Rear Projection Display Unit for Unobstructed GUI Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display technologies fail to seamlessly integrate projection images with display units, leading to obstructed projections and a lack of intuitive user interaction, particularly when objects are placed between the projection and display surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a projection unit positioned opposite to the display surface, intersecting perpendicularly, allows for unobstructed projection by shifting projection images toward the display unit, creating an integrated visual effect through synchronized changes in display and projection images, enhancing user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the projection unit is positioned in front of the display surface, then the projection can be easily integrated with the display device, but the projection is obstructed when objects are placed between the projection unit and projection surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of projection integrationVSAvoidprojection obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the projection unit from the front of the display surface to the rear side, projecting images through the display surface from back to front. This dimensional change eliminates obstruction issues while maintaining integration, as the projection path no longer conflicts with objects placed in front of the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the projection unit is positioned at the rear of the display surface, then projection obstruction is eliminated, but the integration with display unit becomes less intuitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection obstructionVSAvoidintegration intuitiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the projection unit and display unit into a single integrated structure where the projection unit is positioned at the rear of the display surface. The synchronized display control unit coordinates both units to work together as one system, maintaining intuitive integration despite the rear positioning of the projection unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronized display control unit implements feedback mechanisms to coordinate the projection unit and display unit, ensuring they work together harmoniously. The control unit monitors and adjusts the operation of both units to maintain seamless integration and intuitive user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If projection images are shifted toward the display unit, then unobstructed projection is achieved, but the integration of projection and display images requires precise synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunobstructed projectionVSAvoidimage synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronized display control unit merges the control functions of both the projection unit and display unit into a single integrated control system. This unified control approach simplifies the synchronization process by coordinating both units through one control mechanism rather than separate independent controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2874047B1Display device, display method, and program
Publication Date: 2017.01.04 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2874047B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2874047B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2874047B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a display device (100) including a display unit (112), and a projection unit (114) provided in a direction intersecting with a direction perpendicular to a display surface of the display unit, with a rear side of the display surface as a projection direction.The display device (100) displays content on the display unit (112) and projects different content on the projection unit (114). Furthermore, the display device (100) projects a GUI, which operates the display of the display unit (112), on the projection unit (114). Therefore, a user can operate the display of the display unit (112) with an eye to the display of the display unit (112). For example, as illustrated in the left diagram of FIG. 1, the display device (100) can project GUIs (c1, c2, c3, c4) on the projection unit (114) at an upper rear side of a display surface of the display unit (112), while displaying a video on the display unit (112). When the user selects c1 from the projected GUIs by a cursor, the display device (100) can display a video C1 on the display unit (112).