Projector Masking for Seamless Multi-Device Pointing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
When projecting images side by side with multiple projectors, the existing technologies fail to accurately detect the position of a pointing element that moves straddling the projection ranges of different projectors, leading to discontinuities in drawn lines due to delayed identification and masking processes.
Innovation Solution
A projector system with a projection section, imaging section, identification section, mask processing section, discrimination section, and setting section that determines the masking area based on whether the projector is operating alone or with another projector, adjusting the masking area to ensure accurate detection of the pointing element's position across projector boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If masking is performed in each projector to prevent detection of light from objects outside the projection area, then measurement precision of pointing element position is improved, but continuity of drawn lines across projector boundaries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The masking treatment is applied differently to different spatial regions. The mask image includes a masked area that corresponds to the projection area, but with an expanded detection area that extends beyond the projection boundaries. This allows the center region to maintain precise position detection while the peripheral regions enable continuous tracking across projector boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask image is generated in advance with pre-calculated masked area and detection area boundaries. The detection area is expanded beyond the projection area boundaries before actual pointing element detection occurs, allowing the system to prepare for cross-projector tracking in advance rather than attempting to correct discontinuities after they occur.
2Device complexity
If the detection area is limited to the projection area to reduce processing complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to detect pointing element moving across projector boundaries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mask image differentiates between masked area (corresponding to projection area) and detection area (expanded beyond projection boundaries). This local differentiation allows the system to maintain simple processing within the projection area while extending detection capability to adjacent regions without proportionally increasing overall processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection area is intentionally made larger than the projection area, creating an excessive detection zone that extends into regions that will eventually be masked. This partial overlap allows the system to detect pointing elements that are moving across projector boundaries, even though those final positions will be outside the current projector's projection area.
Data Source
AI summary
A projector adapted to project an image includes an imaging section adapted to image a projection surface on which the image is projected, and output an image obtained by imaging, an identification section adapted to identify a projection area in which the image is projected based on the image output by the imaging section, a mask processing section adapted to mask an outside of an area, which includes the projection area identified by the identification section, on the image output by the imaging section, a discrimination section adapted to determine which one of a first state, in which the projector is used alone, and a second state, in which the projector and another projector project images side by side, is set, and a setting section adapted to set an area to be masked by the mask processing section in accordance with a determination result of the discrimination section.