Projection equipment and projection method

Abstract

The invention provides projection equipment and a projection method. The projection equipment comprises a projection module, a driving circuit and a controller. The projection module is used for emitting an image beam according to the display data to form a projection picture. The display data includes first color data corresponding to the first color. The driving circuit is coupled to a light source of the projection module. The light sources include first light sources corresponding to a first color. The driving circuit is used for providing a first driving signal to control the luminance of the first light source. The controller is coupled to the driving circuit. The controller is used for receiving the display data and adjusting the first driving signal according to the first color data. According to the projection equipment and the projection method provided by the invention, the power consumption of the projection equipment can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method, and particularly to a projection device and a projection method. Background Art

[0002] The "Background Art" paragraph is only used to help understand the content of the present invention. Therefore, the content disclosed in the "Background Art" paragraph may include some prior arts that are not known to those skilled in the art. The content disclosed in the "Background Art" paragraph does not represent the problems to be solved by the content or one or more embodiments of the present invention, which have been known or recognized by those skilled in the art before the filing of the present invention application.

[0003] In existing laser projectors, with the progress of technology, laser projectors often pose a risk of eye damage due to their high output power. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a projection device and a projection method, which can reduce the risk of eye damage to users and protect the eyesight of users, or reduce the power consumption of the projection device. Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be further understood from the technical features disclosed in the present invention.

[0005] To achieve one or some or all of the above purposes or other purposes, a projection device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a projection module, a driving circuit, and a controller. The projection module is configured to emit an image beam according to display data to form a projection image. The display data includes first color data corresponding to a first color. The driving circuit is coupled to a light source of the projection module. The light source includes a first light source corresponding to the first color. The driving circuit is configured to provide a first driving signal to control the light emitting brightness of the first light source. The controller is coupled to the driving circuit. The controller is configured to receive the display data and adjust the first driving signal according to the first color data.

[0006] To achieve one or some or all of the above purposes or other purposes, a projection method according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to control a projection device. The projection method includes emitting an image beam from a light source by the projection module of the projection device according to display data to form a projection image, where the display data includes first color data corresponding to a first color; providing a first driving signal by the driving circuit of the projection device to control the light emitting brightness of a first light source that emits the first color in the light source; and receiving the display data by the controller of the projection device and adjusting the first driving signal according to the first color data.

[0007] Based on the above, the projection device and the projection method of the present invention can reduce power consumption while protecting the eyesight of users. Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1It is a block diagram of a projection device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 It is an operation diagram of adjusting the first color of a projection device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of a user interface according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of a projection method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of another projection method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0013] List of reference numerals

[0014] 1: Projection device

[0015] 10: Controller

[0016] 11: Driving circuit

[0017] 12: Projection module

[0018] 13: Menu control circuit

[0019] 120: Light source

[0020] DD: Display data

[0021] DS: Driving signal

[0022] S40~S42, S50~S55: Steps

[0023] SC: Selection command. Detailed description of the specific implementation

[0024] Regarding the foregoing and other technical contents, features and effects of the present invention, they will be clearly presented in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The directional terms mentioned in the following embodiments, such as: up, down, left, right, front or back, etc., are only with reference to the directions of the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for illustration and not for limiting the present invention.

[0025] Figure 1It is a block diagram of a projection device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The projection device 1 includes a controller 10, a driving circuit 11, a projection module 12, and a menu control circuit 13. The projection module 12 can be used to emit an image beam according to display data DD to form a projection image, where the display data DD includes a plurality of color data of the brightness of each primary color in the projection image. The driving circuit 11 is coupled to the light source 120 of the projection module 12, and the light source 120 can be used to emit an illumination beam required to generate the image beam. The driving circuit 11 can provide a driving signal DS to the projection module 12 to adjust the brightness of the image beam emitted by it. For example, the driving circuit 11 provides the driving signal DS to the light source 120 of the projection module 12 to change the brightness of the illumination beam, and further adjust the brightness of the image beam. Further, the controller 10 is coupled to the driving circuit 11. The controller 10 can be used to receive the display data DD and instruct the driving circuit 11 to adjust the driving signal DS emitted by it, so that the light source 120 emits an illumination beam corresponding to the brightness indicated by the display data DD.

