User-interface for a projection device

• US 20050002000A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Woolf, R. David, Salvatori, Phillip H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,935,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

The present invention provides a projector assembly including a projection device adapted to project an image, and a user-interface in communication with the projection device. The user-interface may be adapted to privately present user-readable information to a user.

Claims

1. A projector assembly comprising:

a projection device adapted to project an image; and

a user-interface integrated into the projection device, wherein the user-interface is adapted to privately present user-readable projection device operation information to a user.

2. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-interface is disposed on a body of the projection device.

3. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-interface comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

5. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-readable information is projection device status information.

23. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-interface is disposed on a top surface of a body of the projection device.

24. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-readable information is projection device status information Including one of projection device setup instructions, projection device setting information, and projection device maintenance information.

4. (Cancelled)

6. A projector assembly comprising:

a projection device having a body, the projection device adapted to project an image; and

a user-interface disposed on the body of the projection device, the user-interface being adapted to display user-readable information regarding status of operation of the projection device.

7. The projector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a controller adapted to allow a user to manage the information displayed on the user-interface.

8. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the information includes information that is related to the set-up of the projector device.

9. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the information includes information that is related to trouble-shooting the projection device.

10. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is privately viewable by a user of the projection device.

11. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the information includes a navigable menu.

12. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

13. The projector assembly of claim 7, wherein the controller is disposed on the body of the projection device.

14. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is a graphics display.

15. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is adapted to display text.

16. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is a pixelated display.

17. A method for providing access to Information regarding operation of a projection device, the method comprising:

displaying status information regarding the projection device on a user interface, wherein the user interface is disposed on the body of a projection device; and

providing a controller adapted to allow a user to manage the displayed information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller is further adapted to allow a user to alter at least some settings on the projection device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of displaying status information on a user interface is independent of display of a projected image.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the user interface displays the status information as a first image, while the projection device concurrently projects a different second image.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first image is a set-up menu and the second image is a presentation image.

22. (Canceled)

25. A projection device comprising:

a body having a top surface; and

an on-board display screen integrated into the top surface, the display screen configured to provide a dialog with information about operation of the projection device to a user.

26. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dialog includes projection device set-up instructions.

27. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the on-board display screen is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

28. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dialog includes projection device maintenance information.

29. The projection device of claim 28, wherein the projection device maintenance information is a replace lamp message.

30. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dialog includes projection device status information.

31. The projection device of claim 30, wherein the projection device status information includes one of number of lamp hours used, active source information, signal format information, software version information, and output resolution information.

32. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dialog includes a timer configured to display an indication of one of the following:

when the projection device will be on-line, when a next image will appear, when input is expected from a user, time to shut down, and time to power up.

33. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dialog includes a dialog box configured to receive a password.

34. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dial includes information that is related to trouble-shooting the projection device.

35. The projection device of claim 25, wherein the dialog includes a single line of text.

36. A projection device configured to project a presentation image, the projection device comprising:

a body; and

an on-board display screen integrated into the body and configured to display a dialog;

wherein the displayed dialog is not the presentation image.

37. The projection device of claim 36 wherein the dialog Includes projection device set-up instructions.

38. The projection device of claim 36, wherein the on-board display screen is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

39. The projection device of claim 36, wherein the dialog includes projection device maintenance information.

40. The projection device of claim 36, wherein the dialog includes projection device status information.

41. The projection device of claim 36, wherein the on-board display screen is on a top surface of the body.

42. The projection device of claim 36, wherein the on-board display screen is a passive display.

43. The projection device of claim 36, wherein the on-board display screen is an interactive display.

44. The projection device of claim 36, wherein during use, the on-board display is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the projection device.