Multi-Projector Calibration Using Common Coordinate Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual calibration of multi-projection display systems is tedious and requires high precision, often involving extensive alignment of projectors and precise measurement of points on the screen, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors due to the lack of use of mathematical tools and common coordinate systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of machine-vision style algorithms and models of the display system allows users to select correspondences between projectors to form a common coordinate system, reducing the need for precise point measurement and enabling faster, easier alignment by mapping projectors into a common coordinate system and warping it to the screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration techniques are used to align projectors and measure points on the screen, then alignment precision can be achieved, but the calibration process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and alignment procedures with automated computer vision algorithms. The system uses image processing to automatically detect projector positions and screen geometry, eliminating the need for manual point measurement and alignment while maintaining high precision through algorithmic calculation of projector parameters and transformation matrices.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise point measurement on the screen is performed during manual calibration, then geometric accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the calibration process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential calibration information directly from projector images of the screen without requiring manual measurement tools or procedures. The system captures images of the screen using projectors and automatically extracts geometric parameters, screen boundaries, and projector positions through image processing algorithms, eliminating complex manual measurement steps while achieving high geometric accuracy.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple projectors are aligned manually to form a multi-projection display system, then display coverage area is increased, but the alignment precision deteriorates due to accumulated errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based calibration system where the computer vision algorithms continuously monitor and measure the actual positions and orientations of multiple projectors relative to the screen and each other. The system uses this feedback information to automatically calculate and apply correction transformations, ensuring that all projectors are precisely aligned in a common coordinate system without accumulated errors, thereby maintaining high alignment precision across large display areas.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a system and method that reduces the precision of the manual alignment process. Users select correspondences between projectors or components of a projector, to form a common coordinate. Using models of the display system, and projectors, the common coordinate system can be mapped quickly to the entire display. The process avoids a need to measure screen points, and allows the user to move significantly fewer points. Alternatively, the invention allows introduction of machine-vision style algorithms into manual calibration techniques to improve performance. This overcomes the tediousness of prior systems by introducing models of the display into the manual alignment process, allowing selection of a small number of points on each projector, and avoiding selection of precisely measured screen points. The system conversely finds correspondences between projectors, allowing mapping of the projectors into a common coordinate system, and quick warping of the coordinate system to the screen.