Projected image correction method and projector

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a projected image correction method and a projector. More particularly, the invention relates to keystone correction.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A related art projector expands an original image for display that is output from an information processor, such as a computer, and projects the expanded image on a projection surface, such as a screen. If the image is projected on the screen surface under the state that the central axis of the projected image is tilted from the projection axis of a screen, the projected image is distorted on the screen. Specifically, if a rectangular image is projected on the screen by having the projector above or below the center of the screen surface, the image appears in the shape of a trapezoid on the screen (which is described below in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5A-6B).

[0005] To address or solve this problem, a related art method is used to adjust for the phenomenon that an image that is different from its original image is projected, and to display a projected image almost the same of the original image without distortion. This is called keystone correction. Various methods have been developed to execute keystone correction, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-6391. In order to execute keystone correction, a projector is equipped with a keystone correction device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The keystone correction device included in a projector has a buffer where input signals (image signals) for correction are stored temporarily. However, horizontal keystone correction involves the following problem. Since it is necessary to store data of the number of lines according to the degree of a tilted angle, the amount of image correction is restricted due to the capacity of the buffer (which is described below in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7). Therefore, in order to execute image correction beyond the capacity, the keystone correction device must be modified or replaced.

[0007] In order to address or solve the problem, the invention provides a projected image correction method and a projector that can execute keystone correction of a larger amount without modifying or replacing the keystone correction device.

[0008] A projected image correction method according to the present invention includes: scaling down image signals that are input, executing keystone correction for the scaled down image signals, and interpolating the corrected image signals. According to the invention, the image signals are scaled down before keystone correction to reduce the amount of signals to be corrected. Then, the corrected image signals are interpolated to compensate for the signal scale down so as to reproduce the original image signals. This makes it possible to execute keystone correction of a larger amount without changing keystone correction devices, for example.

[0009] The projected image correction method according to the invention executes at least horizontal keystone correction in the executing of keystone correction. When executing horizontal keystone correction, for example, the amount of image correction depends on the capacity of a buffer for a keystone correction device (that is, the amount of image correction is limited by the buffer capacity). The invention addresses or solves this problem by scaling down the image signals before keystone correction to reduce the amount of signals to be corrected, and interpolating the corrected signals to compensate for the signal scale down so as to reproduce the original image signals. This makes it possible to execute horizontal keystone correction of a larger amount.

[0010] The projected image correction method according to the invention vertically scales down the image signals at predetermined intervals in the scaling down of the image signals. When executing horizontal keystone correction, the capacity of a buffer for a keystone correction device needs to be increased. However, by vertically scaling down the image signals at predetermined intervals, it is sufficient to have a keystone correction device with a buffer of a small capacity. This makes it possible to execute image correction of a larger amount under the condition that the buffer has a fixed capacity.

[0011] The projected image correction method according to the invention also vertically scales down the image signals according to a function that is preset. Scaling down the signals according to the type of image, for example, enables efficient signal scale down.

[0012] The projected image correction method according to the invention synthesizes data on scaled down lines with data on non-scaled down lines in the scaling down of the image signals. This enhances data reliability for signal interpolation.

[0013] The projected image correction method according to the invention interpolates the image signals in response to scaling down of the image signals.

[0014] A projector according to the invention includes a signal scale down device that scales down image signals that are input, a keystone correction device that executes keystone correction for the scaled down image signals, a storage device that temporarily stores the image signals for keystone correction, and a signal interpolation device that interpolates the corrected image signals. According to the invention, the image signals are scaled down by the signal scale down device before the keystone correction device executes keystone correction. This reduces the amount of signals to be corrected by the keystone correction device. Then, the corrected image signals are interpolated in order to compensate for the signal scale down so as to reproduce the original image signals. Consequently, it is possible to execute keystone correction of a larger amount without changing the capacity of the storage device (a buffer).

[0015] The keystone correction device of the projector according to the invention executes at least horizontal keystone correction. When executing horizontal keystone correction, for example, the amount of image correction is limited to the capacity of the buffer for the keystone correction device. The invention addresses or solves this problem by scaling down of the image signals before keystone correction. Accordingly, the invention makes it possible to execute horizontal keystone correction of a larger amount.

[0016] The signal scale down device of the projector according to the invention vertically scales down the image signals at predetermined intervals. When executing horizontal keystone correction, the capacity of the storage device (buffer) for keystone correction needs to be increased as mentioned above. However, by vertically scaling down the image signals at predetermined intervals, it is sufficient to have a storage device (buffer) of a small capacity. This makes it possible to execute image correction of larger amount under the condition that the storage device (buffer) has a fixed capacity.

