Projector and method of controlling projector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9332237-B2
Application number	US-201414333865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A projector includes a projection section adapted to project light, a human detection section adapted to detect a human existing in a predetermined region, and a mode switching section adapted to switch an operation mode to one of a content mode for projecting light of an image related to a content by the projection section, and an illumination mode for projecting light for illumination by the projection section in accordance with a detection result of the human detection section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A projector comprising:
a projection section adapted to project light;
a human detection section adapted to detect a human existing in a predetermined region; and
a mode switching section adapted to switch an operation mode to one of a content mode for projecting light of an image related to a content by the projection section, and an illumination mode for projecting light for illumination by the projection section in accordance with a detection result of the human detection section, wherein
the mode switching section switches the operation mode to the content mode in a case in which a human is detected by the human detection section, and switches the operation mode to the illumination mode in a case in which no human is detected.

2. The projector according to claim 1 , wherein
the predetermined region is a region defined based on visibility of an image to be projected using the light projected in a case in which the operation mode is the content mode.

3. The projector according to claim 1 , wherein
the human detection section is capable of detecting a human existing in the region with respect to each of a plurality of regions, and
the mode switching section switches the operation mode to one of the content mode and the illumination mode in accordance with a relationship between states of whether or not a human exists in the respective regions.

4. The projector according to claim 3 , wherein
a first region included in the plurality of regions is a region defined based on visibility of an image to be projected using the light projected in a case in which the operation mode is the content mode,
a second region included in the plurality of regions is a region defined based on availability of the projected light as illumination in a case in which the operation mode is the illumination mode, and
the mode switching section
switches the operation mode to the content mode in a case in which the human detection section has detected that a human exists in the first region, and
switches the operation mode to the illumination mode in a case in which the human detection section has failed to detect that a human exists in the first region, and has detected that a human exists in the second region.

5. The projector according to claim 4 , wherein
the projection of the light by the projection section is stopped unless it is detected that a human exists in at least one of the first region and the second region.

6. The projector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source; and
a light diffusion device disposed on a light path from the light source,
wherein the light from the light source is transmitted without being diffused by the light diffusion device in a case in which the operation mode is the content mode, and
the light from the light source is transmitted while being diffused by the light diffusion device in a case in which the operation mode is the illumination mode.

7. A method of controlling a projector including a projection section adapted to project light, the method comprising:
detecting a human existing in a predetermined region; and
switching an operation mode to a content mode for projecting light of an image related to a content by the projection section, in a case in which a human is detected by the human detection step, or to an illumination mode for projecting light for illumination by the projection section in accordance with a detection result in the detecting, in a case in which no human is detected.

8. A projector comprising:
a projection section adapted to project light;
a human detection section adapted to detect a human existing in a predetermined region; and
a mode switching section adapted to switch an operation mode to one of a content mode for projecting light of an image related to a content by the projection section, and an illumination mode for projecting light for illumination by the projection section in accordance with a detection result of the human detection section,
wherein the human detection section is capable of detecting a human existing in the region with respect to each of a plurality of regions, and
the mode switching section switches the operation mode to one of the content mode and the illumination mode in accordance with a relationship between states of whether or not a human exists in the respective regions.

9. A projector comprising:
a projection section adapted to project light;
a human detection section adapted to detect a human existing in a predetermined region;
a mode switching section adapted to switch an operation mode to one of a content mode for projecting light of an image related to a content by the projection section, and an illumination mode for projecting light for illumination by the projection section in accordance with a detection result of the human detection section;
a light source; and
a light diffusion device disposed on a light path from the light source,
wherein the light from the light source is transmitted without being diffused by the light diffusion device in a case in which the operation mode is the content mode, and
the light from the light source is transmitted while being diffused by the light diffusion device in a case in which the operation mode is the illumination mode.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Shinha Hiroaki
• Miyasaka Koichi
• Kasuga Hirofumi
• Kinebuchi Tadashi
• Narimatsu Shuji
• Iisaka Hidehito

Classifications

• H04N9/3173 Primary

  wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability · CPC title

• H04N9/3111

  for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources (sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08) · CPC title

• G03B21/2053

  Intensity control of illuminating light (controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31) · CPC title

• H04N9/3155

  for controlling the light source (light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406) · CPC title

• G03B21/2033

  LED or laser light sources · CPC title