Blended reality systems and methods

• US 10,621,785 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dorner, Charles Shearer, Sayre, III, Paul Barnhart, Hazlewood, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Drennan, Barry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Khoa
• Application Number:
  US15/831,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20180101991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/026 and a display device, e.g. CRT, LCD, for adding markings or signs or to enhance the contrast of the viewed object
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2066 Reflectors in illumination beam in projection beam G03B21/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/50 Lighting effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for generating a blended reality view to a user, the blended reality view combining images reflected by a mirror with images transmitted from a screen behind the mirror. Systems for generating blended reality views can include a display device with a screen positioned behind a mirror. The display device can generate a pattern of illumination and non-illumination on the screen so that the illuminated portions of the screen substantially transmit through the mirror. Projectors can be used to illuminate objects in front of the mirror so that the illuminated objects are reflected by the mirror. In combination, the portions of the screen transmitted through the mirror and the illuminated objects reflected by the mirror can provide a blended reality view to a user viewing the mirror.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a planar reflective surface having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side of the planar reflective surface faces a display, the planar reflective surface configured such that at least a portion of light provided by the display passes through the planar reflective surface and is visible from the first side of the planar reflective surface; and

an image blending system configured to;

cause illumination of at least one object facing the first side of the planar reflective surface such that light from the illuminated at least one object is reflected by the planar reflective surface to form reflected light, the reflected light visible from the first side of the planar reflective surface within a first portion of the first side of the planar reflective surface; and

cause the display to output display light,

wherein a first portion of the display light passes from the second side of the planar reflective surface to the first side of the planar reflective surface such that the first portion of the display light is visible from the first side of the planar reflective surface within a second portion of the first side of the planar reflective surface,

wherein a second portion of the display light passes from the second side of the planar reflective surface to the first side of the planar reflective surface at a location corresponding to the first portion of the first side of the planar reflective surface, and

wherein the second portion of the display light has a light intensity lower than a light intensity of the reflected light.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a projector adjacent to a periphery of the planar reflective surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an active transmission matrix comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels, the active transmission matrix positioned between a screen of the display and the planar reflective surface, wherein the image blending system is further configured to control the transmissive properties of the two-dimensional array of pixels of the active transmission matrix to control the display light transmitted through the planar reflective surface to improve control of a contrast between the reflected light and the display light.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a surface of the screen is parallel to a surface of the planar reflective surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a lenticular array positioned between the screen and the planar reflective surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to vary an intensity of light output by the light source based on instructions from the image blending system.

7. A method comprising:

generating a first image that is transmitted through a planar reflective surface from a first side of the planar reflective surface to a second side of the planar reflective surface such that the first image is visible from the second side of the planar reflective surface; and

projecting light onto at least one object to illuminate the at least one object such that light from the illuminated at least one object is reflected by the planar reflective surface to form reflected light, the reflected light visible from the second side of the planar reflective surface within a first portion of the second side of the planar reflective surface,

wherein a light intensity associated with the first image within the first portion of the second side of the planar reflective surface is lower than a light intensity of the reflected light, and

wherein a combined image is visible from the second side of the planar reflective surface, the combined image comprising a second image associated with the reflected light and the first image transmitted through the planar reflective surface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising modifying light within an environment to enhance the combined image.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing image data to identify a location of the at least one object.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing image data to identify a target on the at least one object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first image that is transmitted through the planar reflective surface such that the first image is visible to the target.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining, for a projector, a pattern of light to project to illuminate the at least one object.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to:

cause illumination of at least one object on a viewing side of a planar reflective surface such that light from the illuminated at least one object is reflected by the planar reflective surface to form reflected light; and

cause display light to pass through the planar reflective surface to the viewing side of the planar reflective surface within a first portion of the viewing side of the planar reflective surface,

wherein a light intensity of the display light is greater than a light intensity of the reflected light within the first portion of the viewing side of the planar reflective surface.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein a display outputs the display light.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a screen.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a surface of the screen is parallel to a surface of the planar reflective surface.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the screen has a width that is at least 90% of the width of the planar reflective surface.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein an active transmission matrix is positioned between the screen of the display and the planar reflective surface.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a lenticular array is positioned between the screen and the planar reflective surface.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the display light comprises polarized light.