WO2008117100A1

WO2008117100A1 - A media player comprising a detachable projector

Info

Publication number: WO2008117100A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/001913
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gert Frederik Meyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-27
Filing date: 2007-07-09
Publication date: 2008-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-27
Also published as: WO2008117101A1; WO2008117102A1; WO2008117103A1; WO2008117098A1

Abstract

A media player is provided having a projector integral therewith. In one embodiment the projector is detachable from the media player. In a further embodiment the projector is adjustably secured to the media player and may also be detached therefrom.

Description

A MEDIA PLAYER COMPRISING A DETACHABLE PROJECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a media player.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Portable media player are becoming increasingly popular. These devices are usually hard disk or flash memory based and capable of storing and playing back one or more types of media format. Typically audio and video, usually in software format, are played on these. The audio file formats include MP3, AAC/M4A, Protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, Audible audiobook, Apple Lossless, Ogg Vorvis, FLAC and Microsoft WMA. Video file formats include JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG, MPEG-4 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) and QuickTime.

The most popular portable media player include the Apple iPod, Creative ZEN, Sony Walkman, Toshiba Gigabeat, Microsoft Zune and Samsung Yepp.

Often these include other features, including a calendar and contact list.

At present viewing of images or video is limited to a small, integral screen which some portable media players have. Media players do, however, include devices such as video tape and DVD players, video on demand (VOD) units and digital video recorders (DVR's) which are not necessarily intended to be primarily stationary. A more recent media player is the "Apple TV" which is a digital media receiver designed to play digital content originating from any Mac OS X or Windows computer on an enhanced- or high-definition widescreen television. These devices are all limited in that it is necessary to have a television available for media to be viewed on.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a media player which at least partially alleviates some of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a media player having a projector integral therewith, characterised in that the projector is detachable from the portable media player and configured to project images relating to media playing on the media player.

Further features of the invention provide for the media player to be in wired or wireless communication with the projector; for the projector to be paired to the media player; and for each of the projector and media player to have a processor.

Still further features of the invention provide for each of the projector and media player to have a power supply, preferably one or more batteries; for the each of the projector and the power supply to include means for recharging the or each battery; and for the batteries to be rechargeable through wired or wireless means.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the media player to be portable; for the media player to have a display, preferably an LCD display, integral therewith; for images to be switchable between the projector and the display, alternately simultaneously directed to both; further alternately for each of the display and projector to present different images.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the projector to have a speaker associated therewith; for the speaker to form part of a surround sound system; for the media player to have one or more further speakers detachable therefrom; and for the projector to be adjustably secured to a base.

A still further feature of the invention provide for the projector to be adjustably secured to the media player.

The invention also provides a media player having a projector adjustably secured thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable media player having a projector integral therewith; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the portable media player in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a further perspective view of the portable media player in Figure 1 in use with a docking station; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the portable media player and docking station; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a media player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A portable media player (1) is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and, in this embodiment, has a flat, box-like body (2) with colour liquid crystal display (4) (LCD) and a set of controls (6) on one side thereof. A processor (8), storage device (10), in this embodiment a hard disk drive, and batteries (12) to provide power are located internally of the body (2). An external connection (14) is provided for connecting the portable media player (1) to a computer (not shown) or other peripheral device such as a battery charger (not shown). A jack (16) for a set of earphones (18) is also provided in the body (2). Thus far the portable media player (1) is of conventional configuration.

According to the invention the portable media player (1) includes an integral projector (20) which enables images to be projected onto a screen (21) or other surface. Typically these images will be those that are normally displayed on the LCD (4), such as video material, photographs and the like.

The projector (20) is secured in a housing (22) which is detachable from the body (2). The housing (22) is disc-like with a semi-circular shape with the projector (20) located at the straight end (23). A complementary, semi-circular socket (24) is provided in the body (2) in which the housing (22) is releasably secured by securing formations (26). These may be disengaged to release the projector (20) by depressing a button (27) on the body (2). The securing formations (26) are located in a collar (28) which defines the socket (24) which is hingedly secured at its ends (29) to the body (2) in a complementary opening. The reason for this will become apparent from the description with reference to Figure 3.

The body (2) has a set of contacts (30) in the socket (24) which cooperate with corresponding contacts (31) on the projector (20) through which communication occurs with the projector (20) secured in the body (2). However, both the body (2) and the projector (20) also include wireless communications means (32, 33) for communicating when the projector (20) is separated from the body (2). In this embodiment, both use a Bluetooth wireless communication protocol which is automatically activated upon removal from the body (2) and deactivated once the devices are secured together.

The Bluetooth devices (32, 33) of the projector (20) and the body (2) are paired to ensure secure communication between the two and to obviate difficulties with similar devices being used in proximity to these.

The projector (20) also has a processor (34) which is configured to operate in tandem with the processor (8) to enhance processing speeds. They could also be configured to provide redundancy or be configured to operate sequentially. The latter may be useful where bandwidth is limited and initial processing takes place in the body and the final processing takes place in the projector.

The projector (20) is also provided with a power supply (36), in this embodiment also a battery, and an individual charging port (not shown) for receiving an external charger (not shown). It is foreseen that a wireless charging facility, such as that provided by Powercast, could also be used. Whilst secured to the body (2), however, the battery (36) is charged through the contacts (30, 31). The housing (22) is further secured to a base (38) of similar shape through a ball and socket joint (40). The projector (20) can thus be adjusted with respect to the base (38).

A speaker (42) is also provided in the housing (22) and is operable by the processor (34).

In use, the projector (20) can be detached from the body (2), the base (38) supported on a suitable surface and the housing (22) suitably adjusted to ensure that the projector (20) correctly projects onto the screen (21) or other surface, such as a wall. In detaching the projector (20) from the body (2) it is automatically activated and the Bluetooth connection initiated as described above.

Hereafter media can be played on the portable media player (1) in the normal manner, using the controls (6) where necessary, whilst images associated with the media, or relating to other media stored on the hard disk drive (10) are projected onto the screen (21) through information transmitted between the two over the Bluetooth connection. The projector greatly enhances the size and quality of images which in turn enhances the entertainment value of the portable media player. This also enables a number of people to view the images. The further advantage offered by this arrangement is that the body (2) can be moved about without affecting the image being projected.

Providing the speaker (42) in the projector housing (22) allows a surround sound effect to be achieved and games software can be adapted to maximize the benefits of this feature. It is envisaged that the portable media player may be provided with further detachable speakers, preferably wirelessly connected thereto, to further enhance the surround sound effect. Where is it not possible to conveniently project an image using the projector (20), such as in a motor vehicle, the display (4) can be used in conventional fashion and the projector simply switched off using the controls (6).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the portable media player (1) can be used with a docking station (50) in conventional fashion. In this embodiment the docking station (50) includes a set of speakers (52) and a central slot (54) for receiving the lower end of the portable media player, again in known fashion. This is useful where it is desired to play music to a number of listeners or where it is simply not desired to use the earphones (18).

With the portable media player (1) supported by the docking station (50), it is possible to adjust the projector (20) by pivoting the collar (28) in the body (2). A suitable projection area (56) can thus be selected on which, for example, a video can be viewed. This feature greatly enhances the functionality of the portable media player (1) as it was previously only possible for music to be played to an audience with viewing of images limited to what could be displayed on the LCD.

It is envisaged that the projector (20) could be adjustable within the collar (28), for example by securing only the base (38) to the collar (28) such that the projector (20) can still move relative to the base (38). With the projector (20) secured to the portable media player (1) communication preferably occurs through the contacts (30, 31) rather than the Bluetooth connection.

This configuration still permits the projector (20) to be independently positioned from the portable media player (1). For example where the portable media player (1) is connected to the docking station (50) inside a room it may be desired to project a video image in another room or outside.

The projector (20) is of miniature construction and, in this embodiment, makes use of laser technology, such as the PicoP unit supplied by Microvision, and permits a larger image to be projected than may be obtained on an internal display. As the projector (20) is adjustably secured to the portable media player (1) it enables a user to select or change a projection area without having to move or adjust the body (2). Also, by providing the portable media player (1) with a projector greatly expands the uses to which it can be put.

It will be appreciated, however, that many other embodiments of a media player exist which fall within the scope of the invention particularly as regards the type of projector, the manner and location in which it is secured to the media player and the configuration and features of the projector and media player. For example, the projector can operate using any suitable technology including LED's and high intensity bulbs or globes, and the media player can be provided with added functionality to enable other software to be run thereon.

