Television – Basic receiver with additional function – For display of additional information
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-01
2001-02-13
Faile, Andrew I. (Department: 2711)
Television
Basic receiver with additional function
For display of additional information
C348S052000, C348S053000, C348S056000, C348S588000, C345S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188442
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to television (TV) monitors and display systems and, in particular, to display systems providing simultaneous visual/audio presentations to a plurality of viewers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A problem is created when different people desire to view different TV programs, or to listen to audio in different languages. In a home environment this situation typically results in different members of the family watching different TVs in different rooms of the home. For a number of reasons this common solution to the problem is less than desirable. For example, this solution to the problem requires the family to own multiple TVs, and possibly multiple reception devices, such as cable converter boxes and/or satellite antennas. This problem is compounded if one of the TVs is a large screen TV, which may be in demand by all of the family members.
In the field of stereo computer graphics it is known to project different images for the left and right eyes. A viewer then uses so-called shutter glasses to view the image in stereo. The shutter glass system works by closing the shutter for one eye for a brief period during which the other eye views what is displayed on the screen. This process is alternated for the left eye and the right eye. The images on the screen are adapted for each eye, based on the displacement between the viewer's eyes. So when the shutter for the left eye is open, it displays the image for the left eye and vice-versa. The persistence of human vision ensures that the images are “seen” simultaneously. The use of such a system enables a viewer to view a displayed image in a stereoscopic sense, and thus perceive depth.
In greater detail, in such traditional stereo graphics displays a receiver on the shutter glasses, such as an infrared (IR) receiver, receives a synchronization signal from the stereo monitor. The synchronization signal causes liquid crystal (LC) panels or shutters in the glasses (one for each eye) to switch from being opaque to transparent and vice versa. When opaque, the viewer cannot see through the shutter. The shutter for the left and right eye switch in an alternate fashion and, at any given time, only one eye can see the displayed image. However, the persistence of human vision results in both eyes seeing their corresponding images simultaneously.
While the LC shutters are being controlled in this fashion, the display monitor is displaying images alternately for the left eye and right eye. The image for the left eye differs from the image for the right eye. This difference is what gives the perception of depth. In a computer generated image, the image for the left eye is created by treating the center of the camera to coincide with the center of the left eye and vice-versa. As a result, the two images differ in camera position.
Some stereo and virtual reality systems use small displays (e.g., LCDs) provided within head sets worn by a user. However, the use of such a system presents at least two problems. The first is the current low resolution of such displays, resulting in poor image quality. The second, and more important problem, is that the use of the head set isolates the viewer from his or her surroundings, making it difficult for the viewer to interact with objects and persons in the viewer's environment.
At present, there is no system known to the inventor that allows viewers to simultaneously watch different programs using the same TV monitor.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of this invention to provide a solution to the foregoing problems that enables multiple viewers in a room to unobtrusively and simultaneously view different TV programs.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a display monitor that operates in a time-multiplexed fashion to display a plurality of viewer-selected video channels on a single display screen, and to also provide visual apparatus worn by the viewers, the video apparatus being synchronized to the operation of the display monitor for enabling each of the viewers to observe the display screen only at times when the viewer-selected video channel is being displayed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other problems are overcome and the objects of the invention are realized by methods and apparatus in accordance with embodiments of this invention.
In a method of this invention steps are disclosed for simultaneously viewing a plurality of video channels, on one display screen, with a plurality of viewers. The steps of the method include (a) providing each of the plurality of viewers with visual apparatus that operates in two modes, wherein in a first mode the viewer is enabled to view an image on the display screen through the visual apparatus, while in the second mode the viewer is disabled by the visual apparatus from viewing an image on the display screen. A second step (b) operates a display monitor that includes the display screen so as to time multiplex the display of a plurality of video channels selected by the plurality of viewers. A third step (c) synchronizes the operation of each of the plurality of visual apparatus with the display screen such that each viewer is enabled to view the image on the display screen only during a time when a viewer-selected video channel is being displayed on the display screen.
The visual apparatus includes at least one electrically actuated liquid crystal shutter that is transparent in the first mode and opaque in the second mode, and wherein the step of synchronizing includes a step of transmitting information to the visual apparatus, preferably over a wireless link, for indicating a time when the at least one liquid crystal shutter is to switch from being transparent to being opaque, and from being opaque to being transparent.
The method further includes steps of: (d) receiving, at each of the visual apparatus, an audio channel associated with the viewer-selected video channel; and (e) converting the received audio channel into an audio signal for the viewer.
At least one of the video channels may provide access to a data communications network such as the internet.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2832821 (1958-04-01), Du Mont
patent: 4424529 (1984-06-01), Rose et al.
patent: 4562463 (1985-12-01), Lipton
patent: 5182796 (1993-01-01), Shibayama et al.
patent: 5821989 (1998-10-01), Lazarro et al.
patent: 5903816 (1999-05-01), Broadwin et al.
patent: 5907364 (1999-05-01), Furuhata et al.
Bui Kieu-Oanh
Faile Andrew I.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Perman & Green LLP
Sbrollini Jay
LandOfFree
Multiviewer display system for television monitors does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multiviewer display system for television monitors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multiviewer display system for television monitors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2562934