A projector imaging element adjustment mechanism, system and method

Abstract

The application provides a projector imaging element adjusting mechanism, system and method, the adjusting mechanism comprises a fixed frame and a screen frame, the fixed frame and the screen frame are provided with multiple groups of electromagnetic adjusting components, the electromagnetic adjusting components are uniformly distributed between the fixed frame and the screen frame; the inside of the screen frame is fixedly installed with a liquid crystal panel. The application can accurately and stably electrically adjust the position of the liquid crystal panel relative to the fixed frame by setting multiple groups of uniformly distributed electromagnetic adjusting components, thereby effectively overcoming the inconvenient adjustment problem caused by the fixed installation of the liquid crystal panel in the prior art. The mechanism enables the projector to flexibly and conveniently adjust the relative distance between the liquid crystal panel and the lens according to the actual projection distance and the picture quality requirement during work, and provides a reliable mechanical basis for the accurate matching of the optical system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of projector technology, and more specifically, relates to a projector imaging element adjustment mechanism, system and method. Background Technology

[0002] In practical use, projectors are often limited by installation space and cannot be positioned in the exact center of the projected image. They can only project from the top, bottom, left, right, or oblique angles. Traditional projector optical systems are designed for centered projection, with the distance from the center of the lens to the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the image being equal, and the distance between the LCD screen and the lens being fixed as the optimal imaging distance.

[0003] Currently, the LCD panel inside LCD projectors is typically fixed in place, making it difficult to flexibly adjust its relative distance to the lens according to projection distance or image clarity requirements. This fixed structure can lead to issues such as decreased image clarity and limited freedom of image adjustment in different usage environments, affecting optimal projection performance and user experience. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a mechanism that allows for convenient and precise adjustment of the imaging element.

[0004] Furthermore, while existing projectors can adjust the lens depth of field for initial focusing using a lens drive unit (such as a motor), the adjustment range is limited. In complex scenarios such as projector offset installation or uneven screens, adjusting the lens alone often fails to achieve a globally clear image. Simultaneously, there is a lack of an automated system and method capable of real-time detection of image sharpness and coordinating lens adjustment with LCD panel orientation adjustment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a projector imaging element adjustment mechanism, system, and method, aiming to solve the problems of inconvenient adjustment caused by the fixed installation of the liquid crystal panel and the difficulty in adaptively optimizing the image clarity in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A projector imaging element adjustment mechanism, system, and method include a fixed frame and a screen frame. The fixed frame and the screen frame are provided with multiple sets of electromagnetic adjustment components, which are evenly distributed between the fixed frame and the screen frame. A liquid crystal panel is fixedly installed inside the screen frame.

[0008] Furthermore, the side of the fixed frame is provided with multiple sets of fixing lugs, and the fixing lugs are provided with multiple sets of mounting holes for installing fasteners.

[0009] Furthermore, the electromagnetic adjustment assembly includes a fixed cylinder fixed to the side of the fixed frame. The fixed cylinder has a partition inside, and a through hole is provided in the center of the partition. An iron core is slidably connected in the through hole. A coil is installed on the right side of the fixed cylinder near the partition. The right end of the iron core is located inside the iron core and is connected to a drive rod. The drive rod passes through the right end of the fixed cylinder and is flexibly connected to the screen frame.

[0010] Furthermore, a spring is installed on the left side of the fixed cylinder near the partition, and a flange is provided at the left end of the iron core, with the two ends of the spring abutting each other between the flange and the partition.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the coil via a wire to regulate the current passing through the coil to control the magnitude of the electromagnetic force, and then controls the position by compressing a spring to achieve force balance.

