Interactive projection system and method
First Claim
1. A system of selectively projecting images, comprising:
- a light source configured to create an illuminated area on a projection surface;
a camera configured to detect the illuminated area on the projection surface;
a processing unit configured to receive signals from the camera indicative of the position of the illuminated area in relation to the projection surface, the processing unit utilizing the signals received from the camera to create a first image and a second image to be projected on the projection surface; and
a projector configured to project the first image on the illuminated area of the projection surface, and a second image on an area of the projection surface that is not illuminated by the light source.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system of selectively projecting images is disclosed. An illuminated area is created on a projection surface by directing a light source to the projection surface. The illuminated area is detected with a camera. Electrical signals are transmitted from the camera to the projector, the electrical signals being indicative of the position of the illuminated area in relation to the projection surface. Based on the received electrical signals, an image and a second image are projected on the projection surface. The image is projected on the illuminated area of the projection surface. The second image is projected on an area of the projection surface that is not illuminated by the light source. Applications of this method and system include the projection of background and foreground images creating the illusion of an x-ray beam, the projection of a normal image and an overblown image creating the illusion of a magnifying light beam.
44 Citations
70 Claims
-
1. A system of selectively projecting images, comprising:
-
a light source configured to create an illuminated area on a projection surface;
a camera configured to detect the illuminated area on the projection surface;
a processing unit configured to receive signals from the camera indicative of the position of the illuminated area in relation to the projection surface, the processing unit utilizing the signals received from the camera to create a first image and a second image to be projected on the projection surface; and
a projector configured to project the first image on the illuminated area of the projection surface, and a second image on an area of the projection surface that is not illuminated by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of selectively projecting images, the method comprising:
-
creating an illuminated area on a projection surface by directing a light source towards the projection surface;
detecting the position of the illuminated area relative to the projection surface with a camera;
transmitting signals from the camera to a processing unit, the signals being indicative of the position of the illuminated area relative to the projection surface;
utilizing at the processing unit the signals received from the camera to create an image to be projected on the projection surface; and
projecting an image on the projection surface, the image being projected on the illuminated area of the projection surface by a projector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A system of selectively projecting images, comprising:
-
a light source configured to create an illuminated area on a projection surface;
a camera configured to detect the illuminated area on the projection surface;
a processing unit configured to receive signals from the camera indicative of the position of the illuminated area relative to the projection surface, the processing unit utilizing the signals received from the camera to establish a position on the projection surface at which an image is to be projected; and
a projector configured to project the image at the position on the projection surface established by the processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. A system for selectively projecting images onto a projection surface, comprising:
-
a pointing device having a magnetic source, the magnetic source configured to generate directional magnetic energy in the vicinity of a projection surface;
a magnetic receiver in the vicinity of the projection surface, the magnetic receiver configured to detect the position and direction of the magnetic source;
a processing unit configured to receive signals from the magnetic receiver and indicate the position and pointing direction of the magnetic source in relation to the projection surface, wherein the processing unit utilizes the signals received from the magnetic receiver to determine a location coordinate on the projection surface to which the user is pointing, wherein the processing unit creates a first image to be projected at the location coordinate on the projection surface, wherein the processing unit creates a second image to be projected on the projection surface that is not the location coordinate on the projection surface; and
a projector configured to project the first image and the second image. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A network of interactive projection systems to allow users at separate locations, to share in an interactive experience, comprising:
-
a plurality of interactive projection systems, each system comprising a projection screen, a camera, and a controller, wherein the camera captures light from at least one light source, the light from the at least one light source being focused on the projection screen, and wherein the camera transmits to the controller signals representing the at least one light source being focused at the projection screen;
a computing device that communicably receives data from each of the controllers of each of the plurality of interactive projection systems, the data received by the computing device being indicative of the at least one light source present at each of the projection systems; and
a database of light source identifiers that can be accessed by the computing device to associate the at least one light source present at each of the projection systems with each projection screen. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A method of selecting from a first plurality of illuminators a second plurality of illuminators that focus light on a projection screen, comprising:
-
providing a back channel to each of the first plurality of illuminators, the back channel to each of the plurality of illuminators being connected to a central computer;
detecting a plurality of illumination areas at a projection surface;
momentarily turning off each of the first plurality of illuminators, the first plurality of illuminators being turned off through the back channel by the central computer, wherein every time each of the first plurality of illuminators is turned off, a camera detects whether any one of the plurality of illumination areas at the projection surface decreases in light energy; and
including a selected illuminator in the second plurality of illuminators if one of the plurality of illumination areas decreases in light energy, the selected illuminator corresponding to the illumination area decreasing in light energy.
-
-
54. A method of identifying an illuminator focusing light on a target area of a projection surface, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of illuminators, each of the illuminators illuminating an area of the projection surface;
generating a dynamic database that includes a position of the each of the illuminated areas on the projection surface and an illuminator identifier corresponding to each of the plurality of illuminators;
comparing each of the positions of the illuminated areas to a position of the target area;
if the position of a illuminated area matches the position of the target area, locating in the dynamic database the illuminator identifier corresponding to the illuminated area; and
utilizing the illuminator identifier to identify the illuminator focusing light on the target area. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
-
-
58. A method of identifying an illuminator focusing light on a target area of a projection surface, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of illuminators, each of the illuminators illuminating an area of the projection surface;
providing a back channel to each of the plurality of illuminators, the back channel to each of the plurality of illuminators being connected to a central computer;
detecting with a camera whether the target area on the projection surface has being illuminated;
measuring an initial amount of light energy at the target area;
sequentially turning off each of the plurality of illuminators, the plurality of illuminators being turned off through the back channel by the central computer, wherein after turning off each of the plurality of illuminators, the resulting light energy of the target area is measured;
determining whether the resulting light energy of the target area is different in comparison with the initial amount of light energy at the target area; and
if the target area is different in comparison with the initial amount of light energy at the target area, identifying the illuminator that was last turned off as the illuminator focusing light on a target area of the projection screen. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61)
-
-
62. A method of distinguishing the origin of the illumination of a target illuminated area on a projection screen, comprising:
-
detecting the target illuminated area on the projection screen, the target illuminated area being detected by a camera;
turning the first light source off and on, wherein if the target illuminated area dims in illumination, the first light source is determined to be illuminating the target illuminated area; and
turning the second light source off and on, wherein if the target illuminated area dims in illumination, the second light source is determined to be illuminating the target illuminated area. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65)
-
-
66. A method of determining a user that focuses light on a target area of a projection screen, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of light sources, wherein each of the plurality of light sources emits light at a different wavelength;
providing each user of a plurality of users with one of the plurality of light sources;
generating a database that includes a record for each of the plurality of light sources, each record including a light source wavelength and a light source identifier;
detecting if a target area on the projection screen has being illuminated, the illumination of target area being detected by a camera;
determining an illumination wavelength of the light illuminating the target area;
locating a selected light source identifier in the database such that the light source wavelength matches the illumination wavelength; and
identifying the user utilizing the light source corresponding to the selected light source identifier as the first user that focuses light on a target area of the projection screen. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
-
Specification