Pass-through reflective projection display
First Claim
1. A pass-through reflective projection display system comprising:
- projector means for projecting an image beam;
a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; and
a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved desktop projection display system which effectively utilizes desk top space by producing an image that appears to be at the rear edge of the desk. The display is compact because it uses a transparent-reflective panel (i.e., beamsplitter) to reflect a screen image through the same space occupied by the projection beam. This is achieved by projecting through a transparent-reflective panel, angled at approximately 45 degrees to the projection beam, onto a front projection screen located on the desk surface. An image formed on the front projection screen is then reflected by the transparent-reflective panel creating the appearance to the observer that the reflected front projection screen is positioned toward the rear of the desk surface. This invention greatly improves desktop display ergonomics for large display viewing by providing a sufficient distance between the observer seated at a desk and the display image. It is also possible to position a camera behind the transparent-reflective panel at the apparent position of the reflected screen image thus ensuring teleconferencing eye contact. The present invention, though ideal for desk top use, may also be incorporated into devices such as laptop computers or configured in kiosks or used in a manner similar to big screen projection televisions.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A pass-through reflective projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; and a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image formed thereon so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A pass-through reflective projection display system with a video conferencing eye contact feature comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a front projection image screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the front projection image screen forming a visible image thereon, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the front projection image screen for reflecting the visible image so that an observer gazing toward a front projection image screen-facing side of the panel will perceive a reflection of the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; and a camera disposed on a side of the transparent-reflective panel opposite the observer for obtaining an image of the observer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A reflected image projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a screen for making the image beam visible as an image, the screen having three-dimensional relief for modifying the visible image; and a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the image beam for reflecting the visible image so that an observer gazing toward a screen-facing surface of the panel will perceive the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A reflected image projection display system comprising:
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projector means for projecting an image beam; a screen for making the image beam visible as an image; a transparent-reflective panel disposed so the image beam from the projector means strikes the transparent-reflective panel and is transmitted therethrough to reach the screen forming a visible image, the transparent-reflective panel angled relative to the image beam for reflecting the visible image so that an observer gazing toward a screen-facing surface of the panel will perceive the visible image as appearing at a distance beyond the transparent-reflective panel; and image blocking means to obscure the image on the screen when the observer looks directly at the screen. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification