Projector Adaptation via Camera Feedback for Surface Color Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Projectors often struggle to produce accurate color reproduction when projecting images onto non-neutral-colored surfaces, leading to tinted or incomplete images due to the surface's color and reflectance characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a projector and a camera that captures images of the projected content and adjusts the projector's settings, such as color and intensity, based on real-time analysis of the projected image and its surroundings to ensure accurate color reproduction and contrast matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a projector projects images onto non-neutral-colored surfaces, then the projector can be used in more environments, but the color reproduction accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidcolor reproduction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a camera to capture the projected image and analyzes the actual colors displayed. This feedback loop allows the processor to compare the intended colors with the actual colors shown on the non-neutral surface, then automatically adjust the projector settings to compensate for the surface's color characteristics, maintaining accurate color reproduction across different environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the projector's color parameters (such as color temperature, gamma, and individual color channel intensities) based on the detected surface characteristics. By adjusting these parameters in real-time according to the captured image analysis, the system maintains color accuracy on various non-neutral surfaces without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the projector adjusts settings automatically based on surface analysis, then color reproduction accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor reproduction accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera serves multiple functions: it captures the projected image for color analysis, detects ambient lighting conditions, and identifies surface characteristics. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors and processing circuits, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving accurate color reproduction through automatic adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If the projector captures and analyzes images in real-time, then color accuracy improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis by capturing a test image or the first frame of projected content to determine the surface characteristics and ambient lighting conditions. Based on this preliminary analysis, the processor pre-adjusts the color settings before the actual content playback begins, minimizing the processing time during normal operation while still achieving accurate color reproduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables true or improved color reproduction of images by dynamically adjusting the projector's output to compensate for the surface's color and reflectance, ensuring that projected images match the intended color and contrast, even on non-neutral-colored surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

capturing a picture of the projected image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2052551B1Projector adaptation
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 SONY MOBILE COMM INC
  • EP2052551B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2052551B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2052551B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A device includes a projector to project an image onto a surface; a camera to capture a picture of the image while it is being projected onto the surface; and logic to receive the picture and adjust a setting of the projector based on the received picture.