Large-screen display with remote optical graphic interface

• US 20020097230A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mediapull Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Lowry, Brian C., Lowry, Jerald F.
• Application Number:
  US10/052,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097230A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT

Abstract

An apparatus for remote interface with a display includes a controlling computing or processing device and data acquisition apparatus, such as a data acquisition card housed within the controlling computer. The apparatus also includes an image projector, an input matrix, an array of display optical fibers, and an array of detection optical fibers. The apparatus further includes a display panel, a display and detection surface, a photosensor array, a plurality of light paths, and an optical pointing device for remote graphic interface with images on the display panel.

In another aspect, a method for interacting with a large screen display remote optical graphic interface system, includes the steps of receiving an activation beam, generating an electrical signal, determining the location of activated fiber(s), outputting a signal to a controlling computer, and executing software instructions responsive to the signal.

Claims

1. An optical graphic interface system, comprising:

a large screen display and detection surface panel;

a plurality of optical detection fibers in communication with the surface panel;

a photosensor array in optical communication with the array of optical detection fibers;

a plurality of optical display fibers in optical communication with the surface panel; and

an image projector and input matrix, the input matrix optically connected to the optical display fibers, the image projector positioned to transmit an image through the input matrix and the optical display fibers to the surface panel.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computing device, wherein the image projector and the photosensor array are each in communication with the computing device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the surface panel is connected to a support structure that is designed to support a plurality of surface panels.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the surface panel has a surface area larger than the surface area of the input matrix, and the optical display fibers are arranged so that the image is magnified when transmitted from the input matrix to the surface panel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of optical display fibers and each of the plurality of optical detection fibers has an end-point, and the plurality of optical display fibers and the plurality of optical detection fibers are arranged so that both the optical display fiber end points and the optical detection fiber end points are co-distributed uniformly across the surface panel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of optical display fibers is greater than the plurality of optical detection fibers.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an optical pointing device including:

a targeting light source capable of emitting light having a first wavelength;

a first actuator capable of turning the targeting light source on and off;

an activation light source capable of emitting light having a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength; and

a second actuator capable of turning the activation light source on and off.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the targeting light source and the activation light source comprise a single light source, the single light source being capable of emitting light having the first wavelength and also light having the second wavelength.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the targeting light source and the activation light source comprise a single light source, the single light source being capable of emitting light of a given wavelength having a first modulation frequency and light of the same wavelength having a second modulation frequency, wherein the first modulation frequency and the second modulation frequency are different.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein either the first modulation frequency or the second modulation frequency, but not both, is zero.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the first actuator and the second actuator comprise a single actuator having at least two modes of operation.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the photosensor array includes at least one optical bandpass filter designed to pass predetermined light spectra and reflect or absorb other predetermined light spectra.

13. An optical graphic interface system, comprising:

a large screen display and detection surface panel;

a plurality of optical detection fibers in communication with the surface panel;

a photosensor array in optical communication with the array of optical detection fibers, the photosensor array including at least one optical bandpass filter designed to pass predetermined light spectra and reflect or absorb other predetermined light spectra;

a plurality of optical display fibers in optical communication with the surface panel; and

an image projector and input matrix, the input matrix optically connected to the optical display fibers, the image projector positioned to transmit an image through the input matrix and the optical display fibers to the surface panel; and

an optical pointing device including;

at least one light source, said light source being capable of emitting light having a first wavelength and light having a second wavelength; and

at least one actuator capable of turning said light source on and off.

14. A method of displaying content to a user, comprising:

receiving, via a large screen display via a plurality of optical detection fibers, light having a predetermined wavelength;

determining a location on the large screen display with which the light has communicated;

converting the light into an electrical signal using at least one photosensor;

transmitting the electrical signal to a computing device having a data acquisition card;

selecting, by a computing device, a response to the electrical signal; and

transmitting, via a plurality of optical display fibers to the display surface, at least one image corresponding to the response.