Visual display system and exposure control apparatus

Abstract: A visual display system in which light from a light source is modulated by a space light modulator having a plurality of controllable elements arranged in a line and the modulated light is scanned by an optical scanning device to display an image. An exposure control apparatus having a lens, a photoelectric conversion device, and a space light modulator, wherein the space light modulator is operated to vary the amount of light to be supplied to the photoelectric conversion device, thereby controlling the exposure for the image focused by the lens.

Description: The present invention relates to a visual display system for displaying a video signal or image data in the form of a visible image, and in particular to a projection system with an exposure control apparatus. In recent years, demand has been increasing for larger-area and/or higher-definition screens than the screens offered by conventional display devices such as cathode ray tubes (CRTs) or liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Such demand has been further increased by consumers' demand for large-screen televisions, coupled with the demand from many people who want to enjoy shows on a large screen or who need to view screens generated by a computer in conferences or the like. LCDs are suitable for use with small-size computer systems and terminal devices, particularly laptop and portable computers; LCDs for such applications are constructed using liquid crystal cells, each individual cell corresponding to one pixel on the screen. LCDs are sensitive to temperature, are difficult to construct in large size, have a slow response, and require external illumination for viewing. The resolution of the LCD is limited by the complexity of its driving system, the result of which is that the size of the LCD generally increases with increasing resolution. This means an inevitable increase in the size of the projection optical system used, and hence an increase in the cost of a high-definition system. Another problem is that light passed through the LCD (or reflected from it) is polarized, as a result of which the sensation of brightness varies nonlinearly with the distance from the center of the field of view (e.g. off the axis). The most widely used display system is the CRT. However, the CRT has various shortcomings, the first one being the cost. The high cost is due to the difficulty involved in the production of large-size display tubes and the requirement of large volumes of raw materials (particularly glass) for construction. As a result, the display becomes very heavy, is not easy to transport, and therefore, is not suitable for use in a small-size display system. The resolution is also a problem with the CRT. Another shortcoming of such conventional display systems is that they are essentially an analog type. Therefore, when displaying information is stored in digital form in a computer, the information must first be converted into a form compatible with the analog raster scanning for displaying of the CRT. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a prior art diaphragm mechanism used for exposure control. When an actuator 705 is moved, a ring 706 is turned, which in turn moves an actuating pin 704 fixed on the ring 706 to move a diaphragm fan 701 over a lens 702 with a fixed pin 703 acting as the fulcrum, so that the size of the aperture area is varied. Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art lens diaphragm control mechanism. The lens diaphragm control mechanism comprises: a lens 801; a diaphragm 802; an image pick-up element for converting the optical image into electrical signals; a preamplifier 804 for amplifying the output of the image pick-up element 803 to a suitable magnitude; a photometric circuit 805 for extracting, out of the video signal outputted from the preamplifier 804, the portions that correspond to the photometric area; a detection circuit 806; a diaphragm control circuit 807 for feedback control of the diaphragm 802 to bring the output of the detection circuit 806 into agreement with a predetermined reference voltage; and a pulse generator 808 for controlling the photometric circuit 805 by using vertical and horizontal synchronizing pulses or the like. Light passed through the lens 801 is focused onto the image pick-up element 803, the amount of light being suitably controlled by the diaphragm 802. The image pick-up element 803 converts the optical image focused thereon into an electrical signal, i.e. a video signal, which is then amplified by the preamplifier 804 to a magnitude suitable for later processing. The amplified video signal is fed to the photometric circuit 805, which is under control of the pulse generator 808, and only the portions of the video signal that correspond to the photometric area are supplied to the detection circuit 806. The detection circuit 806 integrates the input signal to produce a photometric signal of the level corresponding to the mean luminance of the photometric area of the video signal. The photometric signal is inputted to the diaphragm control circuit 807. The diaphragm control circuit 807 performs feedback control of the diaphragm 802 to bring this value into agreement with the predetermined reference voltage. However, there are an infinite variety of objects that may be placed for imaging at the image pick-up position, and they cannot be limited to particular types. From some kinds of objects, good images can be obtained with a fixed photometric area, while from others, proper images cannot be obtained with the fixed photometric area. For example, in a backlight situation where the object of interest is positioned