SCANNING LASER PROJECTION DISPLAY DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PROJECTING ONE OR MORE IMAGES ONTO A SURFACE WITH LIGHT-SCANNING OPTICAL FIBER

• US 20150281630A1
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Melville, Charles D., Johnston, Richard S., Lee, Cameron M., Seibel, Eric J., Schowengerdt, Brian T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,182,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00172 with means for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/103 having movable or deformable optical fibres, light guides or waveguides as scanning elements light guides per se G02B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/20 Lamp housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3135 Driving therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability

Abstract

Image projection devices, high-speed fiber scanned displays and related methods for projecting an image onto a surface and interfacing with the projected image are provided. A method for projecting one or more images and obtaining feedback with an optical input-output assembly is provided. The input-output assembly comprising a light-scanning optical fiber and a sensor. The method includes generating a sequence of light in response to one or more image representations and a scan pattern of the optical fiber, articulating the optical fiber in the scan pattern, projecting the sequence of light from the articulated optical fiber, and generating a feedback signal with the sensor in response to reflections of the sequence of light.

Claims

1. A method for projecting one or more images onto a surface and obtaining feedback with an optical input-output assembly, the method comprising:

generating a sequence of light in response to one or more image representations and a scan pattern of an optical fiber;

articulating the optical fiber in the scan pattern with a variable velocity;

projecting the sequence of light from the optical fiber to form the one or more images on the surface, wherein a light intensity of the sequence of light is varied based on the variable velocity of the optical fiber; and

generating a feedback signal with a sensor in response to reflections of the sequence of light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sequence of light comprises a non-visible wavelength; and

the feedback signal comprises a signal generated in response to reflections of the non-visible wavelength.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the non-visible wavelength comprises an infrared wavelength.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an input signal to an electronic device in response to the feedback signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the input signal is generated in response to a position of the projected light in the scan pattern corresponding to a user input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the scan pattern comprises at least one of a spiral pattern, an expanding ellipse pattern, or a Lissajous pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a formed image in a single frame comprises a first portion comprising a first image resolution and a second portion comprising a second image resolution that is different from the first resolution.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the sequence of light comprises varying an amount of light in the sequence of light in response to a positional rate of change of the optical fiber in the scan pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

articulating the optical fiber in a second scan pattern, the second scan pattern having a different throw angle than the scan pattern;

generating a second sequence of light in response to a second one or more image representations and the second scan pattern;

projecting the second sequence of light from the optical fiber to form a second one or more images on the surface; and

generating a feedback signal with the sensor in response to reflections of the second sequence of light.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

articulating the optical fiber in a second scan pattern, the second scan pattern providing a different image resolution than the scan pattern;

generating a second sequence of light in response to a second one or more image representations and the second scan pattern;

projecting the second sequence of light from the optical fiber to form a second one or more images on the surface; and

generating a feedback signal with the sensor in response to reflections of the second sequence of light.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one of an orientation of the surface or a distance to the surface in response to the feedback signal;

generating a second sequence of light based on the determined at least one of an orientation of the surface or a distance to the surface, the second sequence of light adapted to compensate for the determined at least one of an orientation of the surface or a distance to the surface; and

projecting the second sequence of light from the optical fiber to form a second one or more images on the surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the projecting the second sequence of light is accomplished using a different throw angle so as to maintain a desired formed image size.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining at least one of an orientation of the surface or a distance to the surface comprises comparing reflected light intensities with corresponding projected light intensities.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an orientation of the input-output assembly; and

modifying the projected light output based on the determined input-output assembly orientation.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more images comprise video images; and

the method further comprises adjusting a number of settling cycles to match a video frame rate.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the formed one or more images comprise a first portion and a second portion;

the first portion corresponding to the one or more image representations; and

the second portion is projected by a portion of the scan pattern that is not used to project the first portion, the second portion including at least one of additional image content or user feedback features.

17. A system for projecting one or more images on a surface and obtaining feedback, the system comprising:

a projection assembly comprising a light-scanning optical fiber, the projection assembly operable to project a sequence of light from the light-scanning optical fiber onto a surface according to a scan pattern;

a sensor operable to measure reflections from light projected onto the surface by the light-scanning optical fiber and generate a feedback signal corresponding thereto;

a laser assembly coupled with the light-scanning optical fiber and operable to generate the sequence of light; and

a processor coupled with the projection assembly, the sensor, and the laser assembly, the processor comprising a tangible medium, the tangible medium comprising instructions that when executed cause the processor to;

determine the sequence of light in response to one or more image representations and the scan pattern;

provide control signals to the laser assembly and the projection assembly to generate and project the sequence of light from the light-scanning optical fiber according to the scan pattern to form the one or more images on the surface, wherein the light-scanning optical fiber is articulated in the scan pattern with a variable velocity, and wherein a light intensity of the sequence of light is varied based on the variable velocity of the light-scanning optical fiber; and

receive a feedback signal generated by the sensor in response to reflections of the sequence of light.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the sequence of light comprises a non-visible wavelength; and

the feedback signal comprises a signal generated in response to reflections of the non-visible wavelength.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor generates an input signal to an electronic device in response to the feedback signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the input signal is generated in response to a position of the projected light in the scan pattern corresponding to a user input.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein a formed image comprises a first portion comprising a first image resolution and a second portion comprising a second image resolution that is different from the first resolution.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the sequence of light is generated by at least varying an amount of light in the sequence of light in response to a positional rate of change of the light-scanning optical fiber in the scan pattern.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

provide control signals to the laser assembly and the projection assembly to;

articulate the light-scanning optical fiber in a second scan pattern, the second scan pattern having a different throw angle than the scan pattern;

generate a second sequence of light in response to a second one or more image representations and the second scan pattern; and

project the second sequence of light from the light-scanning optical fiber to form a second one or more images on the surface; and

receive a feedback signal generated by the sensor in response to reflections of the second sequence of light.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

provide control signals to the laser assembly and the projection assembly to;

articulate the light-scanning optical fiber in a second scan pattern, the second scan pattern providing a different image resolution than the scan pattern;

generate a second sequence of light in response to a second one or more image representations and the second scan pattern; and

project the second sequence of light from the light-scanning optical fiber to form a second one or more images on the surface; and

receive a feedback signal generated by the sensor in response to reflections of the second sequence of light.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine an orientation of the surface in response to the sequence of light, the feedback signal, and the scan pattern; and

determine a second sequence of light in response to;

a second one or more image representation,

a second scan pattern, and

the orientation of the surface; and

provide control signals to the laser assembly and the projection assembly to project the second sequence of light from the light-scanning optical fiber according to the second scan pattern to form a second one or more images on the surface so that the second one or more images are not substantially distorted by the orientation of the surface.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the orientation of the surface is determined by at least comparing reflected light intensities with corresponding projected light intensities.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the one or more images comprises video images; and

the processor adjusts a number of settling cycles to match a video frame rate.