Input source search support method, and image display apparatus and projector using the search support method

• US 8,970,566 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Md Saiful A
• Application Number:
  US13/569,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 345/55, 345/204, 345/690, 715/772, 710/36, 710/15, 710/17, 710/18, 348705-709, 348554-555, 348/558, 348/570, 386/332, 353/52
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

An image display apparatus for displaying an image produced by image signals on a display section includes: a plurality of input terminals for receiving each of the image signals supplied from a plurality of input sources; an input selector for selecting a predetermined input terminal from the plural input terminals; a judging section for determining whether the image signals have been inputted to the input terminal selected by the input selector; an operating section which receives requirement of search processing for determining whether the image signals have been inputted to each of the plural input terminals; an image signal correcting section which generates image signals for producing a source search screen indicating search status for each of the input source names corresponding to the input terminals; and a control section for displaying an image of the source search screen produced by the image signals at least on the display section.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a light source;

a plurality of input terminals;

at least one light modulating element adapted to modulate light from the light source based on an image signal;

an optics adapted to project light modulated by the at least one light modulating element;

an input selector adapted to select a predetermined input terminal from the plurality of input terminals;

a judging section adapted to determine for each of the plurality of input terminals whether the image signal is inputted to the input terminal, including the input terminal selected by the input selector; and

a control section adapted to command the input selector to select an initial input terminal defining an input terminal that is first judged by the judging section from the plurality of input terminals when the judging section has determined that no image signal is inputted to any of the plurality of input terminals after elapse of a predetermined time, wherein

the control section controls the at least one light modulating element to modulate light from the light source to project an image indicating a name of the input terminal which is being judged whether the image signal is inputted and, after judging that no input signal is input to any of the plurality of input terminals, projecting a message that none of the plurality of input terminals has an input signal input thereto.

2. The projector according to claim 1, wherein

the input terminals includes a first terminal which receive first image signal supplied from a first input source and a second terminal which receive second image signal supplied from a second input source.

3. The projector according to claim 1, wherein

the control section commands the input selector to sequentially select the input terminals, and commands the judging section to check a presence or absence of the image signals inputted for each of the selected input terminals.

4. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising:

an image signal correcting section which generates image signals for producing a source search screen indicating search status for each of input source names corresponding to the input terminals, wherein

the control section commands the image signal correcting section to add an indication that no image signal is inputted to any of the checked input terminals when no image signals is inputted thereto.

5. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising:

an image signal correcting section which generates image signals for producing a source search screen indicating search status for each of input source names corresponding to the input terminals, wherein

the control section commands the image signal correcting section to close the source search screen when it is determined that the image signals have been inputted to any of the input terminals, and commands the display section to display an image produced by the image signals from the input terminal from hich the image signals have been detected.

6. A source search method for a projector which includes a light source, a plurality of input terminals, at least one light modulating element adapted to modulate light from the light source based on an image signal, an optics adapted to project light modulated by the at least one light modulating element, the method comprising:

selecting a predetermined input terminal from the plurality of input terminals;

determining for each of the plurality of input terminals whether the image signals is inputted thereto, including the selected input terminal; and

selecting an initial input terminal defining an input terminal that is first judged by the judging section from the plurality of input terminals when it has been determined that no image signal is inputted to any of the plurality of input terminals after elapse of a predetermined time, wherein,

the at least one light modulating element modulates light from the light source to project an image indicating a name of the input terminal which is being determined whether an image signal is inputted and, after judging that no input signal is input to any of the plurality of input terminals, projecting a message that none of the plurality of input terminals has an input signal input thereto.

7. The source search method according to claim 6, further comprising:

sequentially selecting the input terminals, and checking a presence or absence of the image signals inputted for each of the selected input terminals.

8. The source search method according to claim 6, further comprising:

adding an indication that no image signal is inputted to any of the input terminals when no image signals is inputted thereto.

9. The source search method according to claim 6, further comprising:

closing the source search screen when it is determined that the image signals have been inputted to any of the input terminals, and displaying an image produced by the image signals from the input terminal from which the image signals have been detected.