# US 9,039,204 B2 ยท Projector having a projector lens part and a cover part > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server โ€” see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,204 B2 - Document ID: US9039204B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/739,482 - Filed: 2008-10-21 - Published: 2011-02-17 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-23 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: Dong Joong Kim - Inventors: Dong Joong Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039204B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/14: Details - G03B 21/00: Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor (devices for changing pictures G03B23/00) - G03B 21/005: {Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto} - G03B 21/145: {Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof} - G06F 1/1605: {Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones} - H04N 9/3141: {Constructional details thereof (details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)} - H04N 9/3173: {wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A thin type projector is disclosed. The thin type projector according to present invention includes a panel part slidingly mounted at the front surface of the housing to open and close the projection lens part selectively. The thin type projector may further include a speaker part installed at the front surface of a housing, the speaker part converting an audio input signal into sound. When the panel part is separated, a lamp as a light source is exposed to the front of the housing. As a result, a user can replace the lamp with a new one conveniently. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A projector comprising: a box-shaped housing, the housing having guide protrusions at a front surface of the housing; a lightening part mounted at the front surface of the housing; a projection lens part mounted at the front surface of the housing; a cover part slidingly mounted at the front surface of the housing to open and close the projection lens part selectively; a speaker part installed at the front surface of the housing, the speaker part being exposable; guide grooves provided at a rear surface of the cover part, the guide protrusions at the front surface of the housing to be inserted into the guide grooves; and locking levers provided at both lower ends of the cover part, the locking levers to close or open holes, the locking levers to prevent the cover part from moving upward when the holes are closed by the locking levers, and the locking levers to enable the cover part to move upward for being separable from the guide protrusions of the housing when the holes are opened by the locking levers, wherein the cover part selectively opens or closes the projection lens part, when the cover part is sliding in a downward direction or an upward direction, and wherein the cover part opens the projection lens part when the cover part slides in a downward direction according to one of an audio signal, a video signal or an on-signal of the projector, and the cover part closes the projection lens part when the cover part slides in an upward direction according to one of an audio signal, a video signal or an off-signal of the projector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the speaker part is provided in plural, the plurality of the speaker parts being spaced apart a predetermined distance in a horizontal direction transverse to the downward direction or the upward direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part opens and closes the projection lens part and the speaker part simultaneously, when the cover part is sliding in the downward direction or the upward direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part opens and closes one of the projection lens part and the speaker part, before the other one of the projection lens part and the speaker part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The projector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the speaker part provided at the front surface of the housing is positioned higher than the projection lens part and when only the audio signal is supplied from the outside of the projector, the cover part is sliding downward to an opening position for opening only the speaker part and when the video signal is inputted from the outside of the projector, the cover part is sliding downward farther to an opening position for opening the projection lens part positioned lower than the speaker part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a predetermined portion of the cover part is projected at the front surface of the housing and the cover part is operated by a pinion gear operated by a motor mounted in the housing and a rack provided at a rear surface of the cover part, the rack engaged with the pinion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of the guide grooves is provided at the rear surface of the cover part to guide the sliding motion of the cover part, and one of the guide protrusions is provided at the front surface of the housing to be inserted in the guide groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein a upward motion prevention switch and a downward motion prevention switch are pressed to turn off the motor when the cover part is sliding, the upward and downward motion prevention switches being projected from the front surface of the housing by a spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding motion range of the cover part is limited by a prevention protrusion provided at one of the front surface of the housing and the rear surface of the cover part, and a limiter provided at the other one of the front surface of the housing and the rear surface of the cover part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part comprises: a front plate exposed forward, the front plate being replaceable; and a liner defining a rear surface of the cover part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The projector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the front plate is made of transparent plastic or glass such that a decorative material is inserted between the front plate and the liner. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is separable from the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The projector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cover part is configured of a display device to display an image identical to the image realized in the projection lens part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is in a first position when the cover part closes the projection lens part, and the cover part is in a second position when the cover part opens the projection lens part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A projector as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first position of the cover part is a higher position in the upward direction than the second position of the cover part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: cut out portions provided at lower ends of the guide grooves, wherein the guide protrusions are configured to have a cross section of a โ€˜โ€™ shape in a horizontal plane, and wherein when the cut out portions of the guide grooves move to the guide protrusions, the cover part is capable of being separated from the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The projector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lightening part includes a lamp light source capable of being replaced, and wherein the cover part is separable from the housing, and when the cover part is separable from the housing, the lamp light source is exposed at the front surface of the housing. ### Claim 18 A projector comprising: a box-shaped housing; a lightening part mounted at a front surface of the housing; a projection lens part mounted at the front surface of the housing; a cover part slidingly mounted at the front surface of the housing to open and close the projection lens part selectively, and a speaker part installed at the front surface of the housing, the speaker part being exposable, wherein the cover part selectively opens or closes the projection lens part or the speaker part, when the cover part is sliding, wherein the speaker part provided at the front surface of the housing is positioned higher than the projection lens part and when only an audio signal is supplied from an outside, the cover part is sliding downward to an opening position for opening only the speaker part and when a video signal is inputted from the outside, the cover part is sliding downward farther to an opening position for opening the projection lens part positioned lower than the speaker part. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A projector as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cover part is in a first position when the cover part closes the projection lens part, the cover part is in a second position when the cover part is in the opening position for opening only the speaker part, and the cover part is in a third position when the cover part is in the opening position for opening the projection lens part that is positioned lower than the speaker part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A projector as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first position of the cover part is in a vertically higher position than the second position of the cover part in the upward direction, and the second position of the cover part is in a vertically higher position in the upward direction than the third position.