USER INTERFACE INCLUDING COMPOSITE IMAGES THAT FLOAT

• US 20080130126A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Casner, Glenn E., Brooks, Brian E., Smithson, Robert L.W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,800,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/619
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/27 involving lenticular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/128 transparent spheres being embedded in matrix

Abstract

User interfaces that includes one or more composite images that are perceived by an observer to be suspended in space relative to the user interface.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a sheeting, comprising;

at least one layer of microlenses, the layer having first and second sides;

a layer of material disposed adjacent the first side of the layer of microlenses; and

an at least partially complete image formed in the material associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses, wherein the image contrasts with the material;

a first composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a first distance above the sheeting;

a second composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a second distance above the sheeting,

wherein the first and second distances are approximately the same distance, wherein the first and second composite images are related to the same task or mental operation.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first and second composite images are in close proximity to one another.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a plurality of composite images, provided by the individual images in the sheeting, that appears to the unaided eye to float above the sheeting, float below the sheeting or float at least in part of the plane of the sheeting.

4. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the composite images that relate to the same task or mental operation are approximately at the same distance above or below the sheeting or at least in part of the plane of the sheeting.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the composite images appear under reflected light to float above the sheeting.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the composite images appear in transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the composite images also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the composite images appears to move relative to the sheeting as the viewing position changes relative to the sheeting.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the composite images disappears and reappears when the angle at which the sheeting is viewed changes.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the composite images is a two-dimensional image.

11. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first composite image appears to the user when a selected condition occurs.

12. A user interface, comprising:

a sheeting, comprising;

at least one layer of microlenses, the layer having first and second sides;

a layer of material disposed adjacent the first side of the layer of microlenses; and

an at least partially complete image formed in the material associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses, wherein the image contrasts with the material;

a first composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a first distance below the sheeting;

a second composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a second distance below the sheeting,

wherein the first and second distances are approximately the same distance, wherein the first and second composite images are related to the same task or mental operation.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the first and second composite images are in close proximity to one another.

14. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the sheeting further comprises a plurality of composite images, provided by the individual images in the sheeting, that appears to the unaided eye to float above the sheeting, float below the sheeting or floating in the plane of the sheeting.

15. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the composite images that relate to the same task or mental operation are approximately at the same distance above or below the sheeting or in the plane of the sheeting.

16. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the composite images appear under reflected light to float below the sheeting.

17. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the composite images appear in transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

18. The user interface of claim 12, wherein at least one of the composite images also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

19. The user interface of claim 12, wherein at least one of the composite images appears to move relative to the sheeting as the viewing position changes relative to the sheeting.

20. The user interface of claim 12, wherein at least one of the composite images disappears and reappears when the angle at which the sheeting is viewed changes.

21. The user interface of claim 12, wherein at least one of the composite images is a two-dimensional image.

22. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the first composite image appears to the user when a selected condition occurs.

23. A user interface, comprising:

a sheeting, comprising;

an array of microlenses;

a material layer adjacent the array of microlenses; and

a first donor material in contact with the material layer, wherein the donor material forms individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses;

a first composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a first distance above the sheeting;

a second composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a second distance above the sheeting,

wherein the first and second distances are approximately the same distance, wherein the first and second composite images are related to the same task or mental operation.

24. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the first and second composite images are in close proximity to one another.

25. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the user interface further includes a plurality of composite images, provided by the individual images in the sheeting, that appears to the unaided eye to float above the sheeting, floating below the sheeting or floating in the plane of the sheeting.

26. The user interface of claim 25, wherein the composite images that relate to the same task or mental operation are approximately at the same distance above or below the sheeting or in the plane of the sheeting.

27. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the composite images appear under reflected light to float above the sheeting.

28. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the composite images appear in transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

29. The user interface of claim 23, wherein at least one of the composite images also appear to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

30. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the first donor material comprises a colorant, and wherein at least a portion of the composite image exhibits a color similar to the colorant in the donor material.

31. The user interface of claim 23, wherein at least one of the composite images appear to move relative to the sheeting as the viewing position changes relative to the sheeting.

32. The user interface of claim 23, wherein at least one of the composite images disappears and reappears when the angle at which the sheeting is viewed changes.

33. The user interface of claim 23, wherein at least one of the composite images is a two-dimensional image.

34. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the first composite image appears to the user when a selected condition occurs.

35. A user interface, comprising:

a sheeting, comprising;

an array of microlenses;

a material layer adjacent the array of microlenses; and

a first donor material in contact with the material layer, wherein the donor material forms individual, partially complete images on the material layer associated with each of a plurality of the microlenses;

a first composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a first distance below the sheeting;

a second composite image, provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to float at a second distance below the sheeting,

wherein the first and second distances are approximately the same distance, wherein the first and second composite images are related to the same task or mental operation.

36. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the first and second composite images are in close proximity to one another.

37. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the sheeting further comprises a plurality of composite images, provided by the individual images in the sheeting, that appears to the unaided eye to float above the sheeting, floating below the sheeting or float in the plane of the sheeting.

38. The user interface of claim 37, wherein the composite images that relate to the same task or mental operation are approximately at the same distance above or below the sheeting or in the plane of the sheeting.

39. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the composite images appear under reflected light to float below the sheeting.

40. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the composite images appear in transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

41. The user interface of claim 35, wherein at least one of the composite images also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

42. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the first donor material comprises a colorant, and wherein at least a portion of the composite image exhibits a color similar to the colorant in the donor material.

43. The user interface of claim 35, wherein at least one of the composite images appears to move relative to the sheeting as the viewing position changes relative to the sheeting.

44. The user interface of claim 35, wherein at least one of the composite images disappears and reappears when the angle at which the sheeting is viewed changes.

45. The user interface of claim 35, wherein at least one of the composite images is a two-dimensional image.

46. The user interface of claim 35, wherein the first composite image appears to the user when a selected condition occurs.