Method and system for determining a position for an interstital diffuser for use in a multi-layer display

• US 8,416,150 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paul, Gareth P., Craig, Robert Jaime, Simmiss, Tony Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, ANDRE L
• Application Number:
  US12/197,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20090051623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 345 4- 9, 359/462
• US Class Current: 345/4
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/69 Arrangements or methods for testing or calibrating a device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30121 CRT, LCD or plasma display
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309

Abstract

A method and system for determining a position for an interstitial diffuser for use in a multi-component display is disclosed. Embodiments utilize a camera to capture images of visual output from one or more display screens of a multi-component display, where each image may be taken with an interstitial diffuser at a different position between the display screens. The images may be used to analyze the Moiré interference and blur of the visual output at each position of the diffuser. Moiré interference values for each diffuser position may be determined by processing images captured of the visual output while each display screen displays a white image. Blur values for each diffuser position may be determined by comparing images captured of the visual output with a reference image.

Claims

1. A method of determining a position for an interstitial diffuser for a multi-component display, said method comprising:

positioning said interstitial diffuser at a plurality of positions between a first display screen and a second display screen, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen;

capturing images of visual output from said first display screen and said second display screen at each of said plurality of positions;

determining, based on said images, a respective visual interference value and a respective blur value associated with said visual output at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser;

selecting a position from said plurality of positions based on a visual interference value and a blur value associated therewith; and

displaying white images on said first and second display screens;

wherein said capturing images of said visual output further comprises capturing images of a Moire interference pattern caused by display of said white images on said first and second display screens; and

wherein said determining a visual interference value further comprises determining a Moire interference value based on said images of said Moire interference patterns captured.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing images further comprises capturing a respective still image at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser using a camera.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said capturing images further comprises recording a video of said visual output using a camera, and wherein said positioning said interstitial diffuser further comprises moving said interstitial diffuser through said plurality of positions during said recording said video.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transforming image data of said images from said spatial domain to a Fourier domain to generate transformed image data; and

filtering said transformed image data in said Fourier domain.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing said interstitial diffuser and said second display screen from a field of view of a camera;

capturing a reference image of visual output from said first display screen with said interstitial diffuser and said second displays screen removed from said field of view; and

wherein said determining said blur value further comprises generating said blur value based on comparison of said images with said reference image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said visual output from said first display screen is selected from:

a random image;

a pattern; and

a graphical object with at least one straight edge.

7. A system comprising:

means for positioning said interstitial diffuser at a plurality of positions between a first display screen and a second display screen, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen;

means for capturing images of visual output from said first display screen and said second display screen, using a camera, at each of said plurality of positions;

means for determining, based on said images, a respective Moire interference value and a respective blur value associated with said visual output at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser;

means for selecting a position from said plurality of positions based on a Moire interference value and a blur value associated with said position; and

means for controlling display of white images on said first and second display screens;

wherein said means for capturing images of said visual output is further operable to capture images of Moire interference patterns caused by display of said white images on said first and second display screens; and

wherein said means for determining a Moire interference value is further operable to determine a Moire interference value based on said images of said Moire interference patterns captured using said camera.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said means for capturing images of said visual output is further operable to capture a respective still image at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said means for capturing images of said visual output is operable to perform a video recording of said visual output using said camera, and wherein said means for positioning said interstitial diffuser is further operable to move said interstitial diffuser through said plurality of positions during said video recording.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

means for transforming image data of said images from said spatial domain to a Fourier domain to generate transformed image data; and

means for filtering said transformed image data in said Fourier domain.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for removing said interstitial diffuser and said second display screen from a field of view of said camera;

means for capturing a reference image of visual output from said first display screen with said interstitial diffuser and said second displays screen removed from said field of view; and

wherein said means for determining said blur value is further operable to generate said blur value based on comparison of said images with said reference image.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said visual output from said first display screen is selected from:

a random image;

a pattern; and

a graphical object with at least one straight edge.

13. A system comprising:

a first display screen comprising a plurality of pixels, said first display screen operable to display a first image;

a second display screen comprising a second plurality of pixels, said second display screen operable to display a second image, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen;

a diffuser operable to be positioned at a plurality of positions between said first and second display screens;

a device operable to capture images of visual output of said first and second display screens;

a computer system coupled to said device and for determining, based on said images, a respective visual interference value and a respective blur value associated with said visual output at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser, said computer system further for selecting a position from said plurality of positions based on a visual interference value and a blur value associated with said position wherein said first and second display screens are further operable to display white images, wherein said device is further operable to capture images of Moire interference patterns caused by display of said white images on said first and second display screens, and wherein said computer system is further operable to determine said Moire interference value based on images of said Moire interference patterns captured using said device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said device is further operable to capture a respective image at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said device is further operable to record a video of said visual output, and wherein said interstitial diffuser is further operable to be moved through said plurality of positions during recording of said video.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said device is further operable to capture a reference image of visual output from said first display screen with said interstitial diffuser and said second displays screen removed from a field of view of said device, and wherein said computer system is further operable to generate said blur value based on comparison of said images with said reference image.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said visual output from said first display screen is selected from:

a random image;

a pattern; and

a graphical object with at least one straight edge.

18. A method of determining a position for an interstitial diffuser for a multi-component display, said method comprising:

positioning said interstitial diffuser at a plurality of positions between a first display screen and a second display screen, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen;

capturing images of visual output from said first display screen and said second display screen at each of said plurality of positions;

determining, based on said images, a respective visual interference value and a respective blur value associated with said visual output at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser;

selecting a position from said plurality of positions based on a visual interference value and a blur value associated therewith;

removing said interstitial diffuser and said second display screen from a field of view of a camera;

capturing a reference image of visual output from said first display screen with said interstitial diffuser and said second displays screen removed from said field of view; and

wherein said determining said blur value further comprises generating said blur value based on comparison of said images with said reference image.

19. A system comprising:

means for positioning said interstitial diffuser at a plurality of positions between a first display screen and a second display screen, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen;

means for capturing images of visual output from said first display screen and said second display screen, using a camera, at each of said plurality of positions;

means for determining, based on said images, a respective Moire interference value and a respective blur value associated with said visual output at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser;

wherein said means for capturing images of said visual output is further operable to capture a respective still image at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser;

means for selecting a position from said plurality of positions based on a Moire interference value and a blur value associated with said position;

means for removing said interstitial diffuser and said second display screen from a field of view of said camera; and

means for capturing a reference image of visual output from said first display screen with said interstitial diffuser and said second displays screen removed from said field of view; and

wherein said means for determining said blur value is further operable to generate said blur value based on comparison of said images with said reference image.

20. A system comprising:

a first display screen comprising a plurality of pixels, said first display screen operable to display a first image;

a second display screen comprising a second plurality of pixels, said second display screen operable to display a second image, wherein said second display screen overlaps said first display screen;

a diffuser operable to be positioned at a plurality of positions between said first and second display screens;

a device operable to capture images of visual output of said first and second display screens;

a computer system coupled to said device and for determining, based on said images, a respective visual interference value and a respective blur value associated with said visual output at each of said plurality of positions of said interstitial diffuser, said computer system further for selecting a position from said plurality of positions based on a visual interference value and a blur value associated with said position;

wherein said device is further operable to capture a reference image of visual output from said first display screen with said interstitial diffuser and said second displays screen removed from a field of view of said device, and wherein said computer system is further operable to generate said blur value based on comparison of said images with said reference image.