Projector Image Stabilization via Digital Deviation Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Projectors face challenges in providing a user-friendly experience due to issues like hand shaking corrections, trapezoidal distortion, and inappropriate projection attitudes, which affect image stability and clarity.

Innovation Solution

A projector system with an image projection portion, a deviation movement detection portion, and an image process portion that corrects deviations by shifting or blurring the projection image and frame, ensuring stable and clear image display even without optical hand shaking correction systems, and prevents unwanted projection when the device is not in a suitable attitude.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If hand shaking correction is performed using optical systems (electromagnetic actuators), then image stability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical hand-shaking correction system (electromagnetic actuators) with an image processing system that detects hand-shaking movements and corrects them through digital image shifting and frame correction, eliminating complex mechanical/optical components while achieving the same stabilization effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a corrected copy of the projected image by generating a correction image that compensates for hand-shaking deviations, then combines it with the original image to produce a stable output, avoiding the need for physical optical correction mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Stability of the object's composition

If deviation correction is applied to both image and frame, then image stability is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the correction process into two separate but coordinated operations: image correction (shifting the projected image based on deviation detection) and frame correction (adjusting the projection frame position and size), allowing each to be processed independently and then combined

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary detection of deviation movements and calculates correction amounts before applying the actual image and frame corrections, enabling coordinated adjustment without requiring complex real-time synchronization during the correction execution phase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If projection frame is shrunk to secure correction area, then correction capability is improved, but projection area decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrection capabilityVSAvoidprojection area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent shrinks the projection frame by a calculated amount (e.g., 5% or 10%) to create a correction margin area, which is a partial reduction that provides sufficient space for correction operations without excessively compromising the overall projection area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the correction area problem by utilizing the temporal dimension (time-based processing) and computational resources rather than requiring excessive spatial margin, allowing full correction capability within the projected frame through sequential image processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Stability of the object's composition

If blur processing is applied to projection frame, then flickering during deviation correction is reduced, but image sharpness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stabilityVSAvoidimage sharpness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies blur processing selectively only to the projection frame area (the boundary region) while leaving the main projection image content sharp and clear, achieving flickering reduction without compromising overall image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the projection frame as an intermediary element that absorbs the flickering effect through blur processing, acting as a buffer between the stable image content and the moving projection boundaries, thereby protecting the main image from flickering while maintaining its sharpness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9942368B2Projector

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 ROHM CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a projector which has: an image projection portion; an image provision portion that provides a projection image to the image projection portion; a deviation movement detection portion that detects a deviation movement of the image projection portion; and an image process portion that based on detection by the deviation movement detection portion, shifts the image provided by the image provision portion in a direction where the deviation movement is corrected. According to this, even if an image projection function does not include a deviation correction function, it is possible to perform the deviation correction by means of the image process.