Optics: image projectors – Composite projected image
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2002-10-29
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Optics: image projectors
Composite projected image
C353S069000, C353S070000, C353S050000, C353S037000, C353S078000, C353S099000, C348S383000, C348S745000, C359S453000, C359S460000, C352S069000, C352S070000, C352S071000, C352S047000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471355
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an image alignment system and a method for producing and maintaining a visually seamless image between two or more side-by-side images that are projected onto a single screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The concept of projecting multiple side-by-side images onto a screen to produce a single visual image is well known in the art. One of the difficulties with projecting multiple side-by-side images onto a screen is to align the multiple side-by-side images so that they appear to the viewer as a single visually seamless image. In rear projection systems, which are often used on mobile equipment or in environments where shock or vibration are common, the multiple side-by-side images can get out of alignment as a result of external forces thus resulting in multiple side-by-side images which do not appear as a single visually seamless image. In use of the present invention with digital imagers, an image formed of pixels is projected onto the screen with a portion of the projected pixels in the image remaining differentially distinguishable from the rest of the image as the image changes. The present invention provides a method and apparatus that uses conventional components to capture the location of a reference pattern of pixels within or adjacent the projected image and then uses the coordinates of the reference pattern of pixels in the side-by-side images to produce a single visually seamless image and to maintain the multiple side-by-side images as a single visually seamless image.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S Pat. No. 5,619,255 discloses the use of multiple cameras to display a series of three images in a side-by-side arrangement.
U.S. Pat. 5,902,030 discloses a system where a fresnel lens is used to align the images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention includes dedication of a portion of the normally changing pixels in a projected image, which is formed of multiple pixels, to a pixel reference mark. Normally, two or more images are simultaneously projected in a side-by-side relationship on the screen. The pixel reference mark appears in each of the side-by-side images projected onto the screen. A camera, which has a field of view large enough to encompass the pixel reference mark in each of the side-by-side images on the screen, enables a computer to determine the coordinates of the each of the pixel reference marks and generate a deviation signal represented of the visual misalignment of the side-by-side images. A drive member controllable by the deviation signal from the computer repositions one of the digital side-by-side images with respect to the other to thereby produce a visually seamless image. The camera can continually monitor the pixel reference marks to continually generate a deviation signal so that the side-by-side images can automatically be brought into alignment to produce a single visually seamless image.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5619255 (1997-04-01), Booth
patent: 5707128 (1998-01-01), Dugdale
patent: 5902030 (1999-05-01), Blanchard
patent: 6219011 (2001-04-01), Aloni et al.
patent: 6222593 (2001-04-01), Higurashi et al.
patent: 6254239 (2001-07-01), Hibner, II et al.
patent: 6310650 (2001-10-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 2001/0022651 (2001-09-01), Kubota et al.
patent: 2002/0015052 (2002-02-01), Deering
Monson Robert James
Smith Michael Edward
Adams Russell
Bowen Glenn W.
Hogan Patrick M.
Koval Melissa J
Lockheed Martin Corporation
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