Using same optics to image, illuminate, and project
First Claim
1. A system for directing light in an interactive display system, the interactive display system including a generally transparent planar panel having a first surface on which visible images are projected and a second surface opposite the first surface, proximate to which a user interaction with an object occurs to provide an input to the interactive display system, comprising:
- (a) a lensing device operable to focus a predominantly visible light output to project an image over the first surface and at least one of;
(i) distribute a predominantly non-visible light output over the first surface; and
(ii) focus non-visible light reflected from an object adjacent to the second surface, to a focal input of a light sensor;
(b) a light separating system operable to separate at least one of;
(i) an input light so that the input light are separated into a predominantly visible light input and a predominantly non-visible light input, the predominantly visible light input being selectively modulated by a modulating system to produce a predominantly visible light output directed to the lensing device, at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible light input being directed to the lensing device as a predominantly non-visible light output; and
(ii) predominantly non-visible received light reflected from the object, from received light, such that substantially only the predominantly non-visible light reflected from the object adjacent to the second surface is routed to the light sensor; and
(c) at least one polarizing device disposed to cause only a substantially polarized component of the predominantly non-visible light output to be transmitted through the lensing device while passing at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible light that is reflected from the object and polarized but not in a same plane as the substantially polarized component of the substantially non-visible light output.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for directing light in an interactive display system so as to perform multiple functions. In addition to projecting images on the interactive display system, the system is used to distribute infrared (IR) light onto the display surface, and/or to receive and focus received IR light reflected from a physical object on the display surface. A light separating system separates a multi-waveband light from a source into a predominantly visible light and a predominantly non-visible light, the latter being redirected around visible light modulators and recombined with the modulated visible light for projection onto the display surface by a lensing system. In addition, or in the alternative, the light separating system separates predominantly non-visible light reflected from an object adjacent to the surface, from light produced by the source, directing only the non-visible light received to the light sensor used to image the display surface.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for directing light in an interactive display system, the interactive display system including a generally transparent planar panel having a first surface on which visible images are projected and a second surface opposite the first surface, proximate to which a user interaction with an object occurs to provide an input to the interactive display system, comprising:
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(a) a lensing device operable to focus a predominantly visible light output to project an image over the first surface and at least one of; (i) distribute a predominantly non-visible light output over the first surface; and (ii) focus non-visible light reflected from an object adjacent to the second surface, to a focal input of a light sensor; (b) a light separating system operable to separate at least one of; (i) an input light so that the input light are separated into a predominantly visible light input and a predominantly non-visible light input, the predominantly visible light input being selectively modulated by a modulating system to produce a predominantly visible light output directed to the lensing device, at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible light input being directed to the lensing device as a predominantly non-visible light output; and (ii) predominantly non-visible received light reflected from the object, from received light, such that substantially only the predominantly non-visible light reflected from the object adjacent to the second surface is routed to the light sensor; and (c) at least one polarizing device disposed to cause only a substantially polarized component of the predominantly non-visible light output to be transmitted through the lensing device while passing at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible light that is reflected from the object and polarized but not in a same plane as the substantially polarized component of the substantially non-visible light output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for directing and modulating light in an interactive display system, the interactive display system including a generally transparent planar panel having a first surface on which visible images are projected and a second surface opposite the first surface, proximate to which a user interaction with an object occurs to provide an input to the interactive display system, comprising:
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(a) a shared lensing device operable to; (i) focus a predominantly visible light output to project an image over the first surface and at least one of; (ii) distribute a predominantly non-visible light output over the first surface; and (iii) focus a received light that was reflected from an object adjacent to the second surface, the received light being focused to be receivable by a light sensor; (b) a separating system operable to; (i) separate an input light into a predominantly visible light input and a predominantly non-visible light input, such that the predominantly visible light input is selectively modulated by a modulating system to generate the predominantly visible light output directed to the shared lensing device, and at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible light input is directed to the shared lensing device as the predominantly non-visible light output; and (ii) separate the received light, such that only the predominantly non-visible light reflected by the object is routed to the light sensor; and (c) at least one polarizing device positioned to cause only a substantially polarized component of the predominantly non-visible light output to be transmitted through the lensing device while passing at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible received light that is polarized but not in a same plane as a substantially polarized component of the predominantly non-visible light output. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for directing light in an interactive display system, the interactive display system including a generally transparent planar panel having a first surface on which visible images are projected and a second surface opposite the first surface, proximate to which a user interaction with an object occurs to provide an input to the interactive display system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) using a shared lensing device, focusing a predominantly visible light output to project an image over the first surface and at least one of; (i) distributing a predominantly non-visible light output over the first surface; and (ii) focusing a received light reflected from an object adjacent to the second surface to a focal input of a light sensor; (b) separating at least one of; (i) an input light into a predominantly visible light input and a predominantly non-visible light input, the predominantly visible light input being then modulated to generate the predominantly visible light output, at least a portion of the predominantly non-visible light input being used for the predominantly non-visible light output; and (ii) predominantly non-visible received light reflected from the object, from received light, routing the predominantly non-visible received light to the light sensor; and (c) polarizing the predominantly non-visible light input directed to the shared lensing device, so that the predominantly non-visible received light, which is polarized differently because of scattering, is directed to the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification