US20040251719A1 - Off-angle display systems and associated methods of manufacture and use - Google Patents
Off-angle display systems and associated methods of manufacture and use Download PDFInfo
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- US20040251719A1 US20040251719A1 US10/461,155 US46115503A US2004251719A1 US 20040251719 A1 US20040251719 A1 US 20040251719A1 US 46115503 A US46115503 A US 46115503A US 2004251719 A1 US2004251719 A1 US 2004251719A1
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- Prior art keywords
- display screen
- display
- visual
- visual images
- angle
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/62—Accessories for chairs
- A47C7/72—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R11/02—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
- B60R11/0229—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
- B60R11/0235—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes of flat type, e.g. LCD
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
- B64D11/0015—Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
- B64D11/0015—Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
- B64D11/00151—Permanently mounted seat back monitors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
- B64D11/0015—Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
- B64D11/00153—Monitors mounted on or in the seat other than the seat back
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
- B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
- B60R2011/0012—Seats or parts thereof
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
- B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
- B60R2011/0028—Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
Definitions
- the following disclosure relates generally to systems for displaying visual images and, more particularly, to systems for displaying visual images to passengers in aircraft and other vehicles.
- Many transport aircraft include video screens that allow passengers to view movies, newscasts, and other content during flight. Some of these screens are centrally located above an aisle or other location for viewing by a group of passengers. Others are mounted to seatbacks for viewing by individual passengers seated directly behind the screens. Providing such passengers with individual screens allows them to personally select the video content they wish to view during flight. This option can make the flight more enjoyable for such passengers, especially if it is a long flight.
- Seatback video screens are typically mounted approximately eight inches below eye level of the viewing passenger. This offset can result in a downward viewing angle of approximately 20 degrees. This downward angle can increase to as much as 34 degrees if the seat to which the screen is mounted is fully reclined. To correct the viewing angle, seatback video screens are often mounted in housings and configured to pivot about a horizontal axis within the housing so that they can be directed upwardly toward the viewing passenger.
- the housings of conventional seatback video screens are often relatively deep to accommodate the full range of screen movement.
- the housings often measure from 3 to 4 inches deep.
- the seatbacks in which these housings are mounted can be up to 3 inches thicker than would otherwise be required to accommodate fixed (i.e., non-pivoting) video screens.
- This increase in seatback thickness represents a 10-15% reduction in space between the passenger and the back of the seat in front of him or her.
- This loss of space can impede passenger movement into and out of the seat.
- this loss of space can make using a laptop computer or eating from a fold-down tray table somewhat awkward, particularly when the seat to which the tray table is mounted is fully reclined.
- the interior surfaces of aircraft passenger cabins generally flow fore and aft, parallel to the normal viewing perspective of passengers.
- Such interior surfaces can include, for example, the bottom surfaces of overhead luggage bins.
- video screens mounted flush to them may be somewhat difficult for passengers to view.
- video screens have been mounted on these surfaces with mechanical means that allow the video screens to pivot downwardly to a position more suitable for viewing.
- this pivoting feature can also create a head strike concern when the video screen is in the lowered position.
- use of these video screens is generally not allowed during takeoff and landing.
- viewing landscape camera images during these phases of flight is often popular among passengers.
- a further shortcoming associated with such video screens is that they tend to obstruct the visual flow of the interior architecture when rotated down into the viewing position.
- a visual display system includes a visual display device having a display screen configured to display visual images.
- the display screen can at least generally face a first direction.
- the visual display system can further include an optical tilting device at least generally overlaying the display screen.
- the optical tilting device can be configured to optically tilt the visual images on the display screen away from the first direction toward a second direction to facilitate viewing of the visual images in the second direction.
- the optical tilting device can include a refracting lens, such as a Fresnel lens.
- the optical tilting device can include a Fresnel prism.
- the visual display system can also include an image distorter operatively connected to the visual display device.
- the image distorter can be configured to electronically distort the visual images on the display screen to compensate for optical distortion resulting from the angle of the display screen relative to the viewer.
- a method of manufacturing a display system includes providing a visual display device having a display screen configured to display visual images.
