IMAGE CAPTURE AND DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070273675A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elegance Quest Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elegance Quest Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Wangler, James R.
• Application Number:
  US11/419,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/12 using mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45455 applied to a region of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A combination image capture and display system has a display module with a combined mirror and display panel facing in a first direction, the panel having a mirror layer and an image display layer disposed behind at least a portion of the mirror layer, the display panel selectively operable to act as a mirror in a mirror mode or to display images in the image display layer in a display mode. A camera module is integrated with the display module and has a lens facing outwardly from the panel. A computer connected to the display module and camera module controls operation of the camera module to capture images and switching of the display module between the mirror and display modes.

Claims

1. A combination image capture and display system, comprising:

a display module having a mirrored display panel facing in a first direction having a mirror layer and an image display layer disposed behind at least a portion of the mirror layer, the display panel being selectively operable to act as a mirror in a mirror mode or as an image display panel in a display mode;

a camera module integrated with the display module and having a lens facing outwardly from said panel; and

a computer connected to the display module and camera module for controlling operation of the camera module to capture images and switching of the display module between the mirror and display modes; and

a data storage module linked to the computer for storing captured images;

the computer being configured to control the display module to display selected images in the image display layer of the panel in the display mode.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display module, camera module, data storage module and computer are integrated in a single unit.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display module comprises a flat panel display.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entire display panel comprises a combined mirror and image display panel.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel has a first portion comprising a mirror only and a second portion comprising a combined mirror and image display portion.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to control the image display layer in the display mode to display a stored image in a first area of the display panel and to display a mirror image in a second area of the display panel.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor connected to the computer and positioned to monitor an area within the field of view of the camera, the computer being configured in a security mode to control the camera to capture an image on detection of motion within the monitored area.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to enhance a first image taken by the camera to produce an enhanced second image, and to control the display module to display the first and second images.

9. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the single unit is integrated with a device selected from the group consisting of:

a mobile phone;

a personal digital assistant;

a laptop computer;

a desk top computer;

a television;

a make-up compact; and

a game playing device.

10. An image capture and display method, comprising the steps of:

capturing images of subjects in an area within the field of view of a camera built into a mirrored display panel;

storing the captured images;

displaying selected images on the display panel in a display mode of the panel; and

reflecting images on the mirrored display panel in a mirror mode of the panel.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the steps of capturing and storing images of subjects comprise capturing a first image of a subject, applying enhancements to the subject, and capturing a second image of the enhanced subject.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of displaying selected images on the display panel in a display mode comprises controlling the display panel to operate a first area of the panel as an image display monitor and a second area of the panel as a mirror, and displaying a first selected image in the first area and reflecting an image of the subject in the second area of the mirrored display panel.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the steps of applying virtual enhancements to a stored original image to produce an enhanced image, storing the enhanced image, and displaying the enhanced image on the display panel.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the original image and enhanced image are displayed simultaneously in different areas of the display panel.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second images are displayed side-by-side.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the subject is a person and the step of applying virtual enhancements comprises adding at least one simulated element to the first image, the simulated element being selected from the group consisting of:

make-up;

hair;

clothing;

jewelry; and

eyeglasses.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of applying virtual enhancements comprises scanning an image having a selected enhancement and applying the enhancement from the scanned image to the first image.

18. An image capture and display method, comprising the steps of:

capturing an original image of a subject in an area within the field of view of a camera built into a display panel;

storing the original image;

applying enhancements to the original image to create an enhanced image; and

displaying the original and enhanced images simultaneously in separate areas of the display panel.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of applying enhancements to the original image comprises accessing a remote server over a network, selecting image enhancements from a plurality of enhancements stored on the remote server, and applying the selected image enhancements to the original image.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the steps of switching the display panel into a mirror mode when images are not being displayed, and reflecting images on the display panel in the mirror mode.