Apparatus and method for focusing a projected image
AssigneeSiemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
InventorsShmuel Shaffer, William Joseph Beyda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method controlling a projected image (24) is provided. The apparatus (10) includes a detector (16) that tracks a visual pointer (22) appearing on a projection screen (20). The visual pointer (22) is positioned on the image (24) by a viewer. The visual pointer (22) can be generated by a computer cursor, or a light pen or laser pointer (12). The detector (16) generates a position signal indicating the location of the pointer (22). An auto-focus device (18) focuses the portion of the image (24) referenced by the visual pointer (22) as a function of the position signal. To focus the image portion, the auto-focus device (18) positions a projector lens (26) based on the measured image contrast within the selected image portion.
Claims21
An apparatus for displaying a slide image, comprising:
- means for tracking a visual pointer appearing on a screen, the visual pointer being positioned by a viewer to reference a portion of a slide image, the tracking means generating a position signal representative of the visual pointer location;
- and
- means for projecting the slide image onto the screen, the projecting means including an auto-focus means for focusing the slide image as a function of the position signal.
An apparatus for controlling the focus point of an image projected onto a surface, comprising:
- a detector configured to respond to a visual pointer appearing on a surface, the visual pointer being positioned by a viewer to reference a portion of the image, the detector generating a position signal representative of the visual pointer location;
- and
- an auto-focus device configured to focus the portion of the image referenced by the visual pointer as a function of the position signal.
An apparatus for displaying an image at a remote location, comprising:
- a projector for projecting an image onto a surface;
- a detector configured to respond to a visual pointer appearing on the surface, the visual pointer referencing a portion of the image, the detector generating a position signal representative of the location of the visual pointer;
- an auto-focus device configured to focus the portion of the image referenced by the visual pointer as a function of the position signal;
- and
- a video conferencing system for displaying the image at the remote location.
A method for focusing an image, comprising the steps of:
- projecting an image onto a screen using a projector;
- projecting a visual pointer onto the screen to reference a portion of the image;
- generating a position signal representative of the location of the visual pointer on the screen;
- and
- auto-focusing the image based on the position signal.
A method for focusing an image, comprising the steps of:
- projecting an image onto a screen using a projector;
- projecting a visual pointer onto the screen to reference a portion of the image;
- generating a position signal representative of the location of the visual pointer on the screen;
- focusing the image based on the position signal;
- and
- receiving the visual pointer from a remote location via a communications network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.