Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2004-02-10
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2775)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
C345S008000, C345S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06690351
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to computer displays and, more specifically, to a system for optimizing internal settings based on sensor information of the displays surrounding environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to use hands-free activated user supported computers such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,305,244 and 5,844,824. In these two patents a user supported (sometimes wearable) computer is disclosed where the display means is supported by the user. The compact computer disclosed in these two patents comprises a user supported computer housing having storage means mounted in the computer housing for storing previously entered information. The processor means is located in the housing for receiving, retrieving and processing information and converter means in communication with the processor means for receiving and converting the received information into electrical signals. The processor means will recognize the commands and transmit this information to a user supported computer display means. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,244 (Newman I) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,824 (Newman II) are incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.
The requirements of a mobile display means supported by a user are completely different from the display means of a stationary computer such as a desk top computer. The desk top computer is maintained at the same location, therefore the environment in which it is used very rarely, if ever, changes. By contrast, in a user supported, mobile and hands-free computer, the environment of use is constantly changing and requiring a more versatile display, viewable in many, many different environments. For example, in a user supported computer including wearable computers, it is not uncommon to use the same computer in broad daylight, outdoors, or indoors in darkness, in cold and hot locations and in environments that are constantly changing. Therefore, one could not logically equate the stationary display requirements to those of the mobile, hands free user supported computer. While throughout this disclosure and claims, the present invention will be described in relation to a user supported (sometimes wearable) computer that is hands free activated, it should be understood that the presently described display system may be used in any suitable situation requiring enhanced electronic display performance. Thus, the purpose of the present invention is to provide users with output devices or displays that automatically optimize internal settings based on sensor information of its surrounding environment. The system presently used may be broadly defined as a microelectromechanical system which will be referred throughout this disclosure as “MEMS” and “MEMSDO” will indicate the device output of“MEMS”.
It is known in the computer art to provide some display optimizing or enhancing means to various computer systems such as CRT's. Some of these are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,985 (Cappels, et al), U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,760 (Helms); U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,205 (Blouin); U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,653 (Compo); U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,130 (Wagner); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,386 (Gu). None of these prior art patents disclose the use of display enhancements in a mobile hands free computer system.
Cappels (U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,985) is directed towards a system used in stationary computers such as Quadra 800 from Apple Computer, Inc. for de-compensating the output of an output device to eliminate reflected ambient illumination. It comprises a display device, a calibration memory, a reflectivity memory, a memory, a processor, an input device, a video card, and an achromatic card that serves as a standard for comparison to the output of the output device. This system adjusts the output of the display to match the ambient illumination reflected from the achromatic card. Using the known tristimulus values of the output generated by the output device and the known reflectivity characteristics of the glass and inside coatings of the front glass plate and the card, the processor calculates the hue and intensity of the ambient illumination
Cappels' invention is limited in that the input sensor does not do the following: 1) measure ambient temperature, 2) use a time of day as an input factor, 3) take into consideration the software application in use, 4) take operator characteristics input (distance from output display and corrected or uncorrected vision), and 5) measure ambient noise.
Gu (U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,386) teaches an automatic contrast control circuit for a display device. The system includes a distance detector installed on a front panel of the display device, for detecting a distance existing between a user and the front panel. The result is that the contrast of the display device is controlled automatically, depending on the proximity of the user to the display screen to offer enhanced eye protection.
Gu's invention differs from that disclosed by the instant application in that it utilizes a distance detector as its only means of input data and only uses the information to adjust the contrast setting. The MEMS Digital Optimizer uses significantly more input data than simply distance and generates computer commands for the output device beyond simply contrast settings.
Wagner (U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,130) teaches an anti-eye strain apparatus and method which automatically adjusts the brightness of a display to cause the muscles of the eyes of the user to adjust and refocus such that eye fatigue or tiredness is reduced or eliminated. The brightness is varied within a particular range and the brightness within this range is occasionally or periodically adjusted.
The changing brightness follows a predetermined pattern or cycle. The brightness may be adjusted electronically or mechanically by an application or software, or by changing the palette of colors or the gray scale.
Wagner differs from the present invention in that it sets brightness of the LCD or CRT using a predetermined pattern or cycle. The MEMS Digital Optimizer does not use any preset pattern or cycle. In addition, MEMSDO generates computer commands to the output device for more than the brightness setting. MEMSDO is also expected to be used with holographic output displays as well as traditional LCD and CRT displays used with computers.
Campo (U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,653) teaches an electronic shelf tag including a display device which includes an optical device and an ambient light detector circuitry. The electronic shelf display device senses the current ambient lighting conditions and controls its power state based on the current ambient lighting conditions. The general purpose is to power down in low light when the retail outlet is presumably closed and to operate in normal mode when ambient light is high and the retail outlet is presumably open.
Campo's patent has similar differences over the instant application as Cappels'. Campo seeks to only measure ambient light. As with Cappels, the input sensor does not do the following: 1) measure ambient temperature, 2) use a time of day as an input factor, 3) take into consideration the software application in use, 4) operator characteristics (distance from output display and corrected or uncorrected vision), and 5) measure ambient noise.
Blouin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,205) teaches an LCD with automatic contrast control. A light sensor is mounted over a test pixel which is separate from the main viewing area of the LCD for taking luminance measurements for “ON” and “OFF” and “surround” pixel states for a series of candidate operating voltages. The pixel contrast ratio and background contrast ratios are computed for each candidate voltage and the voltage resulting in the best contrast is selected as the operating voltage for the entire LCD. Blouin anticipates effects of temperature on LCD fluids and thus realizes need to adjust optimal contrast in response to these affects.
Blouin's patent only describes measuring luminance and only addresses adjusting pixel. The application is only targeted for LCDs. Again the differences o
Chow Dennis-Doon
Ralabate James J.
Xybernaut Corporation
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