System and method of generating images on photoactive surfaces

• US 9,646,562 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Johnny, Teller, Eric, Peeters, Eric, Patrick, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Carolyn R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Carl
• Application Number:
  US13/657,691
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/022 Viewing apparatus G02B27/04, G02B27/06, G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/027 comprising magnifying means G02B27/023, G02B27/025, G02B27/04, G02B27/06 and G02B27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1066 for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2356/00 Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• 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: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components

Abstract

An image generating system includes an electromagnetic (“EM”) modulator, a camera module and a logic engine. The EM modulator is positioned to direct EM waves to a photoactive surface to stimulate the photoactive surface to generate an image. The camera module is positioned to monitor the photoactive surface to generate image data. The logic engine is communicatively coupled to the camera module and configured to receive the image data from the camera module and analyze the image data. The logic engine is communicatively coupled to the EM modulator to command the EM modulator where to direct the EM waves in response to the image data.

Claims

1. A system for generating images on photoactive surfaces comprising:

an electro-magnetic (“

EM”

) modulator positioned to direct EM waves to a surface coated with a photoactive paint, wherein the photoactive paint includes photoactive material;

a camera module positioned to monitor the surface coated with the photoactive paint; and

a logic engine communicatively coupled to the camera module and to the EM modulator, the logic engine including a non-transitory storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by the system, will cause the system to perform operations comprising;

stimulating the surface coated with the photoactive paint with the EM waves from the EM modulator to generate a persistent image having a half-life greater than one-half second after the EM waves cease to stimulate the surface coated with the photoactive paint, wherein the photoactive material generates the persistent image having a half-life greater than one-half second after the EM waves cease to stimulate the surface coated with the photoactive paint;

capturing image data of the surface coated with the photoactive paint and the persistent image with the camera module;

analyzing the image data captured by the camera module with the logic engine to measure a contrast ratio of the persistent image; and

adjusting at least one of an intensity, a stimulation duration, or a duty cycle of the EM modulator, based upon the measuring of the contrast ratio from the image data captured by the camera module, to maintain a pre-determined contrast ratio for the persistent image.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second EM modulator separate and distinct from the EM modulator and positioned to direct second EM waves to the surface coated with the photoactive paint, the storage medium providing further instructions, that when executed by the system, will cause the system to perform operations comprising;

analyzing the image data to determine whether an obstruction is between a targeted portion of the persistent image and the EM modulator;

transferring responsibility to complete or refresh the persistent image to the second EM modulator when analysis of the image data determines that the obstruction is between the targeted portion of the persistent image and the EM modulator, the targeted portion of the persistent image requiring additional stimulation to maintain a pre-determined contrast ratio; and

stimulating the surface coated with the photoactive paint with the second EM waves from the second EM modulator to the targeted portion of the persistent image to provide the additional stimulation to at least maintain the pre-determined contrast ratio.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the EM modulator includes:

a laser coupled to generate the EM waves as laser light; and

an electric lens coupled to selectively focus the laser light onto the surface coated with the photoactive paint.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the EM modulator

includes a laser coupled to generate the EM waves as laser light;

and

a servo motor coupled to selectively move the laser to direct the laser light to a selected location on the surface coated with the photoactive paint, wherein the servo motor is coupled to receive commands from the logic engine.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the EM modulator includes a plurality of lasers, and wherein the plurality of lasers includes lasers emitting different wavelengths of light to generate different colors in the persistent image.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the photoactive material is selected from the group consisting of photoluminescent, photochromic, and thermochromic materials.

7. An image generating system comprising:

a photoactive surface coated with at least three different photoactive paints, with each of the three different photoactive paints provide a different color upon stimulation by electromagnetic (“

EM”

) waves, and wherein the at least three different photoactive paints are formed into three distinct color templates on the photoactive surface to form respective sub-pixels;

an electromagnetic modulator positioned to direct the EM waves to hall the photoactive surface to stimulate the photoactive surface to generate a persistent image having a half-life greater than one-half second after the EM waves cease to stimulate the photoactive surface, wherein the same EM waves stimulate the different photoactive paints;

a camera module positioned to monitor the photoactive surface to generate image data of the persistent image on the photoactive surface; and

a logic engine communicatively coupled to the camera module and configured to receive the image data from the camera module and analyze the image data to measure a contrast ratio of the persistent image, wherein the logic engine is communicatively coupled to the EM modulator to adjust at least one of an intensity, a stimulation duration, or a duty cycle of the EM modulator, based upon the measuring of the contrast ratio from the image data captured by the camera module, to maintain a pre-determined contrast ratio for the persistent image.

