WO2013159951A1

WO2013159951A1 - Method for controlling an image representation of a projection device

Info

Publication number: WO2013159951A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/053692
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Pinter; Leopold Beer; Frank Fischer
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-04-25
Filing date: 2013-02-25
Publication date: 2013-10-31
Also published as: DE102012206777A1

Abstract

A method for controlling an image representation of a projection device is provided, wherein the method comprises the following steps: projecting information in the form of a visual representation onto an overall area; selecting at least one partial area relevant to an observer within the overall area of the visually representative information; and varying an image representation ratio of the at least one relevant partial area to the remaining area of the overall area onto which the visual representation is projected, to be precise in such a way that the image representation of the at least one relevant partial area appears in a manner optically highlighted or relevant to the observer in comparison with the remaining area.

Description

Description title

Method for controlling an image representation of a projection device

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an image representation of a projection device, in particular a mobile projection device.

State of the art

From the prior art so-called pico projection devices or short - projectors or -Beamer are known, which is approximately the size of a

Cigarette box, and serve, for example, when connected to a laptop computer, the screen content of the computer, or generally information to project onto a wall surface.

Conventional projectors of this type work according to the DLP (digital light processor) principle, the LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) principle or as a scanning mirror laser projector. On the exact functioning of these projectors will not be discussed here.

The conventional projectors have in common that the projected visual

Presentation of the information with substantially homogeneous illumination on a projection surface. This has the disadvantage that the available energy of the projector is evenly distributed to all subareas of the projection surface, although often only one or a few subareas are or are relevant for a viewer. This means that unnecessarily energy is consumed in the form of, for example, light intensity or energy of the projector for non-relevant sub-areas and thus the temporal applicability of the projector, which is usually independent of the mains, i. for example, with batteries, is operated, is relatively greatly reduced.

On the other hand, due to the homogeneous illumination of the projection surface, there is the disadvantage that the luminance of the projected image as a whole falls below

Circumstances for energy-saving reasons is kept relatively low, so that there is only an unsatisfactory representation for the viewer. For laser-based devices In addition, due to existing eye safety guidelines, the luminous flux emitted by the projector is limited to values which, given a homogeneously distributed representation over the whole area, can only achieve an unsatisfactory luminance of the projected image.

It is actually, as already mentioned above, often only a part of the

Projection surface, i. about 10% to 50% of the total area, relevant to the viewer, at least for a certain period of time, e.g. for video clips, photo browsers, currently edited areas of an application window for text documents, spreadsheets or drawing programs. In this context, large format video or image demonstrations, which exploit the entire projection area and with

network-dependent devices are performed, unlike mobile applications discussed here are not considered. Disclosure of the invention

The invention therefore proposes a first aspect according to claim 1

Method for controlling a method for controlling an image representation of a projection device, the method comprising the following steps:

Projecting information in the form of a visual representation over a total area; Selecting at least one sub-area relevant to a viewer within the total area of the visually displayed information; and changing one

Image display ratio of the at least one relevant sub-area to the remaining area of the total area onto which the visual representation is projected, such that the image representation of the at least one relevant sub-area compared to the remaining area for the viewer visually highlighted or relevant.

In a second aspect according to claim 1 1, the invention proposes a

Projection device, which is suitable for operation by a method according to the first aspect.

Advantages of the invention

The advantage of the method or the projection device according to an embodiment results from the fact that sub-areas with relevant to the viewer image content relatively visually highlighted, eg brighter than the viewer not considered contents of the projected representation are displayed, for example, the light intensity for the not considered content can be reduced, so that a total luminous flux of the projector is also reduced. As a result, the required energy is reduced, which increases the temporal applicability of the projector, reduces developing heat and can also reduce the size of the projector.

Advantageously, the step of varying the image display ratio comprises changing a luminous intensity ratio and / or luminance ratio and / or a contrast ratio and / or a color density ratio and / or a gray value ratio and / or an image sharpness ratio. Thus, if a patch has been selected to be relevant, the relevant patch can be displayed relatively brighter than the rest via the luminance ratio of relevant patch to the rest of the patch, with the intensity of light not necessarily having to be increased relative to the relevant patch; but can remain constant, and only the light intensity relative to the non-relevant surfaces can be lowered.

An optical highlighting of a relevant subarea can also be achieved by varying a contrast ratio between relevant and non-relevant areas, as well as by changing a color density ratio and / or a color density ratio

Gray value ratio and / or an image sharpness ratio.

It is further preferred that the step of selecting comprises selecting the relevant subarea with a pointing device. A pointing device may e.g. a - be separate from the projection device - laser pointer, which is shown on the projection surface on a relevant partial surface, which is then highlighted visually relative to the remaining surfaces.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the step of selecting the relevant subarea comprises a pointing device coupled to the projection device and / or to an electronic device controllably connected to the projection device. This may, for example, be a mouse pointer which is either directly coupled to the projection device or which may be connected via an electronic device connected to the projection device, e.g. an external computer coupled to the projection device. In the first case, the

Projection device, for example, be directly integrated into a smartphone, tablet PC, Note or Ultra Book or other computer-based device, the Pointing device can also be a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen).

