Method for dampening projector vibration

Vibration-dampening mechanism for projector hardware.

The disclosure is directed toward stabilizing an image projected by a projector in an environment including vibrations or other movements that displace the projected image. In one set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that detects a displacement of the projector from an equilibrium position and controls an optical element of the projector to offset the displacement. In an additional set of implementations, an image projected by the projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that measures a rate of displacement from equilibrium of an image projected by the projector to predict a displacement of the projector and counteract the predicted displacement. In another set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by precalculating a plurality of lookup tables that correct for displacements of the projected image during operation of the projector.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE (1) The disclosure describes improved systems and methods for eliminating or mitigating vibrations or other unwanted movements introduced into a projector. (2) In one example, a system includes: an image stabilization system, including: one or more motion sensors to measure a total displacement or displacement rate of an image projected by a projector from an equilibrium position; and a processing unit to cause one or more actuators of the projector to actuate an optical element of the projector to stabilize the projected image, where the optical element is actuated using at least the measured total displacement or displacement rate. In some implementations, the system also includes the projector, and the projector includes: a light source; one or more optical elements to structure light emitted by the light source to create the image; and a projection lens to project the image. In implementations, the projector includes the image stabilization system and/or the motion sensors. (3) In some implementations, the one or more motion sensors are to measure the total displacement of the projected image from equilibrium, and the optical element is actuated using at least the measured total displacement. (4) In some implementations, the system includes: a memory storing a plurality of lookup tables, each of the plurality of lookup tables configured to correct a respective displacement or displacement range of a projected image, where the processing uni