Apparatus for arranging a projector in relation to a projection screen

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for arranging a projector in a position determined in all spatial directions in relation to a projection screen, for projecting an image onto the projection screen by means of the projector, with arrangement of the apparatus as intended, comprising: – a mounting device configured to mount (in particular horizontally) an ultrashort throw projector on the supporting feet thereof, and comprising – a movement device configured to move the mounting device between a stowed position and a projection position, and comprising – a projection screen rolled up about a horizontal axis, which projection screen can be unrolled from the rolled-up position upward into a planar, substantially vertical projection position by means of a guide device, wherein in the stowed position the projector is arranged – below the rolled-up projection screen or – in a manner rotated about a vertical axis by 90° relative to the projection direction of the apparatus and in front of the rolled-up projection screen.

Description

[0001] Device for arranging a projector relative to a screen

[0002] The invention relates to a device for arranging a projector, in particular an ultra-short-throw projector, in a position determined in all spatial directions relative to a screen, specifically for projecting an image onto the screen by means of the projector.

[0003] To experience the cinematic feeling while watching a film at home, projectors that project an image onto a screen have long been available, alongside ever-increasing flat screens. Initially, projectors, like film projectors, required a projection distance. Nowadays, so-called ultra-short-throw projectors exist, whose required projection distance from the projection surface has been reduced to the mid-double-digit centimeter range, allowing them to be positioned directly below and in front of the screen. Their image processing and optics are configured so that the image projected by such a projector from below the screen onto the screen is still distortion-free and, in particular, rectangular.

[0004] To integrate projectors into living spaces, furniture has become popular with a screen rolled up around a horizontal axis, which can be rolled out from the rolled-up position upwards into a flat, vertical projection position. Unless the projector is simply placed on top of the furniture, such furniture sometimes includes a storage device designed to store an ultra-short-throw projector horizontally on its feet, ensuring that the projector is positioned relative to the screen in a specific direction in all spatial directions, ensuring the image is projected onto the screen. Because ultra-short-throw projectors—as mentioned—also require a certain projection distance, such furniture requires a certain depth and overall volume to accommodate not only the projector but also the rolled-up screen.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of creating a device for arranging an ultra-short-throw projector relative to a screen that takes up as little space as possible and above which a continuous, uninterrupted cover plate can be installed in front of the screen, completely covering the device in the direction of the projector when the projector is not projecting an image. This object is achieved by a projector having the features of independent claims 1 or 6. Preferred embodiments are specified in the respective subclaims.

[0006] The device according to the invention presented below serves to arrange a projection device or projector, in particular an ultra-short-throw projector, in a position determined in all spatial directions relative to a screen, specifically for projecting an image onto the screen using the projector. The device has the following (in the intended arrangement):

[0007] - A storage device is configured to support an ultra-short-throw projector on its feet (in particular horizontally). This is particularly preferably a flat, in particular horizontal, plate on which the projector can be placed.

[0008] - A movement device is configured to move the storage device between a storage position and a projection position. Thus, when a projector is placed on the storage device, the movement device can be used to move it from the storage position to a projection position that is particularly preferential in all spatial directions relative to the screen, specifically in such a way that it meets the criteria that allow the projector to project a distortion-free image onto the screen.

[0009] - A screen rolled up around a horizontal axis can be rolled out from its rolled-up position by means of a guide device upwards into a flat (in particular essentially vertical) projection position.

[0010] According to the invention, the above-mentioned technical problem is solved by a device as described so far with the following two alternative features, namely that the projector in the stowed position

[0011] I. - below the rolled-up canvas or

[0012] II. - rotated around a vertical axis by 90° relative to the projection direction of the device and positioned in front of the rolled-up screen.

[0013] In the first alternative of the invention, the projector is arranged in its stowed position below the lowest height of the rolled-up screen. Thus, the device's extension in the projection direction of the projector (when the projector is in its projection position within the device) hardly needs to be larger than the dimensions of the projector in its projection direction. The "projection direction of the device" is defined below as the inverse of the normal vector of the unrolled screen front plane.

