GB2316792A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device having a container 1 which has as at least part of one wall a half-mirror 6, the half-mirror being outwardly reflective. A light source 2 and an object to be displayed 3 are contained within the container such that the light source can illuminate the object. The illuminated object is thereby displayed through the half-mirror where it is visible to a person looking at the half-mirror. When the light source is not illuminated a person looking at the half-mirror sees a reflected image and not the object. The device may be provided with a timer switch for controlling the light source. The device may also be provided with a detector, which may be activated by sound or infra-red radiation.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to an optical device for displaying an image. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for illumination of an object such that the image of the object is visible through a halfmirror. The half-mirror may form one wall of a box which encloses the object and light source.

This invention relates to display devices, for displaying for example an advertisement or other information to a viewer.

It is known to provide visible displays, such as advertisements, directly as printed matter or indirectly as an image on a television screen or projected onto a surface. A changing display, or one that appears intermittently, is likely to catch the attention of the viewer.

The present invention seeks to provide a new form of direct display which is eye-catching, and which is simple and therefore may be economical.

The invention consists in a device for the display of an object, such as a printed literary and/or graphic information, through an outwardly reflective partial mirror. The display may be intermittent.

Such a device provides an observer with an unusual and therefore memorable view of the object. The object may be an advertisement.

Accordingly, there is provided in one aspect of the invention a display device having a container which has as one wall a half-mirror, the remainder of the container being light-excluding, the half-mirror being outwardly reflective, a light source within the container, an object to be displayed, or holder for such an object positioned within the container to allow illumination of the object by the light source, means for controlling the light source, such that when the light source is illuminating the object, the object is displayed through the half-mirror and is visible to a person looking at the half-mirror, and when the object is not illuminated by the light source the half-mirror provides a reflected image to a person looking at it so that the object is not visible.

The light source and holder may be enclosed in an opaque container of which the above mentioned face is one wall. When the light source is turned off, the object is not illuminated or poorly illuminated and therefore is invisible or difficult to see from the outside of the box through the half-mirror. When the light source is on, the illumination of the object increases and so the object becomes clearly visible through the outwardly reflective face of the container.

The invention allows for a variety of possible means for controlling the light source. One possibility is a timer switch. This timer switch may turn the light source on and off at equally spaced predetermined intervals. The intervals may not be equally spaced, or they may be irregular. The period of illumination of the object may be longer or shorter than the period of non-illumination. In this way the message displayed by the device will retain its novelty value for longer. If the period of illumination of the image is too long or too frequent, the observer may quickly tire of it. By such control of the illumination of the object, the illumination of the object may vary to maximise observer interest.

An alternative means for turning the light source on and off is a detector. Such a detector may be respondent to the presence of a viewer close to or in front of the face.

Several types of detector are possible. One example is an infrared detector. This detector may comprise an infrared light source and an infrared receiver. The detector detects the presence of the viewer by measuring the amount of infrared light reflected from the surroundings of the device into the receiver. A change in the amount of reflected infrared light indicates the presence of a viewer.

A second possible type of detector is responsive to sound. If the detector detects a sound above a sufficient intensity, the light source will activate.

The detector may be able to distinguish between different types of sound and display an image dependent upon the particular sound detected. Such a detector would give the observer a feeling of interacting with the device so increasing observer interest.

The detector may be integral with the device or may be remote therefrom. One example of a remote detector would be a light beam generator.and receiver. This may be positioned, for example, such that the light beam crosses a doorway so detects if an observer enters or leaves a room.

The invention permits several possible positions of object holder. The object holder may be positioned between the light source and the face. In this case the holder may be adapted to hold a transparency.

Alternatively, the holder may be positioned such that light from the light source reflects from the object held in the holder and then passes directly through the face.

By having a device which displays an image by reflection from an object rather than merely transmission of light through an object, one is not limited to transparent or semi-transparent objects.

The holder may be adapted to hold several types of object. One possibility. is a photograph or painting or possibly a screen containing a movable display.

The display device may also include means for changing or moving the object. Again such a device will have the advantage of increasing observer interest.

Such a device may change or move the object automatically or in -response to a stimulus from the observer. This device may operate at preset or random intervals.

The object holder may be adapted to hold a holographic film. In this case the light source is a laser.

Other types of light source include strip lights or light bulbs.

The device of the invention may be mounted in a wall of a room or a piece of furniture so that the halfmirror appears to an observer as an ordinary mirror, in which his or her reflection appears, until the light source of the device is switched on.