- the display screen can at least generally face a first direction.
- the method can further include overlaying the display screen with an optical tilting device configured to optically tilt the visual images on the display screen toward a second direction that is angled relative to the first direction.
- the display screen can be mounted to a portion of a passenger seating area in a vehicle to accommodate off-angle viewing by one or more passengers in the second direction.
- FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 2A-2C are partially schematic enlarged side views of a seatback portion of FIG. 1 shown in various angles of recline in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 3A-3C are front views of a visual image displayed on the seatback portion of FIGS. 2A-2C without electronic image distortion to compensate for recline angle.
- FIGS. 4A-4C are front views of a visual image displayed on the seatback portion of FIGS. 2A-2C with electronic image distortion to compensate for recline angle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 8 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- the following disclosure describes visual display systems that can accommodate off-angle viewing.
- Several embodiments of visual display systems configured in accordance with the present invention can provide off-angle viewing for passengers in aircraft, cars, buses, trains and other vehicles.
- Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-8 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention.
- Other details describing well-known structures and systems often associated with display systems, and more specifically, with video display systems, are not set forth, however, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the invention.
- FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area 100 having an off-angle display system 101 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- the passenger seating area 100 can include one or more passenger seats 102 (shown as a first seat 102 a and a second seat 102 b ) positioned in rows to accommodate passengers P (shown as a first passenger P 1 and a second passenger P 2 ).
- each passenger seat 102 includes a seatback portion 104 that is movable between at least a first reclined position R 1 (shown in phantom line in FIG. 1) and a second reclined position R 2 .
- the seatback portion 104 can be at least generally fixed in an upright or semi-reclined position without departing from the present invention.
- the off-angle display system 101 includes a visual display device 110 carried by the seatback portion 104 .
- the visual display device 110 can include a display screen 112 at least generally facing a first direction D that is angled downward relative to a viewing direction VD of the passenger P 1
- the display screen 112 can be configured to display visual images for viewing by the passenger P 1 .
- Such visual images can include movies, newscasts, on-line content, and other forms of visual content.
- the visual display device 110 can be at least generally similar in structure and function to one or more well-known visual display devices.
- Such devices can include video, television, computer and other commercially available display devices having cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), or laser emitting diode (LED) display screens.
- CTR cathode ray tube
- LCD liquid crystal display
- LED laser emitting diode
- the off-angle display system 101 includes an optical tilting device 120 at least generally overlaying the display screen 112 .
- the optical tilting device 120 can include a refracting lens, such as a Fresnel lens or similar device, for optically tilting the visual images on the display screen 112 upward toward the viewing direction VD.
- the optical tilting device 120 can include a Fresnel prism.
- the optical tilting device 120 can include a segment from a convex Fresnel lens having concentric lens ridges.
- the focal length of the convex Fresnel lens can be at least approximately equal to the distance between the optical tilting device 120 and the eyes of the passenger P 1 .
- the optical tilting device 120 can include other devices suitable for optically tilting visual images.
- the off-angle display system 101 optically tilts the display screen 112 so that mechanical tilting features are not required to provide the passenger P 1 with a favorable viewing angle. Without these mechanical tilting features, the display system 101 can be made relatively thin so that it does not appreciably increase the thickness of the seatback portion 104 .
- One advantage of this feature is that it provides the passenger P 1 with additional space between the passenger seats 102 . The additional space not only makes for a more comfortable trip, but it also allows for easier movement into and out of the passenger seats 102 . In addition, this space provides more room for use of a laptop computer or for eating from a fold-down tray table (not shown).
- the viewing angle increases and the visual images displayed on the display screen 112 will be increasingly distorted if viewed from the perspective of the passenger P 1 More specifically, when viewed by the passenger P 1 , the visual images optically foreshorten and become wider toward the top of the display device 110 as the seatback portion 104 assumes greater recline angles.
- Another aspect of this embodiment can compensate or correct for this optical distortion by including an image distorter 140 (shown schematically in FIG. 1) operatively connected to the visual display device 110 . As explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS.
- the image distorter 140 can be configured to electronically distort or “keystone” the visual images to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the angle of the seatback portion 104 .
- keystoning and “electronic distortion” are used to refer to electronically distorting the shape of a visual image on a display screen.
- Such distortion can include vertically elongating the visual image and/or horizontally compressing a portion of the visual image.
- such distortion can include vertically elongating the visual image and horizontally compressing an upper portion of the visual image.
- This electronic distortion can be directly opposite to the optical distortion that results from inclining a visual image relative to a viewer.
- This optical distortion can create, in the instance of a rectangular of square display screen, a visual image that is foreshortened along a vertical axis and expanded horizontally toward an upper portion of the screen to provide a trapezoidal shape where the two sides angle outwardly from each other as they move up, and the top and bottom edges remain parallel.
- FIGS. 2A-2C are partially schematic enlarged side views of the seatback portion 104 of FIG. 1 in various angles of recline RA (shown as angles RA 1 , RA 2 and RA 3 ) in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
- FIGS. 3A-3C are corresponding front views of a visual image 330 displayed on the display screen 112 without any electronic image distortion to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the increased recline angle.
- FIGS. 4A-4C are corresponding front views of a visual image 430 that is similar to the visual image 330 , except that the visual image 430 has been electronically distorted or keystoned in accordance with an embodiment of the invention to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the recline angle and/or the viewing angle.
- the seatback portion 104 is nearly upright at a first recline angle RA 1 .
- the first recline angle RA causes relatively little optical distortion of the visual image 330 a from the viewing perspective of the passenger (not shown).
- the image distorter 140 keystones the visual image 430 a relatively little, if at all, to compensate for this optical distortion.
- the seatback portion 104 has been moved to a second recline angle RA 2 that is greater than the first recline angle RA 1 .
- this recline angle causes the visual image 330 b to become slightly foreshortened and slightly wider toward the top when viewed from the perspective of the passenger.
- the image distorter 140 can compensate for this optical distortion by keystoning the visual image 430 b .
- the image distorter 140 can elongate the visual image 430 b to compensate for the slight foreshortening and can compress the top portion of the visual image 430 b to compensate for the slight widening of the top portion.
- the visual image 430 b appears at least generally proportionally accurate to the viewing passenger.
- the off-angle display system 101 can further include a distorter controller 242 (shown schematically in FIGS. 2A-2C) operatively connected to the image distorter 140 .
- the controller 242 can include a user interface that is accessible to the viewing passenger and allows the passenger to manually adjust the electronic image distortion to suit his or her particular viewing angle.
- this user interface can include an adjustment knob positioned at least proximate to the display screen 112 .
- the user interface can include a knob or similar device positioned on an armrest 106 of the passenger seat 102 (FIG. 1).
- the controller 242 can automatically control the image distorter 140 in response to angular changes of the visual display device 110 .
- the controller 242 can include an inclinometer or other device for automatically determining the angle of inclination of the display screen 112 relative to the viewing direction VD of the passenger P 1 (FIG. 1).
- the controller 242 can output a signal to the image distorter 140 that causes the image distorter 140 to electronically distort the visual images as required to compensate for the determined angle of inclination.
- the controller 242 can be operatively connected to a seat reclining mechanism (not shown) for determining the angle of inclination of the seatback portion 104 and, accordingly, the display screen 112 .
- a number of other devices can be used to determine the angle of inclination of the display screen 112 for automatically controlling the electronic distortion of the visual images displayed on the screen.
- the seatback portion 104 is now fully reclined to a third recline angle RA 3 .
- the visual image 330 c is now very foreshortened and very widened near the top.
- the image distorter 140 can keystone the visual image 330 c into the visual image 430 c that more accurately reflects the proper proportions of the image.
- the image distorter 140 of the present invention allows viewers to enjoy visual images of at least generally constant proportions regardless of the recline angle of the seatback portion 104 to which the visual display device 110 is mounted.
- FIG. 5 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area 500 having an off-angle display system 501 configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
- the off-angle display system 501 includes a visual display device 510 carried by an armrest portion 506 of a passenger seat 502 .
- the visual display device 510 can include a display screen 512 configured to display visual images for a passenger P.
- the display screen 512 at least generally faces a first direction D that is angled relative to a viewing direction VD of the passenger P.
- the off-angle display system 501 further includes an optical tilting device 520 at least generally overlaying the display screen 512 . As described above with reference to FIG.
- the optical tilting device 520 can optically tilt the visual images on the display screen 512 toward the viewing direction VD to improve the passenger's view of the images.
- the off-angle display system 501 can also include an image distorter 540 (shown schematically in FIG. 5) configured to electrically distort the images to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the angle of the display screen 512 relative to the passenger P.
- FIG. 6 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area 600 having an off-angle display system 601 configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- the passenger seating area 600 includes an interior wall 605 extending fore and aft above a passenger P.
- the interior wall 605 includes a bottom surface of an overhead structure 650 .
- the overhead structure 650 can include an overhead surface such as a ceiling, a luggage bin, or other structure configured to accommodate passenger carry-on luggage.
- the off-angle display system 601 includes a visual display device 610 having a display screen 612 configured to display visual images for viewing by the passenger P.
- the visual display device 610 is carried in a recessed portion 606 of the overhead structure 650 adjacent to the interior wall 605 .
- the display screen 612 at least generally faces a first direction D that is angled relative to a viewing direction VD of the passenger P.
- the off-angle display system 601 further includes an optical tilting device 620 at least generally overlaying the display screen 612 to optically tilt the visual images on the display screen 612 toward the viewing direction VD.
- the off-angle display system 601 can also include an image distorter 640 (shown schematically in FIG. 6).
- the image distorter 640 can be at least generally similar in structure and function to the image distorter 140 described above with reference to FIG. 1. Accordingly, the image distorter 640 can be configured to electronically distort the visual images on the display screen 612 to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the angle of the display screen 612 relative to the passenger P.
- FIG. 7 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area 700 having an off-angle display system 701 configured in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.
- the off-angle display system 701 includes a visual display device 710 , a display screen 712 , an optical tilting device 720 , and an image distorter 740 that are at least generally similar in structure and function to the corresponding components of the off-angle display system 601 of FIG. 6.
- the visual display device 710 is carried at least approximately flush to a bottom surface 705 of an overhead structure 750 .
- the display screen 712 faces at least generally downward in a first direction D that is severely angled relative to a viewing direction VD of a passenger P. Given the extreme angle between the first direction D and the viewing direction VD, the passenger P may elect to fully recline his or her seat to further facilitate viewing of visual images on the display screen 712 .
- FIG. 8 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area 800 having an off-angle display system 801 configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- the off-angle display system 801 can include a visual display device 810 having a display screen 812 configured to display visual images for a passenger P.
- the off-angle display system 801 can further include an optical tilting device 820 configured to optically tilt the displayed visual images to enhance their viewing by the passenger P.
- the visual display device 810 can be pivotally mounted to a bottom surface 805 of an overhead structure 850 .
- the passenger P can pivot the visual display device 810 downwardly about a hinge point 852 to further facilitate viewing of visual images on the display screen 812 .
- the passenger P can pivot the visual display device 810 upwardly to return to its stowed position against the overhead structure 850 .
Abstract
Description
- The following disclosure relates generally to systems for displaying visual images and, more particularly, to systems for displaying visual images to passengers in aircraft and other vehicles.
- Many transport aircraft include video screens that allow passengers to view movies, newscasts, and other content during flight. Some of these screens are centrally located above an aisle or other location for viewing by a group of passengers. Others are mounted to seatbacks for viewing by individual passengers seated directly behind the screens. Providing such passengers with individual screens allows them to personally select the video content they wish to view during flight. This option can make the flight more enjoyable for such passengers, especially if it is a long flight.
- Seatback video screens are typically mounted approximately eight inches below eye level of the viewing passenger. This offset can result in a downward viewing angle of approximately 20 degrees. This downward angle can increase to as much as 34 degrees if the seat to which the screen is mounted is fully reclined. To correct the viewing angle, seatback video screens are often mounted in housings and configured to pivot about a horizontal axis within the housing so that they can be directed upwardly toward the viewing passenger.