[0012] A projector imaging element adjustment system includes: a projector imaging element adjustment mechanism as described above; a detection camera disposed on the outside of the projector for acquiring image information projected onto a screen; an image processing unit communicatively connected to the detection camera for receiving the image information and determining whether the image on the screen is clear based on the image information; a control unit electrically connected to both the image processing unit and the controller in the adjustment mechanism for controlling the adjustment mechanism to adjust the position and / or angle of the liquid crystal panel relative to the fixed frame when the image processing unit determines that the image is unclear; and a lens driving unit disposed on the projector lens and electrically connected to the control unit for adjusting the depth of field of the lens under the control of the control unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the control unit is configured to coordinately control the adjustment mechanism and the lens driving unit based on the analysis results of the image processing unit, first performing coarse adjustment through the lens driving unit, and then performing fine adjustment of the angle of the liquid crystal panel through the adjustment mechanism.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a parameter storage unit connected to the control unit, used to store the parameter states of each of the electromagnetic adjustment components and the lens drive unit after the control unit completes the image clarity adjustment.

[0015] A method for adjusting a projector imaging element, applied to the projector imaging element adjustment system described above, includes the following steps:

[0016] S1. Acquire real-time image information of the projected image through the detection camera; S2. Analyze the real-time image information to determine whether the image clarity meets a preset standard; S3. If the image clarity does not meet the preset standard, the control unit generates an adjustment command based on the analysis result; S4. According to the adjustment command, simultaneously or sequentially drive the lens driving unit to adjust the lens depth of field, and drive the adjustment mechanism to adjust the position and / or angle of the liquid crystal panel relative to the fixed frame; S5. Repeat steps S1 to S4 until the image processing unit determines that the image clarity meets the preset standard.

[0017] Furthermore, in step S2, the method for determining whether the image clarity meets the preset standard includes: extracting the contour clarity, contrast, or focus evaluation value of a specific area from the real-time image information, and comparing it with a preset threshold.

[0018] Furthermore, in step S4, the lens driving unit is first controlled to perform a first-stage depth-of-field adjustment. After the adjustment range of the lens driving unit reaches its limit, the adjustment mechanism is then controlled to perform a second-stage adjustment of the angle of the liquid crystal panel.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. This invention, by setting up multiple sets of evenly distributed electromagnetic adjustment components and controlling the magnitude of the current, enables precise and stable electric adjustment of the position of the liquid crystal panel relative to the fixed frame, thereby changing the position of the liquid crystal display and the lens. This mechanism allows the projector to flexibly and conveniently adjust the relative distance between the liquid crystal panel and the lens according to the actual projection distance and image quality requirements during operation, providing a reliable mechanical basis for the precise matching of the optical system.

[0021] 2. This invention employs a combination structure of coil-driven iron core and spring reset, coupled with the electronic adjustment of the controller, to achieve stepless, silent, and high-precision adjustment of the LCD panel position. This not only significantly improves the clarity and image quality of the projected image in different usage environments, but also enhances the adaptability and flexibility of the device. Simultaneously, it avoids displacement errors and structural wear that may be caused by traditional manual adjustment, thus contributing to improved overall performance stability and lifespan of the projector.

[0022] 3. The system and method provided by this invention, by introducing a detection camera and an image processing unit, achieve real-time, automatic detection of image clarity. Through the coordinated control of the lens drive unit and electromagnetic adjustment mechanism by the control unit, a complete closed-loop automatic focusing and image optimization system is formed. This greatly expands the applicability of the projector, enabling it to quickly obtain clear, square, high-quality images even in complex scenarios such as offset, side projection, or curved screens, significantly improving its intelligence and automation level. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electromagnetic adjustment component structure of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of the projector imaging element adjustment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the projector imaging element adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram, the correspondence between component names and drawing numbers is as follows:

[0030] 1. Fixed frame; 2. Screen frame; 3. Electromagnetic adjustment assembly; 4. LCD panel;

[0031] 101. Fixed lug; 301. Fixed cylinder; 302. Coil; 303. Iron core; 304. Spring. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0033] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0035] Example 1:

[0036] As attached Figure 1 To be continued Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides a projector imaging element adjustment mechanism, system and method, including a fixed frame 1 and a screen frame 2. The fixed frame 1 and the screen frame 2 are provided with multiple sets of electromagnetic adjustment components 3. The electromagnetic adjustment components 3 are evenly distributed between the fixed frame 1 and the screen frame 2. Through multi-point uniform driving, the liquid crystal panel 4 can be ensured to move smoothly during the adjustment process, effectively preventing skew or jamming, and ensuring the synchronization and reliability of the adjustment. The liquid crystal panel 4 is fixedly installed inside the screen frame 2.

[0037] The fixed frame 1 has multiple sets of fixing lugs 101 on its side, and each fixing lug 101 has multiple sets of mounting holes for installing fasteners. This facilitates the secure installation of the entire adjustment mechanism inside the projector's optical engine, improving the overall rigidity and ease of assembly of the mechanism.

[0038] The electromagnetic adjustment component 3 includes a fixed cylinder 301 fixed to the side of the fixed frame 1. The fixed cylinder 301 has an internal partition with a through hole at its center. An iron core 303 is slidably connected within the through hole. A coil 302 is installed on the right side of the fixed cylinder 301 near the partition. The right end of the iron core 303 is located inside the iron core 303 and connected to a drive rod. The drive rod extends from the right end of the fixed cylinder 301 and is flexibly connected to the screen frame 2. Specifically, a flexible rubber rod or pad can be used for connection to facilitate fine-tuning of the screen frame 2's angle. Employing an electromagnetic drive method, the response is rapid and the control is precise. The linear movement of the iron core 303 can be easily achieved by switching the current on and off, which can then be converted into displacement or angle fine-tuning of the screen frame 2.

[0039] The fixed cylinder 301 has a spring 304 installed on its left side near the partition. The left end of the iron core 303 has a flange, and the two ends of the spring 304 are positioned abutting against each other between the flange and the partition. When the power is off, the spring 304 provides an automatic reset force to the iron core 303, enabling the screen frame 2 to return to its original position, improving the stability and safety of the mechanism, and simplifying the control logic.

[0040] The system also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the coil 302 via a wire. The controller regulates the current flowing through the coil 302 to control the magnitude of the electromagnetic force, and then uses a compression spring 304 to achieve force balance and control the position. The controller enables centralized and precise control of each electromagnetic adjustment component 3, facilitating integration into the projector's system circuitry for automated intelligent adjustment and significantly improving the user experience.

[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, A, B, and C represent LCD screens in different positions, and a, b, and c are the screen positions corresponding to the LCD screens in positions A, B, and C for optimal projector clarity.

[0042] When a projector projects at an offset angle, it's equivalent to the screen being at position c. However, current projector LCD screens can only move between states A and B, and cannot be tilted. Therefore, tilting the LCD screen at a certain angle can significantly improve the clarity of the projected image.

[0043] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows: When the position of the LCD panel 4 needs to be adjusted, the controller supplies a controllable current to the coil 302 of a specific electromagnetic adjustment component 3. The coil 302 generates a magnetic field that drives the iron core 303 to move to the right against the spring force of the spring 304. The iron core 303, through a drive rod, pushes the screen frame 2 and the LCD panel 4 fixed on it to move relative to the fixed frame 1. By controlling the magnitude of the current, the displacement of the iron core 303 can be precisely controlled, thereby achieving fine-tuning of the position of the LCD panel 4. After adjustment, the current is cut off, the magnetic field disappears, and the iron core 303 moves back to the left under the reset action of the spring 304, which can drive the screen frame 2 to reset in the opposite direction, thereby achieving bidirectional or reset adjustment. Multiple sets of electromagnetic adjustment components 3 work together to complete the precise and stable adjustment of the posture and position of the LCD panel 4.

