FR3069349A1 - DIGITAL DISPLAY TABLE WITH INTERACTIONS - Google Patents

Abstract

Digital display table comprising a horizontal tray (1), a stand (9) supporting the tray, a digital display plate (2) on the tray, emitting images upward, the contents of which are controlled per unit of display controller (5), a plurality of sensors (3,4) arranged near the peripheral edge of the tray, configured to detect the presence of one or more visitor (U) individuals near the display table digital, the content of the display being controlled according to the detection and position of one or more individuals (U) with respect to the digital display table, and method associated with such a digital display table.

Description

The present invention relates to digital interaction display tables or panels. This kind of table or digital display panel can be used as an example to inform visitors to a shopping center or as an outdoor or indoor orientation table.

Background and Prior Art

This kind of table or digital display panel is generally tilted and is not horizontal, this in order to present a display oriented towards visitor (s) presenting themselves on the lowest side of the table.

Thus, a need appeared to find a solution to give satisfaction more quickly to the visitor (s), and this regardless of the side where they approach the table.

Summary of the invention

To this end, a digital display table is proposed comprising:

- a structure plate, arranged substantially in a horizontal position, the plate being delimited by a peripheral border,

- at least one foot supporting the plate,

- a digital display panel arranged on the plate, emitting images upwards, the content of which is controlled by a display control unit, a plurality of detectors (ie presence sensors) arranged near the border peripheral, configured to detect the presence of one or more individuals (ie visitor) near the digital display table, the content of the display being controlled as a function of the detection and the position of one or more individuals (ie visitor) in relation to the digital display table, sequentially and / or simultaneously.

Thanks to these provisions one or more individuals / visitors can be detected and their position identified around the table. The position is identified and the display control unit can then adapt the display mode and optionally the content according to the position of the visitor (s) around the table.

Thus, for example, one can automatically orient the content of the display according to the position of the visitor so that the latter can read the information presented in the right direction from his own point of view.

It is also noted that in the case where several users request the display table, these users can not only have access in a sequential manner, namely one after the other at a given place of the table, but also these users can have simultaneous access in parallel, namely at the same time but at different places on the display table with display windows which are temporarily dedicated to them.

Also, the intensity of the display can be adapted according to the presence of visitor (s) or the absence, in order to moderate the electrical consumption (low consumption mode without visitor).

In various embodiments of the invention, one can optionally have recourse to one and / or the other of the following provisions, taken individually or in combination.

According to a particular option, the detectors can be sensors of lidar technology. By a so-called 'time of flight' technique, these sensors make it possible to measure the distance at which an object is in the detection cone of the sensor. In addition, the cost of these sensors is now affordable.

According to a particular option, a lateral belt of detectors oriented horizontally radially outward is provided. This makes it possible to detect the approach of a visitor and, if he is the only one detected, to adapt the content very early for his use while he approaches to read information there. The range of these so-called 'horizontal' detectors can go up to 4 meters from the edge of the table.

According to a particular option, an upper ring of detectors oriented vertically upwards can be provided. These so-called 'vertical' detectors make it possible to detect an interaction confirmed by a visitor who is standing against the border, and / or if necessary who is leaning slightly on the table to read information there.

According to a particular option, the detection zones of the sensors can overlap to thereby form an annular zone of continuous detection in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the plate. As a result, a visitor approaching the table can still be detected by the digital display table.

According to a particular option, the display panel may be a panel at least partially tactile, to allow tactile interaction of a user in order to modify the displayed content. As a result, we can have an intuitive interactivity between users / visitors and the content displayed on the display panel.

According to a particular option, the control unit is preferably integrated inside the table, i.e. the display control unit is housed in the tray or at the foot of the table. In return, the digital display table forms an autonomous unit. It is enough to bring an electrical connection to make it work.

According to a particular option, the top of the digital display table can have a general rectangle shape, preferably with rounded corners. This format is particularly suitable for a configuration in a circulation hall of a shopping center. This format also corresponds to display tiles available on the market for screens usually used in vertical position, with a moderate purchase cost, therefore the cost of obtaining a digital display table of rectangular shape is advantageous compared to other forms.

