Multimedia display device

• US 20050088620A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Co. (HP Inc.), Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Schnelder, Robert M., Dwyer, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,303,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/642 Disposition of sound reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

A multimedia display device includes a docking station having speakers and a media drive, wherein the docking station is configured to structurally and communicatively couple an image projection device to the docking station.

Claims

1. A multimedia display device comprising:

a docking station including speakers and a media drive;

wherein said docking station is configured to structurally and communicatively couple an image projection device to said docking station.

2. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises an electrical interconnect.

3. The multimedia display device of claim 2, wherein said image projection device is coupled to said docking station through said electrical interconnect.

4. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said image projection device receives a video signal from said docking station via said electrical interconnect.

5. The multimedia display device of claim 4, wherein said video signal from said docking station is in synch with a number of audio signals output by said docking station.

6. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said media drive comprises one of a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a recordable CD (CD-R) drive, a rewritable CD (CD-RW) drive, a digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drive, a recordable DVD (DVD±

R) drive, a rewritable DVD (DVD±

RW) drive, a motion picture entertainment group compression format number three (MP3) drive, a DVD/CD/CDRW/MP3 combination drive, a cassette drive, a memory stick, a memory card slot, a hard disk device, or an AM/FM receiver.

7. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises an infrared (I/R) sensor configured to receive control commands from a remote control.

8. The multimedia display device of claim 7, wherein said control commands trigger said docking station to control said image projection device.

9. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises a plurality of control buttons configured to control an operation of said docking station.

10. The multimedia display device of claim 1, further comprising a handle disposed on said docking station.

11. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said image projection device comprises one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector, a digital light processing (DLP) projector, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) projector, a slide projector, or a film projector.

12. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises:

a body; and

a cavity disposed in said body;

wherein said cavity is configured to structurally support said image projection device.

13. The multimedia display device of claim 12, wherein said cavity is configured to support said image projection device in a vertical position.

14. The multimedia display device of claim 12, wherein said cavity is configured to support said image projection device in a horizontal position.

15. The multimedia display device of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical docking mechanism;

wherein said mechanical docking mechanism is configured to automatically couple said image projection device to said docking station.

16. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said speakers comprise two speakers configured to provide stereo sound.

17. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said speakers comprise more than four speakers configured to provide surround sound.

18. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises a network interface card (NIC) that is configured to attach said multimedia display device to a local area network.

19. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises an indicator configured to notify a user when said image projection device is correctly coupled to said docking station.

63. The multimedia display device of claim 1, wherein said speakers are round.

20. A method of coupling an image projection device to a media source comprising:

providing an independent image projection device;

providing a media source; and

coupling said image projection device to said media source by mounting said image projection device onto said media source.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said media source comprises an audio system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said media source further comprises an electrical interconnect.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said mounting said image projection device onto said media source further comprises coupling said image projection device and said media source through said electrical interconnect.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising remotely controlling said media source with an infrared (I/R) remote control.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said remotely controlling said media source further comprises:

receiving an I/R signal in said media source from a remote control; and

communicating a command from said media source to said image projection device in response to said received signal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said command is communicated through an electrical interconnect.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said media source comprises one of a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a recordable CD (CD-R) drive, a rewritable CD (CD-RW) drive, a digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drive, a recordable DVD (DVD±

R) drive, a rewritable DVD (DVD±

RW) drive, a motion picture entertainment group compression format number three (MP3) drive, a DVD/CD/CDRW/MP3 combination drive, a cassette drive, a memory stick, a memory card slot, a hard disk device, or an AM/FM receiver.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said coupling said image projection device to said media source comprises coupling said image projection device in a vertical position.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said coupling said image projection device to said media source comprises coupling said image projection device in a horizontal position.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising indicating to a user when said coupling is successful.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein said image projection device and said media source output synchronous audio and video signals.

32. A multimedia display device comprising:

a projection means for projecting an image; and

a housing means including audio means for producing audio signals and media generating means for generating media signals;

wherein said housing means is configured to structurally and communicatively couple said projection means.

33. The multimedia display device of claim 32, wherein said housing means further comprises coupling means for electrically coupling said projection means to said housing means.

34. The multimedia display device of claim 33, wherein said coupling means is configured to electrically couple said housing means to said projection means by disposing said projection means in said housing means.

35. The multimedia display device of claim 32, wherein said projection device comprises one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector, a digital light processing (DLP) projector, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) projector, a slide projector, or a film projector.

