Projector

Abstract

To provide a projector that enables easier operation, setting and the like.SOLUTION: A projector, which modulates light from a light source into video light on the basis of an input video signal and projects the video light, comprises a communication part which communicates with a terminal device, and a control part which transmits first data to the terminal device when a method for connecting the communication part and the terminal device to each other is predetermined wired connection and which transmits second data different from the first data to the terminal device when the method for connecting the communication part and the terminal device to each other is wireless connection.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a projector. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a video display device connectable to a network. The video display device includes an identification information issuing server that assigns identification information necessary for communication to each of a video display device connected to a specific network and an information processing device that supplies image data via the specific network, a communication unit that uses the identification information assigned to each of the video display device and the information processing device to communicate with the information processing device connected to the specific network, and a display unit that generates an image based on image data supplied from the information processing device and projects and displays the image on a screen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-145336 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Projectors are sometimes used in projection mapping, for example. Projection mapping is a 3D image projection technology that uses light and color to project images onto surfaces such as industrial sites, public facilities, and city landmarks. In projection mapping, the surfaces onto which images are projected are often not flat. When a settings menu is displayed on an image projected onto a non-flat surface, the displayed content is difficult to see, making it difficult for users to operate and set up the projector.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a projector that can be operated and set up more easily. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a projector that modulates light from a light source into image light based on an input image signal and projects the image light, the projector comprising: a communication unit that communicates with a terminal device; and a control unit that transmits first data to the terminal device when the connection method between the communication unit and the terminal device is a predetermined wired connection, and transmits second data different from the first data to the terminal device when the connection method between the communication unit and the terminal device is a wireless connection.

[0007] These comprehensive or specific aspects may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium, or may be realized as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a projector that can be operated and set up more easily can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of connection between a projector and a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing between a projector and a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with appropriate reference to the drawings. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters and redundant descriptions of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of connection between a projector 1 and a terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment.

[0012] The terminal device 2 can be connected to the projector 1 and can operate and set up the projector 1. Examples of the terminal device 2 include a smartphone and a tablet terminal. This allows the user to operate and set up the projector 1 more easily through the terminal device 2 at hand than by directly operating the projector 1.

[0013] The terminal device 2 may have a wireless LAN connection function, a USB tethering function, and a mobile communication network (cellular network) connection function. The projector 1 has a function of connecting to the terminal device 2 via wireless LAN and a function of connecting to the terminal device 2 via the USB tethering function.

[0014] In this embodiment, when the projector 1 connects to the terminal device 2 via wireless LAN, it requests authentication from the terminal device 2, but when it connects to the terminal device 2 via a USB cable using the USB tethering function, it does not request authentication from the terminal device 2.

[0015] When connecting to the terminal device 2 using the USB tethering function via a USB cable, the reason why authentication of the terminal device 2 does not need to be requested is as follows: Since the terminal device 2 and the projector 1 are physically connected one-to-one via a USB cable, there is no need to assume connections from an unspecified number of people as in the case of a wireless LAN, and security can be ensured without authentication. Furthermore, since the terminal device 2 does not have a network routing function, access to the terminal device 2 from the external Internet does not reach the projector 1 via the USB cable, and security can be ensured without authentication.

[0016] As a result, by connecting the terminal device 2 to the projector 1 via a USB cable, the user can easily operate and set up the projector 1 by operating the terminal device 2 without being required to undergo authentication. On the other hand, when the projector 1 connects to the terminal device 2 via a wireless LAN, it can ensure security by requesting authentication from the terminal device 2.

[0017] The projector 1 may further have a wired LAN connection function. When connecting to the terminal device 2 or an external device (such as a notebook PC) via a wired LAN, the projector 1 may request authentication in the same way as in the case of a wireless LAN.

[0018] This embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0019] <Configuration of terminal device> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal device 2 according to this embodiment.

[0020] The terminal device 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an input unit 24, and a display unit 25.

[0021] The storage unit 22 stores computer programs, data, and the like for implementing the functions of the terminal device 2. The storage unit 22 may be configured by a volatile storage medium and / or a non-volatile storage medium.

[0022] The control unit 21 reads and executes computer programs and data from the storage unit 22 to realize the functions of the terminal device 2. The control unit 21 may be interpreted as a processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a controller, etc.

[0023] The communication unit 23 processes transmission and reception of data via a wireless LAN. The communication unit 23 also processes transmission and reception of data using a USB tethering function via a USB cable. The communication unit 23 also processes transmission and reception of data via a mobile communication network (cellular network). If the terminal device 2 has a wired LAN interface, the communication unit 23 may process transmission and reception of data via the wired LAN.

[0024] The input unit 24 accepts input operations from the user. The display unit 25 displays images, etc. The input unit 24 and the display unit 25 may be integrated to form a touch panel screen.

[0025] <Projector configuration> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the projector 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0026] The projector 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and an image projection unit 14. Although not shown, the projector 1 may further include an input unit that accepts operations from a user.

