Information processing miniature devices with embedded projectors

• US 6,371,616 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanevsky, Dimitri, Pickover, Clifford A., Doany, Fuad Elias, Zlatsin, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Magda
• Application Number:
  US09/438,633
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 353/39, 353/43, 353/52, 353/71, 353/79, 353/119, 353/122, 349/5, 349/7, 364/231, 364/231.1, 364/231.2, 364/231.3, 364/231.31
• US Class Current: 353/39
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/04 Maintaining the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/02 by tracing or scanning a light beam on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7416 involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal
• 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

Abstract

Miniature devices which incorporate data displaying features, incorporating an information processing and display system, which includes devices for the representation of textural and pictorial information and data, and which is adapted to project images onto a remote display surface. Also disclosed is a method for utilizing miniature information processing devices which incorporate projectors for projecting data onto remote surfaces.

Claims

1. An information processing-display system, comprising arranged in a miniature and portable encasing one or a plurality of data processing devices including a miniature display for viewing the data;

a projector module facilitating projecting the data onto a remote screen; and

a control device for processing data through said projector module and for controlling the quality of the projected display on said screen, said control device being equipped with video sensors for measuring external environmental conditions selectively including lighting near the projector module, lighting near the screen, wind, rain, distance from a screen, or which form the boundary of the screen.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said embedded data processing device is selected from the group consisting of a PDA, clock, a telephone with screen, web-phone, smart phone, pager, a smart wallet, a smart key, watch, and glasses connected to the embedded device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projector module is equipped with a laser device for projecting high quality contrast images onto said screen.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device varies the image quality, intensity of colors, clarity and contrast of the images projected onto the screen.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device is equipped with a focus system for focusing the images projected onto said screen.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the focus is regulated automatically.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device is equipped with a subsystem for an automatic control over the projected image quality, intensity of colors, contrast depending upon data obtained from the sensors which measure the environmental conditions.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screen is selected from the group consisting of a standard screen for projectors, a paper, a floor, a ceiling, wall, any cover of any form, such as square, circle, oval, or polygon.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device is equipped with a subsystem facilitating control over the form of a boundary of a display on a screen, such as square, circle, oval, or polygon.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said subsystem is operated automatically using data obtained from sensors.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensors include a camera or a video camera.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the miniature display is employed as an output means for projector beams.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displays are glasses.

14. An information processing-displaying method, comprising arranging in a miniature and portable encasing one or a plurality of data processing devices including a miniature display for viewing the data;

a projector module projecting data onto a remote screen; and

a control device processing data through said projector module for controlling the quality of the projected display on said screen, said control device being equipped with video sensors which measure environmental conditions selectively including lighting near the projector module, lighting near the screen, wind, rain, distance from a screen, or form the boundary of the screen.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said embedded data processing device is selected from the group consisting of a PDA, clock, a telephone with screen, web-phone, smart phone, pager, a smart wallet, a smart key, watch, and glasses connected to the embedded device.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said projector module is equipped with a laser device for projecting high quality contrast images onto said screen.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control device varies the image quality, intensity of colors, clarity and contrast of the images projected onto the screen.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control device is equipped with a focus system for focusing the images projected onto said screen.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the focus is regulated automatically.

20. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control device is equipped with a subsystem for an automatic regulation of image quality, intensity of colors, contrast depending upon data obtained from the sensors which measure the environmental conditions.

21. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the screen is selected from the group consisting of a standard screen for projectors, a paper, a floor, a ceiling, wall, any cover of any form, such as square, circle, oval, or polygon.

22. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control device is equipped with a subsystem so as to regulate the form of a boundary of the display on said screen, such as square, circle, oval, or polygon.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said regulating subsystem is operated automatically using data obtained from sensors.

24. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sensors include a camera or a video camera.

25. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the miniature display is employed as an output for projector beams.

26. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the displays are glasses.