- The housings of conventional seatback video screens are often relatively deep to accommodate the full range of screen movement. For example, while the video screens themselves are typically less than one inch thick, the housings often measure from 3 to 4 inches deep. As a result, the seatbacks in which these housings are mounted can be up to 3 inches thicker than would otherwise be required to accommodate fixed (i.e., non-pivoting) video screens. This increase in seatback thickness represents a 10-15% reduction in space between the passenger and the back of the seat in front of him or her. This loss of space can impede passenger movement into and out of the seat. In addition, this loss of space can make using a laptop computer or eating from a fold-down tray table somewhat awkward, particularly when the seat to which the tray table is mounted is fully reclined.
- The interior surfaces of aircraft passenger cabins generally flow fore and aft, parallel to the normal viewing perspective of passengers. Such interior surfaces can include, for example, the bottom surfaces of overhead luggage bins. Because of the orientation of these surfaces, video screens mounted flush to them may be somewhat difficult for passengers to view. To overcome this problem, video screens have been mounted on these surfaces with mechanical means that allow the video screens to pivot downwardly to a position more suitable for viewing. In addition to adding mechanical complexity and weight, this pivoting feature can also create a head strike concern when the video screen is in the lowered position. As a result, use of these video screens is generally not allowed during takeoff and landing. Unfortunately, viewing landscape camera images during these phases of flight is often popular among passengers. A further shortcoming associated with such video screens is that they tend to obstruct the visual flow of the interior architecture when rotated down into the viewing position.
- Aspects of the invention are directed to visual display systems that can accommodate off-angle viewing. In one embodiment, a visual display system includes a visual display device having a display screen configured to display visual images. The display screen can at least generally face a first direction. The visual display system can further include an optical tilting device at least generally overlaying the display screen. The optical tilting device can be configured to optically tilt the visual images on the display screen away from the first direction toward a second direction to facilitate viewing of the visual images in the second direction. In one aspect of this embodiment, the optical tilting device can include a refracting lens, such as a Fresnel lens. In another embodiment, the optical tilting device can include a Fresnel prism.
- In a further embodiment, the visual display system can also include an image distorter operatively connected to the visual display device. The image distorter can be configured to electronically distort the visual images on the display screen to compensate for optical distortion resulting from the angle of the display screen relative to the viewer.
- In yet another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a display system includes providing a visual display device having a display screen configured to display visual images. The display screen can at least generally face a first direction. The method can further include overlaying the display screen with an optical tilting device configured to optically tilt the visual images on the display screen toward a second direction that is angled relative to the first direction. In one aspect of this embodiment, the display screen can be mounted to a portion of a passenger seating area in a vehicle to accommodate off-angle viewing by one or more passengers in the second direction.
- FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 2A-2C are partially schematic enlarged side views of a seatback portion of FIG. 1 shown in various angles of recline in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 3A-3C are front views of a visual image displayed on the seatback portion of FIGS. 2A-2C without electronic image distortion to compensate for recline angle.
- FIGS. 4A-4C are front views of a visual image displayed on the seatback portion of FIGS. 2A-2C with electronic image distortion to compensate for recline angle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 8 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a passenger seating area having an off-angle display system configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
- The following disclosure describes visual display systems that can accommodate off-angle viewing. Several embodiments of visual display systems configured in accordance with the present invention can provide off-angle viewing for passengers in aircraft, cars, buses, trains and other vehicles. Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-8 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Other details describing well-known structures and systems often associated with display systems, and more specifically, with video display systems, are not set forth, however, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the invention.
- Dimensions, angles, and other specifications shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other dimensions, angles, and specifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that other embodiments of the invention can be practiced without several of the details described below.
- In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical or at least generally similar elements. To facilitate the discussion of any particular element, the most significant digit or digits of any reference number refer to the Figure in which that element is first introduced. For example,
element 110 is first introduced and discussed with reference to FIG. 1. - FIG. 1 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a
passenger seating area 100 having an off-angle display system 101 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Aspects of thepassenger seating area 100 can be at least generally similar to aspects of passenger seating compartments typically found in aircraft, cars, buses, trains and other vehicles. Accordingly, thepassenger seating area 100 can include one or more passenger seats 102 (shown as afirst seat 102 a and asecond seat 102 b) positioned in rows to accommodate passengers P (shown as a first passenger P1 and a second passenger P2). In the illustrated embodiment, each passenger seat 102 includes aseatback portion 104 that is movable between at least a first reclined position R1 (shown in phantom line in FIG. 1) and a second reclined position R2. In other embodiments, theseatback portion 104 can be at least generally fixed in an upright or semi-reclined position without departing from the present invention. - In one aspect of this embodiment, the off-
angle display system 101 includes avisual display device 110 carried by theseatback portion 104. Thevisual display device 110 can include adisplay screen 112 at least generally facing a first direction D that is angled downward relative to a viewing direction VD of the passenger P1 Thedisplay screen 112 can be configured to display visual images for viewing by the passenger P1. Such visual images can include movies, newscasts, on-line content, and other forms of visual content. Thevisual display device 110 can be at least generally similar in structure and function to one or more well-known visual display devices. Such devices can include video, television, computer and other commercially available display devices having cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), or laser emitting diode (LED) display screens. - In another aspect of this embodiment, the off-
angle display system 101 includes anoptical tilting device 120 at least generally overlaying thedisplay screen 112. In one embodiment, theoptical tilting device 120 can include a refracting lens, such as a Fresnel lens or similar device, for optically tilting the visual images on thedisplay screen 112 upward toward the viewing direction VD. In another embodiment, theoptical tilting device 120 can include a Fresnel prism. In a further embodiment, theoptical tilting device 120 can include a segment from a convex Fresnel lens having concentric lens ridges. To enhance picture quality in this further embodiment, the focal length of the convex Fresnel lens can be at least approximately equal to the distance between theoptical tilting device 120 and the eyes of the passenger P1. In other embodiments, it is expected that theoptical tilting device 120 can include other devices suitable for optically tilting visual images. - One feature of aspects of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 is that the off-
angle display system 101 optically tilts thedisplay screen 112 so that mechanical tilting features are not required to provide the passenger P1 with a favorable viewing angle. Without these mechanical tilting features, thedisplay system 101 can be made relatively thin so that it does not appreciably increase the thickness of theseatback portion 104. One advantage of this feature is that it provides the passenger P1 with additional space between the passenger seats 102. The additional space not only makes for a more comfortable trip, but it also allows for easier movement into and out of the passenger seats 102. In addition, this space provides more room for use of a laptop computer or for eating from a fold-down tray table (not shown). - When the
seatback portion 104 moves from the first reclined position R1 to the second reclined position R2, the viewing angle increases and the visual images displayed on thedisplay screen 112 will be increasingly distorted if viewed from the perspective of the passenger P1 More specifically, when viewed by the passenger P1, the visual images optically foreshorten and become wider toward the top of thedisplay device 110 as theseatback portion 104 assumes greater recline angles. Another aspect of this embodiment can compensate or correct for this optical distortion by including an image distorter 140 (shown schematically in FIG. 1) operatively connected to thevisual display device 110. As explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A-4C, theimage distorter 140 can be configured to electronically distort or “keystone” the visual images to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the angle of theseatback portion 104. As used throughout this disclosure, the terms “keystoning” and “electronic distortion” are used to refer to electronically distorting the shape of a visual image on a display screen. Such distortion can include vertically elongating the visual image and/or horizontally compressing a portion of the visual image. For example, in one embodiment, such distortion can include vertically elongating the visual image and horizontally compressing an upper portion of the visual image. This electronic distortion can be directly opposite to the optical distortion that results from inclining a visual image relative to a viewer. This optical distortion can create, in the instance of a rectangular of square display screen, a visual image that is foreshortened along a vertical axis and expanded horizontally toward an upper portion of the screen to provide a trapezoidal shape where the two sides angle outwardly from each other as they move up, and the top and bottom edges remain parallel. - FIGS. 2A-2C are partially schematic enlarged side views of the
seatback portion 104 of FIG. 1 in various angles of recline RA (shown as angles RA1, RA2 and RA3) in accordance with embodiments of the invention. FIGS. 3A-3C are corresponding front views of a visual image 330 displayed on thedisplay screen 112 without any electronic image distortion to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the increased recline angle. FIGS. 4A-4C are corresponding front views of a visual image 430 that is similar to the visual image 330, except that the visual image 430 has been electronically distorted or keystoned in accordance with an embodiment of the invention to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the recline angle and/or the viewing angle. Beginning with FIG. 2A, theseatback portion 104 is nearly upright at a first recline angle RA1. As shown in corresponding FIG. 3A, the first recline angle RA, causes relatively little optical distortion of thevisual image 330 a from the viewing perspective of the passenger (not shown). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4A, theimage distorter 140 keystones thevisual image 430 a relatively little, if at all, to compensate for this optical distortion. - Referring next to FIG. 2B, the
seatback portion 104 has been moved to a second recline angle RA2 that is greater than the first recline angle RA1. As shown in corresponding FIG. 3B, this recline angle causes thevisual image 330 b to become slightly foreshortened and slightly wider toward the top when viewed from the perspective of the passenger. As shown in FIG. 4B, theimage distorter 140 can compensate for this optical distortion by keystoning thevisual image 430 b. Specifically, theimage distorter 140 can elongate thevisual image 430 b to compensate for the slight foreshortening and can compress the top portion of thevisual image 430 b to compensate for the slight widening of the top portion. As a result of this keystoning, thevisual image 430 b appears at least generally proportionally accurate to the viewing passenger. - In yet another aspect of this embodiment, the off-angle display system101 (FIG. 1) can further include a distorter controller 242 (shown schematically in FIGS. 2A-2C) operatively connected to the
image distorter 140. In one embodiment, thecontroller 242 can include a user interface that is accessible to the viewing passenger and allows the passenger to manually adjust the electronic image distortion to suit his or her particular viewing angle. For example, in one embodiment, this user interface can include an adjustment knob positioned at least proximate to thedisplay screen 112. In another embodiment, the user interface can include a knob or similar device positioned on anarmrest 106 of the passenger seat 102 (FIG. 1). - In another embodiment, the
controller 242 can automatically control theimage distorter 140 in response to angular changes of thevisual display device 110. For example, in one embodiment, thecontroller 242 can include an inclinometer or other device for automatically determining the angle of inclination of thedisplay screen 112 relative to the viewing direction VD of the passenger P1 (FIG. 1). Thecontroller 242 can output a signal to theimage distorter 140 that causes theimage distorter 140 to electronically distort the visual images as required to compensate for the determined angle of inclination. In a further embodiment, thecontroller 242 can be operatively connected to a seat reclining mechanism (not shown) for determining the angle of inclination of theseatback portion 104 and, accordingly, thedisplay screen 112. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, a number of other devices can be used to determine the angle of inclination of thedisplay screen 112 for automatically controlling the electronic distortion of the visual images displayed on the screen. - Referring next to FIG. 2C, the
seatback portion 104 is now fully reclined to a third recline angle RA3. As shown in corresponding FIG. 3C, thevisual image 330 c is now very foreshortened and very widened near the top. As shown in FIG. 4C, however, theimage distorter 140 can keystone thevisual image 330 c into thevisual image 430 c that more accurately reflects the proper proportions of the image. As will be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, theimage distorter 140 of the present invention allows viewers to enjoy visual images of at least generally constant proportions regardless of the recline angle of theseatback portion 104 to which thevisual display device 110 is mounted. - FIG. 5 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a
