Multiple viewer system for displaying a plurality of images

• US 6,473,115 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: dynamic digital depth Research Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Harman, Philip Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US09/205,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/47-50, 348/51-60, 359/376, 359/463-477, 359/629-630, 345/9, 345/31-32, 345/139, 342/176, 342/180, 353/74, 353/77, 353/79, 353/82, 353/84, 353/89, 353/98
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/35 using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/20 using two or more projectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/32 using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/365 using digital micromirror devices [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/368 for two or more viewers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

A system for displaying a plurality of images to multiple viewers (V1, V2, V3, . . . , VN) includes at least one semi-reflective mirror (12), a retroreflective screen (15) and a plurality of optical imaging means (not shown), each viewer being provided with a respective optical imaging means, each optical imaging means including a projection means for projecting images along an optical path, a tracking means (not shown) to determine the spatial position of the respective viewer'"'"'s eyes, and a focusing means (not shown) to modify the optical path in response to movement of the respective viewer (V1, V2, V3, . . . , VN).

Claims

1. A multiple viewer display system for a plurality of viewers including at least one semi reflective mirror, a retroreflective screen, and a plurality of optical imaging means, each viewer being provided with a respective said optical imaging means, each optical imaging means including a projection means for projecting images along an optical path, a tracking means for determining a spatial position of said respective viewer'"'"'s eyes, and a focussing means for modifying the optical path in response to movements of the respective viewer.

2. A multiple viewer display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said projection means is adapted to project left and right eye images along the optical path to the respective viewer to thereby form a stereoscopic image.

3. A multiple viewer display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said projection means is adapted to project identical left and right eye images along the optical path to the respective viewer to thereby form a monoscopic image.

4. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said focussing means includes at least one lens which is capable of being repositioned to direct the projected image to the required position.

5. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said focussing means includes at least one mirror which is capable of being repositioned to direct the projected image to the required position.

6. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said tracking means includes a video camera coupled with an infrared bandpass filter.

7. A display system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the semireflective mirror includes at least one infrared light source;

the infrared light source being directed towards the viewer eyes to enable the tracking means to track the viewers eyes through reflection of the infrared light.

8. A multiple viewer display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single semireflective mirror is provided for all said viewers.

9. A multiple viewer display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said viewer is provided with a respective semireflective mirror.

10. A display system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said retroreflective screen is substantially vertical in orientation.

11. A display system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said retroreflective screen is substantially horizontal in orientation.

12. A display system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said retroreflective screen is curved.

13. A display system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein at least one said optical imaging means projects a different image from its projection means.

14. A display system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the or each semi-reflective mirror is at an angle of substantially 45°

relative to the retroreflective screen.

15. A display system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9 claim wherein the spatial position of a first image on the retroreflective screen from one optical imaging means overlaps with the spatial position of a second image from at least one other optical imaging means.

16. A display system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein at least one said projection means is adapted to project a single image along an optical path, said single image being capable of covering both eyes of a viewer.