Electro-optical assembly for image projection, especially in portable instruments

• US 6,832,724 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Yavid, Dmitriy, Stern, Miklos, Tan, Chinh, MacGregor, Shane, Barkan, Edward, Katz, Joseph, Wood, Frederick R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US10/090,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20020125324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/455, 235/462.32, 235/462.36, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/462.01, 235/472.1, 359/201, 359/202
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 2254/04 Applying the material on the interior of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/146 to metallic pipes or tubes processes for coating the interior of pipes B05D7/222
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/453 self-scanning
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/54 Inorganic substances
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 163/00 Coating compositions based on epoxy resins; Coating compositions based on derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• 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 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/126 by photographic or thermographic registration recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 : Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 : Parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 : Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 : using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 : Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 : Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 : scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161

Abstract

An arrangement for and method of projecting an image on a viewing surface include sweeping a light beam along a plurality of scan lines that extend over the viewing surface, and selectively illuminating parts of the image at selected positions of the light beam on the scan lines. The viewing surface can be remote from a housing supporting the arrangement, or can be located on the housing.

Claims

1. An arrangement for displaying an image for viewing by a human eye, comprising:

a) a housing having a movable screen which has a front surface and a rear surface, and an optically diffusive property;

b) an energizable laser supported by the housing for projecting a laser beam toward the rear surface of the screen when energized and upon moving the screen to a deployed position;

c) a scanner supported by the housing for sweeping the laser beam along a plurality of light paths over the rear surface of the screen for diffusion therethrough; and

d) a controller supported by the housing and operatively connected to, and operative for energizing, the laser at selected positions of the laser beam in at least one of the light paths to generate individual light pixels at the selected positions, and at a refresh rate at which the pixels persist to enable the eye to steadily view the image comprised of a light pattern of the pixels visible on the front surface of the screen.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scanner includes a first scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along a first direction along said at least one of the light paths, and a second scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein the controller is operative or energizing and deenergizing the laser as the laser beam is swept along a plurality of each of the light paths.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first scan mirror is moved at a first rate of speed through a first angular distance, and wherein the second scan mirror is moved at a second rate of speed slower than said first speed, and through a second angular distance greater than said first angular distance.

4. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a memory having stored fronts and timing data as to when to energize and deenergize the laser to display the image as font characters.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the housing has a size and a shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, and further comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data by wireless transmission to a remote host.

7. The arrangement of claim 1;

and further comprising a single scan mirror, and wherein the scanner is operative for moving the scan mirror along a plurality of directions.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the light pattern constitutes a generally rectangular display.

9. The arrangement of claim 1;

and further comprising a plurality of additional energizable lasers of the same wavelength as the first-mentioned laser, for increasing the number of the light pixels without having to increase the rate at which the scanner sweeps the respective laser beams.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the screen has an optical filter characteristic for blocking ambient light but transmitting the laser beam in order to enhance image contrast on the screen.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the laser, the scanner and the controller are mounted on a common support to constitute a module.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the screen is larger in area than the module.

13. An arrangement for displaying an image for viewing by a human eye, comprising:

a) a housing having a screen which has a rear surface;

b) an energizable laser supported by the housing for projecting a laser beam toward the rear surface of the screen when energized;

c) a scanner supported by the housing for sweeping the laser beam along a plurality of light paths over the rear surface of the screen; and

d) a controller supported by the housing and operatively connected to, and operative for energizing, the laser at selected positions of the laser beam in at least one of the light paths to generate individual light pixels at the selected positions, and at a refresh rate at which the pixels persist to enable the eye to steadily view the image comprised of a light pattern of the pixels on the screen, and for changing a size of the light pattern as a function of screen position to adapt image size to screen size.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the scanner includes a first scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along a first direction along said at least one of the light paths, and a second scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein the controller is operative or energizing and deenergizing the laser as the laser beam is swept along a plurality of each of the light paths.

15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the first scan mirror is moved at a first rate of speed through a first angular distance, and wherein the second scan mirror is moved at a second rate of speed slower than said first speed, and through a second angular distance greater than said first angular distance.

16. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a memory having stored fonts and timing data as to when to energize and deenergize the laser to display the image as font characters.

17. The arrangement of claim 14, and her comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data by wireless transmission to a remote host.

18. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the housing has a size and a shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand.

19. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the screen has an optically diffusive property and is movable to a deployed position in which the swept light beam is incident on the rear surface of the screen and is diffused through the screen to render the image visible on a front surface of the screen.

20. The arrangement of claim 13;

and further comprising a single scan mirror, and wherein the scanner is operative for moving the scan mirror along a plurality of directions.

21. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the light pattern constitutes a generally rectangular display.

22. The arrangement of claim 13;

and further comprising a plurality of additional energizable lasers of the same wavelength as the first-mentioned laser, for increasing the number of the light pixels without having to increase the rate at which the scanner sweeps the respective laser beams.

23. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the screen has an optical filter characteristic for blocking ambient light but transmitting the laser beam in order to enhance image contrast on the screen.

24. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the laser, the scanner and the controller are mounted on a common support to constitute a module.

25. The arrangement of claim 24, wherein the screen is larger in area than the module.

26. An arrangement for displaying an image for viewing by a human eye, comprising:

a) a housing having a screen which has a rear surface;

b) an energizable laser supported by the housing for projecting a laser beam toward the rear surface of the screen when energized;

c) a scanner supported by the housing for sweeping the laser beam along a plurality of light paths over the rear surface of the screen;

d) a controller supported by the housing and operatively connected to, and operative for energizing, the laser at selected positions of the laser beam in at least one of the light paths to generate individual light pixels at the selected positions, and at a refresh rate at which the pixels persist to enable the eye to steadily view the image comprised of a light pattern of the pixels on the screen; and

e) a sensing element for sensing ambient light to provide brightness adjustment on the screen.

27. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the scanner includes a first scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along first direction along said at least one of the light paths, and a second scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein the controller is operative for energizing and deenergizing the laser as the laser beam is swept along a plurality of each of the light paths.

28. The arrangement of claim 27, wherein the first scan mirror is moved at a first rate of speed through a first angular distance, and wherein the second scan mirror is moved at a second rate of speed slower than said first speed, and through a second angular distance greater than said first angular distance.

29. The arrangement of claim 27, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a memory having stored fonts and timing data as to when to energize and deenergize the laser to display the image as font characters.

30. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the housing has a size and a shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand.

31. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the screen has an optically diffusive property and is movable to a deployed position in which the swept light beam is incident on the rear surface of the screen and is diffused through the screen to render the image visible on a front surface of the screen.

32. The arrangement of claim 26, and further comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data by wireless transmission to a remote host.

33. The arrangement of claim 26;

an further comprising a single scan mirror, and wherein the scanner is operative for moving the scan mirror along a plurality of directions.

34. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the light pattern constitutes a generally rectangular display.

35. The arrangement of claim 26;

and further comprising a plurality of additional energizable lasers of the same wavelength as the first-mentioned laser, for increasing the number of the light pixels without having to increase the rate at which the scanner sweeps the respective laser beams.

36. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the screen has an optical filter characteristic for blocking ambient light but transmitting the laser beam in order to enhance image contrast on the screen.

37. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the controller is operative for changing a size of the light pattern as a function of screen position so as to adapt image size to screen size.

38. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the controller is operative for energizing the laser at selected positions of the laser beam to generate individual light pixels depicting a cursor that is movable across the light pattern.

39. The arrangement of claim 26, wherein the laser, the scanner and the controller are mounted on a common support to constitute a module.

40. The arrangement of claim 39, wherein the screen is larger in area than the module.

41. An arrangement for displaying an age for viewing by a human eye, comprising:

a) a housing having a screen which has a rear surface;

b) an energizable laser supported by the housing for projecting a laser beam toward the rear surface of the screen when energized;

c) a scanner supported by the housing for sweeping the laser beam along a plurality of light paths over the rear surface of the screen; and

d) a controller supported by the housing and operatively connected to, and operative for energizing, the laser at selected positions of the laser beam in least one of the light paths to generate individual light pixels at the selected positions, and at a refresh rate at which the pixels persist to enable the eye to steadily view the image comprised of a light pattern of the pixels on the screen, the controller being operative for energizing the laser at selected positions of the laser beam to generate individual light pixels depicting a cursor that is movable across the light pattern.

42. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the scanner includes a first scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along a first direction along said at least one of the light paths, and a second scan mirror for sweeping the laser beam along a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction, and wherein the controller is operative for energizing and deenergizing the laser as the laser beam is swept along a plurality of each of the light paths.

43. The arrangement of claim 42, wherein the first scan mirror is moved at a first rate of speed through a first angular distance, and wherein the second scan mirror is moved at a second rate of speed slower than said first speed, and through a second angular distance greater than said first angular distance.

44. The arrangement of claim 42, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a memory having stored fonts and timing data as to when to energize and deenergize the laser to display the image as font characters.

45. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the housing has a size and a shape configured to be held in a user'"'"'s hand.

46. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the screen has an optically diffusive property and is movable to a deployed position in which the swept light beam is incident on the rear surface of the screen and is diffused through the screen to render the image visible on a front surface of the screen.

47. The arrangement of claim 41, and further comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data by wireless transmission to a remote host.

48. The arrangement of claim 41;

and further comprising a single scan mirror, and wherein the scanner is operative for moving the scan mirror along a plurality of directions.

49. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the light pattern constitutes a generally rectangular display.

50. The arrangement of claim 41;

and further comprising a plurality of additional energizable lasers of the same wavelength as the first-mentioned laser, for increasing the number of the light pixels without having to increase the rate at which the scanner sweeps the respective laser beams.

51. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the scan has an optical filter characteristic for blocking ambient light but transmitting the laser beam in order to enhance image contrast on the screen.

52. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the controller is operative for changing a size of the light pattern as a function of screen position so as to adapt image size to screen size.

53. The arrangement of claim 41;

and further comprising a sensing element for sensing ambient light to provide brightness adjustment on the screen.

54. The arrangement of claim 41, wherein the laser, the scanner and the controller are mounted on a common support to constitute a module.

55. The arrangement of claim 54, wherein the screen is larger in area than the module.