in the center of the scene against a background consisting mostly of high luminosity areas, the high luminosity areas will become dominant factors in the photometric area, causing the diaphragm to tend to close down for the object; the resulting image of the object will appear all black. Conversely, in an excessive frontlight situation where most of the background is dark, the diaphragm will tend to open up for the object because of the darkness of the background, causing everywhere in the final image to appear pale and washed out. Fig.5 shows schematic diagrams illustrating the construction of a prior art image projection system. In Fig.3(a), a lens 910 is directed toward the object for imaging. At this time, a reflecting mirror 911 is positioned as shown by dotted line, so that the object is focused on an image pick-up element 912 by the lens 910. When it is desired to enlarge the image for projection, the system is rearranged as shown in Fig.3(b). At this time, the reflecting mirror 911 is manipulated and placed in the position as shown by solid line. In this arrangement, the image on a liquid crystal display 913 illuminated by a light source 914 is enlarged through the lens 910 for projection. The above construction is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2-13071. In the prior art image projection system of the above construction, since the system configuration must be rearranged between the imaging and image projection situations, it takes a lot of time and effort for the rearrangement. Furthermore, since a component in the optical path is moved, the focusing accuracy of the system lowers. As described above, the prior art exposure control apparatus relies on a lot of mechanical actions for controlling the diaphragm, and therefore, has the problem of slow operating speed and low reliability. Furthermore, the prior art apparatus needs a large number of parts, and is complex and expensive in construction. Moreover, because of the construction of the apparatus which is incorporated in the lens system, exposure control can only be performed collectively on the entire light sensitive elements, and partial corrections of exposure cannot be performed. Furthermore, in the prior art, no exposure control apparatus has been available with additional functions other than its originally intended functions. According to the present invention, there is provided an exposure control and image projection apparatus comprising: a lens for focusing an object image; a photoelectric conversion device for converting into an electrical signal light passed through said lens; a first optical path passing through said lens; a second optical path for passing light onto said photoelectric conversion device; a space light modulator disposed in said second optical path and having a plurality of controllable elements; a third optical path extending from said space light modulator and passing through said lens; a fourth optical path passing light onto said space light modulator; a light source disposed in said fourth optical path; control means for controlling individually and simultaneously the plurality of controllable elements of said space light modulator in each of two switching modes on the basis of the output from said photoelectric conversion device, the first switching mode being for switching the states of the controllable elements between a first state in which the light from the first optical path is guided to the second optical path and a second state in which it is not guided to the second optical path, and the second switching mode being for switching the states of the controllable elements between a third state, in which the light from said light source passed through the fourth optical path is guided to said third optical path, and a fourth state in which it is not guided to said third optical path. Thus, the invention can provide an exposure control apparatus equipped with an additional function that permits the apparatus to be used as an enlarging projector. The invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of a prior art diaphragm. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a prior art exposure control apparatus. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the construction of a prior art image projection system. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the construction of an explanatory exposure control apparatus. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the construction of a space light modulator. Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an exposure analysis unit. Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations within a CPU. Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative configuration of the exposure analysis unit. Figure 9 is a graph showing the relationship of a photometric area relative to an image signal and AID converted signal. Figure 10 is graphs showing the relationship of an adder output relative to a level converter output and an ON period of the space light modulator. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a construction of the exposure control apparatus with a function of an image projector of the present invention. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the construction of an exposure control apparatus using a space light modulator 36. Image light first enters a lens system 31, then passes through lens systems 32, 33, 34, 35, and through an optical path 37, to reach the space light modulator 36. Of these lens systems, 31 is, for example, a focusing section, 32 is a variator, 33 is a compensator, 34 is a master lens, and 35 is an optical filter. In this embodiment, the space light modulator 36 is of the type generally known as a deformable mirror device (DMD), which will be described hereinafter. A space light modulator of other type may be used if it is capable of changing the directions of individual light beams at sufficiently high speed. A photoelectric conversion device 39 is of the type generally known as the CCD. A photoelectric conversion device of other type may be used if it is capable of converting image light into electrical signals at sufficiently high speed. Fig. 5 shows the construction of the space light modulator 36. A mirror 50 mounted in a vertical plane 60 is movable about a shaft 56 between the positions indicated by dotted lines 58 and 74. In the position of ON state, one edge of the mirror 56 is in contact with a landing electrode 62. When a suitable voltage is applied to a control electrode 64, the mirror 50 is moved to the ON position. The voltage applied to the control electrode 64 is inputted to a positive electrode 68, and through an inverter 69 to a negative electrode 70. A differential bias is applied to the mirror 50 through an electrode 72. When the mirror 50 is in the position indicated by dotted line 58, the whole or part of the image light introduced through a first optical path 37 is guided to a second optical path 38. In the OFF state, the mirror 50 is turned to the positioned indicated by dotted line 74 by applying a negative voltage to the vertical plane 60 or to the control electrode 64, so that the image light will not be guided to the second optical path 38. The space light modulator 36 consists of the mirrors 50 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix array. The mirrors 50 can be controlled individually and simultaneously. By controlling the controllable elements of the space light modulator 36, the beam of light that has reached the space light modulator 36 after passing through the lens systems and the first optical path 37 is directed along the second optical path 38 to the photoelectric conversion device 39. The photoelectric conversion device 39 converts the entering light into electrical signals. By using these electrical signals, the controllable elements are controlled to vary the amount of light to be supplied to the photoelectric conversion device 39, that is, the space light modulator 36 acts as an optical diaphragm. Realtime control of the diaphragm can be performed by converting and analyzing the electrical signals outputted from the photoelectric conversion device 39 and feeding the information back to the space light modulator 36. Each electrical signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion device 39 is supplied via a bus 40 to a camera signal processing unit 41 which converts the electrical signal into an image signal. The image signal is then fed via a bus 42 to an exposure analysis unit 43 which analyzes the image signal to determine, for example, the luminance level of the entire screen, the presence or absence of pixels that have reached the luminance saturation level, and the addresses of such pixels. Next, using the analyzed data, the mode of control of the space light modulator 36 is determined, and the resulting control signal is sent to an SLM control unit 45 via a bus 44. Based on the control signal, the SLM control unit 45 operates the controllable elements of the space light modulator 36 via a bus 46, to reduce the proportion of the image light guided to the second optical path 38. Depending on how the internal processing is performed, the exposure analysis unit 43 can operate the space light modulator 36 as an optical diaphragm in various ways. Fig. 6 shows the internal configuration of the exposure analysis unit 43. A signal transferred from the photoelectric conversion device 39 is converted by the camera signal processing unit 41 into an image signal. The image signal is transferred via a bus 302 to an A/D converter 303, internal to the exposure analysis unit 43, for analog-to-digital conversion. The converted signal is then fed to an adder 305 via a bus 304. In the meantime, a synchronizing signal, which is outputted from an SSG internal to the camera signal processing unit 41, is transferred to a timing generator 310 and a CPU 307 via a bus 312. Based on this synchronizing signal, the timing generator 310 produces a timing signal for the adder 305. Using the timing signal fed from the timing generator 310 via a bus 311, the adder 305 performs addition on the signal transferred via the bus 304. The value of the sum is proportional to the luminance of the sampled image. This value is transferred to the CPU 307 via a bus 306. The CPU 307 compares this value with a predetermined reference value and sends the resulting signal to a level converter 314 via a bus 313. The reference value can be set externally via a bus 315. The detailed processing performed by the CPU 307 will be described later. Based on the signal supplied from the CPU 307, the level converter 314 determines the amount of image light to be supplied from the space light modulator 36 to the photoelectric conversion device 39, and sends the resulting control signal to the SLM control unit 45 via a bus 316. The level converter 314 may be incorporated into the CPU 307. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the image signal flow performed by the system in which the level converter is incorporated into the CPU 307. The signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion device 39 is processed through the camera signal processing unit 41, A/D converter 303, and adder 305, and is inputted to the CPU 307 (step S101). First, it is determined whether a memory 308 is cleared or not (step S102). In the beginning, since the memory 308 is cleared, the answer is YES, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, it is determined whether the value of the signal (luminance of the image) sent from the adder 305 is within the specified luminance value. If the signal value is not great than the specified value, the answer is YES, and no instruction is given to the SLM control unit 45. On the other hand, if the signal value is greater than the specified value, the signal value is stored into the memory 308 via a bus 309 (step S104), the level conversion value is varied (step S105), and the SLM control unit 45 is actuated (step S106). When the SLM control unit 45 is actuated, the amount of light to be supplied to the photoelectric conversion device 39 is varied. The resulting signal from the photoelectric conversion device 39 is delivered through the camera signal processing unit 41, A/D converter 303, and adder 305, and is inputted again to the CPU 307 (step S101). In the next step S102, since the memory 308 is not cleared, the answer is NO, and the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, it is determined whether there has been a rapid change in the signal value. A rapid change will mean a change from one image scene to the next. If there is no rapid change, the answer is NO, and the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, it is determined whether the signal value has dropped to the specified value with which the value stored in the memory 308 was compared. If not, the level conversion value is further varied (step S105), and the SLM control unit 45 is again actuated (step S106). On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal value has dropped to the specified value, the level conversion value is fixed to the current level (step S109), and the SLM control unit 45 is allowed to operate with the current level (step S106). If there has been a rapid change in the signal value fed from the photoelectric conversion device 39 (YES in step S107), the value in the memory 308 is cleared (step S110), and the level conversion value is initialized. Control of the diaphragm is performed by repeating the above sequence of operations. In the exposure analysis unit of the above arrangement, the space light modulator is controlled by using the mean luminance of the whole screen, and is made to serve the same function as a conventional diaphragm, but it is also possible to suppress the luminance only for the portions where the luminance is saturated or where the luminance exceeds the threshold level. An exposure analysis unit so adapted will now be described. Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of such an exposure analysis unit, and Fig. 9 is a graph showing the relationship of the image forming surface and photometric area of the photoelectric conversion device relative to the input image signal and A/D converted signal. As in the foregoing arrangement, the image signal outputted from the camera signal processing unit 41 is transferred via a bus 341 to the exposure analysis unit 43. The image signal supplied to the exposure analysis unit 43 is inputted to an A/D converter 343 for analog-to-digital conversion. The operation of A/D converter 343 is controlled by a clock signal given from a clock generator 348 via a bus 347. The converted signal is fed to a peak detector 345 via a bus 344. The peak detector 345 compares the signal with the threshold level set by a CPU 350, and if the signal is greater than the threshold level, transfers the signal to the CPU 350 via a bus 346. Inputted to the CPU 350 are a synchronizing signal, which is given from the camera signal processing unit 41 via a bus 346; a clock signal, which is given from the clock generator 348 via a bus 362; and a photometric area signal, which is given via a bus 353 from a photometric area timing generator 352 whose operation is synchronized with the clock signal supplied via a bus 351 from the clock generator 348. The photometric area for the photometric area timing generator 352 can be changed via a bus 361. The signal transferred to the CPU 350 from the peak detector 345 is stored via a bus 354 into a memory 355, together with the address calculated from the photometric area signal supplied from the photometric area timing generator 352 and the synchronizing signal supplied from the camera signal processing unit 41. The CPU 350 also supplies a level signal to a level converter 358 via a bus 357, the level signal corresponding to the overlevel portion of the signal sent from the peak detector 345, and transfers the address of the pixel where the overlevel is caused, to the SLM control unit 45 via a bus 363. Based on the signal sent from the CPU 350, the level converter 358 determines the amount of image light to be supplied from the space light modulator 36 to the photoelectric conversion device 39, and supplies the resulting data signal to the SLM control unit 45 via a bus 359. The level converter 358 may be incorporated into the CPU 350. Fig. 10 shows an example of the relationship of the adder output relative to the level converter output and the ON period of the space light modulator. As shown, when the adder output is small, the level converter output is large, that is, the ON period of the space light modulator is long. Next, in the region to the right of the left-hand side dotted line, the CPU operates to lower the level converter output and reduce the ON period of the space light modulator. When the adder output is further increased past the right-hand side dotted line which represents the threshold level, the level converter output is maintained at a minimum level. The rate of variation over the region between the two dotted lines, i.e. the section where the level converter output is varied, can be set at a desired value. The variation may be either continuous or in discrete steps. Next, an embodiment of an exposure control apparatus equipped with a function of an image projector according to the invention will be described below. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the construction of such an exposure control apparatus. In Fig. 11, the same parts as those in Fig. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. Since the exposure control mechanism is identical to that of the foregoing arrangement, the following description deals only with the image projection function. Referring to Fig. 11, light emitted from a light source 420 is collected by a reflecting mirror 421 and reflected through an optical path 433 into a lens 422. The lenses 422, 423, and 424 together form a beam columnator which acts to collimate the entering light into a beam of light shown as an optical path 425. The beam of light is projected through the optical path 425, a fourth optical path, onto the space light modulator 36. In this embodiment, the space light modulator 36 is in the ON state when it is placed in the position indicated by the dotted line 74 in Fig. 5, which is the OFF state in the case of exposure control, or more particularly, when a negative voltage is applied to the control electrode 64. An image storage medium 427 is provided to store an image signal sent from the camera signal processing unit 41 via a bus 429 or an external image signal sent via a bus 430. The image signal is transferred to an image projection CPU 428 via a bus 431. An image signal can be directly inputted to the image projection CPU 428 via a bus 434. The image projection CPU 428 converts the input image signal to data suitable for image display by the space light modulator 36, and delivers the data via a bus 432 to the SLM control unit 45 to control the space light modulator 36. The individual controllable elements of the space light modulator 36 are controlled by the data supplied via the bus 46 so that an image is formed on the surfaces of the controllable elements. The light passed through the fourth optical path (the optical path 425) strikes the space light modulator 36 on which the image is formed, and the image light is reflected into the optical path 37, a third optical path, and passed through the lens systems 35, 34, 33, 32, and 31 for enlarged image projection. As described, the exposure control apparatus of the invention uses the space light modulator for exposure control; therefore, the number of mechanical moving parts is reduced, the mechanism is simplified, and partial exposure control can be performed. It is also possible to project an image for display by forming an image on the space light modulator and projecting light thereon from the light source.

Claims: An exposure control and image projection apparatus comprising: a lens (31) for focusing an object image; a photoelectric conversion device (39) for converting into an electrical signal light passed through said lens (31); a first optical path passing through said lens (31); a second optical path (38) for passing light onto said photoelectric conversion device (39); a space light modulator (36) disposed in said second optical path (28) and having a plurality of controllable elements (50); a third optical path (37) extending from said space light modulator (36) and passing through said lens (31); a fourth optical path (425) passing light onto said space light modulator (36); a light source (421) disposed in said fourth optical path (425); control means (46) for controlling individually and simultaneously the plurality of controllable elements (50) of said space light modulator (36) in each of two switching modes on the basis of the output from said photoelectric conversion device (39), the first switching mode being for switching the states of the controllable elements (50) between a first state in which the light from the first optical path is guided to the second optical path (38) and a second state in which it is not guided to the second optical path (38), and the second switching mode being for switching the states of the controllable elements (50) between a third state, in which the light from said light source passed through the fourth optical path (425) is guided to said third optical path (37), and a fourth state in which it is not guided to said third optical path (37). Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: exposure analysis means (43) for analysing the exposure level of the output signal of said photoelectric conversion device (39); the control means being for controlling individually and simultaneously the plurality of controllable elements (50) of said space light modulator (36) on the basis of the result of the analysis by said exposure analysis means (43). Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said exposure analysis means (43) detects the mean luminance level of the whole or part of the screen by analysing the output signal of said photoelectric conversion device (39). Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said exposure analysis means (43) detects portions of the signal within the whole or part of the screen, where the luminance level exceeds a threshold level, by analysing the output signal of said photoelectric conversion device (39).

Inventors: NAKAGAKIUCHI SUSUMU, UEDA SHINOBU, NAKAGAKIUCHI, SUSUMU,, UEDA, SHINOBU,, Nakagakiuchi, Susumu, c/o Kyoto Jigyosho, Ueda, Shinobu, c/o Denshi Shohin Kaihatsu
Applicants: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP, MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G09G3
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N9, G09G3