On Oct 2, 2014 the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Samsung that reveals a future version of their Galaxy Beam smartphone that integrates a pico-like projector. The Invention goes beyond their current Galaxy Beam 2 model which was just released in limited fashion in China. The new design shows the projector fitting inside a much slimmer smartphone form factor with the position of the projector moving to an all new location. Beyond aesthetics, Samsung wants to go beyond just merely projecting images to another surface. It want's the user to be able to interact with the projected image so as to control racing car video games, control presentation slides and interact with maps using touch screen gestures.
In Samsung's patent background they note that today, "the smart phone or tablet PC merely projects and displays rendered data and cannot project and display a gesture that the user physically inputs onto the touch screen."
Samsung's invention is about advancing the projector via a new method for controlling the imagery being projected by the smartphone or tablet. Samsung envisions users being able to interact with the imagery via touch controls and gestures. One example is being able to move a Google Map around as required to find a destination as you would on your smart devices today. In affect the projector is going beyond projecting a static image and simply enlarging the current view on your device. You'll be able to interact with the projected images and/or videos.
In Samsung's patent FIG. 3A noted below we're clearly able to see that the projector module #177 is now being set at to top left of the smartphone instead of the center of the phone as it is with the Galaxy Beam 2 today.
Samsung's patent figure 3G noted below illustrates how a touch gesture on the phone's touch screen will control a cursor or marker on the projected image.
Using Gestures to Interact with the Projected Image
The Projector Setting Screen
One of the interesting features that Samsung presents in patent FIG. 10 below is one at the bottom right noted as "Racing Mode." When the user projects the image on a wall, hitting the racing mode button will allow the user to play games and interact with the video in real-time so as to change gears or to hit other buttons as required in the game that's being projected. See the image below for other notable features that we've outlined.
In Samsung's patent FIG. 8A noted below we're able to see the smartphone perform communication with an external device such as a television. The smartphone (or tablet) may perform data transmission and reception with the television, for example, based on Bluetooth, infrared communication, Zig-bee communication, and/or the like.
Samsung notes that the user may input the pointer move command, such as a continuous touch gesture, to the touch screen of the smartphone and project the command to the television.
Although Samsung doesn't say it outright, you could assume that they'll be able to use the base technology noted in this patent filing to assist users in interacting with various smart TV menus in the future with their smartphones using touch controls.
Samsung filed their US patent application back in January 2014. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.
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