Interactive three dimensional display with layered screens

• US 7,626,594 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PureDepth Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Witehira, Pita, Engel, Gabriel Daemon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cunningham; Gregory F
• Application Number:
  US10/048,638
• Time in Patent Office: 3,409 Days
• Field of Search: 345/4, 345/6, 345/419, 345/619, 345/1.1, 345/173, 345/1.2, 345/9, 348/14.03, 348/14.07, 348/564, 348/588, 348/840, 463/37, D14/127, D14/373
• US Class Current: 345/619
• 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: G09F 19/12 using special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/339 using spatial multiplexing H04N13/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

An interactive imaging system (1) with a perception of depth includes at least two screens (2) configured to show a three dimensional image, where the user can manipulate the image via control means (3). The control means (3) can comprise touch screen controls, or means adjacent to the screens such as buttons, touchpads or a joystick. Image information may be transmitted over the Internet or other communication means. Applications include computer games and simulators. Advertising messages may be displayed on one screen while images are being displayed on other screens.

Claims

1. An interactive imaging system comprising:

a first display screen for displaying a first graphical object, said first graphical object generated using a first active matrix of physical pixels disposed at said first display screen;

a second display screen for displaying a second graphical object, said second graphical object generated using a second active matrix of physical pixels disposed at said second display screen, said second display screen further for displaying said second graphical object simultaneously with said display of said first graphical object, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen, and wherein a portion of said first graphical object is viewable through said second display screen; and

a user interface for enabling interaction with at least one display screen selected from a group consisting of said first display screen and said second display screen, wherein said user interface comprises at least one user interface element for activation by a user, and wherein said user interface overlaps a viewable area of at least one display screen selected from a group consisting of said first and second display screens.

2. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said first and second graphical objects represent a single, three-dimensional object.

3. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said first and second graphical objects each represent a different object with a different respective depth.

4. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user interface element is selected from a group consisting of a button and a joystick.

5. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user interface element is mechanically actuated.

6. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-sensitive material, and wherein said at least one user interface element is associated with a portion of said touch-sensitive material.

7. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said user interface is located on a panel overlapping said first and second display screens.

8. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to adjust the display of at least one graphical object selected from a group consisting of said first and second graphical objects.

9. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to associate said user interface with at least one specific display screen, wherein said at least one user interface element overlaps said first and second display screens, and wherein elements of said user interface are operable to enable interaction solely with said at least one specific display screen.

10. The interactive imaging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to transition display of portions of graphical objects between said first and second display screens.

11. An interactive imaging system comprising:

a first display screen for displaying a first graphical object, said first graphical object generated using a first active matrix of physical pixels disposed at said first display screen;

a second display screen for displaying a second graphical object, said second graphical object generated using a first active matrix of physical pixels disposed at said second display screen, said second display screen further for displaying said second graphical object simultaneously with said display of said first graphical object, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen, and wherein a portion of said first graphical object is viewable through said second display screen; and

a user interface for enabling interaction with at least one display screen selected from a group consisting of said first display screen and said second display screen, wherein said user interface comprises at least one user interface element for activation by a user, and wherein said user interface is located remotely from at least one display screen selected from a group consisting of said first and second display screens.

12. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said first and second graphical objects represent a single, three-dimensional object.

13. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said first and second graphical objects each represent a different object with a different respective depth.

14. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said at least one user interface element is selected from a group consisting of a button and a joystick.

15. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said at least one user interface element is mechanically actuated.

16. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-sensitive material, and wherein said at least one user interface element is associated with a portion of said touch-sensitive material.

17. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to adjust the display of at least one graphical object selected from a group consisting of said first and second graphical objects.

18. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to associate said user interface with at least one specific display screen, wherein elements of said user interface are operable to enable interaction solely with said at least one specific display screen.

19. The interactive imaging system of claim 11, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to transition display of portions of graphical objects between said first and second display screens.

20. A method of interacting with a multi-layer display comprising a first display screen and a second display screen, said method comprising:

providing an overlapping arrangement of said first and second display screens;

simultaneously displaying a first graphical object on said first display screen and a second graphical object on said second display screen, said displaying comprising generating said first and second graphical objects using a respective active matrix of physical pixels disposed at each of said first and second display screens, and wherein a portion of said first graphical object is viewable through said second display screen; and

adjusting a display of at least one of said first and second graphical objects in response to an interaction with a user interface associated with at least one display screen selected from a group consisting of said first and second display screens.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first and second graphical objects represent a single, three-dimensional object.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first and second graphical objects each represent a different object with a different respective depth.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said user interface comprises at least one user interface element.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said at least one user interface element is selected from a group consisting of a button and a joystick.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said at least one user interface element is mechanically actuated.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-sensitive material, and wherein said at least one user interface element is associated with a portion of said touch-sensitive material.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said adjusting said display comprises transitioning display of portions of graphical objects between said first and second display screens.

28. An interactive imaging system comprising:

a first display including a first plurality of pixels operable to generate images of objects, the first plurality of pixels comprising a first active matrix of physical pixels disposed at the first display screen, the first display being operable to display a first graphical object using at least a portion of the first plurality of pixels;

a second display including a second plurality of pixels operable to generate images of objects, the second plurality of pixels comprising a second active matrix of physical pixels disposed at the second display screen, the second display being operable to display a second graphical object using at least a portion of the second plurality of pixels, the second display being further operable to display the second graphical object simultaneously with the display of the first graphical object;

wherein at least a portion of the second display overlaps with at least a portion of the first display;

wherein a portion of the first graphical object is viewable through the second display;

a user interface for enabling interaction with at least one display selected from a group consisting of;

the first display and the second display; and

wherein the user interface comprises at least one user interface element for activation by a user, and wherein the user interface overlaps a viewable area of at least one display selected from a group consisting of;

the first display and the second display.

29. The interactive imaging system of claim 28, wherein said at least one user interface element is selected from a group consisting of a button and a joystick.

30. The interactive imaging system of claim 28, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-sensitive material, and wherein said at least one user interface element is associated with a portion of said touch-sensitive material.

31. The interactive imaging system of claim 28, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to associate said user interface with at least one specific display screen, wherein said at least one user interface element overlaps said first and second display screens, and wherein elements of said user interface are operable to enable interaction solely with said at least one specific display screen.

32. The interactive imaging system of claim 28, wherein said at least one user interface element is operable to transition display of portions of graphical objects between said first and second display screens.

33. An interactive imaging system comprising:

means for providing an overlapping arrangement of said first and second display screens;

means for simultaneously displaying a first graphical object on said first display screen and a second graphical object on said second display screen, said displaying comprising generating said first and second graphical objects using a respective active matrix of physical pixels disposed at each of said first and second display screens, and wherein a portion of said first graphical object is viewable through said second display screen; and

means for adjusting a display of at least one of said first and second graphical objects in response to an interaction with a user interface associated with at least one display screen selected from a group consisting of said first and second display screens.

34. The interactive imaging system of claim 33, wherein said first and second graphical objects represent a single, three-dimensional object.

35. The interactive imaging system of claim 33, wherein said first and second graphical objects each represent a different object with a different respective depth.

36. The interactive imaging system of claim 33, wherein said user interface comprises at least one user interface element.

37. The interactive imaging system of claim 33, wherein said means for adjusting said display is further operable to transition display of portions of graphical objects between said first and second display screens.