Image Projection System with Adjustable Cursor Brightness

• US 20110057879A1
• Filed: 09/06/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yang Pan
• Original Assignee: Yang Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

An image projection system is disclosed. The system comprises a projector, a user input device and a computing device. The micro-mirror based projector projects an image including a cursor on a display plane. The present invention discloses various embodiments for the system and method of adjusting the brightness of the cursor to improve effects of a presentation. According to one embodiment, the brightness of the cursor is adjusted by modifying the on/off time ratio of the mirrors by which the cursor is formed. According to another embodiment, the projector comprises a first and a second micro-mirror array. The second array is dedicated for projecting the cursor image. The brightness of the cursor may be adjusted by changing the number of micro-mirrors by which the cursor is formed from the second array.

Claims

1. An image projection system comprising:

(a) a projector including a first micro-mirror array and a second micro-mirror array;

(b) a computing device; and

(c) an user input device,

wherein said second micro-mirror array is used for projecting a cursor image on a display plane.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said projector further comprising:

(a) light source;

(b) a first controller for controlling operation of first micro-mirror array;

(c) a second controller for controlling operation of second micro-mirror array;

(d) a communication unit for communicating with the computing device; and

(e) an optical unit for projecting light beams reflected by the micro-mirror arrays.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cursor image comprising a plurality of pixels formed from reflected light beams by a group of selected micro-mirrors from said second array.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said second controller further comprising a means of adjusting brightness of the cursor by modifying the number of the selected micro-mirrors.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said means of adjusting the brightness of the cursor further comprising a means of receiving a user'"'"'s inputs from said user input device.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second array is used exclusively for projecting the image of the cursor.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first array providing a means of projecting an image based upon a data file transmitted from said computing device.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and said second micro-mirror array may be integrated in a single chip.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device and the projector are connected through a connection including an IEEE 1394 type of connector and/or a Universal Serial Bus type of connector.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user input device and the projector are connected through a connection including an IEEE 1394 type of connector and/or a Universal Serial Bus type of connector.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user input device and the projector is connected through a wireless connection including a pair of transceivers conforming to a standard or a combination of standards from the following group:

(a) ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4 and its amendments);

(b) Bluetooth (IEEE 802.11b and its amendments); and

(c) WiFi (IEEE 802.11 and its amendments).

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said user input device providing a means for controlling the movement of the cursor on the display plane of the projector and/or the computing device connected to the projector.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said projector providing a means of projecting a user interface for the user to select characteristics of the cursor including its brightness.

14. A method of adjusting brightness of a cursor on a display plane of a projection system comprising a projector including a first and a second micro-mirror array, a user input device and a computing device, the method comprising:

(a) connecting the user input device to the projector;

(b) displaying a plurality of user selectable items including the brightness of the cursor;

(c) receiving the user'"'"'s selection through the input device; and

(d) modifying of the brightness of the cursor by changing the number of selected micro-mirrors from the second array by which the reflected light beams form pixels of the cursor.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprising a means of connecting the user input device to the projector through the computing device.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said first micro-mirror array providing a means of projecting an image based upon a data file transmitted from the computing device.

17. A method of adjusting a projected cursor brightness based upon a projector comprising a micro-mirror array, the method comprising:

(a) determining a coordinate of the cursor on a display plane based upon user'"'"'s input from an input device of the projector;

(b) determining a plurality of micro-mirrors from said array by which the cursor image is formed through reflected light beams;

(c) determining on/off time ratio for each determined micro-mirror to meet brightness requirements based on a user'"'"'s inputs from an input device; and

(d) displaying the cursor image according to the coordinate.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the user'"'"'s inputs are received by displaying a plurality of user'"'"'s selectable items for the cursor'"'"'s characteristics on a display plane of the projector at a setup phase of projector operation.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprising a means of connecting the input device to projector through a wireless means.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprising a means of connecting the projector to a computing device.