Projector installation table and projection system

Abstract

To mitigate a workload associated with installation of composition that enables installation of a projector and management of a projector.SOLUTION: A projector installation table comprises: an enclosure that has an installation surface having a first projector and a second projector installed; a movement regulation part that regulates movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board that is arranged within the enclosure; and a connection part that connects at least either of the first projector and the second projector with the control board. The control board has one or more processors that execute control in which first information associated with the first projector and second information associated with the second projector are transmitted to an external computer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a projector installation stand and a projection system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a base that allows easy installation of a projector has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-15832 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, in order to properly manage projectors, systems have been proposed that use a communication network to collect and manage information such as the operating status of the projector. This type of system requires a computer to collect and transmit information about the projector. Therefore, when a projector is installed on a pedestal as in Patent Document 1, not only is it necessary to install the projector on the pedestal, but it is also necessary to install and connect a management computer, which can complicate the work involved in installing the projector and increase the workload. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is a projector installation stand comprising: a housing having an installation surface on which a first projector and a second projector are installed; a movement restriction unit that restricts movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board arranged inside the housing; and a connection unit that connects at least one of the first projector and the second projector to the control board, wherein the control board has one or more processors that perform control to send first information about the first projector and second information about the second projector to an external computer.

[0006] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a projection system comprising: a first projector that projects image light; a second projector that projects image light; and a projector installation stand on which the first projector and the second projector are installed, wherein the projector installation stand comprises a housing having an installation surface on which the first projector and the second projector are installed; a movement restriction unit that restricts movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board that is arranged inside the housing; and a connection unit that connects at least one of the first projector and the second projector to the control board, wherein the control board has one or more processors that execute control to send first information about the first projector and second information about the second projector to an external computer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an installation stand on which a projector is installed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the installation stand on which the projector is installed. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the bottom surface of the installation table. [Figure 4] A rear view of the installation stand on which the projector is installed. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] Functional block diagram of the projector. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] [1. Projection system configuration] [1-1. Projector and installation stand structure] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installation stand 2 on which a projector 10 is installed, and is a view of the projector 10 and the installation stand 2 as seen from the front. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the installation stand 2 on which the projector 10 is installed, and is a view of the projector 10 and the installation stand 2 as seen from above. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the bottom surface of the installation stand 2. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the installation stand 2 on which the projector 10 is installed. These figures show a projection system 1 made up of the installation stand 2 and one or more projectors 10 installed on the installation stand 2.

[0010] 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal and define directions on the installation table 2. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the installation table 2 is installed on a horizontal floor, and the X-axis corresponds to the left-right direction of the installation table 2, the Y-axis corresponds to the front-rear direction of the installation table 2, and the Z-axis corresponds to the up-down direction of the installation table 2. When specifying directions, the positive direction is defined as + and the negative direction is defined as -, and positive and negative signs are used in combination to indicate directions, with the direction of the arrow in each figure being the + direction and the direction opposite the arrow being the - direction. For example, the +X direction corresponds to the leftward direction of the installation table 2, the +Y direction corresponds to the forward direction of the installation table 2, and the +Z direction corresponds to the upward direction of the installation table 2.

[0011] The projection system 1 includes an installation stand 2 and a plurality of projectors 10 installed on the installation stand 2. The installation stand 2 only needs to be capable of installing a plurality of projectors 10, and there is no limit to the number of projectors 10 installed on the installation stand 2. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which three projectors 10 are installed on the installation surface 21a. These projectors 10 are referred to as projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C, and when there is no need to distinguish between the projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C, they will be referred to as projectors 10. The projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C are installed side by side along the X axis on the installation surface 21a, with projector 10A located on the far left, projector 10C located on the right, and projector 10B located in the center.

[0012] The projector 10 is a display device that projects image light and includes a main body 11 and various components housed within the main body 11. The components housed within the main body 11 include a projection unit 123. The projection unit 123 includes a light source, a light modulation device that modulates the light emitted by the light source, and a projection optical system that projects the image light modulated by the light modulation device. Examples of the light source include lamps such as halogen lamps, xenon lamps, and ultra-high pressure mercury lamps, as well as solid-state light sources such as LEDs and laser light sources. The light modulation device may be, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal panel, a reflective liquid crystal panel, or a digital micromirror device (DMD). The projection optical system includes lenses, mirrors, prisms, and the like that focus the image light modulated by the light modulation device onto a projection surface, and may also include a zoom mechanism and a focus adjustment mechanism that adjusts the focus. The projector 10 also includes built-in circuits that drive the various components of the projection unit 123. The projection optical system includes a projection lens 13 exposed at the front surface of the main body 11 .

[0013] Projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C have a common configuration in that each unit, including the above-described projection unit 123, is built into main body 11, but the specifications, such as the size and shape of main body 11 and the resolution of projection unit 123, may differ. In other words, multiple projectors 10 with different shapes and specifications can be installed on installation stand 2.

[0014] The installation stand 2 has a housing 21. The housing 21 has a flat top surface and is generally box-shaped with a space inside. The top surface of the housing 21 is used as an installation surface 21a on which the projectors 10 can be placed. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which three projectors 10 are installed side by side on the installation surface 21a, but this is just one example, and there is no limit to the number of projectors 10 that can be installed on the installation stand 2.

