Portable phone having electro optic image projection system and orientation sensing device

• US 8,160,653 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lagoon Point Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lagoon Point Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Steven, Cathey, James, Cathey, David A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/470,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 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: 455/566
• 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 comprising a system configured to generate an image and to vary an orientation of the image, the system comprising an electro optic system configured to project the image on a viewing surface separate from the handset; and

a sensing device on the handset capable of detecting at least three different orientation positions of the handset and to provide at least three different electrical outputs to the system for selecting the orientation of the image;

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

2. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein the handset includes a speaker, a microphone, and a front surface, and the electro optic system is configured to project the projected image along an optical axis substantially in a direction extending from the speaker towards the microphone, the projected image capable of containing a line of text oriented generally orthogonally to the front surface.

3. The portable phone of claim 1 wherein the sensing device comprises a plurality of tilt direction sensors.

4. A portable phone comprising:

a handset comprising a speaker, a microphone and a sensing device capable of detecting orientation changes of the handset;

the handset including an electro optic system configured to generate an image, to project the image as a projected image onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset, and to change an orientation of the projected image relative to the handset in response to the sensing device;

the sensing device capable of detecting at least three different orientation changes of the handset;

the sensing device configured to produce at least three different electrical results in response to the orientation changes.

5. A portable phone comprising:

a handset comprising a speaker, a microphone and a sensing device capable of detecting orientation changes of the handset;

the handset configured to generate an image, and to change an orientation of the image relative to the handset in response to the sensing device;

the sensing device capable of detecting at least three different orientation changes of the handset;

the sensing device configured to produce at least three different electrical results in response to the orientation changes;

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

6. A portable phone comprising:

a handset;

an electro optic system on the handset configured to project a projected image with a variable orientation on a viewing surface separate from the handset; and

a sensing device on the handset in signal communication with the electro optic system configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to provide input for orienting the projected image on the viewing surface,

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

7. The portable phone of claim 6 wherein the electro optic system comprises a light valve or an emissive display configured to generate the projected image.

8. The portable phone of claim 6 wherein the electro optic system comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an emissive display, an addressable patterned LED display, an electroluminescent display, a cathode ray tube, and a field emission display.

9. The portable phone of claim 6 wherein the electro optic system comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising a substrate and a plurality of single crystal transistors incorporated into the substrate.

10. A portable phone comprising:

a handset;

an electro optic system on the handset configured to project a projected image with a variable orientation on a viewing surface separate from the handset; and

a sensing device on the handset in signal communication with the electro optic system configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to provide input for orienting the projected image on the viewing surface,

wherein the electro optic system comprises a monochromatic light source in optical communication with at least one lens configured to project monochromatic light from the handset to generate the projected image on the viewing surface.

11. The portable phone of claim 10 wherein the sensing device is configured to sense at least three different orientations of the handset.

12. The portable phone of claim 10 wherein the electro optic system is configured to orient the projected image for viewing from left to right.

13. A portable phone comprising:

a handset;

an electro optic system on the handset configured to project a projected image with a variable orientation on a viewing surface separate from the handset; and

a sensing device on the handset in signal communication with the electro optic system configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to provide input for orienting the projected image on the viewing surface,

wherein the handset is configured for holding proximate to an ear of a user and the projected image comprises alphanumeric data oriented by the electro optic system to read from left to right.

14. A portable phone comprising:

a handset;

an image projection system on the handset configured to project a projected image from the handset onto a viewing surface physically separate from the handset;

a controller on the handset configured to control the image projection system to orient the projected image; and

a sensing device on the handset in signal communication with the controller configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to provide input to the controller for orienting the projected image on the viewing surface.

15. The portable phone of claim 14 wherein the sensing device is configured to sense at least three different orientations of the handset.

16. 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 monochromatic light source in optical communication with a light piping element and at least one lens configured to project monochromatic light from the handset to generate the projected visual image on the viewing surface,

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

17. The portable phone of claim 16 wherein the projection system comprises a light valve configured to rotate the projected image to a selected orientation relative to a front surface of the handset.

18. The portable phone of claim 16 further comprising a controller on the handset configured to control the light valve to achieve the selected orientation of the projected image.

19. The portable phone of claim 16 further comprising a sensing device on the handset in signal communication with the controller configured to sense an orientation of the handset and to provide input to the controller to achieve the selected orientation of the projected image.

20. The portable phone of claim 16 wherein the sensing device is configured to sense at least three different positions of the handset.

21. The portable phone of claim 16 wherein the sensing device is configured to sense at least four different positions of the handset.

22. The portable phone of claim 16 wherein the light piping element comprises fiber optics.