IP Library Granted Patent US 12,148,331
Granted Patent B2
US 12,148,331 · App. 17/323,996 · Granted Nov 19, 2024

Content generation method, content projection method, program, and content generation system

Inventors: Ken Mashitani (Osaka, JP); Junji Masumoto (Kanagawa, JP); Takaaki Abe (Osaka, JP); Akio Yamanaka (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
G09G3/001G09G2340/0464G09G2340/0492G09G2354/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,148,331
App. No.
17/323,996
Granted
Nov 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A content generation method generates image content to be projected at a projection position in a real space by a projector. In a first acquisition process, space information regarding a virtual space corresponding to the real space is acquired. In a second acquisition process, display position information regarding a display position corresponding to the projection position in the virtual space is acquired. In a third acquisition process, reference position information regarding a reference position in the virtual space is acquired. In a generation process, an image including an object viewed from the reference position when the object is displayed at the display position in the virtual space is generated as the image content, based on the space information, the reference position information, and the display position information.

Claims (35)

1. A content generation method for generating image content to be projected at a projection position in a real space by a projector, the content generation method comprising:

a first acquisition process that acquires space information regarding a virtual space corresponding to the real space;

a second acquisition process that acquires display position information regarding a display position corresponding to the projection position in the virtual space;

a third acquisition process that acquires reference position information regarding a reference position in the virtual space;

a display process that displays an object on a virtual projection surface including the display position in the virtual space based on the space information, the reference position information, and the display position information;

an arrangement process that arranges a virtual camera at the reference position in the virtual space, the virtual camera having an angle of view that is same as an angle of view of the projector; and

a generation process that captures, by the virtual camera, an image including the object viewed from the reference position, and generates the captured image as the image content.

2. The content generation method according to claim 1 , wherein

the projection position is movable in the real space, and

the second acquisition process includes acquiring the display position information regarding the display position that moves in the virtual space in accordance with movement of the projection position.

3. The content generation method according to claim 2 , wherein

the projector includes:

a projection unit configured to emit light for projection of a projection image by using the image content;

a mirror unit configured to reflect the light emitted from the projection unit; and

a drive unit configured to move the projection position by driving the mirror unit to change an orientation of the mirror unit.

4. The content generation method according to claim 2 , wherein the generation process includes changing an orientation of the object in the image content in accordance with the display position in the virtual space.

5. The content generation method according to claim 2 , wherein the generation process includes generating, as a moving picture, the image that is viewed from the reference position and includes the object displayed at the display position that moves in the virtual space.

6. The content generation method according to claim 2 , further comprising a control information generation process of generating control information of the projector for movement of the projection position in the real space, in synchronization with movement of the display position.

7. The content generation method according to claim 1 , wherein the image content is an image of the object excluding a background of the object in the virtual space.

8. The content generation method according to claim 1 , further comprising a provision process that provides an input support tool that is for allowing a user to input the display position information in the second acquisition process,

wherein the input support tool presents at least the display position in the virtual space.

9. The content generation method according to claim 8 , wherein the input support tool presents the display position by displaying an image of the virtual space including the object displayed at the display position.

10. The content generation method according to claim 8 , wherein the input support tool displays, as a reference screen, a rendered image of the object viewed from the reference position when the object is displayed at the display position in the virtual space.

11. The content generation method according to claim 1 , wherein in the virtual space, a guide range is defined, the guide range serving as a guide of a range where the object is able to be displayed.

12. A content projection method comprising a projection process of projecting the image content generated by the content generation method according to claim 1 , at the projection position in the real space by the projector.

13. The content projection method according to claim 12 , further comprising a correction process of correcting at least one of an installation state of the projector or control information of the projector, in accordance with a parameter used in the generation process.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing one or more processors to execute the content generation method according to claim 1 .

15. A content generation system for generating image content to be projected at a projection position in a real space by a projector, the content generation system comprising:

a first acquisition unit configured to acquire space information regarding a virtual space corresponding to the real space;

a second acquisition unit configured to acquire display position information regarding a display position corresponding to the projection position in the virtual space;

a third acquisition unit configured to acquire reference position information regarding a reference position in the virtual space; and

a generation unit configured to:

display an object on a virtual projection surface including the display position in the virtual space based on the space information, the reference position information, and the display position information;

arrange a virtual camera at the reference position in the virtual space, the virtual camera having an angle of view that is same as an angle of view of the projector; and

capture, by the virtual camera, an image including the object viewed from the reference position, and generate the captured image as the image content.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC PROJECTOR & DISPLAY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 074988/0945 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 074984/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2021
From: MASHITANI, KEN; MASUMOTO, JUNJI; ABE, TAKAAKI; YAMANAKA, AKIO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057735/0352 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2020-087727 · May 19, 2020 · national
JP 2021-070748 · Apr 20, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210366324A1 · Nov 25, 2021