Wearable image display device to control display of image

• US 9,798,144 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sako, Yoichiro, Miyajima, Yasushi, Mukawa, Hiroshi, Narahara, Tatsuya, Takai, Motoyuki, Takeda, Masashi, Ogawa, Hiroaki, Wada, Seiji, Hayakawa, Ichigo, Tange, Akira, Tanikame, Takao, Kemmochi, Kazuhide
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US14/426,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20150253573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 9, 345156-184, 345419, 345427, 345545, 359462, 359630, 359633, 715788, 348 47
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

Provided is an image display device used by being mounted to a head or a face of a user, including a first display unit that displays an internal image seen from a side of the user, a second display unit that displays an external image seen from outside the image display device, and a control unit that controls display of the internal image and the external image.

Claims

1. An image display device configured to be mounted to one of a head or a face of a first user, comprising:

a first side comprising a first display unit, wherein the first side faces the face of the first user that mounts the image display device, and

wherein the first display unit is configured to;

display an internal image on the first side of the image display device, wherein the internal image is viewable to the first user that mounts the image display device; and

a second side comprising a second display unit, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, and

wherein the second display unit is configured to;

display an external image on the second side of the image display device, wherein the external image is viewable to at least one second user different from the first user; and

a control unit configured to;

control display of the internal image viewable to the first user; and

control display of the external image viewable to the at least one second user.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are equipped with a single display device,

wherein the single display device is configured to display the internal image and the external image, and

wherein the image display device further comprises a waveguide configured to:

guide the internal image displayed on the single display device to a first location on the first side; and

guide the external image displayed on the single display device to a second location on the second side.

3. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a projection unit configured to enlarge and project the external image.

4. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

receive an input operation from the first user; and

control display of the internal image and the external image based on the received input operation.

5. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein based on the received input operation, the control unit is further configured to control at least one of turn the display of at least one of the internal image or the external image on/off, adjust a color of at least one of the internal image or the external image, adjust a brightness of at least one of the internal image or the external image, change a display size of the external image, or move a display area of the external image.

6. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein based on the input operation, the control unit is further configured to display at least one of a same image as the internal image and the external image, different images for the internal image and the external image, information about a surrounding environment of the image display device as the external image, or a current status of the first user as the external image.

7. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is further configured to change the display of the external image based on at least one of a blink operation or eyeball movement of the first user.

8. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is further configured to display the external image at least one of continuously, intermittently or at a time interval based on the received input operation.

9. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

acquire a first information related to a surrounding environment of the image display device; and

control the display of the internal image and the external image based on the acquired first information related to the surrounding environment.

10. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

detect a change in environmental lighting based on the acquired first information related to the surrounding environment; and

control a brightness of the external image based on the detected change in the environmental lighting.

11. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to control at least one of an intermittent display or a timer display of the external image based on a current time.

12. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to control at least one of a turning on/off of the display of the external image, a brightness level of the external image, a display area of the external image, or a display size of the external image based on a number of the at least one second user within a distance from the image display device.

13. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

acquire a second information related to a status of the first user; and

control display of the internal image and the external image based on the acquired second information related to the status of the first user.

14. The image display device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to

display the acquired second information related to the status of the first user as the external image,

wherein the acquired second information comprises at least one of a current work status, an action status, a mental status, or a physiological status of the first user.

15. The image display device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

identify a mental status of the first user based on the acquired second information,

wherein the acquired second information comprises information that corresponds to a blink operation of the first user; and

control the display of the external image based on the identified mental status.

16. The image display device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

detect a horizontal tilt of the head of the first user; and

control text information in the external image to remain horizontal based on the detected horizontal tilt of the head of the first user.

17. The image display device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to control a position of at least one of the internal image or the external image based on a rotation of the head of the first user.

18. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

acquire content information related to image content of the internal image displayed by the first display unit; and

control the display of the external image based on the content information.

21. The image display device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an image multiplexing unit configured to multiplex frames of the internal image and the external image,

wherein the single display device is further configured to display the multiplexed internal image and the external image.

19. An image display method, comprising:

in an image display device configured to be mounted to one of a head or a face of a first user;

displaying an internal image on a first side of the image display device, wherein the first side faces the face of the first user, wherein the internal image is viewable to the first user that mounts the image display device;

displaying an external image on a second side of the image display device, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, wherein the external image is viewable to at least one second user different from the first user; and

controlling display of the internal image viewable to the first user and display of the external image viewable to the at least one second user.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to execute operations, the operations comprising:

in an image display device configured to be mounted to one of a head or a face of a first user;

displaying an internal image on a first side of the image display device, wherein the first side faces the face of the first user, wherein the internal image is viewable to the first user that mounts the image display device;

displaying an external image on a second side of the image display device, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, wherein the external image is viewable to at least one second user different from the first user; and

controlling display of the internal image viewable to the first user and display of the external image viewable to the at least one second user.