Projection system

Abstract

The present invention provides a projection system that reduces glare when directly looking into the projected light while minimizing any loss of comfort when viewing the projected image. [Solution] The projection system 1 is generally configured to include a projection unit that forms an illumination range 20 for irradiating projection light 24 when projecting a projected image 25 inside a vehicle 8, a detection unit 4 that detects a detection target that has entered a detection range 41, and a control unit 6 that reduces the brightness of the projection light 24 when a detection target is detected in a shared range 42 of the detection range 41 that shares at least a part with the illumination range 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a projection system.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional technique, a display control device capable of reducing the visual annoyance when a driver looks at a side mirror or the like is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] This display control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires the position data of the driver's eyes, an estimation unit that estimates the position of a reflected image formation region that forms a reflected image by being reflected in the side window among the display images based on the position data of the driver's eyes, the display image, and the side window, and a brightness reduction unit that reduces the brightness of the reflected image formation region.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Conventional display control devices reduce the brightness of the reflected image formation region in order to reduce the visual annoyance when a driver looks at a side mirror or the like. However, for example, when looking into a projector that projects a projection image such as a video, if the brightness of the projection image is reduced more frequently than necessary to prevent the projection light from directly entering the eyes and causing glare, there is a problem that the projection image cannot be comfortably viewed.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a projection system that reduces glare when looking directly into the projection light while suppressing the impairment of comfort when viewing a projection image.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present invention provides a projection system comprising: a projection unit that forms an illumination area for irradiating projection light when projecting a projected image inside a vehicle; a detection unit that detects a detection target that has entered the detection area; and a control unit that reduces the brightness of the projection light when a detection target is detected in a shared area of ​​the detection area that shares at least a portion with the illumination area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce glare when looking directly into the projected light while suppressing any impairment of comfort when viewing the projected image. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the irradiation range, detection range, and shared range of a projection system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the interior of a vehicle equipped with the projection system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the projection system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the irradiation range, detection range, and shared range of the projection system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of the irradiation range, detection range, and shared range of the projection system according to the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] (Summary of the embodiment) The projection system according to this embodiment is generally configured to include: a projection unit that forms an illumination area for illuminating projection light when projecting a projected image inside a vehicle; a detection unit that detects a detection target that has entered the detection area; and a control unit that reduces the brightness of the projection light when a detection target is detected in a shared area that shares at least a portion of the detection area with the illumination area.

[0011] This projection system reduces the brightness of the projected light when a user is detected within the shared area. Compared to systems without this configuration, it minimizes the impact on viewing comfort while reducing glare when directly looking into the projected light.

[0012] [First Embodiment] (Overview of Projection System 1) Figure 1 shows an example of the illumination range, detection range, and shared range of a projection system according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 shows an example of the interior of a vehicle equipped with the projection system according to the first embodiment. In Figures 1 and 2, as an example, the area enclosed by the dashed line is shown as the illumination range 20, the area enclosed by the dotted line is shown as the detection range 41, and the area enclosed by the dashed line and also marked with diagonal lines is shown as the shared range 42. The shared range 42 is included in the detection range 41.

[0013] In the figures relating to the embodiments described below, the proportions and shapes between figures may differ from those of the actual figures. Also, in Figure 1 and Figure 4 (described later), the main signals and information flows are indicated by arrows.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the projection system 1 is generally configured to include a projector 2 as a projection unit that forms an illumination area 20 for illuminating projection light 24 when projecting a projected image 25 into the vehicle 8, a detection unit 4 that detects a target that has entered the detection area 41, and a control unit 6 that reduces the brightness of the projection light 24 when a target is detected in a shared area 42 of the detection area 41 that shares at least a part with the illumination area 20.

[0015] The projector 2 has at least one light source 21 that emits projected light 24. The control unit 6 reduces the brightness of at least one light source 21.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the shared range 42 shares at least a portion with the irradiation range 20 and is narrower than the detection range 41.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 2 has an irradiation surface 23 from which projection light 24 is emitted. The detection unit 4 has a reference plane 40 of the detection range 41. The projector 2 and the detection unit 4 are arranged such that the irradiation surface 23 and the reference plane 40 are adjacent to each other. This reference plane 40 is, for example, the surface of a detection sensor or a plane including the starting point of the detection range 41. The reference plane 40 of the present embodiment includes, as an example, the starting point of the detection range 41, but is not limited thereto.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the projector 2 of the present embodiment is arranged inside the upper surface 830 of the console 83 of the vehicle 8, and projects a projected image 25 from the lower side of the vehicle 8 toward the ceiling 86. As shown in FIG. 2, this console 83 is located between the driver's seat 81 and the passenger seat 82 and on the floor 85.

[0019] The detection target in the present embodiment is the passenger 9 sitting in the driver's seat 81, but it may also be a passenger sitting in the passenger seat 82. Further, the detection target may be the projection system 1 arranged close to the rear seat 87, and the passenger sitting in the rear seat 87 may be the detection target.

[0020] (Configuration of the projector 2) As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 2 is schematically configured to include a light source 21 and an optical system 22. The light source 21 is, for example, a light emitting element, but is not limited thereto. The light source 21 may also be configured to include a plurality of light emitting elements. In this case, the light source 21 may be configured to output monochromatic projection light 24, or may be configured to output projection light 24 of a plurality of colors.

[0021] When the light source 21 has one light emitting element, the control unit 6 controls to reduce the luminance of the light emitting element. When the light source 21 has a plurality of light emitting elements, the control unit 6 reduces the luminance of at least one light emitting element.

[0022] The optical system 22 is generally configured to include, for example, a focusing lens that collects light output from the light source 21, a display unit that displays the projected image, and a projection lens that projects the projected image 25. However, the configuration of the optical system 22 is not limited to this.

[0023] Projector 2 projects a projection image 25 based on the projection signal S2 output from control unit 6, for example, as shown in Figure 1.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the projector 2 outputs projection light 24 from inside the console 83 toward the ceiling 86 of the vehicle 8. The area illuminated by this projection light 24 is the illumination range 20. The illumination range 20 is, for example, a square pyramidal area with a rectangular base, as shown in Figure 2, since the projected image 25 is rectangular, but is not limited to this.

[0025] As an alternative configuration, the projector 2 may be positioned inside the armrest 84 together with the detection unit 4, as shown in Figure 2. In this case, the armrest 84 is configured such that its upper surface 840 transmits the projected light 24 and the detection unit 4 can detect the occupant 9.

[0026] (Configuration of detection unit 4) The detection unit 4 is configured, for example, using a proximity sensor to detect the approach of the occupant 9, a TOF (Time of Flight) sensor to measure the distance to the occupant 9, and an image processing device that recognizes the occupant 9 based on captured images and detects the distance to the occupant 9, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the detection range 41 shares at least a portion of the illumination range 20; that is, a portion is included in the illumination range 20, but it does not need to include the ceiling 86 as it only needs to detect the head 90 of the occupant 9. In other words, the detection range 41 can be shorter than the illumination range 20 in the vertical direction of the vehicle 8.

[0028] As described above, the detection unit 4 is located inside the console 83 or armrest 84 together with the projector 2.

[0029] The detection unit 4 is configured to set, for example, a range within the detection range 41 in which the occupant 9 is detected. In this embodiment, the detection unit 4 has a shared range 42 that is set in advance based on the illumination range 20 and the detection range 41, and is configured to output a detection signal S3 to the control unit 6 when the occupant 9 enters this shared range 42, indicating that detection has occurred. The detection unit 4 has shared range information 43, which is information about the set shared range 42.

[0030] The detection unit 4 is positioned on the driver's seat 81 side so as to prevent the occupant 9 from looking into the projector 2 and having high-luminosity projected light 24 enter the occupant 9's eyes 91. The shared range 42, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is located on the driver's seat 81 side, with the area outside the illumination range 20 being the same as the shared range 42.

[0031] As a variation, the detection unit 4 may be positioned on the passenger seat 82 side, or on both the driver's seat 81 side and the passenger seat 82 side. When detecting occupants 9 seated in the driver's seat 81 and the passenger seat 82, the detection unit 4 is positioned side by side with the projector 2 in between.

[0032] As a further modification, the detection unit 4 can be positioned in front of or behind the illumination surface 23 of the projector 2, thereby enabling detection of occupants 9 seated in the driver's seat 81 and passenger seat 82. The front of the illumination surface 23 is the front direction of the vehicle 8, as shown in Figure 2. The rear of the illumination surface 23 is the rear direction of the vehicle 8.

[0033] (Configuration of the control unit 6) The control unit 6 is a microcomputer composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs calculations and processing on acquired data according to a stored program, and semiconductor memories such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The ROM stores, for example, the program necessary for the control unit 6 to operate. The RAM is used, for example, as a storage area to temporarily store calculation results.

[0034] The control unit 6 generates a projection signal S2 based on the projection image information S1 acquired from the vehicle's onboard device 80 and outputs it to the projector 2. This onboard device 80 is, for example, a vehicle control device that comprehensively controls the vehicle 8, or a video device that plays back images.

