System for projecting content to a display surface having user-controlled size, shape and location/direction and apparatus and methods useful in conjunction therewith

Abstract

Image projector apparatus comprising a user input device operative to accept from a user, at least one parameter defining projection of visual content, other than the content itself, and a visual content projector projecting desired visual content, on a surface area, in accordance with the at least one parameter including generating digitally modified visual content from the desired visual content such that the digitally modified visual content, when projected on the surface area, represents the content in accordance with the at least one parameter.

1 . Image projector apparatus comprising:
 a user input device operative to accept from a user, at least one parameter defining projection of visual content, other than the content itself; and   a visual content projector projecting desired visual content, on a surface area, in accordance with said at least one parameter including generating digitally modified visual content from said desired visual content such that said digitally modified visual content, when projected on said surface area, represents said content in accordance with said at least one parameter.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises a user-selected surface area at a user-given location. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said visual content projector is operative to save said at least one parameter as a bookmark and to retrieve said parameter and project future visual content accordingly, responsive to user selection of said bookmark. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said surface area is not orthogonal to the optical path of the projector and wherein the system is operative to project an image having any shape S on said surface area without distorting said shape S. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said shape S comprises a rectangle. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said visual content projector defines a rectangular display area included in said surface and projects the visual content onto said rectangular display area as a rectangular projection display. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises a user-preferred size of the surface area and wherein said visual content projector reduces/expand the projection responsively to the user's preferred size of surface area. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises a user-preferred shape of the surface area and wherein the system is operative to project an image having any shape S onto said user-preferred shape. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said visual content projector generates a virtual input device for at least one of the following electronic systems serving the user: a telephone, computer, television, remote control device, audio player, smart home application, including:
 projecting content representing a user interface controlling at least some functionality of the electronic system, accepting at least one of: 
 a. a user's remote selection of at least one location within the projected content corresponding to a user-selected input option within the user interface, and 
 b. A user's touch selection of at least one location within the projected content, corresponding to the user-selected input option, and 
 transmitting the user-selected input option to the electronic system. 
 
     
     
         10 . An image projection method comprising:
 Providing a user input device operative to accept from a user, at least one parameter defining projection of visual content, other than the content itself; and   Providing a visual content projector projecting desired visual content, on a surface area, in accordance with said at least one parameter including generating digitally modified visual content from said desired visual content such that said digitally modified visual content, when projected on said surface area, represents said content in accordance with said at least one parameter.   
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises a wearable input device operative to control an electronic system, the input device comprising:
 a wearable substrate; 
 an IR laser source mounted on said wearable substrate and operative to emit a laser beam impinging on a screen at a location whose coordinates depend on motion of the user wearing the input device; and 
 a laser spot detector operative to detect coordinates of said location within said screen and accordingly to control said electronic system. 
 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises an IR-based apparatus for controlling an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 an IR camera configured to be mountable on an electronic device, the electronic device having an input area, the IR camera's field of view including said input area, the IR camera being operative to sense IR signals generated by an input device worn on at least one user's hand, when said hand is operating on said input area; and 
 a controlling functionality operative to receive said IR signals from said IR camera and to control said electronic device accordingly. 
 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises a wearable input device serving a human user, the device comprising:
 a wearable substrate; and 
 at least one force sensor mounted on said wearable substrate and operative to sense pressure patterns applied by the human user which mimics the pressure patterns the human user would apply to a mouse button; and 
 a controlling functionality operative to receive signals, indicative of said pressure, from said force sensor and to control a normally cursor-based electronic device accordingly, including commanding the electronic device to respond to each pressure pattern applied by the human user, as it would respond to the same pressure pattern were it to have been applied by the human user to a cursor-based input device operating said electronic device. 
 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises wearable input apparatus operative to provide multi-touch control of an electronic system when said apparatus is worn by a human user, the input apparatus comprising:
 a first wearable input device operative to control the electronic system when mounted on the human user's right hand; and 
 a second wearable input device which is a mirrored copy of the first wearable input device and is operative to control the electronic system when mounted on the human user's left hand. 
 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises wearable input apparatus operative to control an electronic system when worn by a human user, the input apparatus comprising:
 a finger-wearable substrate configured to be mounted on a user's finger and having a tip portion configured to be mounted on the user's finger tip; and 
 a force sensing device mounted on said tip portion and including at least one force sensor and being operative to sense pressure applied by the human user's thumb when the user presses thumb to finger, and to control said electronic system at least partly in accordance with at least one characteristic of said pressure. 
 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  and wherein said force sensing device comprises an annular substrate configured to pivot around the user's finger on which a plurality of force sensors are mounted, such that, by rotating said annular substrate, the user selectably positions any of said plurality of force sensors at a location on his finger tip which is accessible to his thumb. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a wearable input device which is operative in any of a selectable plurality of interactive environments. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a wearable input device operative to control an electronic system, the providing comprising:
 providing an IR laser source mounted on a wearable substrate and operative to emit a laser beam impinging on a screen at a location whose coordinates depend on motion of the user wearing the input device; and 
 providing a laser spot detector operative to detect coordinates of said location within said screen and accordingly to control said electronic system. 
 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said visual content projector is operative to project, in real time, contents shown on a display screen of a user selected electronic system. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 14  operative to distinguish between input streams emanating from each of the user's hands and to handle both of said input streams concurrently. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said annular substrate comprises at least one light source selectably triggered by at least one of said force sensors respectively. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one LED. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said laser spot detector comprises an IR camera arranged such that its field of view includes said screen. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said screen may comprise a projected screen and said laser spot detector may be mounted on a projector projecting said projected screen. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein said projector comprises an image projector in a handheld device. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said laser spot detector comprises an optic-sensitive functionality of the screen itself. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said electronic system comprises a computer. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said electronic system comprises a portable communication device. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said screen comprises a physical screen. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said laser source comprises an IR laser source. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 23  having at least two user-selectable modes of operation including a remote mode of operation utilizing said laser source and said laser spot detector and a touch mode of operation. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein said touch mode of operation utilizes:
 a light source mounted on the wearable input device and activated by an actual touching of the screen by the user; 
 a sensor which senses a location of the light source and 
 a controller which receives the light source location from the sensor and controls the electronic system accordingly. 
 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein selectability of said selectable modes is activated by a human user who pinches thumb to finger. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein selectability of said selectable modes is activated by a human user who operates a two-manner press functionality of a pressable element on the wearable input device. 
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein said screen is projected from the front. 
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein said screen is projected from the rear. 
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said controlling functionality is also operative to receive signals, indicative of a mouse-sliding operation simulated by said wearable substrate and to control a normally mouse-operated electronic device accordingly, including commanding the electronic device to respond to each mouse-sliding operation simulated by the human user using said substrate, as it would respond to the same mouse-sliding operation were it to have been applied by the human user to a mouse operating said electronic device. 
     
     
         38 . Apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said first and second wearable input devices are enantiomers which are mirror images of each other. 
     
     
         39 . Apparatus according to  claim 14  and also comprising an optical sensor operative to simultaneously sense positions of a plurality of light points generated by both input devices simultaneously. 
     
     
         40 . Apparatus according to  claim 14  and also comprising a controlling application operative for simultaneously receiving and simultaneously processing positions of a plurality of light points generated by both input devices simultaneously and for controlling a host device accordingly. 
     
     
         41 . Apparatus according to  claim 39  wherein said optical sensor comprises an IR sensor and said light points generated by both input devices simultaneously comprise IR light points. 
     
     
         42 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises a touchless user input system comprising:
 a rear projection unit located at the bottom of a surface which projects onto the surface at an angle acute enough to accommodate the small distance between the screen and the projecting unit; 
 a wearable input device emitting light; and 
 a rear optical sensor located behind the screen e.g. adjacent the projecting unit, which is operative to see said light emitted by said wearable input unit. 
 
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 42  and also comprising a force sensing actuator on said wearable input device which triggers emission of said light. 
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 42  wherein a user joins thumb and finger together adjacent a desired screen location, said light comprises IR light which impinges upon the surface at said desired screen location and wherein said rear sensor detects the points on the screen from which the laser beams are scattering. 
     
     
         45 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said IR laser source comprises a near-IR laser source. 
     
     
         46 . Apparatus according to  claim 36  wherein the remote mode of operation utilizes a LED as a light source and wherein said screen comprises a physical screen and said sensor is pointing at the user. 
     
     
         47 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises a wearable input device which includes an optic sensor and which, when worn by a human user, provides inputs to an electronic device, the input device having a first operating mode in which the optic sensor points at a screen and a second operating mode in which the optic sensor points at the user. 
     
     
         48 . An input device according to  claim 47  wherein said screen comprises a projected screen. 
     
     
         49 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device comprises a wearable input device which, when worn by a human user, provides inputs to an electronic device, the input device having a “touch” operating mode in which the human user presses a screen which is not a touch-screen and the electronic device is controlled as though said screen were a touch screen. 
     
     
         50 . Apparatus according to  claim 33  which provides to a human user an experience as though the user were holding a cursor with thumb and forefinger and moving said cursor. 
     
     
         51 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said user input device comprises a wearable input device which, when worn by a human user, provides inputs to an electronic device, the input device having a “touch” operating mode in which the human user presses a screen and the electronic device is controlled as though said screen were a touch screen; and a remote operating mode in which the human user interacts with the screen remotely from afar. 
     
     
         52 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said user input device comprises a wearable input device which is operative in any of a selectable plurality of interactive environments. 
     
     
         53 . Apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein said plurality of environments includes a front projected screen environment. 
     
     
         54 . Apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein said plurality of environments includes a rear projected screen environment. 
     
     
         55 . An input device according to  claim 52  wherein said plurality of environments includes a desktop computer environment. 
     
     
         56 . An input device according to  claim 52  wherein said plurality of environments includes a laptop computer environment. 
     
     
         57 . An input device according to  claim 52  wherein said plurality of environments includes a mobile device with an embedded pico projector. 
     
     
         58 . An input device according to  claim 52  wherein said plurality of environments includes a interactive surface environment. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing IR-based apparatus for controlling an electronic device, including:
 providing an IR camera configured to be mountable on an electronic device, the electronic device having an input area, the IR camera's field of view including said input area, the IR camera being operative to sense IR signals generated by an input device worn on at least one user's hand, when said hand is operating on said input area; and 
 providing a controlling functionality operative to receive said IR signals from said IR camera and to control said electronic device accordingly. 
 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a wearable input device serving a human user, including:
 mounting at least one force sensor on a wearable substrate, wherein said force sensor is operative to sense pressure patterns applied by the human user which mimics the pressure patterns the human user would apply to a mouse button; and 
 providing a controlling functionality operative to receive signals, indicative of said pressure, from said force sensor and to control a normally cursor-based electronic device accordingly, including commanding the electronic device to respond to each pressure pattern applied by the human user, as it would respond to the same pressure pattern were it to have been applied by the human user to a cursor-based input device operating said electronic device. 
 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing wearable input apparatus operative to provide multi-touch control of an electronic system when said apparatus is worn by a human user, including:
 providing a first wearable input device operative to control the electronic system when mounted on the human user's right hand; and 
 providing a second wearable input device which is a mirrored copy of the first wearable input device and is operative to control the electronic system when mounted on the human user's left hand. 
 
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing wearable input apparatus operative to control an electronic system when worn by a human user, including:
 providing a finger-wearable substrate configured to be mounted on a user's finger and having a tip portion configured to be mounted on the user's finger tip; and 
 mounting a force sensing device on said tip portion, the force sensing device including at least one force sensor and being operative to sense pressure applied by the human user's thumb when the user presses thumb to finger, and to control said electronic system at least partly in accordance with at least one characteristic of said pressure. 
 
     
     
         63 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said user input device includes IR-based apparatus for controlling an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
 an IR camera configured to be mountable on an electronic device, the electronic device having an input area, the IR camera's field of view including said input area, the IR camera being operative to sense IR signals generated by an input device worn on at least one user's hand, when said hand is operating on said input area; and 
 a controlling functionality operative to receive said IR signals from said IR camera and to control said electronic device accordingly, 
 wherein wireless communication actuators on the input device send signals directly to said electronic device. 
 
     
     
         64 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a touchless user input system, including:
 providing a rear projection unit located at the bottom of a surface which projects onto the surface at an angle acute enough to accommodate the small distance between the screen and the projecting unit; 
 providing a wearable input device emitting light; and 
 providing a rear optical sensor operative to be disposed behind the screen e.g. adjacent the projecting unit, which is operative to see said light emitted by said wearable input unit. 
 
     
     
         65 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a wearable input device, including:
 providing a wearable input device which includes an optic sensor and which, when worn by a human user, provides inputs to an electronic device, the input device having a first operating mode in which the optic sensor points at a screen and a second operating mode in which the optic sensor points at the user. 
 
