Television receiver projection system

An economical system for magnifying and projecting the image generated on a television receiver cathode ray tube employs a vertical deflection reversing switch to invert and laterally reverse the image, and a three element lens within a light-proof projection chamber to re-invert, magnify and project the image onto a forward projection type reflective screen. The projection chamber utilizes a white diffuse reflective surface upon its inner walls to increase the intensity of the projected image without visibly reducing the resolution of the image. The system also utilizes a cylindrical lens assembly to provide a simplified focusing arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to the magnification and projection of images from a 
television receiver cathode ray tube and more particularly to a system 
that utilizes a vertical deflection reversing circuit and a lens system to 
project the images without the need for reducing the intensity of ambient 
light nor for increasing the cathode ray tube anode voltage to provide a 
visible projected image. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Most commercial television image magnification and projection systems are 
of the forward projection type. One of these systems utilizes three 
separate projection lenses, one for each of the colors blue, green and 
red, to provide a color image. This system, however, can be viewed only as 
a projected image but not directly from the television picture-tubes. 
Another forward projection system utilizes a standard portable television 
receiver together with an optical lens to produce an inverted and 
laterally reversed image. The re-inversion of the image may be 
accomplished by inverting the entire television receiver chassis. The 
lateral re-reversal of the image, however, is accomplished by either the 
use of a mirror system, or by reversing the horizontal deflection circuit 
of the television receiver. Since this system requires that the television 
receiver chassis be inverted, the system has the disadvantage of altering 
the normal circuit cooling operation and requiring that the television 
receiver controls be operated while they are inverted. 
A system that eliminates the need for a mirror system a reversal of the 
horizontal deflection circuit or inverting the television receiver chassis 
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,085 which discloses a 
convertible/direct viewing projection television receiver system wherein a 
vertical deflection reversing circuit inverts and laterally reverses the 
image on a cathode ray tube, and an objective lens re-inverts, magnifies 
and projects the image onto a forward type projection screen. Because of 
light losses in the lens system and in the projection assembly unless the 
anode voltage of the cathode ray tube is increased, this system provides 
an enlarged projected image of relatively low intensity. In order to 
increase the anode voltage relatively expensive modifications to the 
television receiver are required. In addition such modifications require 
that the television receiver be recertified by the Federal Communications 
Commission. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system which 
provides a projected image having increased intensity, without the need 
for modifications to the television receiver. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed toward a system for magnifying and projecting an 
image from a television receiver cathode ray tube onto a forward 
projection type reflective screen, without the need for reducing the 
intensity of ambient light nor for increasing the anode voltage of the 
cathode ray tube in order to view the projected image. In general this is 
accomplished by utilizing a light proof projection chamber having a white 
diffuse reflective surface upon its inner walls, to enclose both a lens 
assembly and the screen of the cathode ray tube. In addition the intensity 
of the cathode ray tube image is maximized by adjusting the television 
receiver automatic brightness limiter to a near maximum setting. The 
invention also provides a simplified focusing assembly for focusing the 
projected image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1 a portable television receiver 10 is supported by an 
enclosure 12. A flange 11 of the enclosure 12 fits closely around the 
front end of the television receiver 10. A vertical deflection reversing 
switch 14 is mounted on the rear portion of the television receiver 10. An 
image produced by the television 10 is projected onto a forward projection 
type reflective screen 16 by a lens system contained within the enclosure 
12, which will subsequently be described. 
In operation the television receiver 10 is placed within the enclosure 12. 
The enclosure 12 is constructed to support a particular model of 
television receiver, prevent extraneous light from entering the enclosure 
and yet allow easy removal of the receiver 10. In the preferred embodiment 
of the invention the receiver 10 is a Quasar Electronics Company Solid 
State Color television receiver, 12 inch diagonal measure, Model No. 
WP3422PW. In order to maximize the intensity of the cathode ray tube 
range, and thus the intensity of the projected image the automatic 
brightness limiter of the television receiver is adjusted to a point where 
the cathode ray tube image "blooms". The limiter is then adjusted back 
slightly to thereby give a maximum intensity. The vertical deflection 
reversing switch 14 may be manually actuated to cause reversal of the 
vertical deflection circuit of the television receiver 10, thereby causing 
the television 10 to produce an inverted and laterally reversed image on 
its screen. The image produced by the television receiver 10 is 
re-inverted, magnified and projected onto the screen 16 by the lens 
system. Since the screen 16 is of a forward projection type, the image 
reflected from the screen is laterally re-reversed and thus appears normal 
to a viewer. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the reflective 
screen 16 is a laterally curved screen having an aluminized surface. The 
enclosure 12 may be constructed from an opaque plastic material. 
Referring to FIG. 2 the television receiver 10 is mounted on an inclined 
support 17 and held between a ridge 18 at the rear of the enclosure 12 and 
a flange 11 at the rear of a rectangular projection chamber 20. The flange 
11 at the rear of the projection chamber 20 provides a close fit with the 
screen of a cathode ray tube 22 in order to prevent extraneous light from 
entering the projection chamber 20. A base 23 having a flat surface, 
provides structural support for the entire enclosure 12. 
