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Archives · 2019 · 20190302472

Application (pre-grant publication)

METHOD FOR DAMPENING PROJECTOR VIBRATION

Number
20190302472
Published
2019-10-03
Filed
2018-03-28
Assignee
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors
CHAPMAN; Steven M., POPP; Joseph, HAGER; Joseph, PATEL; Mehul
CPC
G02B27/646
Verdict
Low Hardware
Source
Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Method for dampening projector vibration.

Abstract

The disclosure is directed toward stabilizing an image projected by a projector in an environment including vibrations or other movements that displace the projected image. In one set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that detects a displacement of the projector from an equilibrium position and controls an optical element of the projector to offset the displacement. In an additional set of implementations, an image projected by the projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that measures a rate of displacement from equilibrium of an image projected by the projector to predict a displacement of the projector and counteract the predicted displacement. In another set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by precalculating a plurality of lookup tables that correct for displacements of the projected image during operation of the projector.

Background

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure describes improved systems and methods for eliminating or mitigating vibrations or other unwanted movements introduced into a projector.

In one example, a system includes: an image stabilization system, including: one or more motion sensors to measure a total displacement or displacement rate of an image projected by a projector from an equilibrium position; and a processing unit to cause one or more actuators of the projector to actuate an optical element of the projector to stabilize the projected image, where the optical element is actuated using at least the measured total displacement or displacement rate. In some implementations, the system also includes the projector, and the projector includes: a light source; one or more optical elements to structure light emitted by the light source to create the image; and a projection lens to project the image. In implementations, the projector includes the image stabilization system and/or the motion sensors.

In some implementations, the one or more motion sensors are to measure the total displacement of the projected image from equilibrium, and the optical element is actuated using at least the measured total displacement.

In some implementations, the system includes: a memory storing a plurality of lookup tables, each of the plurality of lookup tables configured to correct a respective displacement or displacement range of a projected image, where the proces

Claims

1. A system, comprising: an image stabilization system, comprising: one or more motion sensors to measure a total displacement or displacement rate of an image projected by a projector from an equilibrium position; and a processing unit to cause one or more actuators of the projector to actuate an optical element of the projector to stabilize the projected image, wherein the optical element is actuated using at least the measured total displacement or displacement rate. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more motion sensors are to measure the total displacement of the projected image from equilibrium, and wherein the optical element is actuated using at least the measured total displacement. 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a memory storing a plurality of lookup tables, each of the plurality of lookup tables associated with a map to correct a respective displacement or displacement range of a projected image, wherein the processing unit causes the one or more actuators actuate the optical element using at least a lookup table corresponding to the measured total displacement. 4. The system of claim 3, further comprising: the projector, wherein the projector comprises: a light source; one or more optical elements to structure light emitted by the light source to create the image; and a projection lens to project the image. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the projector comprises the image stabilization system. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more actuators comprise a motor to actuate the projection lens to correct for the measured displacement of the projected image. 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the projector is a digital light processing (DLP) projector comprising a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip comprising a plurality of mirrors, wherein the one or more actuators are to actuate the plurality of mirrors to correct for the measured displacement of the projected image. 8. The system of claim 4, wherein the projector is a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector comprising an LCD panel, wherein the one or more actuators are to actuate the LCD panel to correct for the measured total displacement of the projected image. 9. The system of claim 4, wherein the projector is a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) projector comprising a LCoS microdevice, wherein the one or more actuators are to actuate the LCoS microdevice to correct for the measured total displacement of the projected image. 10. The system of claim 3, wherein the image stabilization system is a three-axis image stabilization system, wherein the one or more motion sensors measure displacement of the projected image in three axes. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more motion sensors are to measure the rate of displacement of the projected image from equilibrium, and wherein the one or more actuators are to actuate the optical element of the projector to correct for a predicted displacement of the projected image based on the measured rate of displacement. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more motion sensors are to measure the total displacement and the rate of displacement of the projected image from equilibrium, and wherein the one or more actuators are to actuate the optical element of the projector to correct for a predicted displacement of the projected image based on the measured rate of displacement and measured total displacement. 13. A method, comprising: using one or more motions sensors to measure a total displacement from an equilibrium position of an image projected by a projector; using at the least the measured total displacement, determining an actuation of an optical element of the projector to stabilize the image; and stabilizing the projected image by actuating the optical element. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the optical element is actuated based on a precalculated lookup table associated with a map to correct for the measured total displacement, wherein the lookup table is stored in a memory of the projector. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: storing a plurality of lookup tables in a memory of the projector, each of the plurality of lookup tables associated with a map to correct a respective displacement or displacement range of a projected image, 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the actuated optical element is a projection lens of the projector. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the projector is a digital light processing (DLP) projector comprising a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip comprising a plurality of mirrors, wherein the actuated optical element comprises the plurality of mirrors. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the projector is a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector comprising an LCD panel, wherein the actuated optical element comprises the LCD panel. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the projector is a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) projector comprising a LCoS microdevice, wherein the actuated optical element comprises the LCoS microdevice. 20. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining if the measured total displacement exceeds a predetermined threshold. 21. The method of claim 14, wherein the image stabilization system is a three-axis image stabilization system, wherein the one or more motion sensors measure displacement of the projected image in three axes. 22. A method, comprising: using one or more motions sensors to measure a rate of displacement from an equilibrium position of an image projected by a projector; using at the least the measured rate of displacement, estimating an actuation of an optical element of the projector to maintain a stabilized image; and actuating the optical element based on the estimated actuation.