Experimental Chamber with Computer-Controlled Display Wall

• US 20140028711A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kincaid, Robert H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,379,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32014 Augmented reality assists operator in maintenance, repair, programming, assembly, use of head mounted display with 2-D 3-D display and voice feedback, voice and gesture command
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters

Abstract

An environmental chamber having an interior compartment, an augmented display, and a controller is disclosed. The interior compartment is adapted for isolating an experimental setup from an environment external to the interior compartment. The augmented display is positioned to allow a user in the external environment to view the interior compartment and an image generated on the augmented display. The controller generates the image. The image includes information about a component within the interior compartment. The augment display can include a touch-enabled display screen that allows the user to interact with controller.

Claims

1. A chamber comprising:

an interior compartment that is separated from an external environment adapted for personnel that monitor said interior compartment;

a transparent augmented display positioned between said interior compartment and said external environment that allows a user in said external environment to view said interior compartment through said transparent augmented display and an image generated on said augmented display; and

a controller that generates said image, wherein said image comprises information about a component within said interior compartment.

2. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said transparent augmented display forms part of one wall of said interior compartment.

3. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said interior compartment comprises a fume hood.

4. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said augmented display comprises a touch-enabled display screen.

5. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said image comprises information generated by sensors in said interior compartment.

6. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said image comprises a drawing of an experimental setup within said interior compartment with said information displayed on said drawing.

7. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said interior compartment comprises an experimental setup comprising a plurality of components and wherein said controller utilizes a sensor that communicates with said controller to identify one of said components.

8. The chamber of claim 7 wherein said sensor comprises a camera and said controller utilizes an image from said camera to identify said component.

9. The chamber of claim 7 wherein said one of said components includes a tag identifying that component, said tag being read by said controller.

10. The chamber of claim 6 wherein said controller generates said drawing using information that specifies an experimental setup in said interior compartment.

11. The chamber of claim 6 wherein said controller transmits said image to a remote location.

12. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said controller transmits an image that would be seen through said augmented display to a remote location.

13. The chamber of claim 4 wherein said controller determines a direction in which a user is looking and uses said determined direction to identify a component in said interior compartment identified by said user when said user touches said touch-enabled display screen.

14. The chamber of claim 1 further comprising a camera that forms an infrared image of said interior compartment.

15. The chamber of claim 14 wherein said controller includes information from said infrared image in said generated image.

16. The chamber of claim 15 wherein said generated image indicates regions of elevated temperature in said chamber.

17. The chamber of claim 16 wherein said controller generates a safety alert if one of said elevated temperature regions exceeds a predetermined threshold.

18. The chamber of claim 1 wherein said image comprises information from sensors associated with components in said interior compartment.