Patent Application
20070057970
This invention relates generally to user interfaces and, more specifically, to user interface display apparatus
It is known in the art to connect a laptop computer, or other computing device, to a projector so as to project images. Typical uses of such technology include giving PowerPoint™ presentations. In such scenarios, a signal is typically outputted from the computing device to the projector. The signal may be formed of an analog signal, such as that that might be otherwise sent to a display monitor, or digital data.
With the proliferation of mobile stations, it is not uncommon to use a mobile platform, such as a mobile phone, to store digital data for retrieval and manipulation. In response to this reality, technologies have been developed to enable the projection of images and data stored on a mobile platform. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/122,496, published Feb. 13, 2003, discloses a mobile station having a built-in projector.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/234,515, published Mar. 11, 2004, discloses connecting a mobile station to an external screen via Bluetooth. Such an arrangement requires a screen on which to view the output of the mobile station that is outfitted, or otherwise configured, to receive wireless communications from the mobile station. This requirement lessens the likelihood that any given location wherein one wishes to utilize such an arrangement will have available a suitably configured screen. In addition, carrying such a screen around is inconvenient.
As mobile stations, in particular mobile phones, continue to proliferate, there exists a need for an arrangement whereby the mobile station can serve as a progenitor of information to be projected. Preferably, it would not require expensive or exotic components to achieve the projection.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention a mobile station includes an illumination section for emitting a light, a display section upon which an image can be formed and through which light can pass, and a display controller for controlling the image wherein the display section, in a first position, is generally parallel to and at least partially overlaps the illumination section and wherein the display section, in a second position, is separated from the illumination section into a non-overlapping position.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a projector comprising a light source and a lens, and a mobile station having a display section upon which an image is formed and an illumination section, the display section being generally parallel to and at least partially overlapping the illumination section in a first position and the display section being displaced from the illumination section into a non-overlapping position in a second position, wherein in the second position, the display section is situated between the light source and the lens to project the image.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for projecting an image from a mobile station comprises forming an image upon a display section through which light can pass coupled to the mobile station, inserting a portion of the display section into a projector comprising a light source, and emitting a light from the light source through the display section to project the image.
The foregoing and other aspects of these teachings are made more evident in the following Detailed Description, when read in conjunction with the attached Drawing Figures, wherein:
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mobile station formed of a backlit display, typically a liquid crystal display (LCD), whereby the display is configured for insertion into a projector for projecting the display. In an exemplary embodiment, the portion of the display that provides the backlighting is separable from an LCD layer that displays data. As a result, the LCD layer can be inserted into a projector through which the projector can provide sufficiently powerful illumination so as to project an image formed on the LCD layer. While illustrated and described herein with reference to an LCD display incorporated into a mobile station, the invention is drawn broadly to encompass any and all display technologies capable of producing an image, especially those through which light may pass, coupled to, or otherwise incorporated in, a mobile station. Examples of mobile stations include, but are not limited to, mobile radio telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), as well as dedicated digital data devices for use with a projector as described more fully below.
With reference to
Extending generally across the expanse of the bottom polarization layer D is a background lighting layer G. Background lighting layer G may be formed of any material capable of emitting light. Typically, such layers are formed of electroluminescent foil. Background lighting layer G is mated on a side in opposition to the bottom polarizing layer D to a support H. Together, background lighting layer G and support H form illumination section B. Support H provides structural integrity to illumination section B.
With reference to
With reference to
It is understood that the liquid crystal layer 15 of display section 25 may be controlled, typically by the application of discrete voltages to individual color filters and liquid crystals, creating a display formed of picture elements, or pixels. Control of the pixels forming the display is performed by a processor 33. Processor 33 is any processing device capable of receiving input data, manipulating such data through the application of machine readable program code, and outputting a signal, preferably a digital signal, for controlling the display formed on LCD display device 25. Processor 33 is coupled to LCD display section 25 via a hardwire connection 35.
With reference to
With reference to
In the configuration illustrated, the display 51 created on LCD display section 25 by processor 33 is visible as a result of ambient light passing through LCD display section 25. Note that under such conditions, display 51 can be viewed from either opposing side of the plane formed by LCD display section 25. When viewed from opposing sides, display 51 appears as two different representations of the same image each of which is a mirror image of the other. Depending upon the preferred orientation of a user wishing to view a display 51 in the instance that LCD display section 25 has been rotated to the second position, it may be desirable for the processor 33 to rotate, reverse, translate, or otherwise manipulate the image displayed as display 51 so as to render the image in an appropriate orientation.