According to a particular option, the digital display panel is preferably located at a height H from the ground of between 50 cm and 100 cm. This facilitates good visibility and access for the touch function for the vast majority of adult or adolescent users.

Depending on a particular option, the range of the detectors can be between 2 cm and 200 cm. We can thus have early information of the arrival of a visitor while avoiding false detections caused by a chance passage nearby.

According to a particular option, the sensors can each be mounted on a small printed circuit and each connected to the control unit by wiring 53 via a connector. This gives easy assembly and it is possible to carry out maintenance in the event of a necessary replacement of one of the components.

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling an adaptive display in a digital display table as described above, the method comprising the steps:

a-) detect using the detectors the presence of one or more visiting individuals near the digital display table, b-) determine the position of the visitor in relation to a marker linked to the table, c-) adapt the mode display and optionally the content depending on the position of the visitor (s) around the table.

As a result, the display can be automatically adapted to the presence of one or more users with the option of tactile interaction of one or more users on the table intuitively.

According to an option, in step c-) the control unit generates, for a visitor (Ul) detected stably in the immediate vicinity of the border, a dedicated display window (Wl), said display window dedicated display in the foreground above a background display (W0) occupying the background on the display panel, in a position corresponding to the position of the user. Thus a dedicated display window for the user in question allows the latter to access interactive content in a natural position, and this at any position around the table.

According to a particular option, in step b-) the display control unit (5) determines an optimal display direction (V0, V10) contextual of the position of the user, and in step c -), the display control unit (5) orients the displayed content, namely images and / or texts, according to the optimal display direction (V0, V10).

Not only the position but also the orientation of the content is made specific to the user during interaction, even if the latter appears in a corner of the table.

According to a particular option, when several users (U1, U2, U4) are simultaneously detected in a stable manner in the immediate vicinity of the edge of the table, the control unit simultaneously displays several dedicated windows (W1, W2, W4) each dedicated respectively to one of the detected users.

By means of which the interactive table makes it possible to simultaneously process in parallel the needs of several users, without conflict and without waiting.

According to a particular option, the display control unit (5) places each dedicated window in the respective vicinity of each of the individuals detected, and orients the respective content of each dedicated window optimally (VI0, V20, V40) for each users.

The software of the control unit advantageously manages the placement and the intuitive orientation of the windows as well as their content to provide each of the users with a natural interaction optionally with touch function.

According to a particular option, the intensity of the backlighting of the digital display panel is controlled according to the attendance and the passage of visitors near the table.

It is thus possible to optimize the electrical consumption.

According to a particular option, a reduced backlight intensity corresponding to an economical energy mode is defined,

The control unit being configured to change from normal intensity to

The reduced intensity if no visitor is detected within 1 m from the edge of the table for a first predetermined time.

As a result of which such logic is simple and easy to implement, the electrical unit of the control unit can reduce the table consumption while retaining the display function at low consumption.

According to a particular option, the backlight is completely deactivated by the control unit if no visitor is detected within 2 m of the edge of the table for a second predetermined time and the control unit reactivates the backlight as soon as 'at least one visitor is detected less than 1 m from the edge of the table.

As a result of which such logic is simple and easy to implement, the control unit can reduce the consumption of the table without loss of service for the users.

Description of the figures

Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example. The invention will also be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a digital display table according to a first fashion of realization of the invention, - Figure 2 shows a view of profile of the table digital display 1 - Figure 3 shows a view of above of the table digital display 1 - Figure 4 shows a view of above of the table illustrating an operating mode pos sible or many

users interact almost simultaneously on the digital display table,

FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram with the control unit,

FIG. 6 illustrates a variant of positioning of the detectors,

- Figure 7 illustrates the operation of a lidar type detector.

detailed description

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For reasons of clarity of the presentation, certain elements are not necessarily represented to scale.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a digital display table 10 according to a first embodiment; this kind of digital display table is used for example to inform visitors in a shopping center or as an outdoor or indoor orientation table. It is noted that this kind of display table is generally of substantial size with an area ST greater than or equal to 0.5 m ² , often greater equal to 0.8 m ² and sometimes reaching an area greater than 1.5 m ² .