8. The image generating system of claim 7 further comprising a steerable drive module communicatively coupled to the logic engine and configured to orient at least the EM modulator toward the photoactive surface, in response to receiving motion commands from the logic engine.

9. The image generating system of claim 8, wherein the photoactive surface coats at least one wall of a room, and wherein the steerable drive module is configured to pan and tilt to generate the persistent image on the at least one wall of the room.

10. The image generating system of claim 9 further comprising an electrical connector to be coupled to an overhead lighting socket, wherein the steerable drive, the EM modulator, the camera module, and the logic engine are coupled to draw power from the overhead lighting socket.

11. The image generating system of claim 7 further comprising a proximity sensor configured to receive proximity signals from a tag and communicatively coupled to send a proximity alert to the logic engine when a tag is proximate to the proximity sensor.

12. The image generating system of claim 7 further comprising a microphone coupled to the logic engine to receive sound signals.

13. The image generating system of claim 7, wherein the camera module and the EM modulator are coupled together in a mechanically fixed position.

14. The image generating system of claim 7 further comprising:

a second EM modulator positioned to direct second EM waves to the photoactive surface to stimulate the photoactive surface to generate the persistent image;

a second camera module positioned to monitor the photoactive surface to generate second image data; and

a second logic engine communicatively coupled to the second camera module and configured to receive the second image data from the second camera module and analyze the second image data, wherein the second logic engine is communicatively coupled to the second EM modulator to command the second EM modulator in response to the second image data.

15. The image generating system of claim 14, wherein the logic engine and the second logic engine are communicatively coupled.

16. The image generating system of claim 7 further comprising a communication module coupled to receive settings inputs, wherein the communication module is coupled to the logic engine.

17. A method of presenting an image on a large-scale photoactive surface, the method comprising:

stimulating the large-scale photoactive surface with first electromagnetic waves provided by a first electromagnetic modulator to generate at least a portion of a persistent image on the large-scale photoactive surface, wherein the persistent image has a half-life greater than one-half second after the electromagnetic waves cease to stimulate the photoactive surface, wherein the large-scale photoactive surface is at least partially coated by a photoactive paint infused with one or more photoactive materials, and wherein the one or more photoactive materials generates the persistent image on the large-scale photoactive surface;

monitoring the at least a portion of the persistent image with a first camera module to capture image data of the persistent image;

analyzing the image data captured by the first camera module to detect obstructions between the first camera module and the large-scale photoactive surface;

in response to no obstruction detected between the first camera module and the large-scale photoactive surface, completing or refreshing the persistent image by stimulating the large-scale photoactive surface with the first electromagnetic waves; and

in response to an obstruction detected between the first camera module and the large-scale photoactive surface, completing or refreshing the persistent image by stimulating the large-scale photoactive surface with second electromagnetic waves, wherein the second electromagnetic waves are provided by a second electromagnetic modulator adjacently separate from the first electromagnetic modulator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein analyzing the image data from the camera module includes measuring a contrast ratio of the persistent image, the method further comprising:

adjusting at least one of an intensity, a stimulation duration, or duty cycle of the electromagnetic waves, based upon the measuring of the contrast ratio from the image data captured by the camera module, to maintain a pre-determined contrast ratio for the persistent image.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the image data for the obstructions includes determining if a human or animal eye may receive harmful radiation from the electromagnetic waves and pausing the stimulating of the large-scale photoactive surface with the electromagnetic waves if it is determined that the human or animal eye may receive harmful radiation from the electromagnetic waves.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the photoactive material includes one of the group of photochromic, photoluminescent, or thermochromic material.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising erasing at least the portion of the persistent image on the large-scale photoactive surface with second electromagnetic waves having different characteristics than the electromagnetic waves.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the stimulating the large-scale photoactive surface with electromagnetic waves is performed by one of the first and second electromagnetic modulators.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

generating environmental image data by imaging an environment with the camera module; and

configuring settings of an electromagnetic modulator that stimulates the photoactive surface, in response to the environmental image data.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving audio signals and generating a different persistent image or group of different persistent images based on the audio signals.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving radio proximity signals from a tag; and

generating a different persistent image or group of different persistent images based on the radio proximity signals.