WO2000007069A1 - Video wall - Google Patents

Abstract

A video wall (10) has a plurality of spatial object image display devices (20), each spatial object image display device (20) including a luminous display screen (22) for providing a first image (24). Each spatial object image display device (20) also includes a lens (26) operatively spaced apart from the luminous display screen (22) for projecting the first image (24) to appear as a first spatial object (28). The luminous display screen (22) and the lens (26) of each spatial object display device (20) are mounted within a surrounding housing, excluding substantially all light from within the housing, except through an aperture (32) in the housing. The lens (26) is mounted in proximity to and substantially covering the aperture (32). The housing further includes a shroud (34) extending from the perimeter of the aperture (32) far enough to shield the lens (26), but not far enough to surround the first spatial object (28).

Description

TITLE: VIDEO WALL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application for a utility patent is a continuation-in-part of a previously filed

utility patent application having application number 09/126,959 and a filing date

of July 31, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates generally to optical display devices that produce spatial

objects, and more particularly to a video wall that produces complex layers of

projected images that interact to create the appearance of a three-dimensional

holographic display.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:

Optical display devices that image an object seemingly floating in space have been

known for many years. The two most common methods of producing floating objects

has been by either reflecting an object from one or more curved mirrors (i.e., parabolic)

or viewing an object properly positioned behind one or more lenses. These

methodologies are termed reflective or transmissive spatial object devices, respectively. One means of providing a background image spatial object display is taught by Monroe

(U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,130). In this disclosure, a scrim is used to permit a spatial object

(produced by either reflective or transmissive means) to appear in front of the scrim (the

optical rays forming the object having passed through the open mesh weave of the

scrim). The scrim simultaneously serves as a front projection screen surface on which

the background image can be projected.

Another means of providing a background image spatial object display is taught by

Warren et al. (U.S. Pat No. 5,311,357). Warren discloses the use of two concave mirrors

to produce a spatial object with one of the concave mirrors being partially transparent.

Behind this partially transparent mirror is an image display which can be readily seen by

an observer through the partially transparent concave mirror. Although this device does

provide a spatial object floating before a background image, it suffers from several

disadvantages. First, the partially transparent concave mirror is an excessively expensive

custom optical component. Second, the curve of the partially transparent concave mirror

visibly distorts the background image. Third, the background image, on a large screen

display, is positioned far back into the device, creating the awkward necessity of peering

into a black box. Finally, this device does not provide a means to enhance the 3-D

appearance of the background image so that the background image always appears flat.

Still another background image spatial object display is taught by Noble (U.S. No.

4,671,625). This transmissive spatial object display utilizes a combination of convex

lenses with improved viewing of the spatial object provided by a visible reference around the area in which he spatial object appears to serve as a visual cue for the observer. This

visible reference is taught primarily as the edge of a box (i.e., shroud) that extends out

from the closest convex lens to the observer. A background image is provided by

reflecting the spatial object off a partially transparent mirror with the image behind in an

optical arrangement similar to Warren, except that this partially transparent mirror is flat

and is not used to create the spatial object. In Noble, the transmissive spatial object is

created by a transmissive spatial object image produced by a transmissive object display

(i.e., CRT). A first convex lens and a second convex lens manipulate the light rays to

produce the transmissive spatial object. The transmissive spatial object is viewed from

as the reflection of a partially transparent mirror. This mirror folds the beam of the

transmissive spatial object and allows a background image (i.e., a poster or full motion

display) to appear behind the partially transparent plane that enables the observer to

comprehend the spatial position of the transmissive spatial object. As a result, the

transmissive spatial object appears to float within the housing and does not protrude

beyond the visible reference of the housing opening edges, where it would create a much

greater visual impact. This visible reference operates in conjunction with an optional

second visible reference located near the convex lens to assist the viewer in accurately

aligning the object in space. Unfortunately, peering deep into this box to view the image

is somewhat unnatural and may be an irritant to observers accustomed to interacting

directly with a television screen or a computer monitor. Also, by recessing the image

deep within a box, only a single observer at a time can peer into the box to view the

image. As a result, this device is unable to communicate simultaneously with multiple

observers. Noble also does not teach how to provide a background image behind these two spatial objects, nor does he offer a method of reducing the bulk of the display

necessitated by two full sets of optics. Nor does he teach a method for reducing

reflections on the first convex lens, other that the shroud. Also, the configuration he

teaches requires both spatial objects to be contained within the box behind the edges of

the box forming the transparent plane of the visible reference means.

Machtig et al. U.S. 5,782,547 describes an improved transmissive spatial object display

that provides a background image that appears to observers to have 3-D depth and

includes the added advantages of permitting several viewers to observe the display

simultaneously so that the background image appears on an accessible screen like that of

televisions and computer monitors. The background image display is observed directly

through a first Fresnel lens of a two Fresnel lens transmissive spatial object display

which lens magnifies the background image display and also provides the front screen of

the device. A first partially transparent mirror at 45 degrees separates the two Fresnel

lenses permitting the background image display to be viewed solely through the first

Fresnel lens. The first Fresnel lens serves the dual function of creating a first spatial

object (in combination with the second Fresnel lens) and magnifying the background

image. The magnified background image appears through the first Fresnel lens creating

a pseudo 3-D appearance even though the background image is generated by a 2-

dimensional display such as a CRT. Video production techniques can enhance this

illusion of dimensionality through isolation of objects and graphics on a black field and

use of dimensionalizing techniques such as reflections and shadings. Alternate

embodiments provide projection of multiple spatial objects. Additional embodiments are configured without the second Fresnel lens so that the first Fresnel lens serves to magnify

the background display's image and by itself creates the first spatial object.

The prior art teaches a transmissive spatial object display that provides an image

that appears to observers to project into space. However, the prior art does not

teach an improved transmissive spatial object display that covers an entire wall

and provides a complex and multilayered image that appears to observers to have

3-D depth. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related

advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give

rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a video wall built formed by a plurality of spatial

object image display devices. Each spatial object image display device includes a

luminous display screen for providing a first image. The luminous display screen

is operably engaged with a video wall computer, which is operatively engaged

with at least one video input device such as a video cassette recorder (VCR). The

video wall computer acts as a splitter to distribute the output of the VCR to the

plurality of spatial object image display devices. Each spatial object image

display device also includes a lens operatively spaced apart from the luminous display screen for projecting the first image beyond the lens to appear as a first

spatial object. The luminous display screen and the lens of each spatial object

image display device are mounted within a housing that surrounds the luminous

display screen and the lens, excluding substantially all light from within the

housing, except through an aperture in the housing. The lens is operably mounted

in proximity to and substantially covering the aperture, operably positioning the

lens to project the first spatial object from the housing. The housing further

includes a shroud extending from the perimeter of the aperture far enough to

shield the lens, but not far enough to surround the first spatial object. All of the

spatial object image display devices are covered with a semitransparent screen,

and projector is positioned to project a second image onto the semitransparent

screen, thereby forming a complex series of images that appear to be three-

dimensional.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a video wall having

advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a projection device that is capable of converting an

ordinary television display into a multi-layered image with three-dimensional

characteristics that covers an entire wall.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from

the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the

invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present

invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof taken along line 2 in Figure 1 ;

and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 3-3 in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a video wall 10 built

formed by a plurality of spatial object image display devices 20. The plurality of

spatial object image display devices 20, as shown in Fig. 1 and described more

fully below, each operate to project a first spatial object 28. All of the spatial

object image display devices 20 are covered with a semitransparent screen 40, as described below, to form the video wall 10. A projector 50 is positioned to project

a second image 52 onto the semitransparent screen 40, thereby forming a complex

series of images that appear to be three-dimensional.

As shown in Fig. 3, each spatial object image display device 20 includes a

luminous display screen 22 for providing a first image 24. The luminous display

screen 22 is preferably a television (CRT) operably e

Ongaged with a video wall computer 42. The video wall computer 42 is

operatively engaged with at least one video input device 44, preferably a video

cassette recorder (VCR). The video wall computer 42 acts as a splitter to

distribute the output of the VCR 44 to the plurality of spatial object image display

devices 20. By inputting additional VCRs 44 into the video wall computer 42,

additional images can be integrated into the output of the video wall 10. Such

video manipulation and splitting is known to those skilled in the art. Each spatial

object image display device 20 also includes a lens 26 operatively spaced apart

from the luminous display screen 22 for projecting the first image 24 beyond the

lens 26 to appear as a first spatial object 28. The lens 26 is convex, is preferably

constructed as a Fresnel lens, and is similar to the lens 26 used in Machtig et al.,

U.S. 5,782,547, hereby incorporated in full by reference. The specific

construction of the lens 26 will vary according to the desired specifications of

each spatial object image display device 20; however, it is preferred that the lens

26 have a focal length that is as short as possible. The luminous display screen 22

and the lens 26 of each spatial object image display device 20 are mounted within a housing 30 that surrounds the luminous display screen 22 and the lens 26,

excluding substantially all light from within the housing 30, except through an

aperture 32 in the housing 30.

The lens 26 is operably mounted in proximity to and substantially covering the

aperture 32, operably positioning the lens 26 to project the first spatial object 28

from the housing 30. The housing 30 further includes a shroud 34 extending from

the perimeter of the aperture 32 far enough to shield the lens 26, but not far

enough to surround the first spatial object 28. The position of the lens 26 within

the aperture 32 and relative to the shroud 34 is critical. As shown in Fig. 3, the

lens 26 must be positioned such that the shroud 34 extends beyond and shields the

lens 26, but the first spatial object 28 is formed beyond the semitransparent screen

40. The shroud 34 terminates in a lip 36 that supports the front face of the video

wall 10. The focal length of the lens 26 must be such that the first spatial object

28 is projected in front of and interacts well with the second image 52 projected

onto the transparent screen.

As shown in Fig. 1, the video wall 10 is formed by a plurality of spatial object

image display devices 20. Two pairs of spatial object image display devices 20

are preferably stacked to form a cube-shaped video wall 10. The front of the

video wall 10 is covered with a semitransparent screen 40 that allows the first

spatial object 28 to be projected through the semitransparent screen 40. The

semitransparent screen 40 is preferably scrim, as described in Monroe, U.S. 5,257,130, hereby incorporated in full by reference. Those skilled in the art can

devise suitable alternatives. Specifically, the prior art shows the use of a special

diffused/transparent screen that is responsive to polarized light. The

semitransparent screen 40 is preferably mounted over the lips 36 of the shrouds

34, the semitransparent screen 40 thereby covering the apertures 32 of all of the

spatial object image display devices 20 and providing a projection screen upon

which a projector 50 can project a second image 52. As shown in Fig. 2, the

second image 52 serves to provide a background image for the first spatial objects

28. The combination of the second image 52 and the first spatial objects 28

appears to form a single three-dimensional image. The plurality of spatial object

image display devices 20 produce a plurality of the first spatial objects 28, all of

which can be different from each other, thereby producing a complex three-

dimensional video image.

While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred

embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the

invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be

interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

L A video wall comprising:

a plurality of spatial object image display devices, each device having

ΓÇó a luminous display screen for providing a first image;

ΓÇó a lens operatively spaced apart from the luminous display screen

for projecting the first image beyond the lens to appear as a first

spatial object;

ΓÇó a housing surrounding the luminous display screen and the lens, the

housing allowing light only through an aperture, the lens being

operably mounted in proximity to and substantially covering the

aperture;

ΓÇó a shroud extending from the perimeter of the aperture far enough to

shield the lens, but not far enough to surround the first spatial

object;

each of the plurality of spatial object image display devices being

operatively engaged with a video wall computer;

the video wall computer being operatively engaged to at least one

video input device; and

a projector positioned to project a second image onto a semitransparent

screen, the semitransparent screen being mounted over the shrouds and covering the apertures of the plurality of spatial object image display

devices.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the luminous display screen is a television

operably engaged with a video cassette recorder.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the lens is a Fresnel lens.