Image processor, image processing method, and image projector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9357191-B2
Application number	US-201414565869-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Jan 6, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an image processor includes: an acquisitor; a predictor; a corrector. The acquisitor acquires information regarding shape of a projection surface on which a first image is projected, information regarding position of a viewpoint for observing the first image projected on the projection surface, and information regarding position of a projection point for projecting the first image. The predictor predicts a viewable region in which the first image projected on the projection surface is viewable from the viewpoint based on the acquired information regarding the shape, the acquired information regarding the viewpoint, and the acquired information regarding the projection point. The corrector corrects a second image to generate the first image, the second image being set within the viewable region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processor comprising:
an acquisitor that acquires information regarding shape of a projection surface on which a first image is projected, information regarding position of a viewpoint for observing the first image projected on the projection surface, and information regarding position of a projection point for projecting the first image;
a predictor that predicts a viewable region in which the first image projected on the projection surface is viewable from the viewpoint based on the acquired information regarding the shape, the acquired information regarding the viewpoint, and the acquired information regarding the projection point; and
a corrector that corrects a second image to generate the first image, the second image being set within the viewable region.

2. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein the corrector changes size of the second image by changing at least one of horizontal and vertical number of pixels of the second image.

3. The processor according to claim 2 , wherein the corrector moves the pixels of a third image into the viewable region, the third image being generated by changing size of the second image.

4. The processor according to claim 2 , wherein the corrector divides a third image into a plurality of fourth images and moves at least one of the plurality of fourth images into the viewable region, the third image being generated by changing size of the second image.

5. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein
the acquisitor acquires information regarding positions of a plurality of viewpoints for viewing the first image projected on the projection surface, and
the predictor predicts a region viewable from all the plurality of viewpoints.

6. An image processing method comprising:
acquiring information regarding shape of a projection surface on which a first image is projected, information regarding position of a viewpoint for observing the first image projected on the projection surface, and information regarding position of a projection point for projecting the first image;
predicting a viewable region in which the first image projected on the projection surface is viewable from the viewpoint based on the acquired information regarding the shape, the acquired information regarding the viewpoint, and the acquired information regarding the projection point; and
correcting a second image to generate the first image, the second image being set within the viewable region.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the correction of changing size of the second image is performed by changing at least one of horizontal and vertical number of pixels of the second image.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the pixels of a third image is moved into the viewable region, the third image being generated by changing size of the second image.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the third image is divided into a plurality of fourth images, and at least one of the plurality of fourth images is moved into the viewable region, the third image being generated by changing size of the second image.

10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein
information regarding positions of a plurality of viewpoints for viewing the first image projected on the projection surface is acquired, and
a region viewable from all the plurality of viewpoints is predicted.

11. An image projector comprising:
a first distance sensor that measures a first distance between the first distance sensor and a projection surface on which a first image is projected;
an acquisitor that acquires information regarding shape of the projection surface and information regarding position of a projection point for projecting the first image based on the first distance measured by the first distance sensor, and acquires information regarding position of a viewpoint for observing the first image projected on the projection surface;
a predictor that predicts a viewable region in which the first image projected on the projection surface is viewable from the viewpoint based on the acquired information regarding the shape, the acquired information regarding the viewpoint, and the acquired information regarding the projection point;
a corrector that corrects a second image to generate the first image, the second image being set within the viewable region; and
a projection section that projects the first image on the projection surface.

12. The projector according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a second distance sensor that measures a second distance between the second distance sensor and the position of the viewpoint,
wherein the acquisitor acquires the information regarding the position of the viewpoint based on the second distance measured by the second distance sensor.

13. The projector according to claim 12 , wherein the corrector changes size of the second image by changing at least one of horizontal and vertical number of pixels of the second image.

14. The projector according to claim 13 , wherein the corrector moves the pixels of a third image into the viewable region, the third image being generated by changing size of the second image.

15. The projector according to claim 12 , wherein the corrector divides a third image into a plurality of fourth images and moves at least one of the plurality of fourth images into the viewable region, the third image being generated by changing size of the second image.

16. The projector according to claim 11 , wherein
the acquisitor acquires information regarding positions of a plurality of viewpoints for viewing the first image projected on the projection surface, and
the predictor predicts a region viewable from all the plurality of viewpoints.

17. The projector according to claim 11 , wherein the acquisitor acquires the information regarding the position of the viewpoint by reading a look-up table recording positions of prescribed viewpoints.

18. The projector according to claim 11 , wherein the acquisitor calculates distance between the projection section and the projection surface based on the distance measured by the first distance sensor, and acquires the information regarding the position of the viewpoint based on the distance between the projection section and the projection surface and a prespecified angle.

19. The projector according to claim 11 , further comprising:
an input section capable of receiving input of position of a viewpoint,
wherein the acquisitor acquires the information regarding the position of the viewpoint based on information sent by the input section.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Sano Yuma
• Nonaka Ryosuke
• Baba Masahiro

Classifications

• G03B21/147

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

• H04N9/3194 Primary

  including sensor feedback · 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