Information technology system with micro projector display

• US 8,342,691 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Corporation (Kleangas Energy Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cox, Aaron R., Curnalia, Michael A., Kokini, Christina M., Velasco, Leslie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, SULTAN U.
• Application Number:
  US12/699,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/31, 353/39, 353/74, 353/78, 353/79, 353/119, 353/122, 372/38.09, 372/6, 372/24, 372/5, 372/7, 372/8, 372/9, 348/36, 348/789, 348/E05.128
• US Class Current: 353/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

An information technology system includes a micro projector display for displaying status, operating, troubleshooting, and location information. An image output from the micro projector display is viewable from outside the enclosure, for example on a cabinet door, an optional retractable projection screen included with the enclosure, or a floor, wall, or ceiling of a room, or other external surface. In some embodiments of the invention, a micro display projector is adapted for removable electrical and mechanical connection to one or more docking ports on the information technology system. In some embodiments of the invention, a projection direction for the micro projector display is selectable.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an information technology system comprising an enclosure;

a micro projector display attached to said enclosure, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to receive data representative of information to be displayed from said information technology system and to project information to be displayed onto a selected projection surface; and

one or more of;

a projection surface being a panel extendable from and retractable into an interior of said enclosure through a slot of said enclosure between a first position in which said projection surface is positioned within said enclosure and a second position in which said projection surface is largely positioned outside said enclosure, such that in said second position but not in said first position said projection surface is to display an image projected from said micro projector display;

a door coupled to said enclosure and movable between an open position in which electronic components of said information technology system are accessible and a closed position in which said electronic components are inaccessible, such that in said open position an interior surface of said door is to display said image projected from said micro projector display;

a docking connector attached to an exterior of said enclosure to electrically and mechanically couple said micro projector display such that said micro projector display is attachable to and removable from said enclosure without having to open said enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising said projection surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said enclosure further comprises a front panel and said micro projector display is attached to said enclosure so as to project an image away from said front panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising said door.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a beam steerer optically coupled to said micro projector display, wherein a direction for projecting an image from said micro display projector is selectable by adjustment of said beam steerer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising said docking connector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to display an image related to a status condition of said information technology system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to project an image for indicating a location of said information technology system.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to project an image comprising operating instructions for said information technology system.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to project an image comprising instructions for repair of said information technology system.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to project a video image.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to project an image comprising safety information.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a size of an image projected from said micro projector display is selectable.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted to display information from more than one information display system.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said micro projector display is adapted for control of projected images by commands received by said information display system.