Electronic mirror and method for displaying image using the same

• US 20100188315A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Changwon, KIM, Sun il, BAIK, Chan Wook
• Granted Patent: US 9,163,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0821 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0837 Microantennas, e.g. bow-tie
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0896 using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface

Abstract

An electronic mirror and a method for displaying an image using the electronic mirror are provided. The electronic mirror may include a display unit, a detecting unit and a control unit. The detecting unit may receive a signal transmitted from the outside. The control unit may control the detecting unit and the display unit to display the signal received at the detecting unit on the display unit as an image. The image displayed on the display unit may be output from the electronic mirror through the detecting unit. The electronic mirror may further include a reflecting unit. A light from the outside may pass through the detecting unit and the display unit and then be reflected on the reflecting unit. The reflected light may be output from the electronic mirror through the display unit and the detecting unit.

Claims

1. An electronic mirror, comprising:

a display unit;

a detecting unit positioned in proximity to a first side of the display unit, the detecting unit including a transparent material, the detecting unit being configured to receive a signal; and

a control unit configured to control the display unit to output an image, the image being based on the signal received at the detecting unit.

2. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting unit which is positioned in proximity to a second side of the display unit, the reflecting unit being configured to reflect a light passing through the detecting unit and the display unit.

3. The electronic mirror according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is made of a transparent material.

4. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit includes a substrate made of a transparent material and a plurality of detectors arranged on the substrate in an array pattern.

5. The electronic mirror according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of the detectors includes an antenna.

6. The electronic mirror according to claim 5, wherein the antenna is a spiral antenna or a log-periodic antenna.

7. The electronic mirror according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of detectors is made of a transparent conductive material.

8. The electronic mirror according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of detectors is made of at least one selected from a group including indium tin oxide, carbon nanotube, graphene, conductive polymer, nanofiber, nanocomposite, and any mixtures thereof.

9. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit includes an infrared (IR) camera or a terahertz camera.

10. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, further comprising an oscillating unit configured to generate an oscillation signal,

wherein the detecting unit is configured to transmit the oscillation signal generated by the oscillating unit to the outside, and receive the oscillation signal which is reflected from an outside object.

11. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to transmit the signal received at the detecting unit.

12. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes at least one selected from a group including a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display panel, a reflective display panel, an electrochromic display, a nano dot display, a quantum dot display or an organic light emitting diode and any combinations thereof.

13. The electronic mirror according to claim 1, wherein the signal includes a signal in an IR or terahertz band.

14. A method for displaying an image, comprising:

receiving a signal at a detecting unit;

displaying an image corresponding to the signal received at the detecting unit on a display unit; and

outputting the image displayed on the display unit through the detecting unit.

15. The method for displaying an image according to claim 14, further comprising:

reflecting a light passing through the detecting unit and the display unit; and

outputting the reflected light through the display unit and the detecting unit.

16. The method for displaying an image according to claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting an oscillation signal to the outside before receiving the signal received at the detecting unit,

wherein the signal received at the detecting unit is the oscillation signal which is reflected from an outside object.

17. The method for displaying an image according to claim 14, wherein receiving the signal at the detecting unit includes converting an electromagnetic wave from the outside into an electric signal.

18. The method for displaying an image according to claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting the signal received at the detecting unit.

19. The method for displaying an image according to claim 14, wherein the signal includes a signal in an IR or terahertz band.

20. A display device comprising:

a signal receiving unit configured to receive a signal from an object in front of the signal receiving unit; and

an image displaying unit on one side of the signal receiving unit, the image displaying unit being configured to display an image viewable through the signal receiving unit, the displayed image being based on the received signal.

21. The display device according to claim 20, wherein the signal receiving unit is made of a transparent material.

22. The electronic mirror according to claim 21, wherein the signal receiving unit includes a substrate made of a transparent material and a plurality of transparent detectors arranged on the substrate, the received signal being received by the transparent detectors.

23. The display device according to claim 20, further comprising a reflecting unit on one side of the image displaying unit, the reflecting unit being configured to reflect a light passing through the signal receiving unit and the image displaying unit.

24. The electronic mirror according to claim 20, further comprising an oscillating unit which generates an oscillation signal,

wherein the signal receiving unit is configured to transmit the oscillation signal generated by the oscillating unit toward the front of the signal receiving unit, and receive the oscillation signal which is reflected from an object in front of the signal receiving unit.