Image projection system and a method of controlling a projected pointer

• US 6,186,630 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyashita, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWLING, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US09/084,399
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 353/42, 353/122, 345/169, 345/168, 359/142, 359/148, 359/143, 359/145
• US Class Current: 353/42
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image projection system whereby a display position of a pointer on a projected image can be easily controlled from a location separated from the main control means. The system comprises a liquid crystal projectors a personal computer for controlling the liquid crystal projector to display a pointer on a projected image in accordance with an operation signal from a main operating section and a predetermined program, and a remote controller for the liquid crystal projector.

The remote controller comprises a pointing device and a light emitting portion for wirelessly transmitting an operation signal.

The liquid crystal projector comprises a light receiving portion for receiving wirelessly transmitted signals. The personal computer controls the liquid crystal projector to transfer the received signals to the personal computer and further controls the display position of the pointer according to the transferred pointing device operation signals.

Claims

1. A remote controller for transmitting a remote control signal to a projecting means which projects an image including a pointer, said remote controller comprising:

a pointing device for outputting a first operation signal to the projecting means to control a position of said pointer;

a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said operation signal;

an operation key for outputting a second signal to control said projecting means wherein said second operation signal is wirelessly transmitted to said projecting means;

an operating portion including a lighting key and said pointing device and said operation key;

an illuminating portion for illuminating said operating portion in accordance with an instruction from said lighting key; and

a lighting control portion for forcibly putting said illuminating portion off during operation of said pointing device.

2. The remote controller according to claim 1,

wherein said projecting means projects an image provided from at least one of a computer and image reproduction means.

3. The remote controller according to claim 1,

wherein said lighting control portion goes into a sleep mode to accept no instructions from said lighting key after said pointing device is inactive for a predetermined period.

4. The remote controller according to claim 1,

wherein said remote controller wirelessly transmits a signal for adjusting displayed images of said projecting means by combined operations of said pointing device and said operation key.

5. The remote controller according to claim 1,

wherein said pointing device and operation key for the combined operations are provided in accordance with a predetermined rule on said operation portion.

6. The remote controller according to claim 5,

wherein the color of said operation key is grouped with respect to the combined operations with said pointing device.

7. The remote controller according to claim 5, further comprising:

a circuit that stops supply of power to said pointing device after said pointing device is inactive for a predetermined period.