Abstract:
A system comprising a media player configured to play media content, a projector operatively coupled to the media player, and a control unit operatively coupled to the media player and the projector is provided. The control unit is configured to determine whether the projector is ready for operation, and the control unit is configured to prevent the media player from playing the media content until the projector is ready for operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Digital projector systems that are configured to display images on a screen typically include a relatively high-power lamp. The lamp serves as a light source that is modulated to project the images onto the screen. The lamp is often turned on some time before the projector begins displaying images to allow the lamp to reach its full power output. During this warm-up period, a projector may not be able to fully display images onto a screen. Any video associated with video signals that are input to the projector prior to the projector lamp being warmed-up may not be displayed. As a result, a viewer may not see portions of a video prior to the projector lamp being warmed-up. 
   SUMMARY 
   One form of the present invention provides a system comprising a media player configured to play media content, a projector operatively coupled to the media player, and a control unit operatively coupled to the media player and the projector. The control unit is configured to determine whether the projector is ready for operation, and the control unit is configured to prevent the media player from playing the media content until the projector is ready for operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a media projector system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a block diagram illustrating a spatial light modulator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a block diagram illustrating a spatial light modulator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method for delaying playback of a disc by a media projector system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling the delay of playback of a disc in a media projector system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method for delaying playback of a disc in a media player according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a media projector system  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Media projector system  10  comprises a projector  100 , a media player  110 , a source selection unit  120 , one or more speakers  130 , an input/output unit  134 , and a control unit  140 . Media projection system  10 , including projector  100 , media player  110 , source selection unit  120 , speakers  130 , input/output unit  134 , and control unit  140 , is enclosed within a housing (not shown). 
   Projector  100  comprises a lamp  102 , a spatial light modulator  104 , a lens  106 , and a control unit  108 . Projector  100  receives a video signal from source selection unit  120  and causes images to be displayed on a screen or other surface in response to the video signal using lamp  102 , spatial light modulator  104 , lens  106 , and control unit  108  as indicated by an arrow  109 . More specifically, lamp  102  provides a light source to spatial light modulator  104 . Spatial light modulator  104  reflects selected portions of the light source through lens  106  in response to the video signal to cause images to be projected onto a screen or other surface. Control unit  108  controls the operation of lamp  102  and spatial light modulator  104 . Lamp  102  may be a mercury ultra high pressure, xenon, metal halide, or other suitable projector lamp. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , spatial light modulator  104  may comprise a digital micromirror device (DMD) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.  FIG. 2A  is a block diagram illustrating spatial light modulator  104 A according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2B  is a block diagram illustrating selected portions of spatial light modulator  104 B according to another embodiment of the present invention. Projector  100  may comprise spatial light modulator  104 A, spatial light modulator  104 B, or another suitable spatial light modulator. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , spatial light modulator  104 A comprises a digital micromirror device (DMD)  202 . DMD  202  comprises a plurality of microscopic mirrors that are each configured to reflect or not reflect light from lamp  102 . The reflected light is directed through lens  104  to form an image on a screen or other surface located remotely from projector  100 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , spatial light modulator  104 B comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD)  212 . LCD  212  comprises a plurality of liquid crystals configured to each transmit or block light from lamp  102 . The transmitted light is directed through lens  104  to form an image on a screen or other surface located remotely from projector  100 . 
   Projector  100  receives control signals from control unit  140  using control unit  108 . Projector  100  provides information to control unit  140  using control unit  108 . Control unit  108  provides control signals to lamp  102  and spatial light modulator  104 . For example, control unit  108  is configured to cause lamp  102  to be turned on and off and cause power to be provided to spatial light modulator  104 . Control unit  108  is also configured to detect error conditions associated with lamp  102  and spatial light modulator  104  and report error conditions to control unit  140 . 
   Media player  110  comprises a control unit  112  and a media drive  114 . Media player  110  provides media content, e.g., audio and/or visual content from a disc or other media to projector  100  and/or speakers  130  using source selection unit  120 . Media drive  114  receives one or more discs or other media inserted by a user of media projector system  10 . A disc may comprise a digital video disc (DVD), a compact disc (CD) (e.g., CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, and CD+RW), or other disc configured to store audio and/or visual content. The audio and/or visual content may be in various formats such as DVD, CD audio, MP3, JPEG, QuickTime, RealAudio, RealVideo, and Windows Media. Media drive  114  reads the audio and/or visual content from a disc and provides the audio and/or visual content to projector  100  and/or speakers  130  through source selection unit  120 . 
   Media player  110  receives control signals from control unit  140  using control unit  112 . Media player  110  provides information to control unit  140  using control unit  112 . Control unit  108  provides control signals to media drive  114 . 
