Positioning interfaces for projection display devices

• US 8,366,282 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US13/405,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 353/119, 353/31, 353/100, 353/101, 353/102, 353/122, 353/61, 353/52, 353/121, 348/739, 348/744, 348/750, 348/758, 348/759, 348/771, 348/794, 362/259, 362/553, 362/559, 362/561, 362/554, 345/905
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

Described herein are devices that provide projection-type video output in a portable and flexible design. The design includes a projection chamber, a base, and an interface that permits relative positioning between the projection chamber and base. The base maintains the position of the display device. The projection chamber includes components responsible for the production of images based on received video data and components responsible for the projection of those images. Relative pointing between the projection chamber and base allows the projection chamber to be pointed—and an output projected image to be positioned—with minimal effort.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a base;

a projection chamber configured to transmit light provided by a light source according to data included in a signal; and

a positional interface coupled to the base and the projection chamber, wherein the positional interface is configured to stabilize the projection chamber in one or more positions relative to the base, and the positional interface comprises a component for dissipating heat.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the component for dissipating heat comprises a valve configured to regulate air flow between the base and the projection chamber.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the valve is coupled to fan circuitry, and the valve is further configured to regulate the air flow according to a usage of at least one fan controlled by the fan circuitry.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the valve is further configured to control an opening of an air duct between the base and the projection chamber, and the opening depends on the usage of the at least one fan.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the component for dissipating heat comprises at least one heat sink configured to dissipate absorbed heat.

6. A method, comprising:

transmitting light corresponding to an image from a base to a projection chamber via a positional interface that mechanically stabilizes the projection chamber in a position relative to the base; and

dissipating heat through the positional interface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dissipating the heat through the positional interface comprises regulating air flow between the base and the projection chamber via a valve in the positional interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the regulating includes regulating via the valve coupled to fan circuitry, and regulating the air flow according to a usage of at least one fan controlled by the fan circuitry.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the regulating the air flow comprises controlling an opening of an air duct between the base and the projection chamber, and determining a size of the opening as a function of usage of the at least one fan.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the dissipating the heat through the positional interface comprises dissipating absorbed heat via at least one heat sink in the positional interface.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause at least one device to perform operations comprising:

transmitting light corresponding to an image from a base to a projection chamber via a positional interface that mechanically stabilizes the projection chamber in a position relative to the base; and

dissipating heat through the positional interface.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the dissipating the heat through the positional interface comprises regulating air flow between the base and the projection chamber via a valve in the positional interface.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the regulating includes regulating via the valve coupled to fan circuitry, and regulating the air flow according to a usage of at least one fan controlled by the fan circuitry.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the regulating the air flow comprises controlling an opening of an air duct between the base and the projection chamber, and determining a size of the opening as a function of usage of the at least one fan.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the dissipating the heat through the positional interface comprises dissipating absorbed heat via at least one heat sink in the positional interface.

16. A system comprising:

means for transmitting light corresponding to an image from a base to a projection chamber via a positional interface that mechanically stabilizes the projection chamber in a position relative to the base; and

means for dissipating heat through the positional interface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for dissipating heat comprises means for regulating air flow between the base and the projection chamber via a valve in the positional interface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the valve is coupled to fan circuitry, and the means for regulating the air flow regulates the air flow according to a usage of at least one fan controlled by the fan circuitry.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for regulating the air flow includes means for controlling an opening of an air duct between the base and the projection chamber, and a size of the opening is a function of usage of the at least one fan.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for dissipating heat comprises means for dissipating absorbed heat via at least one heat sink in the positional interface.