[0044] Example 2:

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, the present invention also provides a projector imaging element adjustment system, including the projector imaging element adjustment mechanism described in Embodiment 1. It also includes a detection camera, which is mounted on the projector housing with its lens facing the screen, for real-time acquisition of the projected image. The detection camera is signal-connected to an image processing unit, which can be part of the projector's main control chip or a separate processor. Internally, it runs an image sharpness analysis algorithm, such as calculating the image's gradient energy, frequency domain features, or contrast, to generate a sharpness evaluation value.

[0046] The system also includes a control unit, which is electrically connected to the image processing unit, the controller in the adjustment mechanism, and the lens drive unit. The lens drive unit is a miniature motor or voice coil motor mounted on the projector lens assembly, used to drive the lens to move back and forth to change the depth of field.

[0047] During operation, the camera captures an image and sends it to the image processing unit for analysis. If the analysis shows a blurry image (e.g., a sharpness rating below a threshold), the image processing unit sends this information to the control unit. The control unit first attempts to drive the lens drive unit to focus. If the image remains blurry even after adjusting the lens to its limit, or if the image processing unit determines that the image is distorted (e.g., trapezoidal distortion) and the panel angle needs adjustment, the control unit generates a new control signal and sends it to the controller of the adjustment mechanism. This controller precisely controls the current of the coils 302 in each electromagnetic adjustment component 3, driving the iron cores 303 at different positions to produce differentiated displacements, thereby adjusting the spatial angle between the screen frame 2 and the LCD panel 4 until the image processing unit reports that the image sharpness meets the requirements. The parameter storage unit can record the driving parameters of the lens drive unit and each electromagnetic adjustment component 3 at this time, so that they can be quickly recalled under the same conditions to achieve one-click optimization.

[0048] Example 3: As Figure 6 As shown, the present invention also provides a method for adjusting the imaging element of a projector applied to the above-mentioned system, comprising the following steps:

[0049] S1. After the system starts or the user triggers the calibration function, it acquires real-time image information of the current projected screen by detecting the camera.

[0050] S2. The image processing unit processes the received image information, such as extracting the center and four corner areas of the image, calculating their sharpness feature values, and comparing them with the preset sharpness threshold to comprehensively determine whether the sharpness of the entire image meets the standard.

[0051] S3. If the image is determined to be blurry, the control unit generates a corresponding adjustment command based on the analysis results of the image processing unit (e.g., whether it is overall blurry or local blurry, and whether there is geometric distortion).

[0052] S4. The control unit executes adjustment commands. First, it drives the lens drive unit to move the lens, performing a first-stage coarse depth-of-field adjustment to attempt to resolve the overall blur caused by changes in projection distance. The system monitors changes in sharpness in real time.

[0053] S5. If the image clarity still does not meet the standard after the lens is adjusted to its physical limit, or if the image processing unit analyzes that the trapezoidal distortion of the image is obvious (indicating a large offset angle), the control unit will start the second stage of adjustment: send a command to the controller of the adjustment mechanism, and change the pitch or rotation angle of the LCD panel 4 by independently adjusting the current of multiple sets of electromagnetic adjustment components 3, so as to fine-tune the posture of the image and correct the focus plane offset problem caused by the offset projection or uneven screen.

[0054] S6. Repeat steps S1 to S5 to form a closed loop of "detection-analysis-adjustment-re-detection" until the image processing unit determines that the image sharpness evaluation value is stable above the preset standard.

[0055] S7. After adjustment, the control unit can save the final lens position parameters and the current parameters of each electromagnetic adjustment component 3 to the parameter storage unit, so as to quickly restore the optimal settings in the same installation environment next time.

[0056] The embodiments of the present invention are given for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to better illustrate the principles and practical application of the invention, and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention and to design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for a particular purpose.

Claims

1. A projector imaging element adjustment mechanism, characterized in that, It includes a fixed frame (1) and a screen frame (2). The fixed frame (1) and the screen frame (2) are provided with multiple sets of electromagnetic adjustment components (3). The electromagnetic adjustment components (3) are evenly distributed between the fixed frame (1) and the screen frame (2). A liquid crystal panel (4) is fixedly installed inside the screen frame (2).