[0015] The installation stand 2 includes legs 25 at the bottom of the housing 21. The installation stand 2 is installed on a flat surface, such as the floor or the top surface of furniture or fixtures. The legs 25 contact the installation surface of the installation stand 2 to support the housing 21. The legs 25 may be rod-shaped, plate-shaped, box-shaped, or have other shapes. In this embodiment, the legs 25 are box-shaped. The legs 25 may be hollow or may not have any internal space. The installation stand 2 includes multiple legs 25. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , three legs 25 support the housing 21. A material with vibration absorption properties may be used for some or all of the legs 25. For example, the parts of the legs 25 that contact the installation surface of the installation stand 2, or the entire legs 25, may be made of a vibration-absorbing material such as cork or flexible synthetic resin. In this case, vibrations at the installation location of the installation stand 2 can be prevented from affecting the operation of the projector 10, and vibrations associated with the operation of the projector 10 can be prevented from being transmitted to the installation location. Furthermore, the legs 25 may be provided with a mechanism for adjusting the length of the legs 25, so that the height of the installation table 2 can be adjusted.

[0016] A support plate 31 that restricts movement of the projector 10 installed on the installation surface 21a is provided on the installation surface 21a. The support plate 31 is a plate-like member that stands upright almost perpendicular to the installation surface 21a. The support plate 31 is movable in a direction along the X-axis and can be stopped at any position in this movement direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a groove 33 is formed in the installation surface 21a. The lower end of the support plate 31 has, for example, a protrusion (not shown), which engages with the groove 33. With this configuration, the support plate 31 does not move in a direction along the Y-axis but can move along the X-axis. For example, friction between the protrusion and the groove 33 prevents the support plate 31 from easily moving in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the support plate 31 is stationary on the installation surface 21a and restricts movement of the main body 11.

[0017] The main body 11 of the projector 10 installed on the installation surface 21a is sandwiched from the left and right by a pair of support plates 31. For example, three pairs of support plates 31 corresponding to three projectors 10 are erected on the installation surface 21a, and each of the support plates 31 is movable along the X axis. Because the support plates 31 are movable, various projectors 10 with different sizes in the direction along the X axis can be installed on the installation surface 21a.

[0018] An area on the installation surface 21a where the projectors 10 are installed is defined as an installation area 35. For example, if three projectors 10 are installed, installation areas 35A, 35B, and 35C are assumed as the installation area 35 on the installation surface 21a. The installation area 35 only needs to overlap with the bottom surface of the main body 11, and does not have to completely match the size and shape of the bottom surface of the main body 11. The installation area 35 corresponds to, for example, a range in which the support plate 31 can move in the direction along the X axis.

[0019] In the installation surface 21a, an air intake 27 opens between the support plates 31. More specifically, an air intake 27 opens between the installation area 35A and the installation area 35B, and between the installation area 35B and the installation area 35C. The air intake 27 is a hole that penetrates the installation surface 21a, and allows air to flow between the space inside the housing 21 and the outside of the housing 21. It is preferable that the air intake 27 does not overlap with the installation area 35, and more preferably, the entire air intake 27 is outside the installation area 35. In this case, there is an advantage that the air intake 27 is not blocked by the main body 11, and the flow of air is not hindered.

[0020] 2 and 4, a blower fan 41 is disposed inside the housing 21 at a position overlapping with the air intake port 27. The blower fan 41 blows air from the air intake port 27 toward the inside of the housing 21. As a result, air outside the housing 21, i.e., outside air, is taken into the internal space of the housing 21.

[0021] Three legs 25 are erected on the bottom surface 21b of the housing 21. These three legs 25 are referred to as legs 25A, 25B, and 25C, and when there is no need to distinguish between the legs 25A, 25B, and 25C, they are simply referred to as legs 25. There are no limitations on the number and positions of the legs 25 that the installation stand 2 has, but in this embodiment, the three legs 25 are provided at positions corresponding to the installation positions of the three projectors 10. In other words, the legs 25 are arranged at positions corresponding to the installation area 35 in the direction along the Z axis.

[0022] Specifically, leg 25A is located directly below installation area 35A, lower surface 25b is located directly below installation area 35B, and leg 25C is located directly below installation area 35C. Therefore, the weight of the three projectors 10 installed on installation surface 21a can be supported by legs 25 located directly below each projector 10. With this configuration, the installation stand 2 with the projectors 10 installed can be stably supported by legs 25.

[0023] An exhaust port 29 opens in the bottom surface 21b between the legs 25. More specifically, an exhaust port 29 opens between the legs 25A and 25B, and between the legs 25B and 25C. The exhaust port 29 is a hole that penetrates the bottom surface 21b, and allows air to circulate between the internal space of the housing 21 and the outside of the housing 21. The exhaust port 29 is provided at a position that does not overlap with the legs 25. Outside air flows into the internal space of the housing 21 by the operation of a blower fan 41 installed at the position of the air intake 27. When the internal space of the housing 21 becomes positive pressure due to the action of the blower fan 41, air is exhausted from the internal space of the housing 21 through the exhaust port 29 toward the installation surface of the installation stand 2.

[0024] As shown by dashed lines in each of FIGS. 2 to 4 , a control board 200 is housed in the internal space of the housing 21. Semiconductor devices such as a control circuit 201 are mounted on the control board 200. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 , the control circuit 201 constitutes a computer equipped with a processor. Each part of the control board 200, including the control circuit 201, is an example of a device that serves as a heat source that generates heat during operation. Therefore, while the projection system 1 is in use, heat from the heat source needs to be dissipated in the internal space of the housing 21. The installation stand 2 cools the inside of the housing 21 by drawing outside air into the housing 21 with the blower fan 41, and the heat is then discharged together with the airflow from the exhaust port 29. This cools the control board 200 housed in the housing 21, allowing the control circuit 201 and other devices to operate at appropriate temperatures.

[0025] The positions of the intake port 27 and the exhaust port 29 are just an example, and the intake port 27 and the exhaust port 29 may be provided on the side, front, or rear of the housing 21, for example.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 4, a connection portion 43 is provided on the rear surface of the housing 21. The connection portion 43 is provided corresponding to at least one projector 10. In this embodiment, three connection portions 43 are provided corresponding to three projectors 10. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, the position of the connection portion 43 on the Y axis overlaps with the space between a pair of support plates 31 that support the projector 10.

[0027] The connection unit 43 has a first terminal 45 and a second terminal 47. The first terminal 45 and the second terminal 47 are terminals that are electrically connected to the control board 200, and are connected to the projector 10 via a communication cable 5, which will be described later. The first terminal 45 and the second terminal 47 are, for example, connectors through which digital data or analog signals are input and output.

[0028] For example, the first terminal 45 is an interface through which image data and audio data are input and output, and the second terminal 47 is an interface through which digital control data is input and output. Specifically, the first terminal 45 is a digital interface such as HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), HDBaseT, or USB. The second terminal 47 is a digital interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), Ethernet, or another digital interface. When the first terminal 45 is configured as a USB interface, standards supported by the first terminal 45 include USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, and subsequent standards. The same applies to the second terminal 47. Ethernet is a registered trademark. HDMI is a registered trademark. HDBaseT is a registered trademark. The installation stand 2 may also be configured such that the first terminal 45 and the second terminal 47 include connectors or interface circuits that comply with digital interface standards other than those listed above. The second terminal 47 may also be configured to include an analog video terminal such as an RCA terminal, a VGA terminal, an S terminal, or a D terminal, and to be capable of outputting an analog video signal.

[0029] The control board 200 transmits and receives control data to each projector 10 via the first terminal 45. The control board 200 also outputs video data to at least one projector 10 installed on the installation stand 2 via the second terminal 47. At this time, the control board 200 may also output audio data via the second terminal 47. It is sufficient that the housing 21 is provided with first terminals 45 corresponding to the number of projectors 10 that can be installed on the installation surface 21a, and at least one second terminal 47.

[0030] In this way, the installation stand 2 is a base that allows multiple projectors 10 to be installed on the installation surface 21a. The installation stand 2 can stably hold the projectors 10 regardless of the size of the installed projectors 10 by moving the support plate 31 to match the size and shape of the main body 11. The installation stand 2 has a control board 200 equipped with a computer, and the control board 200 can be connected to each of the projectors 10 installed on the installation surface 21a via connection parts 43.

[0031] In the above configuration, the installation stand 2 corresponds to an example of a projection system base. The projector 10A corresponds to an example of a first projector, and the projector 10B corresponds to an example of a second projector. The leg 25A corresponds to an example of a first leg, and the leg 25B corresponds to an example of a second leg. Furthermore, the installation area 35A corresponds to an example of a first installation area, and the installation area 35B corresponds to an example of a second installation area. The support plate 31 corresponds to an example of a movement restricting section.

[0032] Furthermore, projector 10C may be a third projector. In this case, leg 25C can be called a third leg, and installation area 35C can be called a third installation area.

[0033] [1-2. Control system of the installation stand] Here, the configuration of the control system of the installation stand 2 will be described. Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of the installation stand 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the main parts of an example configuration of the installation stand 2, and for example, the installation stand 2 may be provided with components not shown in Fig. 5, and there is no restriction on omitting some of the components shown in Fig. 5.

[0034] A control circuit 201 is mounted on the control board 200. The control circuit 201 includes a processor 210 and a memory 220. The processor 210 is a computer configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-processing unit), a microcontroller, or other information processing device. The processor 210 may be a single processor, or multiple processors may constitute the processor 210. The processor 210 controls each component of the installation stand 2 by executing a program stored in the memory 220. The memory 220 is a storage device that stores data in a non-volatile manner using a flash memory, a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, or the like. The memory 220 stores programs executed by the processor 210, data processed by the processor 210, and the like. The memory 220 stores, for example, a control program 221 and an app 222. "App" is an abbreviation for application program. The control program 221 is basic control software that controls the installation stand 2, such as an OS (Operating System). The control program 221 provides a platform on which the application 222 runs.

[0035] The processor 210 and the memory 220 may be independent semiconductor devices, or may be integrated into a SoC (System on Chip). The control circuit 201 may be a device that integrates an image processing processor, a communication unit 231, an image I / F 233, and an I / F 235, which will be described later.

[0036] The control circuit 201 is connected to a communication unit 231 , an image I / F 233 , and an I / F 235 via a bus 237 .

[0037] The communication unit 231 includes a connector and a communication circuit to which a communication cable can be connected, and is connected via the communication cable to various communication networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a public line network, the Internet, etc. The communication unit 231 executes data communication with an external computer through the communication network. The communication unit 231 may include an antenna, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a modem, etc., and may be configured to execute wireless data communication. An example of the external computer is the server 6 described below.

[0038] The image I / F 233 is connected to the first terminal 45. The image I / F 233 includes an interface circuit for inputting and outputting video data through the first terminal 45. The image I / F 233 outputs the video data in accordance with the control of the processor 210. The first terminal 45 may be mounted on the control board 200 together with the image I / F 233.

[0039] The I / F 235 is connected to the second terminal 47. The I / F 235 includes an interface circuit for performing data communication via the second terminal 47. The I / F 235 communicates with the projector 10 and acquires information about the projector 10 under the control of the processor 210. The second terminal 47 may be mounted on the control board 200 together with the I / F 235.

[0040] The communication unit 231, the image I / F 233, and the I / F 235 can be configured as, for example, a semiconductor device, a circuit, or an apparatus different from the control circuit 201. The communication unit 231, the image I / F 233, and the I / F 235 correspond to an example of a device that serves as a heat source.

[0041] A power supply circuit 239 is connected to the control board 200. The power supply circuit 239 is connected to a commercial AC power source or the like, converts AC current to DC current and voltage, and supplies DC current of a predetermined voltage to the control board 200. The power supply circuit 239 also supplies DC current to the blower fan 41, causing the blower fan 41 to operate. The power supply circuit 239 may be provided with a power switch (not shown). A fan control unit that controls the blower fan 41 under the control of the processor 210 may also be provided, and the blower fan 41 may be connected to this fan control unit. The power supply circuit 239 is housed inside the housing 21 together with the control board 200. The power supply circuit 239 may be mounted on a circuit board separate from the control board 200, or may be mounted on the control board 200. The power supply circuit 239 may be included in the device that serves as a heat source.

[0042] The processor 210 executes the application 222. The application 222 is software that manages the projector 10. By executing the application 222, the processor 210 determines whether or not a device is connected to the I / F 235 via the second terminal 47 and the type of the connected device.

[0043] When the processor 210 determines that a projector 10 is connected to the I / F 235, it acquires information about the projector 10. Examples of the information about the projector 10 include identification information unique to each projector 10, information about the manufacturer and model name of the projector 10, information about the operating time of the projector 10, and information about users registered as owners or users of the projector 10. Examples of the identification information unique to the projector 10 include the serial number assigned to the projector 10 and the name assigned to the projector 10. The processor 210, using the function of the app 222, generates information for transmission to be sent to an external computer based on information acquired from one or more projectors 10 connected to the I / F 235. Examples of the information for transmission include first information S1, second information S2, and third information S3. The first information S1 includes information acquired from the projector 10A, the second information S2 includes information acquired from the projector 10B, and the third information S3 includes information acquired from the projector 10C. Furthermore, the first information S1, the second information S2, and the third information S3 may include information related to the control circuit 201. The information related to the control circuit 201 is, for example, the network address of the communication unit 231 in the communication network, identification information assigned to the control circuit 201, the date and time when the processor 210 acquired information from the projector 10, and other information.

[0044] [1-3. Projector control system] The configuration of the control system of the projector 10 will be described. Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of the projector 10. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the main parts of an example configuration of the projector 10, and for example, the projector 10 may be provided with configurations not shown in Fig. 6, and there is no restriction on omitting some of the configurations shown in Fig. 6. Furthermore, multiple projectors 10 installed on the installation stand 2 may have different configurations.

[0045] The projector 10 includes a PJ control unit 101. The PJ control unit 101 includes a PJ processor 103, which is composed of a CPU, MPU, etc., and a PJ memory 105. The PJ control unit 101 controls each part of the projector 10 by executing programs using the PJ processor 103. The PJ memory 105 is a non-volatile storage device composed of semiconductor memory elements such as flash memory. The PJ memory 105 stores programs executed by the PJ processor 103 and data processed by the PJ processor 103. The PJ memory 105 includes a volatile storage area and may also serve as a work area for temporarily storing programs executed by the PJ processor 103 and data to be processed.

[0046] The projector 10 includes an image I / F 121, an I / F 122, a projection unit 123, an image processing unit 124, a remote control receiving unit 125, an operation panel 126, and an audio processing unit 127. These units are connected by a bus 129.

[0047] The projection unit 123 projects image light onto a projection surface. As described above, the projection unit 123 includes a light source, a light modulation device, and a projection optical system. The projection unit 123 may also include a light source drive circuit that supplies power to the light source and a drive circuit that causes the light modulation device to perform drawing.

[0048] The image I / F (interface) 121 is connected to a device serving as a video source. For example, the image I / F 121 includes communication hardware such as a connector and an interface circuit that conforms to a predetermined communication standard. The image I / F 121 corresponds to the first terminal 45 and is, for example, a digital interface such as HDMI, HDBaseT, or USB. HDMI and HDBaseT are registered trademarks. The image I / F 121 may include an analog video terminal such as an RCA terminal, a VGA terminal, an S terminal, or a D terminal, and may be configured to be able to receive analog video signals.

