VIDEO PROJECTION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120327315A1
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Larsen, Glen C., Sanchez, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/745
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/12 adapted for projection of either still pictures or motion pictures prolonged exhibition of single frame G03B21/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7475 Constructional details of television projection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53

Abstract

A mobile device such as a robot includes a processor, a memory that stores components executable by the processor, and a projection assembly. The projection assembly includes a projector, a lens, a movable mirror, and a first projection surface integral with a surface of the mobile device. The components include a projection component and a control component. The projection component determines the projection parameters, and projects the image onto the movable minor, dependent upon the projection parameters. The control component causes the projector and the lens to focus the image onto the first projection surface, and further causes the movable mirror to reflect the image onto the first projection surface.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing components executable by the processor;

a projection assembly including a projector, a lens, a movable mirror, and a first projection surface integral with a surface of the mobile device; and

wherein the components include a projection component and a control component, the projection component determining one or more projection parameters and causing the projector to project an image onto the movable minor, dependent at least in part upon the projection parameters, the control component causing the projector and the lens to focus the image onto the first projection surface, the control component further causing the movable minor to reflect the image as a first projected image onto the first projection surface.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first projection surface is a translucent light-diffusing surface.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the first projection surface is configured to match at least one of a shape, contour, texture and color of the surface of the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the first projection surface is configured to conceal an interior of the mobile device and the projection assembly thereof regardless of whether the first projected image is being projected onto the first projection surface, such that the interior of the mobile device and the projection assembly thereof are not visible from an exterior of the mobile device.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a projection surface shutter associated with the first projection surface, the projection surface shutter being operable to pass the first projected image to and block the first projected image from the first projection surface.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a projection window, the control component being further configured to cause the movable minor to reflect the image through the projection window as a second projected image onto a second position of a second projection surface.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, the control component being further configured to cause the movable minor to reflect the image through the projection window as a third projected image onto a third position of the second projection surface.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, further comprising a projection window shutter associated with the projection window, the control component being further configured to cause the projection window shutter to pass the second and third projected images to and block the second and third projected images from the second projection surface.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the projection component when executed by the processor is further configured to adjust one or more of the projection parameters of the projected image to thereby compensate for a distortion of any of the first, second and third projected images.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the projection component adjusts the projection parameters dependent at least in part upon one or more of the characteristics of at least one of the first and second projection surfaces.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the mobile device further comprises one or more sensors configured for sensing the one or more characteristics of the first and second projection surfaces, the projection component adjusting the projection parameters dependent at least in part upon the one or more characteristics of at least one of the first and second projection surfaces sensed by the sensors.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the one or more characteristics of the first and second projection surfaces sensed by the sensors include one or more of a color, a curvature and a contour of the first and second projection surfaces, and a distance from at least one of the mobile device and the projection assembly to at least one of the first and second projection surfaces.

13. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising code that, when executed by a processor of an autonomous device, causes the autonomous device to:

determine one or more projection parameters and causing a projector to project an image dependent at least in part upon the projection parameters; and

project the image onto a target projection surface as a projected image.

14. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the projection component determines the projection parameters dependent at least in part upon one or more characteristics of the target projection surface.

15. The computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the one or more characteristics of the target projection surface are determined at least in part by one or more sensors sensing the one or more characteristics.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the one or more characteristics of the target projection surface sensed by the sensors include one or more of a color, a curvature and a contour of the target projection surface, and a distance to the target projection surface.

17. A method of projecting an image via an image projection system, the method comprising:

providing the image to be projected and projection parameters to a projector;

configuring the projection system to project the images upon a target projection surface; and

projecting the image onto the target projection surface dependent at least in part upon the projection parameters.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the projecting the image step comprises determining the characteristics of the target projection surface and adjusting the projection parameters dependent at least in part upon the determined characteristics of the target projection surface to thereby compensate for an anticipated distortion of the projected image arising at least in part from the determined characteristics of the target projection surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining the characteristics of the target projection surface comprises sensing with one or more sensors the characteristics of the target projection surface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the projecting step further comprises projecting from an interior of a robot the image onto a first projection surface, the first projection surface being integral with, and configured to match at least one of a shape, contour, texture and color of, an outer surface of the robot, the first projection surface being further configured to conceal an interior of the robot and the projection assembly regardless of whether the image is being projected onto the first projection surface.