Integrated front projection system

(54) INTEGRATED FRONT PROJECTION SYSTEM

(75) Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr.; Dennis F.

Vanderwerf, both of Austin, TX (US)

(73) Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company,

Saint Paul, MN (US)

( * ) Notice: Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this patent shall be extended for 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/261,715

(22) Filed: Mar. 3, 1999

(51) Int. CI.7 G03B 21/14

(52) U.S. CI 353/69; 353/79; 353/119

(58) Field of Search 353/79, 39, 69,

353/70, 119, 122; 248/917, 918, 919, 920

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,979,921 * 11/1934 Wier 353/79

3,940,209 * 2/1976 Portner et al 353/79

3,951,534 * 4/1976 Altaian 353/70

4.012,115 3/1977 Brown 350/128

4,092,064 * 5/1978 Puel 353/79

4,130,352 * 12/1978 Overman et al 353/79

4,156,561 5/1979 Lucas 353/38

4.298,246 11/1981 Iwamura 350/122

4.565,430 1/1986 Grunwald 353/61

4,756,615 * 7/1988 Hildebrand 353/74

4,787,737 * 11/1988 Ogawa et al 353/57

4,911,529 * 3/1990 Van DeVen .

5.096,278 * 3/1992 Yoshioka et al 359/459

5,210,641 5/1993 Lewis 359/448

5,278,596 * 1/1994 Machtig 353/122

5,349,400 * 9/1994 Kaplan et al 353/119

5,624,173 * 4/1997 Davidson 353/119

5,663,817 9/1997 Frapin et al 349/5

5,694,245 12/1997 Goto et al 359/460

6,023,369 2/2000 Goto 359/443

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

1226687A 8/1999 (CN) G03B/21/56

197 12 244

Al 10/1998 (DE) G03B/21/10

0 837 351 A2 4/1998 (EP) G02B/27/28

0 837 351 A3 12/1998 (EP) G02B/27/28

05297465 11/1993 (IP) G03B/21/60

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—-William Dowling

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Nester F. Ho

(57) ABSTRACT

A front projection display system that integrates an optical engine, having control and power supply electronics, and a dedicated projection screen to provide a compact video display device. The projection engine is coupled to a high gain projection screen, having an optimized reflection pattern to give optimum optical performance in ambient light and viewing angle sensitive environments. Components of the projection engine are modularly placed in a retractable arm, pivotally connected to the screen. The arm offers precise registration to the screen apparatus and thus repeatably precisely aligns optically and mechanically to the screen. The projection wall system has an open projection position and a closed storage position. Use of a radically offset projection head having matching keystone correction features allows the arm to protrude above the head of the presenter and offer a sharp and unobtrusive projection zone.

35 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets