Display System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Capturing Images Using Multiple Integrated Image Sensors

• US 20110199497A1
• Filed: 02/12/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Motta, Ricardo J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,587,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A display system, method, and computer program product are provided for capturing images using multiple integrated image sensors. The display system includes a front panel for displaying an image. The display system further includes a matrix of image sensors situated behind the front panel.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a front panel for displaying an image; and

a matrix of image sensors situated behind the front panel.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) system.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus includes a fluorescent glass display system.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus includes an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display system.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front panel includes a transparent color liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front panel includes a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD panel.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image sensors each include a camera module.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the image sensors is operable to capture an image through the front panel.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a controller to synchronize the image sensors to capture the image through the front panel.

10. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image sensors are located on a back panel.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the back panel further includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for displaying the image.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the image sensors are interspersed among the LEDs.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the LEDs are configured in a matrix on the back panel, such that lattices exist between the LEDs.

14. The display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the image sensors occupy positions in at least a portion of the lattices existing between the LEDs.

15. The display apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a shutter situated between the front panel and the image sensors.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shutter is operable in a diffuse state to diffuse an illumination provided by the LEDs.

17. The display apparatus of claim 15, wherein the shutter is operable in a transparent state to allow the image sensors to capture an image through the front panel.

18. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the image sensors are operable to capture the image when the shutter is in the transparent state.

19. A method, comprising:

identifying a transparent state of a front panel utilized for displaying an image; and

capturing a plurality of images utilizing a matrix of image sensors situated behind the front panel, in response to the identification of the transparent state.

20. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for identifying a transparent state of a front panel utilized for displaying an image; and

computer code for capturing a plurality of images utilizing a matrix of image sensors situated behind the front panel, in response to the identification of the transparent state.