[0049] The I / F 122 is an interface that connects to a computer or device external to the projector 10, and includes communication hardware such as a connector and interface circuit that conforms to a predetermined standard. The I / F 122 corresponds to the second terminal 47, and is, for example, a USB, Ethernet, or other digital interface.

[0050] The remote control receiving unit 125 receives a wireless signal transmitted by the remote control 4. The remote control receiving unit 125 generates an operation signal by decoding the received signal and outputs the operation signal to the PJ control unit 101. The wireless signal received by the remote control receiving unit 125 may be, for example, an infrared signal, but may be any other signal.

[0051] The operation panel 126 is provided on the housing of the projector 10 and includes various switches that can be operated by the user. The operation panel 126 outputs an operation signal to the PJ control unit 101 in response to the operation of a switch. The audio processing unit 127 is connected to a speaker (not shown) and outputs sound from the speaker under the control of the PJ control unit 101.

[0052] The image processing unit 124 performs image processing on video data input to the image I / F 121 and video data stored in the PJ memory 105 under the control of the PJ control unit 101. Examples of image processing performed by the image processing unit 124 include resolution conversion, resizing, geometric correction, digital zoom, brightness adjustment, and projection position correction. Furthermore, for example, when multiple projectors 10 are arranged side by side and tiling projection is performed, the image processing unit 124 performs edge blending. The type of image processing performed by the image processing unit 124 is specified by the PJ control unit 101. Furthermore, parameters and calculation data used by the image processing unit 124 for image processing are input from the PJ control unit 101 to the image processing unit 124. The image processing unit 124 generates a display signal for displaying the image after image processing, and outputs the signal to the light modulation device of the projection unit 123. The PJ control unit 101 sets the parameters and calculation data for the image processing performed by the image processing unit 124.

[0053] The image processing unit 124 may be configured, for example, by an integrated circuit. This type of integrated circuit includes an LSI, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), an SoC (System-on-a-chip), etc. An analog circuit may be included as part of the integrated circuit configuration, or the integrated circuit may be configured as an integrated unit of the PJ control unit 101.

[0054] The PJ control unit 101 accepts input operations from the user via the remote control 4 or the operation panel 126. In response to the user's input operations, the PJ control unit 101 causes the projection unit 123 to project an image. For example, the PJ control unit 101 controls the image processing unit 124 to perform image processing on the image data, and controls the light source and light modulation device of the projection unit 123 to project the image processed by the image processing unit 124 onto the projection surface. The PJ control unit 101 also controls the audio processing unit 127 to output audio from a speaker (not shown).

[0055] When a computer connected to the I / F 122 requests information about the projector 10, the PJ control unit 101 transmits the information in response to this request. The computer connected to the I / F 122 is, for example, the control circuit 201. The PJ control unit 101 transmits, for example, identification information, information about the manufacturer and model name, information about the operating time, and information about users registered as owners and users of the projector 10 to the control circuit 201. This information may be stored in advance in the PJ memory 105 under the control of the PJ control unit 101, for example.

[0056] [2. Example of Projection System Operation] [2-1. First operation example] As a first operation example, the installation stand 2 uses the projector 10 connected to the first terminal 45 as a display device that displays an image related to the function of the control circuit 201.

[0057] Projector 10A plays back video data stored in PJ memory 105 and plays back audio data stored in PJ memory 105. Projector 10A also plays back video data and audio data input from installation base 2 via second terminal 47. Projectors 10B and 10C do the same.

[0058] When executing the maintenance function of the control circuit 201, the installation stand 2 outputs video data to the projector 10 connected to the first terminal 45 via the first terminal 45. For example, when the projector 10C is connected to the first terminal 45 among the projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C, the installation stand 2 outputs video data to the projector 10C. The maintenance function of the control circuit 201 includes, for example, settings related to the operation of the control circuit 201, starting and stopping the execution of the application 222, and settings related to the functions of the application 222. The maintenance function of the control circuit 201 is also used when installing the control program 221 and the application 222 for the control circuit 201 or checking the operating status of the control circuit 201. In this case, the video data output by the installation stand 2 is data for a maintenance screen generated by the control circuit 201.

[0059] The installation stand 2 does not have a display device such as a liquid crystal display. Therefore, when using the maintenance function of the control circuit 201, the user of the projection system 1 needs to connect a display device and an input device to the installation stand 2. On the other hand, if a screen related to the maintenance function of the control circuit 201 is displayed on one of the projectors 10, the maintenance function of the control circuit 201 can be used without connecting a display device to the installation stand 2.

[0060] [2-2. Second operation example] 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management system 1000. The management system 1000 is a system configured by connecting an installation stand 2 via a communication network NW to a server 6 that manages information related to the projector 10. As a second operation example, an operation example in which the projection system 1 is incorporated into the management system 1000 will be described.

[0061] The communication network NW may be a LAN or a global network including a dedicated line, a public line network, the Internet, etc. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the communication network NW is configured as a LAN. The communication network NW may also be a wireless communication network such as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark.

[0062] The server 6 is a computer that has the function of performing data communication with the installation stand 2 and receives information sent by the installation stand 2. The server 6 is connected to, for example, multiple devices that have the same functions as the installation stand 2 via a communication network NW, and acquires information about the projectors connected to these devices. The server 6 classifies and stores the acquired information by projector, and manages the various projectors.