[0035] If the control unit 6 determines, based on the detection signal S3 acquired from the detection unit 4, that a crew member 9 has entered the shared area 42, it outputs a projection signal S2 to control the light source 21 and reduce the brightness of the projected light 24.

[0036] Below, an example of the operation of the projection system 1 of this embodiment will be described according to the flowchart in Figure 3.

[0037] (operation) When the control unit 6 of the projection system 1 receives an instruction to project the projection image 25, i.e., projection image information S1, it starts projecting the projection image 25 (Step 1). Based on the projection image information S1, the control unit 6 generates a projection signal S2 and outputs it to the projector 2. In addition, once the projection of the projection image 25 has started, the control unit 6 monitors the detection signal S3 output from the detection unit 4.

[0038] If the control unit 6 determines that "Yes" in step 2 is true, that is, that an occupant 9 has entered the shared area 42 based on the detection signal S3 (Step 2: Yes), it outputs a projection signal S2 to reduce the brightness of the projected light 24, thereby reducing the brightness of the projected light 24 (Step 3).

[0039] The control unit 6 monitors whether the occupant 9 leaves the shared area 42. If the "Yes" condition in step 4 is met, that is, if the occupant 9 leaves the shared area 42 based on the detection signal S3 (Step 4: Yes), the control unit 6 outputs a projection signal S2 to restore the brightness of the projection light 24 to its original value (Step 5), and proceeds to step 2.

[0040] The control unit 6 repeats steps 2 to 5 until the projection of the projected image 25 is stopped.

[0041] (Effects of the first embodiment) The projection system 1 according to this embodiment can reduce glare when directly looking at the projected light 24 while suppressing any impairment of comfort when viewing the projected image 25. Specifically, the projection system 1 reduces the brightness of the projected light 24 when the occupant 9 enters the shared range 42 by the detection unit 4, so compared to a configuration that is not adopted, the brightness is lower even when directly looking at the projected light 24, thus reducing glare. Furthermore, since the projection system 1 has a shared range 42 that shares part with the illumination range 20 and is narrower than the detection range 41, it can suppress the reduction of brightness more than necessary and prevent any impairment of comfort when viewing the projected image 25, compared to a configuration that is not adopted.

[0042] Since projection system 1 shares a portion of the shared range 42 with the illumination range 20, it suppresses the expansion of the area outside the illumination range 20 to an unnecessarily wide extent compared to when it is not shared, and allows occupants 9 to be detected within an appropriate range.

[0043] The projection system 1 reduces brightness before the occupant's eyes 91 enter the illumination range 20, that is, before the projected light 24 directly reaches the eyes 91. Therefore, compared to reducing brightness after entering the illumination range, glare can be reduced.

[0044] In the projection system 1, the projector 2 and the detection unit 4 are arranged so that the illumination surface 23 of the projector 2 and the reference surface 40 of the detection unit 4 are adjacent to each other. Compared to a configuration that does not employ this setup, the shared range 42 can be more limited, and excessive reduction in brightness can be suppressed.

[0045] Since the projection system 1 is located inside the console 83 and armrest 84, it is difficult to peek at the projection surface 23 of the projector 2.

[0046] [Second Embodiment] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the projector and the detection unit are arranged facing each other.

[0047] Figure 4 shows an example of the irradiation range, detection range, and shared range of the projection system according to the second embodiment. In the embodiments described below, parts having the same function and configuration as in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0048] As shown in Figure 4, the projector 2 projects an image 25 from the underside of the vehicle 8 toward the ceiling 86. The detection unit 4 is positioned on the ceiling 86 opposite the projector 2.

[0049] If the detection unit 4 is positioned, for example, near the center of the projected image 25 projected onto the ceiling 86, it can generate a shared range 42 on both the driver's seat 81 and passenger seat 82 sides. Therefore, the detection unit 4 can detect occupants 9 seated in the driver's seat 81 and passenger seat 82.

[0050] Furthermore, the detection unit 4 may also be positioned near the center of the projected image 25 projected onto the ceiling 86 when, for example, the projector 2 is positioned on the rear seat 87 side of the armrest 84 and projects a projection image 25 onto an occupant 9 seated in the rear seat 87.

[0051] (Effects of the second embodiment) In this embodiment, the projection system 1 has the projector 2 and the detection unit 4 facing each other. Compared to a configuration that is not adopted, the shared range 42 can be limited to an area closer to the head 90 of the occupant 9, thereby suppressing the unnecessary reduction of the brightness of the projected light 24 and preventing any impairment of comfort when viewing the projected image 25.

[0052] [Third Embodiment] The third embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the detection unit selectively detects occupants as the target of detection.

