Positionable projection display devices

• US 7,281,807 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Honeywood Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US10/891,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 353/119, 353/31, 353/100, 353/101, 353/102, 353/122, 348/739, 348/744, 348/750, 348/758, 348/759, 348/771, 348/794, 362/259, 362/553, 362/559, 362/561, 345/905
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

Described herein are devices that provide projection-type video output in a portable and flexible design. The design includes a projection chamber, a base, and an interface that permits relative positioning between the projection chamber and base. The base maintains the position of the display device. The projection chamber includes components responsible for the production of images based on received video data and components responsible for the projection of those images. Relative pointing between the projection chamber and base allows the projection chamber to be pointed—and an output projected image to be positioned—with minimal effort.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a base that includes a housing and a light source within the housing;

a projection chamber that includes a) a projection chamber housing, b) an optical modulation device configured to selectively transmit light generated by the light source according to video data included in a video signal provided to the optical modulation device, and c) a projection lens system configured to output light transmitted by the optical modulation device along a projection path; and

a positional interface, coupled to the base housing and coupled to the projection chamber housing at a location between an aft end of the projection chamber that includes the optical modulation device and a forward end that includes an output lens of the projection lens system, configured to allow the projection chamber to be moved relative to the base and to allow the projection chamber to maintain a constant position relative to the base after being moved.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein the positional interface is coupled to the projection chamber housing proximate to a center of mass for the projection chamber.

3. The display device of claim 1 wherein the projection chamber housing is about cylindrical and an output lens of the projection lens system seals one end of the about cylindrical projection chamber housing.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein the projection path is about collinear with an axis of the cylindrical projection chamber housing.

5. The display device of claim 1 wherein the positional interface is coupled to the base housing proximate to a center of mass for the base.

6. The display device of claim 1 wherein the positional interface permits light transfer from the light source in the base to the optical modulation device in the projection chamber.

7. The display device of claim 6 further comprising at least one fiber optic cable having a first end in the base and a second end in the projection chamber.

8. The display device of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises an array of diode lasers.

9. The display device of claim 8 wherein the array of diode lasers includes at least one red diode laser that generates red collimated light.

10. The display device of claim 1 wherein the light source is a lamp that generates white light.

11. The display device of claim 1 wherein the optical modulation device is a digital micromirror based device and selective transmission of light generated by the light source comprises selective reflection using a plurality of individually controlled mirrors.

12. The display device of claim 1 wherein the base is included in a computer system and the base housing comprises components for the computer system.