# US 11,106,119 B2 · Projection apparatus that projects image using laser beams, control method of the same, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,106,119 B2 - Document ID: US11106119B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/525,740 - Filed: 2019-07-30 - Published: 2020-02-06 - Granted: 2021-08-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-02 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takuya Iwata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11106119B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources} - G03B 21/142: {Adjusting of projection optics} - G03B 21/2053: {Intensity control of illuminating light (controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31)} - G03B 21/206: {Control of light source other than position or intensity} - H04N 1/00681: {Detecting the presence, position or size of a sheet or correcting its position before scanning (H04N1/047 takes precedence; mode signalling H04N1/333; skew detection or correction in image signals H04N1/3878)} - H04N 9/3129: {scanning a light beam on the display screen (scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161)} - H04N 9/3164: {using multiple light sources} - H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback} - H04N 2201/0438: Scanning displays; Scanning large surfaces, e.g. projection screens, writing boards - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A projection apparatus comprises: a first laser beam source configured to output a visible laser beam; a second laser beam source configured to output an invisible laser beam; a scan unit configured to project an image by scanning a projection surface using the visible laser beam output from the first laser beam source and the invisible laser beam output from the second laser beam source; and a control unit configured to control a timing at which the first laser beam source outputs the visible laser beam and a timing at which the second laser beam source outputs the invisible laser beam so that, in a period corresponding to a target pixel in the image, the visible laser beam is output in a first period and the invisible laser beam is output in a second period different from the first period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A projection apparatus comprising: a first laser beam source; a third laser beam source; a fourth laser beam source, wherein the first, third, and fourth laser beam sources are configured to output respective visible laser beams having different colors from one another; a second laser beam source configured to output an invisible laser beam; a projection unit configured to project an image on a projection surface using the visible laser beam output from the first laser beam source and to project the invisible laser beam output from the second laser beam source to the projection surface; and a control unit configured to control a timing at which the first, third, and fourth laser beam sources output the visible laser beams and a timing at which the second laser beam source outputs the invisible laser beam so that the visible laser beams are output in a first period and the invisible laser beam is output in a second period different from the first period, wherein the first period and the second period do not overlap with each other and the second period is between adjacent first periods. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The projection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a reflected beam of the invisible laser beam; and a distance calculator that calculates a distance between the projection apparatus and an object irradiated by the invisible laser beam based on an output timing of the invisible laser beam and a detection timing of the reflected beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The projection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the distance calculated by the distance calculator is equal to or shorter than a predetermined threshold, the control unit controls the number of times the invisible laser beam is output to be smaller than the number of times the visible laser beam is output in projecting the image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection unit projects the image by scanning the visible laser beam on the projection surface two-dimensionally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit determines the first period and the second period so that the first period and the second period are included within a scanning period corresponding to one pixel of the image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection unit projects the image on the projection surface by modulating the visible laser beam using a liquid crystal element based on an input image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the first laser beam source and the second laser beam source so that positions on the projection surface to which the visible laser beam and the invisible laser beam are projected are not overlapped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls an output timing of the second laser beam source so that the invisible laser beam is output every predetermined number of frames of an input image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The projection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the first laser beam source and the second laser beam source so that the visible laser beam and the invisible laser beam are not projected on the same position at once. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls output timings so that the invisible laser beam is output only during a period in which a dark image generated by reducing pixel values of an input image is projected, and the invisible laser beam is not output in a period in which a bright image generated by increasing pixel values of an input image is projected. ### Claim 11 A control method of a projection apparatus which includes a first laser beam source, a third laser beam source, and a fourth laser beam source, wherein the first, third, and fourth laser beam sources are configured to output respective visible laser beams having different colors from one another, a second laser beam source configured to output an invisible laser beam, and a projection unit configured to project an image on a projection surface using the visible laser beam output from the first laser beam source and to project the invisible laser beam output from the second laser beam source to the projection surface, the method comprising: controlling a timing at which the first, third, and fourth laser beam sources output the visible laser beams and a timing at which the second laser beam source outputs the invisible laser beam so that the visible laser beams are output in a first period and the invisible laser beam is output in a second period different from the first period, wherein the first period and the second period do not overlap with each other and the second period is between adjacent first periods. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, further comprising: detecting a reflected beam of the invisible laser beam; and calculating a distance between the projection apparatus and an object irradiated by the invisible laser beam based on an output timing of the invisible laser beam and a detection timing of the reflected beam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control method according to claim 12, wherein in a case where the distance calculated in the calculating is equal to or shorter than a predetermined threshold, the controlling comprises controlling the number of times the invisible laser beam is output to be smaller than the number of times the visible laser beam is output in projecting the image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein the projection unit projects the image by scanning the visible laser beam on the projection surface two-dimensionally. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The control method according to claim 14, wherein the controlling comprising: determining the first period and the second period so that the first period and the second period are included within a scanning period corresponding to one pixel of the image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein the projection unit projects the image on the projection surface by modulating the visible laser beam using a liquid crystal element based on an input image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein in the controlling, controlling an output timing of the second laser beam source so that the invisible laser beam is output every predetermined number of frames of an input image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling comprising controlling output timings so that the invisible laser beam is output only during a period in which a dark image generated by reducing pixel values of an input image is projected, and the invisible laser beam is not output in a period in which a bright image generated by increasing pixel values of an input image is projected. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling comprises controlling the first laser beam source and the second laser beam source so that positions on the projection surface to which the visible laser beam and the invisible laser beam are projected are not overlapped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The control method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling comprises controlling the first laser beam source and the second laser beam source so that the visible laser beam and the invisible laser beam are not projected on the same position at once. ### Claim 21 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a projection apparatus which includes a first laser beam source, a third laser beam source, and a fourth laser beam source, wherein the first, third, and fourth laser beam sources are configured to output a respective visible laser beams having different colors from one another, a second laser beam source configured to output an invisible laser beam, and a projection unit configured to project an image on a projection surface using the visible laser beam output from the first laser beam source and to project the invisible laser beam output from the second laser beam source to the projection surface, the method comprising: controlling a timing at which the first, third, and fourth laser beam sources output the visible laser beams and a timing at which the second laser beam source outputs the invisible laser beam so that the visible laser beams are output in a first period and the invisible laser beam is output in a second period different from the first period, wherein the first period and the second period do not overlap with each other and the second period is between adjacent first periods.