AU2005227390A1

AU2005227390A1 - A personal device of the type having a display screen and including a personal projection means

Info

Publication number: AU2005227390A1
Application number: AU2005227390A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Phillip Banks; Kevin Soper
Original assignee: Digislide International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Digislide Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-13
Filing date: 2005-10-27
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: AU2010200159A1; AU2002301961A1; AU2010200159B2

Description

27/10 '05 THU 17:12 F.AX 61 8 82119433 Lesicar Perrin 005 2 A personal device of the type having a display screen and including a projection means.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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O The present invention relates to personal devices of the type including a display Sscreen, such as personal data assistants and mobile phones, which have an additional projection capability.

In recent years it has become possible to store large quantities of data on data storage media such as compact discs, magnetic cards. Further it has also become Stechnologically possible to transmit large quantities of data using digital signals.

Thus it is now possible to store graphical and video images on small compact discs C 10 and magnetic cards. It is also possible to remotely transmit enough information to remote communication units to provide for the display of graphical information with relatively high resolution. This can only improve in the future.

At the same time it has been an object of the designers and manufacturers of various equipment, in particular personal equipment, such as portable video players, remote communication or control apparatus, e.g. mobile telephones and cordless phones, to reduce their physical size. Typically these devices include various controls, a display screen, and a power cell. Whilst it is possible to reduce the size of the controls and power cell without any adverse consequences, reducing the size of the display screen affects the amount of information that can be displayed to the user. Whilst the resolution of the display screens continue to improve this does not help greatly since the size of the image is critical in displaying useful information.

Accordingly whilst users of such portable video and/or communication or control devices prefer them to be smaller and lighter this forces the display screens to become smaller and smaller reducing the size of the display and thus information content to the user.

Thus the size of the devices is a balance between the overall size and the display screen.

In addition, the devices are personal type ones and it is difficult to use them to share information, that is, the displays can not be simultaneously easily viewed by more than one person at a time.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the abovementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative. This is achieved by COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:13 FAX 61 8 82119433 Leslcar Perrin 00oo6 3 providing for a personal device of the type having an inbuilt display screen wherein said Sdevice further includes an in-built projection capability adapted to project the information normally displayed on the display screen.

O SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed an image projection device including; a display screen for displaying visual information; and Ce a projecting means for projecting an image from said device.

In preference said device further includes an activation means that controls the S 10 operation of the projecting means to turn it on and off. This could simply be a button on the Cl side.

In preference said activation means turn the projection means on, the device display screen is turned off.

In preference said device is a mobile phone.

In preference said projecting means includes a liquid crystal display screen illuminated with light that produces said image to be projected from the device.

In preference said projecting means further includes optical elements selected from but not limited to the group including spectrum filters, polarisers, focussing and magnifications lenses.

In preference said projecting means includes a projection lens mounted on the front of said device.

In preference said projection lens is focusable.

In preference said projecting means and said display show the same image.

In preference the image displayed by the projecting means may be different to that shown on the display.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:13 FAX 61 8 82119433 Leslcar Perrln 12007 4 t'l In preference said device includes a cradle and a rear-project active screen, said o projecting means projecting an image onto the back of said active screen, said projected image corresponding to the controls of said device wherein a user can operate said device Sthrough the active screen.

In preference said active screen is foldable from a stored position to an operating position.

In preference a peripheral skirt extends between said device and said screen to Sreduce any ambient light from illuminating the back of said screen.

In preference said device includes a data media reader.

Cl 10 In preference said device is adapted to read smart cards.

In preference said device is adapted to read compact discs.

In preference said device further includes a television receiver means, said projection means adapted to show broadcast received by said receiver.

In preference said device includes an internal power cell adapted to provide power for the device.

