Alternating light sources to reduce specular reflection
First Claim
1. An interactive display comprising:
- one or more display layers that are at least partially transparent, the one or more display layers having a first side and a second opposing side;
a first illuminator positioned at a first location behind the one or more display layers, such that at least some light emitted from the first illuminator passes from the first illuminator through the first side and the one or more display layers towards an object positioned on the second opposing side of the one or more display layers during illumination of the first illuminator;
a second illuminator positioned at a second location behind the one or more display layers, such that at least some light emitted from the second illuminator passes from the first illuminator through the first side and the one or more display layers towards the object positioned on the second opposing side of the one or more display layers during illumination of the second illuminator;
a camera positioned behind the one or more display layers with the first and second illuminators, the camera being configured to take images of at least a portion of the first side of the one or more display layers;
a phase management mechanism configured to;
control alternation of phases of the interactive display, the interactive display having a plurality of phases including at least a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase;
when in the first phase, controlling the first illuminator to dominate over the second illuminator, and in the first phase causing the camera to take a first image;
when in the second phase, controlling the second illuminator to dominate over the first illuminator, and in the second phase causing the camera to take a second image; and
when in the third phase, controlling all illuminators, including the first illuminator and the second illuminator, to be turned off, and in the third phase causing the camera to take a third image;
an image construction mechanism configured to construct an input image using at least at least a portion of the first image, at least a portion of the second image, and at least a portion of the third image.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive display in which alternating illuminators are used to reduce or cancel specular reflections. The interactive display includes multiple illuminators and at least one camera placed behind one or more display layers. The interactive display uses a phase management mechanism that controls alternation of phases of the interactive display. When in the first phase, the first illuminator is controlled to dominate over the second illuminator. When in the second phase, the second illuminator is controlled to dominate over the first illuminator. A consolidated image is then formulated using a combination of the first and second images. The consolidated image has reduced or eliminated specular reflections as compared to the first and second images alone.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An interactive display comprising:
-
one or more display layers that are at least partially transparent, the one or more display layers having a first side and a second opposing side; a first illuminator positioned at a first location behind the one or more display layers, such that at least some light emitted from the first illuminator passes from the first illuminator through the first side and the one or more display layers towards an object positioned on the second opposing side of the one or more display layers during illumination of the first illuminator; a second illuminator positioned at a second location behind the one or more display layers, such that at least some light emitted from the second illuminator passes from the first illuminator through the first side and the one or more display layers towards the object positioned on the second opposing side of the one or more display layers during illumination of the second illuminator; a camera positioned behind the one or more display layers with the first and second illuminators, the camera being configured to take images of at least a portion of the first side of the one or more display layers; a phase management mechanism configured to; control alternation of phases of the interactive display, the interactive display having a plurality of phases including at least a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase; when in the first phase, controlling the first illuminator to dominate over the second illuminator, and in the first phase causing the camera to take a first image; when in the second phase, controlling the second illuminator to dominate over the first illuminator, and in the second phase causing the camera to take a second image; and when in the third phase, controlling all illuminators, including the first illuminator and the second illuminator, to be turned off, and in the third phase causing the camera to take a third image; an image construction mechanism configured to construct an input image using at least at least a portion of the first image, at least a portion of the second image, and at least a portion of the third image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An interactive display that utilizes a plurality of alternating phases, including:
-
one or more display layers that are at least partially transparent and that comprise a first side upon which an object is positioned and a second opposing side; a first and second illuminator and a camera which are all positioned behind the one or more display layers on the second opposing side of the one or more display layers; and a phase management mechanism, which comprises; a phase detection mechanism configured to detect a current phase of the interactive display; an illumination control mechanism configured to; cause the first illuminator to generate more light than an amount of reduced light that is generated by the second illuminator when the phase detection mechanism detects the current phase should be a first phase, such that the first illuminator is caused to dominate over the second illuminator within the first phase, even though the second illuminator still emits the reduced light in the first phase; cause the second illuminator to generate more light than an amount of reduced light that is generated by the first illuminator when the phase detection mechanism detects the current phase should be a second phase, such that the second illuminator is caused to dominate over the first illuminator within the second phase, even though the first illuminator still emits the reduced light in the second phase; and cause all illuminators, including the first illuminator and the second illuminator, to generate no light when the phase detection mechanism detects the current phase should be a third phase; and a camera control mechanism configured to take a first picture of at least a portion of the one or more display layers when the phase detection mechanism detects the current phase should be the first phase, to take a second picture of the portion of the one or more display layers when the phase detection mechanism detects the current phase should be the second phase, and to take a third picture of the portion of the one or more display layers when the phase detection mechanism detects the current phase should be the third phase, wherein an image is constructed using at least a portion of the first picture, at least a portion of the second picture, and at least a portion of the third picture.
-
-
15. In an image construction mechanism for use in an interactive display that includes a plurality of alternating phases, one or more display layers that are at least partially transparent, a first and second illuminator and a camera positioned at different locations behind the one or more display layers, a method for constructing an image comprising:
-
during a first phase, turning on a first illuminator which is positioned to illuminate a first side of one or more display layers of the interactive display so as to emit light from the first illuminator through the first side and the one or more display layers towards an object on a second and opposing side of the one or display layers during the first phase, and while refraining from turning on a second illuminator during the first phase, the second illuminator also being positioned to illuminate the first side of the one or more display layers; taking a first image by a camera of at least a portion of the first side of the one or more display layers during the first phase; during a second phase, turning on a second illuminator which is positioned to illuminate the first side of the one or more display layers of the interactive display so as to emit light from the second illuminator through the first side and the one or more display layers towards the object on the second and opposing side of the one or display layers during the second phase, and while refraining from turning on the first illuminator during the second phase; taking a second image by the camera of the portion of the first side of the one or more display layers during the second phase; during a third phase, turning off all illuminators, including the first illuminator and the second illuminator; taking a third image by the camera of the portion of the first side of the one or more display layers during the third phase; and an act of constructing an input image using a portion of the first image, a portion of the second image, and a portion of the third image. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification