Personal Interactive Overhead Projection Inflight Entertainment System

• US 20140192268A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anuvu IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Lumexis Corporation
• Inventors: Petrisor, Gregory C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/147 Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/10 Simultaneous recording or projection G03B33/02, G03B33/04 G03B33/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

In a personal interactive overhead projection IFE system, an overhead projector associated with a passenger'"'"'s seat projects video onto a passive substrate attached to the seat. The passive substrate may be a tray table or a dedicated video projection screen. The passenger sitting in the seat controls the projected video by positioning his or her finger or making hand gestures proximate the passive substrate. An overhead camera records the hand actions. An overhead processor interprets the hand actions and controls the projected video based on the hand actions. The system provides highly desirable personal and interactive features while obviating the need for seatback video display units or passenger control units.

Claims

1. A personal interactive overhead projection inflight entertainment system, comprising:

a passive seatback mounted substrate; and

an overhead projector configured to project video onto the substrate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a tray table.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a dedicated video projection screen.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a passenger controls the projected video at least in part by hand actions on or over designated areas of the projected video proximate the substrate.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an overhead processor configured to interpret the hand actions and control the projected video based at least in part on the hand actions.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising an overhead camera configured to record the hand actions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the overhead camera is a visible spectrum camera.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the overhead camera is an infrared camera.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the overhead projector doubles as an overhead reading light.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a switch configured to allow a passenger to transition the overhead projector between an overhead video projection function and an overhead reading light function.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overhead processor configured to distort the projected video.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the overhead processor is configured apply a dynamic distortion to the projected video based at least in part on a recorded position of the substrate.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising an overhead camera configured to record the position of the substrate.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overhead processor configured to size the projected video.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the overhead processor is configured to apply a dynamic size to the projected video based at least in part on a recorded position of the substrate.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an overhead camera configured to record the position of the substrate.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overhead processor configured to apply a dynamic size to the projected video based at least in part on recorded cabin lighting.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising an overhead camera configured to record cabin lighting.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein the tray table is equipped with a cover.

20. The system of claim 2, wherein the tray table is equipped with side flaps.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overhead audio interface configured to output synchronous audio for the projected video.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the overhead projector comprises a multiple of overhead projectors and the substrate is a single substrate.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising an overhead processor configured to polarize output of each of the overhead projectors to orthogonal polarization for three dimensional viewing.

24. A method for providing inflight entertainment, comprising:

mounting a passive substrate to a seatback on an aircraft;

mounting an overhead projector to an overhead section of the aircraft; and

projecting video from the overhead projector onto the substrate.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the substrate is a tray table.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the substrate is a dedicated video projection screen.