[0017] The signal scale down device of the projector according to the invention also vertically scales down the image signals according to a function that is preset.

[0018] The signal scale down device of the projector according to the invention synthesizes data on scaled down lines with data on non-scaled down lines.

[0019] The signal interpolation device of the projector according to the invention interpolates the image signals in response to the step of scale down the image signals by the signal scale down device.

[0020] The projector according to the invention also includes a controller. The amount of keystone correction that is executed by the keystone correction device is determined based on operational signals that are sent by the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]
FIG. 1 is a schematic showing-a projector according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0022]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the process of data processing of the projector shown in FIG. 1;

[0023]
FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematics that illustrate data scale down;

[0024]
FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematics that illustrate data scale down;

[0025]
FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematics that illustrate vertical keystone correction;

[0026]
FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematics that illustrate horizontal keystone correction;

[0027]
FIG. 7 is a schematic that illustrates how a buffer works for keystone correction;

[0028]
FIG. 8 is a schematic that illustrates data interpolation; and

[0029]
FIG. 9 is a schematic showing a projector according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Exemplary Embodiment

[0030]
FIG. 1 is a schematic showing the configuration of a projector according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows an example of individual circuit blocks from an input signal part, such as a video decoder, to a liquid crystal panel driver as a final stage are each formed as an integrated circuit. The projector includes a video decoder 10, an A/D converter 11, a scan converter 12, a first buffer 13, a signal scale down device 14, a keystone correction device 15, a second buffer 16, a signal interpolation device 17, a driver for driving liquid crystal panels (a liquid crystal panel driver) 18, liquid crystal panels 20, and a central processing unit (CPU) 21. The projector also includes a light source 22 and a projection lens 23. FIG. 1 shows circuits components of the projector that are useful or necessary to describe the first exemplary embodiment and omits other circuit components.

[0031] The video decoder 10 is coupled to the scan converter 12 at its output terminal. The video decoder 10 receives video signals (composite signals, S signals, etc.) output by a video device, decodes and digitizes the signals, and outputs the digitized signals to the scan converter 12. The A/D converter 11 is also coupled to the scan converter 12 at its output terminal. The A/D converter 11 receives image signals (VGA, XGA, SXGA, etc.) output by a computer, digitizes the signals, and outputs the digitized signals to the scan converter 12. The scan converter 12 is coupled to both the first buffer 13 and the signal scale down device 14. The scan converter 12 converts frame rates of the signals with the first buffer 13, and outputs the signals of which frame rate is changed to the signal scale down device 14.

[0032] The signal scale down device 14 is coupled to the keystone correction device 15 at its output terminal. The signal scale down device 14 scales down the signals output by the scan converter 12 and outputs the scaled down signals to the keystone correction device 15. The keystone correction device 15 is coupled to both the second buffer 16 and the signal interpolation device 17. The keystone correction device 15 executes keystone correction for the signals scaled down and output by the signal scale down device 14 with the second buffer 16.

[0033] The signal interpolation device 17 is coupled to the liquid crystal panel driver 18 at its output terminal. The signal interpolation device 17 interpolates the signals scaled down by the signal scale down device 14 and outputs the interpolated signals to the liquid crystal panel driver 18. The liquid crystal panel driver 18 drives the liquid crystal panels 20. The liquid crystal panels 20 include three panels, for example, a red panel 20R, a green panel 20G, and a blue panel 20B. Each of the panels is driven to produce an image.

[0034] When the liquid crystal panels 20 (20R, 20G, and 20B) are driven by the liquid crystal panel driver 18, the transmittance of liquid crystal is controlled in response to the image signals. The transmittance of light from the light source 22, such as a lamp, is thus controlled to produce an image. The image produced by the liquid crystal panels 20 (20R, 20G, and 20B) is expanded and projected on a screen 24 through the projection lens 23.

[0035] The CPU 21 controls whole components of the projector. In this exemplary embodiment, the CPU 21 controls, based on operational signals sent by a remote control 30, the video decoder 10, the A/D converter 11, the scan converter 12, the signal scale down device 14, the keystone correction device 15, the signal interpolation device 17, and the liquid crystal panel driver 18. Also in this exemplary embodiment, the CPU 21 decides the amount of image correction, executed by the keystone correction device 15, based on operational signals sent from the remote control 30.

[0036]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the process of data processing of the projector shown in FIG. 1. With reference to this flowchart, the process that is handled by each of the components shown in FIG. 1 is described below.

[0037] (SI) Input of Image Signals

[0038] The video decoder 10 and the A/D converter 11 are each coupled to an external device, such as a video device and a computer, and receive signals from them. TABLE 1 shows examples of external video devices that are coupled and of video signals. TABLE 2 shows the types of the signals of various resolution levels and refresh rates.

1TABLE 1External deviceSignalVideo deviceComposite/S-signal/Component (color difference signal)DVD deviceComposite/S-signal/Component (color difference signal)

[0039]

2

TABLE 2

Signal
Type

Composite
NTSC, PAL, SECAM, etc.

S

Component
525i, 525p, 625i, 625p, 750p, 1125i,

(color difference signal)
1125p, etc.

[0040] TABLE 3 shows examples of external computer devices that are coupled and of these signals. TABLE 4 shows the types of the signals of various resolution levels and refresh rates.

3TABLE 3External deviceSignalPersonal ComputerAnalog RGBHigh definition decoderAnalog RGB/Color difference signalVideo-to-PC converterAnalog RGB

[0041]

4

TABLE 4

Signal
Type

Analog RGB
Resolution level: VGA, SVGA, XGA,

SXGA, etc.

Refresh rate: 60 Hz, 75 Hz, 85 Hz, etc.

Interlace/Non-interlace

Color difference signal
525i, 525p, 625i, 625p, 750p, 1125i,

1125p, etc.

[0042] (S2) Digitization of the Image Signals

[0043] The signals that are input in the process S1 are analog image signals. The analog signals are then digitized, and thereby can be handled by the scan converter 12 later in the process. If the scan converter 12 handles analog inputs instead of digital inputs, this digitization stage can be omitted. The analog video signals are decoded by the video decoder 10 and digitized. The signals from a computer are decoded by the A/D converter 11 and digitized. The types of output signals vary according to the specifications of the video decoder 10 and the A/D converter 11. TABLE 5 shows the general types of the signals.

5TABLE 5Signal lineDetailsClock signalIn order to enable picture signal data to benormally input, a single clock signal isproduced corresponding to single picturesignal data.Vertical sync signal (VSync)This signal is produced corresponding todata of single image display. Refresh rateis the frequency of this signal. The refreshrate of input signal is equivalent to thefrequency.Horizontal sync signalThis signal is produced every data on a(HSync)single line.Image signal dataThis signal is obtained by digitizing ananalog voltage signal. Normallycomposed of eight to ten signal lines eachof R, G, and B.Data enable signalThis signal indicates the validity orinvalidity of image signal data.

[0044] (S3) Frame Rate Conversion

[0045] The size and refresh rate of the digital image signals that are output by the video decoder 10 and the A/D converter 11 vary according to the types of the signals. The scan converter 12 converts such size and refresh rate of the digital image signals into the predetermined size and refresh rate of it. The predetermined size and refresh rate of the signals output from the scan converter 12 are determined by input conditions and specification of the signal scale down device 14 on the downstream side and other devices to which the signals are to be input afterward. Furthermore, the predetermined size and refresh rate are controlled by the CPU 21. The signals that are output by the scan converter 12 are in the same format as the digital image signals output by the video decoder 10, etc. However, the frequency, size, etc., of the signals are different.

[0046] (S4) Scale Down of Signal Data

[0047] The signal scale down device 14 scales down the digital image signals that are input by the scan converter 12 at predetermined intervals (can be nonlinear) and outputs the scaled down digital image signals. More specifically, the signal scale down device 14 scales down horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals or data enable signals among the signals that are output by the scan converter 12 at predetermined intervals (can be nonlinear) to interlace them and outputs the scaled down image signals to the keystone correction device 15 on the downstream side. Consequently, the keystone correction device 15 receives not all the image signals that are output by the scan converter 12 but the scaled down image signals part of which are scaled down as input signals.

[0048] Methods for scale down data by the signal scale down device 14 may include, but are not limited to, the following:

[0049] (a) Scale down data lines at regular intervals, for example, a line for every n lines or m lines for every n lines (“n” is larger than “m”, e.g., 2 lines for every 3 lines).

[0050] (b) Scale down data lines according to a function that is preset in the signal scale down device 14. (nonlinear)

[0051] (c) Scale down data lines horizontally and vertically in the same manner or in different manner.

[0052] (d) Synthesizing data on scaled down data lines with data on non-scaled down data lines so as to retain the whole data.

[0053]
FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of data scale down by the signal scale down device 14. FIG. 3A shows an example of scaling down a data line for every two input lines, while FIG. 3B shows an example of scaling down a data line for every three input lines.

