Patent Publication Number: US-2009219454-A1

Title: Video output apparatus and video output method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-050570, filed Feb. 29, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One embodiment of the invention relates to a video output apparatus and a video output method which are used suitably in a projection type display apparatus such as a color projector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As is well known, since the above projection type display apparatuses frequently installed in places which house a lot of people, the display apparatuses are operated by PCs (personal computers) which are connected to the display apparatuses via LAN (local area networks) in control rooms prepared in places separately from the installation places. 
     In this case, operators of the PCs cannot operate the projection type display apparatuses while viewing images projected onto screens. For this reason, in the control rooms, the operators input video signals, which are input into the projection type display apparatuses, into monitors, and operate the projection type display apparatuses while viewing the images on the screens. 
     On the other hand, in recent projection type display apparatuses, images corresponding to input video signals are not directly projected onto screens for display. These projection type display apparatus have a function for giving various processes to input video signals so as to give various display effects to images to be projected onto the screens. 
     For this reason, at the present, such projection type display apparatuses are desirably operated so as to execute a process for giving the video display effects to video signals without actually viewing images projected onto the screens, namely, in any places. Further, the projection type display apparatuses desirably improve efficient use of video signals to which desirable display effects are given. 
     Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAT Publication No. 2005-266816 discloses a constitution of a projector which controls a memory function or a color converting function in a display apparatus in cooperation with an image signal from the information processing apparatus based on a control signal from an information processing apparatus so as to cutout-display a specific area of an image and display still images such as slide show with beautiful image quality according to image contents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a color projector according to one example of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block constitutional diagram illustrating an outline of a signal processing system of the color projector according to the example; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating one example of the color projector according to the example; and 
         FIG. 4  is a block constitutional diagram illustrating an outline of the video signal processing system in a television broadcasting reception apparatus according to another example of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, a video output apparatus includes a processing module which executes a process for giving a predetermined display effect to an input video signal, a projecting module which generates an optical image based on the processed video signal so as to project the optical image onto a screen via a projection lens and display a video, and an output module which outputs the processed video signal to an outside. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an appearance of a color projector  11  described in this example. That is to say, the color projector  11  has a stationary cabinet  12  which becomes a projector main body and is formed into an approximately thin box shape. 
     A projection lens  13  is arranged on one end of a front panel  12   a  of the cabinet  12 . The projection lens  13  is for enlarging and projecting so as to display imaged information onto a screen, described later, which becomes a video projection surface provided on the front surface of the cabinet  12 . 
     A display module  14  and an operating module  15  are arranged on an upper panel  12   b  of the cabinet  12 . The display module  14  displays a current state of the color projector  11 , or a menu for setting various modes of the color projector  11 . 
     The operating module  15  has a power supply key, and various keys which control various operating states or a halt state of the color projector  11 , or sets various modes of the color projector  11 . These keys are provided so as to be exposed from the upper panel  12   b  so as to be operated by a user. 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a signal processing system of the color projector  11 . That is to say, a video signal supplied from an input terminal  16  is digitalized by an A/D (analog/digital) converting module  17 , and is supplied to a video processing module  18  so as to be subject to processes for giving various display effects and a predetermined signal process necessary for projection. 
     Examples of the processes given to a video signal in the video processing module  18  are a muting process for stopping video output, a resizing process for converting a video size, a freezing process for making a video still, a PinP (picture in picture) process for displaying a sub-screen video on a predetermined position of a main screen video, and a multi-screen display process for dividing one screen into a plurality of areas so as to display videos on the respective areas. 
     When a selector  19  selects a video signal output from the video processing module  18 , the video signal is supplied to a video projecting module  20  so as to be converted into an optical image, and is enlarged to be projected onto a screen  21  via the projection lens  13 . The image to which a desired display effect is given is displayed on the screen  21 . 
     A video signal output from the video processing module  18  is supplied to an OSD (on screen display) signal generating module  22 . The OSD signal generating module  22  generates an OSD signal which shows an operating state of the color projector  11  and a menu screen or the like for selectively setting the various modes and the various processes. The OSD signal generating module  22  superimposes the OSD signal on the video signal output from the video processing module  18 . 
     When the selector  19  selects the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed by the OSD signal generating module  22 , the video signal is supplied to the video projecting module  20  so as to be converted into an optical image. Thereafter, the optical image is enlarged to be projected onto the screen  21  via the projection lens  13 . As a result, the user views the OSD signal displayed on the screen  21  so as to be capable of recognizing the operating state of the color projector  11  or selectively setting the various modes and the various processes on the menu screen. 
     A selector  23  selectively supplies the video signal output from the video processing module  18  and the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed by the OSD signal generating module  22  to the D/A (digital/analog) converting module  24  so as to convert them into analog signals. The analog signals are supplied to one input terminal of a selector  25 . 
     The video signal supplied to the input terminal  16  is supplied directly to the other input terminal of the selector  25 . The selector  25  selectively leads the video signal output from the D/A converting module  24  and the video signal supplied to the input terminal  16  to an output terminal  26 . The video signal output from the output terminal  26  is supplied to an external monitor  27  so as to be displayed as a video. 
     For this reason, when the selector  25  selects the video signal supplied to the input terminal  16 , the original video signal input into the color projector  11  can be displayed as a video by the monitor  27  regardless of the video displayed on the screen  21 , namely, the selecting state of the selector  19 . 
     The selector  23  selects the video signal output from the video processing module  18 , and the selector  25  selects the video signal output from the D/A converting module  24 . As a result, the video signal subject to the process for obtaining a desired display effect by the video processing module  18  can be displayed as a video by the monitor  27  regardless of the selecting state of the selector  19 . 
     The selector  23  selects the video signal output from the OSD signal generating module  22 , and the selector  25  selects the video signal output from the D/A converting module  24 . As a result, the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed by the OSD signal generating module  22  can be displayed as a video by the monitor  27  regardless of the selecting state of the selector  19 . 
     The video display operation of the color projector  11  is controlled by a control module  28  in an integrated manner. The control module  28  contains a CPU (central processing unit)  28   a , for example, and controls the respective modules based on operating information acquired from the operating module  15  or operating information transmitted from a remote controller  29  and received by a receiving module  30  so that their operating contents are reflected. 
     In this case, the control module  28  uses a memory module  28   b . The memory module  28   b  mainly has a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (random access memory) and a nonvolatile memory. The ROM stores a control program executed by the CPU  28   a  therein. The RAM provides an operation area to the CPU  28   a . The nonvolatile memory stores various setting information and control information therein. 
     The control module  28  controls the display module  14  so as to display a current state of the color projector  11  or display a menu for setting the color projector  11  into various modes. 
     The control module  28  is connected to a control terminal (for example, PC), not shown, via LAN, namely a LAN I/F (interface)  31  and an input/output terminal  32 . The control module  28  controls the respective modules based on operating information given from the control terminal so that their operation contents are reflected. 
     According to the example, the video signal output from the video processing module  18  or the signal obtained by superimposing the OSD signal on the video signal, namely, the video signal which was subject to a predetermined process for video display on the screen  21  can be output so as to be displayed as a video on the external monitor  27 . 
     That is to say, the displayed video on the monitor  27  is viewed so that the video actually projected onto the screen  21  can be checked. For this reason, when the color projector  11  is operated through the control terminal, the operator of the control terminal can execute the process for giving the video display effect to a video signal without viewing the displayed video on the screen  21 , namely, in any place. 
     When the selection of signals by the selectors  19 ,  23  and  25  is controlled, the video displayed on the screen  21  and the video displayed on the monitor  27  can be freely switched. For this reason, a practical effect is produced at the time of actual operation. 
     A video based on the video signal output from the video processing module  18  is displayed on the screen  21 , and a video based on the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed is displayed on the monitor  27 . When the OSD signal displayed on the monitor  27  is viewed, the operating state of the color projector  11  can be recognized, or the various modes or the various processes can be selectively set on the menu screen without being noticed by a person who views the displayed video on the screen  21 . 
     The video obtained by the original video signal supplied to the input terminal  16  and the video which is obtained by giving the display effect to the video signal in the video processing module  18  can be viewed selectively on the monitor  27 , or simultaneously on two-screen display. For this reason, user&#39;s operability can be made to be convenient. 
     Further, a plurality of monitors  27  is connected to the output terminal  26 , so that the video signal which was subject to the processes in the video processing module  18  can be displayed as videos simultaneously on the plurality of monitors  27 . That is to say, the display effects given to the video signal in one color projector  11  can be concurrently reflected on the plurality of monitors  27 , and the video signal after the processes can be effectively used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the video signal output from the output terminal  26  of the color projector  11  can be supplied to the monitor  27  and another color projector  34  via a distributor  33 . 
