Rear projection screen with infrared transparency

• US 9,195,127 B1
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marason, Eric G., Coley, Christopher D., Weatherford, William Thomas, Harrison, Beverly L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castiaux, Brent D
• Application Number:
  US13/732,916
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/60 characterised by the nature of the surface
• 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 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT

Abstract

Described herein are systems and techniques for projecting content, periodically or continuously, onto a rear surface of a display medium from behind. The rear projected image is presented on an opposing or front surface of the display medium to a human audience for viewing. Additionally, non-visible light (e.g., IR light) is passed through the display medium to an area in front of the medium. The non-visible light is used to detect human gestures. In this manner, the rear projection arrangement avoids viewer obstruction during projection, yet detects and recognizes gestures made by the viewer in front of the display medium. In one implementation, the display medium comprises a thin sheet of transparent plastic material with arrays of curved optical features to redirect light received on the rear surface out the front surface toward the human audience.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor;

a projector to project images through emission of visible light;

a light emitter configured to emit non-visible light;

a display medium having a rear surface configured to receive the visible light from the projector and a front surface to display the images, the display medium having a plurality of elements arranged on the rear surface, each of the plurality of elements having a first region and a second region, the first and second regions cooperating to internally reflect the visible light received at the rear surface so that the visible light exits from the front surface to depict the images, the second region comprising a cup-shaped member encircling the first region;

the display medium being further configured to allow non-visible light directed to the rear surface of the display medium to pass, at least in part, through the display medium to an environment in front of the front surface of the display medium; and

one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising;

detecting, based at least in part on an interaction of a user of the display medium with the non-visible light passed through to the environment, one or more gestures made by the user;

determining one or more operations to be performed based on the one or more gestures; and

performing at least one of the one or more operations.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first region has an outer surface that forms part of the rear surface, the outer surface being substantially flat with a circular perimeter.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the outer surface is coated with a material that substantially prevents passage of the visible light through the display medium.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first region has an outer surface coated with a material to substantially prevent passage of the visible light and a curved interior surface to reflect the visible light; and

the second region having a curved surface that reflects the visible light received from the projector centrally toward the curved interior surface of the first region, wherein the visible light is reflected by the curved interior surface toward the front surface to depict the images.

5. A system comprising:

a passive display medium having a front surface and a rear surface, the passive display medium configured to;

receive visible light on the rear surface and internally reflect the visible light so that the visible light exits the front surface to depict images; and

allow non-visible light directed to the rear surface to pass, at least in part, through the display medium to an environment in front of the front surface of the display medium;

wherein the passive display medium comprises a plurality of elements arranged on the rear surface, each of the plurality of elements comprising at least first and second surfaces to internally reflect the visible light, and wherein the first and second surfaces are curved;

a projector to project images to the rear surface of the passive display medium, the projected images causing the images to be displayed for viewing on the front surface of the display medium; and

an interaction detection component configured to detect and interpret human interaction with the non-visible light passed through to the environment.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the elements has a diameter of approximately 100 microns, and the first surface comprises a first curved surface having a radius of approximately 28 microns and the second surface comprises a second curved surface having a radius of approximately 70 microns.

7. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the interaction detection component is configured to recognize facial expressions of a user of the display medium.

8. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the interaction detection component comprises an infrared (IR) device to direct IR light through the passive display medium and onto the environment.

9. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the interaction detection component comprises:

an infrared (IR) device to direct IR light through the passive display medium and onto the environment; and

a gesture detection component to determine gestures made by a user located in the environment based at least in part on detecting IR light scattered from the environment.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the gesture detection component is further configured to at least one of recognize facial expressions or authenticate the viewer.

11. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the interaction detection component comprises a gesture detection component to detect gestures made by a user located in the environment and to determine at least one operation to be performed based on the gesture.

12. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the interaction detection component comprises one or more microphones to detect sound.

13. A passive display medium comprising:

a structure having a rear surface and a front surface; and

a plurality of optical elements arranged in the rear surface, each of the optical elements comprising a first reflective region to receive visible light passing through the rear surface and reflect the visible light internally between the rear and front surfaces, and a second reflective region to reflect the visible light so that the visible light emanates out of the front surface, wherein the first and second reflective regions transmit infrared light.

14. The passive display medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the structure is formed of a light transmissive material comprising at least one of plastic or glass.

15. The passive display medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the first reflective region comprises a concave shape and the second reflective region comprises a convex shape.

16. The passive display medium as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the optical elements comprises:

a first region having an outer surface that forms part of the rear surface and is coated with a material to substantially prevent passage of the visible light, the first region further comprising the second reflective region to reflect the visible light; and

a second region encircling the first region, the second region comprising the first reflective region that reflects the visible light received through the rear surface centrally toward the first reflective region.

17. The passive display medium as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the optical elements has a diameter of approximately 100 microns, and the second reflective region has a curved surface with a radius of approximately 28 microns and the first reflective region has a curved surface with a radius of approximately 70 microns.

18. The passive display medium as recited in claim 13, further comprising an opaque center region to substantially block the visible light from passing through the rear surface.