# US 7,609,444 B2 · Projection partitioning and aligning

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- Number: US 7,609,444 B2
- Document ID: US7609444B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/255,394
- Filed: 2005-10-21
- Published: 2007-04-26
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2005-10-21
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Grant K. Garner; Masoud K. Zavarehi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609444B2

## CPC

- H04N 5/74: Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
- H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback}
- Y10S 359/90: Methods
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Various embodiments for projection partitioning and aligning are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
actuating individual regions of a screen to have individualized reflectivities;
partitioning a projection area to be projected onto the screen into blocks of pixels;
aligning the blocks with corresponding regions; and
adjusting the blocks individually.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the blocks are adjusted using reflectivities of the regions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein luminance values of the blocks are adjusted using reflectivities of the corresponding regions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein luminance values of the pixels of each block are differently adjusted.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein luminance values of the blocks are adjusted.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein luminance values of the pixels of each block are differently adjusted.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein chrominance values of the blocks are adjusted.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein chrominance values of the pixels of each block are differently adjusted.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein aligning includes:
projecting the projected area onto the screen; and
sensing flue projected area at predetermined locations on the screen.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising:
actuating substantially all the pixels of a first one of the blocks to a first color; and
actuating substantially all the pixels of a second one of the blocks to a second distinct color, wherein sensing includes sensing the first color and the second color to identify locations of the first one of the blocks and the second one of the blocks projected on the screen.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein aligning includes capturing an image of the screen while the regions are at distinct reflectivities.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the blocks are projected onto the screen while the regions are at a common reflectivity.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein aligning includes:
projecting the blocks onto the screen; and
capturing an image of the blocks on the screen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing ambient light impinging the screen.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 further comprising adjusting the blocks based upon the sensed ambient light impinging the regions of the screen.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising altering a position of the blocks of the projected area on the screen.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing composite light, including projected light and ambient light, impinging the screen.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the regions are arranged in a checkerboard pattern across the screen.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the individual regions of the screen include at least three regions, with each of the three regions having a different individualized reflectivity.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the blocks leeks of pixels of the projection area are concurrently projected across the regions of the screen.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the projection area is partitioned into perimeter blocks and interior blocks, wherein the interior blocks have boundaries, wherein each of the regions has boundaries and wherein each boundary of each interior block substantially coincides with one of the boundaries of at least one of regions upon being aligned.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the projection area comprises an image being projected.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the image is projected by a single projector.

### Claim 24

A system comprising:
a screen having regions actuatable to individualized reflectivities;
a projector configured to project an area onto the screen;
at least one sensor configured to sense the positioning of the area on the screen; and
a controller configured to partition the area into blocks, each of the blocks including image pixels and corresponding to one of the regions and configured to align each of the blocks with its corresponding region of the screen.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one sensor includes sensors configured to sense the projected area at predetermined locations on the screen.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein each of the blocks has a geometry and size substantially similar to its corresponding region and wherein the controller is configured to individually adjust different blocks.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein controller is configured to adjust the blocks individually based upon the reflectivities of their corresponding screen regions.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to adjust luminance values of the blocks individually.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The system of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to adjust luminance values of the image pixels of the blocks individually.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to adjust luminance values of the blocks individually.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein the controller is configured to adjust luminance values of the image pixels of the blocks individually.

### Claim 32 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to adjust chrominance values of the blocks individually.

### Claim 33

A system comprising:
a screen having regions actuatable to individualized reflectivities;
a projector configured to project an area on the screen; and
means for partitioning the area into distinct blocks of pixels having geometries and sizes substantially similar to corresponding regions of the screen; and
means for aligning the blocks with their corresponding regions of the screen.

### Claim 34

A computer readable medium comprising:
instructions to actuate regions of a screen to individualized reflectivities;
instructions to partition a projection area to be projected onto the screen into blocks of pixels;
instructions to align each of the blocks with a corresponding one of the regions of the screen; and
instructions to perform different image processing on at least two of the blocks.

### Claim 35

A method comprising:
actuating individual regions of a screen to have individualized reflectivities;
partitioning a projection area to be projected onto the screen into blocks of pixels;
aligning the blocks with corresponding regions; and
altering a position of the blocks of the projected area on the screen.