Projection system with refractive beam steering
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- at least two color lasers to produce visible light having at least two different wavelengths;
a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror configured to receive the visible light from the at least two color lasers and to reflect portions of the visible light to project an image-bearing light beam into an environment;
multiple independently rotatable prisms to receive the image-bearing light beam from the MEMS mirror and direct the image-bearing light beam to a location in the environment, the multiple independently rotatable prisms comprising at least a first prism having a first shape and a second prism having a second shape different from the first shape, the first prism and the second prism aligned along a center axis and independently rotatable around the center axis to redirect the image-bearing light beam in one of multiple possible directions within the environment;
an infrared (IR) light source configured to emit IR light for illuminating at least a portion of the environment, wherein at least part of the IR light passes through the first prism and the second prism and into the environment where the at least part of the IR light is reflected, as reflected IR light, by an object in the environment; and
a sensor configured to receive at least a portion of the reflected IR light reflected by the object in the environment, wherein the at least the portion of the reflected IR light passes through the first prism and the second prism from the environment to the sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A projection system projects images onto a surface as part of an augmented reality environment. Users may interact with the images and this interaction is captured as feedback to the system. The projection system includes a refractive beam steerer to direct the projected images onto specific surfaces within the environment, even if the surfaces are moved about the area. The beam steerer has multiple wedge-shaped prisms that are independently movable to steer the projected light beam as desired. Additionally, an infrared (IR) device may be used to illuminate the environment with IR light, and the IR light may be emitted along a common optical path through the refractive beam steerer as used by the projected light beam.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A device comprising:
-
at least two color lasers to produce visible light having at least two different wavelengths; a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror configured to receive the visible light from the at least two color lasers and to reflect portions of the visible light to project an image-bearing light beam into an environment; multiple independently rotatable prisms to receive the image-bearing light beam from the MEMS mirror and direct the image-bearing light beam to a location in the environment, the multiple independently rotatable prisms comprising at least a first prism having a first shape and a second prism having a second shape different from the first shape, the first prism and the second prism aligned along a center axis and independently rotatable around the center axis to redirect the image-bearing light beam in one of multiple possible directions within the environment; an infrared (IR) light source configured to emit IR light for illuminating at least a portion of the environment, wherein at least part of the IR light passes through the first prism and the second prism and into the environment where the at least part of the IR light is reflected, as reflected IR light, by an object in the environment; and a sensor configured to receive at least a portion of the reflected IR light reflected by the object in the environment, wherein the at least the portion of the reflected IR light passes through the first prism and the second prism from the environment to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A projector system comprising:
-
a projection component to project light, as projected light, along an optical path, to carry an image onto a surface in an environment; an infrared (IR) light source configured to emit IR light for illuminating at least a portion of the environment; a polarizing element to polarize the IR light from the IR light source; multiple wedge-shaped prisms arranged in the optical path to direct the projected light from the projection component onto the surface in the environment, the multiple wedge-shaped prisms being aligned along a common center axis and each of the multiple wedge-shaped prisms being independently rotatable about the common center axis to control direction of the projected light; a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror configured to receive the polarized IR light from the polarizing element and to reflect portions of the polarized IR light along the optical path through the multiple wedge-shaped prisms and into the environment; and a sensor configured to receive, as reflected IR light, at least a portion of the polarized IR light reflected from an object or the surface in the environment, the reflected IR light passing through the multiple wedge-shaped prisms to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A device for use in a projection system, the device comprising:
-
a first wedge-shaped prism having a first sized body aligned along, and configured to rotate about, a center axis, the first wedge-shaped prism having a first end surface through which a light beam enters the first wedge-shaped prism and a second end surface through which the light beam exits the first wedge-shaped prism, at least one of the first and second end surfaces of the first wedge-shaped prism being angled so that the center axis is not normal to the at least one of the first and second end surfaces; and a second wedge-shaped prism having a second sized body different from the first wedge-shaped prism, the second wedge-shaped prism aligned along, and configured to rotate about, the center axis, the second wedge-shaped prism having a first end surface through which the light beam enters the second wedge-shaped prism and a second end surface through which the light beam exits the second wedge-shaped prism, at least one of the first and second end surfaces of the second wedge-shaped prism being angled so that the center axis is not normal to the at least one of the first and second end surfaces; wherein the first and second end surfaces of each of the first and second wedge-shaped prisms are angled relative to the center axis within a range from approximately 20 degrees to approximately 70 degrees; and wherein the first wedge-shaped prism and the second wedge-shaped prism rotate about the center axis independently of each other to collectively direct the light beam into an environment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A method comprising:
-
receiving a light beam to be projected into an environment; directing the light beam, using at least a first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirror, onto a target surface in the environment to present images on the target surface, the directing comprising; at least partly refracting the light beam a first time through use of a first wedge-shaped prism having a first size; and at least partly refracting the light beam a second time through use of a second wedge-shaped prism having a second size different than the first size so that the light beam following the second time of refracting is directed onto the target surface; and detecting, by a detector, infrared (IR) light reflected by the target surface, the detecting comprising at least directing a reflected portion of the IR light using a second MEMS mirror, the reflected portion of the IR light passing through the first wedge-shaped prism and the second wedge-shaped prism to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification