Portable phone with ergonomic image projection system

• US 7,539,513 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lagoon Point Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: National Telephone Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Steven, Cathey, James, Cathey, David A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/049,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/556.2, 455/90.2, 455/90.1, 4555751-5759, 455/422.1, 455/500, 455/517, 455/90.3, 455418-420, 379/433.01, 345/7, 345/205
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

A portable phone includes a handset and a data projection system configured to form a visual image of data, such as caller waiting ID data, on a viewing surface viewable by a user during a two way conversation. The handset also includes a speaker, a microphone, conventional phone circuitry and a keyboard. The data projection system is configured to receive signals from the phone circuitry, to generate a pattern representative of the data, to process the pattern into a mirror image of the visual image, and to project the mirror image from a bottom end surface of the handset. The projection system includes an electro optic system for generating the pattern, and an optics system for projecting the mirror image onto the viewing surface.

A method for projecting data in a portable phone includes the steps of: providing the handset with the data projection system, conducting a two way conversation with the handset held against the head of the user, and forming the visual image on the viewing surface during the two way conversation with the handset held against the head. The method can also include the steps of manipulating the handset and a body part to locate and focus the visual image, sensing an orientation of the handset during the two way conversation, and orienting the visual image as a function of the sensing step.

Claims

1. A portable phone comprising:

a handset configured for holding proximate to an ear of a user for conducting a two way conversation; and

a projection system on the handset configured to project a projected image from the handset onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset, the projected image viewable by the user with the handset held proximate to the ear and without interrupting the conversation;

the handset and the projection system configured to control one or more of a location, a size and a focus of the projected image by moving of the handset about the ear by the user.

2. The phone of claim 1 wherein the projection system includes a set of optics fixedly attached to the handset and configured for movement with the handset to project the projected image at a selected distance along a vector extending from the handset to the viewing surface.

3. The phone of claim 1 wherein the projection system includes a liquid crystal display in light communication with a light source.

4. The phone of claim 1 wherein the projection system is configured to generate a pattern representative of the projected image, and at least one set of optics including a light piping optical element configured to project the projected image onto the viewing surface.

5. The phone of claim 1 further comprising an orientation device comprising a plurality of sensors on the handset configured to sense an orientation of the handset in at least four different positions, the phone capable of orienting the projected image as a function of the orientation of the handset.

6. The phone of claim 1 wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part, clothing or furniture.

7. The phone of claim 1 wherein the handset includes a speaker, a microphone, and a front surface, and the projection system is configured to project the projected image along an optical axis substantially in a direction extending from the speaker towards the microphone and generally orthogonally to the front surface.

8. The phone of claim 1 further comprising a pulsing circuit configured to pulse a brightness of the projected image.

9. The phone of claim 1 wherein the viewing surface is about 8 to 16 inches from the handset, and wherein the projection system is configured to form the projected image with a width of about 25 mm to 152 mm, and a height of about 7.6 mm to 46.2 mm.

10. A portable phone comprising:

a handset configured for holding proximate to an ear of a user; and

a projection system on the handset configured to project a projected visual image from the handset on a viewing surface physically separate from the handset viewable and readable by the user with the handset held proximate to the ear;

the projection system comprising a light source comprising a solid state diode with an integral heat sink, and a light valve in light communication with the light source, the light valve configured to project the projected image onto the viewing surface;

the handset and the projection system configured to control a location, a size and a focus of the projected image by moving of the handset about the ear by the user.

11. The phone of claim 10 wherein the light valve comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) having an active area of at least 840 pixels.

12. The phone of claim 10 wherein the light valve comprises a chip on glass (COG) liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of character blocks.

13. The phone of claim 10 wherein the light source is configured to generate at least 10 Lumens of light.

14. The phone of claim 10 wherein the light source comprises an LED chip at least partially covered by a gel in optical communication and in thermal communication with the LED chip.

15. The phone of claim 10 wherein a brightness of the light source is adjustable.

16. The phone of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of sensors on the handset configured to sense a right hand orientation or a left hand orientation of the handset on the ear, and to orient the projected image so that it reads from left to right with either the right hand orientation or the left hand orientation.

17. The phone of claim 10 wherein the light valve includes an active area and the projection system includes a second set of optics configured to manipulate a size or a shape of a beam of light rays from the light source onto the active area.

18. The phone of claim 10 wherein the set of optics comprises an optical element having a substantially rectangular or elliptical perimeter.

19. A portable phone comprising:

a handset configured for holding by a user;

a direct view visual display on the handset configured to display a first image of data;

a circuit on the handset configured to generate signals for displaying the first image of the data on the direct view visual display; and

a projection system on the handset comprising a light valve and at least one set of optics fixedly attached to the handset and configured to project a projected image of the data from the handset including alphanumeric data onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset viewable by the user with the alphanumeric data readable from left to right;

the handset and the projection system configured to control a location, a size and a focus of the projected image by moving of the handset about the ear by the user.

20. The phone of claim 19 wherein the light valve comprises a liquid crystal display having an active area in light communication with a light emitting diode light source configured to emit light rays having a density of at least 18 lumens per square mm of surface area of the light source, and a first set of optics configured to collimate the light rays and to direct the light rays onto the active area.

21. The phone of claim 19 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit at least 10 Lumens of light.

22. The phone of claim 19 wherein the active area includes a plurality of rectangular blocks of pixels with each block comprising seven rows of pixels and each row comprising five pixels.

23. The phone of claim 19 wherein the liquid crystal display includes a plurality of character blocks configured to form either numbers or letters.

24. The phone of claim 19 wherein the first image and the projected image have substantially a same size.

25. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projection system is configured to project the second the projected image along a vector and at a distance from the user controlled by moving of the handset by the user about the ear.

26. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projection system comprises an addressable patterned LED display, an electroluminescent cathode ray tube, or a field emission display.

27. The phone of claim 19 wherein the second set of optics includes a lens having an electrically tunable focus length.

28. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projection system is configured to project the projected image generally orthogonally to a surface of the handset containing the direct view display and along a vector having a direction extending from a speaker towards a microphone of the handset.

29. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projection system includes a control circuit comprising a micro processor.

30. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projected image has a width greater than it'"'"'s height.

31. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projected image has a length to height ratio of greater than 1:

1.

32. The phone of claim 19 wherein the projected image has a width to height ratio of greater than 1.5:

1.

33. The phone of claim 19 wherein the viewing surface is located on a body part of the user or on a piece of furniture in close proximity to the user.

34. The phone of claim 19 wherein the data comprises caller waiting ID data.

35. A portable phone comprising:

a handset having a front surface, a back surface, a speaker and a microphone;

a circuit on the handset configured to generate signals representative of data; and

a projection system fixedly attached to the handset configured to form a projected image responsive to the signals, and to project the projected image from the handset along a vector extending from the handset onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset with the projected image rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the front surface and oriented in a direction extending from the back surface towards the front surface.

36. The phone of claim 35 further comprising an orientation sensor on the handset configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to orient the projected image as a function thereof.

37. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projection system comprises a monochromatic light source, and at least one set of optics.

38. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projection system includes an element selected from the group consisting of addressable patterned LED displays, electroluminescent displays, cathode ray tubes, and field emission displays.

39. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projected image has a width to height ratio of greater than 1.5:

1.

40. The phone of claim 35 wherein the handset comprises a cordless phone or a cellular phone.

41. The phone of claim 35 wherein the handset includes an opening on a bottom end surface thereof and the projection system is recessed relative to the opening.

42. The phone of claim 35 wherein the circuit comprises a microcontroller.

43. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projection system includes a light source and the circuit includes a pulsing circuit configured to pulse a current to the light source.

44. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projection system includes a light source and the circuit is configured to adjust a brightness of the light source.

45. The phone of claim 35 wherein the data comprises caller waiting ID data.

46. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projected image comprises alphanumeric characters.

47. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projected image comprises pictures, characters, drawings, symbols, photographs, or video information.

48. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projected image comprises a variable image.

49. The phone of claim 35 wherein the projected image comprises a fixed image.

50. A portable phone comprising:

a handset having a speaker and a microphone;

a projection system affixed to a portion of the handset in a rigid orientation to the portion configured to project a projected image from the handset along a vector having substantially a direction from the speaker to the microphone onto a viewing surface at a selected distance from the handset physically separate from the handset with the projected image located along a direct line of sight of a user and readable from left to right;

the handset and the projection system configured to control a location, a size and a focus of the projected image by moving of the handset by the user.

51. The phone of claim 50 wherein the projected image comprises alphanumeric data and the projection system is configured to project the alphanumeric data substantially orthogonally to a front surface of the handset.

52. The phone of claim 50 wherein the projected image comprises alphanumeric data and the projection system is configured to enable a user to view the alphanumeric data with a left to right orientation, with the handset in a left handed mode and with the handset in a right handed mode.

53. The phone of claim 50 wherein the projection system comprises a light source comprising an LED chip coated with a soft gel.

54. The phone of claim 50 wherein the projection system comprises a light source and a refractive optical element separate from the light source configured to reduce an angular emission of light from the light source.

55. The phone of claim 50 wherein the projection system is configured to project the projected image with a width of between 38 mm and 100 mm at a distance between 200 mm and 400 mm.

56. A portable phone comprising:

a handset configured for holding proximate to an ear of a user;

a control circuit on the handset comprising a micro controller configured to process signals representative of data;

a liquid crystal display on the handset in signal communication with the control circuit having a plurality of character blocks configured to form a pattern responsive to the signals; and

a set of optics on the handset in light communication with the liquid crystal display configured to process the pattern and to project a projected image from the handset onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset with a location, a focus and a size controlled by movement of the handset about the ear.

57. The phone of claim 56 wherein the projection system includes a light source configured to generate at least 10 Lumens of light, and at least one optics element configured to collimate and direct the light onto the character blocks.

58. The phone of claim 56 wherein each character block is configured to form both letters and numbers.

59. The phone of claim 56 wherein the character blocks form an active area on the liquid crystal display of at least 840 pixels.

60. The phone of claim 56 wherein a light source provides light to the liquid crystal display and comprises a substrate configured as a heat sink, a LED on the substrate chip covered by a soft gel, and a lens in physical contact with the gel.

61. The phone of claim 56 wherein the liquid crystal display comprises a chip on glass display.

62. The phone of claim 56 further comprising a light source in light communication with the liquid crystal display, and wherein the control circuit includes a pulsing circuit configured to pulse the light source.

63. The phone of claim 56 wherein the viewing surface is about 8 to 16 inches from the handset and comprises a body part of the user.

64. A method for displaying data in a portable phone comprising:

providing a handset configured for holding proximate to an ear of a user for conducting a two way conversation;

providing a projection system on the handset configured to project a projected image of the data on a viewing surface physically separate from the handset viewable by the user with a direct line of sight with the handset held proximate to the ear and without interrupting the conversation; and

projecting the projected image on the viewing surface during the two way conversation using the projection system.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the projection system comprises a light valve configured to generate a pattern representative of the projected image, and at least one set of optics configured to process the pattern to project the projected image onto the viewing surface.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the handset includes a front surface, a microphone and a speaker, and the projected image is projected during the projecting step generally orthogonally to the front surface and in a direction extending from the speaker towards the microphone.

67. The method of claim 64 wherein the handset includes an opening and the projecting step projects the visual image through the opening.

68. The method of claim 64 farther comprising:

providing a sensor on the handset configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to orient the projected image as a function of the orientation; and

orienting the projected image during the projecting step using the sensor.

69. The method of claim 64 wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part, clothing or furniture.

70. A method for displaying data in a portable phone comprising:

providing the phone with a data projection system configured to project a projected image representative of the data onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset;

holding the phone proximate to an ear of a the user;

conducting a two way conversation during the holding step; and

projecting the projected image along a vector extending from the handset to the viewing surface controlled by movement of the phone about the ear onto the viewing surface while performing the holding and conducting steps with the projected image rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to a front surface of the phone and oriented in a direction extending from a back surface towards the front surface of the phone.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising:

sensing at least four different positions of the phone during the holding step; and

projecting the projected image from the phone with a second orientation dependent on the sensing step.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part of the user, and further comprising moving the body part or the phone during the projecting step to focus and locate the projected image on the body part.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein the viewing surface is about 8 to 16 inches from the phone, and the projected image has a width of about 25 mm to 152 mm, and a height of about 7.6 mm to 46.2 mm.

74. The method of claim 70 wherein the projected image is oriented along curved lines.

75. The method of claim 70 further comprising pulsing a brightness of the projected image during the projecting step.

76. The method of claim 70 wherein the phone includes a speaker and a microphone and the vector has a direction extending from the speaker towards the microphone and a distance controlled by movement of the phone about the ear.

77. The method of claim 70 wherein the data projection system comprises a diode light source, a light valve and at least one optics system.

78. The method of claim 70 wherein the data projection system includes at least one optical element configured to project the projected image.

79. A method for displaying data in a portable phone comprising:

providing the phone with a handset having a surface, a speaker and a microphone;

providing a projection system on the handset configured to project a projected image the including alphanumeric data from the handset;

holding the handset proximate to an ear of a user of the phone;

projecting the projected image from the handset generally orthogonally to the surface and along a vector extending from the speaker towards the microphone onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset and viewable during the holding step with the alphanumeric data readable from left to right; and

moving the handset about the ear during the projecting step to point the vector at the viewing surface.

80. The method of claim 79 further comprising sensing an orientation of the handset during the holding step and orienting the projected image responsive to the sensing step.

81. The method of claim 79 the moving step comprises rotating the handset about the ear.

82. The method of claim 79 wherein the projection system includes a light source that is pulsed during the projecting step.

83. The method of claim 79 wherein the projection system includes a light source having an adjustable brightness.

84. The method of claim 79 wherein the data comprises caller waiting ID data.

85. The method of claim 79 wherein the projected image comprises alphanumeric characters.

86. The method of claim 79 wherein the projected image comprises pictures, characters, drawings, symbols, photographs, or video information.

87. The method of claim 79 wherein the projected image comprises a variable image or a fixed image.

88. A method for displaying data in a portable phone comprising:

providing a handset comprising a visual display, a circuit configured to generate signals for displaying a first image of the data on the visual display, a projection system in the handset configured to form a projected image of the data responsive to the signals;

using the signals to operate the projection system to generate the projected image; and

projecting the projected image from the handset using the projection system onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset viewable by a user during a conversation using the phone with the projected image located in a direct line of sight of the user and oriented for reading from left to right.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein the handset includes a bottom end surface with an opening and the projected image is projected from the opening during the projecting step.

90. The method of claim 88 wherein the projection system includes a light source, and a light valve configured to use light from the light source to generate a pattern representative of the projected image responsive to the signals.

91. The method of claim 88 wherein the projection system includes an emissive light valve configured to generate a pattern representative of the projected image responsive to the signals.

92. The method of claim 88 wherein the projection system includes a reflective display.

93. The method of claim 88 wherein the projecting the projected image step comprises projecting a mirror image from an end surface of the handset comprising alphanumeric characters which are substantially orthogonal to a keypad surface of the handset.

94. The method of claim 88 wherein the viewing surface is about 8 to 16 inches from the handset, and the projected image has a width of about 25 mm to 152 mm, and a height of about 7.6 mm to 46.2 mm.

95. The method of claim 88 wherein the projected image comprises caller waiting ID data.

96. The method of claim 88 wherein the projected image comprises alphanumeric characters.

97. The method of claim 88 wherein the projected image comprises pictures, characters, drawings, symbols, photographs, or video information.

98. The method of claim 88 wherein the projected image comprises a fixed image.

99. A method for displaying data in a portable phone comprising:

providing the phone with a handset having an image projection system;

holding the handset to an ear of a user;

conducting a two way conversation using the handset with the handset held to the ear;

transmitting the data to the image projection system during the two way conversation;

during the conducting step, projecting a projected image representative of the data from the handset using the image projection system onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset and viewable by the user in a direct line of sight with the handset held to the ear; and

controlling an orientation, a location, a size and a focus of the projected image during the conducting step by moving the handset about the ear.

100. The method of claim 99 further comprising providing the handset with a sensing system, sensing an orientation of the handset using the sensing system, and then projecting the projected image onto the viewing surface with an orientation dependent on the sensed orientation of the handset.

101. The method of claim 99 further comprising delaying the projection step for a set time period following the transmitting step.

