Systems and methods to provide input/output for a portable data processing device

• US 20070063979A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MUSE Green Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Available For Licensing
• Inventors: Tran, Bao
• Application Number:
  US11/230,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to provide input/output for a portable data device by projecting a keyboard pattern using a light projector; capturing one or more images of a user'"'"'s digits on the keyboard pattern with a camera; decoding a character being typed on the keyboard pattern; and displaying the typed character using the light projector.

Claims

1. A method to provide input/output for a portable data device, comprising:

projecting a keyboard pattern using a light projector;

capturing one or more images of a user'"'"'s digits on the keyboard pattern with a camera;

decoding a character being typed on the keyboard pattern; and

displaying the typed character using the light projector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable data device includes a display, and wherein the display is placed in a low power mode when the light projector is displaying the typed character on the second surface.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising swiveling the light projector to view a displayed image.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising projecting a screen image through a first head of the light projector and projecting a keyboard image through a second head of the light projector.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising projecting a screen image and a keyboard image on a common surface using the light projector.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising projecting a screen image and a keyboard image on separate surfaces using the light projector.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising using the light-projector as a camera flash unit.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising authenticating a user using one of:

retina image captured by a camera, face image captured by the camera, and voice characteristics captured by a microphone.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising authenticating by:

capturing a user'"'"'s retina image;

capturing a user'"'"'s face using the camera;

recognizing a user'"'"'s voice; and

checking a cell phone SIM card identification.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising performing file conversion for one of:

Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Acrobat, Photoshop, Visio, AutoCAD.

11. An apparatus to provide input/output for a portable data device, comprising:

a light projector to project a keyboard pattern and a display screen;

a camera to capture one or more images of a user'"'"'s digits on the keyboard pattern;

a processor coupled to the light projector and the camera to decode a character being typed on the keyboard pattern and render the character on the display screen.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a radio transceiver coupled to the processor to communicate voice and data to a remote location.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising swiveling base to support the light projector.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising projecting a screen image through a first head of the light projector and projecting a keyboard image through a second head of the light projector.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising projecting a screen image and a keyboard image on a common surface using the light projector.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light projector displays a screen image and a keyboard image on separate surfaces.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light-projector comprises a camera flash unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor authenticates a user using one of:

a retina image captured by a camera, a face image captured by the camera, and voice characteristics captured by a microphone.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor authenticates a user by:

recognizing a user'"'"'s retina image;

recognizing a user'"'"'s face using the camera; and

recognizing a user'"'"'s voice.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising means for performing file conversion for one of:

Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Acrobat, Photoshop, Visio, AutoCAD.