Receiver Projector Camera Surface Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Projectors used in receivers struggle to accurately project images due to ambient light conditions and inherent characteristics of the projection surface, leading to discrepancies in the visual experience compared to traditional television viewing.

Innovation Solution

A method employing a receiver with a projector, processor, and camera that captures images of the projection surface, derives a correction matrix based on its color properties, and applies it to the image data to compensate for ambient light and surface characteristics, ensuring a more accurate and consistent visual output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a projector is used to display images on an external projection surface, then the viewing experience becomes more immersive and alternative to traditional television, but the image quality deteriorates due to ambient light conditions and projection surface characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing experienceVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a camera to capture the projected image and ambient light conditions, then feeds this information back to the processor which adjusts the projection parameters in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the projector to adapt to changing ambient light conditions and projection surface characteristics, maintaining image quality while providing an immersive viewing experience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes projection parameters such as brightness, contrast, and color balance based on detected ambient light conditions and projection surface properties. By adjusting these parameters in response to environmental factors, the system maintains accurate image representation while adapting to different viewing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the projected image is adjusted to compensate for ambient light and surface characteristics, then color accuracy and brightness are improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional components and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver performs multiple functions using integrated components: the camera serves both as a viewing feature and as a sensor for detecting projection surface characteristics and ambient light conditions; the processor handles both general signal processing and specialized color correction algorithms. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, managing system complexity while achieving accurate color compensation

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

3Measurement precision

If automatic compensation for projection surface characteristics is implemented, then the projected image matches user expectations more closely, but the processing time and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary characterization of the projection surface by capturing an initial reference image and analyzing surface characteristics before actual content projection. This pre-processing step creates a compensation profile that can be applied quickly during normal operation, reducing real-time processing requirements while maintaining accurate color and brightness compensation

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 approach enhances the visual experience by automatically adjusting projected images to match the user's expectations, providing improved color accuracy and brightness compensation, thus addressing the issues caused by ambient light and surface characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

capturing a visual image from the projection surface having said frame projected thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2643966B1Television receiver-projector compensating optical properties of projection surface
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 ECHOSTAR UKRAINE LLC
  • EP2643966B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2643966B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2643966B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Disclosure is directed to providing projected output from a receiver that includes ambiance or environmental images and sounds for display to and/or listening by a user. Other aspects are directed to processing or altering program service video to produce a compensated video that is output by a projector component of a receiver. The modified image compensates for characteristics associated with the ambient light conditions and/or characteristics of the projection surface upon which the projector outputs an image.