2. The projector imaging element adjustment mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the fixed frame (1) is provided with a plurality of fixed lugs (101), and the fixed lugs (101) are provided with a plurality of mounting holes for installing fasteners.

3. The projector imaging element adjustment mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The electromagnetic adjustment assembly (3) includes a fixed cylinder (301) fixed to the side of the fixed frame (1). The fixed cylinder (301) has a partition inside, and a through hole is provided in the center of the partition. An iron core (303) is slidably connected in the through hole. A coil (302) is installed on the right side of the fixed cylinder (301) near the partition. The right end of the iron core (303) is located inside the iron core (303) and is connected to a drive rod. The drive rod passes out from the right end of the fixed cylinder (301) and is flexibly connected to the screen frame (2).

4. The projector imaging element adjustment mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The fixed cylinder (301) has a spring (304) installed on the left side near the partition. The left end of the iron core (303) is provided with a flange, and the two ends of the spring (304) are abutted between the flange and the partition.

5. The projector imaging element adjustment mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the coil (302) via a wire to regulate the current through the coil (302) to control the magnitude of the electromagnetic force, and then uses the compression spring (304) to achieve force balance to control the position.

6. A projector imaging element adjustment system, characterized in that, The system includes a projector imaging element adjustment mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 5; a detection camera located outside the projector for collecting image information projected onto a screen; an image processing unit communicatively connected to the detection camera for receiving the image information and determining whether the image on the screen is clear based on the image information; a control unit electrically connected to both the image processing unit and the controller in the adjustment mechanism for controlling the adjustment mechanism to adjust the position and / or angle of the liquid crystal panel (4) relative to the fixed frame (1) when the image processing unit determines that the image is unclear; and a lens driving unit located on the projector lens and electrically connected to the control unit for adjusting the depth of field of the lens under the control of the control unit.

7. The projector imaging element adjustment system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The control unit is configured to coordinately control the adjustment mechanism and the lens driving unit according to the analysis results of the image processing unit. First, the lens driving unit performs coarse adjustment, and then the adjustment mechanism performs fine adjustment of the angle of the liquid crystal panel (4). The control unit adjusts the magnitude and / or direction of the current input to each coil (302) to independently control the displacement of each iron core (303), thereby coordinating the adjustment of the spatial posture of the screen frame (2).

8. The projector imaging element adjustment system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a parameter storage unit, which is connected to the control unit and is used to store the parameter status of each of the electromagnetic adjustment components (3) and the lens drive unit after the control unit completes the image clarity adjustment.

9. A method for adjusting the imaging element of a projector, characterized in that, The system applied to the projector imaging element adjustment system as described in any one of claims 6 to 8 includes the following steps: S1. Obtain real-time image information of the projected image through the detection camera; S2. The image processing unit analyzes the real-time image information to determine whether the image clarity meets the preset standard; S3. If the image clarity does not meet the preset standard, the control unit generates an adjustment command based on the analysis results; S4. According to the adjustment command, simultaneously or sequentially drive the lens driving unit to adjust the lens depth of field, and drive the adjustment mechanism to adjust the position and / or angle of the liquid crystal panel (4) relative to the fixed frame (1); S5. Repeat steps S1 to S4 until the image processing unit determines that the image clarity meets the preset standard.

10. The projector imaging element adjustment method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, In step S2, the method for determining whether the image clarity meets the preset standard includes: extracting the outline clarity, contrast or focus evaluation value of a specific area of ​​the real-time image information and comparing it with a preset threshold; in step S4, the lens driving unit is first controlled to perform a first stage of depth-of-field adjustment, and after the adjustment range of the lens driving unit reaches its limit, the adjustment mechanism is then controlled to perform a second stage of adjustment on the angle of the liquid crystal panel (4).

Images