Projection Device Antiwarp Mapping Table Curved Surface Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing projection technologies face challenges in projecting undistorted images on irregularly shaped or curved surfaces, requiring complex recalibration and special optical components, which increases the complexity and time of system installation and operation.

Innovation Solution

A projection device equipped with a processor circuit that generates an antiwarp mapping table to deform input images, allowing the projection of warp-free images on curved surfaces by using a 3D image capturing device to determine feature points and calculate the necessary corrections, thereby simplifying the geometry correction process and reducing installation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a projector is placed with its optical axis perpendicular to the projection surface to avoid image warp, then image quality is improved, but the placing position flexibility and viewer angle are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidplacing position flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing the projection surface geometry before projection, creating a geometric model in advance. This allows the projection device to pre-calculate the distortion map and pre-deform the image content, enabling flexible placement positions while maintaining image quality through advance preparation of correction data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the projection surface geometry through 3D scanning or imaging, then uses this copied geometric information to generate correction algorithms. This copying approach allows the system to understand and compensate for surface irregularities without requiring physical adjustment of the projector position or orientation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If a reflector or image pre-deformation mechanism is added to change projector placing position, then placing position flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacing position flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces mechanical solutions (reflectors, physical deformation mechanisms) with computational methods. By using image processing algorithms and geometric modeling, the system achieves placing position flexibility through software-based pre-deformation rather than adding complex mechanical components like reflectors or physical adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter space by working with digital image data and geometric models rather than physical projector orientation. By manipulating image coordinates and distortion parameters computationally, the system achieves flexibility in placing position without the mechanical complexity of physically adjusting the projector or adding optical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If traditional trapezoidal correction is used assuming a planar surface, then ease of operation is improved, but accuracy on curved surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidcorrection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static planar correction assumptions to dynamic surface modeling. By capturing the actual 3D geometry of the projection surface and adapting the correction algorithm to match the specific curved surface characteristics, the system maintains ease of operation while achieving high correction accuracy on non-planar surfaces through adaptive geometric modeling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback by using the captured image of the projection surface to inform and adjust the correction algorithm. The geometric information from the captured surface serves as feedback that allows the system to optimize the pre-deformation parameters specifically for that surface, achieving both ease of operation and high accuracy without requiring manual calibration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Manufacturing precision

If complex recalibration and special optical components are used to project on irregular surfaces, then image quality is improved, but installation time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically capturing the projection surface geometry and generating the appropriate correction algorithms without requiring external calibration equipment or special optical components. The projector itself captures its projection surface and processes the geometric data to create the distortion map, enabling rapid deployment and reducing installation time while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the projection surface geometry through standard imaging capabilities, then uses this copied information to generate correction data. This approach eliminates the need for complex physical calibration equipment or special optical components, allowing rapid installation while achieving high image quality through computational correction based on the captured surface model

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3606060B1Projection device, projection system and image correction method
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 CORETRONIC CORPORATION
  • EP3606060B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3606060B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3606060B1 patent drawingFigure 1D

AI summary

A projection device including a processor circuit is provided. The processor circuit generates multiple warped feature points according to multiple first feature points and multiple second feature points. The processor circuit transforms a first mapping table into a second mapping table according to the warped feature points. The projection device projects a correction pattern to a projection screen. The correction pattern includes the first feature points. The processor circuit receives an image of the correction pattern projected to the projection screen that is captured by a 3D image capturing device, so as to obtain coordinate positions of the second feature points. The processor circuit calculates a viewer position according to the coordinate positions of the second feature points. The processor circuit generates an antiwarp image according to an input image and the second mapping table. The projection device projects the antiwarp image to the projection screen.