[0027] The image projection unit 14 includes various devices such as a projection lens and an LCD panel that are used by the projector 1 to project an image, and modulates light from a light source into image light based on an input image signal, and projects the image light.

[0028] The communication unit 13 processes data transmission and reception via a wireless LAN. The communication unit 13 also processes data transmission and reception via a USB cable using a USB tethering function. The communication unit 13 may also process data transmission and reception via a wired LAN.

[0029] The storage unit 12 stores computer programs and data for implementing the functions of the projector 1. The storage unit 12 may be configured by a volatile storage medium and / or a non-volatile storage medium.

[0030] The control unit 11 realizes the functions of the projector 1 according to this embodiment by reading and executing the computer programs and data stored in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 may be interpreted as a processor, a CPU, a controller, etc.

[0031] When the connection method between the communication unit 13 and the terminal device 2 is a predetermined wired connection, the control unit 11 transmits first data to the terminal device 2. When the connection method between the communication unit 13 and the terminal device 2 is a wireless connection, the control unit 11 transmits second data different from the first data to the terminal device 2. The first data does not include an authentication request for the terminal device 2, and is, for example, data for displaying a web page for operating and setting the projector 1. The second data is, for example, data for making an authentication request for the terminal device 2. The authentication method may be authentication using an ID and password, or may be authentication using another known method.

[0032] The predetermined wired connection may be a connection using a USB cable. In this case, the control unit 11 performs IP communication with the terminal device 2 connected via the USB cable using a USB tethering function. The wireless connection may be a connection using a wireless LAN. In this case, the control unit 11 performs IP communication with the terminal device 2 via the wireless LAN.

[0033] The control unit 11 may provide a WEB server function 15. The WEB server function 15 provides the terminal device 2 with a WEB page for operating and setting the projector 1 described above. If the connection method of the terminal device 2 is a wireless LAN connection, the WEB server function 15 requests authentication from the terminal device 2, and provides the WEB page if the authentication is successful. If the connection method of the terminal device 2 is a USB tethering connection, the WEB server function 15 provides the WEB page without requesting authentication from the terminal device 2. This allows a user to connect the terminal device 2 to the projector 1 with a USB cable and turn on the USB tethering function of the terminal device 2, thereby accessing the WEB server function 15 of the projector 1 without authentication and easily operating and setting the projector 1 from the WEB page.

[0034] <Flowchart> Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing between the projector 1 according to the present embodiment and the terminal device 2. Fig. 4 illustrates processing when the terminal device 2 is connected to the projector 1 via a USB cable.

[0035] The user connects the terminal device 2 and the projector 1 with a USB cable (St101).

[0036] The terminal device 2 transmits a notification to the projector 1 that a USB device has been connected (St102). If the terminal device 2 is an Android model, the terminal device 2 transmits a USB device bind notification to the projector 1. If the terminal device 2 is an iOS model, the terminal device 2 transmits a USB device add notification to the projector 1.

[0037] The user operates the input unit 24 of the terminal device 2 to turn on the USB tethering function (St103).

[0038] If the terminal device 2 is an Android model, the terminal device 2 transmits a notification to the projector 1 that the USB device has been bound (St104). This notification is called a USB device bind notification.

[0039] The control unit 11 of the projector 1 detects the connection of the terminal device 2 to the communication unit 13. When the control unit 11 detects the connection, it determines the connection method of the terminal device 2. In FIG. 4, since the communication unit 13 receives the notification of step St102 and / or step St104, the control unit 11 determines that the connection method is a connection using the USB tethering function.

[0040] The control unit 11 of the projector 1 disables the wired LAN and wireless LAN functions of the communication unit 13 (St105). The control unit 11 of the projector 1 may also disable functions of other connection methods, such as Bluetooth, in the communication unit 13. In other words, the control unit 11 temporarily enables only the USB tethering function via the USB cable connected in step St101. This makes it possible to prevent external devices other than the terminal device 2 connected by the USB cable from connecting to the projector 1 via a LAN or the like.

[0041] The control unit 11 of the projector 1 requests an IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server of the terminal device 2 connected via a USB cable, and receives an IP address from the terminal device 2 (St106). This enables IP communication between the projector 1 and the terminal device 2.

[0042] The control unit 11 of the projector 1 starts the web server function 15 for the USB path (St107).

[0043] The user taps a button for connecting via the USB tethering function (for example, a "USB CONNECT CONTROL" button) displayed on the touch panel screen of the terminal device 2 (St108). In response to the tapping of the button, the terminal device 2 sends a projector search command to the projector 1 (St109). The projector search command is sent via UDP communication. The projector 1 returns a response to the search command to the terminal device 2 (St110). This response includes the IP address of the web server function that the projector 1 started in step St107, and the terminal device 2 acquires the IP address.

[0044] The terminal device 2 uses the acquired IP address to access the web server function 15 running on the projector 1 (Step St111). This access is generally performed using Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) communication.