Preferably, the step of selecting comprises selecting the relevant one

Partial area in a manual manner, wherein the selecting by touching the relevant

Partial surface is done by hand or other object, on the visually displayed projection and / or by engaging in a projection path of the projection. Thus, a relevant partial area can be selected in a relatively simple manner. Furthermore, it is preferred that the step of selecting comprises selecting by means of an acoustic device, whereby for example by means of voice control a relevant subarea can be selected. It is also conceivable that the projection device or the method according to the invention in combination with a head-up display, e.g. used in an automotive application, or in combination with projection eyewear.

Preferably, a position of the projected visual representation remains relative to

Total area constant with a movement of the projection device. This is particularly advantageous in projection devices that are held in the hand of a user to compensate for unavoidable movement variations. A movement of the projection device can be determined by means of one or more sensors, in particular by acceleration sensors, yaw rate sensors,

Magnetic field sensors, optical sensors, distance sensors and / or infrared sensors. With regard to sensors, it should also be noted that the projection device can also comprise one or more sensors for determining an ambient brightness in order to adapt values for, for example, light intensity and / or luminous flux to the ambient brightness. It is also preferred that the projection device is coupled to a pointing device for selecting the relevant sub-area, wherein a visual representation of the pointing device is projected onto the relevant sub-area, and wherein at one

Movement of the projection device, as opposed to relatively small

Movement variations, the position of the projected representation of the pointing device relative to the relevant sub-area remains constant or the position of the projected

Representation of the pointing device with the movement of the projection device is changeable so as to select another face with the pointing device as relevant.

It is also preferred that a user can optionally select a subarea as relevant by means of the pointing device. Here, the user can decide, for example, "by mouse click" or in other controllable by the user, whether a partial area should be highlighted or not.

Furthermore, it is further preferred that the projection device when projecting information in the form of the visual representation on the total area substantially regularly distributed over the total area and sends projected control signals which when influenced by the step of selecting a patch associated with the corresponding control signals area highlighted as optically or relevant. In this way, the projection device "knows" in the manner of a feedback, as for example in a distance measuring device

Based on infrared or ultrasonic signals is the case, which partial area is currently selected as relevant.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be explained below with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention with a projecting surface radiated from the projection apparatus with various information;

Figure 2 shows a projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention with a projection surface radiated by the projection device with various information, wherein an information optically

is highlighted;

FIG. 3 shows a projection device according to an embodiment of the invention with a projection surface radiated by the projection device with various information, wherein an information item is optical

is highlighted while the projection device performs a movement; and FIG. 4 shows a projection device according to an embodiment of the invention with a projection surface radiated by the projection device with various information, wherein an information item is optical

is highlighted while the projection device performs a movement over an edge of the screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 schematically shows a projection device 10 which is suitable for an application of the method according to the invention, which is explained in detail below.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the projection device 10 is a so-called pico projector or beamer, which is shown as a stand-alone device and has approximately the size of a cigarette pack. However, it is also conceivable that the

Projection device 10 integral part of a (not shown here)

Smartphones, tablet PCs, notebooks or ultra-books, camcorders, game console, mobile image transmission device (for example, DVD player) or any other, especially computer-based and / or Internet-enabled, mobile or even automotive device.

Furthermore, a projection surface 20 is shown in FIG. 1, which is to be referred to as the overall surface, and which results when the projection device 10 projects or visually displays information on an unspecified substrate. For better identification, four light beam paths 15, which extend to the corners of the projection surface 20, are shown in FIG.

Coordinate system 25 is entered in the projection surface 20 for the purpose of further explanation (i.e., not otherwise visible), consisting of an axis denoted by X and an axis denoted by Y. Thus, the extent of the

Projection area 20 with -w ₀ to + w ₀ in the width, and + h ₀ to -h indicate ₀ in height.

On the projection screen 20, various arbitrary contents 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e are shown, which in the example illustrated are icons, but can also be application windows, control elements, etc. Furthermore, a pointer device 40 shown as an arrowhead is shown on the projection surface 20, which has a fixed position relative to the projection surface 20, namely - with respect to the coordinate system 25 - a designated x ₀ and y ₀ position. However, it is preferred that the pointing device 40 be in the center of the screen 20.

Figure 2 shows substantially the same representation as in Figure 1, i. a

Projection device 10 as well as a projection surface 20 with icons 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e and a pointing device 40 shown therein. The difference from FIG. 1 is that the icon 30e, due to the pointing arrows shown substantially on the icon 30e. Device 40 is selected as relevant to the viewer. That is, the remaining icons 30a, 30b, 30d, 30c are not relevant to the viewer, and therefore are only indicated by dashed lines in FIG.

