Secure viewing of display units using a wavelength filter

• US 5,619,219 A
• Filed: 11/21/1994
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Coteus, Paul W., Goodman, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US08/342,950
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 345/7, 345/9, 345/4, 345/5, 345/6, 345/32, 348/42, 348/46, 348/51, 348/52, 348/53, 348/54, 348/55, 348/56, 348/57, 348/58, 348/59, 380/6, 380/7, 380/54, 380/59, 359/462, 359/464, 359/466
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/22 Absorbing filters G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors

Abstract

Apparatus for masking a displayed image by merging it with a second featureless image made of a narrow band of wavelengths that is introduced into a transparent screen disposed between the display and the viewer. An absorption filter matched to the wavelength of the masking light separates or blocks the masking image to permit the primary image to be viewed only by the person having the filter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing secure viewing of a primary image on a display by a viewer comprising:

means for generating a mask of light of a single wavelength band between said display and said viewer that mixes with said primary image to obscure viewing of said primary image; and

viewing means for use by the viewer for separating said mask of light from said primary image to allow only the primary image to be viewed through the viewing means, so that the viewer only sees the primary image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for generating a mask of light includes a transparent screen disposed between the display and the viewer and a guide means for introducing said mask of light into the interior of said screen such that said mask of light mixes with and obscures the primary image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for generating a mask of light includes a variable control means for varying the wavelength band of the mask of light.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said viewing means includes a filter adapted to absorb light of the wavelength band of said mask of light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wavelength band of said mask of light is sufficiently separated from the wavelength spectrum of said primary image such that absorption of said mask of light does not substantially distort the primary image passed by said filter.

6. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said filter is comprised of eyeglass lenses to be worn by the viewer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lenses are adapted to clip onto clear lens eyeglasses.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said screen is provided between a cover plate and display of a cathode ray tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said screen includes a front and back surface between which is defined the interior of the screen, said mask of light traveling through the interior of the screen such that a fraction of the light escapes through the front surface and mixes with the primary image to obscure viewing of the primary image.