IP Library Granted Patent US 9,380,278
Granted Patent B2
US 9,380,278 · App. 14/156,790 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Video projection device and method with control of light source based on image signal

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,380,278
App. No.
14/156,790
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A video projection device according to this disclosure is provided with a splitter having a first region including a plurality of segments and a second region including at least one segment and configured to split a light flux emitted from a light source into a plurality of light of colors in a time-divisional manner by having the light flux enter into each one of the segments, and a video display element configured to modulate the light of the colors based on a image signal to be input and to form a image, and a controller configured to calculate a light intensity and to control the light source based on a result of the calculation.

Claims (34)

1. A video projection device, comprising:

a splitter having a first region including a plurality of segments and a second region including at least one segment, and configured to split a light flux emitted from a light source into a plurality of light of colors in a time-divisional manner by having the light flux enter into each one of the segments;

a video display element configured to modulate the light of the colors based on an image signal to be input and to form an image; and

a controller configured to perform calculation such that when the image signal is determined to satisfy a predetermined first condition, a light intensity of the light entering into the second region is set higher than that in a case in which the first condition fails to be satisfied, that when the image signal is determined to satisfy a second condition different from the first condition, the light intensity of the light entering into the second region is set lower than that in a case in which the second condition fails to be satisfied, and that light intensities of the light entering into the segments of the first region are set so as to make a color temperature of a light flux be a predetermined white color target temperature, the light flux being obtained by combining first transmitted light generated by the light passing the first region and second transmitted light generated by the light passing the second region,

wherein the controller varies light source currents while maintaining a ratio among the light source currents based on a result of the calculation, and

the light source currents are applied to the light source, and determine the respective light intensities of the light entering into the segments of the first region.

2. The video projection device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first condition is such that brightness of the image signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value and chroma saturation of the image signal is lower than a predetermined second threshold value; and

the second condition is such that the chroma saturation of the image signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined third threshold value.

3. The video projection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein when a third condition is determined to be satisfied, the controller calculates the light intensity of the light entering into the second region to be low, and controls the light source based on a result of the calculation, the third condition being such that brightness of the image signal is lower than a predetermined fourth threshold value and chroma saturation of the image signal is lower than a predetermined second threshold value.

4. The video projection device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the second region includes a white segment; and

the white color target temperature is equal to a color temperature of the second transmitted light.

5. The video projection device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the second region includes a white segment; and

the white color target temperature is different from a color temperature of the second transmitted light.

6. The video projection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller calculates the light intensity such that brightness of the second transmitted light corresponds to target brightness.

7. A video projection device comprising:

a splitter having a first region including a plurality of segments and a second region including at least one segment, and configured to split a light flux emitted from a light source into a plurality of light of colors in a time-divisional manner by having the light flux enter into each one of the segments;

a video display element configured to modulate the light of the colors based on an image signal to be input, and to form an image; and

a controller configured to calculate a light intensity of the light entering into the second region based on the image signal, and light intensities of the light entering into the segments of the first region so as to make a color temperature of a light flux be a predetermined white color target temperature, the light flux being obtained by combining first transmitted light generated by the light passing the first region and second transmitted light generated by the light passing the second region,

wherein the controller varies light source currents while maintaining a ratio among the light source currents based on a result of the calculation, and

the light source currents are applied to the light source, and determine the respective light intensities of the light entering into the segments of the first region.

8. The video projection device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the controller calculates the light intensity of the light entering into the second region based on at least one of brightness and chroma saturation of the image signal.

9. A video projection method for a video projection device including: a splitter having a first region including a plurality of segments and a second region including at least one segment, and configured to split a light flux emitted from a light source into a plurality of light of colors in a time-divisional manner by having the light flux enter into each one of the segments; and a video display element configured to modulate the light of the colors based on an image signal to be input and to form an image, the method comprising the steps of:

analyzing the image signal to generate analyzed information;

performing calculation based on the analyzed information such that when the image signal is determined to satisfy a predetermined first condition, a light intensity of the light entering into the second region is set higher than that in a case in which the first condition fails to be satisfied, that when the image signal is determined to satisfy a second condition different from the first condition, the light intensity of the light entering into the second region is set lower than that in a case in which the second condition fails to be satisfied, and that light intensities of the light entering into the segments of the first region are set so as to make a color temperature of a light flux be a predetermined white color target temperature, the light flux being obtained by combining first transmitted light generated by the light passing the first region and second transmitted light generated by the light passing the second region; and

varying light source currents while maintaining a ratio among the light source currents based on the calculated light intensities, the light source currents being applied to the light source, and determining the respective light intensities of the light entering into the segments of the first region.

10. The video projection method according to claim 9 , wherein:

the first condition is such that brightness of the image signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value and chroma saturation of the image signal is lower than a predetermined second threshold value; and

the second condition is such that the chroma saturation of the image signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined third threshold value.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2014
From: YAMAGUCHI, AKIYOSHI; INOUE, MASUTAKA; HARAGUCHI, MASAHIRO
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032764/0030 →