[0014] If the device according to the invention is a piece of furniture and this piece of furniture is positioned in a room so that the screen can be rolled out in front of a wall (essentially vertically), this extension in the projection direction of the projector (dimension of the furniture in the "projection direction of the device") is the depth of the furniture in front of the wall - or in other words, the extent by which the furniture protrudes from the wall into the room. Reducing this dimension as much as possible is thus achieved according to the invention, as defined in the last paragraph, and, as already stated there, in such a way that the device in this direction is "barely larger than the dimension of the projector in this direction." Because the projector is fixed in its size, its dimension naturally represents the minimum of the dimension of the device in this direction, unless it is even tilted in the storage position by means of a corresponding device (e.g.by tilting) so that it takes up even less space in this direction.

[0015] It is particularly preferred if, in the storage position, the projector is arranged below the rolled-up screen, that it is arranged, in the projection direction of the device, directly adjacent to a vertical rear wall of the device, namely to the rear wall to which the rolled-up screen is then also arranged directly adjacent. This applies in particular if the device is designed as a piece of furniture with a vertical rear wall, which in turn is intended to be placed directly against a wall of a room - or even screwed to such a wall, so that the furniture according to the invention is then attached to the wall as a console, in front of which the screen can then be extended vertically upwards.

[0016] If, in the storage position, the projector is arranged below the lowest height of the rolled-up screen, the movement device comprises the following: a carriage which, together with the storage device, is movable by means of a first motor drive below the rolled-up screen from the storage position against the projection direction in front of the rolled-up screen, and

[0017] - a lifting device which is configured by means of the first or a second motor drive to lift the storage device into the projection position, particularly preferably guided by means of a parallelogram gear.

[0018] It is then particularly preferred for the movement device to have a first and a second carriage which, together with the storage device, are movable by means of a first motor drive below the rolled-up screen from the storage position against the projection direction in front of the rolled-up screen. The storage device is then mounted on the second carriage by means of a parallelogram gear of the lifting device, and the second carriage is mounted on the first carriage, and the first carriage is mounted on a stationary element of the device, against the projection direction against a stop, by means of at least one horizontal linear bearing (in particular by means of a pair of drawer pull-out rails). The first motor drive displaces the second carriage relative to a stationary element of the device.And the bearing device is guided on each side in at least two parallel (in particular four, not necessarily straight) upwardly directed guides (in particular elongated holes or grooves) attached to the first carriage. Thus, the motor drive of the second carriage carries the first carriage until it reaches the stop, and then the continued motor drive of the second carriage pushes the bearing device upward in the guides by means of the rods of the parallelogram gear.

[0019] However, if a projector is smaller in its dimension transverse to its projection direction (width) than in its dimension (length) in the projection direction, the second alternative according to the invention allows a smaller extension in the height of the device by rotating the projector in the storage position by 90° around a vertical axis.

[0020] This way, the projector can be positioned in the stowed position in the projection direction of the device in front of the rolled-up screen (particularly preferably directly adjacent to the rolled-up screen) and its height can remain unchanged relative to the projection position. This, firstly, allows the mechanism of the movement device to be designed somewhat less complex, namely to drive only rotation, and secondly, the height of the device can be reduced to the height of the projector (or the rolled-up screen - whichever is higher). Then, in this direction, the device only has dimensions of slightly more than the width of the projector plus the diameter of the rolled-up screen. It may even be possible to add the features of the first alternative to this second alternative - and thus, in the stowed position, the projector is also positioned below the lowest height of the rolled-up screen.Then the device in this direction only has the dimension of the width of the projector (which for these types of projectors is by definition smaller than its length in its project orientation).

[0021] Particularly preferably, the projector is arranged in its projection position with its top side (and in particular with its top-side projection device) at the same height as or above the highest height of the rolled-up screen. This allows the projector to project the image down to the bottom edge of the screen without the front edge of a device for rolling up the screen or any other contour forming the top side of the device getting in the way and shadowing the projection, particularly if the device is designed as furniture. If (according to the second alternative) the projector is rotated 90° about a vertical axis in the storage position, it is preferred that the storage device is movable 90° about a vertical axis by means of a motor drive, and that the storage device guides a drawer by means of a guide.

[0022] If (according to the second alternative) the projector is rotated 90° around a vertical axis in the storage position, it is particularly preferred that

[0023] - the storage device is arranged radially displaceably on a carousel device which is movable by 90° around a vertical axis by means of a motor drive, and that

[0024] - the carousel device guides a drawer by means of a first guide and that

[0025] - the storage device is guided by the drawer by means of a second guide, such that i. the motor drive of the carousel device pushes the drawer by means of the first guide from the storage position into the projection position and ii. the drawer pushes the storage device radially outwards with respect to the carousel device by means of the second guide.

[0026] It is particularly preferred that the device is designed as a piece of furniture, in particular as a sideboard, with a housing and the slides therein as drawer pull-outs.

[0027] Further aspects, features, and technical advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the figures. The figures show embodiments of the invention in which the examples depicted therein and described here are also in accordance with the invention individually, detached from the respective illustrated embodiment - namely

[0028] Fig. 1 ac schematic side views of a device according to the invention in movement phases between storage and projection positions,

[0029] Fig. 2 ae schematic plan views of an alternative device according to the invention in movement phases between the storage and projection positions as well as schematic side views of the storage and projection positions and

[0030] Fig. 3 ae schematic plan views of yet another alternative device according to the invention in movement phases between the storage and projection positions as well as schematic side views of the storage and projection positions.

[0031] Each of the devices 2 according to Figs. 1 to 3 serves to arrange an ultra-short-throw projector 4 in a position determined in all spatial directions relative to a screen 6, specifically for projecting an image onto the screen using the projector. Each of the devices 2 according to Fig.

[0032] 1 to 3 has the following (in the intended arrangement as shown):

[0033] - A support device 8 is configured to support the ultra-short-throw projector 4 horizontally on its feet. This is a horizontal, flat plate 8 on which the projector 4 can be placed, and is positioned as shown.

[0034] - A movement device 10 is configured to move the storage device 8 between a storage position 12 and a projection position 14. Thus, when a projector 4 is placed on the storage device 8, it can be moved by means of the movement device 10 from the storage position 12 into a projection position 14, which is particularly preferably determined in all spatial directions with respect to the screen 6, in such a way that the projection position 14 meets the criteria that allow the projector 4 to project a distortion-free image onto the screen (according to the beam path 16).

[0035] - A screen 6 rolled up around a horizontal axis 18 can be rolled out from its rolled-up position 20 by means of a guide device (not shown) upwards into a flat vertical projection position 6.

[0036] In the device 2' according to Fig. 1, the projector 4 is arranged in the stowed position 12 as a first alternative below the lowest height of a housing 22 of the rolled-up screen 20 (Fig. 1a). Thus, the device 2', in its extension in the projection direction of the projector 4 in its projection position 14 (to the right in all side views), does not need to be larger than the dimensions of the projector in its projection direction—that is, its length from left to right in Fig. 1.

[0037] The devices 2 shown are a piece of furniture 24 with a box-shaped outer contour 24, wherein this piece of furniture 24 is positioned against a room wall 26 such that the screen 6 can be rolled out vertically in front of the wall 26. The "extension in the projection direction of the projector" (the dimension of the piece of furniture 24 in the "projection direction of the device 2") is the "depth" of the piece of furniture 24 in front of the wall 26 - or in other words, the extent by which the piece of furniture 24 protrudes from the wall 26 into the room 28. Reducing this extent as much as possible is achieved by arranging the projector 4 in the storage position 12 below the lowest height of the housing 22 of the rolled-up screen 20 (Fig. 1a). Thus, the device 2' in this direction does not need to be significantly larger than the dimension of the projector in this direction (in Fig. 1 the dimension of the furniture 24 and the projector 4 from left to right).Because the projector 4 is of course fixed in its size, its dimension naturally represents the minimum dimension of the device 2 in this direction.

[0038] In addition, a continuous, uninterrupted cover plate 30 can be mounted above the device 2 in front of the screen 6 in the direction of the projector (in its projection position 14), which completely covers the device when the projector is not projecting an image and is therefore in its stowed position 12 (Figs. 1a, 2d, 3d). This is because the projector is moved into its projection position 14 by means of the movement device 10 against the projection direction in front of the rest of the device. There, in the projection position 14, the projector 4 is arranged with its upper side 28 (in particular with its upper-side projection device) approximately at the same height, slightly above the highest height of the rolled-up screen 20 (Figs. 1c, 2e and 3e).This allows the projector 4 to project the image to the lower edge of the screen without a front edge of a device 22 for rolling up the screen or another contour 24 forming the upper side of the device 2, in particular when the device 2 is designed as a piece of furniture 24, being in the way and shadowing the projection.

