Smart Projector

中文版

The popularity of today's flat-panel liquid-crystal and plasma TV displays shows that emerging trends favor large-screen displays. Another display type may soon conquer the entertainment market. That is, projector. However, Video projectors have experienced an enormous metamorphosis during the past decade.These devices now offer admirable cost reductions and performance increases, and they can generate images much larger than the devices themselves. The screens on which they project their images, however, require a large flat and white area. Smart projectors, on the other hand, allow a corrected projection image onto many arbitrary existing surfaces.

     A Smart projector, developed by Bauhaus University (Germany) researchers in January 2005, is able to display correct images onto arbitrary existing surfaces without artificial (flat/white) canvas.

Simulated Demo

     For being a smart projector, the key is to generate the "color corrected images" before they are projected onto the surface. These includes the following steps:

(1) Pre-recorded image of the projected area.

(2) Generate "color corrected image" based on the "pre-recorded image of the projected

     area" and the next  coming image.

(3) Transmit the "color corrected image" to the projector and display.

(4) Repeated steps (2) and (3) until range change detection is asserted.

     Start over to step (1).

     In each of the above steps, the smart projector requires different part of hardware functions.

In step (1), a low cost camera is sufficient.

In step (2), a high power processing unit (also could be power-hungry) is needed to post

                  process the combined images to get "color corrected image".

In step (3), a wireless communication capability will suffice.

In step (4) A range detection function unit.

     In order to conserve more battery power for the projector itself, the high power processing unit (in step 2) is better built-in a separate device where the original video is coming from. Such as desktop PC or set-top box.

     On June 4, 2009, the patent filed by Apple Inc. could be potentially used in such a application . It also places a roadblock to prevent competitors from entering this type of application as the "WOW" factor will surprise the market once more.

(Reference : http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/03/apple-files-a-mysterious-projector-patent.html)

     One interesting use of this smart projector is to help highway patrol to hide the police car from being seen on the highway. Another one is for magician to have more stunting scenery in the future.  Here is another stunning outdoor show below: