Device for image output and input

• US 6,454,414 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Ting, Chin-Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Magda
• Application Number:
  US09/661,108
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 353/28, 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.1
• US Class Current: 353/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact

Abstract

An image input/output device comprises a semi-transparent display and an image capture device. The semi-transparent has a displaying surface for displaying images to a user and an opposite surface respective to the displaying surface, and has a plurality of transparent regions thereon. The image capture device is located right behind the opposite surface of the semi-transparent display, and used for capturing an image of the user through the transparent regions.

Claims

1. An image input/output devices comprising:

a semi-transparent display, having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is used for displaying images, wherein the semi-transparent display has a plurality of pixels and a plurality of transparent regions between some of the pixels; and

an image capture device installed right behind the second surface of the semi-transparent display, for capturing images via the transparent regions of the semi-transparent display.

2. The image input/output device of claim 1, wherein a distance between the semi-transparent display and the image capture device is sufficiently small such that the semi-transparent display is not projected on the image capture device.

3. The image input/output device of claim 1, wherein the transparent regions comprise holes uniformly distributed in the semi-transparent display.

4. The image input/output device of claim 1, wherein the pixels and the transparent regions are distributed uniformly and interleaved periodically.

5. The image input/output device of claim 1, wherein the semi-transparent display comprises a self-luminescent display.

6. The image input/output device of claim 5, wherein the self-luminescent display comprises an electro-luminescent (EL) display.

7. The image input/output device of claim 6, wherein the electro-luminescent (EL) display comprises an organic electro-luminescent (OEL) display.

8. The image input/output device of claim 1, wherein the semi-transparent display comprises a thin-film-transistor electro-luminescent (TFT-EL) display.

9. The image input/output device of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a charge coupled device (CCD) camera.

10. An image input/output device, comprising:

a semi-transparent display used for an image output device, wherein a surface of the semi-transparent display is used for displaying images to a user, and the semi-transparent display comprises a plurality of transparent regions and a plurality of pixels, wherein some of the pixels abut the transparent regions; and

a charge coupled device (CCD) camera located at the other surface of the semi-transparent display, and used for capturing an image of the user via the transparent regions.

11. The image input/output device of claim 10, wherein a distance between the semi-transparent display and the image capture device is sufficiently small such that the semi-transparent display is not projected on the image capture device.

12. The image input/output device of claim 10, wherein the transparent regions comprise holes uniformly distributed in the semi-transparent display.

13. The image input/output device of claim 10, wherein the pixels and the transparent regions are distributed uniformly and interleaved periodically.

14. The image input/output device of claim 10, wherein the semi-transparent display comprises a self-luminescent display.

15. The image input/output device of claim 14, wherein the self-luminescent display comprises an electro-luminescent (EL) display.

16. The image input/output device of claim 15, wherein the electro-luminescent (EL) display comprises an organic electro-luminescent (OEL) display.

17. The image input/output device of claim 10, wherein the semi-transparent display comprises a thin-film-transistor electro-luminescent (TFT-EL) display.

18. A semi-transparent display, comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is used for displaying images, and a plurality of pixels with respect to primary colors and transparent regions are formed in the semi-transparent display, the pixels and the transparent regions are arranged uniformly and interleaved periodically.

19. The semi-transparent display of claim 18, wherein each of the pixels has a non-transparent layer on the second surface of the semi-transparent display such that the images are displayed on the first surface of the semi-transparent display.

20. The semi-transparent display of claim 18, wherein the semi-transparent display comprises a self-luminescent display.

21. The semi-transparent display of claim 20, wherein the self-luminescent display comprises an electro-luminescent (EL) display.

22. The semi-transparent display of claim 21, wherein the electro-luminescent (EL) display comprises an organic electro-luminescent (OEL) display.

23. The semi-transparent display of claim 18, wherein the electro-luminescent (EL) display comprises a thin-film-transistor electro-luminescent (TFT-EL) display.