Systems for Capturing Images Through A Display

• US 20100188548A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Samadani, Ramin, Robinson, Ian N., Tan, Kar Han
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a visual-collaborative system enabling geographically distributed groups to engage in face-to-face, interactive collaborative video conferences. In one aspect, a visual-collaborative system comprises a display screen, a camera system, and a projector. The display screen has a first surface and a second surface, and the camera system is positioned to capture images of objects through the display screen. The projector is positioned to project images onto a projection surface of the display screen, wherein the projected images can be observed by viewing the second surface. The system includes a first filter disposed between the camera and the first surface, where the first filter passes light receives by the camera but substantially blocks the light that is produced by the projector.

Claims

1. A visual-collaborative system comprising:

a display screen having a first surface and a second surface;

a first projector positioned to project images onto a projection surface of the display screen, wherein the projected images can be observed by viewing the second surface; and

a first camera system positioned to capture images of objects through the display screen, the first camera system including a first filter disposed between a first camera and the first surface, wherein the first filter passes the light received by the camera but substantially blocks the light produced by the first projector.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual-collaborative system further comprises:

a second filter in the optical path between the light source of the first projector and the projection surface of the display screen, wherein the second filter passes the light output by the first projector that is substantially blocked by the first filter.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first filter is configured to substantially block a first set of wavelength ranges and substantially transmit a second set of wavelength ranges

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second filter is configured to substantially block the second set of wavelength ranges and substantially transmit the first set of wavelength ranges.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the display screen is polarization-preserving screen and the first and second filters are polarizing filters.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the display screen is a rear projection screen and the projection surface of the display screen is the first surface.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the display screen is a rear projection display screen and the projection surface of the display screen is the first surface.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interactive surface disposed on the second surface enabling a viewer to interact with the images projected onto the second surface.

9. The system of claim 2 further comprising an interactive surface disposed on the second surface enabling a viewer to write on the second surface.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the display screen is a front projection screen and the projection surface is the second surface.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the display screen is a front projection screen and the projection surface is the second surface.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the display screen further includes a half silvered mirror physically located behind a first surface of the partially diffusing display screen.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first camera system is positioned so that it is in physical contact with the display screen.

14. The system of claim 2 wherein the display screen is a polarization preserving screen, wherein the first projector is associated with two filters, a filter of the first type and a filter of the second type, and further including a second projector associated with two filters, a filter of the first type and a filter of the second type.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first camera system is associated with a filter of the first type and 3D images may be seen by a viewer wearing glasses having filters of the second type.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the first camera system is associated with a filter of the second type and 3D images may be seen by a viewer wearing glasses having filters of the first type.

17. The system of claim 14 further including a second camera system positioned to capture images of objects through the display screen, the second camera system including a first filter of a first type disposed between the second camera and the second surface of the display screen, wherein the first filter of the second camera system passes the light received by the second camera but substantially blocks the light produced by the first and second projectors, and further wherein the first filter of the first camera system passes the light received by the first camera but substantially blocks the light produced by the first and second projectors.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the filters associated with the first and second camera systems are of a first type and the 3D images may be seen by a viewer wearing glasses having a filters of the second type.

19. A method comprising:

projecting images onto a projection surface of the display screen; and

simultaneously capturing images of objects through the display screen with a camera system, the camera system including a first filter disposed between a camera and the first surface of the display screen, wherein the first filter passes light received by the camera but substantially blocks the light produced by the projector.

20. The method of claim 19 further including the step of filtering light of the projected image through a second filter disposed in the optical path between the light source of a projector and a projection surface of the display screen, wherein the second filter passes the light output by the projector that is substantially blocked by the first filter.