Patent Application
20240053666
The present teaching pertains to the art of projection. More specifically, to the art of projecting an image from an electronic device.
Most ways to project images from an electronic device include using an electronic projector. However, there are many shortcomings to electronic projectors.
In accordance with one aspect of the present teaching, a projection device includes an aperture portion comprising an aperture and a reflective portion.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present teaching, a projection device further includes a first side flap connected to the aperture portion, a front shield connected to the aperture portion, a second side flap connected to the front shield portion, and a back shield connected to the second side flap.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present teaching, a method of assembling a projection device into a projection arrangement includes providing a projection device comprising an aperture portion, a reflective portion, a first side flap, a front shield, a second side flap, and a back shield and wherein the front shield is connected to the aperture portion; placing the first end of the reflective portion on the display or past the distal side of the display device, folding a first side flap so that it touches the second end of the reflective portion, folding the second side flap so that it touches the front shield, and folding the back shield so that it touches the backside of reflective portion.
Still other benefits and advantages of the present teaching will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
The present teaching may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, aspects of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
Referring now to the Figures, the showings are for purposes of illustrating aspects of the disclosure only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components.
With reference to
Display device 8 includes display 10. Display 10 may display an image through the use of back projection. The present teaching distinguishes between back projection and front projection, shown in
The present teaching provides a means for projecting the image that is displayed on devices that use back projection. For example, as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
In one or more aspects, projection device 16 does not have backing membrane 36 to which portions are attached. Instead, aperture portion 20 and reflective portion 30 may be a single piece. In one or more aspects, aperture portion 20 and reflective portion 30 may be more than one piece, but they are connected. One discovery in this disclosure is that the arrangement of aperture portion 20 and reflective portion 30 can create an efficient and simple projection of an image from the display of any electronic device.
With continuing reference to
First flexible piece 42 may be connected to first side flap 44. First side flap 44 may be designed to cover the side of the projector device 16 when projector device 16 is assembled in the projection arrangement.
First side flap 44 may have first side flap end 46. First side flap end 46 may have a magnet or other material for attaching to backing membrane 36 when projector device 16 is assembled in the projection arrangement. First side flap end 46 may be flexible so that, for example, the magnet on first side flap end 46 can fold around the side of backing membrane 36 and sit alongside it. The attachment means, such as a magnet, will keep first side flap end 46 positioned on backing membrane 36 and hold projector 16 in the projection arrangement position as shown in
With continuing reference to
In one or more aspects, front shield 50 is attached to top flap 52. In one or more aspects, top flap 52 may cover the top of projector device 16 assembled in the projection arrangement, as shown in
Front shield 50 may be attached to second flexible piece 54. Second flexible piece 54 may be pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or some other flexible material that is adhered to the pieces it connects. Second flexible piece 54 may serve as a joint between front shield 50 and second side flap 56.
In one or more aspects, second side flap 56 is designed to cover the side of the projector device 16 when projector device 16 is assembled in the projection arrangement, as shown in
Second side flap 56 may be connected to third flexible piece 58. Third flexible piece 58 may be pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or some other flexible material that is adhered to the pieces it connects. Third flexible piece 58 may serve as a joint between second side flap 56 and back shield 60.
Back shield 60 may be attached to third flexible piece 58. In one or more aspects, when projector device 16 is assembled in the projection arrangement, back shield 60 prevents light from escaping projector device 16, as shown in
Back shield 60 may have back shield end 62. Back shield end 62 may have a magnet or other material for attaching to backing membrane 36 when projector device 16 is assembled in the projection arrangement. In one or more aspects, there is a fold line 64 going through back shield 60 and back shield end 62, as shown in
With continuing reference to
The following is a method for taking unassembled projection device 16 and assembling it into the projection arrangement. The steps of the method can be done in a different order than what is described here. First, note that display device 8 has a proximal side 74 and distal side 76. Member 18 sits adjacent to proximal side 74.
Starting from the state where projection device 16 is unassembled, reflective portion 30 is lifted and the first end 32 of reflective portion 30 is placed either on display 10 or past the distal side 76 of display device 8. The purpose of placing the end of reflective portion 30 this way is to cover the amount of display 10 that a user wishes to project with projection device 16. In one or more aspects, front shield 50 is connected to aperture portion 20, so placing reflective portion 30 this way necessarily lifts front shield 50 to be in the same position as aperture portion 20, as shown in
Next, a user performing the method may fold first side flap 44 or second side flap 56. If a user folds first side flap 44, the step is folding first side flap 44 to touch the second side 34 of reflective portion 30. In one or more aspects, the method also includes folding first side flap end 46 to touch reflective portion 30.
The step of folding second side flap 56 includes folding second side flap 56 inward so that front shield 50 and second side flap 56 create a corner. In one or more aspects, this corner contains second flexible piece 54.
Next back shield 60 may be folded. The step of folding back shield 60 includes folding it so that it contacts reflective portion 30. In one or more aspects, after back shield 60 is folded, top flap 52 may be manipulated and positioned underneath back shield 60, as shown in
After projection device 16 is assembled in the projection arrangement, a device 8 that is projecting an image 80 will project that image 80 onto reflective portion 30. In one or more aspects, reflective portion 30 reflects image 80 through aperture 24. A person may view image 80 as it is projected by projecting the image onto a surface such as a wall.
Note that projection device 16 can still project despite not all portions of projection device 16 being folded into the projection arrangement shown in
In one or more aspects, the projection device 16 can be assembled into a compact arrangement. For example, in one or more aspects projection device 16 in the compact arrangement can fit inside a pant pocket while it is attached to a display device such as a mobile phone.
The following is a method for taking unassembled projection device 16 and assembling it into the compact arrangement. The steps of the method can be done in a different order than what is described here. Referring to
In one or more aspects, projection device 16 may be repeatedly rearranged from unassembled, assembled into the projection arrangement, and assembled into the compact arrangement. In one or more aspects, this assembly is done only through folding and unfolding parts of projection device 16. Further, in one or more aspects, projection device 16 can be arranged into any of these arrangements from any of the other arrangements.
Numerous aspects have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and devices may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the present teaching. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Having thus described the present teaching, it is now claimed:
