FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a projection display for computers, and more particularly, pertains to a projection display for laptop computers or notebook computers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Laptop computers or notebook computers usually utilize an LCD display. The LCD displays associated with laptop computers or notebook computers are not only fragile but add weight to the computer, are electronic, require a finite amount of space, as well as considerable power. For that reason even though the performance of notebook computers has increased in line with battery life, the display screen size still remains relatively small to ensure that the notebook is a truly portable device.

Some laptops are designed to run on battery power only for a relatively short amount of time and depend on there being an electrical connection nearby to power the laptop.

The difficulty faced by many people is that the laptop is indeed their primary computing device and they rely on its portability to provide the advantages a laptop should, that is, easily accessible computing power and a presentation vehicle that does not in the short term depend on outside power. Laptops have also recently become units that provide not only the user but a further audience of the display of data, audio and/or video files. With only a few users looking at the laptop there is sufficient room for everyone to see the end product, such as a video presentation. With a larger audience this is no longer possible, or is only possible with the audience stepping back from the laptop. To overcome this problem laptops have an external video feed that can be connected to a projector device or even a large TV to display their image on the "big screen". Whilst this works well in the office environment it does not work well in an outside environment or indeed in an environment where the user of the laptop has a very short time to present the video file or a PowerPoint presentation without trying to connect to mains power.

Alternatively where there is an easy source of mains power a problem is trying to hook up a projection device to the laptop. Both of these scenarios lead to extra time being taken to setup the laptop and outside projection device, something that is obviously not desirable.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a laptop having an integral projection device that projects the image to be displayed on the LCD screen, or even an alternate one.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned problems or to provide the public with a useful alternative.

The present invention successfully addresses these problems by providing a laptop having an integral projection device. The projection device may alternatively be incorporated into the main body of the laptop, incorporated into the back of the laptop display or housed in a case shaped as the laptop battery device that sits in place of the battery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention could be set to reside in a laptop computer comprising a display screen, a central processing unit connected to the display screen, a data input means, a battery, a cradle for said battery and an image projection device to project an image from the laptop onto a separate surface.

In an alternative embodiment the image projection device is of a shape same as the battery and is substituted into the cradle in place of the battery. Preferably the cradle includes a video output means which connects to a video input means of the image projection device when it is inserted into the cradle. Alternatively the video output means which is connected to a video input means of the image projection device via a cable.

In a further embodiment the image projection device also includes a power means to power both the projection device and the laptop, the image projection device having a power output means and there being a power input means within the cradle to connect to and thereby power the laptop.

In preference the laptop computer includes a recording means for capturing the image projected by the image projection device together with surrounding environs of the projected image. Preferably the recording means is a camera optically aligned with the image projecting device

In preference the laptop computer also in includes an audio capture means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the image projection device before being coupled to the laptop; and Figure 2 illustrates the image projection device of Figure 1 coupled to the laptop.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

It is not intended to discuss laptops in detail. Most readers would appreciate their basic structure such as a housing including a cradle for a removable battery, a pivotable display screen, usually an LCD, a keyboard input, a mouse controller, and numerous ports for connecting peripherals such as hard wired Internet access, USB ports, audio/visual ports and a power input. It is not intended to limit this invention by the above description and it is assumed that most readers would have a basic appreciation of the configuration of laptop computers. In a preferred embodiment (not shown in the drawings) the image projection device is incorporated into the laptop itself during manufacture. In a first instance the device is positioned on the back of the display screen. In a second instance the device is positioned like a peripheral port on the rear of the main housing.

In an alternative embodiment the image projection device is located in the battery cradle in place of the battery. Referring now to the drawings in detail a laptop 10 includes a housing 12 and a display screen 14 (shown folded in this occasion). The laptop is usually connected to main power via removable cable 16. Somewhere at the bottom of the housing is usually a battery that sits within a cradle 18. In this case, the present invention teaches that a second housing 20, of the same shape as the battery, may be housed within the cradle. The second housing includes an internal image projecting device having an outer lens 22 that is adapted to project the same image as that seen on the display screen.

Of course, some laptops can drive at least two "monitors" and it may indeed be the case that the image projecting device may be fed a different video signal to that being display on the main LCD screen.

To provide the video signals to the housing 20, the cradle includes a video output 22 that the housing docks into. Alternatively a conventional video output on the laptop housing is connected to the image projection device via an external cable.

The housing 20 may include other means necessary for the successful operation of the image projection device including internal fans (not shown) that drive air through slits 24 to cool the device. This may be important in some devices that produce a lot of heat through the lamp that is part of the image projection device.

Once the apparatus is setup the image projection device 20 easily projects image 26 that can be controlled by simply moving the laptop around. The reader can now appreciate the advantage of the present invention. The user may, if need be, simply replace the normal battery with the image projection device and present their information to a prospective customer relatively quickly and without having to provide a separate projector device. Obviously, although not shown, it is intended for the projection device to be controllable both in relation to focussing, but also other standard optical adjustment such as key adjustment and the steering of the lens.

In a further embodiment the laptop computer includes the means for recording the image from the projection device along with the surrounding environs as well as audio. This would be of advantage when using the laptop for a presentation as any interaction with the projected image, such as the use of a laser pointer, as well as any discussions during the presentation could be captured for future reference. In this embodiment the laptop includes a microphone as well as a camera that is optically aligned with the image projecting device, but with a larger field of view.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the housing may also include not only the image projection device but also another separate power source so that even when the user replaces the battery with the projection device, there is enough power in the system to power the laptop and the image projection device, albeit for a shorter time. This then becomes a truly independent laptop/image projection device since it does not need external power. Depending on the batteries the laptop may only be for example operable for some 15 to 20 minutes. But in most cases this is enough time for the user to present whatever information they wanted to their customer quickly and easily. Of course, the user may have multiple batteries/image projection devices that they can readily swap over and have simple facilities for recharging in appropriate places, such as their car. The recent invention also provides for an image projection device that may be easily replaceable for the same laptop. If some of the batteries in different laptops were to become of a universal shape then the image projection device may be used on different laptop platforms. This would make it a truly portable device. Other improvements in the projection device are that it may contain an internal memory means so that whatever has been played on the device previously gets stored in the internal memory. Yet other many variations on the theme can be provided and it is not intended to make this specification limiting.

For the purposes of the specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. Also a reference within the specification to document or to prior use is not to be taken as an admission that the disclosure therein constitutes common general knowledge in Australia.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.