EP1716709A1

EP1716709A1 - Portable device for viewing an image and associated production method

Info

Publication number: EP1716709A1
Application number: EP04802999A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrick Roman Amaru
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-07
Filing date: 2004-12-22
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: JP2007525120A; KR20070001157A; WO2005076638A1; BRPI0418282A; US20070222856A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable device for viewing an image, in particular a stereo image, comprising a housing that is provided with an image, an optical unit and two viewing orifices. According to the invention, the image is generated by means of an electronically controllable display and the device is provided with elements that permit an external image data unit to supply the display with electronic image data by means of an image memory that is integrated into the housing and/or via an interface in a wireless manner. In addition, the device is equipped with a location determination unit for displaying corresponding mono or stereo images.

Description

Portable image viewing device and manufacturing method

The invention relates to a portable device for viewing an image, in particular a stereo image, with a housing in which an image, an optical unit and two viewing openings are provided.

The invention further relates to a method for producing an image, in particular a stereo image pair, which is generated in a portable housing.

From DE 43 35 899 AI a portable device for viewing an image is known, two liquid crystal displays for stereoscopic image reproduction being provided in a housing of the device. The housing is designed as a helmet-like support part, which is placed on the head of the viewer. The known device has a control unit by means of which the analog video signals of two video cameras, which are usually fed in via a cable, are digitized and made available to the displays with a frame rate of 150 Hz. A disadvantage of the known device, which falls within the range of portable virtual reality systems, is that two separate displays are required, so that the costs are relatively high. In addition, the known device cannot be used autonomously, which means that a signal connection with a separate system, in particular an image generation device, is always required. Furthermore, such helmets are relatively unwieldy, so that spontaneous use in everyday situations is not possible for practical reasons.

From DE 197 02 623 AI a portable device for viewing a stereo image pair is known, which comprises a foldable cardboard housing in which two rectangular image Windows are introduced, on which the two stereo light images of a stereo light pair are mounted for stereoscopic viewing of the same. Two viewing openings with preferably integrated viewing lenses are provided, so that a viewer can view the stereo light image in the unfolded state of use of the housing. It is a low-cost stereo photo viewer that only allows the display of a single stereo photo.

US Pat. No. 2,313,562 discloses a portable device for observing a stereo image pair, which comprises a rigid housing in or on which an image, an optical unit and two viewer openings are accommodated or attached. A slot is provided on one side of the housing through which a stereo slide can be inserted. The image slide used has two stereo image pairs, so that the desired three-dimensional effect occurs when viewing the same. A disadvantage of the known device is that the effort required to keep the images ready and to change them is relatively great for displaying a plurality of images. This means that a traveler has to carry a large number of image slides.

The object of the present invention is to develop a portable device for viewing an image in such a way that a large number of current images are provided conveniently and quickly for viewing the same.

To achieve this object, the device according to the invention in connection with the preamble of claim 1 is characterized in that the image is generated by means of an electronically controllable display and that means are provided in such a way that the electronic image data made available to the display in one image memory integrated in the housing and / or provided wirelessly by an external image data unit via an interface.

The particular advantage of the device according to the invention is that the viewer can view a plurality of current images virtually at any location. The image data are either stored in an integrated digital image memory or are downloaded on request from an external image data unit and temporarily stored in the image memory.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an electronic control unit that controls the electronic display is integrated in the portable device. The control unit can be designed as a microcontroller and / or as a graphics controller, the downloaded or stored image data being visualized in a conventional image format such as JPEG on the display. A program memory can be assigned to the control unit, so that image programs can be used for processing or processing the image data. The display can be designed as a conventional liquid crystal display or as an organically based display (OLED). The display is preferably designed as a stereo image display, two different display segments being assigned different stereo image data. The invention forms an autonomously functioning portable image viewing unit that can be used in a variable and flexible manner.

According to a development of the invention according to claim 3, the optical unit comprises a lens and / or reflector arrangement, so that a sharp and / or enlarged image can be viewed with small dimensions of the device. As the display is designed as a self-illuminating display, a light guide can alternatively be waived. In this case, the optical unit is formed only by lenses or glasses integrated in the viewer openings.

According to a development of the invention according to patent claim 4, the image data are provided by a remote central image data unit and downloaded to the image memory of the device according to the invention via the air interface. In this way, current image data can advantageously be visualized quickly. The image data can preferably be transmitted via a provider to a mobile telephone, from where they are forwarded to the portable device, for example via an infrared interface or a Bluetooth connection.

According to a development of the invention according to claim 5, the image data are calculated using a computing model. The VLMR / X3D model standard can be used here, in particular the elevation data of the local area or of the terrain being processed. In this way, image data can advantageously be provided for relatively large spatial areas, with a relatively small storage requirement. A stereo image change can advantageously be calculated virtually in real time, so that variable image sections can be made available relatively quickly. In particular, it can be used to simplify zooming from a larger area of the local field to a smaller one or vice versa.

