LIGHT GUIDE DISPLAY AND FIELD OF VIEW

• US 20130249895A1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Westerinen, William J., Robbins, Steven John, Badyal, Rajeev, Fleck, Rod G.
• Granted Patent: US 11,068,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

Light guide display and field of view techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware to configure a user interface and a display device communicatively coupled to the one or more modules to output the user interface to be viewable by a user within a range of distances from the display device such that closer distances within the range permit the user to have an increased field of view in comparison with distances within the range that are further away from the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

viewing a display device of a computing device at a first distance such that a first field of view of a user interface displayed by the display device is viewable; and

viewing the display device of the computing device at a second distance that is less than the first distance such that a second field of view of the user interface displayed by the display device is viewable that is greater than the first field of view.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to display the user interface guide along an image plane focused at infinity.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the light guide is configured to be at least partially transparent such that at least part of a physical surroundings of the display device is viewable through the light guide.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the at least part of the physical surroundings and at least part of the user interface are viewable concurrently using the light guide.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the light guide is configured to display the user interface at least partially in three dimensions.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the first distance is approximately one inch from an eye of the user and the second distance is approximately at an arm'"'"'s length from the user.

7. An apparatus comprising:

one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware to configure a user interface; and

a display device communicatively coupled to the one or more modules to output the user interface to be viewable by a user such that different portions of the user interface are viewable by the user depending on an angle of tilt of the display device in relation to one or more eyes of the user.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the display device is configured to display the user interface guide along an image plane focused at infinity.

9. An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the light guide is configured to be at least partially transparent such that at least part of a physical surroundings of the display device is viewable through the light guide.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein the at least part of the physical surroundings and at least part of the user interface are viewable concurrently using the light guide.

11. An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the light guide is configured to display the different portions of the user interface by the display device passively without determining an orientation of the display device or a position of the user in relation to the display device.

12. A display device comprising:

a housing configured to be supported by a surface;

a light guide supported by the housing;

a light engine disposed within the housing and optically coupled to the light guide; and

one or more modules disposed within the housing and implemented at least partially in hardware, the one or more modules configured to cause the light engine to output a user interface for display using the light guide along an image plane focused at infinity.

13. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the light guide is configured to display the user interface to be viewable by a user within a range of distances from the light guide such that closer distances within the range permit the user to have an increased field of view in comparison with distances within the range that are further away from the user.

14. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the surface is a substantially vertical surface and the housing is configured to hang from the surface.

15. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the surface is a substantially horizontal surface and the housing is configured as a stand to be supported by the surface.

16. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the user interface includes a display of television content.

17. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the light guide is configured to be at least partially transparent such that at least part of a physical surroundings of the apparatus is viewable through the light guide.

18. A display device as described in claim 17, wherein the at least part of the physical surroundings and at least part of the user interface are viewable concurrently using the light guide.

19. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the light guide is configured to display at least a portion of the user interface in three dimensions.

20. A display device as described in claim 12, wherein the user interface is viewable by a user when the light guide is positioned approximately one inch from an eye of the user and when positioned at approximately at an arm'"'"'s length from the user.