TWI647612B - Image projection device - Google Patents

Abstract

An image projection device includes a power supply, a central processing unit, a control circuit, and a projection device. In a first mode, the power supply provides a first power source and a second power source. In a second mode, the power supply stops providing the first power source and continues to provide the second power source. The central processing unit is coupled to an image output port. In the first mode, the central processing unit receives the first power source and outputs an image signal to a display through the image output. In the second mode, the central processor stops acting. The control circuit receives the second power source and generates a first control signal. The projection device projects a first image according to the first control signal.

Description

Image projection device

The present invention relates to an image projection apparatus, and more particularly to an image projection apparatus for projecting an image into or out of a casing.

In a conventional computer system, if the user wants to know the working state inside the computer host, it may be necessary to open a different application to see the relevant information. For example, if the user wants to know the current operating frequency of the central processing unit, it may be necessary to open a related application. However, if the user wants to know the current speed of the fan, it may be necessary to open another application, thereby increasing the inconvenience.

The invention provides an image projection device comprising a power supply, a central processing unit, a control circuit and a projection device. In a first mode, the power supply provides a first power source and a second power source. In a second mode, the power supply stops providing the first power source and continues to provide the second power source. The central processing unit is coupled to an image output port. In the first mode, the central processing unit receives the first power source and outputs an image signal to a display through the image output. In the second mode, the central processor stops acting. The control circuit receives the second power source and generates a first control signal. The projection device projects a first image according to the first control signal.

100‧‧‧Image projection device

105‧‧‧Chassis

110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135‧‧‧ side

140‧‧‧ motherboard

145‧‧‧Links

150‧‧‧ display

155, 160‧ ‧ images

200‧‧‧Power supply

P1, P2‧‧‧ power supply

210‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

220,345‧‧‧Image output埠

205‧‧‧Control circuit

SC1, SC2‧‧‧ control signals

235‧‧‧ switch

SON‧‧‧ start signal

215‧‧‧Lighting projection circuit

225‧‧‧Projection device

240, 250, 315‧‧‧ static images

245, 255, 310‧‧‧ motion pictures

230‧‧‧ display device

300‧‧‧Sensor circuit

305‧‧‧Storage components

320‧‧‧Interface controller

325‧‧‧USB interface

330‧‧‧PS2 interface

335‧‧‧PCIE interface

340‧‧‧ display card

SS‧‧‧Detection signal

400‧‧‧Lighting elements

405‧‧‧Photomask

410‧‧‧ lens

420, 425‧‧‧ rays

430‧‧‧Light pattern

415‧‧‧Reflective mirror

435‧‧‧projection pattern

S501~S505‧‧‧Steps

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the appearance of an image projection apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a motherboard of the present invention.

Figure 3 is another schematic view of the motherboard of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a projection device of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a possible flow of the control method of the present invention.

In order to make the objects, features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the embodiments of the invention are described in detail below. The present specification provides various embodiments to illustrate the technical features of various embodiments of the present invention. The arrangement of the various elements in the embodiments is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the invention. In addition, the overlapping portions of the drawings in the embodiments are for the purpose of simplifying the description, and do not mean the relationship between the different embodiments.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the appearance of an image projection apparatus of the present invention. The invention does not limit the type of image projection device. For convenience of explanation, the image projection device shown in FIG. 1 is a host for controlling peripheral devices. In the embodiment, the image projection device 100 has a casing 105. In a possible embodiment, the housing 105 has a plurality of ports for coupling different peripheral devices. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows only the port 145. A port 145 is used to connect the display 150. In this example, the display 150 presents a picture based on the image signal provided by the image projection device 100.

As shown, the image projection device 100 has a motherboard 140. The motherboard 140 is disposed in the casing 105. In this embodiment, the motherboard 140 is divided The image signal is output to the display 150 through the port 145, and the motherboard 140 has a projection function. In a possible embodiment, the motherboard 140 projects at least one image into the interior and/or exterior of the casing 105 by means of refraction or non-refracting. The image projected by the motherboard 140 may be a still image (such as an image or text) or a motion image (such as the internal temperature of the casing 105). The present invention does not limit the projection position of the image. In a possible embodiment, the images projected by the motherboard 140 may all be located inside or outside the casing 105. In another possible embodiment, at least one image is projected inside the casing 105, or at least one image is projected on the outside of the casing 105.