[0039] When, in the storage position, the projector 4 is arranged below the housing 22 of the rolled-up screen 20 as shown in Fig. 1a, it is a space-saving advantage if the projector 4 is arranged directly adjacent to a vertical rear wall 32 of the device 2, to which the rolled-up screen 20 is also arranged directly adjacent in its housing 22. With the vertical rear wall 32, the device 2 can therefore be placed directly against a wall 26 of a room 28 - or even screwed to such a wall 26, so that the 24 piece of furniture is then attached to the wall 26 as a console 24, in front of which the screen 6 can then be extended vertically upwards (Figs. 1c, 2e and 3e).

[0040] In the first alternative described so far, in which the projector 4 is arranged in the storage position 12 below the lowest height of the rolled-up screen 20, 22, the movement device 10' serves to lift a projector 4 from the storage position 12 into the projection position 14.

[0041] More precisely, the movement device 10' has a first carriage 34 and a second carriage 40, which, together with the storage device 8', are movable by means of the motor drive 36 beneath the rolled-up screen 20 from the storage position 12 against the projection direction in front of the rolled-up screen 20. The storage device 8' is then mounted on the second carriage 40 by means of the parallelogram gear 38 of the lifting device, and the second carriage 40 is mounted on the first carriage 34, and the first carriage 34 is mounted on a stationary element 42 of the device (the base plate 42 of the furniture 24) - specifically, the first carriage 34 is mounted against the projection direction against a stop (not shown) on the stationary element 42 - by means of at least one horizontal linear bearing (in a lateral longitudinal groove 44 or by means of a pair of drawer slide rails 46).The motor drive 36 (not shown - symbolized by the vector 36 of the translational drive force, for example, by means of a spindle drive) displaces the second carriage 40 relative to the stationary element 42 of the device. And the bearing device 8' is guided on both sides in at least two parallel, arcuate, upwardly directed guides 48 (elongated holes or grooves) arranged in side walls 47 on the first carriage 34. Thus, the motor drive 36 of the second carriage 40 drives the first carriage 34 against the stop (not shown) into the position of the first carriage 34 according to Fig. 1c, and then the continued motor drive 36 of the second carriage 40 pushes the bearing device 8' upward in the guides 48 by means of the rods of the parallelogram gear 38.

[0042] However, if a 4" projector is smaller in its dimension transverse to its projection direction (width) than in its dimension (length) in the projection direction, the following second alternative according to Fig. 2 and 3 of the device 2" and 2'", which is designed for such narrow projectors, allows an even smaller extension in this direction, in the projection direction of the device - the amount by which the device 2", 2" ' "projects from the wall 26 into the room 28":

[0043] Here, the projector 4" is rotated 90° around a vertical axis 50 in the stowed position (Figs. 2a, 2d, 3a, and 3d) relative to the projection position, in which the projector 4" is rotated out from under the rest of the device (Figs. 2e, 3e). Thus, a continuous, uninterrupted cover plate 30 can also be mounted above the device 2" (and 2'" according to Fig. 3 - more on this shortly) in front of the screen 6 in the direction of the projector (in its projection position 14), which completely covers the device when the projector is not projecting an image and is therefore in its stowed position 12 (Figs. 1a, 2d, 3d).

[0044] Here, the (narrow) 4" projector is arranged in the 12" stowed position (Figs. 2d and 3d) in front of the rolled-up screen 20 (particularly preferably directly adjacent to the rolled-up screen 20, more precisely in front of its housing 22) (in particular, its height remains unchanged relative to the 14" projection position - which allows the mechanism of the movement device to be designed somewhat less complex, namely, only driving the rotation 50). Thus, the device 2", 2'" in this direction has the dimension of the width of the 4" projector plus the diameter of the rolled-up screen 20 (and its housing 22).

