The present invention relates to a projector that scans a light beam on a screen so as to display an image.
In recent years, scanning projectors that scan a light beam on a phosphor screen have become attractive. Such scanning projectors often use a resonant scanning element such as a Galvanometer mirror as a scanning means that scans a light beam on a phosphor screen. Although resonant scanning elements can scan a light beam on a screen at a high speed, their scanning speed and scanning amplitude tend to change depending on the ambient temperature and so forth. Thus, it is not easy to enter a light beam to an appropriate incident position on the screen.
A scanning-beam display system that can adjust the incident position of a light beam on a screen is described in Patent Literature 1.
On the phosphor screen used for the scanning-beam display system described in Patent Literature 1, a plurality of phosphor stripes are periodically arranged and servo reference marks that reflect a light beam are arranged between adjacent phosphor stripes.
In the scanning-beam display system, a light source emits a light beam composed of a plurality of light pulses. The light beam scans the foregoing phosphor screen in the direction orthogonal to the phosphor stripes. The light beam excites phosphors of the phosphor stripes so as to display an image.
In the scanning-beam display system, whenever a light beam is scanned onto a screen, the light emission timing of the light source changes. When the incident position of a light pulse changes, since the amount of light that enters a servo reference mark changes, the amplitude of feedback light reflected from the servo reference mark also changes. The scanning-beam display system detects changes of the amplitude of the feedback light and adjusts the light emission timing of the light source based on the detection result and thereby adjusts the incident positions of light pulses so as to enter them to the phosphor stripes.
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: JP2009-539120A, Publication (translation version)
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
If the scanning speed of the resonant scanning element changes, even if light pulses having a predetermined pulse width are emitted from the light source, the emission region of the light pulses on the screen changes.
The scanning-beam display system described in Patent Literature 1 adjusts the light emission timing of the light source, not the light emission period of the light source. Thus, even if the scanning speed changes, the scanning-beam display system emits light pulses with the same pulse width. As a result, the emission region of the light pulses unnecessary becomes large. Consequently, a problem arises in which the emission region of light that are pulses on the screen protrudes from the phosphor stripes and thereby the use efficiency of light decreases.
An object of the present invention is to provide a projector and a control method that can solve the foregoing program in which the use efficiency of light decreases.
Means that Solve the Problem
A projector according to the present invention includes a screen having color stripes that are periodically arranged and that generate visible light corresponding to incident light; a light source that emits a light beam; a projection section that scans said light beam on a region of said color stripes arranged on said screen; a detection section that detects feedback light radiated from said screen corresponding to said light beam; and a control section that adjusts a light emission timing and a light emission period of said light source based on a detection result of said detection section and causes said light source to emit said light beam such that light pulses enter the individual color stripes.
A control method according to the present invention is a control method for a projector including a screen having color stripes that are periodically arranged and that generate visible light corresponding to incident light; a light source that emits a light beam; and a projection section that scans said light beam on a region of said color stripes arranged on said screen, including detecting feedback light radiated from said screen corresponding to said light beam; and adjusting a light emission timing and a light emission period of said light source based on the detection result and causing said light source to emit said light beam such that light pulses enter the individual color stripes.
According to the present invention, the use efficiency of light can be increased.
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Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following description, similar portions having similar functions may be denoted by similar reference numerals and their description may be omitted.
Screen 10 has color stripes that are periodically arranged in the in-plane direction and that generate visible light corresponding to incident light. Black stripes that block incident light are arranged between adjacent color stripes.
Phosphors are formed on color stripes 21. Color stripes 21 generate fluorescent light corresponding to incident light and radiate it to the front surface of the screen. It is assumed that the wavelength of fluorescent light ranges in the visible light region.
In
If laser light radiated to screen 10 is visible light (wavelength: around 380 nm to 730 nm), color stripes 21 may be formed of light diffusion materials instead of phosphors. In this case, color stripes 21 diffuse laser light so as to generate visible light to be displayed and emit it to the front surface of screen 10.
Black stripes 22 absorb or reflect and block laser light such that they do not transmit the laser light through the front surface of screen 10. Reflection includes diffusion reflection, retroreflective reflection, and so forth.
At least either of color stripes 21 and black stripes 22 reflect laser light (or diffuses or retro-reflects laser light) or convert laser light into light having a different wavelength and guide at least part of the reflected light or diffused light as feedback light to light detection section 13. In this context, light having another wavelength is fluorescent light generated by color stripes 21.
Returning to the description of
Laser projection section 12 scans laser light emitted from laser light source section 11 on the region of the color stripes arranged on the rear surface of screen 10 so as to display an image on screen 10. In addition, since laser projection section 12 can scan laser light at least in the horizontal direction on screen 10, a one-dimensional SLM (Spatial Light Modulator) or the like may draw an image in the vertical direction. A scanning means that scans laser light on screen 10 is preferably a resonant light scanning element such as a Galvanometer mirror.
Light detection section 13 is a detection section that is composed of a photoelectric conversion device and that detects feedback light radiated from screen 10 corresponding to laser light projected on screen 10. The photoelectric conversion device is, for example, a PD (Photodiode) such as an APD (Avalanche Photodiode).