[0026] Specifically, the light source 120 can emit color beams of different colors to jointly form an illumination beam, and the projection image can be formed by superimposing the image beams converted from the illumination beams of various colors. Further, the display data DD received by the controller 10 includes a plurality of color data, which respectively correspond to the plurality of color beams emitted by the light source 120. The controller 10 can adjust the first driving signal corresponding to the first color in the driving signal DS according to the first color data in the display data DD, and further adjust the emission brightness of the first light source corresponding to the first color in the light source 120. It should be specifically noted that the first color can be blue, red, or green. If the first color is blue, the risk of blue light harm to the human eye can be reduced and the power consumption of the projection device can be reduced; if the first color is red or green, the power consumption of the projection device can be reduced.

[0027] In some embodiments, for example, the light source 120 may have first to third light sources, which can respectively emit first to third color beams of blue, red, and green to form an illumination beam. The driving signal provided by the driving circuit 11 may include first to third driving signals, which can be respectively used to control the emission brightness of the first to third light sources in the light source 120. Further, each piece of display data DD received by the controller 10 can be, for example, the display data used to display a frame of projection image, which includes first to third color data respectively corresponding to blue, red, and green. The controller 10 can adjust the first driving signal provided to the first light source according to the maximum color data value in the first color data of the display data DD. It should be specifically noted that the controller 10 can adjust the first driving signal corresponding to each frame according to the display data of each frame, or can adjust the first driving signal once every several frames (for example, 10 frames of projection images).

[0028] In some embodiments, the light source 120 in the projection module 12 may be, for example, a first to third light source having a plurality of different color-emitting beams, or only a single light source. Specifically, when the light source 120 has the first to third light sources, which can respectively emit different first to third color beams, the first to third light sources can be respectively driven by the first to third drive signals of the drive signal to emit the first to third color beams with corresponding brightness in each color beam interval. Or, when the light source 120 only has a single light source (such as a blue light source), the beam emitted by the single light source can be directed to different color fluorescent sheets on the fluorescent wheel to generate different first to third color beams in different time intervals, and the drive circuit can control the luminous brightness of the single light source in the corresponding time interval according to the first to third drive signals.

[0029] Specifically, when the projection device 1 is projecting, the multiple color beams (illumination beams) emitted by the light source 120 can be, for example, emitted to a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). The digital micromirror device has a plurality of mirror structures, which are respectively controlled by a control signal, so that the reflected first to third color beams will respectively have patterns corresponding to the first to third color data, thereby forming a projection image. In this case, the controller 10 can set the luminous brightness of the first light source according to the maximum color data value of the first color data in the display data DD. That is to say, the controller 10 can obtain the highest gray scale value (i.e., the maximum color data value) of the first color in each frame of the image according to the first color data in the display data DD, and accordingly set the luminous brightness of the corresponding first light source in the light source. In this way, the luminous brightness of the first light source can be adjusted according to the maximum color data value of the first color data in each frame of the image, thereby adjusting the power consumption of the projection device 1.

[0030] In some embodiments, the projection device 1 can adjust the brightness of at least one of red, blue, and green in the projection image generated by it. For example, the projection device 1 can reduce the blue brightness in the projection image, and by reducing the blue light signal in the light source, achieve the purpose of reducing the risk of damage to the user's eyes and protecting the user's eyesight. More specifically, Figure 2 FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the operation of adjusting the first color of the projection device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The color data values of the first to third colors and the adjusted drive signal DS (such as the first drive signal) in the first to fifth frames are shown. In this embodiment, blue will be used as the first color to be adjusted to illustrate the operation performed by the projection device 1.