[0063] The installation stand 2 detects the connection of the projector 10 to the second terminal 47. The installation stand 2 identifies the projector 10 connected to the second terminal 47 and acquires information about the projector 10 from each projector 10. The installation stand 2 generates first information S1 based on the information acquired from projector 10A. The installation stand 2 also generates second information S2 based on the information acquired from projector 10B, and generates third information S3 based on the information acquired from projector 10C.

[0064] The installation stand 2 transmits the first information S1, the second information S2, and the third information S3 to the server 6. The server 6 receives the first information S1, the second information S2, and the third information S3 transmitted by the installation stand 2, and stores the received information in association with each of the projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C.

[0065] The installation base 2 acquires information from the projector 10A at a predetermined interval or each time the projector 10A is connected to the second terminal 47. In this case, the installation base 2 may generate first information S1 at the timing when the information is acquired from the projector 10A and transmit the first information S1 to the server 6. The same applies to the projectors 10B and 10C.

[0066] In addition, the installation stand 2 may generate the first information S1, the second information S2, and the third information S3 when it has acquired information from all of the projectors 10A, 10B, and 10C, and transmit this first information S1, second information S2, and third information S3 together to the server 6.

[0067] [3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the projection system 1 of the present disclosure includes a projector 10A that projects image light, a projector 10B that projects image light, and an installation stand 2 on which the projectors 10A and 10B are installed. The installation stand 2 includes a housing 21 having an installation surface 21a on which the projectors 10A and 10B are installed. The installation stand 2 includes a support plate 31 that restricts movement of the projectors 10A and 10B on the installation surface 21a. The installation stand 2 includes a control board 200 that is disposed inside the housing 21, and a connection unit 43 that connects the control board 200 to at least one of the projectors 10A and 10B. The control board 200 has one or more processors 210 that execute control to transmit, to the server 6, first information S1 related to the projector 10A and second information S2 related to the projector 10B.

[0068] The installation stand 2 of the present disclosure includes a housing 21 having an installation surface 21a on which projectors 10A and 10B are installed, and a support plate 31 that restricts movement of projectors 10A and 10B on the installation surface 21a. The installation stand 2 includes a control board 200 that is disposed inside the housing 21, and a connection unit 43 that connects at least one of projector 10A and projector 10B to the control board 200. The control board 200 has one or more processors 210 that execute control to transmit, to the server 6, first information S1 related to projector 10A and second information S2 related to projector 10B.

[0069] According to this configuration, the installation stand 2 on which the projector 10 can be installed functions as a device that acquires information about the projector 10 and transmits the information to the server 6. Therefore, a system for managing information about the projector 10 can be realized with a simple configuration using the installation stand 2. Therefore, the workload associated with installing the projector 10 and installing a configuration that enables the projector 10 to be managed can be reduced.

[0070] In the installation stand 2, the control board 200 has a memory 220 that stores an application 222 for the processor 210 to execute control for transmitting the first information S1 and the second information S2 to the server 6.

[0071] According to this configuration, the application program required for the control board 200 to control the transmission of the first information S1 and the second information S2 to the server 6 is stored in the memory 220. This makes it possible to further simplify the system that enables the installation of the projector 10 and the management of the projector 10.

[0072] In the installation stand 2, the connection unit 43 includes a first terminal 45 that is provided on the housing 21 and connected to the projector 10A, and a second terminal 47 that is provided on the housing 21 and connected to the projector 10B. The first terminal 45 and the second terminal 47 are electrically connected to the control board 200.

[0073] According to this configuration, the control board 200 and the projector 10 can be easily connected using the first terminal 45 and the second terminal 47 provided on the housing 21.

[0074] In the installation stand 2, the housing 21 has legs 25A and 25B provided on a bottom surface 21b located on the opposite side of the installation surface 21a in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface 21a. The legs 25A extend from the bottom surface 21b at a position on the installation surface 21a facing an installation area 35A in which the projector 10A is installed. The legs 25B extend from the bottom surface 21b at a position on the installation surface 21a facing an installation area 35B in which the projector 10B is installed.

[0075] According to this configuration, the installation stand 2 can be stably installed on an installation surface such as a floor surface on which the installation stand 2 is installed by the multiple legs 25. Furthermore, since the legs 25 are located at positions corresponding to the projector 10 installed on the installation surface 21a, the weight of the projector 10 can be reliably supported.

[0076] In the installation stand 2, a device that serves as a heat source is mounted on the control board 200. The housing 21 is provided with an intake port 27 that takes in outside air and an exhaust port 29 that exhausts air inside the housing 21, and a blower fan 41 is provided inside the housing 21.

[0077] According to this configuration, by utilizing the intake port 27, the exhaust port 29, and the blower fan 41, it is possible to introduce outside air into the housing 21 and exhaust heat from the housing 21, and it is possible to generate an airflow inside the housing 21 by the blower fan 41. Therefore, it is possible to stably operate the devices housed inside the housing 21 that serve as heat sources.

[0078] In the installation stand 2, the housing 21 has legs 25A and 25B provided on a bottom surface 21b located on the opposite side of the installation surface 21a in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface 21a. The legs 25A extend from the bottom surface 21b at a position on the installation surface 21a facing an installation area 35A in which the projector 10A is installed. The legs 25B extend from the bottom surface 21b at a position on the installation surface 21a facing an installation area 35B in which the projector 10B is installed. An exhaust port 29 is provided on the bottom surface 21b and opens between the legs 25A and 25B.

[0079] According to this configuration, the installation stand 2 can be stably installed on an installation surface such as a floor surface on which the installation stand 2 is installed by using the multiple legs 25. And, because the legs 25 are located at positions corresponding to the projector 10 installed on the installation surface 21a, the weight of the projector 10 can be reliably supported. Furthermore, because the exhaust port 29 is opened between the legs 25A and 25B, the heat inside the housing 21 can be exhausted to a position away from the projector 10. Therefore, the exhaust can be performed in such a way that the heat exhausted from the exhaust port 29 does not affect the operation of the projector 10.

[0080] In the installation stand 2, the air intake 27 opens between the installation area 35A and the installation area 35B on the installation surface 21a.

[0081] According to this configuration, since air intake port 27 is located close to the installation positions of projector 10A and projector 10B, the exhaust heat from projectors 10A and 10B is sucked in through air intake port 27. This promotes the exhaust of heat from projectors 10A and 10B, and allows projectors 10A and 10B to operate stably.

[0082] 4. Other Embodiments The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0083] The configuration in which the projector 10 is supported on the installation surface 21a is one example, and is not limited to the configuration in which the projector 10 is supported from the left and right directions of the main body 11 by a pair of support plates 31 as in the above embodiment. For example, the projector 10 may be supported by sandwiching the main body 11 between a pair of support plates 31 from the front and rear directions.

[0084] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration has been exemplified in which the connection unit 43 of the installation stand 2 and the projector 10 are connected by a communication cable 5 or the like, but this is just one example. The installation stand 2 may be configured to be connected so that data communication between the installation stand 2 and the projector 10 is possible. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which an NFC (Near Field Communication) communication device is embedded in the installation surface 21a, and the projector 10 and the control board 200 send and receive data via NFC communication. Also, the control board 200 may be configured to be connected to the projector 10 via short-range wireless communication such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark. Bluetooth is a registered trademark.

[0085] Each functional unit of the installation stand 2 shown in FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. Similarly, each functional unit of the projector 10 shown in FIG. 6 shows a functional configuration, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. Specifically, it is not necessary to implement hardware individually corresponding to each functional unit shown in each of the above figures, and it is of course possible to configure the system so that one processor executes a program to realize the functions of multiple functional units. Furthermore, some of the functions realized by software in each of the above embodiments may be realized by hardware, and some of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software.

[0086] The control program 221 and the application 222 of the installation stand 2 can be recorded, for example, on a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium. This recording medium can be a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory device. Specific examples include portable or fixed recording media such as flexible disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, flash memories, and card-type recording media. The above-described control method can also be implemented by storing the program in a server device or the like and downloading the control program from the server device.

[0087] 5. Summary of this Disclosure A summary of this disclosure is provided below. (Supplementary Note 1) A projector installation stand comprising: a housing having an installation surface on which a first projector and a second projector are installed; a movement restriction unit that restricts movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board arranged inside the housing; and a connection unit that connects at least one of the first projector and the second projector to the control board, wherein the control board has one or more processors that execute control to send first information about the first projector and second information about the second projector to an external computer. As a result, the installation stand on which the first and second projectors are installed functions as a device that acquires information about the projectors and transmits the information to an external computer. As a result, a system for managing information about the projectors can be realized with a simple configuration using the installation stand 2. This reduces the workload associated with installing the projectors and setting up a configuration that enables projector management.

[0088] (Appendix 2) The control board has a memory storing an application program for the processor to execute control to send the first information and the second information to the external computer, in a projector installation stand described in Appendix 1. This allows the application program required for the control board to send the first information and second information to an external computer to be stored in the memory, further simplifying the system that enables projector installation and management.

[0089] (Appendix 3) A projector installation stand as described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the connection portion includes a first terminal provided on the housing and connected to the first projector, and a second terminal provided on the housing and connected to the second projector, and the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected to the control board. This allows the control board and the projector to be easily connected using the first terminal and the second terminal provided on the housing of the installation stand.

[0090] (Appendix 4) A projector installation stand described in any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the housing has a bottom surface located on the opposite side of the installation surface in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface, the first leg extending from the bottom surface at a position facing a first installation area on the installation surface where the first projector is installed, and the second leg extending from the bottom surface at a position facing a second installation area on the installation surface where the second projector is installed. This allows the installation stand to be stably installed using multiple legs, and since the legs are located in positions corresponding to the projectors, the weight of the projectors can be reliably supported by the legs.

[0091] (Appendix 5) A projector installation stand as described in any one of Appendices 1 to 4, wherein the control board is equipped with a heat source device, the housing is provided with an air intake port for taking in outside air and an exhaust port for expelling air from inside the housing, and the housing is provided with a blower fan. This allows the intake and exhaust ports to be used to introduce outside air into the housing and expel heat from the housing, and allows the blower fan to generate airflow inside the housing, ensuring stable operation of the heat source devices housed inside the housing.