Control section 14 performs a calibration that adjusts the image display region of screen 10, the light emission timing of laser light source section 11, and so forth. For example, control section 14 adjusts the light emission timing and light emission period of laser light source section 11 based on the detection result of light detection section 13 such that light pulses enter color stripes 21 on screen 10.
After control section 14 has performed the calibration, while control section 14 causes laser light source section 11 to emit laser light based on the result of the calibration such that light pulses enter color stripes 21, control section 14 causes laser projection section 12 to scan laser light on screen 10 such that it displays an image corresponding to the input image signal.
Next, the operation of projector 1 will be described.
When projector 1 is started, control section 14 executes the calibration. For example, projector 1 is provided with a power switch (not shown). When the switch is turned on, control section 14 determines that projector 1 has started and executes the calibration.
When projector 1 executes the calibration, control section 14 adjusts the scanning amplitude of laser projection section 12 so as to adjust the display region of an image (at step S301).
Thereafter, control section 14 performs phase matching that causes the horizontal scanning frequency of laser projection section 12 to synchronize with the horizontal synchronous signal of the input image signal (at step S302).
Thereafter, control section 14 causes laser light source section 11 to emit continuous light as laser light, laser projection section 12 to scan the continuous light in the horizontal scanning direction on screen 10, and adjusts the emission timings of light pulses that enter color stripes 21 and the radiation timing that generates control information that represents the pulse width based on the detection result of light detection section 13. Now, control section 14 completes the calibration (at step S303).
Thereafter, while control section 14 adjusts the light emission timing and the light emission period of laser light source section 11 based on the control information generated at step S303, control section 14 causes laser projection section 12 to scan laser light on screen 10 corresponding to the input image signal so as to display an image corresponding to the input image signal on screen 10 (at step S304). The luminance of the display image can be changed by adjusting the amplitude of light pulses.
Next, the radiation timing adjustment that controls section 14 performs will be described in detail.
When control section 14 adjusts the radiation timing, control section 14 causes laser light source section 11 and laser projection section 12 to scan continuous light on screen 10 in the horizontal scanning direction and specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of the display light pulses that are light pulses that enter color stripes 21 corresponding to the detection result of light detection section 13.
In the example shown in
Now, it is assumed that the detection timing (detection start time) in which light detection section 13 detects sub feedback light that is radiated from i-th color stripe 21 in the horizontal scanning direction is denoted by ti and that the detection width is denoted by di. In addition, it is assumed that the pulse width of each of the display light pulses that enter color stripes 21 is denoted by W and that the emission timing of display light pulses that enter i-th color stripe 21 is denoted by ai. In this case, control section 14 specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of display light pulses as expressed
by the foregoing formula.
In the example shown in
Now, it is assumed that the detection timing in which light detection section 13 detects sub feedback light that is radiated from i-th detection stripe in the horizontal scanning direction is denoted by ti and that the detection width is denoted by di. In addition, it is assumed that the number of target color stripes arranged from i-th detection stripe to a color stripe that is immediately preceded by the next detection stripe is denoted by n, the pulse width of each of display color pulses that enter color stripes 21 is denoted by W, and the emission timing of a display light pulse that enters a target color stripe apart from i-th detection stripe by j stripes is denoted by aji.
In this case, control section 14 specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of display light pulses as expressed
by the foregoing formula.
In the foregoing second calculation method, if detection stripes are predetermined color stripes of color stripes 21A, 21B, and 21C, since n=3, the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of display light pulses can be expressed
by the foregoing formula.
In the example shown in
Now, it is assumed that the detection timing in which light detection section 13 detects sub feedback light from i-th black stripe in the horizontal direction is denoted by ti and that the detection width is denoted by di. In addition, it is assumed that the pulse width of each of display light pulses that enter color stripes 21 is denoted by W and the emission timing of each of display light pulses that enter i-th color stripe is denoted by bi. In this case, control section 14 specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of display light pulses as expressed
by the preceding formula.
If control section 14 specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of the display light pulses according to the foregoing first to third calculation method, as shown in
If the relationship of di>W is satisfied for all detection widths di, display light pulses can be caused to enter color stripes. Thus, if the pulse width W has been set for a sufficiently small value, control section 14 can prevent display light pulses from protruding from desired color strips and thereby from entering other color stripes and black stripes. As a result, the use efficiency of light can be increased.
However, if the pulse width is small, the luminance of an image may decrease. Thus, after control section 14 specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of the display light pulses, control section 14 further specifies the pulse width of each of the display light pulses so as to optimize the pulse width of each of display light pulses.
For example, control section 14 causes laser light source section 11 and laser projection section 12 to scan a pulse series composed of a plurality of adjustment light pulses having the foregoing mutual relationship in the horizontal scanning direction on screen 10 and decides the pulse width of each of the display light pulses based on the detection result of light detection section 13.
More specifically, while control section 14 gradually increases the pulse width of each of the adjustment light pulses of the pulse series, control section 14 scans the adjustment light pulses in the horizontal scanning direction on screen 10 and decides the pulse width of each of the display light pulses based on the detection result of light detection section 13. Now, it is assumed that each of the adjustment light pulses of the pulse series that laser projection section 12 scans has the same pulse width.
