Decorative concealed audio-visual interface apparatus and method

• US 20050195972A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Barr
• Original Assignee: Craig Barr
• Inventors: Barr, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A decorative, disguised “mirror” interface apparatus appears to the uninformed as merely a decorative mirror, but includes an audio/visual output, the video display device of which is concealed behind a two-way mirror. So, when the video display is emitting light users of the apparatus can see the images provided by the display device through a two-way mirror material. Also, a transparent touch screen input device is associated with and overlays the two-way mirror material so that users of the interface apparatus may make inputs by simply making touches to selected locations of the “mirror.”

Claims

1. A decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus for providing audio/visual content to a user, and for receiving inputs from the user in response to touch inputs by the user at determined locations of a “

mirror”

while appearing to the uninformed only as a decorative mirror, said apparatus comprising;

a housing;

a light emitting display device received in said housing for providing a visual display output;

a two-way mirror received in said housing and interposed between said display device and a viewer of the apparatus, so that when the display is not emitting light a viewer receives a reflection as from an ordinary mirror, and when the display is emitting light to provide a visual display output image the image is visible to a user of the device through the two-way mirror;

a transparent touch screen apparatus interposed between the user and the two-way mirror so that a user in response to an image provided by the display may make inputs by directly or indirectly touching or pointing at a location of the touch screen apparatus.

2. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a speaker for providing audio output to a user of the apparatus.

3. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 2, wherein said speaker is also disguised in decorations of the apparatus.

4. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display device is substantially of rectangular configuration, and said apparatus similarly is substantially rectangular in configuration.

5. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display device further includes at least one concealed activation sensor for effecting activation of the display device in response to a determined input from a user of the apparatus.

6. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least one concealed activation sensor includes a mirror frame portion of said apparatus receiving said activation sensor.

7. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said mirror frame portion of said apparatus defines an aperture, and said activation sensor is arranged to detect a change in a level of light at said aperture.

8. The decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus of claim 2, wherein said apparatus further includes;

a controller having a processor;

operating memory;

a video output driver;

an audio output driver;

signal conditioning facility for receiving input signals from selected input devices;

a network interface;

a web interface;

a touch screen interface driver;

a video output display device; and

a touch-sensitive panel overlying said video output display device.

9. A method of providing a decorative, disguised “

mirror”

interface apparatus for providing audio/visual content to a user, and for receiving inputs from the user in response to touch inputs by the user at determined locations of a “

mirror”

while appearing to the uninformed only as a decorative mirror, said apparatus comprising;

providing a housing;

within said housing providing a light emitting display device for providing a visual display output;

providing a two-way mirror received in said housing and interposed between said display device and a viewer of the apparatus, and when the display device is not emitting light utilizing said two-way mirror to provide to a viewer a reflection as from an ordinary mirror; and

when the display device is emitting light to provide a visual display output image utilizing the two-way mirror to transmit the image to the user of the apparatus;

associating a transparent touch screen apparatus with and overlaying the two-way mirror so that a user in response to an image provided by the display device may make inputs to the apparatus by touching the apparatus on a surface portion of the touch screen.

10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of providing a speaker for providing an audio output to a user of the apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of disguising the speaker in decorations of the apparatus.

12. The method of claim 10 further including the step of selecting said display device to be of substantially rectangular shape, and configuring said interface apparatus similarly of substantially rectangular configuration to receive said display device therein.

13. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

providing said interface apparatus with a controller having a processor;

providing the processor with operating memory;

associating a video output driver with said processor;

associating an audio output driver with said processor;

providing a signal conditioning facility for receiving input signals from selected input devices and providing those input signals conditioned to and for said processor;

providing said processor with a network interface;

providing said processor with a web interface;

providing a touch screen interface driver;

providing a video output display device; and

providing a touch-sensitive panel overlying said video output display device for receiving touch inputs and providing location information for said touch inputs to said processor via said touch screen interface driver.

14. A disguised interface apparatus for providing audio/visual content to a user, and for receiving inputs from the user in response to touch inputs by the user at determined locations of a “

mirror,”

said apparatus comprising;

a housing;

a light emitting display device received in said housing for providing a visual display output;

a half-silvered mirror received in said housing so as to be interposed between said display device and a viewer of the apparatus;

a touch screen apparatus associated with the half-silvered mirror so as to provide an input response to a touch or point by a user at a determined location of the touch screen apparatus.

15. The disguised interface apparatus of claim 14, wherein said apparatus further includes at least one concealed activation sensor for effecting activation of the display device in response to a determined input from a user of the apparatus.

16. The disguised interface apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one concealed activation sensor includes a mirror frame portion of said apparatus receiving said activation sensor.

17. The disguised interface apparatus of claim 16, wherein said mirror frame portion of said apparatus defines an aperture, and said activation sensor is arranged to detect a change in a level of light at said aperture, whereby said determined input from a user of the apparatus may include the user covering said aperture for a certain time in order to reflect light projecting from said aperture.