JP4620909B2 - Image input / output device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of inputting and outputting image information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Projectors (data projectors) are indispensable tools for presentations. An example of the data projector 90 is shown in FIG. The projector 90 includes a reflective liquid crystal panel (light valve) 4 called LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) as an image display element, and a light source 7 composed of an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp. Illumination light 71 from the light source 7 is made uniform in cross-sectional distribution by the integrator 8, and then is made to be S-polarized light by the polarization conversion element 9 and enters a polarization beam splitter (hereinafter, PBS) 5. Here, since the illumination light 71 is S-polarized light, it is reflected by the polarization separation surface 5a in the PBS 5 in a direction of 90 degrees with respect to the incident direction, and reaches the LCoS4 that is an image display element. The LCoS 4 is controlled by the image output control device 6 that has received the image data φ1 supplied from a host device (host PC) 80 such as a personal computer, and turns on and off the illumination light 71 in units of pixels. Therefore, the image information φ1 is given to the light beam 71 reflected by the LCoS4, and the light beam 71 becomes P-polarized light. For this reason, the light beam 71 that has again reached the polarization separation surface 5a in the PBS 5 is transmitted through the separation surface 5a because the polarization direction is switched from S to P and transmitted through the projection lens system 2. 10 is projected.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By using the projector 90, image information φ1 prepared in advance can be displayed on the screen 10 in a presentation or a meeting, so that the materials can be shown to the participants at the same time, and explanations and discussions can be made based on the information. So it is very convenient.
[0004]
However, it is necessary to write down and memorize the contents and conclusions of the presented materials when questions are given on the spot for discussion or when meetings are held based on the materials. Furthermore, in order for all participants to understand the contents of the discussion, it is necessary to write down notes on a whiteboard or the like separately from the screen displaying the images. For example, a person in charge of recording is arranged, and the contents of the discussion are recorded on a whiteboard or the like by means of sentences or freehand drawings. Then, after the person in charge finishes the meeting or the presentation, the handwritten contents are organized and the minutes are created and distributed.
[0005]
At this time, if you try to link the recorded contents with the images and charts used in the presentation, the person in charge needs to recreate the images and charts and include the recorded contents. This is an operation. In addition, there is a high probability that an error will occur in the re-created material.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of recording the process together with an image when an explanation or discussion is performed while displaying the image on a screen with a projector or an OHP. Yes. And it aims at providing the apparatus which can record the content of a presentation, and the content of a meeting, without taking the effort which recreates the minutes as mentioned above.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, in the present invention, an image input / output having a lens system, an image output means capable of projecting an image onto the screen via the lens system, and an image input means capable of obtaining an image on the screen via the lens system. Providing equipment. That is, in the present invention, the inventors of the present application pay attention to the fact that the projection lens in an apparatus for projecting an image such as a projector or an OHP also functions as a photographic lens, and the image is displayed as a conjugate plane of the screen to the lens system. By providing a surface to be formed and a surface to acquire an image, an apparatus capable of projecting an image and inputting an image by the same apparatus has been developed.
[0008]
The image input / output device further includes a beam splitter that guides the light flux from the image output means to the lens system and guides the light flux from the lens system to the image input means. The image output means includes a light source and a light source from the light source. A polarization conversion element that aligns the light in the first polarization direction; and reflection-type modulation means that modulates the light beam in the first polarization direction aligned by the polarization conversion element based on image data. A light beam having a first polarization direction aligned by the polarization changing element is output in a second direction 90 degrees with respect to the first direction and is guided to the reflection type modulation means. The light beam modulated by the reflection type modulation means input from the direction of the lens is output in a third direction 180 degrees with respect to the second direction, guided to the lens system, and the lens system input from the third direction. The light beam from beam is output to the fourth direction of the first 180-degree direction to the direction leading to the image input unit. In addition, the surface of the image output unit that forms the image and the surface of the image input unit that acquires the image are conjugate to the screen for the lens system, so that the image is projected clearly on the screen. By adopting a lens system and making adjustments such as adjusting the image projection position and focal length, the image projected on the screen is clearly imaged in a predetermined area on the surface from which the image input means obtains the image. can do. Therefore, in addition to the projected image, information added to the screen can be acquired as a clear image by the image input means as with the image. Since the image input means can also acquire the image information output by the image output means, the image information linked with the image projected on the screen and added with the additional information is captured as image information from the outside world. Can do. Therefore, in a situation such as a presentation or a meeting as described above, image information added from the outside world can be easily added to the image information displayed on the screen by the image input / output device of the present invention, and without trouble. It is possible to reliably acquire the information linked with the displayed image information. Furthermore, since a lens system and the like are shared for image input / output, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost, and a low-cost and multifunctional image input / output device can be provided.