According to a development of the invention according to claim 6, a location determining device is integrated in the housing, so that the current location of the portable device or the viewer can be determined. In this way, image data can be identified or selected that are dependent on the current location of the portable device or the viewer. This location-dependent image data can then be visualized on the display, so that the viewer receives information about the immediate vicinity of the location. The image data can be, for example, map data in two-dimensional or three-dimensional form. The location determining device can contain, for example, a GPS receiver and a compass module.

According to a development of the invention according to patent claim 7, the viewer can also use the mobile phone which can be brought into communication with the same via an interface with the housing, the coordinate field being determined in which the reception of a mobile phone with respect to a fixed base station is possible. In this way, existing location data that is dependent on the current location of the viewer can advantageously be determined, which simplify the provision of the image data.

According to a further development of the invention according to patent claim 8, the display is designed as a stereo image display with two display segments for displaying the stereo image data pairs. A graphics controller is assigned to the stereo image display, so that a plurality of images can be generated in real time. This can be used advantageously when the viewer uses the portable device for orientation in a foreign environment. By pivoting the portable device about a vertical axis, different image data, which represent different streets or different surrounding sectors, can then be visualized depending on the viewing direction of the viewer.

According to a development of the invention according to claim 9, the image memory can be supplemented by plug-in additional image memories in card format, so that different map material can be made available depending on the viewer's chosen location. The object of the invention is also to specify a method for producing an image so that the provision of image data about the current location of the viewer is made possible.

To achieve this object, the invention in connection with the preamble of patent claim 12 is characterized in that means are provided in such a way that images surrounding the current location of the housing are provided in an electronic display.

The particular advantage of the method according to the invention is that the viewer is given the possibility, depending on the current location, of providing images which enable him to find his way around in a foreign environment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, an integrated location determining device enables the current location of the viewer to be determined, so that the corresponding image data can then be made available about the immediate surroundings. This image data can be provided via an air interface from a central image data unit or from an image memory integrated in the housing.

According to an alternative development of the method according to the invention, any images can be provided for visualization by means of an integrated control unit, which images are dependent on the viewer's specification. For example, the viewer can download images from a central image data unit that identify the desired destination. An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a portable device from above,

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of electronic components of the portable device,

3a shows a three-dimensional stereo image visualized in a display and

Figure 3b is a two-dimensional image shown in the display.

A portable device 1 according to FIG. 1 is preferably used for viewers who are in a foreign environment, in particular in a foreign country, as business people or tourists. The portable device 1 can serve for orientation and for visual information in the new environment.

The portable device 1 has a rigid housing 2 corresponding to the dimensions of the portable device known from US Pat. No. 2,313,562. The housing 2 has two viewing openings 4 on a narrow front 3, in each of which a lens 5 (glass pane) is arranged. For comfortable placement of the front side 3 with the viewing lenses 5 against the eyes of the viewer, a nose recess 6 is formed on an underside of the housing 2 adjoining the front side 3.

The housing 2, which is essentially cuboid, also has a broad upper side 7, which is essentially perpendicular to the front side 3. stretches. The upper side 7 has an electronic display 8 on its side, which serves to display an image 9, 9 'corresponding to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

In addition to the viewing lenses 5, an optical unit 10 comprises, on the one hand, inner mirrors 11 arranged in a roof shape and, on the other hand, outer mirrors 12 for guiding the image rays emitted by the display 8 to the viewing lenses 5. The arrangement of the mirrors 11, 12 essentially corresponds to the arrangement the mirror shown in US 2,313,562. This enables a space-saving visualization of a large display area measured in terms of the dimensions of the housing 2.

The display 8 is designed as a stereo image display and has two display segments 13, 13 ', in each of which a stereo image of a pair of stereo images is shown aligned horizontally and vertically to one another in accordance with the laws of stereoscopy. For example, a three-dimensional stereo image 9 according to FIG. 3a can be represented, which represents a pictorial top view of a city district or a section of streets at a predetermined height with a 3D effect. The stereo display 8 can be formed from a single liquid crystal display or an organically based display, in which the individual elements of the display can be controlled differently in accordance with the stereoscopic image data.

An electronic control unit 14, which has a microcontroller or a central processor unit, is provided for processing the image data and controlling the display 8. The stereoscopic or non-stereoscopic image data can be stored in an image memory 15 (EEPROM). Alternatively, the image data can also be stored in a plug-in card 16 (PCMCIA), the plug-in card 16 being a conventional card interface le 17 can be connected to the control unit 14. In this way, additional image data beyond the capacity of the image memory 15 can be made available. This image data can depend on predetermined locations, such as cities of Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong etc.

On the one hand, the image data can be designed as three-dimensional stereoscopic image data, so that the viewer receives a spatial impression of the location shown. The image can be, for example, the visualization of a photo of the location and can be in a conventional image format such as JPEG format or the like. On the other hand, the image data can also be formed by two-dimensional map data corresponding to a section 9 'in FIG. 3b, which is offered by commercial providers as a street map.

The stereo image 9 according to FIG. 3a gives the viewer a spatial impression of his current location, for example, since the corresponding surroundings are shown from above at a predetermined height (for example 200 m). He can thus easily recognize striking buildings 18, which are shown schematically here as high-rise buildings, or streets 19 due to their dimensions or course.

