User-interface for projection devices

• US 7,290,885 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• 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): Lee, Diane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Magda
• Application Number:
  US11/126,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 353/119, 353 30- 31, 353/36, 353 62- 63, 353/121, 345/5, 345/87, 345/705, 345708-711, 345/716, 345/730, 345721-722, 348/14.07
• US Class Current: 353/36
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• 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 disclosure 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

an interactive display in communication with the projection device, wherein the interactive display is adapted to privately present user-readable information to a user and wherein the interactive display is adapted to receive input from said user to control said projection device, where at least a portion of the interactive display that presents information also receives input.

2. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the interactive display is disposed on a body of the projection device.

3. The projector assembly of claim 2, wherein the interactive display includes a touchpad.

4. The projector assembly of claim 3, wherein the projector assembly is without a keypad.

5. The projector assembly of claim 3, wherein the interactive display presents a menu.

6. The projector assembly of claim 3, wherein the interactive display presents multiple levels of user-input selectable options.

7. The projector assembly of claim 6, wherein the interactive display presents reconfigurable touch inputs depending on the level.

8. The projector assembly of claim 3, wherein the interactive display is adapted to display information regarding operation of the projection device.

9. The projector assembly of claim 3, wherein the interactive display presents project ion device status information.

10. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the interactive display comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

11. The projector assembly of claim 1, wherein the interactive display selectively presents virtual buttons that are mapped to projector controls.

12. A projector assembly comprising:

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

an interactive display disposed on the body of the projection device, the interactive display being adapted to display user-readable information regarding operation of the projection device, the interactive display further adapted to receive input from a user so that the user can provide input information to the projection device.

13. The projector assembly of claim 12, wherein the interactive display includes a touchpad, and said user inputs information via said touchpad.

14. The projector assembly of claim 13, wherein the projector assembly is without a keypad.

15. The projector assembly of claim 13, wherein the interactive display includes a reconfigurable menu.

16. The projector assembly of claim 13, wherein said touchpad is adapted to allow a user to manage the information displayed on the interactive display.

17. The projector assembly of claim 16, wherein the information includes information that is related to the set-up of the projector device.

18. The projector assembly of claim 16, wherein the information includes information that is related to trouble-shooting the projection device.

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

20. A method for providing access to information and receiving information from a user regarding operation of a projection device, the method comprising:

displaying information about the projection device on an interactive display, wherein the interactive display is disposed on the body of a projection device;

receiving input information from the user via the interactive display; and

controlling the projection device based on said input information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the interactive display is further adapted to allow a user to alter at least some settings on the projection device.