AU763862B2

AU763862B2 - A LCD panel and apparatus adapted for use in a conventional type slide projector

Info

Publication number: AU763862B2
Application number: AU29368/02A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Philip Brendan Banks; Kevin James Soper
Original assignee: Digislide International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Digislide Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-05
Filing date: 2002-04-02
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-11
Also published as: AU2936802A

Description

10422DIV

ORIGINAL

Complete Specification Applicant: Digislide International Pty Ltd Title: A LCD panel and apparatus adapted for use in a conventional type slide projector LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia Address for Service: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: A LCD panel and apparatus adapted for use in a conventional type slide projector This invention is directed to a removable LCD (liquid crystal display) slide apparatus adapted to be used in a conventional slide projector and in particular with a carousel type slide projector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Slide projectors are commonplace and come in a variety of different constructions.

One of the more common types is the carousel slide projector where a number of slides are played on a carousel that rotates and enables the displayed slides to be changed.

Many times it is desirable to not only produce static or slide image but also to produce a moving image. For that reason it has been necessary to not only have available a slide projector but also a video projector. It is not difficult to appreciate that this leads to additional equipment expenditure, requires separate control mechanisms, and occupies additional physical space.

Although it is known to use a LCD panel in a slide projector or project an image within the LCD, this extends to modifying an existing slide projector that can then only display the image in the LCD. That is, the slide projector can then not be used to display conventional slides without the intervention of the human operator that needs to remove the LCD panel before the projector can once again be used to display conventional slides.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the abovementioned difficulties or to provide the public with a useful alternative. In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide for a slide projector that can project not only images from conventional slides but also images from a LCD panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed an image generating S" apparatus for use in slide projectors of the type having a carousel with a central i. 3 aperture, said apparatus including: 30 a body adapted to be located within said aperture and including generation means to effect generation of an image output; a liquid crystal display of a shape and size to be able to be loaded and unloaded by the slide projector; a data cable connecting said body and liquid crystal display enabling said control means image output to be input into said liquid crystal display to reproduce said image; wherein when said liquid crystal display has been loaded into said slide projector it causes the image reproduced by the liquid crystal display to be projected onto an external surface.

In preference said carousel includes a circular aperture, said body being of a shape and size to fit within said aperture.

In preference said liquid crystal display includes a rectangular frame having a bottom, top and two sides, said frame inserted bottom first into said slide projector data, said data Cable attached to said top of said liquid crystal display.

In preference said body is removable from said slide projector.

In preference said generation means includes a video cassette player.

In preference said generation means includes a DVD player.

In preference said generation means includes a television signal reception means.

In preference said generation means includes a memory means adapted to store a plurality of static or moving images.

In preference said control means enables the user to operate said generation means to produce an image on the liquid crystal display.

In preference said liquid crystal display slide includes a ultraviolet and an o* o infra-red filter.

In preference there are at least two liquid crystal displays in communication with said control means, one liquid display producing an image independent of the other liquid crystal display.

In a further form of the invention there is described a slide projector including an image generating apparatus as described above.

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 perspective view of a slide projector including a LCD slide panel apparatus embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a dual LCD slide panel apparatus embodying the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a single LCD slide panel apparatus embodying the present invention; *o*o o* se° e o• eoO* **o o** o Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slide projector and a further embodiment of a LCD slide panel apparatus embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 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.

Turning now to the drawings in detail it is to be understood that like numerals are used to indicate like elements. Thus there is shown in Figure 1 a slide projector including a carousel 12 containing a number of slide inserts 14 designed to hold slides. The slide projector includes an aperture that enables a slide located above the aperture to be loaded or fed into the projectors optical engine whereupon the image in the slide is projected outward through focusable lens 16.

Nowadays, such slide projectors are fairly automated so that by simple remote control a slide can be loaded and unloaded and a new slide fed by virtue of the carousel adapted to rotate so that a new slide is located above the aperture.

S* In the present invention, a LCD panel is of the same shape and size as a conventional slide so that instead of there having to be a separate LCD panel apparatus, the LCD panel 18 according to the present invention can also be loaded or unloaded as a conventional slide. This is achieved by the LCD panel 18 including a data cable 20 extending from the top of the LCD panel to a central control apparatus 22 that can conveniently be located in the centre of the carousel 12 that is 25 otherwise empty.

Thos skilled in the art will now immediately appreciate that this enables a conventional carousel slide projector to be used to display both slides and images without requiring further intervention by the operator unlike in existing slide projectors where the operator would have to manually remove the LCD panel from the slide projector before it could be used as to display conventional slides once again. Since the central control apparatus is also located in the centre of the carousel, the rotation of the carousel does not affect the performance of the LCD panel or the slide projector.

