Methods of creating a virtual window

• US 8,446,509 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Imaging LLC
• Original Assignee: Tenebraex Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Peter W. J., Purcell, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/891,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 348/36, 348/38, 348/39, 348/211.99, 348/211.4, 348/211.8, 348/211.11, 348/333.03
• US Class Current: 348/333.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The systems and methods for real time transmission of an image from an image sensor having a field of view to a processor for selectively adjusting a resolution of the image as a function of a viewer'"'"'s focus point.

Claims

1. A system, comprising

a plurality of displays including a first display and a second display, each display in communication with an image sensor having a field of view for recording an image;

a first eye tracking sensor associated with the first display and a second eye tracking sensor associated with the second display, wherein an eye tracking sensor comprises;

a light emitter for emitting a light beam,

an optical sensor for receiving a light reflected from a viewer'"'"'s eyes, and

an image processor coupled to the optical sensor for calculating a location of a viewer'"'"'s focus point and sending the location of the viewer'"'"'s focus point to the image sensor; and

a processor for;

determining at least one of the plurality of displays the viewer is looking at based on the viewer'"'"'s focus point,

activating at least one eye tracking sensor associated with the at least one determined display,

tracking the viewer'"'"'s focus point while the viewer is looking at the at least one determined display, and

selectively adjusting a resolution of at least a portion of an image on the determined display as a function of the viewer'"'"'s focus point.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display having a high resolution section and a low resolution section and a video processor for displaying the portion of an image in high resolution as a function of the viewer'"'"'s focus point in that portion.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display having a screen for displaying the image sent by a video processor.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor having a field of view and recording an image in a respective field of view, the images being combinable with one or more other images to form a scene.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver in connection with the processor, for transmitting the image to a remote location.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the eye tracking sensor comprises means for tracking the viewer'"'"'s focus point while the viewer is looking at the respective display.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the eye tracking sensors comprises means for tracking a viewer'"'"'s focus point while the viewer is looking at non-corresponding displays.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor includes an array of charge-coupled devices.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the light emitter includes infrared light.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor includes a camera.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the eye tracking sensor comprises means for detecting a change in the viewer'"'"'s focus point from a first area to a second area and transmitting the change in viewer'"'"'s focus point to the image sensor.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the high resolution section displays the image in color surrounded by the low resolution section having a reduced color.

13. A method for providing an image, comprising

providing a plurality of displays including a first display and a second display, each display in communication with an image sensor having a field of view for recording an image;

providing a first eye tracking sensor associated with the first display and a second eye tracking sensor associated with the second display, wherein an eye tracking sensor comprises;

a light emitter for emitting a light beam,

an optical sensor for receiving a light reflected from a viewer'"'"'s eyes, and

an image processor coupled to the optical sensor for calculating a location of a viewer'"'"'s focus point and sending the location of the viewer'"'"'s focus point to the image sensor;

determining at least one of the plurality of displays the viewer is looking at based on the viewer'"'"'s focus point,

activating at least one eye tracking sensor associated with the at least one determined display,

tracking the viewer'"'"'s focus point while the viewer is looking at the at least one determined display; and

selectively adjusting a resolution of at least a portion of an image on the at least one determined display as a function of the viewer'"'"'s focus point.

14. A system, comprising:

a plurality of displays, including a first display and a second display, each display in communication with at least one of a plurality of image sensors having overlapping fields of view for recording an image;

a first eye tracking sensor associated with a first area of the plurality of displays and a second eye tracking sensor associated with a second area of the plurality of displays, wherein an eye tracking sensor comprises;

a light emitter for emitting a light beam,

an optical sensor for receiving a light reflected from a viewer'"'"'s eyes, and

an image processor coupled to the optical sensor for calculating a location of a viewer'"'"'s focus point and sending the location of the viewer'"'"'s focus point to the at least one of the plurality of image sensors; and

a processor for;

determining an area of the plurality of displays the viewer is looking at based on the viewer'"'"'s focus point,

determining at least one display associated with the area,

activating at least one eye tracking sensor associated with the at least one determined display,

tracking the viewer'"'"'s focus point while the viewer is looking at the area of the plurality of displays, and

selectively adjusting a resolution of at least a portion of an image on the area of the plurality of displays as a function of the viewer'"'"'s focus point.