[0031] Specifically, the controller 10 may have the color data values (such as grayscale values) of all pixels in a frame of the display data DD received. The controller 10 may obtain the color data values of the first color to the third color in each frame of the display data DD as shown in the upper half of Figure 2 The driving signal DS provided by the driving circuit 11 to the projection module 12 may be, for example, a pulse width modulation signal. Further, the controller 10 may adjust the driving signal DS for the maximum color data value of the first color (such as blue) in each frame of the display data DD, so that the brightness of the first color in the projection image generated by the projection device 1 can be reduced. For example, please refer to Table 1 below at the same time. The first driving signal (the set value of the pulse width modulation signal, that is, the pulse width modulation value) of the driving signal DS may be set according to the data range in which the maximum color data value of the first color falls, and the first driving signal is used to control the blue light source to emit the first color light beam.

[0032] Table 1

[0033]

[0034] In Table 1, the numerical range of the color data value (the color data value of the first color, for example, falls within the range of the preset maximum color data value and the preset minimum color data value, such as the range of 0 to 1023. The preset maximum color data value and the preset minimum color data value are stored in the controller 10, for example) can be divided into a high-intensity interval (such as 1023 to 751), a medium-intensity interval (such as 750 to 501), and a low-intensity interval (such as 500 to 0). Each intensity interval has an upper limit value and a lower limit value, and the adjusted set value of the pulse width modulation signal corresponding to each intensity interval. The controller 10 may define the intensity interval where the maximum color data value of the first color is located as the current intensity interval, and adjust the first driving signal according to the current intensity interval. As Figure 2As shown in the lower middle part, for example, the first frame of the image is a sky image. In the display data DD of the first frame of the image, the maximum color data value of the first color data (e.g., blue data) of each pixel in the image is, for example, 1023; the third frame of the image is, for example, a night indoor image. In the display data DD of the third frame of the image, the maximum color data value of the first color data (e.g., blue data) of each pixel in the image is, for example, 69. Therefore, the first driving signal is adjusted to the pulse width setting values 700, 700, 0, 0, 700 corresponding to the color data values in the first to fifth frames respectively. Compared with the conventional technique of always setting the setting value of the first driving signal at 1000 (the preset setting value of the pulse width modulation signal of the first driving signal), the projection device 1 can effectively and moderately reduce the blue light and reduce the power consumption of the projection device 1. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the projection device 1 does not adjust the second driving signal and the third driving signal corresponding to the green light and the red light. Therefore, the user is not easily aware of the adjustment change of the blue light source. It should be particularly noted that the values in Table 1 are only examples. The number of data intervals can be designed differently according to different situations, and the number of data intervals divided in the comparison table can also be greater than 1 (e.g., 3). In this way, it can be adjusted according to the user's selection.

[0035] In some embodiments, the controller 10 can, according to the interval (i.e., the current intensity interval) where the maximum color data value of the first color data in the display data DD falls, adjust the preset setting value of the first color driving signal DS of the light source by multiplying it by a preset magnification factor (the multiplied value is an integer value) or subtracting a preset value (the minimum is 0), to adjust the first driving signal of the corresponding driving signal DS (the system settable value of the pulse width modulation signal of the first driving signal falls, for example, between 0 and 1023). The preset magnification factor falls, for example, between 0.8 and 0.6, and the preset value to be subtracted falls, for example, between 200 and 500. It should be particularly noted that the preset magnification factor or the preset value to be subtracted can be different or the same according to the interval where the first color data value in the display data DD falls. Therefore, the driving circuit 11 can adjust the emission brightness of the first to third light sources in the light source 120 according to the adjusted driving signal DS, so as to emit the first to third color light beams. In some embodiments, the driving signal DS provided by the driving circuit 11 to the projection module 12 can be, for example, an analog voltage or current signal. The driving circuit 11 can set the voltage level or current level of the first to third driving signals by means of the adjusted driving signal DS, so as to adjust the emission brightness of the first to third light sources in the light source 120.