The present arrangement therefore enables the operator to prepare their slide projector before it needs to be used without having to worry about separately inserting a LCD panel into the slide when it is required. It therefore offers unparallel advantages when compared to the prior art where one is taught to physically insert a LCD panel into a slide projector when it is required, Instead of a central control apparatus, located in the middle of the carousel may be a signal input box 24 whereupon an external signal is fed to the LCD panel through connectors 26. His may be used, for example, to feed a television signal into the LCD panel.

In a further embodiment of the invention and as illustrated in Figure 4, instead of a central control apparatus, a remote receiver 28 may be located within in the carousel.

This illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the LCD panel 18 obtains signals from a remote receiver 28 through data cable 20. The remote receiver 28 receives transmitted signals 30 from transmitting unit 32, which may be a video tape recorder/player or a television receiver. This embodiment removes the necessity for cabling from the control apparatus 22.

Instead of the control apparatus controlling one LCD panel, the apparatus may include several LCD panels. This may be advantageous where the panels are of a S different quality, resolution, or where it simply makes sense for the operator to simply 20 move through slides in a single step fashion rather than having to rotate the carousel to the position where the LCD panel can be fed.

"Thus one can see that the use of the present invention allows the use of a slide projector to project moving images whilst still retaining its functionality as a slide projector.

25 It is to be understood that the LCD panel may need to be constructed with e *o appropriate filters to protect it from the environmental conditions found in a slide projector, those filters generally ma integral with the LCD panel to enable them to be automatically def into the slide projector.

The central control apparatus may include various controls and data input means enabling the user to control and operate the panel including controls as to the brightness and colour.

The central control may also include a movie playing capability such as a video or a DVD player. Appropriate audio reproducing features such as speakers may also be constructed as part of the central control.

It is to be understood that although the above illustration refers to the use of a liquid crystal display screen slide, other types of screens may be used. It is to be also understood that the resolution of the final displayed image will depend on a number of factors such as the number of pixel's within the liquid display screen slide and the final size of the displayed image. Depending on the application, low resolution liquid crystal display screen slides may well be suitable with high resolution screen slides only necessary for high quality images. The only requirements is that the liquid crystal display screen slide be adapted to be used with a normal slide projector, and thus the size of the liquid crystal display screen slide is limited to that of conventional slides.

Many other improvements may be made to the apparatus and still falling within the scope of the invention. Various optics and filters may be used to improve or changes the quality or colour of the image. It may also be possible to provide a liquid crystal display screen slide that may incorporate two individual screens and allows one to display two simultaneous images. This though may be controlled by the signals that S: are fed into the liquid crystal display screen slide and may not require any change in S. 20 the construction of the liquid crystal display screen slide.

Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that the present invention provides for a LCD screen whose size and shape enables it to be used in a conventional slide projector without compromising the ability of the slide projector to display other slides or for that matter other LCD screens. This is achieved by the LCD being able to be 25 held within the slide holding mechanism and loaded and unloaded within the projector as with any other conventional slide.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. For example, it is envisaged that the slide projector may be of a linear type instead of a carousel shape. 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 invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the description so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims

1. An image generating apparatus for use in slide projectors of the type having a carousel with a central aperture, said apparatus including: a body adapted to be located within said aperture and including generation means to effect generation of an image output; a liquid crystal display of a shape and size to be able to be loaded and unloaded by the slide projector; a data cable connecting said body and liquid crystal display enabling said control means image output to be input into said liquid crystal display to reproduce said image; wherein when said liquid crystal display has been loaded into said slide projector it causes the image reproduced by the liquid crystal display to be projected onto an external surface.

2. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said carousel includes a circular aperture, said body being of a shape and size to fit within said aperture. S. 3. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal display includes a rectangular frame having a bottom, top and two sides, said frame inserted bottom first into said slide projector data, said data cable *00 attached to said top of said liquid crystal display. S' An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said body is removable from said slide projector. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said generation means includes a video cassette player.

06. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said generation means ***0includes a DVD player. *eo• "0 0 :07. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said generation means 0000 S• includes a television signal reception means. 0 30 8. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said memory means adapted to store a plurality of static or moving images. 8

9. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said control means enables the user to operate said generation means to produce an image on the liquid crystal display. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said liquid crystal display slide includes a ultraviolet and an infra-red filter.

11. An image generating apparatus as in claim 1 wherein there are at least two liquid crystal displays in communication with said control means, one liquid display producing an image independent of the other liquid crystal display.

12. A slide projector including an n image generating apparatus as described in any one of the above claim

13. A slide projector substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. *t