     
     
         66 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a wearable input device, including:
 providing a wearable input device which, when worn by a human user, provides inputs to an electronic device, the input device having a “touch” operating mode in which the human user presses a screen which is not a touch-screen and the electronic device is controlled as though said screen were a touch screen. 
 
     
     
         67 . A method according to  claim 10  and also comprising providing a wearable input device, including:
 providing a wearable input device which, when worn by a human user, provides inputs to an electronic device, the input device having: 
 a “touch” operating mode in which the human user presses a screen and the electronic device is controlled as though said screen were a touch screen; and 
 a remote operating mode in which the human user interacts with the screen remotely from afar. 
 
     
     
         68 . Apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said light source comprises a LED. 
     
     
         69 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the communication between the electronic system and its user interface employs a known protocol and wherein transmitting includes impersonating said user interface to said electronic system. 
     
     
         70 . Apparatus according to  claim 69  wherein said user interface comprises a remote control device and said protocol comprises at least one of RC5 and RC6.
 When a remote control device, of an environment e.g. electronic device with which the user desires to interact, uses an IR communication protocol, a remote control setup process typically is provided in which the system is informed where the environment's IR sensor is located. 
 
     
     
         71 . Apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said user interface comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
         72 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and having at least two user-selectable modes of operation including a remote mode of operation. 
     
     
         73 . Apparatus according to any of the preceding apparatus claims and also comprising a state selector selecting between modes of operation of said apparatus and wherein said state selector is controlled by a manual operation by the user in which the user presses together his thumb and a finger wearing said input device. 
     
     
         74 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said visual content project includes more than one projecting unit respectively projecting at least first and second visual contents on respective at least first and second surface areas. 
     
     
         75 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and also comprising a video camera. 
     
     
         76 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and also comprising at least one speaker generating at least one audio presentation of at least one apparatus output. 
     
     
         77 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and also comprising microphones to receive voice commands from the user. 
     
     
         78 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and also comprising at least one light source which enable communication with at least one electronic system which employs optic communication. 
     
     
         79 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  wherein said light source comprise at least one of an IR LED and a laser. 
     
     
         80 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  wherein said electronic system which employs optic communication comprises at least one of a TV, air conditioner, and a counterpart image projector apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         81 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the system is operative to route between different visual projection environments including projecting and controlling an individual environment from among several visual projection environments at each individual moment according to a user's selection of environment. 
     
     
         82 . Apparatus according to  claim 81  wherein said visual projection environment includes at least one of: a visual projection task; a visual projection application; and an interaction, including at least one visual projection operation, with an electronic system. 
     
     
         83 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the system is operative to analyze topography of a room and, responsively, to alter at least one projection characteristic governing said projector's projection of said desired visual content, to achieve a desired shape. 
     
     
         84 . Apparatus according to  claim 83  wherein the system uses short length sonar wave technology to achieve alteration of said projection characteristic of the screen. 
     
     
         85 . Apparatus according to  claim 84  wherein the system uses depth sensing cameras to achieve alteration of said projection characteristic of the screen. 
     
     
         86 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  which is operative to accept from a user, and save, at least one bookmarks each including at least one attribute of a plurality of agents and to subsequently and selectably request all of said agents' attributes together. 
     
     
         87 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a rear projection screen is operative to be extracted upon request. 
     
     
         88 . Apparatus according to  claim 87  wherein said rear projection screen is also interactive by content and place. 
     
     
         89 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  which includes RTLS (real time locating system) functionality informing the system where a user thereof is located. 
     
     
         90 . Apparatus according to  claim 89  wherein the system is operative to selectably project content only within a defined vicinity around the user. 
     
     
         91 . Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein each of a plurality of units can move independently relative to others from among the plurality of units. 
     
     
         92 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  wherein said plurality of units comprises a plurality of Projecting units within said visual content projector. 
     
     
         93 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  wherein said plurality of units comprises a plurality of Video camera units 
     
     
         94 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  wherein said plurality of units comprises a plurality of IR sensor units. 
     
     
         95 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  wherein said plurality of units comprises a plurality of IR emitter units. 
     
     
         96 . A. computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement any of the methods shown and described herein. 
     
     
         97 . A computer usable medium on which resides a controlling functionality according to any of the preceding claims.