Automatic projector safety protocols

• US 9,195,124 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnston, Timothy P, Loewenthal, William J Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan H
• Application Number:
  US14/136,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 353/85, 353/101, 353/79, 353/122, 353/98, 353/121, 353/52, 434/379, 434/365, 359/459, 359/1, 359/443, 359/631, 345/419, 345/633, 345/156, 345/84, 345/107, 345/175, 345/3.1, 345/714, 345/1.1, 348/51, 348/744, 348/14.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2086 Security or safety means in lamp houses
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• 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 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/54 including functional features of a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features concerning the integration of projectors in portable phones H04M1/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

A projector having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprises a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation; and a processor configured to implement a protocol responsive to the detector detecting the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the protocol comprises reducing an intensity of light projected by the projector.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a detector configured to detect first out-of-band (OOB) electromagnetic radiation;

a processor configured to implement a protocol responsive to the detector detecting the first OOB electromagnetic radiation, wherein the protocol comprises reducing an intensity of light projected by the projector; and

an emitter configured to emit second OOB electromagnetic radiation, wherein the first OOB electromagnetic radiation comprises a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation;

wherein the processor implements the protocol only responsive to the first OOB electromagnetic radiation and the second OOB electromagnetic radiation having substantially the same wavelength.

2. The projector of claim 1, further comprising:

an alert module configured to manifest an alert indication responsive to the detector detecting the first OOB electromagnetic radiation.

3. The projector of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is further configured to determine whether the first OOB electromagnetic radiation represents a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation by a human face; and

the projector implements the protocol only responsive to the processor determining that the first OOB electromagnetic radiation represents a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation by a human face.

4. The projector of claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment device configured to secure the projector to a user'"'"'s head such that a field of view of the user coincides with a field of projection of the projector.

5. The projector of claim 4, further comprising:

a phone.

6. The projector of claim 5, wherein:

the phone is configured to receive a call; and

the processor is further configured to cause the projector to project an image that represents metadata for the call responsive to the phone receiving the call.

7. A method comprising:

projecting light;

detecting first out-of-band (OOB) electromagnetic radiation;

implementing a protocol responsive to detecting the first OOB electromagnetic radiation, wherein the protocol comprises reducing an intensity of the light; and

emitting second OOB electromagnetic radiation, wherein the first OOB electromagnetic radiation comprises a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation; and

implementing the protocol only responsive to the first OOB electromagnetic radiation and the second OOB electromagnetic radiation having substantially the same wavelength.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

manifesting an alert indication responsive to detecting the first OOB electromagnetic radiation.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the first OOB electromagnetic radiation represents a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation by a human face; and

implementing the protocol only responsive to determining that the first OOB electromagnetic radiation represents a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation by a human face.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

securing the projector to a user'"'"'s head such that a field of view of the user coincides with a field of projection of the projector.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a call;

wherein the light creates an image that represents metadata for the call.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

projecting the light responsive to receiving the call.

13. Computer-readable non-transitory media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform functions comprising:

causing a projector to project light;

implementing a protocol responsive to detecting first out-of-band (OOB) electromagnetic radiation, wherein the protocol comprises reducing an intensity of the light;

causing the projector to emit second OOB electromagnetic radiation, wherein the first OOB electromagnetic radiation comprises a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation; and

implementing the protocol only responsive to the first OOB electromagnetic radiation and the second OOB electromagnetic radiation having substantially the same wavelength.

14. The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 13, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing manifestation of an alert indication responsive to detecting the first OOB electromagnetic radiation.

15. The computer-readable non-transitory media of claim 13, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining whether the first OOB electromagnetic radiation represents a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation by a human face; and

implementing the protocol only responsive to determining the first OOB electromagnetic radiation represents a reflection of the second OOB electromagnetic radiation by a human face.