System for explaining an exhibit using spectacle-type displays

• US 5,691,737 A
• Filed: 09/14/1994
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Ryo, Shimazu, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US08/306,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 340/825.44, 340/825.72, 340/825.73, 340/825.24, 348/53, 348/158, 455/186.1
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/24 involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/158 Switching image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/167 Synchronising or controlling image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An exhibit explaining system to enable a plurality of visitors to receive an explanation of an exhibit at their own pace. Spectacle-type displays 51-1 to 51-10 are provided, the frequencies f1 to f10 of a carrier wave being set to be different from each other. Image generating devices 61-1 to 61-10 are provided to correspond to the spectacle-type displays 51-1 to 51-10. When operating explanation request button 52-1 of the spectacle-type display 51-1, a VTR 76-1 of the image generating device 61-1 with the corresponding channel is reproduced, which is output from a transmitter-receiver circuit 72-1 to the spectacle-type display 51-1 through an antenna 71-1 on a radio wave. In the spectacle-type display 51-1, this radio wave is demodulated to observe an image on an LCD thereof.

Claims

1. A system for explaining an exhibit including a plurality of exhibit elements, comprising in combination:

a plurality of installed image generating devices, each operatively associated with at least one exhibit element for outputting an image associated with the exhibit element at predetermined frequencies; and

a plurality of spectacle-type displays, wherein the outputs of said image generating devices at said predetermined frequencies are received by said plurality of spectacle-type displays so as to display in display portions thereof said image of the exhibit element.

2. A system for explaining an exhibit as specified in claim 1, wherein said predetermined frequencies are varied with said plurality of image generating devices.

3. A system for explaining an exhibit as specified in claim 2, wherein said predetermined frequencies are selected by persons who use said plurality of spectacle-type displays, respectively.

4. A system for explaining an exhibit as specified in claim 2, wherein said image generating devices automatically select unused ones of said predetermined frequencies.

5. A system for explaining an exhibit as specified in claim 2, said image of the exhibit is provided to be varied with classes, and said classes are determined with said spectacle-type displays.

6. A system for explaining an exhibit as specified in claim 2, wherein said image of the exhibit varies according to predetermined classes, and said classes are selectable by persons who use said spectacle-type displays.

7. A system for explaining an exhibit as specified in claim 1, wherein said spectacle-type displays are switchable between either of a state wherein the user views said display portion and a state wherein the user can view his surroundings.

8. A system for explaining an exhibit having a number of exhibit elements, comprising:

a plurality of installed image generating devices, each operationally linked to an exhibit element and a plurality of portable display devices;

each of said plurality of image generating devices comprising;

image generating means for generating an image related to the exhibit element; and

a transmitter means for outputting said generated image at a predetermined frequency,

each of said plurality of portable display devices comprising;

a receiver means for receiving the image related to the exhibit element transmitted at the predetermined frequency from said image generating device; and

display means for displaying the image received by said receiver means on a display unit provided thereon.

9. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 8, wherein said predetermined frequency is varied with said plurality of image generating devices.

10. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 9, wherein said image generating means further generates a sound to explain the exhibit.

11. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of portable display devices further comprises a transmission request signal generating means for generating a signal by user'"'"'s request to request said image generating device to transmit the image related to the exhibit;

said receiver means has the transmitting function and transmits the transmission request signal to said image generating device,

each of said image generating devices further comprises a signal detecting means for detecting the transmission request signal received from said portable display device;

said image generating means generates predetermined image corresponding to the detected transmission request signal.

12. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 11, wherein said image generating device further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not said image generating device is used by other user when the transmission request signal is detected;

and a signal generating means for generating a signal to indicate that said image generating device is in the unused state,

said transmitter means transmits the signal to said portable display device.

13. A system for explaining exhibit of claim 12, wherein said display device further comprising a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and

a message generating means for generating a message to indicate that the image related to the exhibit is received by other user when the signal is not received,

a display means displays the message on the display unit.

14. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 13, wherein said portable display device further comprising a frequency switching means for switching the frequency to the frequency of other image generating device when the signal is not received.

15. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 11, wherein said image generating device further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not said image generating device in the unused state exists when the transmission request signal is detected;

and a signal generating means for generating a signal to indicate that said image generating device in the unused state exists,

said transmitter means transmits the signal to said portable display device.

16. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 15, wherein said portable display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and a message generating means for generating a message to indicate that the all said image generating devices are in the used state when the signal is not received,

said display means displays the message on the display unit.

17. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 15, wherein sand portable display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and an automatic selecting means for automatically selecting one of frequencies of image generating devices in the unused state when the signal is received, said display means displays the image corresponding to the frequency selected on the display unit.

18. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 15, wherein said portable display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and a selecting means for selecting by user'"'"'s request one of frequencies of image generating devices in the unused state when the signal is received,

said display means displays the image corresponding to the frequency selected on the display unit.

19. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 10, wherein said image related to the exhibit is varied with a plurality of classes;

said portable display device further comprises a transmission request signal generating means for generating a signal by user'"'"'s request to request said image generating device to transmit the image related to the exhibit;

and a class signal generating means for generating a class signal indicating which class of image is requested to be transmitted,

said receiver means has the transmitting function and transmits the transmission request signal and the class signal to said image generating device,

said image generating device further comprises a signal detecting means for detecting the transmission request signal and the class signal received from said portable display device;

said image generating means generates predetermined image corresponding to the detected transmission request signal and the class signal.

20. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 19, wherein said classes are determined with said portable devices.

21. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 19, wherein said classes are selected by users of said portable devices.

22. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 19, wherein said image generating device further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not said image generating device is used by other user when the transmission request signal is detected;

and a signal generating means for generating a signal to indicate that said image generating device is in the unused state,

said transmitter means transmits the signal to said portable display device.

23. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 22, wherein said display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and a message generating means for generating a message to indicate that the image related to the exhibit is received by other user when the signal is not received,

said display means displays the message on the display unit.

24. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 23, wherein said portable display device further comprises a frequency switching means for switching the frequency to the frequency of other image generating device when the signal is not received.

25. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 19, wherein said image generating device further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not said image generating device in the unused state exists when the transmission request signal is detected;

and a signal generating means for generating a signal to indicate that said image generating device in the unused state exists,

said transmitter means transmits the signal to said portable display device.

26. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 25, wherein said portable display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and a message generating means for generating a message to indicate that the all said image generating device are in the used state when the signal is not received,

said display means displays the message on the display unit.

27. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 25, wherein said portable display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and an automatic selecting means for automatically selecting one of frequencies of image generating devices in the unused state when the signal is received,

said display means displays the image corresponding to the frequency selected on the display unit.

28. A system for explaining an exhibit of claim 25, wherein said portable display device further comprises a means for detecting the signal received from said image generating device;

and a selecting means for selecting by user'"'"'s request one of frequencies of image generating devices in the unused state when the signal is received,

said display means displays the image corresponding to the frequency selected on the display unit.

29. A portable display device (PDD) for use in conjunction with an image generator system, including a plurality of installed image generators each operatively associated with one or more exhibit elements, and at least one transmitter, to provide an explanation of said exhibit elements, said PDD comprising in combination:

a receiver for receiving an image related to an exhibit element transmitted over a predetermined communication channel;

a display for displaying the image received by said receiver on a display unit provided thereon;

means for attaching said portable display device to the head of a user; and

means for transmitting a signal from said portable display device to said exhibit element associated image generator to initiate transmission of said explanation.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for transmitting a message specifying a class of explanation from said portable display device to said image generator.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for transmitting a signal requesting a change in said predetermined communication channel from said portable display device to said image generator.