Rear projection system with passive display screen

• US 9,262,983 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coley, Christopher D., Weatherford, William Thomas, Harrison, Beverly L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castiaux, Brent D
• Application Number:
  US13/526,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 345/659, 353 69- 70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/62 Translucent screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]

Abstract

Described herein are systems and techniques for projecting content, periodically or continuously, onto a rear surface of a display medium from behind. The rear projected image is presented on an opposing or front surface of the display medium to a human audience for viewing. Additionally, non-visible light (e.g., IR light) is passed through the display medium to an area in front of the medium. The non-visible light is used to detect human gestures. In this manner, the rear projection arrangement avoids viewer obstruction during projection, yet detects and recognizes gestures made by the viewer in front of the display medium.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a device comprising;

a processor;

a projector; and

a light emitter configured to emit non-visible light;

a display medium that is physically separate from the device, the display medium configured to;

receive images projected onto a rear surface of the display medium by the projector, causing the images to be displayed for viewing on a front surface of the display medium at a first brightness level, and

allow non-visible light directed to the rear surface of the display medium to pass, at least in part, through the display medium to an environment in front of the front surface of the display medium; and

the device further comprising one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising;

determining that the image has decreased from the first brightness level to a second brightness level that is less than the first brightness level;

based at least partly on the image decreasing from the first brightness level to the second brightness level, causing an additional instance of the image to be projected onto the rear surface of the display medium;

detecting, based at least in part on an interaction of a user of the display medium with the non-visible light passed through to the environment, one or more gestures made by the user;

determining one or more operations to be performed based on the one or more gestures; and

performing at least one operation of the one or more operations.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display medium comprises:

a first layer that allows the non-visible light to pass through at least in part; and

nano particles within the first layer, the nano particles being formed of at least one of phosphorescent material or fluorescent material to emit one or more colors of light in response to receiving the images projected from the projector.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display medium comprises a plurality of passive optical elements on a first layer, the plurality of passive optical elements configured to receive the images projected by the projector to the rear end of the display medium and cause the images to be displayed for viewing on the front surface of the display medium.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light emitter is an infrared (IR) device configured to emit IR light.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the projector projects light having a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein a first wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths causes a first color to be displayed on the display medium and a second wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths causes a second color to be displayed on the display medium.

6. A system comprising:

a passive display medium having a front surface and a rear surface, the passive display medium configured to;

depict images on the front surface, and

allow non-visible light directed to the back surface to pass, at least in part, through the passive display medium to an environment in front of the front surface of the passive display medium;

a projector, that is physically separate from the passive display medium, to;

project images to the rear surface of the passive display medium, the images that are projected causing the images to be displayed for viewing on the front surface of the passive display medium at a first brightness level that decreases over time; and

based at least partly on a determination that the first brightness level has decreased to a second brightness level, project an additional instance of the images to the rear surface of the passive display medium; and

an interaction detection component configured to detect and interpret human interaction with the non-visible light passed through to the environment.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the passive display medium comprises particles to emit one or more colors of light in response to receiving the images projected from the projector to create the images to be displayed on the front surface.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the passive display medium comprises at least one of phosphorescent material or fluorescent material.

9. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the passive display medium comprises:

a first material to allow the non-visible light to pass through at least in part; and

nano particles within the first material, the nano particles being formed of at least one of phosphorescent material or fluorescent material to emit one or more colors of light in response to receiving the images projected from the projector.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more colors comprise blue, green and one of red or ultra violet.

11. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the passive display medium comprises:

a first layer;

a plurality of first optical elements on the rear surface to receive the light information from the projector; and

a plurality of second optical elements on the front surface of the display medium to present the images.

12. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the interaction detection component is configured to recognize facial expressions of a user of the passive display medium.

13. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the interaction detection component comprises an infrared (IR) device to direct IR light through the passive display medium and onto the environment.

14. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the interaction detection component comprises:

an infrared (IR) device to direct IR light through the passive display medium and onto the environment; and

a gesture detection component to determine gestures made by a user located in the environment based at least in part on detecting IR light scattered from the environment.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the gesture detection component is further configured to at least one of recognize facial expressions or authenticate the viewer.

16. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the interaction detection component comprises a gesture detection component to detect gestures made by a user located in the environment and to determine at least one operation to be performed based on the gesture.

17. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the interaction detection component comprises one or more microphones to detect sound.

18. A method comprising:

projecting, by a device, light onto a rear surface of a display medium that, upon receiving the light, is configured to display an image on a front surface of the display medium;

directing, by the device, non-visible light at least in part through the display medium to an environment in front of the front surface of the display medium;

based at least partly on an expiration of a pre-determined period of time, projecting an additional instance of the light onto the rear surface of the display medium; and

detecting, by the device and based at least in part on an interaction of a user of the display medium with the non-visible light passed through to the environment, one or more gestures made by the user.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the display medium comprises a passive display medium having a plurality of passive optical elements.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the display medium comprises at least one of phosphorescent material or fluorescent material.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the display medium comprises an electronic paper display.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising ceasing projection of the non-visible light, wherein the display medium is configured to display the image for a finite amount of time upon ceasing projection.