Multi-person shared display device

• US 6,965,381 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration (Japan Science And Technology Agency)
• Original Assignee: Japan Science And Technology Corpration (Japan Science And Technology Agency)
• Inventors: Masaki, Toshihiro, Kitamura, Yoshifumi, Kishino, Fumio, Konishi, Takashige
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US10/069,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/474, 345/475, 353/7, 359/463, 359/630
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/32 using arrays of controllable light sources; using moving apertures or moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a multi-person shared display device with which a display device can be shared by a plurality of persons. For this purpose, a display device of the present invention is configured by a large screen display 112 and a display mask 114, which covers and hides a portion thereof. The display mask 114 is disposed at a position only an appropriate distance away from a display surface 116. The display mask 114 has a hole 118, and only through that portion can the display surface 116 of display 112 be seen. By introducing such display mask 114, the region visible upon the display surface differs depending on the viewpoint position of the user. As a result, it becomes possible to provide different content for every user.

Claims

1. A multi-person shared display device, which is a display device shared by a plurality of users, comprising:

a display device, which displays a plurality of images for a plurality of users on a screen;

a display mask, which is disposed so as to cover said display device separated by a fixed distance and has one fixed sufficiently large hole through which each of said plurality of users watches said image corresponding to the user on said display device, and by which a visible region upon the display surface varies depending on viewpoint position of each of the users;

a position sensor, which detects a location of the user in real space corresponding to said display device; and

a processing device, which is dynamically combined with said display device and said position sensor, and varies an image upon said display device in accordance with said location of the user through said position sensor so that relative positions between viewpoint and said display device are appropriately corrected corresponding to changes in the relative positions.

2. The multi-person shared display device according to claim 1, wherein

said image to be displayed upon the display device includes video for three-dimensional viewing.

3. The multi-person shared display device according to claim 2, wherein

each user wears a plurality of glasses for separating said video for three-dimensional viewing displayed into that for the right eye and that for the left eye;

and

the plurality of video for three dimensional viewing shown on said display device, is images allowing separation between that for the right eye and that for the left eye through said plurality of glasses.

4. The multi-person shared display device according to claim 3, wherein said glasses are glasses in which shutters for the right eye and for the left eye open and close;

and said processing device is dynamically combined with said glasses.

5. The multi-person shared display device according to either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said glasses and said position sensor are formed as an integral unit.

6. The multi-person shared display device according to claim 1, further including a shutter for right eye and for left eye open and close wherein said processing device is dynamically combined with said shutter.

7. A multi-person shared display device, which is a display device shared by a plurality of users, comprising:

a display device, which displays a plurality of video for a plurality of users on a screen, wherein said video to be displayed upon the display device includes video for three-dimensional viewing;

a display mask, which is disposed so as to cover said display device separated by a fixed distance and has a sufficiently large hole;

a position sensor, which detects a location of a user in real space corresponding to said display device; and

a processing device, which is dynamically combined with said one display device and said position sensor, and displays an image corresponding to each user upon said display device in accordance with said position of the user through said position sensor

wherein each user wears a plurality of glasses for separating said video for three-dimensional viewing displayed into that for the right eye and that for the left eye;

the plurality of video for three dimensional viewing shown on said display device, is images allowing separation between that for the right eye and that for the left eye through said plurality of glasses;

said glasses are glasses in which shutters for the right eye and for the left eye open and close; and

said processing device is dynamically combined with said glasses.

8. The multi-person shared display device according to claim 7, wherein said glasses and said position sensor are formed as an integral unit.