[0045] In variant 2", the (narrow) projector 2" is rotated by 90° about a vertical axis 50 in the storage position - namely because the storage device 8'" is movable by 90° about a vertical axis 50 with respect to a stationary element of the device, the floor 42 of the sideboard 24, by means of a motor drive (only the rotation vector 52 is shown) (and the storage device 8", 8'" guides a drawer 56" by means of a guide 54).

[0046] A variant of the device 2" for narrow projectors described so far in Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 3. This allows a larger projection distance and / or a narrower drawer 56 - and, in contrast to what was described in the last paragraph, is characterized in that

[0047] - the storage device 8" ' is arranged radially displaceably on a carousel device 58, which is movable by 90° about a vertical axis 50 by means of a motor drive 52, and that

[0048] - the carousel device 58 guides a drawer 56" by means of a first guide 54 and that

[0049] - the storage device 8'" is guided by the drawer 56"' by means of a second guide 60, in such a way that i. the motor drive 52 of the carousel device 58 pushes the drawer 56"' by means of the first guide 54 from the storage position 12"' into the projection position 14'" and ii. the drawer 56'" pushes the storage device 8'" radially outwards with respect to the carousel device 58 by means of the second guide 60.

Claims

Claims 1. Device for arranging a projector in a position determined in all spatial directions relative to a screen, for projecting an image onto the screen by means of the projector, in the intended arrangement of the device with: - a storage device designed to store an ultra-short throw projector on its feet (in particular horizontally), and with - a movement device which is arranged to move the storage device between a storage position and a projection position, and with - a screen rolled up around a horizontal axis, which can be rolled out from the rolled-up position by means of a guide device upwards into a flat, substantially vertical projection position, wherein - in the storage position the projector is arranged below the rolled-up screen.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the storage position the projector is arranged below the rolled-up screen and, in the projection direction, directly adjacent to a vertical rear wall of the device, to which the rolled-up screen is also arranged directly adjacent.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement device comprises: - a carriage which, together with the storage device, is movable by means of a first motor drive underneath the rolled-up screen from the storage position against the projection direction in front of the rolled-up screen, and - a lifting device which is arranged to lift the storage device into the projection position by means of the first or a second motor drive.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device has a parallelogram gear.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the movement device comprises a first and a second carriage, which together with the storage device are movable by means of a first motor drive below the rolled-up screen from the storage position against the projection direction in front of the rolled-up screen, wherein - the bearing device is mounted on the second carriage by means of a parallelogram gear as a lifting device and wherein - the second carriage is mounted on the first carriage and the first carriage is mounted on a stationary element of the device, opposite to the projection direction against a stop, by means of at least one horizontal linear bearing (in particular by means of a pair of drawer pull-out rails), and wherein - the first motor drive moves the second carriage relative to a stationary element of the device and the bearing device is guided in at least two parallel (in particular four not necessarily straight) upwardly directed guides (in particular elongated holes or grooves) fastened to the first carriage, so that the motor drive of the second carriage takes the first carriage up to the stop and then the continued motor drive of the second carriage presses the bearing device upwards in the guides by means of the bars of the parallelogram gear.

6. Device for arranging an ultra-short-throw projector in a position determined in all spatial directions relative to a screen, designed for a projector whose width transverse to its projection direction is smaller than its length in the projection direction, for projecting an image onto the screen by means of the projector, in the intended arrangement of the device with: - a storage device designed to store an ultra-short throw projector on its feet (in particular horizontally), and with - a movement device which is arranged to move the storage device between a storage position and a projection position, and with - a screen rolled up around a horizontal axis, which can be rolled out from the rolled-up position by means of a guide device upwards into a flat, substantially vertical projection position, wherein - in the storage position, the projector is rotated around a vertical axis by 90° relative to the projection direction of the device and is arranged in front of the rolled-up screen.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that in the storage position the projector is arranged directly adjacent to the rolled-up screen in the projection direction.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that - the storage device is arranged radially displaceably on a carousel device which is movable by 90° around a vertical axis by means of a motor drive, and that - the carousel device guides a drawer by means of a first guide and that - the storage device is guided by the drawer by means of a second guide, such that i. the motor drive of the carousel device pushes the drawer by means of the first guide from the storage position into the projection position and ii. the drawer pushes the storage device radially outwards with respect to the carousel device by means of the second guide. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is designed as a sideboard with a housing and the slides therein as drawer pull-outs.

Images