In preference said device further includes an internal memory means to store data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view generally illustrating a personal communication embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating the typically optical engine used for the projection of an image from a mobile phone of Figure 1; COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:13 FAX 61 8 82119433 Leslcar Perrin 1oos08 Figure 3 is a side view of the compact optical engine used in a mobile phone or Spersonal assistant; ci O Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the relative size of the optical engine and mobile 0 phone embodying the present invention; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the mobile phone of Figure 1 illustrating the Sshutter used to protect the optical engine of Figure 2 and when closed; SFigure 6 is the shutter of Figure 5 when open; l~ Figure 7 illustrates a device embodying the present invention when mounted in a cradle Shaving a display screen, the display screen being in a stored position; and Figure 8 illustrates the device of Figure 7 but when in an open or usable position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

Illustrated in the Figures and in particular in Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a device embodying the present invention including a mobile phone 10 having a display screen 12 and control buttons 14, The phone includes an optical engine 16 mounted in a cradle 18 and having a light source 20, a condenser lens 22. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel 24, and a projection lens 26. The projection lens 26 is used to project an image 28 displayed by the LCD onto a surface 30. By an appropriate choice of the optical parameters, and depending on the total light produced by the globe, the displayed image can be much larger than that produced by the LCD, even up to the size of an A4 page. An image of this size can therefore be viewed more easily than that produced on the display of the apparatus since it is at least several times larger, if not more.

The light source is typically a filament light globe or an LED, and is powered by the power supply of the mobile phone. This is quite an important feature for it means that the COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:14 FAX 61 8 82119433 Lesicar Perrin 2009 6 n device is truly integral with the device and does not require an outside power source. The 0 oother optical components are made from well-known optical glasses selected from those that have the desirable properties. The LCD is a typical LCD screen at is used, for example, in O video camera viewfinders.

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To allow for access to the optical engine, such as may be required to change the light 18, a slidclable cover 32 may be used. The cover may be lockable in place using well-known snap-looking techniques. The front of the cover 34 may be large enough to completely N protect the optical engine or there may very well be a gap or hole that enables image 28 to be projected even when the cover 32 is closed.

V 10 In an alternate embodiment, and as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, a shutter 36 may obe placed in front of the projection lens 26 to protect both the optical components. The Sshutter may be manually operable using a button 38. The button may also be an active type button that controls the power supply to the optical engine so that when the shutter is closed the projection system is turned off not wasting any power. Of course, the present invention may provide for a further embodiment that when the device is projecting an image, the display is turned off thereby saving power.

Those skilled in the art will now appreciate the advantages of the present invention.

By being able to project the image from a phone or other personal types of electronic equipment, the image is greatly enlarged enabling not only more information to be displayed, but also allowing the information to be viewed by multiple parties, but only when the operator want to, at other times, the only information displayed shown in the display screen.

The use of the optical engine within the mobile phone or other PDA's is easily accommodated since typically the size of the mobile phone is dictated by it being able to be handled by the user, rather than dictated by the parts found in the mobile phone. Fir example, even phone batteries these days are a fraction of the size when the first mobile phones were produced. Thus in most mobile phones there is significant empty space.

Nevertheless, the total length of the optical engine has to be small indeed requiring a particular design of the optical engine.

Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the condenser lens is made from crown glass with a refractive index of 1.52. It is some 4 mm thick, with an outside radius of approximately 7.6 mm, the inner surface being flat.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:14 F.AX 61 8 82119433 Leslcar Perrln oioo 7 V' As discussed above the LCD is a typical LCD panel commercially available, and o generally including a polariser. If a LCD does not have a polariser, one can be placed between the LCD and the projection lens.

O The projection lens is made up of two identical lenses placed back to back with Lj 5 outside radii of some 4.52 mm and inner radii of some 9.73 mm. The lenses are some 2 mm thick with an air space of 1.6 mm when measured at the centre. The glass used is well o known is BK7 glass.

A stop is placed between the lenses, the stop diameter some 1.8 mm. The stop minimises any spherical aberration that is typically found in these types of projection lenses.

V 10 The effective focal length is some 8.9 mm.

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In measuring the optical parameters the optical engine as defined above produces spot sizes some 30-40 microns from corner to corner.

In use, to focus an image onto surface 30 the phone 10 is simply manually moved towards or away from the screen, the focal distance being some 300-400 mm, producing an image roughly some 30 by 20 centimeters, or A4 sheet size as conventionally known. Since the resolution of even small LCD screens may include thousands of individual pixels, the resolution of the projected image is sufficient to be able to produce an image with good resolution even when it is A4 size or even larger.

Although not shown, the phone may further include a stand at the projection lens end to assist in correctly positioning the phone whilst projecting.

It is to be understood that whilst the above example has used a mobile pone, the present invention may very well be incorporated into other portable electronic devices, such as pagers, personal display apparatus (PDA's), control equipment and the like. In the case of PDA's they may be of a type capable of remote communication, or hard-wired communication as well as stand-alone devices having data media readers.

