Transmissive display apparatus and operation input method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9298255-B2
Application number	US-201213686450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2012
Priority date	Nov 28, 2011
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A transmissive display apparatus includes an operation section that detects an operational input issued through an operation surface, an image output section for the left eye and an image output section for the right eye that output predetermined image light, an image pickup section that visually presents the predetermined image light in an image pickup area that transmits externally incident light, a sensor that outputs a signal according to a positional relationship between the operation surface and the image pickup area, and a determination section that detects overlap between an optical image of the operation surface that has passed through the image pickup area and the predetermined image in the image pickup area based on the signal according to the positional relationship and receives the operational input when the optical image of the operation surface overlaps with the predetermined image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmissive display apparatus comprising:
a mobile operation section that detects an operational input issued through an operation surface;
an image output section that outputs predetermined image light;
an image pickup section that visually presents the predetermined image light in an image pickup area that transmits externally incident light;
a sensor that outputs a signal according to a positional relationship between the operation surface and the image pickup area; and
a determination section that detects overlap between an optical image of the operation surface that has passed through the image pickup area and the predetermined image light in the image pickup area based on the signal according to the positional relationship and receives the operational input when the optical image of the operation surface overlaps with the predetermined image light,
wherein the mobile operation section or the image output section includes a light source, the light source being disposed in at least one corner of the operation surface of the operation section,
when the light source is provided in the operation section, the sensor receives light from the light source on the side where the image output section is present and outputs a signal according to the received light, whereas when the light source is provided in the image output section, the sensor receives light from the light source on the side where the operation section is present and outputs a signal according to the received light, and
the determination section detects overlap in the image pickup area based on the signal according to the received light.

2. The transmissive display apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination section detects overlap between the optical image of the operation surface and the predetermined image light and receives the operational input issued by using the overlap.

3. The transmissive display apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination section determines whether or not the operation surface faces the image pickup area based on the signal according to the positional relationship and receives the operational input when the operation surface faces the image pickup area.

4. The transmissive display apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor captures an image of the operation surface, and
the determination section detects overlap in the image pickup area based on the image of the operation surface captured by the sensor.

5. The transmissive display apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation section is a track pad.

6. The transmissive display apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a projection optical system that projects the predetermined image light; and
a light guide section that guides the predetermined image light projected through the projection optical system to the image pickup area,
wherein the determination section detects overlap viewed from an observation position between the optical image of the operation surface and the predetermined image light guided through the light guide section and receives the operational input issued by using the overlap.

7. An operation input method used with a transmissive display apparatus, the method comprising:
outputting predetermined image light by using an image output section;
visually presenting the predetermined image light in an image pickup area that transmits externally incident light by using an image pickup section;
outputting a signal according to a positional relationship between the operation surface and the image pickup area by using a sensor;
detecting an operational input issued through the operation surface by using a mobile operation section; and
detecting overlap between an optical image of the operation surface that has passed through the image pickup area and the predetermined image light in the image pickup area based on the signal according to the positional relationship and receiving the operational input when the optical image of the operation surface overlaps with the predetermined image light by using a determination section,
wherein the mobile operation section or the image output section includes a light source, the light source being disposed in at least one corner of the operation surface of the operation section,
when the light source is provided in the operation section, the sensor receives light from the light source on the side where the image output section is present and outputs a signal according to the received light, whereas when the light source is provided in the image output section, the sensor receives light from the light source on the side where the operation section is present and outputs a signal according to the received light, and
the determination section detects overlap in the image pickup area based on the signal according to the received light.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Kimura Fusashi

Classifications

• G06F3/0308 Primary

  comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G06F3/013

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