[0053] The detection unit 4 of this embodiment is configured to selectively detect the occupant 9 as the target of detection. The detection unit 4 is configured to detect the shape of the target of detection, for example. The detection unit 4 that selectively detects the occupant 9 is configured, for example, using an image processing device that can recognize the shape by processing the captured image, and a sensor such as a TOF sensor that can recognize the shape by measuring the distance to the target of detection.

[0054] The detection unit 4 selectively detects the head 90 of the occupant 9, but is not limited to this; for example, it may be configured to selectively detect the eyes 91 or line of sight.

[0055] As a variation, the projection system 1 may be configured such that the detection unit 4 selectively detects the hands of the occupant 9, and does not reduce the brightness when a hand is detected.

[0056] If a crew member 9 enters the shared area 42, the detection unit 4 outputs a detection signal S3 to the control unit 6 indicating that an intrusion has occurred. Based on the acquired detection signal S3, the control unit 6 outputs a projection signal S2 to the projector 2 to reduce the brightness of the projected light 24, thereby reducing the brightness of the projected light 24.

[0057] (Effects of the third embodiment) Since the projection system 1 of this embodiment selectively detects the occupant 9, it is possible to suppress the reduction in brightness of the projected light 24 due to the intrusion of objects other than the occupant 9, compared to cases where this configuration is not adopted.

[0058] [Fourth Embodiment] The fourth embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the control unit selectively determines the occupants as the target for detection.

[0059] Figure 5 shows an example of the illumination range, detection range, and shared range of the projection system according to the fourth embodiment. The control unit 6 in this embodiment is configured to selectively determine the occupant 9 as the detection target.

[0060] The detection unit 4 outputs detection information S4 regarding the detected object that has entered the shared area 42 to the control unit 6, for example, as shown in Figure 5. Based on the acquired detection information S4, the control unit 6 determines whether the detected object that has entered the shared area 42 is the occupant 9. If the detected object that has entered the shared area 42 is the occupant 9, the control unit 6 outputs a projection signal S2 to the projector 2 to reduce the brightness of the projected light 24, thereby reducing the brightness of the projected light 24.

[0061] (Effects of the fourth embodiment) In this embodiment, the projection system 1 uses the control unit 6 to determine whether the detected object is a crew member 9. Compared to a system where this determination is not made, the detection unit 4 does not require advanced processing capabilities, thus reducing costs.

[0062] As an alternative configuration, the projection system 1 may be configured such that the detection unit 4 detects the position of the object to be detected within the detection range 41, and the control unit 6 has shared range information regarding the shared range 42 and determines whether or not the object to be detected has entered the shared range 42.

[0063] According to the projection system 1 of at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce glare when looking directly into the projected light while suppressing any impairment of comfort when viewing the projected image.

[0064] Although several embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments and modifications are merely examples and do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in these embodiments and modifications are necessarily essential for solving the problem of the invention. Moreover, these embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0065] 1…Projection system, 2…Projector, 4…Detection unit, 6…Control unit, 8…Vehicle, 9…Occupant, 20…Irradiation range, 21…Light source, 22…Optical system, 23…Irradiation surface, 24…Projected light, 25…Projected image, 40…Reference plane, 41…Detection range, 42…Shared range, 43…Shared range information, 80…In-vehicle device, 81…Driver's seat, 82…Passenger seat, 83…Console, 84…Armrest, 85…Floor, 86…Ceiling, 87…Rear seat, 90…Head, 91…Eyes, 830, 840…Top surface

Claims

1. A projection unit that forms an illumination area for projecting a projection image into the vehicle, A detection unit that detects an object that has entered the detection range, When the detection target is detected in a shared area within the detection range that shares at least a portion with the irradiation range, the control unit reduces the brightness of the projected light. A projection system equipped with...

2. The projection unit has at least one light source that emits the projection light, The control unit reduces the brightness of the at least one light source. The projection system according to claim 1.

3. The shared range shares at least a portion with the irradiation range and is narrower than the detection range. The projection system according to claim 1.

4. The projection unit has an illumination surface from which the projected light is emitted. The detection unit has a reference surface of the detection range, The projection unit and the detection unit are arranged so that the irradiation surface and the reference surface are adjacent to each other. The projection system according to claim 1.

5. The projection unit is positioned inside the upper surface of the vehicle's console and projects the image from the lower side of the vehicle toward the ceiling. The projection system according to claim 1.

6. The projection unit projects the projection image from the underside of the vehicle toward the ceiling. The detection unit is positioned on the ceiling so as to face the projection unit. The projection system according to claim 1.

7. The detection unit selectively detects occupants as the target of detection. The projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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