Rotation of a micro-mirror device in a projection and camera system

• US 9,294,746 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cederlof, Colter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Bao-Luan
• Application Number:
  US13/544,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 353/28, 353/30, 353/79
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3108 by using a single electronic spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3111 for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3117 by using a sequential colour filter producing two or more colours simultaneously, e.g. by creating scrolling colour bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3123 using pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3126 for spatial light modulators in series
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

A device includes a projector to project an image onto a surface. The projector includes a micro-mirror device comprising an array of micro-mirrors. Light from a light source is reflected by one or more of the array of micro-mirrors, to project the image onto the surface. In one implementation, the micro-mirror device is rotated to correspondingly rotate the projected image on the surface. In one implementation, the device is housed in a table lamp.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an illumination component to illuminate at least a portion of an environment;

a projector to project images onto a surface of the environment, the projector comprising;

a light source;

a micro-mirror device that includes a plurality of micro-mirrors, wherein light from the light source is reflected, at least in part, by one or more of the plurality of micro-mirrors to project an image onto the surface, and

a motor coupled to the micro-mirror device, the motor configured to rotate the micro-mirror device such that the image projected onto the surface is correspondingly rotated; and

a time-of-flight sensor to receive at least a portion of light from the illumination component scattered by the environment, the time-of-flight sensor configured to determine a time of flight value associated with one or more objects in the illuminated portion of the environment, wherein the motor is further configured to rotate the time-of-flight sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the micro-mirror device about an axis that is at least coaxial with a path of the light from the light source to the micro-mirror device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the micro-mirror device, such that the image is projected onto the surface in at least one of (i) a portrait orientation, (ii) a landscape orientation, or (iii) an orientation that is in between the portrait orientation and the landscape orientation.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein individual micro-mirrors of the plurality of micro-mirrors are oriented to selectively reflect at least a portion of the light from the light source towards one of (i) an optical path for projection and (ii) a light dump area.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein individual micro-mirrors of the plurality of micro-mirrors are oriented based on the image that is to be projected onto the surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the motor is further configured to rotate the micro-mirror device and the time-of-flight sensor in a synchronized manner.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the projector projects the image onto the surface such that the image covers a first area of the surface when the micro-mirror device is rotated to a first orientation;

the projector projects the image onto the surface such that the image covers a second area of the surface when the micro-mirror device is rotated to a second orientation; and

the illumination component illuminates at least a third area of the surface, wherein the third area encompasses the first area and the second area.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the time-of-flight sensor is configured to receive a portion of light from the illumination component scattered by at least the third area of the surface.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a processor to determine distance information of the one or more objects relative to the time of flight sensor, the distance information determined based at least in part on the determined time of flight value.

10. A system in a structure comprising:

a light source;

a micro-mirror device comprising a plurality of micro-mirrors, wherein one or more of the plurality of micro-mirrors are configured to reflect at least a portion of light from the light source to project an image onto a surface in an environment;

a rotation arrangement configured to rotate the micro-mirror device such that the image projected onto the surface is correspondingly rotated; and

a time-of-flight sensor configured to determine values associated with distances to one or more objects in the environment, the time-of-flight sensor configured to receive light reflected from the one or more objects in the environment along an optical path in the structure shared in common with light reflected by the one or more of the plurality of micro-mirrors from the light source.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the rotation arrangement is configured to rotate the micro-mirror device about an axis that is at least coaxial with a path of the light from the light source to the micro-mirror device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein individual micro-mirrors of the plurality of micro-mirrors are oriented to selectively reflect at least a portion of the light from the light source (i) along an optical path, or (ii) towards a light dump area.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein individual micro-mirrors of the plurality of micro-mirrors are oriented based on the image that is to be projected onto the surface.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the micro-mirror device is a digital micro-mirror device (DMD).

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the rotation arrangement comprises a motor coupled to the micro-mirror device.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising control logic configured to:

receive an input specifying an angle by which the image is to be rotated; and

based on receiving the input, facilitate the rotation arrangement to rotate the micro-mirror device such that the image projected onto the surface is correspondingly rotated by the specified angle.

17. A system in a structure comprising:

a light source;

a device to generate an image for projection onto a surface in an environment;

a rotation arrangement configured to rotate the device such that the image projected onto the surface is correspondingly rotated; and

a time-of-flight sensor configured to determine values indicative of distances to one or more objects in the environment, the time-of-flight sensor configured to receive light reflected from the one or more objects in the environment along an optical path in the structure shared in common with light emitted from the light source.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the device comprises a micro-mirror device configured to reflect at least a portion of light from the light source.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the rotation arrangement is configured to rotate the micro-mirror device such that the image projected onto the surface is correspondingly rotated.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the rotation arrangement is further configured to rotate the time-of-flight sensor.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the rotation arrangement is further configured to rotate the device and the time-of-flight sensor in a synchronized manner.