Interactive virtual image store window

• US 6,318,868 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Larussa
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Larussa
• Inventors: Larussa, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treas, Jared
• Application Number:
  US09/411,451
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 359/838, 359/864, 359/839, 359/857, 359/609, 359/629, 359/630, 359/631, 359/633, 359/479, 345/7, 434/76, 404/09, 404/11, 405/48, 405/60, 353/28
• US Class Current: 359/857
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/56 by projecting aerial or floating images

Abstract

A display device for presenting a virtual image of a product. The device supports an object whose virtual image is to be presented at a point on one side of the device, and an optical system having a transparent member mounted in the manner of a conventional store window. The optical system projects an image of the object in virtual space towards an observer on the opposite side of said device. The device is also equipped with a means for directing an odor towards the image. The odor is scented according to the image being produced. The device is positioned adjacent to a place frequented by potential consumers of the product, such as a street in a shopping area of a town or mall.

Claims

1. A virtual display system comprising:

a) a spherical mirror;

b) a first beam splitter disposed on the concave side of said mirror;

c) a first end plate positioned beyond said first beam splitter, said first end plate having a broad band anti reflection coating disposed on the side of said first end plate facing said first beam splitter;

d) a quarter wave plate positioned beyond said first end plate;

e) a polarizer positioned beyond said quarter wave plate, said polarizer being vertically polarized;

f) a second end plate positioned beyond said polarizer, said second end plate having a broad band anti reflection coating disposed on the side of said second end plate facing away from said polarizer; and

g) a second beam splitting plane mirror providing for separate inputs of an object and a backdrop for said object, said object and said backdrop having a variable distance from said virtual display system thereby varying the size and position of the images produces by said virtual display system.

2. A virtual display system as in claim 1, wherein a scent producing mechanism emits an odor producing scent corresponding to the image being displayed by said virtual display system.

3. A virtual display system as in claim 2, wherein a scent producing mechanism comprises:

i) a chamber having an input and an output and for holding said odor producing scent, said chamber emits said odor producing scent via compressed air supplied to said input via a one-way valve and exiting said chamber via said output

whereby said output is positioned to direct said scent at said image.

4. A display device for presenting a virtual image of a product, comprising:

(a) an optical system having a street side and being positioned with said street side adjacent to a place frequented by potential consumers, such as a street in a shopping area of a town or mall, said optical system comprising;

i) a concave mirror;

ii) a first beam splitter disposed on the concave side of said mirror;

iii) a first end plate positioned beyond said first beam splitter, said first end plate having a broad band anti reflection coatiog disposed on the side of said first end plate facing said first beam splitter;

iv) a quarter wave plate positioned beyond said first end plate;

one the side of said first end plate facing said first beam splitter;

v) a polarize positioned beyond said quarter wave plate, said polarizer being vertically polarized;

vi) a second end plate positioned beyond said polarizer, said second end plate having a broad band anti reflection coating disposed on the side of said second end plate facing away from said polarizer; and

vii) a second beam splitting plane mirror providing for separate inputs of an object and a backdrop for said object, said object and said backdrop having a variable distance from said virtual display system thereby varying the size and position of the images produced by said virtual display system;

(b) an object whose image is to be presented; and

(c) a support supporting said object whose virtual image is to be presented at a point on the side of said optical system which is opposite the place frequented by potential consumers, said optical system being mounted in the manner of a conventional store window, said optical system projecting an image of said object in virtual space to an observer on said street side of said optical system.

5. A virtual display system for presenting a virtual image of a product, the display system comprising:

(a) an optical system having a street side and being positioned with said street side adjacent to a place frequented by potential consumers, said place optionally being a street, in a shopping area of a town or mall said optical system comprising;

(i) a generally spherical concave mirror, said concave mirror defining an optical axis passing substantially through the center of said generally spherical concave mirror and extending in a first direction transverse to said generally spherical concave mirror;

(ii) a beam splitter assembly comprising first and second beam splitters which fold the optical axis of the generally spherical concave mirror twice resulting in the optical axis extending along first, second and third directions, said object being located on the optical axis in said second direction, and further comprising an imaging device centered along the optical axis in said third direction, whereby said object and images on said imaging device may be seen simultaneously through said optical system;

(iii) a first end plate positioned beyond said first beam splitter, said first end plate having a broad band anti reflection coating disposed on the side of said first end plate facing said first beam splitter;

(iv) a quarter wave plate positioned on the side of said first end plate facing said first beam splitter;

(v) a polarizer positioned beyond said quarter wave plate;

wherein said optical system has an axis which extends in the same direction as said optical axis defined by said generally spherical concave mirror, and said object lies along said folded optical axis, whereby both said object and said optical system are on axis;

(b) an object whose image is to be presented; and

(c) a support supporting said object whose virtual image is to be presented at a point on the side of said optical system which is opposite the place frequented by potential consumers, said optical system being mounted in the manner of a conventional store window, said optical system projecting an image of said object in virtual space to an observer on said street side of said optical system.

6. A virtual display system as in claim 5, wherein said first beam splitter is positioned to reflect light from said concave spherical mirror downwardly, and said second beam splitter is positioned to receive light reflected by said first beam splitter and said object is positioned to receive light from said second beam splitter reflected by said first beam splitter, whereby light emitted by said object is reflected by said second beam splitter to said first beam splitter and then to said spherical mirror to form an image visible to persons in said place frequented by potential customers.

7. A display device for presenting a virtual image of a product comprising:

(a) an optical system having a street side and being positioned with said street side adjacent to a place frequented by potential consumers, such as a street in a shopping area of a town or mall;

(b) an object whose virtual image is to be presented; and

(c) means for supporting said object whose virtual image is to be presented at a point on the side of said optical system which is opposite the place frequented by potential consumers, said optical system being mounted in the manner of a conventional store window said optical system projecting an image of said object in virtual space to an observer on said street side of said optical system, said optical system comprising;

i) a concave mirror;

ii) a first beamsplitter disposed on the concave side of said mirror;

iii) a first end plate positioned beyond said first beam splitter, said first end plate having a broad band anti reflection coating disposed on the side of said first end plate facing said first beam splitter;

iv) a quarter wave plate positioned beyond said first end plate;

v) a polarizer positioned beyond said quarter wave plate; and

vi) a second end plate positioned beyond said polarizer, said second end plate having a broad band anti reflection coating disposed on the side of said second end plate facing away from said polarizer; and

vii) a second beam splitting plane mirror providing for separate inputs of an object and a backdrop for said object, said object and said backdrop having a variable distance from said virtual display system thereby varving the size and position of the images produced by said virtual display system.