Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Electronic book with display
Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-08
2003-02-25
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Electronic book with display
C345S905000, C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06525750
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a projection display for computers.
Portable computers, such as laptops, generally use liquid crystal diode (LCD) panels to display computer generated images to a user. LCD panels are thin, lightweight devices that require relatively little power and therefore are particularly well-suited for portable applications.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a laptop computer
10
includes a base
12
housing, which houses most of the computer's electronics and input/output (I/O) devices, such as keyboard
17
. The computer
10
also includes a hinged lid
14
that includes an LCD panel
16
. Because the LCD panel
16
is an active electronic device, it is driven by electronic drivers
20
a
-
20
d
that, along with the LCD panel
16
and several circuit boards (e.g., flex circuits
19
), are mounted on a frame
18
to form a display subsystem
24
. Images displayed on the LCD panel
16
cover only a portion of the total area of the lid
14
(e.g., typically between 50% and 60%). The laptop
10
also includes cables
26
a,
26
b
that run between the base
12
and the lid
14
to connect the display subsystem
24
to the video controller (not shown in FIG.
1
).
Referring to
FIG. 2
, most computers include a central processor
30
that generates data and transmits the data to a video subsystem
35
over a bus
32
. The video subsystem
35
includes a video controller
34
, which is connected to the bus
32
, that converts the data into image data and stores the image data to a memory device
36
. At appropriate times, the video controller
34
retrieves the image data from memory
36
and uses it to control the display subsystem
24
. When the display subsystem
24
includes an LCD panel, the video controller
34
must be an LCD controller.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, the invention features a computer having a base housing containing at least one electronic component of the computer and an image projector in the base housing capable of projecting a computer-generated image. The computer may include a screen, which may be attached to the base housing, that is capable of displaying the projected image.
In another aspect, the invention features a computer having a base housing containing at least one electronic component of the computer, a screen, and an image projector attached to the screen (which may be attached to the base housing), where the screen is capable of displaying a computer-generated image projected by the image projector.
In another aspect, the invention features a computer having a base housing containing at least one electronic component of the computer, an image projector capable of projecting a computer-generated image, and a screen attached to the base housing that is capable of displaying the image.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The electronic component may be the computer's central processor or a keyboard. The image projector may be an LCD projector. The screen may be detachable from the base housing, and it may form a hinged lid for the computer. The screen may not be connected to any portion of the base by wires. The projected image may fill essentially the entire screen. The image may be projected onto a front surface or a rear surface of the screen. The screen may be a rear-projection screen, an angle transforming screen, or a front projection screen. The image projector may be oriented to project an image beam, away from the screen, and the computer may include a reflective surface positioned to reflect the image beam toward the screen. The reflective surface may be attached to the screen and may be detachable. A locking hinge may attach the reflective surface to the screen. The reflective surface may be a mirror, such as a magnifying mirror positioned to cause the projected image to fill essentially the entire screen. The mirror may extend from the base and may be retractable into the base.
In another aspect, the invention features a computer having a central processing unit, an image projector, and a screen all in a self-contained unit.
In another aspect, the invention features a computer having a base housing containing at least one electronic component of the computer and a screen, mechanically attached to the base housing, that displays a computer generated image. No electronic component in the base housing is connected to the screen by wires carrying image data.
In another aspect, the invention features a display system for a computer having an image projector located in the computer and oriented to project a computer-generated image from the computer.
In another aspect, the invention features a display system for a computer having a screen and an image projector attached to the screen, where the screen is capable of receiving a computer-generated image projected by the image projector.
In another aspect, the invention features a display system for a computer having an image projector and having a screen that is attached to the computer and is capable of displaying a computer-generated image projected by the image projector.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of displaying a computer-generated image by generating the image in the computer and projecting the image from the computer to display the image.
In another aspect, the invention features a method of displaying a computer-generated image by projecting the image from an image projector attached to a screen and displaying the image on a surface of the screen.
In another aspect, the invention features a method of displaying a computer-generated image by projecting the image from an image projector and displaying the image on a screen attached to the computer.
Advantages of the invention may include one or more of the following. Computer displays may be thinner and more lightweight than conventional LCD panels. All or nearly all of the surface area of a laptop computer's lid may be used to display images generated by the computer, which may allow larger images or smaller lids, or both. The images also may be displayed on a wall or on another surface not attached to the computer. Because all of the video electronics may be placed in the computer's base, no cables must run between the base and the screen.
Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4234894 (1980-11-01), Tokumaru et al.
patent: 4799137 (1989-01-01), Aho
patent: 4874228 (1989-10-01), Aho et al.
patent: 4971312 (1990-11-01), Weinreich
patent: 5054885 (1991-10-01), Melby
patent: 5060152 (1991-10-01), Maeser et al.
patent: 5083857 (1992-01-01), Hornbeck
patent: 5091873 (1992-02-01), Araki
patent: 5122905 (1992-06-01), Wheatley et al.
patent: 5122906 (1992-06-01), Wheatley
patent: 5148157 (1992-09-01), Florence
patent: 5190370 (1993-03-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5225823 (1993-07-01), Kanaly
patent: 5233385 (1993-08-01), Sampsell
patent: 5313479 (1994-05-01), Florence
patent: 5355279 (1994-10-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5359550 (1994-10-01), Chen
patent: 5373333 (1994-12-01), Kawada et al.
patent: 5381309 (1995-01-01), Borchardt
patent: 5404076 (1995-04-01), Dolan
patent: 5404171 (1995-04-01), Golstein et al.
patent: 5416618 (1995-05-01), Juday
patent: 5453859 (1995-09-01), Sannohe et al.
patent: 5467146 (1995-11-01), Huang et al.
patent: 5467154 (1995-11-01), Gale et al.
patent: 5471584 (1995-11-01), Blaxtan et al.
patent: 5483250 (1996-01-01), Herrick
patent: 5486949 (1996-01-01), Schrenk et al.
patent: 5504391 (1996-04-01), Turner et al.
patent: 5508841 (1996-04-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5510806 (1996-04-01), Busch
patent: 5521660 (1996-05-01), Hodson et al.
patent: 5523881 (1996-06-01), Florence et al.
patent: 5555324 (1996-09-01), Waxman et al.
patent: 5557343 (1996-09-01), Yamagishi
patent: 5563738 (1996-10-01), Vance
patent: 5573324 (1996-11-01), De Vaan
patent: 5594591 (1997-01-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5606220 (1997-02-01), Dolan et al.
patent: 5612820 (1997-03-01), Schrenk et al.
patent: 5626800 (1997-05-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5642129 (1997-06-01),
Duke University
Faile Andrew
Fleshner & Kim LLP
Srivastava Vivek
LandOfFree
Projection display for computers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Projection display for computers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Projection display for computers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3170576