Projector Image Correction for Wall Surface Irregularities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Projectors mounted on ceilings often project images onto walls with irregularities or patterns, causing distortion and making the images difficult to view when not used with a screen, as they either require frequent screen setup or occupy space.
Innovation Solution
A projector system with a connector attached to a ceiling lighting base, a housing, a communicator, and a projection unit that includes a corrector to adjust emission light for wall surface irregularities, allowing keystone correction and boundary smoothing to ensure clear projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the projector is mounted on the ceiling and projects images directly onto the wall surface, then the projector can remain mounted at all times without being an obstruction, but the images are affected by wall surface irregularities, colors and patterns making them difficult to view
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual screen is introduced as an intermediary between the projector and the wall surface. The virtual screen is generated by the projection unit itself and serves as a reference for the imager to detect and analyze wall surface characteristics. This intermediary enables the system to compensate for wall surface irregularities through image correction without requiring a physical screen
Solution Approach 2:
The imager captures images of the projected content and wall surface, providing feedback to the corrector. The corrector analyzes the captured images to detect wall surface irregularities, colors, and patterns, then automatically adjusts the projected image to compensate for these factors. This closed-loop feedback system ensures high-quality images despite varying wall surface conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a physical screen is used to ensure clear images, then image quality is improved, but the screen occupies space and requires setup every time the projector is used
Solution Approach 1:
The physical screen is replaced with a virtual screen generated by the projection unit. Instead of requiring a physical projection surface, the system uses digital image processing and correction to create the equivalent of a virtual screen. This substitution eliminates the need for physical screen setup, storage, and handling while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The projector system performs its own screen function through the virtual screen mechanism. The projection unit generates the virtual screen, the imager detects wall characteristics, and the corrector automatically adjusts the image - all without requiring external screens or additional setup. The system serves itself by eliminating the need for separate projection surfaces
3Shape
If keystone correction is applied to align the projected image with the room boundaries, then the image geometry is improved, but additional processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The imager and corrector functions are merged into an integrated image correction system. The imager captures both the projected content and wall surface characteristics simultaneously, and the corrector processes both geometric alignment (keystone correction) and surface compensation in a unified operation. This merging reduces overall system complexity despite the additional processing requirements
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
Enables continuous mounting of projectors that project clear images on any surface, minimizing the impact of wall irregularities and patterns, allowing for easy viewing without the need for constant screen setup or space occupation.
Implementation Method 1
a projection unit accommodated in the housing to emit emission light to project a picture including the content onto the wall surface
Implementation Method 2
a corrector to control the emission light to correct an effect of a state of the wall surface on the projected picture
Implementation Method 3
The corrector may control illumination light from the illuminator to smooth a color change in a boundary between the picture and the wall surface
Data Source
AI summary
A projector system includes a connector attachable to a lighting wiring base mounted on a ceiling surface of a room, a housing hanging from the connector, a communicator accommodated in the housing to obtain content to be projected onto a wall surface of the room, a projection unit accommodated in the housing to emit emission light to project a picture including the content onto the wall surface, a brightness sensor to sense a brightness of the room, and a corrector to control the emission light to correct an effect of a state of the wall surface on the projected picture in accordance with the brightness of the room.