System and method for automatically modifying an image prior to projection

• US 7,905,606 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bullock, Roger Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens; Danell L
• Application Number:
  US11/485,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 353/69, 353/70, 382/108
• US Class Current: 353/69
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3182 Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607
• 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

A system and method for automatically modifying an image prior to projection. The system includes an image forming element configured to project an image to a projection surface having at least one property and a detection module coupled to the image forming element, the detection module capable of detecting at least one property with respect to the surface. The system further includes at least one processor configured to modify an outgoing image in response to the at least one property of the surface, such as color, texture and surface curvature.

Claims

1. A system for automatically modifying an image prior to projection comprising:

an image forming element configured to project an image to a projection surface having at least one property;

a detection module coupled to the image forming element, the detection module capable of determining at least one property with respect to the projection surface, wherein the detection module further comprising;

a light source is projecting a series of colors and intensities towards the projection surface and of detecting the reflected colors and intensities from the projection surface to determine the color and intensity shift, wherein the series of colors have a slight, overlap along the projection surface; and

at least one processor configured to modify an outgoing image in response to the at least one property of the surface, where the at least one property of the surface includes texture.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one property is selected from a group further comprising:

color and distance from the detection module to the surface, and surface curvature.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises a liquid crystal display.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises digital light processing.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises liquid crystal on silicon.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor modifies the outgoing image using embedded routines.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detection module repeats the projection and detection of colors and intensities for each projected wavelength component and for at least two brightness levels in order to create a profile.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the profile is modified using color correction tables.

9. A method for modifying an image prior to projection comprising the steps of:

projecting a series of colors and intensities from a detection module towards a projection surface, wherein the series of colors have a slight, overlap along the projection surface;

receiving the reflected intensity and color within the detection module for detecting the reflected intensity and color for each section of the projection surface to determine the color and intensity shift;

determining at least one property of the projection surface and creating a profile, the at least one property including texture;

creating an overlay by comparing the profile to a standard profile;

utilizing the overlay to modify an image to be projected; and

projecting the modified image from an image forming element to the projection surface.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one property is selected from a group further comprising:

color and distance from the detection module to the surface, and surface curvature.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of projecting is performed using a liquid crystal display projector.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of projecting is performed using a digital light processing projector.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of:

detecting is performed using a wireless device, the wireless device configured to transmit detected information to an image projector.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of modifying the overlay to create a user preference overlay indicative of image adjustments preferred by a user.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing an RFID tag storing at least one of the overlay and the at least one property.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the RFID tag is provided in proximity to the projection surface.

17. A video projector comprising:

a detection module comprising a light source projecting a series of colors and intensities towards a projection surface and of detecting the reflected colors and intensities from the projection surface to determine a color and intensity shift, wherein the color and intensity shift is used to determine at least one property of the projection surface, where the at least one property of the projection surface includes texture, wherein the series of colors have a slight, overlap along the projection surface;

at least one processor configured to modify an outgoing image in response to the at least one property of the projection surface;

a video receiving unit connected to the at least one processor and configured to receive the at least one modified outgoing image; and

an image forming element configured to allow the modified outgoing image to pass there through and to project the modified outgoing image towards the projection surface.

18. The video projector according to claim 17, the detection module further comprising at least one spectral sensor, the sensor configured to measure color values of the projection surface.

19. The video projector according to claim 17, further comprising embedded routines stored within at least one processor housed within the projector.

20. The video projector according to claim 19, wherein the modified outgoing image is created using embedded routines which include color correction and intensity correction routines.