The invention enables the viewer, in particular, to depict his current location or the surroundings of his location. For this purpose, the housing 2 contains a location determining unit 20, which can be designed as a magnetic sensor or as a compass for determining the direction or for aligning the device. In this way, the horizontal component of an orientation vector of the device oriented in three-dimensional space can be determined relatively precisely. On The inclination sensor can be integrated into the position determination unit 20 to determine the vertical component of the alignment vector. In conjunction with a viewer's mobile telephone 21, the location data to be made available can be restricted to a coordinate field in which the mobile telephone 21 is located, as recorded by a base station of the GSM network. As an alternative to this, GPS receivers can also be integrated in the housing, so that it is not necessary to use the wireless interface (Bluetooth) 22 for communication with the mobile telephone 21.

Depending on the current location of the viewer or the housing 2, correspondingly specified image data can now be called up either from the image memory 15 or from the insertion card 16 or from a central image data unit 23. The central image data unit 23 can be coupled to a mobile radio provider, so that the image data can be transmitted to the mobile phone 21 via a data network 24 (GPRS, UMTS). After the coding of the image data in the mobile phone 21, these can be made available to the control unit 14 via the Bluetooth interface 21. Via a separate graphics controller 25, the image data in stereo format can then optionally be passed on in real time to the stereo image display 8 for the visualization of the image 9 conveying a spatial impression. This also makes it possible to generate an image sequence preferably depending on the orientation of the housing. The location determination unit 20 also provides directional data so that images or image sequences can be generated depending on the viewing direction of the viewer.

It should be noted that the image 9 may have been processed in the central image data unit 23. For example, additional information 26, such as the altitude 200 m or street names, can be given become. This additional information 26 can be superimposed and lead to an increased information content of the image 9.

In addition, the control unit 14 can also be assigned a program memory 27, by means of which image data programs can be called up.

An energy supply unit 28 is provided as the voltage source 28 for the electronic components of the housing 2 and can be designed as a battery or as a fuel cell.

The control unit 14 and the other electronic components can preferably be positioned as a compact structural unit 29 in the form of a logic board on a rear side 30 of the housing 2. The logic board 29 can preferably be positioned on an underside of the housing 2 or on a rear side 30 of the housing 2.

In addition, a microphone 31 can be integrated in the housing 2, so that voice commands can be entered and further processed within the logic board. The voice commands can be used to control the selection of images 9, 9 '.

An on-off switch 32 is provided on the rear side 30 of the housing 2, by means of which the electronic unit can be switched on and off.

The viewer can use the voice command to indicate, for example, the height from which the image 9 is shown in the display 8. For example, the command "Zoom 200 meters" can request the image that shows the current location at a predetermined radius at a height of 200 m. As described above, the image data can either be from an integrated image memory 15, 16 or by means of a data network from a central image data unit 23. The control unit 14 enables the automatic selection of the corresponding image, taking into account the current location data supplied by the location determination unit 20.

Alternatively, any desired image data can also be selected using a given location section.

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, two displays can also be provided instead of a single display. In this case, the optical unit 10 is reduced by the inner and outer mirrors 11, 12.

Claims

Claims:

1. Portable device for viewing an image, in particular a stereo image, with a housing in which an image, an optical unit and two viewing openings are provided, characterized in that the image (9, 9 ') by means of an electronically controllable display (8 ) and that means are provided such that the electronic image data made available to the display (8) is wirelessly transmitted from an image memory (15, 16) integrated in the housing (2) and / or via an interface (22) external image data unit (23) are provided.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an electronic control unit (14) is provided for controlling the display.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical unit (10) comprises a lens and / or reflector arrangement (11, 12), such that the image (9, 9 ') represented by the display (8) ) is enlarged and / or displayed sharply.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image data from the central image data unit (23) via the air interface can optionally be downloaded with the inclusion of a mobile phone (21).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the image data can be calculated by means of a computing model, in particular one according to the VRML / X3D standard.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a location determining unit (20) is accommodated in the housing (2), such that the display (8.) Is dependent on the location of the housing (2) or the viewer ) an image (9, 9 ') can be assigned which corresponds to the location of the housing (2) or of the viewer.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coordinates detected by a base station in which the mobile phone (21) is located can be used to determine the location of the viewer.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the display (8) is designed as a stereo image display with two display segments (13, 13 ') and that means are provided such that stereo images (9) continuously in real time can be generated as an image sequence depending on the orientation of a compass (20) integrated in the housing (2) at the viewer location.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the image memory is designed as a plug-in card (16).

10.Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the compass (20) is designed as a magnetic sensor for determining the horizontal component of an alignment vector.

11.Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an inclination sensor is designed for determining the vertical component of the alignment vector.

12.Method for producing an image, in particular a stereo image, which is generated in a portable housing, characterized in that means are provided in such a way that the current location of the housing (2) in an electronic display (8) Characteristic images (9) are provided in the vicinity of the same.

13. Experience according to claim 12, characterized in that the current location is determined by means of a location determining device (20) integrated in the housing (2) and that the images (9) characterizing the current location are then transmitted via the air interface from a central image data unit (23 ) can be downloaded.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that images of a predeterminable location are provided by means of an integrated control unit (14).