Projector Optical Shutter Control for Background Area Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Projectors face challenges in maintaining immersion and engagement due to background areas being exposed despite environmental corrections, leading to decreased user experience.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus with a processor, projection part, sensor part, and optical shutter part that identifies and filters background areas based on sensing data, adjusting color and illumination values to control the optical shutter for effective image correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the projector performs correction functions to remove or change color of background portions, then the projection image can be corrected to adapt to surrounding environment, but light is still projected to the background area position causing it to be exposed and decreasing user immersion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection image correctionVSAvoidbackground area exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the projection system into two independent parts: a projection unit that outputs the projection image and a filtering unit (optical shutter) that selectively blocks light. This segmentation allows the correction function to modify the projection image while the filtering unit separately handles the blocking of background area light, resolving the contradiction by enabling both correction and background area blocking without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an optical shutter as an intermediary component between the projection unit and the projection surface. This intermediary selectively blocks light corresponding to background areas while allowing light for corrected image areas to pass through, enabling the system to both correct the projection image and prevent background area exposure simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the projector outputs projection image at the projection surface, then the image can be displayed, but background areas remain exposed due to ambient illumination reducing immersion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection outputVSAvoidambient illumination exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the projection system have different functions: the projection unit outputs the entire projection image including background areas, while the optical shutter selectively blocks only the background area portions. This allows the system to maintain reliable projection output while locally preventing ambient illumination exposure at background areas, thereby improving immersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the projector performs correction functions to adapt to projection environment, then the projection image quality improves, but the background area boundaries remain exposed causing inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection image qualityVSAvoidbackground boundary exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the projection system into a correction function that improves overall image quality and a separate filtering function that specifically addresses background area boundaries. The correction function enhances projection image quality by adapting to the projection environment, while the optical shutter simultaneously blocks exposed background boundaries, resolving the contradiction between image quality improvement and boundary exposure prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances user experience by preventing background exposure, maintaining immersion through dynamic filtering of background areas based on environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

control the optical shutter part to perform a filtering function based on the position of the blocking area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4712462A1Electronic device and control method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4712462A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4712462A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4712462A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes memory, a projection part, a sensor part, an optical shutter part, and at least one processor, and the at least one processor is configured to output, through the projection part, a first projection image at a projection surface, obtain, through the sensor part, first sensing data associated with the projection surface, obtain a second projection image by performing a correction function on the first projection image based on the first sensing data, identify a position of a background area from the first projection image, identify a position of a blocking area corresponding to the position of the background area, control the optical shutter part to perform a filtering function based on the position of the blocking area, and output, through the projection part, the second projection image.