TITLE OF INVENTION

PORTABLE PERSONAL COMPUTER WITH EMBEDDED VIDEO PROJECTION EQUIPMENT

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

This request of patent for industrial invention has for object a system made by the union of two equipments, a portable personal computer and a video projector, that at the moment exist and are commercially available only as separate units.

In this document, such equipments will be conventionally named as "personal computer" (or simply "PC") and "video projector" considering that such naming goes in no way to limit the generality of the cases in which the invented

system is applicable, that is including any of the multiple configurations, sizes and technical characteristics that are provided by today's technologies.

BACKGROUND ART

Portable computers are electronic systems which have reached very high performances combined with small size and weight, thanks to continuously improved miniaturization driven by modern electronic technologies. Due to of these characteristics, they encounter growing spread mainly thanks to the high usefulness and ease of use

Video projectors are equipments that allows to project on a screen, which can by example consist of a simple wall where image size can reach several meters, the images that normally appears on television screens or computer displays, as well as CRT (cathode rays tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) or other. Even in the case of video projectors, technology has pushed on the market a wide variety of types and models, which can be used in several situations in order to realize entertainment, multimedia communication, public presentations, etc.

Usually, video projectors have different input interfaces that allow quick access to different devices, such as televisions, DVD players, computers, etc.

More specifically, the connection to- a Personal Computer, both desktop or portable ones, uses the same type of interface that is used for connecting a monitor (in the case of portable PC it is an external monitor), this can be an analog interface (VGA for example) and / or digital one (DVI for example), and the connection is accomplished through an appropriate cable with standard connectors for the kind of interface used.

Although connecting a video projector to a personal computer is a relatively simple task thanks to the standardization of interfaces, particularly when connecting to a portable PC it involves connection of many different cables (audio, video, power, etc.), so always implies a possibility of error and carries the risk of damaging the equipment as well. Moreover, the need for cables requires large surfaces for placement of the equipments, in this way limiting the usability of this kind of equipment when there is a few of space available.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The invention described here consists of a new system formed by a Portable Computer with a built-in system for video projection, useful in all those circumstances where it is necessary to share and show to many persons the

content displayed on a PC monitor, or submit them to a more or less numerous audience.

The limits of current systems can be overcome by this invention, through several technical solutions that determine the originality and the specificity of it.

Assuming for example the system shown in Figure 1 , without limiting in any way the generality of the following, the invention consists in including the video-projector (1) on the monitor of a portable PC (2), typically consisting of a liquid crystal display (LCD) (3) mounted on a reclining support that makes it possible placement with different angles to reach the best comfort for the user.

The main parts that make up a system of video, as shown in Figure 2, are the light source (4), the active element which forms the image to be projected (6), which may be a transmitting type (as in Figure 2) or reflective and, at the state of the art, can be made by using different technologies such as a miniature LCD panel, the objective (5) consists of one or more optical lenses which allow for focusing the image projected on the screen.

Usually in front of the light source (4) there are one or more lenses (7) which are used to condense the emitted light and can be separated or embedded in the light source. At the end, an objective (8) provides focusing of light beams to obtain clear and high-resolution images on the screen.

In commercially available video projectors above elements can be arranged in many different configurations. Furthermore, there is a device, usually consisting of a microprocessor controlled digital electronic circuit, which processes the input signal in order to form the image on the active element (6).

The idea behind the present invention is to arrange the components of the video projector in such a way that it can be embedded into a computer monitor, thus realizing a single apparatus that will be easily transportable and easy to use.

By way of example, and without limiting in any way the generality of the following, the arrangement shown in figure 2 can realize a video projector whose size and shape are appropriate to ensure the portability of the whole system. This solutions is characterized by the presence of a mirror (8), properly angled, which provides the steering (5) of the light beam generated by the source (4) together with the active element (6). By using such mirror, it is possible to keep the computer monitor in the open position that is convenient for the user and at the same time addressing the projection- to a wall or a vertical screen.

As stated above, the explained one isn't the only arrangement possible; for example, the mirror-based projection device could be easily placed also near the keyboard of the computer or in other position on the case of PC.

Another important element to be pointed out is that such arrangements permit also to make removable the projection equipment, thus realizing a feature that could be very useful for ease of transport.

By the point of view of operation, the video projector represents a second monitor connected to the PC. Usually, two display devices are used alternatively one another, however, depending on the characteristics of PC video adapter, you can make them work even at the same time, thus permitting a more comfortable simultaneous vision by public and the operator of the PC.

With appropriate technical arrangements both in hardware and in software, whose feasibility is assured under the current state of information technology, it is also possible to separate the two display devices, thus obtaining the sending of different contents on the projector screen and on computer monitor. In such a way, the speaker who uses the PC keyboard could, for example, send the projection of movies and images and, at the same time, have a guide-text displayed on the monitor for his own use, avoiding that the same text could be visible even to other spectators.

Moreover, it should be pointed out that embedding the projection system allows for a great simplification of computer interface electronics, because the video adapter in the computer can also control the active element (6) of the projector, thus achieving a significant savings in terms of size, energy consumption and cost.

The main advantages of the proposed invention, related to the unique and innovative elements that it brings to the state of the art, can be summarised as follows:

S simplicity of the system

^■ / the system is characterized for a high ease of use, thanks to the fact that the user has to manage a single apparatus;

S the system can be very quickly put into operation almost anywhere;

S the equipment can be used without the need for connecting cables and / or connection to the electricity power grid;

S video optics, can be directed towards the projection screen in order to ensure at the same time a comfortable vision both to the PC user and the audience

V optics can be produced either of removable type, in order to be removed from the PC and reduce the space during transport, as well with reduced thickness, for example built within the monitor of the PC;

S it is possible to realize the system by using a variety of devices and different technologies; s the embedded system can reach a cost significantly lower than the sum of costs of a PC plus video projector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The object of this invention can be easily understood by observing the attached drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows the concept of the proposed invention, representing a video projection system (1 ) embedded in the LCD monitor (3) of a portable personal computer (2).

FIG. 2 shows an hypothetical realization of the proposed system, only by example to make easier the understanding of this invention. In figure are represented: the light source (4), the lenses (7) and the image forming active element (6) placed in front of the source (4).

By means of a mirror (8), the light beam is deviated towards a screen or wall (not represented). In front of the mirror there is an adjustable objective (5) which serves to focus the light beam.

The dashed line and arrow represent the direction of light beam generated by video projector, angulated in such a way that it is possible to maintain the PC monitor in open position, to be easily readable.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode to carry out the invention should consist in developing some prototypes of the system, having the goal to experiment several available technological alternatives which can be suitable for realizing the proposed equipment.

Above prototypes will be easily made on the basis of commercially available devices with appropriate modifications, so that r&d phase will require no much time or high expenses.

After completion of r&d activities, it will be possible to design and begin production on an industrial scale of the equipment disclosed by the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The industrial applicability can be clearly deducted from the description and nature of the proposed invention. Moreover, it can be developed and produced using many well-known technologies to realize new low-cost equipment which can offer many advantages to PC users with respect to equipments available today.