Selectable projector and imaging modes of display table

• US 20050248729A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Drucker, Steven M., Wong, Curtis Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/71
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A display table contains a projector that can either project an image onto a display surface of the display table or onto an external surface that is separate from the display table. A user can change the path of the light from the projector from the display surface to the external surface, either by rotating the projector to an appropriate position, or by moving a mirror into the path of light from the projector. A video camera included in the display table also has dual functionality and can selectively be used either to image objects on or above the display surface, or objects that are not adjacent to the display surface. A panel in the housing of the table is opened, and either the video camera is pivoted or a mirror is moved into its light path. Imaging a user with the video camera is useful for video conferencing.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to selectively operate a display table in one of two different modes, including a first mode in which a video image is projected on a display surface of the display table and a second mode in which the video image is projected onto a separate surface that is not part of the display table, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the user to selectively change a projection light path for the video image between a first path that is used when operating the display table in the first mode, and a second path that is used when operating display table in the second mode; and

(b) projecting the video image along the projection path selected by the user so that the video image is viewed on one of the display surface and the separate surface, in accord with the one of the first path and the second path selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the user to selectively change the projection light path includes the step of enabling the user to move a projector that produces the video image from a first position that is used for the first mode, to a second position that is used for the second mode, to change from the first path to the second path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the user to selectively change the projection light path includes the step of enabling the user to position a reflective surface to redirect the video image along the second path instead of the first path, when selectively operating the display table in the second mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of moving a panel of the display table out of the second path when operating the display table in the second mode, so that the video image is not prevented from reaching the separate surface by the panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display table includes a video camera, further comprising the step of imaging an object that is external to the display table with the video camera, in the second mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of redirecting an imaging field of view of a video camera along a different imaging path that includes the display surface, when selectively operating the display table in the first mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the video camera includes an infrared filter that is employed when imaging the display surface in the first mode, wherein when selectively operating the display table in the second mode, further comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the user to move a reflective surface to redirect the imaging field of view along the different imaging path;

(b) moving a panel out of the field of view of the video camera; and

(c) moving the infrared filter out of the field of view of the video camera.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the video camera includes an infrared filter that is employed when imaging the display surface in the first mode, wherein when selectively operating the display table in the second mode, further comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the user to move a video camera from a first orientation directed toward the display surface, in the first mode, to a second orientation directed toward an external object, in the second mode;

(b) moving a panel out of the field of view of the video camera; and

(c) moving the infrared filter out of the field of view of the video camera.

9. A system that enables a user to selectively determine where a video image is projected, comprising:

(a) a display surface supported by a housing;

(b) a projector supported by the housing, said projector projecting a video image along a light path; and

(c) means for enabling a user to change the system between a first mode and a second mode of operation by altering the light path, wherein in the first mode, the projector projects the video image onto the display surface, and in the second mode, the projector projects the video image onto a separate surface that is spaced apart from the housing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the projector is movably coupled to the housing, so that in the first mode, the projector is oriented to project the video image along the light path, so that the video image appears on the display surface, and in the second mode, the projector is moved by a user to a different orientation, to project the video image onto a separate surface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the projector is pivoted about an axis from a first position in the first mode, to a second position in the second.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a reflective surface that is moved by a user to change the light path from the first mode to the second mode.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the reflective surface is used in the first mode to reflect the video image onto the display surface, and is moved to a different orientation in the second mode, to reflect the video image onto a separate surface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the reflective surface is not in the light path in the first mode, and is moved into the light path in the second mode, to reflect the video image toward a separate surface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein in the second mode, the light path passes through an opening in the housing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a panel that covers the opening in the first mode and is moved out of the opening in the second mode.

17. The system of claim 9, further comprising a video camera that captures an image of an object spaced apart from the housing in the second mode.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the video camera captures an image of the display surface in the first mode.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing further includes an opening, and a panel that is moved from the opening to enable the image of an object to be captured in the second mode.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the video camera includes an infrared filter that is moved out of an imaging path of the video camera by a user in the second mode.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a reflective surface that is moved into an imaging path of the video camera by a user, in the second mode, said reflective surface redirecting the image path from the display surface toward an object that is spaced apart from the housing, in the second mode.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the video camera is movably coupled to the housing, said video camera being moved by a user from a first orientation directed toward the display surface, in the first mode, to a second orientation directed toward an external object, in the second mode.