[0009]
That is, a general projector or OHP is a device that unilaterally flows information prepared in advance, whereas the image input / output device of the present invention is a new device that can create a bidirectional flow of information. Device.
[0010]
The image output means is of a projector type including a light source and a modulation means capable of modulating a light beam emitted from the light source based on image data. For example, image data is received from a personal computer, projected on a screen by an image output means, acquired as image data by an image input means including information added on the screen, and transmitted or fed back to the personal computer. It becomes possible.

[0011]
It is also effective to provide a means for recording the acquired image data in the image input means. This is suitable when the image input / output device of the present invention is used as a stand-alone device. As a recording means, image data acquired as digital data, such as a hard disk, may be stored. If it is a means for recording image data on a recording sheet, the response contents based on the image projected on the screen at a presentation or a meeting can be output as a memo on the spot.
[0012]
Furthermore, if the image input means includes means for outputting the acquired image data to the monitor, the image data acquired by the image input means can be monitored at any time. In addition, as an optical element for acquiring image data in the image input means, at present, an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS is most suitable in terms of cost and performance.
[0013]
By adopting an optical element that guides the luminous flux for projecting the image from the image output means to the lens system and guides the luminous flux for obtaining the image from the lens system to the image acquisition power means together with the polarizing plate, the image output means And the image input means can be separated almost completely. Therefore, since components and optical elements suitable for each means can be adopted, the image output means and the image input means can be optimized as a device sharing the lens system, and the performance of image output and image input can be improved and the cost can be reduced. can Ru.

[0014]
The optical element is a beam splitter.
[0015]
The image input / output device of the present invention may be one that can be placed in front of or behind the screen with a separate screen. Further, the image input / output device is integrated with the screen and the lens system is placed on the back of the screen. It can also be provided as an output device.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Further description will be given below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image input / output device 1 acquires a lens system 2 facing the screen 10, an image output unit 20 that projects an image onto the screen 10 via the lens system 2, and an image of the screen 10 via the lens system 2. And an image input unit 30. The image output unit 20 has the same configuration as that of the projector described above with reference to FIG. 3, and the distribution of the distribution in the cross-sectional direction of the light source 7 composed of an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp and the irradiation light (light beam) 71 from the light source 7. The integrator 8 for homogenization, the polarization conversion element 9 that aligns the light beam 71 with S-polarized light, and the light beam 71 aligned with S-polarized light are arranged in a direction of approximately 90 degrees that is reflected by the polarization separation surface 5a of the PBS 5. LCoS4 is provided. Further, the image output unit 20 includes an image output control device 6 that receives the image data φ1 from the host PC 80, controls the LCoS4, and modulates the incident light beam 71 in units of dots (pixels). Therefore, the light 71 from the light source 7 reaches the LCoS4, and is modulated when reflected by the LCoS4, is provided with desired image information φ1, is converted to P-polarized light, passes through the PBS 5, and is a projection lens (lens system). 2 is projected onto the screen 10.
[0017]
The image input unit 30 includes an imaging element (CCD or CMOS) 3 that converts an image included in the incident light beam 73 acquired through the lens system 2 and separated by the PBS 5 into image data φ2 of digital data, and image data φ2. An LCD (monitor) 32 and a printer 33 capable of outputting the image data φ2 to the recording paper 35. Furthermore, an image input control unit 31 having a function of converting the image data φ2 into a format suitable for the monitor 32 and the printer 33 is provided. The obtained image data φ2 can be transmitted.
