Auto-stereo imaging for viewing in a vehicle

Number: 11054656
Published: 2021-07-06
Filed: 2018-07-24
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Haseltine; Eric C., Hsu; Jonathan Rd
CPC: B60K35/10; B60K35/211; B60K35/22; B60K35/50; B60K35/60; B60K35/65; G02B27/0149; G02B27/0179; G02B30/27; G06T19/006; G06V20/20; G06V20/59; G06V20/597; G06V40/18; G06V40/19
Verdict: Set aside automotive dashboard AR display, consumer product
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for autostereoscopic imaging in a vehicle provide for an enhanced viewer experience. In one example, a reflector is positioned to receive an image from a projector and reflect the image onto a viewing surface through which an external scene is visible, and a camera is positioned relative to the viewing surface to observe the external scene. The system determines first and second viewing distances and viewing angles from the viewing surface to respective first and second eyes for a viewer; produces first and second sub-images for viewing at the respective eyes based on an image; and projects the first and second sub-images from the projector to the reflector to reflect the sub-images to the respective first and second positions on the viewing surface, wherein the positions are set according to the viewing distances and angles to provide a 3D image to the viewer.

Background

BACKGROUND (1) Pepper's Ghost is a practical visual effect that overlays an image onto a viewing surface through which another scene is visible. The image may be outputted from a projector or from an illuminated chamber onto a reflector. The reflector, in turn, projects the reflection onto a viewing surface in front of the scene as a ghosted image visible as part of the scene. By using a transparent viewing surface, a viewer may simultaneously see both the ghosted image and the objects in the scene behind the viewing surface. SUMMARY (2) The present disclosure provides auto-stereo imaging for viewing in a vehicle, in one embodiment, via a method, comprising: determining a first viewing distance and a first viewing angle from a viewing surface to a first POV (Point of View) for a viewer; determining a second viewing distance and a second viewing angle from the viewing surface to a second POV for the viewer; producing a first sub-image for viewing at the first POV based on an image; producing a second sub-image for viewing at the second POV based on the image; projecting the first sub-image to a reflector, which reflects the first sub-image to a first position on the viewing surface; and projecting the second sub-image to the reflector, which reflects the second sub-image to a second position on the viewing surface, wherein the second position is set relative to the first position according to the first viewing distance, the second viewing distance, the first viewing angle, and

Claims

1. A method, comprising: determining a first viewing distance and a first viewing angle from a viewing surface defined in a passenger window of a vehicle to a first POV (Point of View) for a viewer, wherein a reflector associated with the passenger window physically interlocks controls for the passenger window; determining a second viewing distance and a second viewing angle from the viewing surface to a second POV for the viewer; producing a first sub-image for viewing at the first POV based on an image; producing a second sub-image for viewing at the second POV based on the image; projecting the first sub-image to the reflector, which reflects the first sub-image to a first position on the viewing surface; and projecting the second sub-image to the reflector, which reflects the second sub-image to a second position on the viewing surface, wherein the second position is set relative to the first position according to the first viewing distance, the second viewing distance, the first viewing angle, and the second viewing angle. || 7. A method, comprising: providing a projector in a cabin of a vehicle, aligned to project an image inward to the cabin of the vehicle, wherein the projector, when affixed, physically interlocks controls for a side window that are located where the projector is provided: providing a reflector in the cabin of the vehicle relative to the projector to reflect the image outward from the cabin of the vehicle onto the side window of the vehicle; determining distances and angles from the side window of the vehicle to eyes of a viewer in the cabin of the vehicle; and projecting the image from the projector to the reflector to the side window to the viewer based on the distances and the angles. || 15. A system, comprising: a projector mounted in a vehicle; a reflector positioned to receive an image from the projector and reflect the image onto a viewing surface defined in a side window defined in a door of the vehicle through which a scene external to the vehicle is visible, wherein the reflector interlocks the side window that the reflector is associated with to prevent the side window from opening while the system is installed; a processor; and a memory, including instructions that when executed by the processor enable the system to: determine a first viewing distance and a first viewing angle from the viewing surface to a first POV for a viewer; determine a second viewing distance and a second viewing angle from the viewing surface to a second POV for the viewer; produce a first sub-image for viewing at the first POV based on an image; produce a second sub-image for viewing at the second POV based on an image; project the first sub-image from the projector to the reflector to reflect the first sub-image to a first position on the viewing surface; and project the second sub-image from the projector to the reflector to reflect the second sub-image to a second position on the viewing surface, wherein the second position is set relative to the first position according to the first viewing distance, the second viewing distance, the first viewing angle, and the second viewing angle.