Mirror array display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851574-B2
Application number	US-201214232797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2012
Priority date	Jan 20, 2012
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

Technologies are generally described herein for a mirror array display system. In some examples, a controller can be configured to execute various methods for displaying content using a mirror array display having a mirror array including a number of mirrors and a light source. The controller can obtain content for display. The controller can also determine at least one aiming parameter associated with the number of mirrors and the light source. The controller can also emit light using the light source and aim the light emitted by the light source to a convergence point to generate a three-dimensional representation of the content, wherein the light is aimed in accordance with the at least one aiming parameter.

First claim

I claim:

1. A computer-implemented method to display content by use of a mirror array display that comprises a controller, a mirror array that includes a plurality of mirrors, a tracking system, and a light source, the computer-implemented method comprising:
obtaining, by the controller, the content;
obtaining, by the controller, tracking data from the tracking system;
determining, by the controller, at least one aiming parameter associated with the plurality of mirrors and the light source, wherein determining the at least one aiming parameter comprises determining the at least one aiming parameter based at least in part on the tracking data,
wherein determining the at least one aiming parameter further comprises executing, based at least partially upon a convergence point, an aiming algorithm by the controller,
wherein executing the aiming algorithm comprises determining a viewer's position relative to the convergence point, and wherein the viewer's position facilitates projection of a three-dimensional representation of the content;

emitting light, using the light source; and
aiming the light emitted by the light source to the convergence point to generate the three-dimensional representation of the content, wherein the light is aimed in accordance with the at least one aiming parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the convergence point comprises a first convergence point and a second convergence point, and wherein the content comprises a first content component visible at the first convergence point and a second content component visible at the second convergence point.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining, using the tracking data, a first location, relative to the mirror array display, of a first viewer;
determining, using the tracking data, a second location, relative to the mirror array display, of a second viewer;
determining the first convergence point based, at least partially, upon the first location; and
determining the second convergence point based, at least partially, upon the second location.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein aiming the light comprises aiming a first portion of the light emitted by the light source to the first convergence point and aiming a second portion of the light emitted by the light source to the second convergence point.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one aiming parameter comprises determining, using the aiming algorithm, a modulation rate for the light source and a rotation angle, relative to the light source, of at least one of the plurality of mirrors.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a laser, and wherein determining the at least one aiming parameter comprises determining, using the aiming algorithm, a modulation rate of a laser beam emitted by the laser and a rotation angle, relative to the light source, of at least one of the plurality of mirrors.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mirror array display further comprises a secondary mirror to aim the laser beam emitted by the laser, and wherein determining the at least one aiming parameter further comprises determining a rotation angle, relative to the light source, of the secondary mirror.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the tracking system, a location, relative to the mirror array display, of the viewer; and
determining the convergence point based, at least partially, upon the location of the viewer.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that the viewer has moved relative to the convergence point;
in response to determining that the viewer has moved, determining at least one modified aiming parameter and a modified convergence point; and
aiming the light emitted by the light source to the modified convergence point, wherein the light is aimed to the modified convergence point in accordance with the at least one modified aiming parameter.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using the tracking system, a location, relative to the mirror array display, of a viewing area;
determining the convergence point based, at least partially, upon the location of the viewing area;
determining that the viewing area has moved relative to the convergence point; and
in response to determining that the viewing area has moved:
determining a rotation angle, relative to a rotation axis associated with the mirror array display, of a movement of the viewing area;
modifying the content in accordance with the rotation angle to obtain modified content;
determining a modified convergence point, in accordance with the rotation angle; and
aiming the light emitted by the light source to the modified convergence point.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting, with the tracking system in communication with the controller, a movement of a user that corresponds to an interaction with the three-dimensional representation.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising modifying the content in response to the interaction.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that, in response to execution by a computer, cause the computer to perform or cause to be performed:
obtain content for display at a mirror array display that comprises a mirror array having a plurality of mirrors and a light source;
obtain tracking data from a tracking system;
determine, based at least in part on the tracking data, at least one aiming parameter for at least one of the plurality of mirrors and a modulation rate of light emitted by the light source,
wherein the determination of the at least one aiming parameter comprises execution of, based at least partially upon a convergence point, an aiming algorithm,
wherein the execution of the aiming algorithm comprises determination of a viewer's position relative to the convergence point, and wherein the viewer's position facilitates projection of a three-dimensional representation of the content;

emit light by use of the light source; and
aim the light emitted by the light source to the convergence point to generate the three-dimensional representation of the content, wherein the light is aimed by movement of the at least one of the plurality of mirrors in accordance with the at least one aiming parameter and the emission of the light in accordance with the modulation rate.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising computer executable instructions that, in response to execution by the computer, cause the computer to perform or cause to be performed:
determine, using the tracking data, a location, relative to the mirror array display, of a viewing area associated with the viewer; and
determine the convergence point based, at least partially, upon the location of the viewing area.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising computer executable instructions that, in response to execution by the computer, cause the computer to perform or cause to be performed:
determine that the viewer has moved relative to the convergence point;
after the determination that the viewer has moved, determine at least one modified aiming parameter and a modified convergence point; and
aim the light emitted by the light source to the modified convergence point, wherein the light is aimed to the modified convergence point in accordance with the at least one modified aiming parameter.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising computer executable ins

Assignees

• Bromer Nicholas Sheppard
• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Bromer Nicholas Sheppard

Classifications

• G02B27/0093

  with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking · CPC title

• G02B26/0816 Primary

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• G02B30/56

  by projecting aerial or floating images · CPC title

• G02B30/35 Primary

  using reflective optical elements in the optical path between the images and the observer · CPC title

• G02B27/2292

  Physics · mapped topic