Projection system with multi-surface projection screen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9329679-B1
Application number	US-201213593270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 23, 2012
Priority date	Aug 23, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A projection and camera system projects content onto a passive, multi-surface projection screen. When a first surface of the screen is oriented to receive the projected images, the system detects this first surface and projects content associated with that surface of the screen. When a second surface is oriented to receive the projected images, the system detects this change from the first surface to the second surface and projects different content associated with the second surface. In this manner, to switch between different content or different applications, the user merely needs to turn the screen over.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a projection screen to present images projected thereon, the projection screen having at least a first surface and a second surface;
a projection system comprising:
a memory;
a processor;
a projector;
a surface detection component to:
determine a first rate at which the projection screen is adjusted such that the first surface is oriented towards the projector; and
determine a second rate at which the projection screen is adjusted such that the second surface is oriented towards the projector, the second rate being different from the first rate; and

the projector to:
project one or more first images onto the first surface of the projection screen based at least in part on the first rate; and
project one or more second images onto the second surface of the projection screen based at least in part on the second rate, wherein the one or more first images projected onto the first surface present first content and the one or more second images projected onto the second surface present second content different from the first content.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the projection screen comprises a handheld, passive projection screen.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the projection screen differs from the second surface of the projection screen.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface of the projection screen are at least one of different colors, different finishes, or different shapes.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the projection screen comprises an electronic component to provide data indicative of a position or an orientation of the projection screen.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the surface detection component is configured to communicate with the electronic component of the projection screen to determine whether the first surface or the second surface of the projection screen is oriented toward the projector.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a camera to capture one or more images of the projection screen; and
the surface detection component is configured to determine whether the first surface or the second surface of the projection screen is oriented toward the projector based at least in part on at least one of the one or more first images or the one or more second images.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the projection screen comprises at least three surfaces.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first content is a first application and the second content is a second application different from the first application.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface detection component is configured to detect a rotation of the projection screen from the first surface to the second surface, and in response to detecting the rotation of the projection screen from the first surface to the second surface, the projector changes from projecting the one or more first images onto the first surface to projecting the one or more second images onto the second surface.

11. A system comprising:
a projection screen having at least a first surface and a second surface; and
a projection system to:
detect a first rate at which a position of the projection screen is adjusted such that the first surface is oriented towards the projection system;
based at least partly on the first rate, project one or more first images onto the first surface of the projection screen;
detect a second rate at which the projection is adjusted such that the second surface is oriented towards the projection system, the second rate being different from the first rate; and
project one or more second images onto the second surface of the projection screen based at least in part on the second rate.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the projection screen comprises a passive display screen.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the projection screen comprises at least three surfaces.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first surface and the second surface of the projection screen are at least one of different surface types, different colors, different shapes, or different finishes.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the projection system comprises a camera to optically detect which of the first surface or the second surface of the projection screen is oriented toward the projection system.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the projection system is configured to detect when a user turns the projection screen to change which of the first surface or the second surface is oriented toward the projection system, and in response, to switch between projecting the one or more first images onto the first surface and the one or more second images onto the second surface depending upon which of the first surface or the second surface is oriented toward the projection system.

17. A projection system comprising:
a projector;
a surface detection component to;
detect a first rate at which a projection screen is adjusted such that a first surface of the projection screen is oriented towards the projector; and
detect a second rate at which the projection screen is adjusted such that a second surface of the projection screen is oriented towards the projector; and

the projector to:
project one or more first images onto the first surface of the projection screen based at least in part on the first rate; and
project one or more second images onto the second surface of the projection screen based at least in part on the second rate.

18. The projection system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more first images correspond to a first application and the one or more second images correspond to a second application different from the first application.

19. The projection system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a camera to capture one or more images of the projection screen; and
the surface detection component is configured to determine whether the first surface or the second surface of the projection screen is oriented toward the projector based at least in part on at least one of the one or more first images or the one or more second images.

20. The projection system of claim 17 , wherein the surface detection component detects a rotation of the projection screen from the first surface to the second surface, and in response to detecting the rotation of the projection screen from the first surface to the second surface, the projector changes from projecting the one or more first images onto the first surface to projecting the one or more second images onto the second surface.

21. A method comprising:
projecting, from a projector, one or more first images onto a first surface of a projection screen;
determining a rate at which the projection screen is moved in a first direction relative to the projector to expose a second surface to the projector; and
projecting, from the projector and based at least partly on the rate, one or more second images onto the second surface of the projection screen.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more first images projected onto the first surface present first content and the one or more second images projected onto the second surface present second content different from the first content.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more first images projected onto the first surface present a first application and the one or more second images projected onto the second surface present a second ap

Assignees

• Shepard Deborah M
• Haskin Menashe
• Bowen James Samuel
• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Shepard Deborah M
• Haskin Menashe
• Bowen James Samuel

Classifications

• G09G3/002 Primary

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

• G06F1/1637 Primary

  Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing · CPC title

• G09G3/001

  using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background (slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP) · CPC title

• G06F1/1645

  the display being suitable to be used in combination with an external overhead projector · CPC title

• G09G2310/02

  Addressing, scanning or driving the display screen or processing steps related thereto · CPC title