A docking station for a portable media player. The docking station includes a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player and a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player. A projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface projects a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface.
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0. 126. A projector for a portable media player, the projector comprising:
a docking connector to connect the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is connected to the portable media player;
a projection module linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface.
0. 127. A projection system for a projector and a portable media player, and projection system comprising:
a docking connector to connect the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is connected to the portable media player;
a projection module linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface.
1. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface.
9. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module interface to operably link the communication interface of the docking station to a docked projector, the projection module interface being configured to receive video information from the portable media player and to pass the video information to the docked projector so that the docked projector projects a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface.
108. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
wherein the portable media player is a mobile phone, and
wherein the docking station is substantially larger than the mobile phone.
91. A docking station for a portable media player the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface, and having a projection lens which projects the video image,
the projection lens disposed between a left speaker module and a right speaker module.
86. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player:
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
a left and right speaker module for playing audio received from the portable media player, wherein the docking connector is disposed between the left and right speaker modules.
99. A docking station for a portable media player the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player.
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
a control portion of the docking station, the control portion controls the docking station,
the control portion is farther from the viewing surface than the docking connector.
18. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
an adapter including a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player and a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player, wherein the adapter is one of a plurality of different adapters, each different adapter configured to secure and communicatively couple a different portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface.
95. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
a control portion of the docking station, the control portion controls the docking station,
the docking connector and the control portion are disposed on the upper side of the docking station.
0. 128. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
wherein the portable media player includes a display screen and a control portion, and where the docking connector secures the portable media player with the display screen and the control portion of the portable media player facing away from the projected video image.
104. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player,
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player: and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
an intake air port which intakes air from outside of the docking station,
an exhaust air port which exhausts air to outside of the docking station,
wherein the intake air port and the exhaust air port are disposed on the opposite side of the display screen of the portable media player.
112. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
where the portable media player includes a front face having a display screen, and where the docking connector secures the portable media player with the display screen of the portable media player facing away from the projected video image, and
where the projection module includes short throw projection optics.
116. A docking station for a portable media player the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player,
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player:
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface: and
a remote command receiver to receive commands from a remote control and to deliver the commands to the portable media player via the communication interface,
where the portable media player includes a front face having a display screen, and where the docking connector secures the portable media player with the display screen of the portable media player facing away from the projected video image.
120. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
an adapter including a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player and a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player, wherein the adapter is one of a plurality of different adapters, each different adapter configured to secure and communicatively couple a different portable media player: and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
where the portable media player includes a front face having a display screen, and where the docking connector secures the portable media player with the display screen of the portable media player facing away from the projected video image, and
where the projection module includes short throw projection optics.
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0. 83. A docking station for a portable media player, the docking station comprising:
a docking connector to physically secure the portable media player;
a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the docking station when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player; and
a projection module operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface, and to project a video image derived from the video information away from the docking station onto a viewing surface,
wherein the portable media player includes a display screen and a control portion, and where the docking connector secures the portable media player with the display screen and the control portion of the portable media player facing away from the projected video image.
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0. 124. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the docking connector comprises a direct interface.
0. 125. The docking station of claim 83, where the projection module has a gain ratio in the range of 0.5:1 to 2:1.
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This application 504a 502a has a different connection interface than portable media player 504 502. New adapters can be manufactured as new portable media players become available, thus allowing the new portable media players to be used with an older projection module, even if the interface of the portable media player did not exist when the projection module was manufactured.
According to another aspect of this disclosure, a projection module can be integrated into a portable media player. In such embodiments, a light source with relatively low power requirements can be used, thus allowing the projector module to operate on battery power. As a nonlimiting example, a projection engine that uses laser light and/or LED light can be used. Such low power projection engines can also be used in docking applications, thus allowing battery power and increased portability.
According to another aspect of this disclosure, a display other than a projection display can be used to present video content acquired from a portable media player. In particular, a display incorporated into a head-mounted set of eyeglasses can be used to view still images, motion video, user interfaces (e.g., menus), application programs, or other visual content from a portable media player. The eyeglasses can be communicatively coupled to a portable media player by a wired or wireless connection (e.g., USB, USB 2.0, Firewire, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x). In some embodiments, the eyeglasses can include one or more speaker modules, such as headphones, for playing audio content, thus providing a complete portable audio/visual experience. The video and/or audio playback from the device can be operated using the controls of the portable media player. In some embodiments, the eyeglass display may include its own power supply, and in some embodiments, the eyeglass display can be powered via the portable media player.
The present disclosure has been provided with reference to a nonlimiting subset of the various embodiments and operational principles described above and defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Accordingly, the claims should not be interpreted as being limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but rather, should be afforded the full breadth that they define. The present disclosure is intended to embrace alternatives, modifications, and variances to the particular embodiments disclosed herein. For example, disclosed features from one embodiment may be combined with disclosed features from another embodiment, or design modifications can be made to one or more disclosed features.
The docking connectors can mechanically, electrically, and/or communicatively link the portable media player to the docking station. In some embodiments, docking connector 604 may include a communication interface to communicatively couple the portable media player to the dock when the docking connector is physically securing the portable media player. In other embodiments, the portable media player and the docking station may transfer information wirelessly. In some embodiments, the docking connector may include an energy interface that allows energy to be transferred from the docking station to the portable media player, for example to charge a battery. The docking connectors can be part of an adapter that matches a particular portable media player to a docking station, and several different adapters can be used so that several different media players can be used with the docking station.
Docking station 600 may include a projection module 606 operably linked to the communication interface and configured to receive video information from the portable media player via the communication interface. The projection module can project a video image away from the docking station onto a viewing surface. The video image can be derived from the video information received from the portable media player via the communication interface. In other embodiments, the projector module may be separable from the docking station and configured to dock with the docking station. For example, projection module 608 can be connected, or docked, to docking station 600 via projection module interface 610. The projection module interface optionally can be a docking interface.
In some embodiments, the projection module can be configured for short throw projection.
The docking station can include a remote interface 612 that receives commands from a remote control 614. The received commands can be relayed and/or translated by the docking station for use with one or more docked or otherwise connected devices.
The docking station can include an accessory interface 616 that can be used to dock or otherwise connect one or more accessory devices. Nonlimiting examples of accessory devices include DVD players, gaming consoles, and subwoofer speakers.
Where the disclosure or claims recite “a,” “a first,” or “another” element, or the equivalent thereof, that recital should be interpreted to include one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Salvatori, Phillip H., Jaffe, Jennifer, Stark, Steve, Ballantyne, Scott, O'Sullivan, Joe, Rhodes, Donald
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