Computer display system using multiple screens

• US 20030151562A1
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Inventors: Kulas, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,091,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions

Abstract

The present invention allows a user to arbitrarily position display screens so that a larger field of view can be presented by a computer system that senses the screen positions and provides appropriate display information. This is in contrast to the typical use of display screens where a single display screen is used and the position of the display screen is assumed to be directly in front of a user'"'"'s viewpoint. For example, two screens can be placed side-by-side so that their viewing surfaces together form a rectangular plane. This can be useful for viewing movies or other presentations that benefit from a larger horizontal viewing field. More complex arrangements of multiple screens can be set up for more immersive presentations such as virtual reality, simulations, computer games, etc. A mounting bracket for holding screen in a fixed orientation with respect to each other is described. A preferred embodiment of the bracket includes a visual indicator for determining the angle of a screen with respect to another.

Claims

1. A method for generating display information, the method comprising the following steps performed by one or more digital processors

determining the positions of multiple display screens;

and

generating display information for the display screens by using the determined positions so that different portions of a single scene are displayed upon multiple display screens at the same time to provide a coherent view of the scene from at least one viewpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user input device is coupled to a first digital processor, the method further comprising

using the first digital processor to receive signals from the user input device to obtain information to, at least in part, describe the position of a display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input device includes a position sensor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input device includes a numeric input, the method further comprising

accepting signals from the user input device to allow a human user to specify a display screen'"'"'s position information.

5. A method for using multiple display screens in a presentation, the method comprising

first sensing the positions of a plurality of display screens at a first time;

providing the first sensed positions to a digital processor for rendering views for the plurality of display screens in accordance with the first sensed positions;

sensing the positions of the plurality of display screens at a second time; and

providing the second sensed positions to a digital processor for rendering views for the plurality of display screens in accordance with the second sensed positions.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising

sensing the position of a display screen by accepting input from a human user.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising

automatically sensing the position of a display screen.

8. A method for using multiple display screens in a computer-generated presentation, the method comprising

indicating to a human user preferred positions for two or more display screens;

and

rendering views for the two or more display screens in accordance with the preferred positions.

9. A bracket for joining two or more display screens, the bracket comprising

a first slot for receiving a first display screen;

and

a second slot coupled to the first slot for receiving a second display screen.

10. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the slots are moveably coupled.

11. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the slots are fixedly coupled.

12. The bracket of claim 10, further comprising

an angle measuring mechanism for measuring the relative angle of one slot to the other.

13. The bracket of claim 12, wherein the angle measuring mechanism further comprises

a pointer for visually indicating the relative angle of one slot to the other.

14. The bracket of claim 12, further comprising

a sensor for automatically indicating to another device the relative angle of one slot to the other.

15. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the bracket includes three slots.

16. The bracket of claim 15, wherein the three slots correspond to main, top and side screens.

17. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the slots are at least partially transparent.