Image projection system and image projection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9348212-B2
Application number	US-201414191846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

An image projection system projects a plurality of same images on a plane of projection by superimposition. The image projection system includes a plurality of projectors configured to have mutually different resolutions and project the plurality of same images on the plane of projection, and an image data output device configured to output to the plurality of projectors image data corresponding to the plurality of same images with the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image projection system which projects a plurality of same images on a plane of projection by superimposition, comprising:
a plurality of projectors configured to have mutually different resolutions and project the plurality of same images on the plane of projection; and
a processor to output to the plurality of projectors image data corresponding to the plurality of same images with the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, respectively,
wherein the resolutions of the image data are preset to a highest resolution of a first projector among the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, and the processor includes a resolution converter configured to convert the highest resolution of image data to be output to one of the plurality of projectors other than the first projector into a resolution of said one of the plurality of projectors.

2. The image projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to output to the plurality of projectors image data of a plurality of patterns whose resolutions are preset to the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, respectively, in a time sequence, and
the image projection system further comprises an imaging device configured to create images of the plurality of patterns projected on the plane of projection in a time sequence by the plurality of projectors.

3. The image projection system according to claim 2 , wherein the processor includes an image data correction unit configured to correct the image data to be output to the plurality of projectors based on the plurality of patterns in the created images.

4. The image projection system according to claim 3 , wherein the image data correction unit includes a distortion correction unit configured to correct distortion of the image data to be output to the plurality of projectors based on distortion correction data of the plurality of patterns in the created images.

5. The image projection system according to claim 3 , wherein the image data correction unit includes a deviation correction unit configured to correct a deviation of the image data to be output to the plurality of projectors based on deviation correction data of the plurality of patterns in the created images.

6. The image projection system according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of patterns include a plurality of dot patterns in which dots are arrayed in a two dimensional form.

7. An image projection method which projects a plurality of same images on a plane of projection by superimposition, comprising:
outputting to a plurality of projectors having mutually different resolutions image data corresponding to the plurality of same images with the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, respectively; and
projecting the image data by the plurality of projectors,
wherein the resolutions of the image data are preset to a highest resolution of a first projector among the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, and
the outputting the image data includes converting, by a resolution converter unit, the highest resolution of image data to be output to one of the plurality of projectors other than the first projector into a resolution of said one of the plurality of projectors.

8. The image projection method according to claim 7 , wherein the outputting the image data includes:
outputting to the plurality of projectors image data of a plurality of patterns whose resolutions are preset to the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, respectively, in a time sequence;
creating images of the plurality of patterns projected on the plane of projection in a time sequence by the plurality of projectors; and
correcting the image data to be output to the plurality of projectors based on the plurality of patterns in the created images.

Assignees

• Ishikawa Masaaki
• Nakamura Satoshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ishikawa Masaaki
• Nakamura Satoshi

Classifications

• G03B21/147

  Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone · CPC title

• G03B41/00 Primary

  Special techniques not covered by groups G03B31/00 - G03B39/00; Apparatus therefor · CPC title

• G09G5/00

  Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators (image data processing or generation, in general G06T) · CPC title

• H04N9/31

  Projection devices for colour picture display {, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]} · 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