[0054] The data on scaled down data lines may be synthesized with non-scaled down data lines.

[0055]
FIGS. 4A and 4B show an example of data scale down. In this example, the data of the data line L2 (D21, D22, . . . ) among the three data lines shown in FIG. 4A are scaled down. As FIG. 4B shows, the data of the line L2 are synthesized with the data of the lines L1 and L3. Thus, the data that were scaled down are obtained as a synthesis of the data of the lines L1 and L3. For example, the data of the pixel D'11 of the data line L1 is obtained by the formula: (D11+D21)/2. The data of other pixels can be obtained in the same way.

[0056] (S5) Keystone correction

[0057] The keystone correction device 15 executes keystone correction for the image signals that are output by the signal scale down device 14 and outputs the corrected signals to the signal interpolation device 17. Keystone correction generally includes horizontal correction and vertical correction. A hybrid of the both is also available. The keystone correction device 15 executes keystone correction by nonlinear compressing and nonlinear converting horizontal and vertical data of input signals. This requires the second buffer 16 that performs operations for data compression. Vertical correction, which involves horizontal data compression, requires only data areas corresponding to horizontal data lines. Meanwhile, horizontal keystone correction, which involves compression with a vertical gradient, requires a buffer of which capacity has to cover all of data lines along compressed vertical direction. As a result, the gradient that can be corrected is restrained by the capacity of the second buffer 16. (See FIG. 7.)

[0058]
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of vertical keystone correction. In one case, as shown in FIG. 5A, although the original shape of input signals (image data) is a rectangle, the image projected on the screen appears in the shape of a trapezoid with a shorter base without keystone correction. This is because vertical lines of the image data are tilted due to the light axis of the projector directed toward the screen 24 at an angle. In this case, the projected image can be a rectangle by altering the shape that is formed by the input signals (image data) to form a trapezoid with a longer base. In another case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image projected on the screen appears in the shape of a trapezoid with a longer base without keystone correction. In this case, the projected image can be a rectangle by altering the shape that is formed by the input signals (image data) to form a trapezoid with a shorter base.

[0059]
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example of horizontal keystone correction. In one case as shown in FIG. 6A, although the original shape of input signals (image data) is a rectangle, the image projected on the screen appears in the shape of a sideways-facing trapezoid whose shorter base is on the left side without keystone correction. This is because horizontal lines of the image data are tilted due to the light axis of the projector directed toward the screen 24 at an angle. In this case, the projected image can be a rectangle by altering the shape that is formed by the input signals (image data) to form a trapezoid with a longer base on the left side. In another case, as shown in FIG. 6B, the image projected on the screen appears in the shape of a sideways-facing trapezoid whose shorter base is on the right side without keystone correction. In this case, the projected image can be a rectangle by altering the shape that is formed by the input signals (image data) to form a trapezoid with a longer base on the right side.

[0060]
FIG. 7 illustrates an example of horizontal keystone correction in relation to the capacity of the second buffer 16. In this example, the second buffer 16 has a horizontal capacity equivalent to processing units of the keystone correction device 15 (the amount of horizontal data that can be processed at a time, e.g., horizontal data of sixteen (16) units in the figure) and a vertical capacity of the predetermined number of data lines (e.g. five (5) data lines in the diagram). This means that the second buffer 16 enables the device to execute keystone correction for horizontal data of up to sixteen (16) units with a vertical gradient of five (5) lines. Therefore, it is impossible to execute keystone correction beyond the capacity, that is, correction for horizontal data of up to sixteen (16) units with a vertical gradient of six (6) lines or more. However, the first exemplary embodiment addresses or solves this problem by scaling down data with the signal scale down device 14 before entering data into the keystone correction device 15. When scaling down a data line for every two lines, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, it is possible to execute keystone correction for horizontal data of up to sixteen (16) units with a vertical gradient of ten (10) lines by performing data interpolation that is described in detail below. For another example, when scaling down a data line for every three lines, as shown in FIG. 3B, it is possible to execute keystone correction for horizontal data of up to sixteen (16) units with a vertical gradient of seven (7) lines by performing data interpolation as described below.

