection target area, based on the detection information;

a projection area selection section which selects a projection area from the projectable area, based on selection by a user or a predetermined criterion;

an adjustment section which adjusts input image information such that an image is displayed on the projection area;

an image correction data generation section which generates image correction data used to correct the image depending on viewing environment, based on the sensing information;

a correction section which corrects color and brightness of the input image information, based on the image correction data; and

an image projection section which projects an image onto the projection area based on the input image information corrected by the correction section.

2. The projection type image display system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the image correction data generation section detects viewing environment of the projection area and generates the image correction data, based on the sensing information of the projection area selected by the projection area selection section.

3. The projection type image display system as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the image projection section has a spatial light modulator; and

the adjustment section associates the projection target area based on the sensing information with a pixel area of the spatial light modulator to adjust the input image information so that the position of an image is adjusted.

4. The projection type image display system as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the sensing section repeatedly performs the sensing operation at a predetermined timing and outputs the sensing information;

the detection section outputs the detection information based on the newest sensing information; and

the projectable area determination section determines the projectable area based on the newest detection information.

5. The projection type image display system as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the image projection section has a spatial light modulator; and

the adjustment section associates the projection target area based on the sensing information with a pixel area of the spatial light modulator to adjust the input image information so that the size of an image is adjusted.

6. A projection type image display system comprising:

a sensing section which senses a projection target area and outputs sensing information;

a detection section which performs color-distribution detection based on the sensing information and outputs detection information which indicates color distribution in a sensed image;

a projectable area determination section which determines a projectable area having no obstacle in the projection target area, based on the detection information;

a projection area selection section which selects a projection area from the projectable area, based on selection by a user or a criterion;

an adjustment section which adjusts input image information such that an image is displayed on the projection area;

an image correction data generation section which generates image correction data used to correct the image depending on viewing environment, based on the sensing information;

a correction section which corrects color and brightness of the input image information, based on the image correction data; and

an image projection section which projects an image onto the projection area based on the input image information corrected by the correction section.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein said computer-executable instructions cause a computer to function as:

a sensing section which senses a projection target area and outputting sensing information;

a detection section which performs edge detection based on the sensing information and outputs detection information which indicates edge in a sensed image;

a projectable area determination section which determines a projectable area having no obstacle in the projection target area, based on the detection information;

a projection area selection section which selects a projection area from the projectable area, based on selection by a user or a predetermined criterion;

an adjustment section which adjusts input image information such that an image is displayed on the projection area;

an image correction data generation section which generates image correction data used to correct the image depending on viewing environment, based on the sensing information;

a correction color section which corrects and brightness of the input image information, based on the image correction data; and

an image projection section which projects an image onto the projection area based on the input image information corrected by the correction section.

8. The computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 7, wherein:

wherein the image correction data generation section detects viewing environment of the projection area and generates the image correction data, based on the sensing information of the projection area selected by the projection area selection section.

9. The computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the image projection section has a spatial light modulator; and

the adjustment section associates the projection target area based on the sensing information with a pixel area of the spatial light modulator to adjust the input image information so that the position and of an image is adjusted.

10. The computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein:

the sensing section repeatedly performs the sensing operation at a predetermined timing and outputs the sensing information;

the detection section outputs the detection information based on the newest sensing information; and

the projectable area determination section determines the projectable area based on the newest detection information.

11. The computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 8, wherein:

the image projection section has a spatial light modulator; and

the adjustment section associates the projection target area based on the sensing information with a pixel area of the spatial light modulator to adjust the input image information so that the size of an image is adjusted.

12. An image projection method comprising:

sensing a projection target area to output sensing information;

performing edge detection based on the sensing information and outputting detection information which indicates edge in a sensed image;

determining a projectable area having no obstacle in the projection target area, based on the detection information;

selecting a projection area from the projectable area based on user selection or a predetermined criterion;

adjusting input image information such that an image is displayed on the projection area;

generating image correction data used to correct the image depending on viewing environment, based on the sensing information;

correcting color and brightness of the input image information, based on the image correction data; and

projecting an image onto the projection area based on the input image information in which color and brightness are corrected.

13. The image projection method as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

detecting viewing environment of the projection area and generating the image correction data, based on the sensing information of the selected projection area.

14. The image projection method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

associating the projection target area based on the sensing information with a pixel area of a spatial light modulator to adjust the position of an image.

15. The image projection method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

repeatedly performing the sensing operation and outputting the detection information at a predetermined timing; and

determining the projectable area based on the newest detection information.

16. The image projection method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

associating the projection target area based on the sensing information with a pixel area of a spatial light modulator to adjust the size of an image.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein said computer-executable instructions cause a computer to function as:

a sensing section which senses a projection target area and outputting sensing information;

a detection section which performs color-distribution detection based on the sensing information and outputs detection information which indicates color distribution in a sensed image;

a projectable area determination section which determines a projectable area having no obstacle in the projection target area, based on the detection information;

a projection area selection section which selects a projection area from the projectable area, based on selection by a user or a predetermined criterion;

an adjustment section which adjusts input image information such that an image is displayed on the projection area;

an image correction data generation section which generates image correction data used to correct the image depending on viewing environment, based on the sensing information;

a correction section which corrects color and brightness of the input image information, based on the image correction data; and

an image projection section which projects an image onto the projection area based on the input image information corrected by the correction section.

18. An image projection method comprising:

sensing a projection target area to output sensing information;

performing color-distribution detection based on the sensing information and outputting detection information which indicates color distribution in a sensed image;

determining a projectable area having no obstacle in the projection target area, based on the detection information;

selecting a projection area from the projectable area based on user selection or a predetermined criterion;

adjusting input image information such that an image is displayed on the projection area;

generating image correction data used to correct the image depending on viewing environment, based on the sensing information;

correcting color and brightness of the input image information, based on the image correction data; and

projecting an image onto the projection area based on the input image information in which color and brightness are corrected.