Now, it is assumed that light detection section 13 detects feedback light that is radiated from individual color stripes 21. At this point, if the detection period of sub feedback light that is radiated when laser projection section 12 scans laser light this time does not increase compared with that when laser projection section 12 scans laser light the last time, control section 14 decides that the pulse width of each of the adjustment light pulses that laser projection section 12 scans laser light this time is the pulse width of each of the display light pulses.
If the detection period of sub feedback light does not increase, it denotes that an adjustment light pulse corresponding to the sub feedback light protrudes from color stripe 21. Thus, in the foregoing methods, since the pulse width of each of the adjustment light pulses that protrude from color stripe 21 is decided to be the pulse width of each of display light pulses, the amount of light of the light pulses that enter color stripes 21 can be maximized. Thus, while the luminance of the display image is maximized, the use efficiency of laser light can be decreased.
When light detection section 13 detects feedback light radiated from each of color stripes 21, control section 14 obtains the sum of the luminance of sub feedback light radiated from each of color stripes 21. If the increase rate of the sum of luminance of sub feedback light radiated from each of color stripes 21 does not become linear, control section 14 may decide that the pulse width of each of the adjustment light pulses that laser projection section 12 scans this time is the pulse width of each of display light pulses.
In this case, since the pulse width of each of the adjustment light pulses becomes the pulse width of each of display light pulses when the increase rate of luminance becomes low, while the use efficiency of laser light is maximized, the luminance of the display image can be maximized.
Besides the foregoing methods, control section 14 may obtain the maximum moving speed V at the incident position of laser light on screen 10 based on the detection result that corresponds to the mutual relationship between the emission timing and the pulse width obtained when laser projection section 12 scans laser light and then obtains the pulse width of each of the display light pulses based on maximum moving speed V.
In this case, as shown in
Alternatively, control section 14 may decide that each pulse width W is expressed by W=(R−D)/V. In this case, while the use efficiency of laser light is maximized, the luminance of the display image can be maximized.
When control section 14 specifies the mutual relationship between the emission timing and pulse width of each of display light pulses and the pulse width of each of the display light pulses according to one of the foregoing methods, control section 14 generates control information that represents the emission timing and pulse width of each of the display light pulses based on the mutual relationship and the pulse width. For example, control section 14 substitutes the obtained pulse width into the mutual relationship, obtains the emission timing, and thereby generates control information that represents the specifies pulse width and emission timing.
Control section 14 holds the generated control information or records it in external memory (not shown) or the like.
In the example shown in
In projector 1 according to this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of color stripes 21 corresponds to the vertical direction. Laser scanning section 30 scans laser light in the horizontal direction on screen 10 so as to move the incident position of laser light in the direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of color stripes 21. However, if the longitudinal direction of color stripes 21 corresponds to the horizontal direction, laser scanning section 30 may scan laser light in the vertical direction on screen 10 so as to move the incident position of laser light in the direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of color stripes 21.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the light emission timing and light emission period of laser light source section 11 are adjusted based on the detection result of light detection section 13 such that light pulses enter individual color stripes. Thus, even if the scanning speed of projector 1 changes, light pulses can be caused to enter color stripes 21. As a result, the use efficiency of laser light emitted from laser light source section 11 can be increased.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
According to the second embodiment, after control section 14 has completed the calibration, while laser projection section 12 is scanning laser light that corresponds to an input image signal, control section 14 adjusts the emission timing and pulse width of each of the display light pulses.
After control section 14 has completed the calibration, control section 14 causes laser light source section 11 and laser projection section 12 to scan a pulse series composed of display light pulses corresponding to the input image signal on screen 10.
At this point, control section 14 obtains the maximum moving speed V of laser light on screen 10 based on the detection result of light detection section 13 and thereby corrects control information based on the maximum moving speed V. For example, control section 14 obtains the pulse width and emission timing of each of display light pulses based on the maximum moving speed V and corrects the pulse width and emission timing represented by the control information with those that have been obtained.
The timing at which control information is corrected may be every frame, every predetermined number of frames of a display image, or every horizontal scanning period. The method by which the pulse width and emission timing of each of the display light pulses based on the maximum moving speed V are obtained may be the same as that according to the first embodiment.
According to the second embodiment, while laser projection section 12 is scanning laser light that corresponds to an input image signal on the screen, the control information is corrected. Thus, even if the scanning speed that corresponds to the input image signal changes, the luminance of a display image can be optimized.
The structures according to the foregoing embodiments are just examples. Thus, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to such structures.
Projector 1 may be applied to a multiprojector system having projectors 1-1 to 1-9 shown in
If projector 1 is applied to a multiprojector system, since projector 1 is not necessary to be provided with special marks that generate feedback light and that are arranged outside a display region, a multiprojector system that seamlessly displays individual projection images can be provided.
The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application JP 2010-276835 filed on Dec. 13, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010-276835 | Dec 2010 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2011/074160 | 10/20/2011 | WO | 00 | 5/8/2013 |