US5793352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Source coupler for multimedia projection display system
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1996-03-07
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2016-03-07
Abstract
Abstract The present invention includes a multimedia projection system coupling apparatus having a coupling converter for interconnecting at least one multimedia source and a multimedia projection display system. The coupler system includes at least two source cables that extend from the multimedia source and carry to the coupling converter media signals corresponding to different media, such as video and system control. The coupling converter delivers corresponding media signals to a projector terminal from which a projector cable extends to the projection display system. In the preferred embodiment, the coupling converter includes signal format conversion circuitry for converting each media signal or its component to a differential signal format, and the projector cable preferably includes a separate twisted pair of wires for carrying each of the differential format signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Y. Greenberg
- 👤 Jorell A. Olson
- 👤 Gerald E. Duffy
- 👤 Mark E. Schoening
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:15
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R29/00; G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/003; G09G5/006; H04; H04N; H04N11/00; H04N11/04; H04N11/042; H04N5/00; H04N5/74; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04N7/108; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/1423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A multimedia coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, comprising: first and second source cables extendable from the multimedia source for carrying signals corresponding to different first and second media, respectively; a coupling converter having first and second terminals in communication with a third terminal, the first and second terminals being connectable to the first and second source cables for carrying to the third terminal signals corresponding to the respective first and second media; and a single display system cable extendable from the third terminal of the coupling converter to the multimedia display system for carrying signals corresponding to the first and second media.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multimedia coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, comprising: first and second source cables extendable from the multimedia source for carrying signals corresponding to different first and second media, respectively; a coupling converter having first and second terminals in communication with a third terminal, the first and second terminals being connectable to the first and second source cables for carrying to the third terminal signals corresponding to the respective first and second media; and a single display system cable extendable from the third terminal of the coupling converter to the multimedia display system for carrying signals corresponding to the first and second media.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the multimedia source is one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats and at least one of the first and second cables has at its opposed ends cable terminal connectors of the first and second cable terminal formats, whereby the at least one of the first and second cables is connectable to the coupling converter and a multimedia source of either of the first and second multimedia source configurations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the display system cable includes first and second twisted wire pairs for carrying for the signals corresponding to the first and second media, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which the coupling converter includes differential signal generating means receiving the signals corresponding to the first and second media carried on the first and second source cables for generating corresponding first and second differential signals, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the multimedia display system has one of multiple predetermined display resolutions and the coupling converter includes a converter control system operable to sense the display resolution of the multimedia display system and communicate corresponding display resolution information to the multimedia source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the converter control system holds the display resolution information in a non-volatile memory available to the multimedia source upon coupling it with the coupling converter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first and second source cables have source cable lengths, the display system cable has a display system cable length, and the source cable lengths are less than the display system cable length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A multimedia display system coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source is one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats, the improvement comprising: first and second source cables extendable from the multimedia source for carrying signals corresponding to different first and second media, respectively, each of the first and second source cables having at its opposed ends cable terminal connectors of the first and second cable terminal formats; a coupling converter having first and second pairs of terminals in communication with a third terminal, the first pair of terminals being connectable to either terminal connector of the first source cable and the second pair of terminals being connectable to either terminal connector of the second source cable; and a display system coupling from the coupling converter to the multimedia display system for carrying signals corresponding to the first and second media from the third terminal to the multimedia display system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A multimedia display system coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source is one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats, the improvement comprising: first and second source cables extendable from the multimedia source for carrying signals corresponding to different first and second media, respectively, each of the first and second source cables having at its opposed ends cable terminal connectors of the first and second cable terminal formats; a coupling converter having first and second pairs of terminals in communication with a third terminal, the first pair of terminals being connectable to either terminal connector of the first source cable and the second pair of terminals being connectable to either terminal connector of the second source cable; and a display system coupling from the coupling converter to the multimedia display system for carrying signals corresponding to the first and second media from the third terminal to the multimedia display system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the display system coupling is a single display system cable extendable from the coupling converter to the multimedia display system for carrying signals corresponding to the first and second media from the third terminal to the multimedia display system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the display system cable includes first and second twisted wire pairs for carrying for the signals corresponding to the first and second media, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the first and second source cables have source cable lengths, the display system cable has a display system cable length, and the source cable length are less than one-sixth the display system cable length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the coupling converter includes differential signal generating means receiving the signals corresponding to the first and second media carried on the first and second source cables for generating corresponding first and second differential signals, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the multimedia display system has one of multiple predetermined display resolutions and the coupling converter includes a converter control system operable to sense the display resolution of the multimedia display system and communicate corresponding display resolution information to the multimedia source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 in which the converter control system holds the display resolution information in a non-volatile memory available to the multimedia source upon coupling it with the coupling converter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which first and second multimedia source configurations are based upon distinct personal computer formats.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the multimedia display system includes a LCD projector or a LCD projection panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the display system coupling has a length greater than 3 meters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a multimedia coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source for providing a video signal corresponding to video display imagery, the improvement comprising: a video differential signal generation circuit receiving the video signal provided by the multimedia source and generating a corresponding differential video signal for improved transmission to the multimedia display system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a multimedia coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source for providing a video signal corresponding to video display imagery, the improvement comprising: a video differential signal generation circuit receiving the video signal provided by the multimedia source and generating a corresponding differential video signal for improved transmission to the multimedia display system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a twisted wire pair for carrying for the differential video signal to the multimedia display system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 19 in which the twisted wire pair has a length greater than 3 meters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the multimedia source further provides a system control signal for controlling the multimedia display system, the apparatus further comprising: a system control differential signal generating circuit receiving the system control signal provided by the multimedia source and generating a corresponding differential system control signal for controlling the multimedia display system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 20 in which the system control signal includes a pointer control signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a video twisted wire pair for carrying for the differential video signal to the multimedia display system and a system control twisted wire pair for carrying for the differential system control signal to the multimedia display system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a multimedia projection coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia projection display system and a multimedia source for providing a video signal to the multimedia projection display system, which has a video display format, the multimedia source also having a display terminal connected thereto, the improvement comprising: a video display format identifier for detecting the video display format of the multimedia projection display system; and a video display format identifier for identifying to the multimedia source a matching video display format corresponding the video display format of the multimedia projection display system while the display terminal is connected to the multimedia source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a multimedia projection coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia projection display system and a multimedia source for providing a video signal to the multimedia projection display system, which has a video display format, the multimedia source also having a display terminal connected thereto, the improvement comprising: a video display format identifier for detecting the video display format of the multimedia projection display system; and a video display format identifier for identifying to the multimedia source a matching video display format corresponding the video display format of the multimedia projection display system while the display terminal is connected to the multimedia source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 24 in which the video display format identifier holds the matching video display format in a non-volatile memory available to the multimedia source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
A multimedia projection coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia projection display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source being one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats, the improvement comprising: a coupling converter having first and second terminals in communication with a third terminal and a terminal access panel for providing access to the first and second terminals alternatively, the first and second terminals being compatible with the respective first and second cable terminal formats and the third terminal being connectable to the multimedia projection display system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
96 words
A multimedia projection coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia projection display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source being one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats, the improvement comprising: a coupling converter having first and second terminals in communication with a third terminal and a terminal access panel for providing access to the first and second terminals alternatively, the first and second terminals being compatible with the respective first and second cable terminal formats and the third terminal being connectable to the multimedia projection display system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a multimedia projection coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia projection display system and a multimedia source for providing a video signal to the multimedia projection display system, the improvement comprising: a coupling cable for carrying the video signal between the multimedia source and the multimedia projection display system, the coupling cable having a twisted wire pair and having a length greater than 3 meters.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a multimedia projection coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia projection display system and a multimedia source for providing a video signal to the multimedia projection display system, the improvement comprising: a coupling cable for carrying the video signal between the multimedia source and the multimedia projection display system, the coupling cable having a twisted wire pair and having a length greater than 3 meters.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 27 in which the coupling cable has a length less than 15 meters.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the multimedia display system is a multimedia projection display system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the multimedia display system is a multimedia projection display system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the multimedia display system is a multimedia projection display system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 24 in which the multimedia display system is a multimedia projection display system.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
148 words
A multimedia coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source being one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats, comprising: a coupling apparatus base having a first set of terminal ports defined therein for housing a first set of terminals connectable to a multimedia source of the first multimedia source configuration, and a second set of terminal ports defined therein for housing a second set of terminals connectable to a multimedia source of the second multimedia source configuration; and a cover movably mounted on the coupling apparatus base and having a first position wherein the first set of terminal ports are blocked and the second set of terminal ports are exposed, and a second position wherein the first set of terminal ports are exposed and the second set of terminal ports are blocked.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
148 words
A multimedia coupling apparatus for interconnecting a multimedia display system and a multimedia source, the multimedia source being one of first and second multimedia source configurations having incompatible first and second cable terminal formats, comprising: a coupling apparatus base having a first set of terminal ports defined therein for housing a first set of terminals connectable to a multimedia source of the first multimedia source configuration, and a second set of terminal ports defined therein for housing a second set of terminals connectable to a multimedia source of the second multimedia source configuration; and a cover movably mounted on the coupling apparatus base and having a first position wherein the first set of terminal ports are blocked and the second set of terminal ports are exposed, and a second position wherein the first set of terminal ports are exposed and the second set of terminal ports are blocked.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coupling apparatus of claim 33, wherein the cover is rotatably mounted on the coupling apparatus base.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |