Audience scanning laser display projector and associated methods

• US 7,980,707 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Murphy
• Original Assignee: Patrick Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/908,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 353/97, 353/85, 353/121, 353/122
• US Class Current: 353/97
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an audience scanning laser display projector includes a laser projector capable of generating a laser beam output having a predetermined beam path, scan area and beam wavelength. A beam position sensor is associated with said laser projector. A camera capable of capturing an image of the audience using light of a wavelength other than the beam wavelength, is disposed relative to said laser projector so that the captured image includes the area scanned by the laser beam. A processor is operably connected with said laser projector, said beam position sensor and said camera, said processor generating a table corresponding to the camera image of the audience, and containing software capable of identifying location of faces in the audience image and comparing face locations with beam position so as to signal said laser projector to attenuate the beam when scanning over a face location.

Claims

1. An audience scanning laser display projector comprising:

a laser projector capable of generating a laser beam output having a predetermined beam path, scan area and beam wavelength;

a beam position sensor associated with said laser projector;

a camera capable of capturing an image of the audience using light of a wavelength other than the beam wavelength, said camera disposed relative to said laser projector so that the captured image includes the area scanned by the laser beam;

a processor operably connected with said laser projector, said beam position sensor and said camera, said processor generating a table corresponding to the camera image of the audience, and containing software capable of identifying location of faces in the audience image and comparing face locations with beam position so as to signal said laser projector to attenuate the beam when scanning over a face location; and

an LCD panel positioned in the beam path and operably connected to said processor, said LCD panel displaying a representation of the audience image according to the table and capable of causing a portion of the LCD panel corresponding to a face location to become sufficiently obscured so as to reduce or prevent passage of the beam therethrough.

2. An apparatus comprising:

an energy source capable of generating a beam of directed energy having predetermined beam path, scan area and beam wavelength;

a beam position sensor associated with said energy source;

a camera capable of capturing an image of the scan area using energy of a wavelength other than the beam wavelength, said camera disposed relative to said energy source so that the captured image includes the area scanned by the directed beam of energy;

a processor operably connected with said energy source, said beam position sensor and said camera, said processor generating a table corresponding to the camera image of the scan area, and containing software capable of identifying location of humans in the scan area image and comparing human locations with beam position and responsive to the comparison to signal said energy source to modulate the beam; and

an LCD panel positioned in the beam path and operably connected to said processor, said LCD panel displaying a representation of the scan area image according to the table and capable of causing a portion of the LCD panel corresponding to a human location to become sufficiently obscured so as to reduce or prevent passage of the beam therethrough.