[0036] In some embodiments, the controller 10 may be, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other programmable general-purpose or special-purpose Micro Control Unit (MCU), Microprocessor, Digital Signal Processor (DSP), programmable controller, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), any other kind of integrated circuit, state machine, processor based on Advanced RISC Machine (ARM), or other similar components or a combination of the above components. The driving circuit 11 may be, for example, a digital-to-analog converter or a pulse-width modulation circuit, which is used to generate corresponding driving signals according to the instructions of the controller 10, and set the emission brightness of the first to third light sources in the light source 120 by the pulse width, voltage or current value of the driving signals. For example, the menu control circuit 13 may be, for example, a hardware circuit for executing a screen display menu, and is coupled to an input device controlled by a user, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel or other similar input device, to receive a selection command SC generated by the user operating the screen display menu.

[0037] In this way, by reducing the emission brightness of the first light source that emits the first color beam in the light source 120 of the projection device 1, the power consumption of the projection device 1 can be effectively reduced by 8% to 13%. Moreover, when the first color with reduced brightness is blue, it can effectively protect the user's eyesight and reduce the risk of damage to the user's eyes. On the other hand, since only the maximum color data value of the first color is used in the process of reducing the brightness, the controller 10 is relatively simple and fast in processing signals, and thus the real-time adjustment of the projection screen can be achieved.

[0038] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the user interface in the first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the projection device 1 may further include a menu control circuit 13. The menu control circuit 13 is, for example, an input circuit that can provide user operations. It may be, for example, an on-screen display (OSD) menu, which is used to provide a user with an operation menu and can receive a corresponding selection command SC generated by the user's selection according to the coupled input device. As Figure 3 shown, different brightness adjustment modes, such as high, medium, low, and automatic, may be displayed on the operation menu. The user can make a selection according to the options on the operation menu. The menu control circuit 13 can be used to receive the user's operation on the operation menu and generate a selection command SC, so that the controller 10 can set the amplitude of the first drive signal to be adjusted according to the selection command SC, and then the first light source can have a corresponding emission brightness. In this way, the controller 10 can set the preset magnification multiplied or the preset value deducted from the first color drive pulse width modulation signal of the light source according to the adjustment mode selected by the user.

[0039] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the projection method in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 The projection method in Figure 1 can be executed by the projection device 1 in Figure 4 The projection method in

[0040] includes steps S40 to S42. In step S40, the projection module 1 of the projection device 1 can emit an image beam from the light source 120 according to the display data DD to form a projection image. The display data DD includes at least first color data corresponding to the first color. In step S41, the drive circuit 11 of the projection device 1 can provide a first drive signal to control the emission brightness of the first light source that emits the first color in the light source 120. In step S42, the controller 10 of the projection device 1 receives the display data DD and adjusts the first drive signal according to the first color data in the display data. For details of the projection method, please refer to the relevant paragraphs on the operation of the projection device 1 in the above section, and will not be repeated here.

[0041] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of another projection method in the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 The projection method in Figure 1 can also be executed by the projection device 1 in Figure 5 The projection method in

[0042] In step S50, first, when the projection device 1 is turned on, the controller 10 in the projection device 1 can receive the display data DD for one frame of projection image, which includes the first to third color data values (such as grayscale values) of all pixels in one frame of the image.

[0043] In step S51, the controller 10 can determine whether the maximum color data value of the first color falls within the high-intensity range according to the display data DD. For example, the controller 10 can determine the maximum color data value of each color in a received frame of image according to the display data DD. Further, the controller 10 can compare the maximum color data value of the first color, for example, with the lower limit value of the high-intensity range in Table 1, to determine whether the maximum color data value of the first color falls within the high-intensity range. If the determination result of the controller 10 is yes, then it proceeds to step S52. On the contrary, if the determination result of the controller 10 is no, then it proceeds to step S53.

[0044] In step S52, the controller 10 can adjust the first driving signal of the first color. In some embodiments, the controller 10 can set the first driving signal (the set value of the pulse width modulation signal) of the driving signal DS according to the data range in which the maximum color data value of the first color falls, as described in the relevant paragraph above regarding Table 1, and control the blue light source to emit a first color light beam with the first driving signal. For example, when the controller 10 determines that the maximum color data value falls within the data range of 751 - 1023, the controller 10 can set the set value of the corresponding first driving signal to 700.

[0045] In some embodiments, the controller 10 can set the set value of the corresponding first driving signal by multiplying the preset set value of the first color driving signal of the light source by the preset magnification corresponding to the high-intensity range, or by subtracting the preset value corresponding to the high-intensity range, so as to adjust the emission brightness of the first light source.

[0046] In step S53, the controller 10 can determine whether the maximum color data value of the first color falls within the medium-intensity range according to the display data DD. Similar to step S51, the controller 10 can compare the maximum color data value of the first color, for example, with the lower limit value of the medium-intensity range in Table 1, to determine whether the maximum color data value of the first color falls within the medium-intensity range. If the determination result of the controller 10 is yes, then it proceeds to step S54. On the contrary, if the determination result of the controller 10 is no, then it proceeds to step S55.

[0047] In step S54, the controller 10 can adjust the first driving signal of the first color. In some embodiments, the controller 10 can set the first driving signal (the set value of the pulse width modulation signal) of the driving signal DS according to the data range in which the maximum color data value of the first color falls, as described in the above narrative paragraph related to Table 1, and control the blue light source to emit the first color light beam with the first driving signal. For example, when the controller 10 determines that the maximum color data value falls within the data range of 501 to 750, the controller 10 can set the set value of the corresponding first driving signal to 350.

[0048] In some embodiments, the controller 10 can set the set value of the corresponding first driving signal by multiplying the preset set value of the light source first color driving signal DS by the preset magnification corresponding to the medium intensity range, or subtracting the preset value corresponding to the medium intensity range, so as to adjust the light emitting brightness of the first light source.

[0049] In step S55, when the controller 10 determines that the maximum color data value of the first color falls within the low intensity range, the controller 10 can control to turn off the first light source that emits the first color light beam (for example, the pulse width modulation signal is set to 0). In some embodiments, the controller 10 can set the first driving signal (the set value of the pulse width modulation signal) of the driving signal DS according to the data range in which the maximum color data value of the first color falls, as described in the above narrative paragraph related to Table 1, and control whether the blue light source emits the first color light beam with the first driving signal. For example, when the controller 10 determines that the maximum color data value falls within the data range of 0 to 500 (the result of the judgment in step S53 is no), the controller 10 can set the set value of the corresponding first driving signal to 0.

[0050] In summary, the projection device and projection method of the present invention have at least one of the following advantages: effectively reducing the brightness of the first color in the projection screen, improving the user experience while protecting the user's eyesight, or reducing the power consumption of the projection device. In addition, since the overall adjustment process only needs to judge the maximum color data value of the first color from the display data by the controller, the signal processing process is relatively simple, so the instant adjustment during the projection process can be achieved.

[0051] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of implementation of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. That is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present invention and the content of the specification still fall within the scope covered by the patent of the present invention. In addition, any embodiment or claim of the present invention does not have to achieve all the purposes, advantages or features disclosed by the present invention. In addition, the abstract of the specification and the title of the invention are only used to assist in the retrieval of patent documents and are not used to limit the scope of rights of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. mentioned in this specification or claims are only used to name elements or to distinguish different embodiments or scopes, rather than to limit the upper or lower limits of the number of elements.