In the first mode, this table is generally formed as a rectangle body with a foot 9 anchored to the ground.

Above the foot, there is a structure plate, noted by the reference 1, in a substantially horizontal position. The structure tray forms a solid frame adapted to resist even if one or more individual (s) tries (s) to sit on the table.

A Cartesian reference frame XYZ is defined for the table, Z defining the local vertical X a first horizontal direction and Y the second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first. ZI identifies the vertical central axis of the table.

Above the structure tray is a digital display panel 2, intended to emit images upwards, namely substantially along the direction denoted Z.

The digital display panel 2 is typically an LCD screen comprising a very large number of pixels (preferably triplets of pixels to emit color). The physical pixel technology can be of the TFT, OLED, or other type.

Furthermore, the digital display panel 2 is typically of a backlight function with LEDs or neon elements.

The structure plate includes a peripheral border 13.

Said peripheral border is advantageously equipped with detectors configured to detect the presence in their detection field of an individual, which in the present case can also be called “visitor”.

These detectors, also called presence sensors, have a detection cone around an axis as illustrated by the areas drawn in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3.

Detectors 3 can be located on the edge of the border 13 with a detection zone Z3 oriented substantially horizontally, that is to say the axis of their detection cone is horizontal with axis A3.

Detectors 4 can be located on the upper part of the border with a detection zone Z4 substantially vertical, that is to say the axis of their detection cone is vertical with axis A4.

As a variant, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 6_, there could be a single row of sensors 3 ′ on a bevelled portion 13a of the edge 13, said sensors having a main direction of detection A tilted upwards aiming at 30 ° by compared to horizontal; this makes it possible to detect both the approach and the confirmed position of a visitor interacting with the table.

To return to the example illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the detectors 3 with horizontal detection together form a lateral belt of detectors, and the detectors 4 with vertical detection together form an upper ring of detectors aiming upwards.

A large range is preferably chosen for the horizontal detectors 3, for example up to a possible detection distance of 4 m. According to particular configurations, one can choose a range between 2 cm and 2m.

For vertical detectors 4, a range of 1 m is sufficient to detect the torso and / or the arms and where the head of the visiting individual.

By detector or sensor is meant here a sensor delivering information richer than binary information and that is to say in particular information which includes a measured distance from a nearest object detected from the sensor.

Preferably, detectors of known lidar technology are used, but the principle of which is recalled in FIG. 7. An incident light signal Tx is reflected on an object whose distance D is sought to be measured relative to the detector, the received echo Rx has a delayed time position (phase shift in the case of modulation or simple delay in the case of a single pulse) which allows to go back to the distance traveled, that is to say twice the distance D which separates the detector of the object of interest (go + return).

The choice of lidar sensors can for example relate to the references of the FlightSense ™ family of the manufacturer ST-MicroElectronics ™, such as for example the VL53L0 or the VL53L1.

It should be noted that the use of detectors is used to make the display of the content adaptive and interactive on the table, as will be explained below.

Advantageously, according to one option, the digital display panel is of the tactile type at least in a peripheral portion directly accessible by the hand of the user. The tactile portion is denoted by the reference 22. The tactile detection technique can be capacitive, optical, ultrasonic, etc.

Zone 22 equipped with the touch function can occupy the entire ST surface of the digital display panel, or only a peripheral zone with easy and direct access by the hands of visitors placed at the edge of the table, in which case the central zone delimited by the reference 28 is devoid of the touch function (see Fig 3).

In the first embodiment, the digital display table has a generally rectangular shape. It is preferable to provide rounded corners with a large radius of curvature (R> 15 cm), so the risk of injury is avoided in the event of a child striking the table for example.

The length noted LX can have a dimension between 80 cm and 2 m. The width noted LY can have a dimension between 50 cm and 1 m 20. We can choose a general format LX / LY for the display of type 4/3 or 16/9 so as to benefit from a supply cost moderated for the touch screen display from industry standard components.