[0018]
Furthermore, in the image input / output device 1 of the present example, the light beam 71 transmitted through the PBS 5 is P-polarized light, and is involved in the imaging transmitted through the lens system 2 and guided in the direction of the image sensor 3 by the PBS 5. The polarized light of the light beam 73 is S-polarized light. Therefore, when the scattering characteristic of the screen 10 has polarization maintaining property, the polarizing plate 13 such as a quarter wavelength plate is inserted in the optical path between the lens system 2 and the PBS 5 to improve the imaging performance.
[0019]
In this example, the imaging device 3 is disposed on a surface different from the surface 5b of the PBS 5 to which the LCoS 4 of the image output unit 20 is attached, that is, the surface 5d facing the surface 5c on which the irradiation light 71 is incident. . Accordingly, the PBS 5 guides the light beam 71 for projecting the image emitted from the image output unit 20 to the lens system 2, while the light beam 73 for acquiring the image input through the lens system 2. It functions as an optical element that leads to the image input unit 30. The LCoS 4 and the image sensor 3 are surfaces that are conjugate with the screen 10 with respect to the lens system 2. Therefore, the lens system 2 functions as a lens that projects or projects the modulated light beam 71 on the screen 10 for the image output unit 20, and images the incident light beam 73 from the screen 10 for the image input unit 30. It functions as a photographic lens that leads to the element 3. The LCoS 4 and the image sensor 3 are adjusted so as to be in a conjugate position with respect to the screen 10. For this reason, the screen 10 is adjusted by adjusting the orientation and height of the image input / output device 1 so that the image to be projected on the screen 10 is clearly displayed, or by adjusting the focal length (zoom) of the lens system 2. The image projected or formed on the imaging element 3 can be clearly imaged.
[0020]
Therefore, the image input unit 30 acquires image information φ2 including information added on the screen 10 in addition to the original image information φ1 modulated by the LCoS4 of the image output unit 20 and projected onto the screen 10. Is possible. For this reason, for example, the information output on the whiteboard during the presentation while the image output unit 20 performs the presentation while projecting the image on the whiteboard or the like as the screen 10. Can be acquired as one piece of image information φ2. The acquired information φ2 can be displayed on the monitor 32, output from the printer 33 to the recording paper 35, or output to the host PC 80. Further, a storage device 36 such as a hard disk device may be provided in the image input unit 30 to store the image data φ2.
[0021]
As described above, the basic configuration of the image input / output device 1 of the present example is almost the same as that of the conventional projector shown in FIG. 3, but not only the desired original image information φ1 is displayed, but also the outside world, That is, the image information φ2 displayed or written on the screen 10 can be read. Therefore, for example, by using the screen 10 that also serves as a whiteboard, the contents and conclusions of the discussion during the presentation are added to the screen 10 on which the image information φ1 is displayed, and used for the presentation. It can be automatically read with images and charts. For this reason, the recording work at the time of a presentation or a meeting can be performed easily and reliably. Therefore, the image input / output device 1 of this example not only projects the image unilaterally like a projector, but also captures image information bidirectionally, as well as shooting information unilaterally like a camera. It becomes a device that can be handled. Therefore, it is suitable as a communication tool for presentations and meetings as described above.
[0022]
Further, as described above, since the lens system 2 serves as both a projection lens and a photographing lens, an apparatus having a function of outputting an image and a function of inputting an image can be realized at a low cost. Further, in order to share the lens system 2, the outgoing light 71 from the image output unit 20 is guided to the lens system 2 by the PBS 5, and the incident light 73 from the lens system 2 is guided to the image input unit 30. Therefore, the image output unit 20 and the image input unit 30 can each adopt an independent configuration, and the configuration can be optimized to provide the high-performance and low-cost image input / output device 1.
