Image projecting apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable storage medium

• US 9,183,605 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Taira, Inukai, Yoshihiro, Kikuchi, Taro, Murakata, Akira, Yoshimizu, Naofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): He, Yingchun
• Application Number:
  US13/719,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• 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: G09G 5/026 Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general G09G5/022 and G09G5/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

An image projecting apparatus includes an image projecting unit configured to project received original image data on an image projection surface; an area identifying unit configured to identify an obstruction area in which different content is displayed as compared to a normal projection surface to be projected based on the original image data; and a layout modifying unit configured to modify a layout of an object included in the original image data that is projected, on the basis of the object and the obstruction area on the image projection surface.

Claims

1. An image projecting apparatus, comprising:

an image projector configured to project received original image data on an image projection surface;

an area identifier configured to identify an obstruction area in which different content is displayed as compared to a normal projection surface to be projected based on the original image data;

a layout modifier configured to modify a layout of an object included in the original image data that is projected, on the basis of the object and the obstruction area on the image projection surface; and

an evaluator configured to obtain an evaluation value that indicates a relationship between a position of the object and the obstruction area in the original image data, wherein;

the layout modifier modifies the layout so that the object is moved based on the obtained evaluation values,

the layout modifier further modifies the layout of the object in the original image data on the basis of the evaluation value,

the evaluator sets a plurality of different positions to which the object is movable in the original image data and obtains evaluation values for the respective positions of the object and

the evaluator obtains the evaluation value also based on at least an amount of overlap between objects in the original image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation input receiver configured to receive input from a user, wherein

the layout modifier determines an image in which the object is moved to the position corresponding to the evaluation value that is within a predetermined range, as a candidate for layout modification,

the image projector projects a plurality of candidates for layout modification that is determined on the image projection surface,

the operation input receiver receives a user selection of a desired candidate for layout modification from the plurality of candidates for layout modification projected on the image projection surface, and

the layout modifier modifies the layout so that the object is moved to the position indicated in the selected candidate for layout modification.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout modifier obtains an amount of overlap between the obstruction area and the object in the original image data, and modifies the layout if the amount of overlap is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation input receiver configured to receive input of the obstruction area from a user, wherein the area identifier identifies the received obstruction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image capturing sensor configured to capture an image being projected on the image projection surface, wherein the area identifier identifies the obstruction area in which different content is displayed as compared to a normal projection surface to be projected based on the original image data, on the basis of image data obtained by the image capturing sensor and the original image data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluator obtains the evaluation value on the basis of color information of the object and color information of a background in the original image data.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when a target object for layout modification is a character object, the layout modifier changes a color of the character object so that a contrast between the color of the character object and a color of the background is enhanced.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the layout modifier changes a brightness of the character object as a priority in changing the color of the character object.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when an occupancy of the obstruction area in the area of the image projection surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined rate, the layout modifier changes a size of at least one object included in the original image data.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the layout modifier changes the size of the object included in the obstruction area.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a mode in which image data is subjected to color processing intended for partially color-blind people, the layout modifier performs color adjustment to colors having enhanced color distinctiveness for partially color-blind people as a priority.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout modifier changes a color of at least one object included in the original image data and a background color in layout modification.

13. An image projecting apparatus, comprising:

an image projector configured to project received original image data on an image projection surface;

an area identifier configured to identify an obstruction area in which different content is displayed as compared to a normal projection surface to be projected based on the original image data;

a layout modifier configured to modify a layout of an object included in the original image data that is projected, on the basis of the object and the obstruction area on the image projection surface; and

an evaluator configured to obtain an evaluation value that indicates a relationship between a position of the object and the obstruction area in the original image data, wherein;

the layout modifier modifies the layout so that the object is moved based on the obtained evaluation values,

the layout modifier further modifies the layout of the object in the original image data on the basis of the evaluation value,

the evaluator sets a plurality of different positions to which the object is movable in the original image data and obtains evaluation values for the respective positions of the object,

the evaluator obtains the evaluation value based on at least one of an amount of overlap between the obstruction area and the object, an amount of overlap between objects in the original image, and a movement distance of the object in layout modification, and

the evaluator obtains, as the evaluation value, a sum of a first evaluation value determined based on an amount of overlap between the obstruction area and the object, a second evaluation value determined based on an amount of overlap between the objects in the original image, and a third evaluation value determined based on a movement distance of the object in layout modification.

14. An image projecting apparatus, comprising:

an image projector configured to project received original image data on an image projection surface;

an area identifier configured to identify an obstruction area in which different content is displayed as compared to a normal projection surface to be projected based on the original image data;

a layout modifier configured to modify a layout of an object included in original image data that is projected, on the basis of the object and the obstruction area on the image projection surface; and

an evaluator configured to obtain an evaluation value that indicates a relationship between a position of the object and the obstruction area in the original image data, wherein;

the layout modifier modifies the layout so that the object is moved based on the obtained evaluation values,

the layout modifier further modifies the layout of the object in the original image data on the basis of the evaluation value,

the evaluator sets a plurality of different positions to which the object is movable in the original image data and obtains evaluation values for the respective positions of the object,

the evaluator obtains the evaluation value based on at least one of an amount of overlap between the obstruction area and the object, an amount of overlap between objects in the original image, and a movement distance of the object in layout modification, and

the evaluator obtains, as the evaluation value, a weighted sum of a first evaluation value determined based on an amount of overlap between the obstruction area and the object, a second evaluation value determined based on an amount of overlap between the objects in the original image, and a third evaluation value determined based on a movement distance of the object in layout modification.