In the present embodiment, the casing 105 has six sides 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135. In a possible embodiment, the motherboard 140 is disposed on the side 110. Side 115 is opposite to side 110. In other embodiments, the side 115 is a transparent material. In this example, the image 160 projected by the motherboard 140 may be projected through the side 115 to the exterior of the housing 105. When the motherboard 140 projects the image 155 on the side 120, the user can see the image 155 through the transparent side 115. Side 120 is opposite to side 125. In a possible embodiment, the port 140 is disposed on the side 125. Side 130 is opposite side 135. In other embodiments, at least one of the sides 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135 is a transparent material. Therefore, the motherboard 140 can project an image outside the casing 105. Moreover, the user can also see the image of the motherboard 140 projected inside the casing 105 through the transparent side.

2 is a schematic diagram of a motherboard 140 of the present invention. For the sake of convenience, FIG. 2 shows only some of the components of the motherboard 140, but is not intended to limit the invention. As shown, the motherboard 140 includes a power supply 200, a control circuit 205, a central processing unit (CPU) 210, and a transmitter. Light projection circuit 215. The power supply 200 is used to provide power sources P1 and P2. In a first mode (such as a normal mode), the power supply 200 simultaneously supplies power sources P1 and P2. In a second mode (such as a standby mode), the power supply 200 stops supplying the power P1 and continues to provide the power P2.

The central processing unit 210 is coupled to the power supply 200 and an image output port 220. In a possible embodiment, the image output port 220 is a video graphics array (VGA), but is not intended to limit the present invention. The image output port 220 may be disposed directly in the motherboard 140. In this example, a display card (not shown) is built into the motherboard 140. Therefore, the image output port 220 is referred to as an on-board VGA. In other embodiments, the image output port 220 is disposed on a separate display card (not shown). In this example, the standalone display is plugged into a slot of the motherboard 140.

In the first mode, the central processing unit 210 receives the power source P1 and outputs an image signal to the external display (such as the display 150 of FIG. 1) through the image output port 220. In the second mode, since the power supply 200 does not supply the power supply P1, the central processing unit 210 stops operating and no longer outputs an image signal to the external display.

The control circuit 205 receives the power source P2 and generates a control signal SC1. In a possible embodiment, the control circuit 205 directly receives the power source P2. In another possible embodiment, control circuit 205 indirectly receives power source P2. In this example, the motherboard 140 further includes a switch 235. The switch 235 is coupled between the power supply 200 and the control circuit 205, and determines whether to transmit the power P2 to the control circuit 205 according to a start signal SON.

For example, when the enable signal SON is triggered, the switch 235 transmits The power supply P2 is supplied to the control circuit 205; when the start signal SON is not triggered, the switch 235 stops the transmission of the power supply P2 to the control circuit 205. In a possible embodiment, the enable signal SON is triggered by a BIOS, an application (Application; APP) or a hardware device. When the user wants the motherboard 140 to project an image, the user can turn on the projection function by enabling the BIOS related option or by opening the related application. In another possible embodiment, the user directly switches the switch 235 to switch the switch 235 from a non-conducting state (OFF) to a conducting state (ON). In this example, when the switch 235 is in the on state, it indicates that the enable signal SON is triggered.

The illuminating projection circuit 215 projects at least one image based on the control signal SC1. In the present embodiment, the illuminating projection circuit 215 includes a projection device 225. The projection device 225 projects at least one image based on the control signal SC1. In a possible embodiment, the projection device 225 projects a still image 240 and a motion image 245, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, projection device 225 may only project still image 240 or motion image 245, or other numbers of still or moving images.

The still image 240 may be an image or a text. For example, the still image 240 may be the name or team logo of the team in the video game competition. In other embodiments, the motion picture 245 is the operating frequency of the central processor 210. In this example, the control circuit 205 reads the operating frequency of the central processing unit 210 and generates a control signal SC1 based on the read result. Projection device 225 then projects the operating frequency of central processor 210 based on control signal SC1. In some embodiments, projection device 225 projects both still image 240 and motion image 245.