[0092] (Appendix 6) A projector installation stand as described in Appendix 5, wherein the housing has a first leg and a second leg on a bottom surface located on the opposite side of the installation surface in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface, the first leg extending from the bottom surface at a position facing a first installation area on the installation surface where the first projector is installed, and the second leg extending from the bottom surface at a position facing a second installation area on the installation surface where the second projector is installed, and the exhaust port is provided on the bottom surface and opens between the first leg and the second leg. This allows the installation stand to be stably installed using multiple legs, and the weight of the projector placed on the installation surface can be reliably supported by the multiple legs. Furthermore, an exhaust port is located between the two legs, allowing for exhaust to be performed without affecting the operation of the projector.

[0093] (Supplementary Note 7) The projector installation stand according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein the air intake port opens between the first installation area and the second installation area on the installation surface. This allows the exhaust heat of the projector to be sucked in through the air intake, facilitating the release of heat from the projector and enabling the projector to operate stably.

[0094] (Appendix 8) A projection system comprising: a first projector that projects image light; a second projector that projects image light; and a projector installation stand on which the first projector and the second projector are installed, wherein the projector installation stand comprises: a housing having an installation surface on which the first projector and the second projector are installed; a movement restriction unit that restricts movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board arranged inside the housing; and a connection unit that connects at least one of the first projector and the second projector to the control board, wherein the control board has one or more processors that execute control to send first information about the first projector and second information about the second projector to an external computer. As a result, the installation stand on which the first and second projectors are installed functions as a device that acquires information about the projectors and transmits the information to an external computer. As a result, a system for managing information about the projectors can be realized with a simple configuration using the installation stand 2. This reduces the workload associated with installing the projectors and setting up a configuration that enables projector management. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1...Projection system, 2...Installation stand (installation stand for projector), 4...Remote control, 5...Communication cable, 6...Server (external computer), 10...Projector, 10A...Projector (first projector), 10B...Projector (second projector), 10C...Projector, 11...Main body, 13...Projection lens, 21...Housing, 21a...Installation surface, 21b...Bottom surface, 25...Legs, 25A...Legs (first leg), 25B...Legs (second leg), 25C...Legs, 25b...Bottom surface, 27...Air intake, 29...Exhaust port, 31...Support plate (movement restriction part), 33...Groove, 35...Installation area, 35A...Installation area (first installation area), 35B...Installation area (second installation area), 35C...Installation area , 41...blower fan, 43...connection section, 45...first terminal, 47...second terminal, 101...PJ control section, 103...PJ processor, 105...PJ memory, 121...image I / F, 122...I / F, 123...projection section, 124...image processing section, 125...remote control receiver section, 126...operation panel, 127...audio processing section, 129...bus, 200...control board, 201...control circuit, 210...processor, 220...memory, 221...control program, 222...application program, 231...communication section, 233...image I / F, 235...I / F, 237...bus, 239...power supply circuit, 1000...management system, NW...communication network, S1...first information, S2...second information, S3...third information

Claims

1. a housing having an installation surface on which the first projector and the second projector are installed; a movement restriction unit that restricts movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board disposed inside the housing; a connection section that connects at least one of the first projector and the second projector to the control board, The control board has one or more processors that execute control to transmit first information about the first projector and second information about the second projector to an external computer.

2. 2. The projector installation stand according to claim 1, wherein the control board has a memory that stores an application program for the processor to execute control for transmitting the first information and the second information to the external computer.

3. the connection unit includes a first terminal provided on the housing and connected to the first projector, and a second terminal provided on the housing and connected to the second projector, The projector installation stand according to claim 1 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected to the control board.

4. The housing is provided with a first leg portion and a second leg portion on a bottom surface thereof located on the opposite side of the installation surface in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface, the first leg extends from the bottom surface at a position facing a first installation area on the installation surface in which the first projector is installed, The projector installation stand according to claim 1 , wherein the second leg extends from the bottom surface at a position on the installation surface facing a second installation area in which the second projector is installed.

5. The control board is equipped with a device that serves as a heat source, The housing is provided with an intake port for taking in outside air and an exhaust port for discharging air inside the housing, The projector installation stand according to claim 1 , further comprising a blower fan provided inside the housing.

6. The housing is provided with a first leg portion and a second leg portion on a bottom surface thereof located on the opposite side of the installation surface in a direction perpendicular to the installation surface, the first leg extends from the bottom surface at a position facing a first installation area on the installation surface in which the first projector is installed, the second leg extends from the bottom surface at a position on the installation surface facing a second installation area in which the second projector is installed, The projector installation stand according to claim 5 , wherein the exhaust port is provided on the bottom surface and opens between the first leg portion and the second leg portion.

7. The projector installation stand according to claim 6 , wherein the air intake port is open between the first installation area and the second installation area on the installation surface.

8. a first projector that projects image light; a second projector that projects image light; a projector installation stand on which the first projector and the second projector are installed, The projector installation stand comprises: a housing having an installation surface on which the first projector and the second projector are installed; a movement restriction unit that restricts movement of the first projector and the second projector on the installation surface; a control board disposed inside the housing; a connection section that connects at least one of the first projector and the second projector to the control board, a control board having one or more processors that executes control to transmit first information about the first projector and second information about the second projector to an external computer;

Images