System and method for simultaneously viewing a scene and an obscured object
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging system comprising:
- a sensor for producing an output representative of the distance between a viewer and a first object and of the relative position and perspective of the viewer with respect to the first object in real-time;
facilities for storing information representative of an image of a second object including nonobservable portions thereof;
a processor responsive to said output for manipulating said information and for generating signals representing the image of the second object as having a distance from the viewer and a relative position and perspective to the viewer which is the same as the distance, relative position, and perspective applicable to the first object; and
a display device for converting said signals into a virtual image and for permitting the viewer to simultaneously observe the first object and the virtual image.
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Abstract
A visual information system to capture an input image using a camera 22, manipulate the image using processor 28, and project the processed image using optics 33 to superimpose the processed image on the actual object being observed by a viewer. Processing is done in real-time to allow the viewer to see both the actual and processed images while the viewer moves and changes viewing angles. Areas of interest in the displayed image may be highlighted or include graphical information for the viewer.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An imaging system comprising:
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a sensor for producing an output representative of the distance between a viewer and a first object and of the relative position and perspective of the viewer with respect to the first object in real-time; facilities for storing information representative of an image of a second object including nonobservable portions thereof; a processor responsive to said output for manipulating said information and for generating signals representing the image of the second object as having a distance from the viewer and a relative position and perspective to the viewer which is the same as the distance, relative position, and perspective applicable to the first object; and a display device for converting said signals into a virtual image and for permitting the viewer to simultaneously observe the first object and the virtual image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An imaging system comprising:
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a means for determining and outputting position information regarding the relative position of a viewer and a first object; an image source for providing image information from a stored image of a second object, wherein said second object is obscured from said viewer by said first object; a processor for receiving said image and position information and for performing image processing routines on said image information and outputting an image signal in accordance with said position information; and a display device to receive said image signal and to convert said image signal into a displayed image, wherein said viewer may look through said display device and see the displayed image superimposed on a direct view of said first object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of displaying an image of an object comprising:
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tracking the relative position of a first object and a viewer; processing a stored image of a second object to obtain an image signal representative of said second object from the perspective of said viewer from said first object, wherein said second object is obscured from said viewer by said first object; converting said processed image signal into an image; and displaying said image such that said viewer sees said image superimposed on a direct view of said first object. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification