Presentation control device, game machine and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317714-B2
Application number	US-201715627612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2017
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A presentation control device includes: a first display unit which is a transmissive display unit; a transparent backlight formed of transparent material, provided relative to the first display unit opposite the viewing surface of the first display unit, and configured to emit light toward the first display unit; a light source configured to output object light to the transparent backlight where light from an object provided opposite the light emission plane of the transparent backlight is output toward the transparent backlight and the first display unit; and a display device including a controller configured to control the first display unit, the transparent backlight, and the light source so that light emitted from the transparent backlight shows an image on the first display unit, and so that the object light can pass through the transparent backlight and the first display unit and be output.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A presentation control device comprising:
a first display unit comprising a transmissive display unit;
a transparent backlight comprising a transparent material, provided relative to the first display unit opposite a viewing surface of the first display unit, and configured to emit light toward the first display unit;
a light source outputting object light to the transparent backlight where light from an object provided opposite a light emission plane of the transparent backlight is output toward the transparent backlight and the first display unit;
a display device controlled by the presentation control device, the display device comprising a display controller configured to control the first display unit, the transparent backlight, and the light source so that light emitted from the transparent backlight shows an image on the first display unit, and so that the object light can pass through the transparent backlight and the first display unit and be output; and
a processor configured with a program to perform operations comprising operation as a presentation controller configured to control the display controller based on a command received to cause the first display unit to show an image with light emitted from the transparent backlight, and to allow output of object light.

2. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause a light emission state of the transparent backlight to switch while the object light is output.

3. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause the first display unit to switch between a state of presenting an image thereon and a state of presenting an image from the object light by causing the transparent backlight to switch between a state where the transparent backlight emits light and a state where the transparent backlight does not emit light while the object light is output.

4. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the transparent backlight is configured to switch an intensity of light emitted by the transparent backlight between a first light intensity and a second light intensity greater than the first light intensity; and
the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause the image shown on the first display unit and the image from the object light to be presented simultaneously by setting a light emission intensity of the transparent backlight to said first light intensity while the object light is output.

5. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause a light intensity of light emitted from the transparent backlight to vary while the object light is output.

6. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to allow the image shown on the first display unit and the image from the object light to be observed substantially at the same time by causing the transparent backlight to switch between a state where the transparent backlight emits light and a state where the transparent backlight does not emit light at a rate greater than a predetermined rate while the object light is output.

7. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause the combination of a light emission state of the transparent backlight and a content shown on the first display unit to vary while the object light is output.

8. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source emits light that illuminates the object; and
the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to control the light source.

9. The presentation control device according to claim 8 , wherein the display device is provided in a game machine; and
the object comprises an accessory in the game machine.

10. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein the display device further comprises: a second display unit configured to output image light based on light from the light source as the object light;
the object is the second display unit; and
the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause an image to be shown on the second display unit.

11. The presentation control device according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to cause the image shown on the second display unit to vary while causing an image to be shown on the first display unit with light emitted from the transparent backlight.

12. The presentation control device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the transparent backlight comprises a light guide plate comprising a transparent material and a light input surface, a light output surface facing the first display unit, the light guide plate configured to cause light entering from the light input surface to propagate therethrough and exit from the light output surface;
the light source is configured to emit light that enters through the light input surface into the light guide plate; and
the processor is configured with the program to perform operations such that operation as the presentation controller comprises operation as the presentation controller that controls the display controller based on the command received to control a light emission state of the light source.

13. A game machine comprising:
the presentation control device according to claim 1 ; and
the display device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program causing a computer to function as a presentation control device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Fujita Junya
• Hirose Yuji
• Kishimoto Jun

Classifications

• G09F9/46 Primary

  in which the desired character is selected from a number of characters arranged one behind the other · CPC title

• G02B6/0036

  2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces · CPC title

• A63F2009/2457

  Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays · CPC title

• G02F2203/01

  transmissive · CPC title

• G02F1/1347

  Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells · CPC title