Claims

1. A projection device, characterized in that, The projection device includes a projection module, a driving circuit, and a controller, where the projection module is configured to emit an image light beam according to display data to form a projection image, and the display data includes first color data corresponding to a first color; the driving circuit is coupled to a light source of the projection module, the light source emits an illumination light beam required to generate the image light beam and includes a first light source corresponding to the first color, and the driving circuit is configured to provide a first driving signal to control the light emission brightness of the first light source; and the controller is coupled to the driving circuit, the controller is configured to receive the display data, and adjust the first driving signal according to the first color data.

2. The projection device according to claim 1, wherein Adjust the first driving signal according to the maximum color data value in the first color data of a frame of projection image.

3. The projection device according to claim 1, wherein, The illumination light beam emitted by the light source of the projection module includes a first color light beam emitted in a first color light beam interval and a second color light beam emitted in a second color light beam interval, and the driving circuit controls the light emission brightness of the light source in the first color light beam interval and the light emission brightness in the second color light beam interval.

4. The projection device according to claim 1, wherein The first color is blue, red, or green.

5. The projection device according to claim 2, wherein The controller stores a preset maximum color data value and a preset minimum color data value, and divides a plurality of intensity intervals between the preset maximum color data value and the preset minimum color data value. The controller defines a current intensity interval according to an intensity interval among the plurality of intensity intervals where the maximum color data value is located, and adjusts the first driving signal according to the current intensity interval.

6. The projection device according to claim 5, wherein The first driving signal is a pulse width modulation value, and the controller sets the pulse width modulation value of the first driving signal by multiplying a preset setting value of the first driving signal by a preset magnification factor or subtracting a preset value according to the current intensity interval.

7. The projection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light source of the projection module further includes a second light source and a third light source corresponding to a second color and a third color, and the driving circuit is further configured to provide a second driving signal and a third driving signal to control the light emission brightness of the second light source and the third light source respectively.

8. The projection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projection device further includes a menu control circuit, configured to provide a user operation screen display menu and generate a corresponding selection command, so that the controller sets the adjustment amplitude of the first driving signal according to the selection command.

9. A projection method, characterized in that, For controlling a projection device, the projection method includes: forming, by the projection module of the projection device, an illumination light beam emitted by a light source into a projection image according to display data, where the display data includes first color data corresponding to a first color; providing, by the driving circuit of the projection device, a first driving signal to control the light emission brightness of a first light source that emits the first color in the light source; and receiving, by the controller of the projection device, the display data, and adjusting the first driving signal according to the first color data.

10. The projection method according to claim 9, wherein The projection method includes adjusting the first driving signal according to the maximum color data value in the first color data of a frame of projection image.

11. The projection method according to claim 9, wherein The projection method includes: The illumination light beam including a first color light beam within a first color light beam interval and a second color light beam within a second color light beam interval is emitted by the light source of the projection module; and The drive circuit controls the emission brightness of the light source within the first color light beam interval and the emission brightness within the second color light beam interval.

12. The projection method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first color is blue, red, or green.

13. The projection method according to claim 10, wherein The projection method includes: The controller stores a preset color data maximum value and a preset color data minimum value, and divides a plurality of intensity intervals between the preset color data maximum value and the preset color data minimum value; and The controller defines a current intensity interval according to one of the plurality of intensity intervals where the maximum color data value is located, and adjusts the first drive signal according to the current intensity interval.

14. The projection method according to claim 13, wherein The first drive signal is a pulse width modulation value, and the projection method includes: The controller sets the pulse width modulation value of the first drive signal by multiplying a preset set value of the first drive signal by a preset magnification factor or subtracting a preset value according to the current intensity interval.

15. The projection method according to claim 9, characterized in that The light source of the projection module further includes a second light source and a third light source corresponding to a second color and a third color, and the projection method includes: The drive circuit provides a second drive signal and a third drive signal to control the emission brightness of the second light source and the third light source respectively.

16. The projection method according to claim 9, wherein The projection method further includes: The menu control circuit of the projection device receives a selection command input by the user through operating a menu displayed on the screen and provides it to the controller, so that the controller sets the adjustment amplitude of the first drive signal according to the selection command.

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