Portable Device for Viewing an Image and Associated Production Method

• US 20070222856A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick Amaru
• Original Assignee: Patrick Amaru
• Inventors: Amaru, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/597,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/53
• 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: G02B 30/35 using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable device for viewing an image, in particular a stereo image, comprising a housing that is provided with an image, an optical unit and two viewing orifices. According to the invention, the image is generated by means of an electronically controllable display and the device is provided with elements that permit an external image data unit to supply the display with electronic image data by means of an image memory that is integrated into the housing and/or via an interface in a wireless manner. In addition, the device is equipped with a location determination unit for displaying corresponding mono or stereo images.

Claims

1. A portable device for viewing an image, in particular a stereo image, comprising a housing, in which an image, an optical unit and two viewer openings are provided, characterized in that the image is generated by means of an electronically drivable display, and in that means are provided in such a way that the electronic image data made available to the display are provided in an image memory integrated in the housing and/or from an external image data unit via an interface in a wireless manner.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an electronic control unit is provided for driving the display.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the optical unit comprises a lens and/or reflector arrangement in such a way that the image displayed by the display is magnified and/or imaged sharply.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the image data can be downloaded from the central image data unit (23) via the air interface if appropriate with inclusion of a mobile telephone (21).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the image data can be calculated by means of a computational model, in particular one according to the VRML/X3D standard.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a location determination unit is accommodated in the housing in such a way that, depending on the location of the housing or the viewer, the display can be assigned an image corresponding to the location of the housing or the viewer.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coordinate fields detected by a base station in which the mobile telephone is situated can be used for determining the location of the viewer.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the display is formed as a stereo image display having two display segments, and in that means are provided in such a way that stereo images are generated continuously in real time as an image sequence depending on the orientation of a compass integrated in the housing at the viewer'"'"'s location.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the image memory is formed as a plug-in card.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the compass is formed as a magnetic sensor for determining the horizontal component of an orientation vector.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an inclination sensor is formed for determining the vertical component of the orientation vector.

12. A method for producing an image, in particular a stereo image, which is generated in a portable housing, characterized in that means are provided in such a way that, from the current location of the housing, images identifying the environment thereof are provided in an electronic display.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the current location is determined by means of a location determination unit integrated in the housing, and in that the images identifying the current location are then downloaded from a central image data unit via the air interface.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that images of a predeterminable location are provided by means of an integrated control unit.