Inverted U frame with pivotal micro-projector and camera for releasably securing to laptop or keyboard

• US 8,284,549 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunrex Technology Company Limited (Best Elite Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sunrex Technology Company Limited (Best Elite Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Liu, Yung-Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi, Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desai, Nidhi
• Application Number:
  US12/785,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 36167901-67945, 36167955-67959, 163/34, 163/42
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera

Abstract

An inverted U-shaped frame includes a coupling at either end of the inverted U-shaped frame for pivotably securing to front corners of an electronic device (e.g., laptop or computer keyboard); a micro-projector pivotably mounted on a transverse part of the inverted U-shaped frame; and a camera pivotably mounted on the transverse part of the inverted U-shaped frame besides the micro-projector.

Claims

1. An inverted U-shaped frame, comprising:

a coupling at either end of the inverted U-shaped frame for pivotably securing to front corners of an electronic device;

a micro-projector pivotably mounted on a transverse part of the inverted U-shaped frame; and

a camera pivotably mounted on the transverse part of the inverted U-shaped frame besides the micro-projector;

wherein either coupling comprises a hollow cylindrical projection projecting toward the other coupling, the projection including a toothed outer surface and an axial conductive hole electrically connected to both the micro-projector and the camera; and

wherein the electronic device is a laptop comprising a joint at either one of two front corners, the joint including a cylindrical aperture having a toothed inner surface and an axial conductive shaft, and wherein the couplings are adapted to pivotably secure to the joints by inserting the projections into the apertures with the holes fitted on the shafts and the toothed outer surfaces being in pivotal tooth engagement with the toothed inner surfaces so that an electrical connection from the laptop to both the micro-projector and the camera and a signal communication between the laptop and each of the micro-projector and the camera are carried out.

2. The Inverted U-shaped frame of claim 1, wherein the micro-projector comprises an image processing unit for processing images, an imaged image memory electrically connected to the image processing unit for storing the images sent therefrom or sending the images to the image processing unit, an imaging unit for imaging the images, a zoom lens drive unit, a laser light source for emitting collimated laser light with the images sent from the image processing unit being projected, a projection optical system for receiving the laser light and projecting the images contained therein onto a display of the laptop as instructed by the zoom lens drive unit, a bus electrically connected to the image processing unit, the imaging unit, and the zoom lens drive unit, and a microprocessor electrically connected to the bus for controlling operations of the image processing unit, the imaging unit, and the zoom lens drive unit.

3. The Inverted U-shaped frame of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection from the laptop to both the micro-projector and the camera and the signal communication between the laptop and each of the micro-projector and the camera are carried out by means of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device.