[0061] (S6) Data Interpolation

[0062] The signal interpolation device 17 interpolates the signals that are output by the keystone correction device 15 and outputs the interpolated signals to the liquid crystal panel driver 18. The signals output by the keystone correction device 15 lack a predetermined part of data excluded by the signal scale down device 14. According to this exemplary embodiment, the excluded signals are interpolated here before being output to the liquid crystal panel driver 18. As the signals are interpolated by the signal interpolation device 17, data sets increase vertically (that is, the number of data lines increases). In other words, the number of output data lines that form a gradient increases. A variety of interpolation methods are available depending on the type of IC for interpolation. In the related art, without data scale down before keystone correction, a gradient that can be corrected is limited by the capacity of the second buffer 16 for the keystone correction device 15. By scaling down data before executing keystone correction and then interpolating the scaled down data, the number of horizontal data lines that form a gradient can be increased without changing the capacity of the second buffer 16.

[0063]
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of data interpolation by the signal interpolation device 17. Data interpolation is executed in response to the step of scaling down of the image signals by the signal scale down device 14. In this example, signals are scaled down by the signal scale down device 14 as shown in FIG. 3A. As a result of keystone correction by the keystone correction device 15, the signals include data having horizontal data of sixteen (16) units with a vertical gradient of five (5) lines as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, data interpolation is executed by inserting a data line between every two (2) lines of the five (5) lines. Accordingly, the data include horizontal data of sixteen (16) units with a vertical gradient of nine (9) lines.

[0064] (S7) Production of a Signal for Driving a Panel

[0065] The liquid crystal panel driver 18 produces signals to drive or control liquid crystal panels based on the signals that are interpolated by the signal interpolation device 17, and drives or controls the liquid crystal panels 20 with the produced signals.

[0066] (S8) Display on the Liquid Crystal Panels

[0067] When the liquid crystal panels 20 (20R, 20G, and 20B) are driven by the liquid crystal panel driver 18, the transmittance of liquid crystal is controlled according to the image data. The transmittance of light from the light source 22, such as a lamp, is thus controlled to produce an image. Accordingly, the image produced by the liquid crystal panels 20 (20R, 20G, and 20B) is expanded and projected on the screen 24 through the projection lens 23. The projected image is a rectangle with keystone correction. In particular, the first exemplary embodiment executes a way to adjust for the fact that the light axis of the projection lens 23 is tilted from the screen 24, since a gradient formed by horizontal data lines for keystone correction is increased.

[0068] According to the exemplary embodiment, the process includes: firstly scaling down image signals by the signal scale down device 14, secondly executing keystone correction by the keystone correction device 15, thirdly interpolating the signals that are output by the keystone correction device 15 by the signal interpolation device 17, and then outputting the signals to the liquid crystal panel driver 18. With this process, the first exemplary embodiment executes a method of executing keystone correction by which the number of horizontal data lines that form a gradient can be increased without changing the capacity of the second buffer 16.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

[0069]
FIG. 9 is a schematic showing a projector according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. The projector according to the second embodiment includes an IC 25 where a keystone correction part 15a, a signal interpolation part 17a, a scan converter part 12a, a first buffer 13a, and a second buffer 16a are integrated.

[0070] According to the second exemplary embodiment, signals are digitized by the video decoder 10 or the A/D converter 11, scaled down by the signal scale down device 14, and then output to the IC 25. A method of scaling down the signals by the signal scale down device 14 is the same as the method described above in the first exemplary embodiment. The keystone correction part 15a, which is included in the IC 25, executes keystone correction to the scaled down signals and outputs the corrected signals to the signal interpolation part 17a.

[0071] The amount of keystone correction is determined based on the amount of operations that are directed to the CPU 21 by the remote control 30. The CPU 21 then directs the amount of correction to the keystone correction part 15a. The signal interpolation part 17a interpolates the corrected signals and outputs the interpolated signals to the scan converter part 12a. The scan converter part 12a converts frame rates of the signals and outputs the signals to the liquid crystal panel driver 18. The liquid crystal panel driver 18 drives the liquid crystal panels 20. Then, the transmittance of liquid crystal is controlled according to the image data. The transmittance of light from the light source 22, such as a lamp, is thus controlled to produce an image. The image produced by the liquid crystal panels 20 (20R, 20G, and 20B) is expanded and projected on the screen 24 through the projection lens 23. The projected image is a rectangle with keystone correction as described above.

[0072] According to the second exemplary embodiment, the IC 25 includes the second buffer 16a for the keystone correction part. Since the capacity of the second buffer 16a is not adjustable, the amount of keystone correction is limited by the capacity of the second buffer 16a. Despite this, the amount of correction can be increased by executing keystone correction after the signal scale down device 14 scales down the signals, which compensates for the limitation.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

[0073] In the first exemplary embodiment, an example in which the amount of keystone correction is directed by the remote control 30 is described. Alternatively, the amount of keystone correction can be determined based on a detected degree of angle of a projector body.

Projected image correction method and projector

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