The display panel 2 is preferably located at a height H from the ground of between 50 cm and 1 m.

The thickness of the tray 1 can range from 5 cm to 15 cm.

The foot 9 can be a massive element; it can occupy almost all the space on the board.

According to an advantageous aspect, the lateral belt of horizontal detectors 3 allows continuous detection around the entire periphery of the table. For this purpose, we note that the detection zones of the adjacent sensors overlap as illustrated in Figure 3. The overlap can be more or less pronounced depending on the precision that we want to obtain on the estimated position of the visitor and the possible discrimination. between two individuals located side by side as shown in Figure 4.

Similarly, the upper ring of vertically oriented detectors allows, thanks to the overlapping of the detection zones Z4, to obtain continuous detection upwards around the entire periphery of the table.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the detectors are connected to a display control unit 5.

The display control unit 5 also controls the content displayed on the digital display panel 2.

To facilitate the integration of the table and its autonomy, the display control unit 5 is advantageously housed in the stand 9 or in the tray 1 the table. A connection to the power supply network and optionally a wired or WiFi 15 data link is sufficient to operate the table and update the software of the control unit.

The display control unit 5 can in fact be connected to a remote server (not shown in the figures) configured to make various content and / or various content updates available. The content can be purely informative or advertising or mixed. The interactive table 1 can also go back to the server for the collection of different data collected during interactions with visitors for statistical or service improvement purposes.

According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the display control unit 5 controls the content displayed in real time as a function of the information received by the detectors 3,4.

More specifically, these include:

a-) using detectors to detect the presence of one or more visiting individuals (U) near the digital display table, b-) determining the position of the visitor in relation to a marker linked to the table, in particular to create a local landmark in which the visitor will wait for information to be displayed in a direction suitable for easy reading.

As illustrated in the figure 3 in one case simple, when a visitor U is detected at proximity of the table display digital, 1'unité of command 5 détermi born in function of estimated position of the visitor an axe local display rated VO and an axis transverse local noted T,

with a point of intersection RO forming the origin of the local specific benchmark of the service to be provided to the user U.

The physical position of each of the detectors on table 1 is known to the control unit in the base frame XYZ.

The estimated position of the visitor U is calculated according to the location and the number of excited sensors; for example if three sensors are excited then the visitor's position will be that of the middle sensor; if two sensors are excited, the control unit can choose an intermediate position between the two excited sensors.

Relative to the local coordinate system R0, V0, T defined by the position of the examiner,

The control unit can calculate a partial or total display to be displayed on the display panel in the natural direction seen from the user (up-down orientation according to VO, right-left orientation

More generally, we define as a process implemented by

The control unit, the action consisting in adapting the display mode and optionally the content as a function of the position of the around the table.

Thanks to the process implemented by the control unit, users can not only have sequential access, namely one after the other, to a given place on the table, but also these users can have simultaneous access to know at the same time but at different places on the display table with display windows dedicated to them temporarily

According to one possibility, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is possible to provide a user U1 with a local display area W1 having a main direction VIO adapted to the user. The local display area is also called “dedicated window” W1, it can have a size between an A4 and A3 format or even more, depending on a landscape or portrait format.

In this local display area Wl, it is possible to display interaction icons that the user can activate by touching the touch screen. The user U1 can thus have access to multiple services including online services.

The same process can occur at the same time for another user U2 to which a dedicated display window W2 is displayed having a direction adapted to the user U2 (direction V20). The same process can occur at the same time for another user U4 to which a dedicated display window W4 is displayed having a direction adapted to the user U4 (direction V40).

In other words, which when several users (U1, U2, U4) are simultaneously detected in a stable manner in the immediate vicinity of the edge of the table, the control unit 5 simultaneously displays several dedicated windows (W1, W2, W4) each dedicated respectively to each of the users detected.

The size of the dedicated window of users present around can depend on the number of the table. Generally, the area of each window is less than the total area ST of the slab.

In addition, it is noted that in the example illustrated with a table having a surface comprised between 1 m ² and 1.5 m ² , the surface of a standard dedicated window less than 20 the total surface of the slab.

