VIDEO DISPLAY WITH PAN FUNCTION CONTROLLED BY VIEWING DIRECTION

• US 20160203581A1
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: BERNOLD, Roland Rene, KELLER, Anton Werner
• Granted Patent: US 10,354,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/20 Linear translation of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. panning

Abstract

A video processor is responsive to an output of a pair of cameras that are used for determining a viewer viewing direction of a display screen. As long as the viewer'"'"'s viewing angular direction is directed toward a center region of a display screen, the pan function is disabled. When the viewer'"'"'s viewing angle crosses a first threshold angular direction away from the screen center, dynamically tracking pan function is enabled so as to shift the displayed picture. When the viewer'"'"'s viewing angle crosses an even larger, second threshold angular direction, the picture will shift in the same direction but at a faster rate. When the viewer'"'"'s viewing angular direction decreases in a manner to cross a threshold angular direction that is smaller than the first threshold angular direction further picture shift is suspended. Thereby, a hysteresis feature is incorporated. When the viewer'"'"'s viewing angular direction continues changing in the same direction that causes the suspension in the picture shift in a manner to cross a third threshold angular direction, that is adaptable to the accumulated picture shift, the picture shifts in the opposite direction.

Claims

1. A video display apparatus, comprising:

a source of a video signal containing picture information of a picture to be displayed on a display screen;

an interface for receiving a signal indicative of a viewing direction of a viewer with respect to said display screen; and

a processor responsive to an output signal of said sensor and coupled to said display screen for applying a pan/tilt function to said displayed picture to shift said displayed picture with respect to said display screen when said viewing direction crosses, in a first direction, a first threshold direction and for producing a change in said picture shifting when said viewing direction crosses, in a direction opposite to said first direction, a second threshold direction in a manner to provide hysteresis.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, prior to said viewing direction crossing said first threshold direction, said picture shifting is disabled.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein after crossing said second threshold direction and as long as said viewing direction is within a range of values, additional accumulation of picture shifting is disabled.

9. A video display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for generating said signal indicative of said viewing direction.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. A video display apparatus, comprising:

a source of a video signal containing picture information of a picture to be displayed on a display screen;

an interface for receiving a signal indicative of a viewing direction of a viewer with respect to said display screen; and

a processor responsive to an output signal of said sensor and coupled to said display screen for applying a pan/tilt function to said displayed picture to shift said displayed picture with respect to said display screen in a first direction when said viewing direction is within a first range of values, for ceasing additional picture shifting when said viewing direction is within a second range of values and for shifting said picture in the opposite direction when said viewing direction crosses a first threshold direction, said first threshold direction being adaptively adjusted in accordance with a magnitude of the picture shift accumulated prior to a time when the additional picture shifting has ceased.

10. A video display apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a sensor for generating said signal indicative of said viewing direction.

8. A video display apparatus, comprising:

a source of a video signal containing picture information of a picture to be displayed on a display screen;

an interface for receiving a signal indicative of a viewing direction of a viewer with respect to said display screen; and

a processor responsive to an output signal of said sensor and coupled to said display screen for applying a pan/tilt function to said displayed picture to shift said displayed picture in accordance with said viewing direction, said processor being further responsive to content of said picture for varying the picture shift previously obtained in response to a change in said displayed picture content.

11. A video display apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a sensor for generating said signal indicative of said viewing direction.