Image display apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12002141-B2
Application number	US-202017766816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2020
Priority date	Oct 15, 2019
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

There is provided an image display apparatus that makes it possible to automatically orient a front face of a three-dimensional object represented by a three-dimensional image to a user. There are provided: a display unit that displays the three-dimensional image, by which the three-dimensional object appears to exist in a space partitioned by members configuring an outer surface, to be visually recognizable from a plurality of circumferential directions; a direction estimation section that estimates a direction in which a user exists as seen from the display unit; and a display control section that orients a front face of the three-dimensional object displayed by the display unit in the direction in which the user exists estimated by the direction estimation section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image display apparatus, comprising:
a display unit that displays a three-dimensional image, by which a three-dimensional object appears to exist in a space partitioned by members configuring an outer surface, to be visually recognizable from a plurality of circumferential directions;
a direction estimation section that estimates a direction in which a user exists as seen from the display unit; and
a display control section that orients a front face of the three-dimensional object displayed by the display unit in the direction in which the user exists estimated by the direction estimation section.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising an eye position detection section that detects an eye position of a person who exists around the display unit, wherein
the direction estimation section outputs a direction in which the eye position is detected, as a result of the estimation of the direction in which the user exists.

3. The image display apparatus according to claim 2 , comprising a camera that shoots a circumference of the display unit, wherein
the eye position detection section detects the eye position on a basis of a result of the shooting of the circumference of the display unit.

4. The image display apparatus according to claim 2 , comprising a ranging sensor that measures distances to a plurality of points on a surface of a body around the display unit, wherein
the eye position detection section detects the eye position on a basis of a result of the measurement of the distances.

5. The image display apparatus according to claim 2 , comprising:
a multiple person determination section that determines whether the eye position detection section has detected eyes of a plurality of persons; and
a user setting section that judges, in a case where determination is made that the eyes of the plurality of persons have been detected, a person with a highest degree of interest to the three-dimensional object among the plurality of persons to be the user.

6. The image display apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the user setting section detects a person who is viewing the three-dimensional object for longest time among the plurality of persons to judge the detected person to be the person with the highest degree of interest.

7. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a finger position detection section that detects a finger position of a person who exists around the display unit, wherein
the direction estimation section outputs a direction in which the finger position is detected, as a result of the estimation of the direction in which the user exists.

8. The image display apparatus according to claim 7 , comprising a camera that shoots a circumference of the display unit, wherein
the finger position detection section detects the finger position on a basis of a result of the shooting of the circumference of the display unit.

9. The image display apparatus according to claim 7 , comprising a ranging sensor that measures distances to a plurality of points on a surface of a body around the display unit, wherein
the finger position detection section detects the finger position on a basis of a result of the measurement of the distances.

10. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
a grip determination section that determines whether the display unit is gripped; and
a grip position detection section that detects a position of fingers gripping the display unit in a case where determination is made that the display unit is gripped, wherein
the direction estimation section estimates the direction in which the user exists on a basis of a result of the detection of the position of the fingers gripping the display unit.

11. The image display apparatus according to claim 10 , comprising a touch panel provided on the outer surface of the display unit, wherein
the grip position detection section detects the position of the fingers gripping the display unit on a basis of a result of detection on the touch panel.

12. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a touch panel provided on the outer surface of the display unit, wherein
the direction estimation section detects a position, of the touch panel, where a finger operation has been performed, and outputs a normal direction at the detected position as a result of the estimation of the direction in which the user exists.

13. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a sound generation position detection section that detects a generation position of a sound generated around the display unit, wherein
the direction estimation section outputs a direction in which the generation position of the sound is detected, as a result of the estimation of the direction in which the user exists.

14. The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , comprising a microphone that acquires a sound around the display unit, wherein
the sound generation position detection section detects the generation position of the sound on a basis of a result of the acquisition of the sound.

15. The image display apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein
the display control section determines whether the sound acquired by the microphone includes a pre-registered sound, and
the display control section orients, in a case where determination is made that the pre-registered sound is included, the front face of the three-dimensional object displayed by the display unit in the direction in which the user exists estimated by the direction estimation section.

16. The image display apparatus according to claim 15 , comprising:
a multiple person determination section that determines whether sounds of a plurality of persons have been acquired by the microphone; and
a user setting section that judges, in a case where determination is made that the sounds of the plurality of persons have been acquired, a person with a highest degree of interest to the three-dimensional object among the plurality of persons to be the user.

17. The image display apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the user setting section detects a person who is uttering the pre-registered sound for longest time among the plurality of persons to judge the detected person to be the person with the highest degree of interest.

18. The image display apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the user setting section detects a person who last uttered the pre-registered sound among the plurality of persons to judge the detected person to be the person with the highest degree of interest.

19. The image display apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein
the display control section determines, after the front face of the three-dimensional object is oriented to the user, whether a word to orient the front face of the three-dimensional object in a predetermined direction is included in a sound uttered by the user, and
the display control section orients, in a case where determination is made that the word is included, the front face of the three-dimensional object displayed by the display unit in the predetermined direction as viewed from the user.

20. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display control section causes the display unit to change an orientation of the front face of the three-dimensional object by rotating the three-dimensional object.

21. The image display apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the display control section decides a rotational

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Omata Takanobu
• Koike Kaoru
• Miyagawa Yuichi
• Izawa Hisataka
• Shimizu Itaru

Classifications

• G06T15/00 Primary

  Three-dimensional [3D] image rendering · CPC title

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• G06T7/70

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title