Desktop large image and eye-contact projection display
First Claim
1. A projection display system comprising:
- projector means for projecting an image beam;
a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image;
a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of said panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel;
a supporting structure for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted upon the supporting structure with the image beam directed through the transparent-reflective panel to the front projection image screen so that the reflection of the visible image formed on the front projection image screen appears to the observer to be located above a working surface utilized by the observer while in a seated position; and
a camera mount for mounting a camera behind the screen-facing side of said panel for capturing images of the observer through said panel for transmission to a distant display system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved desktop projection display system which effectively utilizes desktop space by producing a large image that appears to be at the rear edge of the desk. The display is compact because it uses a transparent-reflective panel (i.e., beamsplitter) to reflect a screen image through the same space occupied by the projection beam. This is achieved by projecting through a transparent-reflective panel onto a front projection screen located on the desk surface. An image formed on the front projection screen is then reflected by the transparent-reflective panel creating the appearance, to the observer, that the reflected front projection screen is positioned toward the rear of the desk surface. This invention greatly improves desktop display ergonomics for large display viewing by providing a sufficient distance between the observer seated at a desk and the display image. A key embodiment of the invention positions a camera behind the transparent-reflective panel at the apparent position of the reflected screen image thus ensuring teleconferencing eye contact. The invention resolves the presence of visible reflections of the projector lens and related visible artifacts to allow artifact-free image capturing through the transparent-reflective panel. The teleconferencing eye-contact configuration, though ideal for desk top use, may also be incorporated into devices such as laptop computers, configured in kiosks or used in a manner similar to big screen projection televisions.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of said panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a supporting structure for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted upon the supporting structure with the image beam directed through the transparent-reflective panel to the front projection image screen so that the reflection of the visible image formed on the front projection image screen appears to the observer to be located above a working surface utilized by the observer while in a seated position; and a camera mount for mounting a camera behind the screen-facing side of said panel for capturing images of the observer through said panel for transmission to a distant display system. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of said panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a supporting structure for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted upon the supporting structure with the image beam directed through the transparent-reflective panel to the front projection image screen so that the reflection of the visible image formed on the front projection image screen appears to the observer to be located above a working surface utilized by the observer while in a seated position; and enhancement means for enhancing contrast of the reflection of the visible image by providing a light absorbing background against which the observer views the reflection, the background disposed on a side of the transparent-reflective panel opposite the observer. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a supporting structure means placeable upon a working surface for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted upon the supporting structure so that the image beam is directed through the transparent-reflective panel to the front projection image screen which is positioned above the working surface utilized by the observer while in a seated position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a supporting structure placeable upon a working surface for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted on the supporting structure so that the image beam is directed through the transparent-reflective panel onto the front projection image screen which is positioned above a working surface utilized by an observer while in a seated position; enhancement means for enhancing contrast of the reflection of the visible image by providing a light absorbing background against which the observer views the reflection, the background disposed on a side of the transparent-reflective panel opposite the observer. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a supporting structure placeable upon a working surface for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted upon the supporting structure so that the image beam is directed through the transparent-reflective panel to the front projection image screen which is positioned above a working surface utilized by an observer while in a seated position; and visible image blocking means for obscuring, at least in luminous intensity, the visible image on the front projection image screen when the observer looks directly at said screen. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a camera disposed behind the screen-facing side of said panel for capturing images of the observer through said panel for transmission to a distant display system, the camera positioned behind approximate eye level of an imaged conferee; a supporting structure placeable upon a working surface for ensuring proper alignment between the projector means, the front projection image screen and the transparent-reflective panel, the projector means mounted upon the supporting structure so that the image beam is directed through the transparent-reflective panel to the front projection image screen which is positioned above a working surface utilized by an observer while in a seated position; and lens reflection removal means for ensuring that the reflections of a projector lens and it'"'"'s luminous artifacts upon the side of said panel facing the camera are not captured by the camera. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; a camera disposed behind the screen-facing side of said panel for capturing images of the observer through said panel for transmission to a distant display system, the camera positioned behind approximate eye level of an imaged conferee; and lens reflection removal means for ensuring that the reflections of a projector lens and it'"'"'s luminous artifacts upon the side of said panel facing the camera are not captured by the camera. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; and a camera disposed behind the screen-facing side of said panel for capturing images of the observer through said panel for transmission to a distant display system, the camera positioned behind approximate eye level of an imaged conferee, the camera capturing images from either above, below or to the sides of a reflection of a projector lens and its luminous artifacts on the side of said panel facing the camera so that the reflection of the projector lens and the luminous artifacts are not captured by the camera. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification