User-interface for a projection device

• US 7,121,670 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Salvatori, Phillip H., Woolf, R. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Magda
• Application Number:
  US11/207,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 353/119, 353 30- 31, 353/36, 353 62- 63, 353/121, 345/5, 345/87, 345/14.07
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

The present invention provides a projector assembly including a projection device adapted to project an image, and a user-interface in communication with the projection device. The user-interface may be adapted to privately present user-readable information to a user.

Claims

1. A projector assembly comprising:

a projection device adapted to project an image; and

a user-interface in communication with the projection device, wherein the user-interface is adapted to privately present user-readable information to a user;

wherein the user-readable information privately presented via the user-interface is different than the image projected by the projection device.

2. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-interface is disposed on a body of the projection device.

3. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-interface comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

4. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-interface is adapted to display information regarding operation of the projection device.

5. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the user-readable information is projection device status information.

6. A projector assembly comprising:

a projection device having a body, the projection device adapted to project an image; and

a user-interface disposed on the body of the projection device, the user-interface being adapted to display user-readable information regarding operation of the projection device;

wherein the user-readable information displayed on the user-interface is different than the image projected by the projection device.

7. The projector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a controller adapted to allow a user to manage the information displayed on the user-interface.

8. The projector assembly of claim 7, wherein the controller is disposed on the body of the projection device.

9. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the information includes information that is related to the set-up of the projector device.

10. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the information includes information that is related to trouble-shooting the projection device.

11. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is privately viewable by a user of the projection device.

12. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the information includes a navigable menu.

13. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

14. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is a graphics display.

15. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is adapted to display text.

16. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the user-interface is a pixelated display.

17. A method for providing access to information regarding operation of a projection device, the method comprising:

displaying status information on a user interface, wherein the user interface is disposed on the body of a projection device, wherein the user interface displays the status information as a first image, while the projection device concurrently projects a second image; and

providing a controller adapted to allow a user to manage the displayed information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller is further adapted to allow a user to alter at least some settings on the projection device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of displaying status information on a user interface is independent of display of a projected image.