36. The multimedia display device of claim 32, wherein said audio means comprises a number of speakers.

37. The multimedia display device of claim 36, wherein said speakers comprise two speakers configured to provide stereo sound.

38. The multimedia display device of claim 36, wherein said speakers comprise more than four speakers configured to provide surround sound.

39. The multimedia display device of claim 32, wherein said media generating means comprises one of a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a recordable CD (CD-R) drive, a rewritable CD (CD-RW) drive, a digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drive, a recordable DVD (DVD±

R) drive, a rewritable DVD (DVD±

RW) drive, a motion picture entertainment group compression format number three (MP3) drive, a DVD/CD/CDRW/MP3 combination drive, a cassette drive, a memory stick, a memory card slot, a hard disk device, or an AM/FM receiver.

40. The multimedia display device of claim 32, wherein said housing means further comprises:

a body; and

a cavity disposed in said body;

wherein said cavity is configured to structurally support said projection means.

41. The multimedia display device of claim 32, further comprising:

a mechanical docking mechanism;

wherein said mechanical docking mechanism is configured to automatically couple said projection means to said housing means.

64. The multimedia display device of claim 36, wherein at least one of said speakers is round.

42. A method of making a docking station configured to receive an image projection device comprising:

forming a body of said docking station, wherein said body includes a media source and a cavity configured to receive an image projection device; and

disposing an electrical interconnect in said body;

wherein said electrical interconnect is configured to electrically couple said docking station to said image projection device upon insertion of said image projection device into said cavity.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said electrical interconnect is disposed in said cavity.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said forming a body of said docking station comprises one of roto molding, blow molding, deep draw molding, injection molding, casting, forging, or stamping.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein said body of said docking station is formed from one of plastic, metal, or composite.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein said media source comprises one of a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a recordable CD (CD-R) drive, a rewritable CD (CD-RW) drive, a digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drive, a recordable DVD (DVD±

R) drive, a rewritable DVD (DVD±

RW) drive, a motion picture entertainment group compression format number three (MP3) drive, a DVD/CD/CDRW/MP3 combination drive, a cassette drive, a memory stick, a memory card slot, or an AM/FM receiver.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein said method further comprises disposing a number of speakers in said body of said docking station.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein said method further comprises forming a number of handles in said body.

65. The multimedia display device of claim 47, wherein said speakers are round.

49. An image projector docking station comprising:

a plurality of multimedia components including a speaker and a media drive;

wherein said docking station is configured to structurally and communicatively couple an image projection device to said multimedia components.

50. The image projector docking station of claim 49, further comprising an electrical interconnect configured to electrically couple said multimedia components to an image projection device.

51. The image projector docking station of claim 50, wherein said electrical interconnect is configured to transmit a video signal to a coupled image projection device.

52. The image projector docking station of claim 50, wherein said electrical interconnect is configured to provide power to a coupled image projection device.

53. The image projector docking station of claim 52, wherein said electrical interconnect is configured to facilitate the charging of a coupled image projection device.

54. The image projector docking station of claim 49, further comprising:

a body; and

a cavity disposed in said body;

wherein said cavity is configured to structurally support an image projection device.

55. The image projector docking station of claim 49, wherein said docking station is further configured to dissipate heat generated by a coupled image projection device.

56. The image projector docking station of claim 49, wherein said docking station is configured to operate independent of a docking of an image projection device.

57. The image projector docking station of claim 49, wherein said media drive comprises one of a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a recordable CD (CD-R) drive, a rewritable CD (CD-RW) drive, a digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) drive, a recordable DVD (DVD±

R) drive, a rewritable DVD (DVD±

RW) drive, a motion picture entertainment group compression format number three (MP3) drive, a DVD/CD/CDRW/MP3 combination drive, a cassette drive, a memory stick, a memory card slot, a hard disk device, or an AM/FM receiver.

58. An image projector configured to be docked in a docking station comprising an interface configured to communicatively couple said image projector to said docking station.

59. The image projector of claim 58, wherein said interface comprises an electrical connection.

60. The image projector of claim 58, wherein said image projector comprises one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) projector, a digital light processing (DLP) projector, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) projector, a slide projector, or a film projector.

61. The image projector of claim 59, wherein said image projector is configured to receive media data from said docking station through said electrical connection.

62. The image projector of claim 59, wherein said electrical connection comprises one of a universal serial bus (USB), a small computer system interface (SCSI), a Bluetooth connection, an IEEE 1394 high speed serial bus, a parallel connection, a serial connection, a radio corporation of America (RCA) connector, a coaxial cable connector, a fiber optic connector, or a wireless connector.