Projection device and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025383593-A1
Application number	US-202519306380-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2025
Priority date	Jun 17, 2024
Publication date	Dec 18, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A movable projection device includes: a projector including: a first lens having a first focal length, and a second lens having a second focal length greater than the first focal length, where the projector is configured to project image content through a projection lens that is one of the first lens and or the second lens; a lens driver configured to change the projection lens through which the image content is projected; a memory storing instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: identify a position at which the image content is to be projected, based on the position at which the image content is to be projected, identify whether to move the movable projection device and identify whether to change the projection lens, control the lens driver to change the projection lens in a moving state of the movable projection device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A movable projection device comprising:
a projector comprising a first lens having a first focal length, and a second lens having a second focal length that is greater than the first focal length, wherein the projector is configured to project image content through a projection lens that is one of the first lens or the second lens; a lens driver configured to change the projection lens through which the image content is projected; a memory storing one or more instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the one or more instructions to:
identify a position at which the image content is to be projected,
based on the position at which the image content is to be projected, identify whether to move the movable projection device and whether to change the projection lens, and
based on identifying to move the movable projection device and to change the projection lens, control the lens driver to change the projection lens from the one of the first lens or the second lens to another of the first lens or the second lens, in a moving state of the movable projection device.

2 . The movable projection device of claim 1 , wherein the first lens further comprises at least one of a short-focal-length lens or an ultra-short-focal-length lens, and
wherein the second lens further comprises a long-focal-length lens.

3 . The movable projection device of claim 1 , further comprising a driver configured to perform a traveling movement of the movable projection device and perform a rotational movement of the projector,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to, in the moving state of the movable projection device, control the driver to perform the traveling movement of the movable projection device or to perform the rotational movement of the projector.

4 . The movable projection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to identify whether to change the projection lens, based on information about the projection lens and information about a lens corresponding to the position at which the image content is to be projected.

5 . The movable projection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to, in the moving state of the movable projection device, pause the image content and control the projector to not project the image content.

6 . The movable projection device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to obtain information about a surrounding environment of the movable projection device,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to identify the position at which the image content is to be projected, based on the information about the surrounding environment of the movable projection device.

7 . The movable projection device of claim 6 , wherein the information about the surrounding environment comprises at least one of a position, a size, and a type of a screen, or a type, a size, a position, and movement information of an object.

8 . The movable projection device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to:
obtain user information, and based on the user information, identify the position at which the image content is to be projected.

9 . The movable projection device of claim 8 , wherein the user information comprises at least one of position information about a user, posture information about the user, lifestyle pattern information about the user, or information about a history of using the movable projection device by the user.

10 . The movable projection device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions to:
identify a gaze direction of the user based on the posture information about the user, identify the position at which the image content is to be projected according to the gaze direction of the user, and identify whether to move the movable projection device and whether to change the projection lens, based on the position at which the image content is to be projected according to the gaze direction of the user.

11 . A method of operating a movable projection device comprising a projector including a first lens having a first focal length and a second lens having a second focal length greater than the first focal length, and a lens driver configured to change a projection lens through which image content is projected, the method comprising:
identifying a position at which the image content is to be projected; based on the position at which the image content is to be projected, identifying whether to move the movable projection device and whether to change the projection lens; based on identifying to move the movable projection device and to change the projection lens, changing the projection lens from one of the first lens or the second lens to another of the first lens or the second lens, in a moving state of the movable projection device; and projecting the image content.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first lens comprises at least one of a short-focal-length lens or an ultra-short-focal-length lens, and
wherein the second lens comprises a long-focal-length lens.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the movable projection device further comprises a driver configured to perform a traveling movement of the movable projection device and perform a rotational movement of the projector, and
wherein the changing the projection lens in the moving state comprises:
changing the projection lens in a state of controlling the driver to perform the traveling movement of the movable projection device or in a state of controlling the driver to perform the rotational movement of the projector.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the identifying whether to change the projection lens is based on information about the projection lens, and information about a lens corresponding to the position at which the image content is to be projected.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising, in the moving state of the movable projection device, pausing the image content and controlling the projector to not project the image content.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising obtaining information about a surrounding environment of the movable projection device,
wherein the identifying the position at which the image content is to be projected comprises identifying the position at which the image content is to be projected, based on the information about the surrounding environment of the movable projection device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the information about the surrounding environment comprises at least one of a position, a size, and a type of a screen, or a type, a size, a position, and movement information of an object.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising obtaining user information,
wherein the identifying the position at which the image content is to be projected comprises identifying, based on the user information, the position at which the image content is to be projected.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the user information comprises at least one of position information about a user, posture information about the user, lifestyle pattern information about the user, or information about a history of using

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Donguk
• Kim Sehyun
• Kim Yeonwoo
• Lee Jongin
• Jeong Donghwa
• Jung Minhyo

Classifications

• G03B21/208

  Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light · CPC title

• G03B21/30

  adapted to collapse or fold, e.g. for portability · CPC title

• G09G3/002

  to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G09G2340/0464

  Positioning · CPC title