In an alternate embodiment the present invention may be used to provide an image by back lighting a screen. Such an embodiment may be useful in, for example, mobile phone cradles. Thus, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the cradle 40 includes a rear project screen 42 that can be pivoted around pivot 44. A reflecting surface 46, such as a small mirror, reflects the image produced by the phone onto the back of surface 42. A folding skirt 48 COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:14 FAX 61 8 82119433 Lesicar Perrin Z011 8 t' removes reduces unwanted light from illuminating the rear of the screen 42. A bottom cover,

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O although not shown, may also be used.

OThe projected image could be different from that displayed on the internal display of

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the phone. This would be extremely useful In the cradle as described above. For example, the displayed image may in fact be a replica of the mobile phone keyboard, whilst the screen may be an active type one so that a person in a car can use the screen to control the phone, othe advantage being obvious in that the control keys on the screen are much larger to view and operate than those on the mobile phone. Those skilled in the art will be well aware of these types of touch screens where touching a particular position on the screen can be used to represent a specific command to the device.

o It can therefore be seen that the device according to the present invention allows one ]to provide both visual and audio communication including a larger image by projecting the image out of the device. This ensures that the device itself is very portable- Although the projection device is internally powered, use of normal recharging systems ensures that the projector can continue to work indefinitely when coupled to mains power.

Use of a small wattage lamp ensures that the heat produced within the phone is minimal. However, in those cases where excess heat may be produced, the device could very well include additional cooling means such as heat sinks or even a small air fan.

The phone may further include an input port for reading memory cards or other data storage media. Thus a memory card may include a video or Mpeg file that may be displayed directly by the projection LCD. In addition, the communication device could also transmit that image to a receiver. Alternatively the device itself may also include a memory card so that Images that are received by the phone may be stored within the phone and played later either on the display screen or through the projection device. Further, the ability to provide and additional display by virtue of the projection LCD means that the normal display of the device may still be used for displaying general status of the device. The LCD may also be used so that a portion of the projected image includes that seen on the display.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:15 FAX 61 8 82119433 Leslcar Perrin 121012 9 tfl invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the 0 ofull scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

O In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the 0 context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising' is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

o Dated this 27 October 2005 MDigislide International Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys ci LESICAR PERRIN COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: lime 17:51 Date 2005-10-27

Claims

2. An image projection device as in claim 1 wherein said device further includes an activation means that controls the operation of the projecting means to turn it on and off. c
3. An image projection device as in claim 2 wherein when said activation means turn the Cl projection means on, the device display screen is turned off. In 0 4. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims wherein said device is a C 10 mobile phone. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims wherein said projecting means includes a liquid crystal display screen illuminated with light that produces said image to be projected from the device.
6. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims wherein said projecting means further includes optical elements selected from but not limited to the group including spectrum filters, polarisers, focussing and magnifications lenses.
7. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims wherein said projecting means includes a projection lens mounted on the front of said device.
8. An image projection device as in claim 7 wherein said projection lens is focusable.
9. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims wherein said projecting means and said display show the same image. An image projection device as in any one of claims I to 8 wherein the image displayed by the projecting means may be different to that shown on the display.
11. An image projection device as in claim 1 wherein said device includes a cradle and a rear-project active screen, said projecting means projecting an image onto the back of said active screen, said projected image corresponding to the controls of said device wherein a user can operate said device through the active screen. COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27 27/10 '05 THU 17:15 FAX 61 8 82119433 Leslcar Perrin Z014 11 in 12. An image projecting device as in claim 11 wherein said active screen is foldable from a Sstored position to an operating position. S13. An image projection device as in claim 12 wherein a peripheral skirt extends between O said device and said screen to reduce any ambient light from illuminating the back of said screen-
14. An image projection device as in any one the above claims wherein said device includes a data media reader. Cl 15. An image projection device as in claim 14 wherein said device is adapted to read smart In cards. Cl 10 16. An image projection device as in claim 14 wherein said device is adapted to read compact discs.
17. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims further including a television receiver means, said projection means adapted to show broadcast received by said receiver.
18. An image projection device as in any one of the above claims including an internal power cell adapted to provide power for the device.
19. An image projection device as in anyone of the above claims further including an internal memory means to store data. COMS ID No: SBMI-01839650 Received by IP Australia: Time 17:51 Date 2005-10-27