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

• US 8,437,807 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lagoon Point Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lagoon Point Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Cathey, David A. Jr., Howell, Steven, Cathey, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US13/416,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 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, 455/90.3, 455418-420, 379/433.01, 345/2, 345/205, 353/28, 353/29, 353/122
• 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

An apparatus may include a device and an image projection system configured to form an image on a surface viewable by a user. The image projection circuit may be configured to receive signals from the device, generate a pattern representative of data, process the pattern into a mirror image of the image, and project the mirror image from the device. The image projection system may include an electro optic system for generating the pattern, and an optics system for projecting the mirror image onto the surface. A method for projecting data may include providing the device with the image, and providing the image to the surface with the image projection system. The method may also include manipulating the device and/or a body part to locate and focus the image, sensing an orientation of the device, and orienting the image based, at least in part, on the sensing step.

Claims

1. A portable hand held device, comprising:

said portable hand held device capable of conducting a two way conversation and comprising;

a direct view display on the portable hand held device;

a speaker on the portable hand held device;

a microphone on the portable hand held device;

an image projection system fixed on the portable hand held device configured to project a projected image viewable with two eyes of a user from the portable hand held device onto a viewing surface physically separate from the portable hand held device;

a sensing device on the portable hand held device configured to detect one or more of at least three different orientations or at least three difference orientation changes of the portable hand held device; and

an image projection control circuit for the image projection system configured to be responsive, at least in part to, an output from the sensing device;

wherein the image projection control circuit for the image projection system is in electrical communication with the sensing device and the image projection system, wherein the image projection control circuit for the image projection system is configured to control, at least in part, the image projection system, and wherein the portable hand held device is further capable of changing the projected image responsive, at least in part, to the sensing device and the image projection control circuit.

2. The portable hand held device of claim 1, wherein the image projection system is further configured to adjust the projected image responsive, at least in part, to the transition of a user body part from a first state to a second state.

3. The portable hand held device of claim 2, wherein the body part is not in direct physical contact with the device.

4. The portable hand held device of claim 2, wherein the image projection system is in optical communication with the user body part.

5. The portable hand held device of claim 1, wherein the image projection system is configured to generate at least 24 lumens per watt responsive, at least in part, to projecting the image;

the image projection system further comprising;

an LED light source including an LED chip, the LED chip comprising a front surface for providing light to the image projection system and a back surface opposite the front surface, wherein the back surface of the LED chip is coupled to, on, and in thermal communication with a solid surface, the solid surface having an area larger than an area of the back surface of the LED chip, wherein the LED chip is configured to provide light from the front surface of the LED chip at a density of at least 18 lumens per square millimeter of a surface area of the front surface of the LED chip, Wherein the front surface of the LED chip is coated. with a soft gel;

wherein the image projection system further comprises a reflective display, the image projection system configured to provide light to the projected image by reflecting light from the LED chip with the reflective display.

6. The portable hand held device of claim 5, wherein the projection system further comprises:

an electrically adjustable focus, wherein optics of the projection system are recessed in the portable hand held device.

7. The portable hand held device of claim 1, wherein the image projection system comprises an LED die, and wherein the image projection system is configured to generate at least 20.8 lumens of light at a density of at least 18 lumens per square mm of surface of area of the LED chip responsive, at least in part, to projecting the image.

8. A portable hand held device, comprising:

said portable hand held device capable of conducting a two way conversation and comprising;

a direct view display on the portable hand held device;

a speaker on the portable hand held device;

a microphone on the portable hand held device;

an image projection system fixed on the portable hand held device configured to project a projected image viewable with two eyes of a user from the portable hand held device onto a viewing surface physically separate from the portable hand held device; and

a sensing device on the portable hand held device configured to detect one or more of at least three different orientations or at least three different orientation changes of the portable hand held device;

wherein the portable hand held device is configured to be in optical communication with a user body part not in physical contact with the portable hand held device, wherein the portable hand held device is further configured to modify an image responsive, at least in part, to each of, a transition of the user body part from a first position to a second position, a transition of the user body part from the second position to a third position, and detection of an orientation or orientation change of the portable hand held device by the sensing device.

9. A module, comprising:

a projection system configured for attaching to and mounting on the handset of a portable phone, the projection system further being separable from the handset, the portable phone comprising;

a sensing device configured to detect one or more of at least three different orientation changes or at least three different orientations of the portable phone; and

the projection system comprising;

an image projection system configured to project an image viewable with two eyes of a user from the portable phone onto a viewing surface physically separate from the projection system.

10. The module of claim 9, wherein the viewing surface comprises a body part.

11. The module of claim 9, wherein the projection system is configured to adjust the image based, at least in part, on a change in position of the portable phone relative to the surface.

12. The module of claim 9, wherein the projection system is configured to adjust the image responsive, at least in part, to the change of the orientation of the portable phone from a first orientation to a second orientation.

13. The module of claim 9, wherein an orientation of the image is based, at least in part, on the orientation of the portable phone.

14. The module of claim 9, the projection system further comprising:

an LED light source including an LED chip, the LED chip comprising a front surface for providing light to the projection system and a back surface opposite the front surface, wherein the back surface of the LED chip is coupled to, on, and in thermal communication with a solid surface, the solid surface having an area larger than an area of the back surface of the LED chip, wherein the LED chip is configured to provide light from the front surface of the LED chip at a density of at least 18 lumens per square millimeter of a surface area of the front surface of the LED chip, wherein the front surface of the LED chip is coated with a soft gel;

wherein the projection system further comprises a reflective display, the projection system is configured to provide light to the projected image by reflecting light from the LED chip with the reflective display, wherein the module is configured to electrically couple the portable phone to the projection system, wherein the module is configured such that the portable phone is capable of conducting a two way conversation when the handset is held against an ear of the user and the module is attached to the handset.

15. The module of claim 9, the projection system further comprising:

an LED including an LED die, wherein the LED chip is coupled to and in thermal communication with a heat sink.

16. A module, comprising:

a projection system configured for attaching to and mounting on the handset of a portable phone, the projection system further being separable from the handset,

the projection system comprising;

an image projection system configured to project an image viewable with two eyes of a user from the portable phone onto a viewing surface physically separate from the projection system.

17. The module of claim 16, the projection system further comprising:

an LED light source including an LED chip, the LED chip comprising a front surface for providing light to the projection system and a back surface opposite the front surface, wherein the back surface of the LED chip is coupled to, on, and in thermal communication with a solid surface, the solid surface having an area larger than an area of the back surface of the LED chip, wherein the LED chip is configured to provide light from the front surface of the LED chip at a density of at least 18 lumens square millimeter of a surface area of the front surface of the LED chip, wherein the front surface of the LED chip is coated with a soft gel;

wherein the projection system further comprises a reflective display, the projection system is configured to provide light to the projected image by reflecting lioht from the LED chip with the reflective display, wherein the module is configured to electrically couple the portable phone to the projection system, wherein the module is configured such that the portable phone is capable of conducting a two way conversation when the handset is held against an ear of the user and the module is attached to the handset.

18. The module of claim 16, wherein the projection system is configured to adjust the image based, at least in part, on a change in position of the projection system relative to the surface.

19. The module of claim 16, wherein the portable phone comprises a sensing device configured to sense a change of the orientation of the portable phone from a first orientation to a second orientation.

20. The module of claim 19, wherein the image projection system is configured to adjust the image responsive, at least in part, to the change of the orientation of the portable phone from the first orientation to the second orientation.