passenger seating area 500 having an off-angle display system 501 configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, the off-angle display system 501 includes avisual display device 510 carried by anarmrest portion 506 of apassenger seat 502. Thevisual display device 510 can include adisplay screen 512 configured to display visual images for a passenger P. Thedisplay screen 512 at least generally faces a first direction D that is angled relative to a viewing direction VD of the passenger P. In another aspect of this embodiment, the off-angle display system 501 further includes anoptical tilting device 520 at least generally overlaying thedisplay screen 512. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, theoptical tilting device 520 can optically tilt the visual images on thedisplay screen 512 toward the viewing direction VD to improve the passenger's view of the images. In addition to theoptical tilting device 520, the off-angle display system 501 can also include an image distorter 540 (shown schematically in FIG. 5) configured to electrically distort the images to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the angle of thedisplay screen 512 relative to the passenger P. - FIG. 6 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a
passenger seating area 600 having an off-angle display system 601 configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, thepassenger seating area 600 includes aninterior wall 605 extending fore and aft above a passenger P. In the illustrated embodiment, theinterior wall 605 includes a bottom surface of anoverhead structure 650. Theoverhead structure 650 can include an overhead surface such as a ceiling, a luggage bin, or other structure configured to accommodate passenger carry-on luggage. In another aspect of this embodiment, the off-angle display system 601 includes avisual display device 610 having adisplay screen 612 configured to display visual images for viewing by the passenger P. Thevisual display device 610 is carried in a recessed portion 606 of theoverhead structure 650 adjacent to theinterior wall 605. In this position, thedisplay screen 612 at least generally faces a first direction D that is angled relative to a viewing direction VD of the passenger P. In another aspect of this embodiment, however, the off-angle display system 601 further includes anoptical tilting device 620 at least generally overlaying thedisplay screen 612 to optically tilt the visual images on thedisplay screen 612 toward the viewing direction VD. In addition to theoptical tilting device 620, the off-angle display system 601 can also include an image distorter 640 (shown schematically in FIG. 6). Theimage distorter 640 can be at least generally similar in structure and function to theimage distorter 140 described above with reference to FIG. 1. Accordingly, theimage distorter 640 can be configured to electronically distort the visual images on thedisplay screen 612 to compensate for the optical distortion caused by the angle of thedisplay screen 612 relative to the passenger P. - FIG. 7 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a
passenger seating area 700 having an off-angle display system 701 configured in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, the off-angle display system 701 includes avisual display device 710, adisplay screen 712, anoptical tilting device 720, and an image distorter 740 that are at least generally similar in structure and function to the corresponding components of the off-angle display system 601 of FIG. 6. In another aspect of this embodiment, however, thevisual display device 710 is carried at least approximately flush to abottom surface 705 of anoverhead structure 750. In this position, thedisplay screen 712 faces at least generally downward in a first direction D that is severely angled relative to a viewing direction VD of a passenger P. Given the extreme angle between the first direction D and the viewing direction VD, the passenger P may elect to fully recline his or her seat to further facilitate viewing of visual images on thedisplay screen 712. - FIG. 8 is a partially schematic side elevation view of a
passenger seating area 800 having an off-angle display system 801 configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, the off-angle display system 801 can include avisual display device 810 having adisplay screen 812 configured to display visual images for a passenger P. The off-angle display system 801 can further include anoptical tilting device 820 configured to optically tilt the displayed visual images to enhance their viewing by the passenger P. In another aspect of this embodiment, thevisual display device 810 can be pivotally mounted to a bottom surface 805 of anoverhead structure 850. In operation, the passenger P can pivot thevisual display device 810 downwardly about ahinge point 852 to further facilitate viewing of visual images on thedisplay screen 812. During portions of the flight (e.g., during takeoff and landing) when thevisual display device 810 could present a head strike concern if lowered, the passenger P can pivot thevisual display device 810 upwardly to return to its stowed position against theoverhead structure 850. - From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims (56)
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US10/461,155 US6822812B1 (en) | 2003-06-12 | 2003-06-12 | Off-angle display systems and associated methods of manufacture and use |
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US10/461,155 US6822812B1 (en) | 2003-06-12 | 2003-06-12 | Off-angle display systems and associated methods of manufacture and use |
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JP2017136984A (en) * | 2016-02-04 | 2017-08-10 | アルパイン株式会社 | On-vehicle display system |
KR101810170B1 (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2017-12-20 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Method and apparatus for displaying image based on user location |
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