Display projection method and apparatus an optical input device therefor

• US 5,400,095 A
• Filed: 09/17/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Proxima Corporation (Ask ASA)
• Inventors: Minich, Arthur P., Hauck, Lane T., Kappel, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US08/122,697
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 353/119, 353/122, 353/29, 353/42, 353/21, 353/98, 340/706, 340/707
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/132 Overhead projectors, i.e. capable of projecting hand-writing or drawing during action epidiascopic projectors G03B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a compact display projector and method of using it to project images under the control of image generating equipment, such as computers and television systems. An optical input device is built into the projector to enable optical control signals directed onto the projected image, to be discriminated for causing the image generating equipment to modify the projected image. A positionally adjusted mirror device is disposed in optical alignment with the optical input device to reflect the optical control signals back thereto, whereby the optical input device is readily aligned with the projected image to monitor it for the occurrence of any optical control signals.

Claims

1. An image display projector for displaying an enlarged image on a remote viewing surface in response to image generating equipment, comprising:

a housing having a top wall;

means defining a window in said top wall;

mirror means disposed on the outside of said housing opposite said window;

image projecting means disposed on the inside of said housing and responsive to image generating equipment for projecting an image along a substantially upright optical projection path through said window to reflect from said mirror forwardly along a generally horizontal path toward the viewing surface;

optical input means including optical sensing means disposed inside said housing positioned facing said window for receiving a reflected image of the viewing surface from said mirror means downwardly along a substantially upright optical sensing path, said projection path and said sensing path being substantially parallel to one another;

said optical input means having circuit means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said image generating equipment to cause it to modify the projected image; and

mounting means for positioning said mirror means adjustably relative to said window to enable the image to be adjusted positionally on the viewing surface and to maintain said sensing means in proper alignment therewith,

whereby said mirror means can be moved adjustably for directing the projected image forwardly to a desired location on the viewing surface without the necessity of moving said sensing means to maintain proper alignment thereof with the projected image on the surface.

2. A projector according to claim 1, wherein said mirror means includes receptor mirror means aligned with said optical sensing means, and further includes projection mirror means aligned with said image projecting means for reflecting said image to be projected onto the remote viewing surface.

3. A projector according to claim 2, wherein said projection mirror means is movable to a position within the upright optical projection path.

4. A projector according to claim 2, wherein said receptor mirror means is movable to a position within said upright optical sensing path.

5. A projector according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a charge coupled camera.

6. A projector according to claim 1, wherein said circuit means includes a mounting means, said mounting means including a printed circuit board.

7. A method of displaying an enlarged image on a remote viewing surface in response to image generating equipment, comprising:

projecting an image along a substantially upright optical path to reflect from mirror means forwardly along a generally horizontal path toward the viewing surface;

receiving a reflected image of the viewing surface from said mirror means downwardly along a substantially upright optical sensing path, said projection path and said sensing path being substantially parallel to one another;

positioning said mirror means adjustably relative to said optical paths to enable the image to be adjusted positionally on the viewing surface and to maintain a sensing means for the receiving of the reflected image along the sensing path in proper alignment therewith; and

controlling image generating equipment to cause it to modify the projected image.

8. In an image display projector for displaying an enlarged image on a remote viewing surface in a response to image generating equipment, said projector having a housing having a top wall, said projector including:

means defining a window in said top wall;

mirror means disposed on the outside of said housing opposite said window;

image projecting means disposed on the inside of said housing and responsive to image generating equipment for projecting an image a substantially along upright optical projection path through said window to reflect from said mirror forwardly along a generally horizontal path toward the viewing surface;

optical input means including optical sensing means disposed inside said housing positioned facing said window for receiving a reflected image of the viewing surface from said mirror means downwardly along a substantially upright optical sensing path, said projection path and said sensing path being substantially parallel to one another;

said optical input means having circuit means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said image generating equipment to cause it to modify the projected image; and

mounting means for positioning said mirror means adjustably relative to said window to enable the image to be adjusted positioning on the viewing surface and to maintain said sensing means in proper alignment therewith,

whereby said mirror means can be moved adjustably for directing the projected image forwardly to a desired location on the viewing surface without the necessity of moving said sensing means to maintain proper alignment thereof with the projected image on the surface.

9. An optical input device for use with a projector for displaying an enlarged image on a remote viewing surface in response to image generating equipment,

a housing having a top wall;

means defining a window in said top wall;

mirror means disposed on the outside of said housing opposite said window;

image projecting means disposed on the inside of said housing and responsive to image generating equipment for projecting an image along upright optical path through said window to reflect from said mirror forwardly along a generally horizontal path toward the viewing surface;

optical input means including optical sensing means disposed inside said housing positioned facing said window for receiving a reflected image of the viewing surface from said mirror means downwardly along a substantially upright optical sensing path, said projection path and said sensing path being substantially parallel to one another;

said optical input means having circuit means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said image generating equipment to cause it to modify the projected image; and

mounting means for positioning said mirror means adjustably relative to said window to enable the image to be adjusted positioning on the viewing surface and to maintain said sensing means in proper alignment therewith,

whereby said mirror means can be moved adjustably for directing the projected image forwardly to a desired location on the viewing surface without the necessity of moving said sensing means to maintain proper alignment thereof with the projected image on the surface.

10. In combination for use with a screen for displaying an image on the screen,

a housing,

first means disposed in the housing for producing an optical image,

second means having first and second operative relationships and forming part of the housing in the first operative relationship and operative in the second relationship to become displaced from the housing and to direct the image toward the screen for display on the screen,

third means disposed in the housing for receiving the image upon reflection of the image from the screen, and

fourth means for directing an optical control signal to the screen,

the second means being operative in the second relationship to direct to the third means the image and the optical control signal reflected from the screen.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 10,

fifth means disposed in the housing optically between the first means and the second means for directing the image from the first means to the second means for direction by the second means to the screen in the second operative relationship of the second means and disposed optically between the second means and the third means for directing to the third means the image and the optical control signal reflected to the second means from the screen.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 10,

the second means including a pair of mirrors movable in a co-ordinated relationship between the first and second positions, the first mirror being disposed in the second operative relationship to direct the image to the screen and to direct the reflected image to the third means and the second mirror being disposed in the second operative relationship to direct the reflected optical image signal to the third means.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 12,

fifth means for modifying the image on the screen in accordance with the position of the optical control signal on the screen.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein

the second means includes mirror means pivotable between the first operative relationship and the second operative relationship and wherein the second means is pivotably adjustable in the second operative relationship through a range of position values.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,

sixth means for modifying the image on the screen in accordance with the disposition of the optical control signal on the screen.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein

the second means includes at least one mirror pivotable between the first operative relationship and the second operative relationship and wherein the second means is pivotably adjustable in the second operative relationship through a range of position values.

17. In a combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein

the second means includes first and second mirrors the first of which directs the image to the screen in the second operative relationship of the second means and directs the reflected image from the screen to the third means and the second of which directs the reflected optical control signal to the third means and wherein the first and second mirrors are synchronously pivotable between the first operative relationship and the second operative relationship and the first and second mirrors are pivotally adjustable in the second operative relationship through a range of position values.

18. In combination for use with a reflective screen for displaying an image on the screen,

first means for providing an image for display on the screen,

second means having optical properties for projecting the image through a particular optical path,

third means for projecting an optical control signal on the screen,

fourth means for receiving the image and the optical control signal and for providing a reproduction of the image and the optical control signal,

fifth means including the second means for directing the image in the particular optical path from the second means to the screen and for directing the reflection of the image and the optical control signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fourth means;

sixth means for modifying the image on the screen in accordance with the position of the optical control signal on the screen; and

the first means, the second means and the fourth means are disposed within a common housing and the fifth means has first and second positions and is disposed in the first position within the housing and is movable to the second position to direct the image in the particular optical path from the second means to the screen and to direct the reflected image and the reflected control image signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fifth means.

19. In combination for use with a reflective screen for displaying an image on the screen,

first means for providing an image for display on the screen,

second means having optical properties for projecting the image through a particular optical path,

third means for projecting an optical control signal on the screen,

fourth means for receiving the image and the optical control signal and for providing a reproduction of the image and the optical control signal,

fifth means including the second means for directing the image in the particular optical path from the second means to the screen and for directing the reflection of the image and the optical control signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fourth means;

sixth means for modifying the image on the screen in accordance with the position of the optical control signal on the screen;

the fifth means including mirror means adjustably positioned relative to the second means and the screen to direct the image from the first means through the second means in the particular optical path to the screen and to direct the reflected image and the reflected optical image signal through the second means in the particular optical path to the fourth means;

a housing for the first means, the second means and the fourth means, and

the mirror means being adjustable between first and second positions and forming a part of the housing in the first position and being disposed in the second position to direct the image from the first means in the particular optical path through the second means to the screen and to direct the reflected image and the reflected control image signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fourth means.

20. In combination for use with a reflective screen for displaying an image on the screen,

first means for providing an image for display on the screen,

second means having optical properties for projecting the image through a particular optical path,

third means for projecting an optical control signal on the screen,

fourth means for receiving the image and the optical control signal and for providing a reproduction of the image and the optical control signal,

fifth means including the second means for directing the image in the particular optical path from the second means to the screen and for directing the reflection of the image and the optical control signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fourth means;

sixth means for modifying the image on the screen in accordance with the position of the optical control signal on the screen;

the fifth means including mirror means adjustably positioned relative to the second means and the screen to direct the image from the first means in the particular optical path through the second means to the screen and to direct the reflected image and the reflected control image signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fourth means,

a housing for the first means, the second means and the fourth means, and

the mirror means being adjustable between first and second positions and forming a part of the housing in the first position and being disposed in the second position to direct the image from the first means in the particular optical path through the second means to the screen and to direct the reflected image and the reflected control image signal in the particular optical path through the second means to the fourth means.

21. In combination for use with a reflective screen for displaying an image on the screen,

a housing,

first means disposed in the housing for producing the image,

second means disposed in the housing for optically directing the image toward the screen,

third means disposed in the housing for receiving the image upon reflection of the image from the screen,

the second means being disposed to direct the reflected image optically to the third means,

means for directing an optical control signal to the screen for reflection by the second means optically to the third means,

fourth means for modifying the image on the screen in accordance with the control image signal on the screen, and

fifth means adjustable between first and second positions and defining a part of the housing in the first position and displaced from the housing in the second position and normally disposed in the first position and movable to the second position and co-operative with the second means in the second position for optically directing the image to the screen and for directing the reflected image optically to the third means and for reflecting the control image signal optically to the third means.

22. In a combination as set forth in claim 21,

the fifth means including a pair of mirrors pivotable on a co-ordinated basis between the first and second positions, the first mirror being disposed in co-operative relationship with the second means for optically directing the image to the screen in the second position of the fifth means and for optically directing the reflected image to the third means in the second position of the fifth means and the second mirror being disposed in the second position to direct the reflected control image signal to the third means.

23. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, the first means including a light source and a liquid crystal panel assembly and at least one image projecting mirror and the second means including a projection lens assembly.

24. In a combination as set forth in claim 21,

the fifth means being liftable from the housing and pivotable relative to the housing to assume the second position and the second position being adjustable.