   Source selection unit  120  receives audio/video input (A/V IN) signals from media player  110 , control unit  140 , and an external source (indicated by an arrow  122 ). Source selection unit  120  provides an audio/video output (A/V OUT) to projector  100 , speakers  130 , and an A/V port (indicated by an arrow  124 ). More specifically, source selection unit  120  selects the audio/video input from media player  110 , control unit  140 , or the external source in response to control signals from control unit  140 . Source selection unit  120  provides the selected audio/video input as the audio/video output to projector  100 , speakers  130 , and the A/V port. Source selection unit  120  may be configured to selectively provide the audio/video output to projector  100 , speakers  130 , or the A/V port. 
   Speakers  130  receive audio inputs from source selection unit  120  and generate audible sounds in response to the audio inputs as indicated by an arrow  132 . Speakers  130  may include audio processing to modify the audio inputs for amplification by speakers  130 . Speakers  130  receive control signals from control unit  140 . 
   Input/output (I/O) unit  134  comprises one or more integrated control devices  136  and one or more ports configured to allow an external device (not shown) or a user to communicate with media projector system  10 . The ports may include an infrared (IR) port configured to provide signals from a remote control device  138  for media projector unit  10  and any other suitable ports for transferring information to and/or from an external device. The integrated control devices  136  may include keypads, buttons, dials, LEDs, and any other suitable I/O devices for receiving information from and/or providing information to the user. 
   Control unit  140  comprises a processor  142  and a non-volatile memory  144 , e.g., a flash memory. Non-volatile memory  144  comprises firmware  150  which comprises a manager module  152 , a projector module  154 , a media player module  156 , a source module  158 , an input/output module  160 , and on-screen display (OSD) information  162 . Firmware  150  and each module  152 ,  154 , 156 ,  158 , and  160  comprise instructions that are executable by processor  142  for causing functions to be performed control unit  140 . On-screen display (OSD) information  162  comprises audio and/or visual content suitable for being played by speakers  130  and/or displayed by projector  100 . 
   Control unit  140  generates control signals for controlling projector  100 , media player  110 , source selection unit  120 , speakers  130 , and I/O unit  134  in response to processor  142  executing instructions from firmware  150 . More specifically, processor  142  executes manager module  152  to control the overall operation of media projector system  10  using projector module  154 , media player module  156 , source module  158 , and input/output module  160 . In addition, processor  142  executes projector module  154 , media player module  156 , source module  158 , and input/output module  160  to control the operation of projector  100 , media player  110 , source selection unit  120 , and I/O unit  134 , respectively. 
   In other embodiments, control unit  140  may comprise other combinations of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the functions just described. Non-volatile memory  144  comprises one type of medium configured to store firmware  150  such that the instructions in firmware  150  may be accessed and executed by processor  142 . In other embodiments, firmware  150  may be stored on other type of portable or non-portable media. 
   In operation, media projector system  10  operates media player  110  to delay playback of a disc in media drive  114  until projector  100  is powered-on and ready for operation. If projector  100  is not powered-on or is not ready for operation when media projector system  10  detects a disc play state, then media projector system  10  prevents media player  110  from playing a disc until projector  100  is powered-on and ready for operation. 
     FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method for delaying playback of a disc by media projector system  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , a determination is made by media projector system  10  as to whether a disc play state has been detected as indicated in a block  302 . The disc play state indicates that the disc in media drive  114  is to be played by media player  110  to cause the audio and/or visual content of the disc to be provided from media player  110  to projector  100  and/or speakers  130 . The disc play state may be initiated in response to any number of conditions. For example, the disc play state may be initiated in response to the disc being inserted into media drive  114 . The disc play state may also be initiated in response to a user input from I/O unit  134  that requests that the disc in media player  110  be played. The user input may be received from integrated control device  136  or remote control device  138 . 
   If a disc play state has not been detected, then media projector system  10  repeats the function of block  302  at a later time. If a disc play state has been detected, then a determination is made by media projector system  10  as to whether projector  100  is powered-on as indicated in a block  304 . If projector  100  is not powered-on, then media projector system  10  initiates a power-on of projector  100  as indicated in a block  306 . By initiating a power-on of projector  100 , each sub-system of projector  100  including lamp  102 , spatial light modulator  104 , and control unit  108  are powered-on and/or initialized. In particular, control unit  108  turns on or strikes lamp  102  to begin the process of illuminating lamp  102 . 
   If projector  100  is powered-on or has been powered-on by media projector system  10  as indicated in block  306 , then a determination is made by media projector system  10  as to whether projector  100  is ready for operation as indicated in a block  308 . In response to being powered-on, projector  100  may take an amount of time to become ready for operation. Projector  100  becomes ready for operation in response to each sub-system of projector  100  indicating that it is ready for operation. When each sub-system is ready for operation, projector  100  is capable of projecting images onto a screen or other surface without distortion or other ill effects that may occur prior to one or more sub-systems of projector  100  (e.g., lamp  102 ) being fully warmed-up. In particular, lamp  102  becomes ready for operation subsequent to being turned on or struck when it reaches its full illumination. 
   If projector  100  is not ready for operation, then media projector system  10  repeats the function of block  308  at a later time. If projector  100  is ready for operation, then media projector system  10  plays the disc as indicated in a block  310 . By playing the disc, media player  110  generates a video signal that is provided to projector  100 . Accordingly, the display of visual content of the disc by projector  100  is delayed until projector  100  is powered-on and ready for operation. 
   The internal operation of media projector system  10  in delaying playback of a disc until projector  100  is powered-on and ready for operation will now be described according to one embodiment. In particular, the operation of control unit  140  will be described with respect  FIG. 4 , and the operation of media player  110  will be described with respect  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling the delay of playback of a disc in media projector system  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , a determination is made by control unit  140  as to whether a disc play state has been detected as indicated in a block  402 . Control unit  140  detects a disc play state in response to input/output module  160  detecting a user input from I/O unit  134  that requests that the disc in media player  110  be played, e.g., by a user pressing a play button on integrated control device  136  or remote control device  138 . Input/output module  160  provides a notification to manager module  152  in response to detecting a disc play state. Control unit  140  also detects a disc play state in response to media player module  156  receiving a disc play notification from media player  110  where a user has inserted a disc into media drive  114 . Media player module  156  provides a notification to manager module  152  in response to detecting a disc play state. 
   If a disc play state has not been detected, then control unit  140  repeats the function of block  402  at a later time. If a disc play state has been detected, then a determination is made by control unit  140  as to whether projector  100  is powered-on as indicated in a block  404 . More specifically, manager module  152  accesses information that indicates the on/off state of projector  100 . In one embodiment, the information is stored in non-volatile memory  144  or another memory (not shown) accessible by control unit  140 . In another embodiment, manager module  152  causes projector module  154  to access the information by communicating with control unit  108 . 
   If projector  100  is not powered-on, then control unit  140  provides a signal to projector  100  to cause projector  100  to be powered-on as indicated in a block  406 . More specifically, manager module  152  causes projector module  154  to provide a signal to control unit  108  to cause each sub-system of projector  100  including lamp  102 , spatial light modulator  104 , and control unit  108  to be powered-on. If projector  100  is powered-on or has been powered-on by control unit  140  as indicated in block  406 , then a determination is made by control unit  140  as to whether projector  100  is ready for operation as indicated in a block  408 . As noted above, projector  100  becomes ready for operation in response to each sub-system of projector  100  indicating that it is ready for operation. Manager module  152  accesses information that indicates the readiness state of projector  100 . In one embodiment, the information is stored in non-volatile memory  144  or another memory (not shown) accessible by control unit  140 . In another embodiment, manager module  152  causes projector module  154  to access the information by communicating with control unit  108 . The readiness state may indicate that projector  100  is ready for operation or that projector  100  is warming-up, for example. 
   If projector  100  is not ready for operation, then control unit  140  repeats the function of block  408  at a later time. If projector  100  is ready for operation, then control unit  140  provides a play signal to media player  110  to cause the disc to be played as indicated in a block  410 . Accordingly, control unit  140  prevents media player  140  from playing a disc by until control unit  140  provides a play signal to media player  110 . Control unit  140  provides the play signal to media player  110  in response to lamp  102  being turned on and ready. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the method shown in  FIG. 4 , control unit  140  may wait for a defined period of time between detecting that projector  100  is not powered-on in block  404  and providing the signal to cause media player  110  to play the disc in block  410 . By delaying for the defined period of time in this embodiment, control unit  140  allows projector  100  to be powered-on and warm-up prior to causing media player  110  to play the disc. 
     FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method for delaying playback of a disc in media player  110  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , a determination is made by media player  110  as to whether a play signal has been received from control unit  140  as indicated in a block  502 . If a play signal has been received, then media player  110  plays a disc in media drive  114  as indicated in a block  510 . By playing the disc, media player  110  generates a video signal that is provided to projector  100 . In response to receiving the video signal, projector  100  displays images associated with the video signal onto a screen or other surface. 
   If a play signal has not been received, then a determination is made by media player  110  as to whether a disc has been inserted into media drive  114  as indicated in a block  504 . If a disc has not been inserted into media drive  114 , then media player  110  repeats the function of block  502  at a later time. If a disc has been inserted into media drive  114 , then media player  110  provides a disc play notification to control unit  140  as indicated in a block  506 . Media player  110  provides the disc play notification to control unit  140  to indicate that a play disc state has been detected. 
   After providing the disc play notification, a determination is made by media player  110  as to whether a play signal has been received from control unit  140  as indicated in a block  508 . If a play signal has been received, then media player  110  plays the disc in media drive  114  as indicated in the block  510 . If a play signal has not been received, then media player  110  repeats the function of block  508  at a later time. Accordingly, media player  110  delays playback of a disc in media drive  114  until media player  110  receives a play signal from control unit  140 . 
   Embodiments described herein may provide advantages over prior solutions. For example, a media player may be prevented from providing a visual content to a projector before the projector is ready to display images associated with the content. 
   Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical, and computer arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.