When several U1-U5 users are detected, the control unit dedicates windows in the display panel for each of the detected users, with dedicated windows displayed in the foreground, as illustrated in the figure

4, keeping in the background a general information like the plan of the shopping center with possibly superimposed an indication of particular place that one of the users is consulting on his specific window.

The WO background frame, in the areas not used for the displays specific to the users present, will typically be a shopping center plan. Preferably, the orientation of this plane will coincide with the physical orientation of the panel so as to provide an intuitive indication of the route in the event that a user seeks to go to a particular place (store, toilet, ATM).

If only one user is detected, it is possible for the control unit to adapt the entire content of the display panel, by a large format display dedicated to the single user, oriented in the correct direction for example for display navigation information to him or even an advertising message.

For each of the Wl — W4 windows dedicated to a user, the latter can change shape during interaction, its maintenance in activity depends on the continuity of the detection of the presence of its user as well as the repetition of tactile interactions. on the touch portion of the touch screen.

The size of a dedicated window can be reduced if another dedicated window must be generated nearby (case of two users located side by side)

When the user disappears from the detection field of the sensors (ex U6 in Fig 3) then the window can be deactivated and the control unit recovers this display portion to display a background frame or general information. Thus in the example, the dedicated window W1 temporally succeeds the dedicated window W6 previously used by the user U6.

The distance between a user and the edge of the table is noted by the variable D. When the user moves close to the edge of the table, this distance D can vary over time for a given sensor as well as for the adjacent sensors.

In the software of the control unit, a criterion of "confirmation" of a user is defined as opposed to a chance passage. This confirmation criterion corresponds to a stable detection in the immediate vicinity of the border, with if necessary a weighting of the distances measured by the horizontal sensors 3 and the vertical sensors 4.

For example, it can be defined that the distance D detected by the horizontal detectors must remain short for a certain time, for example at least one second to conclude with the visitor confirmation criterion, the confirmation criterion can also be obtained more quickly if the vertical sensors 4 are excited at the same time as the horizontal sensors 3 located opposite at substantially the same position.

In addition, the software can contain an exceptional exclusion function, for example if a sensor constantly detects an object with a constant distance, which can correspond to an object that has been placed near the table momentarily or almost definitively. (stroller, container, pole, etc.). In this case, the object detected, after exclusion, will not trigger the generation of an interactive window.

Optionally, it can be provided that if the user moves along the border 13 then the position of the dedicated window moves concomitantly, that is to say the point RO is moved.

It may happen that two visitors arrive at the same time to access the same portion of the display table as illustrated with the users U5 and U7 in FIG. 4. In this case, the display control unit 5 determines a priority level for each of the individuals detected as a function of a combination of detection by the horizontal detectors, the vertical detectors and an action of touching in the vicinity of the estimated position of the user, and the display control unit 5 determines a dedicated window and an optimal contextual display direction of the position of the user having the highest priority level.

In special cases, we can also note the case where two users are side by side such as for example U2 and U3 (fig 3), the software of the control unit, seeing continuous detection on a plurality of adjacent sensors, can consider that it is a single entity marked U32.

Turning now to the backlight 21 of the digital display panel 2, it is advantageously provided that the intensity of the backlight is controlled as a function of the attendance and the passage of visitors near the table.

The light intensity of the digital display can be reduced in the event that no crowds are detected after a certain time. This provides a solution for automatically reducing the intensity consumed. It is also possible to provide an auto-extinguishing function after a certain time without any visitor traffic being detected. We can also provide an automatic ignition of the table having left a number of side sensors on standby so as to wake up the system and turn on the digital display panel, this if we see again pass visitors in the field detection of detectors.

The decision criteria for managing the light intensity of the backlight may depend on the distance from which visitors who are passing without being approached near the edge are picked up.

For example, the control unit can be configured to switch from normal intensity to reduced intensity if no visitor is detected within 1 m from the edge of the table for a first predetermined time; conversely, as soon as at least one visitor is detected within 1 m of the border then the backlight returns to normal intensity, that is to say maximum.

In the same logic, the backlight can be completely deactivated by the control unit if no visitor is detected within 2 m of the edge of the table for a second predetermined time and the control unit reactivates the backlight as soon as at least one visitor is detected less than 1 m from the edge of the table.

Each of the lidar 3,4 sensors is mounted on a small printed circuit attached to the table structure. An electrical connector is provided to connect each of the sensors with the display control unit 5.

Note that in the example illustrated, with a table having a surface of between 1 m ² and ² m ² , the number of sensors / detectors can be large, typically between 20 and 40. Generally, according to a configuration particular, you can have a sensor every 20 to 25 cm.

An optical lens may be provided to tighten or widen the opening of the detection cone, for example for vertical sensors, and also in the particular case of horizontal sensors located in the rounded corners of the table.

It should be noted that in other embodiments, it is not excluded that the plate and the display slab are presented in another form, such as for example a disk, a hexagon, an octagon, an ellipse , etc.

Claims (17)

1. Digital display table including: - a plate (1) of structure, arranged substantially in a horizontal position, the plate being delimited by a peripheral border (13), - at least one foot (9) supporting the plate, - a digital display panel (2) arranged on the plate, emitting images upwards, the content of which is controlled by display control unit (5), - a plurality of detectors (3,4) arranged near the peripheral border, configured to detect the presence of one or more visiting individuals (U) near the digital display table, characterized in that the content of the display is controlled according to the detection and the position of one or more individuals (U) relative to the digital display table, so that one or more visiting individuals can be detected and their position identified around of the table, to adapt the display mode and optionally the content according to the position of the visitor (s) around the table, sequentially and / or simultaneously. 2. Digital display table according to claim 1, in which the detectors are lidar technology sensors. 3. digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 2, in which there is provided a lateral belt of detectors (3) oriented horizontally radially outwards. 4. digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is provided an upper ring of detectors (4) oriented vertically upwards. 5. Digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the detection zones of the sensors overlap to thereby form an annular zone of continuous detection in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the plate. 6. Digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display panel is a panel at least partially tactile, to allow tactile interaction of a user in order to modify the displayed content. 7. digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display control unit (5) is housed in the tray or in the foot of the table. 8. digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the top of the digital display table has a general rectangle shape, preferably with rounded corners. 9. digital display table according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the digital display slab is located at a height H relative to the ground between 50 cm and 100 cm. 10. Method for controlling an adaptive display in a digital display table according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps: a-) detecting with the detectors the presence of one or more visiting individuals (U) near the digital display table, b-) determining, by the control unit, the position of the visitor relative to a marker linked to the table, c-) adapt, by the control unit, the display mode and optionally the content according to the position of the visitor (s) around the table. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein in step c-) the control unit generates, for a visitor (Ul) detected stably in the immediate vicinity of the border, a dedicated display window (Wl) , said dedicated display window being displayed in the foreground above a background display (W0) occupying the background on the display panel, in a position corresponding to the position of the user . 12. The method of claim 11, wherein in step b-) the display control unit (5) determines an optimal display direction (V0) contextual of the position of the user, and l 'step c-), the display control unit (5) orients the displayed content, namely images and / or texts, according to the optimal display direction (V0). 13. The method of claim 11, wherein when several users (U1, U2, U4) are simultaneously detected in a stable manner in close proximity to the edge of the table, the control unit simultaneously displays several dedicated windows (W1, W2 , W4) each dedicated respectively to each of the users detected. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the display control unit (5) places each dedicated window in the respective vicinity of each of the individuals detected, and optimally directs the respective content of each dedicated window (VI0, V20 , V40) for each user. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the intensity of the backlight of the digital display panel is controlled according to the attendance and the passage of visitors near the table. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein a reduced backlight intensity corresponding to an economical energy mode is defined, the control unit being configured to switch from a normal intensity to the reduced intensity if no visitor is detected. less than 1 m from the edge of the table for a first predetermined time. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the backlight is completely deactivated by the control unit if no visitor is detected within 2 m of the edge of the table for a second predetermined time and the control unit reactivates the backlight as soon as at least one visitor is detected less than 1 m from the edge of the table.