In other embodiments, projection device 225 has a projection lens (not shown) and a steering mechanism (not shown). The steering mechanism carries a projection lens for Controls where the image is projected. In a possible embodiment, the steering mechanism is controlled by a user. The user can adjust the position of the steering mechanism to adjust the projection position of the image, such as being projected inside or outside the casing.

In some embodiments, the illuminating projection circuit 215 further includes a display device 230. The invention does not limit the type of display device 230. The display device 230 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a diode display (LED) or an organic light emitting diode display (OLED). In a possible embodiment, the display device 230 projects a still image 250 and a motion image 255 according to the control signal SC2, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, display device 230 may only project still image 250 or motion image 255. Since the characteristics of the still image 250 and the motion image 255 are similar to those of the still image 240 and the motion image 245, they are not described again.

In a possible embodiment, the control circuit 205 reads the operating frequency of the central processing unit 210 and generates a control signal SC2 based on the read result. Display device 230 presents the operating frequency of central processor 210 in accordance with control signal SC2. In this example, projection device 225 may only project still image 240. In other embodiments, display device 230 further includes an LED light strip (not shown). In this case, the LED strip may emit light in accordance with the control signal SC2.

Figure 3 is another schematic view of the motherboard 140 of the present invention. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, except that the motherboard 140 of FIG. 3 further includes a sensing circuit 300 and a storage component 305. The sensing circuit 300 is configured to detect the state of the motherboard 140 (such as temperature and humidity) and/or the state of components of the motherboard 140, such as the temperature of the central processing unit 210, the temperature of the DDR (not shown), or the fan speed, and the like.

The control circuit 205 is based on the detection signal generated by the sensing circuit 300. The SS generates a control signal SC2. The illuminating projection circuit 215 presents a motion image 310 according to the control signal SC2. In this example, the user knows the temperature and humidity of the motherboard 140, the temperature of the central processing unit 210, and the DDR based on the motion image 310. In other embodiments, the motion image 310 further includes the current time, the operating frequency of the central processing unit 210, or the operating frequency of the DDR. In the embodiment, the illuminating projection circuit 215 further generates a still image 315. Since the characteristics of the still image 315 are the same as those of the still image 240 of FIG. 2, they will not be described again.

In other embodiments, the motherboard 140 further includes an interface controller 320. In a possible embodiment, the interface controller 320 is a platform controller hub (PCH). In this example, the interface controller 320 is coupled to the USB interface 325, the PS2 interface 330, and the PCIE interface 335, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, interface controller 320 may be coupled to other types of interfaces. In a possible embodiment, the PCIE interface 335 is coupled to a display card 340. In this example, display card 340 has an image output port 345. In some embodiments, the control circuit 205 reads the operating frequency of the display card 340 through the central processing unit and the interface controller 320, and projects the reading result through the illuminating projection circuit 215.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a projection device of the present invention. As shown, the projection device 225 includes a light emitting element 400, a mask 405, and a lens 410. The light emitting element 400 provides a light ray 420 according to the control signal SC1. The mask 405 has a hollow pattern for the light 420 to pass through. Symbol 425 represents the light passing through the reticle 405. In a possible embodiment, the reticle 405 is a positive film. Lens 410 magnifies light 425 through the reticle to create a light pattern 430. In a possible embodiment, the light pattern 430 is the static pattern described above.

In other embodiments, projection device 225 further includes a refractor 415. The refractor 415 is used to control the projection direction of the light pattern 430 to generate a projection pattern 435. Therefore, the motherboard 140 can control the projection position of the image as long as the steering of the refractor 415 is controlled. In other embodiments, the steering of the mirror 415 is controlled by the user. In other embodiments, the illuminating element 400, the reticle 405, and the lens 410 constitute a projection lens, and the refractor 415 acts as a steering mechanism.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a possible flow of the control method of the present invention. The control method of the present invention is applied to an image projection device, wherein the image projection device is disposed in a casing. First, it is judged whether or not the projection function is activated (step S501). In a possible embodiment, step S501 determines whether a hardware component (such as switch 235 of FIG. 1) is in an open state, whether a projection option of a BIOS is enabled, or whether a projection application is turned on.

When the projection function is not activated, the light-emitting projection circuit is disabled (step S502). However, when the projection function is activated, it is judged whether or not the motherboard operates in the first mode (step S503). In a possible embodiment, the first mode is a normal mode. In this mode, the central processing unit operates and outputs image signals to the external screen. When the motherboard operates in the first mode, the first image is projected (step S505). In a possible embodiment, the first image is a user-customized message. For example, the user may use the BIOS or the projection application to set the content of the first image, such as the operating frequency and/or temperature of the central processing unit, the operating frequency and/or temperature of the DDR, the fan speed, the temperature and humidity of the motherboard... Wait. Therefore, the user can more easily grasp the current state of the computer. In addition, LED lighting systems can be used to produce different variations in temperature or frequency.

Projecting a second image when the motherboard is not operating in the first mode (Step S504). In a possible embodiment, when the motherboard is not operating in the first mode, it indicates that the motherboard may enter a standby mode. In standby mode, the main components (such as the central processing unit, DDR) stop operating. Therefore, the second image only shows the temperature, humidity and time that may be the motherboard. In a possible embodiment, the second image can be enlarged by the projection lens and projected into the casing or outside the casing. In another embodiment, the second image is set by the user. In other embodiments, the second image may be a still image.

The control method of the present invention, or a particular type or portion thereof, may exist in the form of a code. The code can be stored in a physical medium such as a floppy disk, a CD, a hard disk, or any other machine readable (such as computer readable) storage medium, or is not limited to an external form of computer program product, wherein When the code is loaded and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes a device for participating in the present invention. The code can also be transmitted via some transmission medium, such as a wire or cable, fiber optics, or any transmission type, where the machine becomes part of the program when it is received, loaded, and executed by a machine, such as a computer. Invented device. When implemented in a general purpose processing unit, the code combination processing unit provides a unique means of operation similar to application specific logic.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are used in the ordinary meaning Moreover, unless expressly stated, the definition of a vocabulary in a general dictionary should be interpreted as consistent with the meaning of an article in its related art, and should not be interpreted as an ideal state or an overly formal voice.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art is not It is possible to make some changes and refinements within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the system, apparatus or method of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a physical embodiment of a combination of hardware, software or hardware and software. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (11)

An image projection device includes: a power supply device, in a first mode, providing a first power source and a second power source, in a second mode, stopping providing the first power source and continuing to provide the second power source a central processing unit coupled to an image output port. In the first mode, the central processing unit receives the first power source and outputs an image signal to the display through the image output. In the second mode, The central processing unit stops outputting the image signal to the display; a control circuit receives the second power source and generates a first control signal; and a projection device receives the first control signal for projecting a first image And a display device receiving a second control signal for presenting a second image, wherein the control circuit reads the frequency of the central processor to generate the second control signal. The image projection device of claim 1, further comprising: a switch coupled between the power supply and the control circuit, and determining whether to transmit the second power to the control circuit according to an activation signal And wherein the switch transmits the second power to the control circuit when the enable signal is triggered. The image projection device of claim 2, wherein the activation signal is triggered by a BIOS, an application, or a hardware device. The image projection device of claim 1, wherein the projection The device comprises: a light-emitting element, providing a light according to the first control signal; a mask having a pattern, wherein the light passes through the pattern when the light-emitting element provides the light; and a lens that is enlarged through the pattern Light, used to create a light pattern. The image projection device of claim 4, wherein the projection device further comprises: a refractor for controlling a projection direction of the light pattern. The image projection device of claim 1, further comprising: a sensing circuit for detecting at least one of temperature and humidity of the image projection device for generating a detection signal, wherein the control circuit is The detection signal generates the second control signal. The image projection device of claim 1, wherein the first image is a still image and the second image is a motion image. The image projection device of claim 1, further comprising: a casing, the power supply, the central processing unit, the control circuit and the projection device are disposed in the casing, wherein the projection device The first image is projected inside the casing. The image projection device of claim 8, wherein the projection device receives the first control signal for simultaneously projecting the first image and a third image. The image projection device of claim 9, wherein the first image is located inside the casing, and the third image is located outside the casing. The image projection device of claim 9, wherein the first image is a still image, and the third image is a motion image.