SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING NARROWBAND IMAGES

• US 20150138175A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Aiden, Erez Lieberman, Eckhoff, Philip A., Gates, William, Hagelstein, Peter L., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Langer, Robert, Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Schnall-Levin, Michael, Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,134,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/207
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0443 with several sub-pixels for the same colour in a pixel, not specifically used to display gradations G09G3/364 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/403 the images being monoscopic

Abstract

A system may produce images including narrow-bandwidth colors. One or more sets of the narrow-bandwidth colors may be selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user. The system may include a light source configured to produce the narrow-bandwidth colors, and/or narrow-passband filters may create narrow-bandwidth colors from light emitted by broad-spectrum light sources or color sources. Spatial and/or time multiplexing may be used to create separate narrow-bandwidth colors interpreted as substantially a same color by the user. The light source and/or the narrow-passband filter elements may be adjustable and may alternate between emission of two or more narrow-bandwidth colors. A viewing device may include filters configured to selectively filter the narrow-bandwidth colors. The user may filter the narrow-bandwidth colors to separate a stereoscopic image pair, to view an image specific to a user, to view desired content obfuscated by an obfuscating image, and/or the like.

Claims

1. A system for producing images comprising narrow bandwidth colors that are selectively filterable by users, the system comprising:

a light source;

a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a plurality of narrow-passband filter elements and at least one intensity control element; and

a control mechanism configured to display an image by selectively instructing the at least one intensity control element to pass a first intensity of light in a first narrow passband and a second intensity of light in a second narrow passband,

wherein the first narrow passband is noncoincident with the second narrow passband, and

wherein the first and second narrow passbands are selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to cause the plurality of pixels to display a first image using light in the first narrow passband and to display a second image using light in the second narrow passband.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second images form a stereoscopic pair when viewed by the user through filters including a first lens configured to block at least the first narrow passband and a second lens configured to block at least the second narrow passband.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the first image comprises a desired image and the second image comprises an obfuscating image.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired image comprises text.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the obfuscating image comprises a camouflaging image.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the control mechanism is configured to cause the plurality of pixels to obfuscate the desired image by displaying an obfuscation selected from the group consisting of a solid shape, an area of uniform brightness, Gaussian noise, spatially-filtered noise with a same spatial frequency as the desired image, a random pattern, false text, a complementary image, and a picture.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the obfuscating image comprises a higher contrast than the desired image.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the obfuscating image comprises a larger average intensity than the desired image.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired image is visible without obfuscation when viewed by the user through filters configured to block at least the second narrow passband.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the first image comprises an image specific to a first user and the second image comprises an image specific to a second user.

69. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one intensity control element comprises a light modulating element selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) element, a digital micromirror, and a transmissive liquid crystal element.

4-8. -8. (canceled)

17-68. -68. (canceled)

70. (canceled)

71. A direct-view display system for displaying images comprising narrow bandwidth colors that are selectively filterable by users, the system comprising:

a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising;

a first light emitter, and

a first filter; and

a control mechanism configured to display an image by selectively instructing each of the plurality of pixels to emit light in a first narrow band and a second narrow band, and

wherein the first and second narrow bands are selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user.

125. The system of claim 71, wherein the first filter is tunable based on a property selected from the group consisting of temperature, applied voltage, and angle of incident light.

126. The system of claim 125, wherein the first filter comprises an electroactive material.

127. The system of claim 126, wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust a voltage to the electroactive material.

128. The system of claim 126, wherein a first voltage is applied to a first portion of the first filter to pass light in the first narrow band and a second voltage is applied to a second portion of the first filter to pass light in the second narrow band.

129. The system of claim 125, wherein the first filter is configured to be tuned during manufacture.

130. The system of claim 125, wherein the control mechanism is configured to tune the first filter based on user input.

131. The system of claim 125, wherein the control mechanism is configured to switch the first filter between passing the first narrow band and passing the second narrow band.

132. The system of claim 131, wherein the first filter is configured to pass the first narrow band during a first image frame and pass the second narrow band during a second image frame.

72-124. -124. (canceled)

133-146. -146. (canceled)

147. A method for producing images comprising narrow bandwidth colors that are selectively filterable by users, the method comprising:

providing a light source;

providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a plurality of narrow-passband filter elements and at least one intensity control element; and

providing a control mechanism communicatively coupled to the plurality of pixels, the control mechanism configured to display an image by selectively instructing the at least one intensity control element to pass a first intensity of light in a first narrow passband and a second intensity of light in a second narrow passband,

wherein the first narrow passband is noncoincident with the second narrow passband, and

wherein the first and second narrow passbands are selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user.

171. The method of claim 147, wherein providing a light source comprises providing a broad-spectrum light source.

175. The method of claim 147, wherein providing a light source comprises providing a broad continuum source.

176. The method of claim 147, wherein providing a light source comprises providing a source of a plurality of spectral lines.

185. The method of claim 147, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

sense a property of the light source; and

adjust at least one of the light source and the plurality of narrow-passband filter elements.

186. The method of claim 185, wherein providing a control mechanism configured to sense a property comprises providing a control mechanism configured to sense a property selected from the group consisting of temperature, emission spectrum, and emission intensity.

187. The method of claim 185, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

receive a spectral measurement of an emission spectrum of the light source; and

adjust an emission intensity of the light source based on the spectral measurement.

188. The method of claim 185, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

receive temperature measurements from the light source; and

adjust an emission intensity of the light source based on the temperature measurements.

189. The method of claim 185, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

receive emission intensity measurements for the light source; and

adjust an emission intensity of the light source based on the emission intensity measurements.

191. The method of claim 185, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

receive emission frequency measurements; and

adjust an emission spectrum of the light source based on the emission frequency measurements.

192. The method of claim 185, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

receive emission intensity measurements for the light source; and

adjust a drive current to the light source based on the emission intensity measurements, wherein the control mechanism computes the adjusted drive current based on an anticipated change in an emission spectrum of the light source resulting from the adjusted drive current.

148-170. -170. (canceled)

172-174. -174. (canceled)

177-184. -184. (canceled)

190. (canceled)

193-216. -216. (canceled)

217. A method for displaying images comprising narrow bandwidth colors that are selectively filterable by users, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of pixels, including;

providing a first light emitter for each pixel, and

providing a first filter for each pixel; and

providing a control mechanism communicatively coupled to the plurality of pixels, the control mechanism configured to display an image by selectively instructing each of the plurality of pixels to emit light in a first narrow band and a second narrow band, and

wherein the first and second narrow bands are selected to be interpreted as substantially a same color by a user.

239. The method of claim 217, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to:

instruct the plurality of pixels to emit light in the first narrow band and refrain from emitting light in the second narrow band during a first image frame, and

instruct the pixels to refrain from emitting light in the first narrow band and emit light in the second narrow band during a second image frame.

240. The method of claim 217, wherein providing a control mechanism comprises providing a control mechanism configured to instruct the plurality of pixels to emit light in the first and second narrow bands simultaneously.

279. The method of claim 217, further comprising providing a second filter comprising a second emission spectrum comprising the second narrow band, wherein the first filter comprises a first emission spectrum comprising the first narrow band.

218-238. -238. (canceled)

241-278. -278. (canceled)

280-292. -292. (canceled)