102. The method of claim 99 wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part of the user.

103. The method of claim 99 wherein the viewing surface comprises furniture.

104. The method of claim 99 wherein the viewing surface comprises clothing.

105. The method of claim 99 wherein the handset includes a front surface and a back surface and the projecting step projects the projected image as a row of alpha numeric characters reading in a direction extending from the front surface towards the back surface.

106. The method of claim 99 wherein the handset includes a speaker and a microphone and the projecting step projects the projected image in a direction extending from the speaker towards the microphone.

107. An image projection system for a portable phone having a phone circuitry and a handset comprising:

an electro optic system configured for mounting on the handset, the electro optic system configured to generate a pattern corresponding to data generated by the phone circuitry; and

an optics system configured for mounting on the handset in signal communication with the electro optic system, the optics system configured to process the pattern and to project a projected image from a bottom end surface of the handset and to locate, size focus and orient the projected image for viewing with a direct line of sight to a user on a viewing surface physically separate from the handset by moving of the handset about an ear of the user during a phone conversation.

108. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the electro optic system comprises a light source in light communication with a first set of optics and a light valve.

109. The image projection system of claim 108 wherein the light valve comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

110. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the electro optic system comprises an emissive display.

111. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the optics system includes a second set of optics configured to process the pattern into a into a mirror image of the projected image and to project the mirror image onto the viewing surface.

112. The image projection system of claim 111 wherein the second set of optics includes at least one positive lens.

113. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the data comprises caller waiting ID data.

114. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the projected image comprises alphanumeric characters.

115. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the projected image comprises pictures, characters, drawings, symbols, photographs, or video information.

116. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the handset includes an internal compartment and the electro optic system and the optics system are configured for mounting in the internal compartment.

117. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the viewing surface is about 8 to 16 inches from the bottom end surface.

118. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part of a user of the portable phone.

119. The image projection system of claim 107 wherein the phone includes a scroll function and the projected image can be changed responsive to operation of the scroll function.

120. A method for modifying a portable phone having a handset and a phone circuitry comprising:

providing a projection system configured to project a projected image from a bottom end surface of the handset and to locate the projected image on a viewing surface physically separate from the handset;

the handset and the projection system configured to control a location, a size and a focus of the projected image for viewing by a user by moving of the handset about the ear of the user during a phone conversation with the phone held to the hear; and

placing the image projection system in the handset.

121. The method of claim 120 wherein the handset includes an internal compartment and the placing step installs the image projection system in the internal compartment.

122. The method of claim 120 wherein the projection system includes a set of optics fixedly attached to the handset and configured for movement with the handset to locate the projected image on the viewing surface.

123. The method of claim 120 wherein the projection system includes a light valve.

124. The method of claim 120 wherein the light valve includes a liquid crystal display and the projection system includes a light emitting diode.

125. The method of claim 120 wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part of the user, and further comprising moving the body part or the phone following the placing step to focus and locate the projected image on the body part.

126. The method of claim 120 wherein the projection system is configured to project the projected image onto the viewing surface located from 8 to 16 inches from the bottom end surface.

127. An image projection system configured for attachment to a portable phone having a handset comprising:

a projection system attachable to the handset comprising a diode light source in thermal communication with a heat sink, a light valve in light communication with the light source configured to generate a pattern representative of data, and a set of optics configured to process the pattern and to project a projected image from a bottom end surface of the handset onto a viewing surface physically separate from the phone with a direct line of sight to a user;

the projection system comprising a sensing device configured to orient the projected image for viewing by the user;

the handset and the projection system configured to control a location, a size and a focus of the projected image by moving of the handset about the ear by the user during the phone conversation.

128. The image projection system of claim 127 wherein the light valve comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) having an active area of at least 840 pixels.

129. The image projection system of claim 127 wherein the light valve comprises a chip on glass (COG) liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of character blocks.

130. The image projection system of claim 127 wherein the light source is configured to generate at least 10 Lumens of light.

131. The image projection system of claim 127 wherein the light source comprises an LED chip.

133. The image projection system of claim 127 wherein the viewing surface is 6 to 12 inches from the bottom end surface.

134. The image projection system of claim 127 wherein the phone includes a scroll function and the projected image can be changed responsive to operation of the scroll function.

132. The image projection system wherein the projected image can be focused on the viewing surface by moving of the handset or the viewing surface.