Computer display system using multiple screens

• US 7,091,926 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Inventors: Kulas, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US10/072,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/2.3, 345/4, 345/419, 345/629, 345/3.1, 345/3.4, 345/632, 345/748, 345/753, 345/552, 345/565, 345/158, 345/619, 345/649, 345/653, 345/664, 345/679, 345/761, 345/767, 434/29, 434/44, 340/119, 340/705, 348/383, 348/840
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions

Abstract

The present invention allows a user to arbitrarily position display screens so that a larger field of view can be presented by a computer system that senses the screen positions and provides appropriate display information. This is in contrast to the typical use of display screens where a single display screen is used and the position of the display screen is assumed to be directly in front of a user'"'"'s viewpoint. For example, two screens can be placed side-by-side so that their viewing surfaces together form a rectangular plane. This can be useful for viewing movies or other presentations that benefit from a larger horizontal viewing field. More complex arrangements of multiple screens can be set up for more immersive presentations such as virtual reality, simulations, computer games, etc. A mounting bracket for holding screen in a fixed orientation with respect to each other is described. A preferred embodiment of the bracket includes a visual indicator for determining the angle of a screen with respect to another.

Claims

1. A method for generating display information, the method comprising the following steps performed by one or more digital processors:

determining three-dimensional positions in space of multiple disconnected display screens; and

generating display information for the display screens by using the determined three-dimensional positions so that different portions of a single scene are displayed upon multiple disconnected display screens at the same time to provide a coherent view of the scene from at least one viewpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user input device is coupled to a first digital processor, the method further comprising:

using the first digital processor to receive signals from the user input device to obtain information to, at least in part, describe a three-dimensional position of a display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input device includes a position sensor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input device includes a numeric input, the method further comprising

accepting signals from the user input device to allow a human user to specify a display screen'"'"'s position information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

sensing a three-dimensional orientation of a display screen;

and

wherein generating display information includes

using the sensed three-dimensional orientation to display at least a portion of the single scene to provide a coherent view.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sensing a three-dimensional orientation of a display screen includes

detecting three points of a particular display screen;

and

using the detected three points to determine a three-dimensional orientation of the particular display screen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a sensor is used to convey information about the three points.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes an infrared emitter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes an acoustic emitter.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes a radio-frequency emitter.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a sensor includes a global positioning system.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising

using a presentation program to receive user input to determine a display screen characteristic.

13. A method for using multiple display screens in a presentation, the method comprising

first sensing three-dimensional positions of a plurality of disconnected display screens at a first time;

providing the first sensed three-dimensional positions to a digital processor for rendering views for the plurality of display screens in accordance with the first sensed three-dimensional positions;

sensing three-dimensional positions of the plurality of disconnected display screens at a second time; and

providing the second sensed three-dimensional positions to a digital processor for rendering views for the plurality of disconnected display screens in accordance with the second sensed three-dimensional positions.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising

determining a three-dimensional position of a display screen by accepting input from a human user.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising

automatically sensing the three-dimensional position of a display screen.

16. A method for using multiple disconnected display screens in a computer generated presentation, the method comprising:

indicating to a human user preferred three-dimensional positions for two or more display screens;

rendering views for the two or more display screens in accordance with the preferred three-dimensional positions; and

accepting signals from a user input device to modify a preferred three-dimensional position of at least one of the two or more display screens.