LG Phone Combines Projector, Remote Touch

Imagine a phone that could project images manipulated by direct interaction.

Mobile phone manufacturer LG wants to take the Pico projector phone concept one step further by incorporating gestures to manipulate the projected image. The concept was revealed in a recent patent application called "Mobile terminal with image projection," and indicates that the phone would receive an input image of the image displayed on the external screen.

"The input image includes a pointer located over the image and a shadow of the pointer," the patent reads. "The controller is configured to obtain a distance between the pointer and the shadow of the pointer from the input image, to recognize a touch by the pointer to a touch point in the displayed image according to the obtained distance, to project through the projector module a pointer cursor at the touch point, and to perform an operation corresponding to the recognized touch point."

While the concept is interesting, mobile phones may need more processing power before performing this type of comparison scanning. It's speculated that devices would also need hefty software and possibly a connected AC outlet to handle the processing and power requirements.

Currently the LG eXpo and the Samsung Galaxy Beam offer Pico projectors. The LG device was touted as the first 1 GHz smartphone in the U.S. while also the first to support the miniature projector. The eXpo can project anything--from web pages to videos--on the screen up to a 66-inch diagonal space. Gesture would add an interactive element to slideshows and other presentations.