Projection device, projection method, and projection program

• US 9,727,173 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Group Corp.
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamano, Ikuo, Mizunuma, Hiroyuki, Kasahara, Shunichi, Miyashita, Ken, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, David D
• Application Number:
  US14/940,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20160070420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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

According to an illustrative embodiment, an information processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus is used for processing a first image projected toward a target. The apparatus includes a processing unit for detecting that an object exists between a projector unit and the target, wherein when an object exists between the projector unit and the target, the apparatus determines an area of the object and generates a modified first image, based on the area of the object, for projection toward the target.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

control a projector unit to project a first image toward a target;

acquire a result of detection of an object designating a portion of the first image; and

generate, in accordance with the result of detection, a second image associated with the first image for projection toward the object,

wherein the object is a hand, and

wherein the second image is projected towards and on a surface of the hand, simultaneously with the first image being projected toward the target.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image includes a second portion of the first image, and wherein the second portion of the first image includes other than the portion of the first image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image includes a link-destination image.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image includes information external to the first image.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image includes at least one icon in a list corresponding to the portion of the first image.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the portion of the first image corresponds to a folder or an application.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one icon is selectable to cause execution of an operation corresponding to the at least one icon.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image indicates a current status corresponding to the portion of the first image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the status indicates at least one of form, color or pattern.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second image includes a color box included in the portion of the first image, wherein the first image is displayed on a projection surface as the target and the object is at least partially overlying or on the projection surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the projection surface is a surface of a table.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the color box corresponds to a painting application and the status indicates at least one of form, color or pattern corresponding to the painting application.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface of the hand to which the second image is projected is substantially flat.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

acquire a second result of detection of another object designating a portion of the second image; and

execute, in accordance with the second result of detection, a processing operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing operation includes reproducing information indicated in the portion of the second image to be displayed at the portion of the first image.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the designating the portion of the second image includes at least one of pointing, touching or dragging by the another object.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the another object is a finger of another hand and a surface of a table is the target.