With reference to
With reference to
Projector 71 is formed, at a minimum, of a light source 73 and a lens 79 arranged along an optical pathway 78. When LCD display section 25 is placed between light source 73 and lens 79, light emitted from light source 73 passes through LCD display section 25 so as to project the image 61 on LCD display section 25 through lens 79 and away from projector 71. Manipulation of lens 79 permits focusing of image 61 on a desired surface (not shown).
In addition to light source 73 and lens 79, projector 71 is preferably formed of a heat shield 72 interposed between light source 73 and LCD display section 25. Heat shield 72 forms a transparent, or largely transparent, barrier preventing the transmission of heat energy from light source 73 to LCD display section 25 in an amount sufficient to damage LCD display section 25. A condenser lens 77 is optionally provided to focus the light emitted from light source 73 onto LCD display section 25. In addition, a mirror 75 may be positioned to direct light from the light source 73 emitted away from LCD display section 25 back towards LCD display section 25.
In an alternative embodiment, illumination section 23 may remain coupled, or in close proximity to, LCD display section 25 as when, for example, both layers 23, 25 are radially displaced together. In such an instance, both layers 23, 25 are inserted into projector 71 for projecting the image 61. Such an arrangement requires illumination section 23 to be substantially transparent to a degree which allows sufficient light from light source 73 to pass through it.
Mobile station 30 may be interfaced to projector 71 for the communication of data between the two of data. Such an interface may be accomplished through coupling 81. Coupling 81 can be a hardwire connection or a wireless connection, such as that provided by Bluetooth. Such a coupling enables the transmission of control data from mobile station 30 to projector 71. Such control data may include, but is not limited to, light source 73 intensity, focus and zoom control, and the like. Control data may be inputted to mobile station 30 via a user interface 85, such as a keypad, coupled to said mobile station. In instances where the LCD display section is radially displaced by approximately two hundred and seventy degrees, keypad 85 can be oriented to face outwards away from the projector 71. In an alternative embodiment, the operation of the projector 71 may be controlled by one or more projector controls 74 coupled to the projector 71. Examples of projector controls 74 include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a mouse, and a voice control system incorporating speech detection and command recognition software.
In addition, a remote control device 83 may be used to manipulate the image 61 created by the processor 33. Remote control device 83 can send instructions or other data to mobile station 30 via a connection 87, preferably a wireless connection. For example, display 51 may be formed of a series of images related to a presentation, such as a PowerPoint™ presentation. Remote control device 83 can be utilized to control the timing of the display of successive images 61. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the images 61 displayed upon display 51 may be received by the mobile station 30 via a wireless link. Such images 61 may be received in real time and may include a series of images 61 forming a series of moving pictures such as are encoded in MPEG files.
While illustrated with reference to a single LCD display section 25 of a single mobile station 30 inserted into the projector 71, the invention is not so limited. Rather, the invention is drawn broadly to encompass the insertion of multiple LCD display sections 25 of multiple mobile stations 30 into a projector 71 for the projection of, at a minimum, stereo image pairs. Such stereo image pairs may be projected using a single LCD display layer 25 whereby the stereo image pairs are time domain separated.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a plurality of projected images can be tiled together to form a single projected image. In such an instance, the individual projections are aligned utilizing a software component present on each electronic device to manage proper image splitting and synchronisation for image updates. In such instances, the mobile electronic devices may support multiple device communication.
With reference to
In general, the various embodiments of the mobile station 30 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internet appliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions.
The embodiments of this invention involving the creation of an image upon the LCD display section 25 may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile station 30, such as the processor 33, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.
The memory 52 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processor 33 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.
In general, the various embodiments such as orienting the display of images on the LCD display section and the images displayed thereupon, may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.
Certain embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.
Programs, such as those provided by Synopsys, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. and Cadence Design, of San Jose, Calif. automatically route conductors and locate components on a semiconductor chip using well established rules of design as well as libraries of pre-stored design modules. Once the design for a semiconductor circuit has been completed, the resultant design, in a standardized electronic format (e.g., Opus, GDSII, or the like) may be transmitted to a semiconductor fabrication facility or “fab” for fabrication.
