Assemblies and methods for displaying an image

• US 20070085981A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wahlstrom, Per, Risberg, Nils, Holmberg, Per, Malthe, Anders
• Application Number:
  US11/250,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085981A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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

Abstract

An assembly and a method for displaying at least one image in an electronic device. The assembly comprises a projector unit, which includes at least one light emitter and an image forming element, and a plane of projection. The light emitter is configured to emit light towards the image forming element. The image forming element is configured to form at least one image by utilizing light emitted by the light emitter. The projector unit is configured to project an image formed by the image forming element on the plane of projection.

Claims

1. An assembly for displaying at least one image in an electronic device, comprising:

a projector unit including at least one light emitter and an image forming element; and

a plane of projection,

wherein the light emitter is configured to emit light towards the image forming element, the image forming element is configured to form at least one image by utilizing light emitted by the light emitter, and the projector unit is configured to project an image formed by the image forming element on the plane of projection.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the projector unit includes a lens configured to focus the image formed by the image forming element on the plane of projection.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plane of projection comprises a translucent surface.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is provided within the housing of the electronic device, and is directed towards the exterior of the housing.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the projector unit comprises a reflector configured to direct light emitted by the light emitter towards the plane of projection.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the reflector comprises at least one mirror.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein reflector comprises a plurality of controllable mirrors.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the controllable mirrors provide the image forming element.

9. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the reflector comprises a prism.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the image forming element comprises a pattern, which forms the image.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the image forming element comprises a display unit for forming the pattern.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plane of projection is included in a surface of an electronic device and is visible from an exterior of the electronic device.

13. An electronic device comprising the assembly according to claims 1.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a portable or handheld mobile radio communication equipment, a mobile radio terminal, a mobile telephone, a pager, a communicator, an electronic organizer, a smartphone, a media player, an audio player, an MP3 player, a camera, a GPS unit, a game console, a game unit, and/or a computer.

15. A method for displaying at least one image in an electronic device, the method comprising:

controlling at least one light emitter to emit light towards an image forming element;

forming at least one image by utilizing light emitted by the light emitter; and

projecting the image formed by the image forming element on a plane of projection.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising focusing the image on the plane of projection by means of a lens.

17. The method according to claim 15, comprising directing light emitted by the light emitter towards a translucent surface, which forms the plane of projection.

18. The method according to claim 15, comprising directing light emitted by light emitter towards a reflector configured to direct light emitted by the light emitter towards the plane of projection.

19. The method according to claim 15, comprising controlling a plurality of mirrors, which provide the image forming element, to form the image.

20. A computer program product for displaying at least one image in an electronic device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to control at least one light emitter to emit light towards an image forming element;

computer readable program code configured to control the image forming element to form at least one image by utilizing light emitted by the light emitter such that a projection of the image is formed by the image forming element on a plane of projection.