     In such a manner, when the video signal corresponding to a video  35  is supplied to the input terminal  16  of the color projector  11  and the video signal is subject to a process for enlarged display shown as a video  36  in the color projector  11 , the processed video signal can be displayed like a video  37  on the monitor  27 . Further, the video signal can be projected to be displayed like a video  38  in another color projector  34 . That is to say, the display effects which are given to the video signal in the one color projector  11  can be concurrently reflected on the plurality of color projectors  34 , and the processed video signal can be effectively used. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another example of the present invention, and schematically illustrates the video signal processing system of a television broadcasting reception apparatus  39 . That is to say, a television broadcasting signal received by an antenna  40  is supplied to a tuner  42  via an input terminal  41 , so that a broadcasting signal at a desired channel is selected. 
     The broadcasting signal selected by the tuner  42  is supplied to a video signal processing module  43 , and is subject to a demodulating process or a decoding process, if necessary, so as to be restored to an original video signal. Thereafter, the video signal is subject to processes for giving various display effects and a predetermined signal process necessary at the time of video display on a built-in display, described later. 
     Examples of the processes given to a video signal in the video signal processing module  43  are a muting process, resizing process, a freezing process, a PinP process, and a multi-screen display process. The muting process is for stopping video output. The resizing process is for converting a video size. The freezing process is for making a video still. The PinP process is for displaying a sub-screen video on a predetermined position in a main screen video. The multi-screen display process is for dividing one screen into a plurality of areas and displaying a video on the respective areas. 
     When the video signal output from the video signal processing module  43  is selected by a selector  44 , it is supplied to the built-in display  45  so that a video is displayed. The video to which a desired display effect is given is displayed. 
     The video signal output from the video signal processing module  43  is supplied to an OSD signal generating module  46 . The OSD signal generating module  46  generates an OSD signal showing an operating state of the television broadcasting reception apparatus  39  and a menu screen or the like for selectively setting the various modes and the various processes. The OSD signal is superimposed on the video signal output from the video signal processing module  43 . 
     When the selector  44  selects the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed by the OSD signal generating module  46 , the video signal is supplied to the built-in display  45  so that a video is displayed. As a result, the user views the OSD signal displayed on the built-in display  45 , so as to be capable of recognizing the operating state of the television broadcasting reception apparatus  39  and selectively setting the various modes and the various processes on the menu screen. 
     A selector  47  selectively leads the video signal output from the video signal processing module  43  and the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed by the OSD signal generating module  46 . The video signal output from the output terminal  48  is supplied to an external monitor  49  so that a video is displayed. 
     For this reason, when the selector  47  selects the video signal output from the video signal processing module  43 , the video signal to which the process for obtaining a desired display effect is given by the video signal processing module  43  can be displayed as a video on a monitor  49  regardless of the selecting state of the selector  44 . 
     When the selector  47  selects the video signal output from the OSD signal generating module  46 , the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed by the OSD signal generating module  46  can be displayed as a video on the monitor  49  regardless of the selecting state of the selector  44 . 
     The receiving operation of the television broadcasting reception apparatus  39  is controlled by the control module  50  in an integrated manner. The control module  50  contains a CPU  50   a , for example, and controls the respective modules based on operating information acquired from an operating module  51  or operating information transmitted from a remote controller  52  and received by a receiving module  53  so that their operating contents are reflected. 
     In this case, the control module  50  utilizes a memory module  50   b . The memory module  50   b  mainly has a ROM, a RAM and a nonvolatile memory. The ROM stores a control program executed by the CPU  50   a  therein. The RAM provides an operation area to the CPU  50   a . The nonvolatile memory stores various setting information and control information therein. 
     The control module  50  is connected to an external network via a network I/F  54  and an input/output terminal  55 . The control module  50  performs data communication with a control terminal and a server connected to the network, so as to input operating information and acquire necessary information. 
     According to the example shown in  FIG. 4 , the selection of signals by the selectors  44  and  47  is controlled, so that a video displayed on the built-in display  45  and a video displayed on the monitor  49  can be freely switched. For this reason, user&#39;s operability can be made to be convenient. 
     The various modules of the systems described herein can be implemented as software applications, hardware and/or software modules, or components on one or more computers, such as servers. While the various modules are illustrated separately, they may share some or all of the same underlying logic or code. 
     While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.