[0023]
Further, as in the image input / output device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the PBS 12 is arranged between the PBS 5 and the lens system 2, and the light 73 input from the screen 10 is bent 90 degrees with the PBS 12 and the image pickup device of the image input unit 30. It is also possible to guide to (CCD) 3. As described above, by arranging the polarization separation elements such as the PBSs 5 and 12 and the polarizing plate 13, the imaging element 3 of the image input unit 30 can be removed from the direction of the light beam 71 emitted from the light source 7 of the image output unit 20. It becomes possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the illumination light 71 from the light source 7 from leaking from the PBS 5 to become noise light and entering the image sensor 3.
[0024]
Further, the image input / output apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a screen 10 integrated therein. The lens system 2 is installed on the back of the screen 10 and an image is output from the back by an image output means. The character information projected or written on the screen 10 from the back side can be acquired together with the image information. Of course, like the image input / output device 1 shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible to provide the screen 10 as a separate body, project an image from the front of the screen 10, and read the image of the screen 10 from the front. In addition, the image input / output device 1 in these examples has a built-in device that can output the projected image on the spot, such as the monitor 32 and the printer 33, but the host PC 80 can check the acquired image data, It is also possible to output image data acquired from a peripheral device such as a printer connected via the PC 80 locally or via a network.
[0025]
As described above, in the image input / output device of the present invention, it is possible to easily and reliably perform the recording operation without taking time and effort to add image information added from the outside to the image information displayed by the projector. Therefore, if there is one image input / output device of the present invention and one screen that also serves as a whiteboard, it is possible to record the presentation screen as well as the handwritten memo of the contents discussed during the presentation, not to mention the projection of the presentation screen. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the probability of errors when creating minutes after the presentation or meeting.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the image input / output device of the present invention, the lens system is used as a projection lens that projects the light beam modulated by the image output means onto the screen and is displayed on the screen by the image input means. It is also used as an imaging lens for acquiring existing image information. Therefore, by using the image input / output device of the present invention, in addition to image information prepared in advance, image information including information added on the screen can be taken in as a reverse route as image information from the outside world. . Therefore, it is possible to provide a high-value added image input / output device capable of linking and acquiring or recording image data displayed in a presentation or the like and information added on the screen at that time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image input / output device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image input / output device different from the above.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general projector.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image input / output device 2 Projection lens 3 Image sensor (CCD or CMOS)
4 Image forming apparatus (image display element, LCoS)
5,12 Polarized beam splitter (PBS)
5a Polarization Separation Surface 7 of Polarizing Beam Splitter 7 Light Source 8 Integrator 9 Polarization Conversion Element 10 Screen 13 Polarizing Plate 20 Image Output Unit 30 Image Input Units φ1, φ2 Image Information

Claims (6)

A lens system, an image output means capable of projecting an image on a screen via the lens system, and an image input means capable of acquiring an image of the screen via the lens system ;
A beam splitter that guides the light flux from the image output means to the lens system, and guides the light flux from the lens system to the image input means,
The image output means modulates a light source, a polarization conversion element that aligns light from the light source in a first polarization direction, and a light beam in the first polarization direction that is aligned by the polarization conversion element based on image data. A reflection type modulation means,
The beam splitter outputs a light beam in the first polarization direction aligned by the polarization conversion element input from a first direction in a second direction 90 degrees with respect to the first direction, and The lens is guided to a reflection type modulation means, and the light beam modulated by the reflection type modulation means input from the second direction is output in a third direction 180 degrees with respect to the second direction. An image input / output device that guides to the system , outputs the light flux from the lens system input from the third direction in a fourth direction that is 180 degrees with respect to the first direction, and guides the light to the image input unit . The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input unit includes an image pickup device including a surface for acquiring an image that is a surface conjugate with the screen with respect to the lens system. 3. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input means includes means for recording the acquired image data. 4. The image input / output device according to claim 3 , wherein the recording unit records the image data on a recording sheet. 5. The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input means includes means for outputting the acquired image data to a monitor. 6. The image input / output device according to claim 1, comprising the screen, wherein the lens system is disposed on a back surface of the screen.

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