Spotlight projecting apparatus

• US 20080297727A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Mori, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00

Abstract

An apparatus includes a laser projector and a laser beam ECU that is connected to a vehicle communication apparatus for communicating with an information center that provides a guidance service by an operator. According to an operation guidance by the operator, information indicating a switch to be operated is sent from the information center to the laser beam ECU through the vehicle communication apparatus. Then, the laser beam ECU identifies the switch to be operated based on the information and controls the laser projector to direct a laser beam to the switch to be operated.

Claims

1. A spotlight projector comprising:

a light projection device capable of projecting a visible light emitted from a light emission element to indicate one of a point and an area; and

a light controller capable of directing the visible light to an operation switch to be operated by an occupant of a vehicle.

2. The spotlight projector of claim 1, wherein

the light controller has a communication unit connected thereto for having communication with an information center that provides a guidance service by an operator,

the light controller receives switch information that indicates the operation switch to be operated in synchronization with an operation guidance by the operator from the information center through the communication unit, and

the light controller identifies, based on the switch information that indicates the operation switch to be operated from the information center received through the communication unit, the operation switch that has the visible light directed thereto.

3. The spotlight projector of claim 1 further comprising:

an information device capable of providing an operation guidance function that guides an operation method, wherein

the switch information is provided by the information device in synchronization with the guidance of the operation method of the operation guidance function, and

the light controller identifies the operation switch that has the visible light directed thereto based on the switch information for indicating the operation switch to be operated provided by the information device.

4. The spotlight projector of claim 1, wherein

the light emission element is implemented as a laser diode.

5. A method for spotlight projection comprising:

providing a light projection device capable of projecting a visible light emitted from a light emission element to indicate one of a point and an area; and

providing a light controller capable of controlling the projecting of the visible light from the light projection device to be directed to an apparatus operation switch that is a subject of operation of a user of an apparatus in a vehicle.