Figure 1 shows a non-limitative embodiment of the present invention.

The display device shown in figure 1 has a light box 1. Five faces of the light box are opaque to light.

The front face of the light box comprises a half (or two-way) mirror 6. This mirror 6 is outwardly reflective whilst allowing a portion of the light within the box to pass from the object through the mirror 6 to the outside of the box 1 so that an observer may observe an image of the object.

The half-mirror may reflect outwardly between 10% and 90% of the light incident on its outward surface.

More preferably it may reflect between 30% and 70% of the light incident on its outward surface.

More preferably it may reflect between 50% and 70% of the light incident on its outward surface.

Enclosed within the box 1 is a light source 2 in the form of a row of electric strip lights 2. These strip lights lie in a plane parallel to the half (or two-way) mirror 6. The strip lights 2 are arranged so that they do not uniformly illuminate the inside face of the half-mirror 6. If a slide 3 or other semitransparent object is placed between the strip lights 2 and a mirror 6, the slide 3 is only visible through certain portions of the mirror 6 surface. In this particular example, the illuminated slide 3 is only visible through the right-hand side of the mirror 6.

The left-hand side of the mirror 6 continues to be opaque.

The strip lights 2 are held in position within the box 1 by sockets 7 in the wall of the light box 1.

These sockets 7 are designed such that they form a light-tight seal between the box 1 and the strip lights 2. The strip lights 2 are connected to a power source via an electric cable. This electric cable exits the box 1 by a light-tight exit.

This particular device is adapted for showing semitransparent films or slides 3. These slides 3 enter and exit the box via a port 8. The walls forming this port 8 are also the film or slide holder. There is a lighttight seal between the slide 3 and the holder 8. The holder 8 ensures that the slide 3 is correctly positioned between the lights 2 and the mirror 6. The light source 2 is connected to a controlling mechanism 5. This controlling mechanism 5 is able to control the intensity of the light source 2 and also to switch it off. The controlling mechanism 5 is responsive to an infrared detector 4. The infrared detector 4 is positioned close to the mirror 6 and orientated to enable the detection of an observer in front of the mirror 6. When the detector 4 detects the presence of an observer, it sends a signal to the control mechanism 5. This control mechanism 5 then sends a signal to the strip lights 2 in order to activate them. When the detector 4 no longer detects the presence of an observer, it again sends a signal to the control mechanism 5 which will then extinguish the strip lights 2.

When the strip lights 2 are not illuminated, the slide 3 is poorly illuminated and is therefore difficult to see from the other side of the mirror 6. The dominant image that the observer will see is the reflection of the surroundings of the box 1 in the mirror 6. When the strip lights 2 are illuminated the slide 3 becomes visible through the mirror 6. The reflection of the surroundings of the box is still presented to the observer but, as it is much weaker than the image of the film 3, it is not noticed.

In a further modification the strip lights 2 do not always illuminate on detection of an observer by the detector 4. When the control mechanism 5 receives a signal from the infrared detector 4, it illuminates the strip lights 2 only for a predetermined time. At the end of this predetermined time the strip lights 2 are extinguished, even if an observer is still present. If the observer remains in front of the mirror 6, the strip lights 2 will not reilluminate immediately but only after the passage of a predetermined amount of time.

This timing is controlled by a timer 9 contained within the control mechanism 5.

The device may be either hung on a wall or embedded within a cavity of a wall, or in a piece of furniture, such that the mirror is approximately at eye level and visible to an observer.

The device may be used in bars, shopping malls, train stations, airports and other venues which attract people in volume.

Claims (6)

1. A display device having a container which has as at least part of one wall a half-mirror, the remainder of the container being light-excluding, the half-mirror being outwardly reflective, a light source within the container, an object to be displayed, or holder for such an object positioned within the container to allow illumination by the light source of the object, means for controlling the light source, such that when the light source is illuminating the object, the object is displayed through the half-mirror and is visible to a person looking at the half-mirror, and when the object is not illuminated by the light source the half-mirror provides a reflected image to a person looking at it so that the object is not visible.

2. A display device as in claim 1 wherein means for controlling the light source is a timer switch arrangement.

3. A display device as in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the light source is a detector respondent to the presence of a viewer in front of the half-mirror.

4. A display device as in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the holder is positioned between the light source and the face and is adapted to hold a transparency.

5. A display device as in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the light source illuminates a part only of the inside face of said half-mirror.

6. A display device substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1.