In practice, this means that the icon 30e, which may also be an application window, a text passage, a table, a video clip, etc. as mentioned above, is highlighted as being visually superior to the remaining icons 30a, 30b, 30d, 30c appears as it is relevant to the viewer. The visual emphasis is achieved by changing the image display ratio of the surrounded in Figure 2 with a frame 35, and thus forming a partial surface icon 30e with respect to the remaining icons 30a, 30b, 30d, 30c by means of a change in the luminance ratio of this partial area relative to the remaining surface , In this case, either the luminance of the relevant partial area remain the same and the luminance of the remaining - non-relevant area - is lowered or the luminance of the relevant partial area is increased by increasing the light intensity for this partial area, while the luminance of the remaining area remains the same.

The visual emphasis can also be made via a change of a contrast ratio and / or a color density ratio and / or a gray value ratio and / or an image sharpness ratio.

Furthermore, it should be noted that a selection of a relevant sub-area can also be done by other means, which are already mentioned above. FIG. 3 again shows a substantially similar representation to FIGS. 1 and 2, but with the difference that the actual projection surface 20 'is displaced or moved by the projection device 10, indicated by a semicircular arrow 12, relative to the original projection surface 20 (FIG. shown in dashed lines) is shifted. This shift of the projection surface from 20 to 20 'is indicated by arrows 45.

Since the pointing device 40 has also moved with the displacement of the projection device 10, the icon 30a is now selected or marked as relevant for the viewer. For this reason, the remaining icons 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e are indicated only by dashed lines. The dashed area 50, for which no image information is available, can remain completely dark, or get any other color, brightness, pattern assigned. As already mentioned above, the movement of the projection device 10 can be detected by various sensors.

Although in the example shown in Figure 3, the pointing device 40 with the

Projection device 10 moved, i. the position of the pointing device 40 remains constant relative to the edges of the projection surface 20 ', it is also conceivable that the pointing device 40 moves to select an icon as relevant while the projection surface does not shift.

Figure 4 again shows a similar representation as in Figure 3, i. the

Projection device 10 is moved, which is indicated by an arrow 12. However, the movement of the projection device 10 in FIG. 4 is such that the pointing device 40 would be outside the projection surface 20, and thus would no longer select the icon 30a as relevant. In this case, the image content of the icon 30a is incrementally indicated by pointing devices 40 'and 40 "until shifted until pointing device 40" again selects icon 30a as relevant. Finally, it should be noted that a change, for example, the intensity of light by a control signal, which is provided for each individual video pixel can be achieved, for example, the light intensity for each pixel is increased or changed, if the respective control signal a corresponding Information transfers.

Claims

Method for controlling an image representation of a projection apparatus (10), comprising the following steps:

Projecting information in the form of a visual representation over a total area (20);

Selecting at least one sub-area relevant to a viewer within the total area (20) of the visually displayed information; and

Changing an image display ratio of the at least one relevant sub-area to the remaining area of the total area (20) onto which the visual representation is projected, such that the

Image representation of the at least one relevant sub-area compared to the rest of the surface visually highlighted or relevant for the viewer appears.

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing the

Image display ratio comprises changing a light intensity ratio and / or luminance ratio and / or a contrast ratio and / or a color density ratio and / or a gray scale ratio and / or an image sharpness ratio.

The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of selecting

Selecting the relevant sub-area with a pointing device (40).

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step of selecting the relevant sub-area comprises a pointing device (40) coupled to the projection device (10) and / or to an electronic device controllably connected to the projection device (10).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting comprises manually selecting the relevant subarea, wherein the selecting is performed by touching the relevant subarray, on the visually displayed projection and / or intervention in a projection path of the projection.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the step of selecting a selecting means of an optical and / or mechanical and / or acoustic

Device includes.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a position of the projected visual representation relative to the total area upon movement of the

Projection device (10) remains constant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the movement of the projection device (10) by means of one or more sensors is determined, in particular

Acceleration sensors, rotation rate sensors, magnetic field sensors, optical sensors, distance sensors and / or infrared sensors.

The method of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the projection device (10) is coupled to a pointing device (40) for selecting the relevant sub-surface, wherein a visual representation of the pointing device (40) is projected onto the relevant sub-surface , and wherein upon movement of the projection device

(10) the position of the projected representation of the pointing device (40) remains constant relative to the relevant sub-area or the position of the projected representation of the pointing device (40) is variable with the movement of the projection device (10), thus another sub-area to be relevant.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a user optionally by means of the pointing device (40) can select a partial area as relevant.

1 1. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the projection device (10) when projecting information in the form of the visual representation on the

Total area substantially regularly distributed over the total area and projects projected control signals emits, which when influenced by the step of selecting a patch associated with the corresponding control signals partial surface appear to be visually highlighted or relevant. Projection device, characterized in that the projection device (10) with a method according to one of claims 1 to 1 1 is operable.