A lens assembly 24 is mounted within a metal cylindrical housing 26. The 
cylindrical housing is fastened to a front wall 32 of the projection 
chamber 20. The lens assembly 24 contains a plurality of optical and 
structural components, which will subsequently be described. 
In operation the lens assembly 24 is mounted within the cylindrical tube 26 
and is adjusted to a specific distance from the cathode ray tube 22 in 
order to provide a properly focused image on the screen 16. 
The amount of magnification provided by the lens assembly is primarily 
dependent upon the distance from the lens assembly 24 to the screen 16. In 
the preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance from the lens 
assembly 24 to the screen 16 is normally 5 to 6 feet and the distance from 
the picture tube 22 to the outermost lens of the assembly 24 is 12 
inches.+-.3/4 inch. With those specific distances the image on the screen 
16 is approximately 48 inches diagonally. A larger or smaller image may be 
obtained by varying the distance between the lens assembly 24 and the 
screen 16 and adjusting the lens assembly 24 for a proper focus. However, 
as the image is magnified, its intensity decreases. 
The inner walls of the projection chamber 20 have a white surface which 
provides diffuse reflection of any light falling upon the inner walls. 
Through experimentation it has been determined that the use of a white 
surface which provides diffuse reflection provides the highest intensity 
projected image without a visible loss of resolution, compared to other 
reflective or non-reflective surfaces. 
FIG. 3 shows a three-quarter perspective front of the enclosure 12. A pair 
of side walls 28 and 30 are shaped to support the projection chamber 20 
parallel to the inclined support 17. Both the inclined support 17 and the 
projection chamber 20 are at an acute angle with respect to the base 23. 
In addition to providing support for a television receiver, not shown in 
FIG. 3, the inclined support 17 provides structural support to the 
enclosure 12. 
The cylindrical housing 26, in which the lens assembly 24 is positioned, is 
secured to the front wall 32 at the projection chamber 20 by a set of four 
screws and four nuts. Only a pair of screws 42 and 44 are shown in FIG. 3. 
Referring to FIG. 4 the lens assembly 24 slides within the cylindrical tube 
26 and is locked in a fixed position by a nylon screw 34. The cylindrical 
tube 26 is secured to the front wall 32 of the projection chamber 20 by a 
set of four screws and four nuts. Only the screws 42 and 44 and nuts 45 
and 47 are shown in FIG. 4. 
The lens assembly 24 employs a pair of plano-convex converging lenses 36 
and 38 each having their flat sides facing toward the middle of the 
assembly 24. Positioned half-way between the lenses 36 and 38 is a double 
concave diverging lens 40. In the preferred embodiment of the invention 
each of the lenses 36 and 38 has a diameter of 5 inches and a maximum 
thickness of 3/4 inch. In addition the double concave diverging lens 40 
has a diameter of 3 13/16 inches, a center thickness of 5/10 inch and an 
outer edge thickness of 13/16 inch. The distance from the flat surface of 
the lens 36 to the flat surface of lens 38 is 27/8 inches. The lens 
assembly 24 has an F-stop factor of 2.8. In the preferred embodiment of 
the invention the lenses 36, 38 and 40 are of glass, however, plastic 
lenses having similar optical characteristics may be substituted. 
The lens assembly 24 also employs a housing 46 having a pair of threaded 
inner ends 48 and 50. A pair of aluminum holders 52 and 54 fit within the 
housing 46 and operate together with a spanner 56 to hold the lenses 36, 
38 and 40 in a fixed position. The spanner 56 is a threaded ring which 
fits into the threaded inner end 50. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention the aluminum holders 52 and 54 
have a black mat surface in order to prevent reflections. In addition in 
the preferred embodiment of the invention the housing 46 and the spanner 
56 are of steel having a black finish. The black finish prevents 
reflections that would interfere with the operation of the lenses 36, 38 
and 40. 
In FIG. 5 a vertical deflection circuit 58 of the television receiver 10 is 
connected to a set of vertical deflection coils 60 through a double pole 
double throw switch 62. The vertical deflection circuit controls the 
vertical motion of the electron beam travelling from the cathode to the 
anode of a cathode ray tube. The vertical deflection coils 60 produce an 
electromagnetic field, to thereby deflect, in varying amounts, the 
electron beam. The switch 62 is operated to thereby connect the deflection 
coils 60 in either a normal or reversed manner. 
When the switch 62 is in the "normal" position, the deflection coils 60 are 
connected in a manner to provide a normal image on the cathode ray tube 
22. However, when the switch 62 is in the "invert" position the circuit to 
the deflection coils is reversed, thereby producing the image on the 
picture tube of the television 10 which is inverted and laterally 
reversed. Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention, 
electromagnetic deflection is utilized by the television 10, electrostatic 
deflection may also be employed without departing from the invention. 
The invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment 
and it is to be understood that although this embodiment represents the 
best mode in practicing the invention known to the inventor at the time of 
filing the patent application, various modifications and additions to the 
illustrated embodiment are possible and accordingly the foregoing 
description is not to be construed in a limiting sense.