Projector apparatus, projection method, and recording medium storing projection method

• US 7,222,971 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Akutsu, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US10/925,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/31, 353/69, 353/70, 353/101, 353/121, 348/745, 348/806, 349/5, 349/7, 349/9
• US Class Current: 353/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• 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 projector apparatus is disclosed which has a projection unit which projects image corresponding to an input image signal, an instruction unit which issues an instruction for performing keystone correction, a distance survey unit which surveys distances between the projector apparatus and a plurality of positions on the image projected by the projection unit in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit, and a focus control unit which performs keystone correction of the image projected by the projection unit in a manner that the image becomes a rectangle having an appropriate aspect ratio based on the distances obtained by the distance survey unit, while bringing the image projected by the projection unit into focus at the center position of the image after being keystone-corrected.

Claims

1. A projector apparatus comprising:

a projection unit which projects an image corresponding to an input image signal;

an instruction unit which issues an instruction for performing keystone correction;

a distance survey unit which surveys a distance between the projector apparatus and each of a plurality of positions on the image projected by the projection unit, in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit;

a keystone correction unit which performs keystone correction of the image projected by the projection unit, such that the image becomes a rectangle having an appropriate aspect ratio based on the distances obtained by the distance survey unit; and

a focus control unit which controls a lens of the projection unit so as to bring the keystone-corrected image corrected by the keystone correction unit into focus at a center position of the keystone-corrected image;

wherein the focus control unit brings the keystone-corrected image into focus based on a distance between the projector apparatus and the center position of the keystone-corrected image, and wherein the distance to the center position of the keystone-corrected image is obtained by the distance survey unit by re-surveying.

2. A projector apparatus comprising:

a projection unit which projects an image corresponding to an input image signal;

an instruction unit which issues an instruction for performing keystone correction;

a distance survey unit which surveys a distance between the projector apparatus and each of a plurality of positions on the image projected by the projection unit, in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit;

a keystone correction unit which performs keystone correction on the image projected by the projection unit, such that the image becomes a rectangle having an appropriate aspect ratio based on the distances obtained by the distance survey unit; and

a focus control unit which controls a lens of the projection unit so as to bring the keystone-corrected image corrected by the keystone correction unit into focus at a center position of the keystone-corrected image;

wherein the distance survey unit surveys distances between the projector apparatus and a plurality of positions on a chart image which is projected for distance surveying; and

wherein the chart image projected for distance surveying comprises a horizontal chart image for surveying distances between the projector apparatus and a plurality of positions in a horizontal direction, and a vertical chart image for surveying distances between the projector apparatus and a plurality of positions in a vertical direction.

3. A projection method comprising:

projecting, with a projection unit of a projector apparatus, an image corresponding to an input image signal;

issuing an instruction for performing keystone correction;

surveying distances between a projector apparatus and a plurality of positions on the projected image, in accordance with the instruction;

a performing keystone correction on the image projected by the projection unit, such that the image becomes a rectangle having an appropriate aspect ratio, based on the distances obtained by the distance surveying; and

controlling a lens of the projection unit sa as to bring the keystone-corrected image into focus at a center position of the keystone-corrected image;

wherein the keystone-corrected image is brought into focus based on a distance between the projector apparatus and the center position of the keystone-corrected image, and the distance to the center position of the keystone-corrected image is obtained by re-surveying.

4. A computer-readable recording medium having a program stored thereon that is executable by a computer to cause the computer to execute a projection method which comprises:

projecting, with a projection unit of a projector apparatus, an image corresponding to an input image signal;

issuing an instruction for performing keystone correction;

surveying distances between a projector apparatus and a plurality of positions on the projected image, in accordance with the instruction;

performing keystone correction on the image projected by the projection unit, such that the image becomes a rectangle having an appropriate aspect ratio, based on the distances obtained by the distance surveying step;

and

controlling lens of the projection unit as to bring the keystone-corrected image into focus at a center position of the keystone-corrected image;

wherein the keystone-corrected image is brought into focus based on a distance between the projector apparatus and the center position of the keystone-corrected image, and the distance to the center position of the keystone-corrected image is obtained by re-surveying.