Image projection apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10457199-B2
Application number	US-201615565543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Information related to a vehicle can be displayed by projecting an image based on the information on a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information to be displayed; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information to be displayed acquired by the acquisition unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image projection system that improves visibility of a projected images on a road surface adjacent to a vehicle, the system comprising:
a projector that projects images on to the road surface;
a first plurality of sensors that measure conditions outside of the vehicle, wherein the first plurality includes at least one sensor that acquires comparison images of the images projected by the projector on the road surface;
a second plurality of sensors that measure parameters of the vehicle;
a processor communicatively coupled to the first plurality of sensors, the second plurality of sensors and the projector, wherein the processor:
receives, from the first plurality of sensors, the comparison images,
receives, from the second plurality of sensors, the parameters of the vehicle determines a projection image based on the parameters of the vehicle,
calculates an amount of correction required for the projection image based on the comparison images,
on a condition that the amount of correction required is less than a threshold,
corrects the projection image by the correction amount to form a corrected image, and
controls the projector to project the corrected image on the road surface; and

on a condition that the amount of correction required it not less than the threshold,
controls the projector to not project the projection image on the road surface.

2. The image projection system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the corrected image is intended for a person outside the vehicle.

3. The image projection system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second plurality of sensors includes at least one speed sensor that detects a traveling speed of the vehicle, and
wherein the processor further determines whether or not projection is performed based on the traveling speed of the vehicle.

4. The image projection system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first plurality of sensors further include a distance sensor that detects an inter-vehicle distance, and
wherein the processor further determines whether or not projection is performed based on the inter-vehicle distance.

5. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the corrected image is corrected to account for an unpaved road surface.

6. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the corrected image is corrected to account for a shape of the road surface.

7. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the corrected image is corrected to account for a reflectance of the road surface.

8. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the corrected image is corrected to account for a width of the road surface.

9. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the corrected image is corrected to account for a color of the road surface.

10. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

11. The image projection system according to claim 4 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

12. The image projection system according to claim 4 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

13. The image projection system according to claim 5 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

14. The image projection system according to claim 6 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

15. The image projection system according to claim 7 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

16. The image projection system according to claim 8 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

17. The image projection system according to claim 9 , wherein the corrected image is advertisement message.

18. The image projection system according to claim 10 , wherein the advertisement message is projected when the second plurality of sensors indicate that the vehicle is traveling at a speed less than a speed threshold.

19. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison images are of a lattice pattern projected by the projector on the road surface.

Assignees

• Maxell Ltd

Inventors

• Kunii Yasuhiko
• Kaku Nobuyuki
• Sugiyama Toshinori
• Nakamura Hiroyuki
• Chiba Hiroshi
• Kishigami Masahiro
• KAJIKAWA Hiroyuki
• Ono Chohei
• Kurachi Megumi
• Harada Noriaki

Classifications

• B60W2754/30

  Longitudinal distance · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

  Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body · CPC title

• H04N9/3185

  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 title

• H04N9/3194

  including sensor feedback · CPC title

• H04N9/3179

  Video signal processing therefor · CPC title