Electronic handheld audio/video receiver and listening/viewing device

• US 20020057364A1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Mark A., Anderson, Geoffrey L., Anderson, Tazwell L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US09/837,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30

Abstract

A handheld device in an audio and video system including a system for receiving and processing video and/or audio signals, a system for displaying a virtual image to a user, and a system for producing sounds audible to a user. The handheld device also incorporates a shroud to block ambient light when the handheld unit is engaged with the user'"'"'s face. As a result, the user may hear sounds produced from the received audio signals. Further the user may see the virtual images produced from the received video signals when the handheld device is engaged with the user'"'"'s face, and.

Claims

1. A handheld device for viewing different video signals and hearing different audio signals associated with an event, comprising:

a signal interface and receiver configured to receive audio and video signals;

a display system configured to produce virtual images visible to a user when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face, said virtual images based on said video signals; and

a speaker system configured to produce sounds audible to the user, said sounds based on said audio signals.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a shroud to block ambient light when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said shroud is configured with a broad cross-section to shield both of said user'"'"'s eyes at the same time when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said shroud is configured such that there is an amount of space between said users eyes and the portion of said handheld device which resides in front of said user'"'"'s eyes, said amount of space sufficient to accommodate eyeglasses or sunglasses being worn by said user.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said shroud is adapted to receive said user'"'"'s forehead.

6. A handheld device for viewing different video signals associated with an event, comprising:

a signal interface and receiver configured to receive video signals;

a processing system configured to process said video signals; and

a display system configured to produce virtual images visible to a user when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face, said display system comprising a liquid crystal display.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said device further comprises a demodulating system configured to demodulate said video signals.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said device further comprises a shroud configured to block ambient light when said device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said shroud is configured with a broad cross-section to shield both of said user'"'"'s eyes at the same time when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said shroud is configured such that there is an amount of space between said users eyes and the portion of said handheld device which resides in front of said user'"'"'s eyes sufficient to accommodate eyeglasses being worn by said user.

11. A handheld device for viewing video signals and hearing audio signals associated with an event, comprising:

means for receiving video signals associated with said event;

means for selecting one of said video signals based on inputs from a user;

means for receiving audio signals associated with said event;

means for selecting one of said audio signals based on inputs from said user;

means for producing a virtual image visible to said user when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face; and

a means for producing sounds audible to said user.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a means for blocking ambient light when said handheld device is engaged with said user'"'"'s face.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of demodulating said received video signals.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of demodulating said received audio signals.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of displaying a virtual image of said received video signals to a user further comprises the step of holding said handheld device to said user'"'"'s face.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of displaying a virtual image of said received video signals to a user further comprises the step of blocking ambient light when said handheld device is held to said user'"'"'s face.

13. A method for viewing different video signals and hearing audio signals associated with an event, comprising the steps of:

providing a handheld device;

receiving said video and audio signals at said device;

processing said received video and audio signals;

displaying a virtual image of said received video signals to a user, and

producing sounds audible to said user, said sounds based on the received audio signals.