Information display apparatus with proximity detection performance and information display method using the same

• US 8,665,237 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Koshiyama, Atsushi, Oba, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): MANDEVILLE, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US13/474,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345173-178, 178/18.06, 348/169, 715/700, 715/862, 715/864, 715763-764
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An information display apparatus with proximity detection performance contains a display device that displays image information, a sensor constituted of plural detection electrodes, and an adjusting device of detection resolution that adjusts the detection resolution to be detected based on a distance between the sensor and an object that is contacted to any one of the detection electrodes.

Claims

1. A display apparatus with proximity detection, the apparatus comprising;

a transparent surface;

a sensor mounted on a first surface of the transparent surface at a first position to detect an approach of a user, the sensor constituted of plural detection electrodes detecting a three-dimensional position corresponding to a two dimensional plane and a space perpendicular to the two dimensional plane;

a detection resolution adjusting device that adjusts (a) detection sensitivity of the detection electrodes by controlling an output of each of the detection electrodes and (b) detection resolution by controlling a detection interval determined by a number of electrodes that contribute to the detection electrodes through activation or non-activation of the detection electrodes, the adjustment based on a distance between the sensor and the user to be contacted to any one of the detection electrodes, wherein the detection sensitivity decreases as the object approaches the sensor and the detection resolution increases as the user approaches the sensor to make the detection interval narrower in accordance with the adjustment, and wherein if no user is detected the detection sensitivity is increased to a maximum and the detection resolution decreases to make the detection interval a maximum in accordance with the adjustment;

a display element, mounted independently of the sensor on the first surface of the transparent surface at a second position a distance from the sensor, displays information to the user; and

a control unit controls the display element and the sensor, wherein the control unit controls the display element such that when the sensor detects the user is within a first predetermined range from the sensor, the display element displays first information, when the sensor detects the user is within a second predetermined range from the sensor, which is closer to the sensor than the first predetermined range, the display element displays second information, and when the sensor detects the user touches the transparent surface relative to the sensor, the display element displays third information.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display element is a liquid crystal display element (LCD).

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display element is an organic EL display element.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display element displays advertisements.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is arranged in a display window of a merchant.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent surface is installed in a wall of a building.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display element is positioned at a user'"'"'s eye level.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a non-display state of the display element, the display element is transparent.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a minimum interval between detection elements is 10-20 cm, and 10 detection elements are arranged in a matrix form.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined range from the sensor is 40 to 80 cm, the second predetermined range from the sensor is 20 to 40 cm.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensors are positioned on the transparent surface.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sensors and plurality of display elements are provided on the transparent surface.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is formed separated from the sensor and display element.

14. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed are warnings.

15. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising sound emitting device to emit sound when the information is displayed on the display element.

16. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display clement is for a vending machine.

17. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display element is for a control panel.

18. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display element is for a game machine.

19. A display apparatus, with proximity detection, the apparatus comprising:

a transparent surface;

a sensor mounted on a first surface of the transparent surface at a first position to detect an approach of a user, the sensor constituted of plural detection electrodes detecting a three- dimensional position corresponding to a two dimensional plane and a space perpendicular to the two dimensional plane;

detection resolution adjusting device that adjusts (a) detection sensitivity of the detection electrodes by controlling an output of each of the detection electrodes and (b) detection resolution by controlling a detection interval determined by a number of electrodes that contribute to the detection electrodes through activation or non-activation of the detection electrodes, the adjustment based on a distance between the sensor and the user to be contacted to any one of the detection electrodes wherein the detection sensitivity decreases as the object approaches the sensor and the detection resolution increases as the user approaches the sensor to make the detection interval narrower in accordance with the adjustment, and wherein if no user is detected, the detection sensitivity is increased to a maximum and the detection resolution decreases to make the detection interval a maximum in accordance with the adjustment;

a display element, mounted on the first surface of the transparent surface integral with the sensor, displays information to the user; and

a control unit controls the display element and the sensor, wherein the control unit controls the display element such that when the sensor detects the user is within a first predetermined range from the sensor, the display element displays first information, when the sensor detects the user is within a second predetermined range from the sensor, which is closer to the sensor than the first predetermined range, the display element displays second information, and when the sensor detects the user touches the transparent surface relative to the sensor, the display element displays third information, wherein the sensor and display elements are provided on automatic opening doors.

20. The display apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a driving device for opening the doors, wherein when the sensor is touched, the driving device drives the doors to open.