An infrared transceiver (not shown) could similarly be provided to enable communication with similarly equipped peripheral devices. However, the portable media player could communicate with other similar portable media players in wireless fashion, through for example a Wibree device. In such an event both or all users can either use a single projector, separate projectors or even use the projector to project one image with individual user views being displayed on their touch screens.

It is also envisaged that the projector will be capable of projecting images for more than one player at a time, preferably in different projection areas. This may be achieved using a single projector or more than one projector in a single housing.

Also, the media player need not be portable and can have any suitable configuration and capabilities. As shown in Figure 5, a media player (60), in this embodiment a personal video recorder (PVR) with DVD player, has a box-like body (62) with a DVD tray (64) and controls (not shown) in its front panel (66) and which contains the further conventional processor, hard disk drive and circuitry (not shown) to enable television programmes to be recorded and played and for DVD to be played. The back panel (68) has plug points (70) to enable the media player (60) to be connected to a television (not shown) and other peripheral devices (not shown).

A socket (72) is also provided in the back panel (70) in which a projector (74) is detachably secured. The projector (74) is similar to that described above with and is secured in a housing (76) adjustably secured to a base (78) with a similar wireless connection between the projector (74) and media player (60).

The media player (1) and projector (74) can be controlled through a dedicated remote control unit (80) or a suitably configured mobile telephone (not shown) , or even through voice commands. It is envisaged that the projector (74) will be adjustable within the body (62) in the event it is desired to make use of it whilst so secured and that such adjustment could occur through the remote control unit (80).

Media running on the media player (60), such a DVD's or recorded television programmes, can be projected through the projector (74) as described above. The media player (60) thus obviates the need for a television. This allows the media player to be easily moved about and it is further not necessary to limit positioning of the media player to proximity to a television.

It will be appreciated that further embodiments of both a projector and media player exist which fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the projector housing need not be adjustably secured to a base. Alternately it could simply be provided with a threaded socket to receive a tripod which itself could be housed in the body of the media player. Also, any suitable wireless or wired communication means can be used between the projector and body. Furthermore, the projector can communicate with the media player through a wireless connection which does not require close proximity of both units. For example, the projector could communicate with the media player through a communications network, using a GSM, WiFi or other suitable connection, thus enabling the projector and media player to be separated by large distance.

Clearly any suitable means of attaching or detaching the projector to the body can be used. However, the projector may simply be adjustably secured to the media player where the media player is intended to be primarily stationary, as in the embodiment described with reference to Figure 5. To this end, the projector could be secured in a ball and socket mount with motors controlling movement thereof to effect adjustments in projection area.

It is envisaged that the projector will be capable of connecting independently to other devices, such as mobile telephones and computers, should it be required. Also, any suitable display can be used, not necessarily an LCD display, should one be desired.

Providing the projector integral with the media player but detachable therefrom promotes portability and ease of use as it obviates the need to carry separate units about and to link the two each time it is required to use them.

Claims

1. A media player having a projector integral therewith, characterised in that the projector is detachable from the media player and configured to project images relating to media playing on the media player.

2. A media player as claimed in claim 1 in which the projector is in wired or wireless communication with the media player.

3. A media player as claimed in claim 2 in which the projector is in wireless communication with the media player.

4. A media player as claimed in claim 3 in which the projector is paired to the media player.

5. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each of the projector and media player include a processor.

6. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each of the projector and the media player have a power supply.

7. A media player as claimed in claim 6 in which each power supply includes one or more batteries.

8. A media player as claimed in claim 7 in which each of the projector and media player include means for recharging the or each battery.

9. A media player as claimed in claim 8 in which the recharging means operates in wired or wireless fashion.

10. A media- player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is portable.

11. A media player as claimed in claim 10 which has a display integral therewith.

12. A media player as claimed in claim 11 in which the display is an LCD display.

13. A media player as claimed in claim 10 or claim 12 in which images are selectively switchable between the projector, the display and both the projector and the display.

14. A media player as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 in which each of the display and projector present different images.

15. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projector has a speaker associated therewith.

16. A media player as claimed in claim 15 in which the speaker forms part of a surround sound system.

17. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projector is adjustably secured to a base.

18. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one further media player is connectable thereto.

19. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projector can communicate with peripheral devices.

20. A media player as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projector is adjustably secured thereto to enable a user to select a projection area.

21. A media player having a projector integral therewith, characterised in that the projector is adjustably secured to the media player and configured to project images relating to media playing on the media player.