[0045] The terminal device 2 displays a web page provided by the web server function 15 of the projector 1 on the display unit 25, and the user can operate and set up the projector 1 by performing operations on the displayed web page via the input unit 24 (e.g., a touch panel screen).

[0046] After completing tasks such as setting up the projector 1, the user operates the input unit 24 of the terminal device 2 to turn off the USB tethering function (St112). In this case, the terminal device 2 transmits a notification to the projector 1 that the USB device has been disconnected (St113). This notification is called a USB device remove notification. Note that if the user unplugs the USB cable connecting the terminal device 2 and the projector 1, the control unit 11 of the projector 1 may detect the disconnection of the USB device.

[0047] When the control unit 11 of the projector 1 receives the usb device remove notification or detects the disconnection of the USB device, it stops the web server function 15 for the USB path (St114).

[0048] The control unit 11 of the projector 1 enables the wired LAN and the wireless LAN (St115). The control unit 11 of the projector 1 may also enable other connection methods such as Bluetooth. This is to terminate USB tethering via a USB cable and enable other communications.

[0049] When the control unit 11 of the projector 1 receives a connection request from the terminal device 2 via a wireless LAN (or a wired LAN), the control unit 11 may activate the WEB server function 15 for the LAN path instead of the WEB server function 15 for the USB path. The WEB server function 15 for the LAN path requests authentication upon initial access from the terminal device 2, and provides a WEB page if the authentication is successful. The authentication method may be authentication using an ID and password, or may be authentication using another method.

[0050] Through the above process, the projector 1 provides a web page to the terminal device 2 connected via a USB cable by the USB tethering function, without requiring authentication. This allows the user to easily operate and configure the projector 1 through the web page displayed on the terminal device 2, without requiring authentication. On the other hand, the projector 1 requests authentication from the terminal device 2 connected via a wireless LAN (or wired LAN), and provides the web page if the authentication is successful. This allows the projector 1 to ensure security.

[0051] (Summary of this embodiment) The above description of the first embodiment discloses the following techniques.

[0052] <Technology 1> A projector (1) modulates light from a light source into image light based on an input image signal and projects the image light. The projector (1) includes a communication unit (13) that communicates with a terminal device (2), and a control unit (11) that transmits first data to the terminal device when the communication unit and the terminal device are connected via a predetermined wired connection, and transmits second data different from the first data to the terminal device when the communication unit and the terminal device are connected via a wireless connection. This allows the projector to transmit different data depending on whether the connection method with the terminal device is a predetermined wired connection or a wireless connection, thereby enabling the projector to perform appropriate processing depending on the connection method.

[0053] <Technology 2> In the projector according to Technology 1, the first data does not include an authentication request for the terminal device, and the second data includes an authentication request for the terminal device. As a result, if the projector is connected to the terminal device via a predetermined wired connection, the projector transmits the first data that does not include an authentication request, so that the terminal device can easily connect to the projector and operate and set up the projector without performing authentication.

[0054] <Technology 3> In the projector described in Technology 1 or 2, when the connection method between the communication unit and the terminal device is a wireless connection, if authentication of the terminal device that sent the second data is successful, the control unit sends the first data to the terminal device. As a result, when the projector is connected to the terminal device via a wireless connection, the projector transmits the first data if authentication based on the second data is successful, thereby ensuring security.

[0055] <Technology 4> In the projector described in Technique 2 or 3, the predetermined wired connection is a connection using USB tethering. As a result, when the projector is connected to the terminal device via USB tethering using a USB cable, the projector transmits the first data that does not include an authentication request, allowing the terminal device to easily connect to the projector and perform operations and settings on the projector.

[0056] <Technology 5> In the projector according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the wireless connection is a connection via a wireless LAN. As a result, when the projector is connected to the terminal device via a wireless LAN, the projector requests authentication from the connected terminal device, thereby ensuring security.

[0057] While the intellectual property business support method according to the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications, alterations, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components of the various embodiments described above may be combined in any manner as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0058] The technology of the present disclosure is useful for a projector to which an external device can be connected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 projector 11 Control section 12 Storage section 13 Communications Department 14 Video projection unit 15 Web server function 2. Terminal Device 21 Control Unit 22 Memory section 23 Communications Department 24 Input section 25 Display section

Claims

1. A projector that modulates light from a light source into image light based on an input image signal and projects the image light, a communication unit that communicates with a terminal device; a control unit that transmits first data to the terminal device when the connection method between the communication unit and the terminal device is a predetermined wired connection, and transmits second data different from the first data to the terminal device when the connection method between the communication unit and the terminal device is a wireless connection, Projector.

2. the first data does not include an authentication request for the terminal device; the second data includes an authentication request for the terminal device; 2. The projector according to claim 1.

3. the control unit transmits the first data to the terminal device when authentication of the terminal device that transmitted the second data is successful in a case where a connection method between the communication unit and the terminal device is a wireless connection; 3. The projector according to claim 2.

4. The predetermined wired connection is a connection via USB tethering.

4. The projector according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The wireless connection is a connection via a wireless LAN.

5. The projector according to claim 4.

Images