Show window

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a show window that has an effect of providing a video seemingly popping out directly from a wall and with which the ability to pull in customers can be expected to be enhanced.　The show window comprises: a window in a wall surface; and an aerial video display device provided to the inside of the window. The aerial video display device projects an aerial video on the outside of the window. The aerial video display device, which is formed from a to-be-projected body that constitutes a basis for the aerial video and a retro-transmissive optical plate that is interposed between the to-be-projected body and the window at a certain angle, is capable of projecting the aerial video through a transparent plate fitted into the window. In one embodiment, a darkening sheet for maximally suppressing reflection and scattering of light is provided to a space on the inside of the window at which the aerial video display device is provided.

Description

shop window

[0001] The present invention relates to a show window that uses aerial images.

[0002] Interest in aerial video displays has been growing in recent years. One factor behind this is the need for contactless solutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, they are being used in combination with sensors to replace touch panels. For example, at bank ATMs, supermarket self-checkouts, corporate reception desks, and hotel check-ins, an unspecified number of users operate the same touch panel. These touch panels can potentially become a route for infection. To avoid this risk, touch panels need to be disinfected every time a user changes, but such a process is quite time-consuming and difficult to carry out adequately.

[0003] A contactless interface using an aerial image display device can be used with the same ease as a conventional touch panel, without the need for such hassle, and can avoid the risk of infection. For example, in Patent Document 1, since touching a pointing device such as a computer mouse during surgery is a hygiene issue, the surgeon operates a mouse on a contactless remote pointer control device displayed using aerial imaging technology. An example of a special optical element that can be used with such aerial imaging technology is the optical imaging device described in Patent Document 2.

[0004] The way images float in empty space using aerial imaging technology is impactful in itself and helps create a futuristic atmosphere. For this reason, many applications beyond infection prevention measures are conceivable. For example, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 shows an example of its use as a replacement for barriers at train station ticket gates. Furthermore, when displayed as an aerial image, the image appears to float above its surroundings, creating a sense of three-dimensionality that is highly entertaining, and potential applications for games and other applications are anticipated.

[0005] JP 2018-147054 A International Publication No. 2009 / 131128 A JP 2017-142370 A

[0006] When displayed as a mid-air image, it certainly appears to float above its surroundings, but with conventional mid-air image display devices, it feels as though it is being projected from the device, and it is not as naturally surprising.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a show window that has the effect of projecting images directly from the wall, and is expected to attract more customers.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a show window according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a window on a wall and an aerial image display device provided inside the window, and the aerial image display device projects an aerial image onto the outside of the window.

[0009] In one embodiment, the aerial image display device is characterized by comprising a projection target that is the source of the aerial image, and a retro-transparent optical plate interposed at a certain angle between the projection target and the window.

[0010] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the space inside the window in which the aerial image display device is installed is characterized in that the inner surface thereof is treated to suppress reflection and scattering of internal light.

[0011] Furthermore, in one embodiment, a transparent plate is fitted in the window, and the aerial image display device projects the aerial image through this transparent plate.

[0012] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the projection target is a display device that can freely display an image.

[0013] The display window according to the present invention can attract the attention of more passersby.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a show window according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a show window according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing an example in which a depth camera sensor 9 is provided at the bottom of a window frame. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a show window according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a drink can vending machine equipped with a show window according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the show window of the vending machine shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view for explaining the relative positions of the main components of the aerial image display device that constitutes the show window of the vending machine shown in FIG. 4.

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a show window according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a show window 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Here, the inside (right side) of wall W is the interior of a room, and the outside (left side) of wall W is the outside of the room, but wall W may also be the exterior wall of a building, or a wall separating sections occupied exclusively by tenants within a commercial building.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, a window is provided in part of a wall W at a position about eye height from the floor F, with a glass plate G fitted in it. A hollow rectangular parallelepiped housing 2 with an open left side is fixed to the wall W so as to cover the window with the glass plate G fitted in it from the inside. A closed rectangular parallelepiped space S is formed inside by this housing 2, wall W, and window.

[0017] Inside the space S, there is a tablet computer 4 installed horizontally at the bottom, and an optical plate 6 installed so as to face both the tablet computer 4 and the glass plate G at a 45-degree angle. The tablet computer 4 has its display surface facing upward, is connected to a power source (not shown), and always displays the content to be displayed in the show window 1. The tablet computer 4 and optical plate 6 form an aerial image display device.

[0018] The optical plate 6 is a retro-transmission optical element used in aerial imaging technology. A retro-transmission optical plate is an optical element that has in-plane retro-reflection and normal transparency for light rays incident on the plate surface.

[0019] For example, the optical plate 6 may be an optical imaging element (two-sided orthogonal reflector) described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-175297. This optical imaging element is realized by arranging a large number of mutually orthogonal planar light reflecting portions at a fixed pitch. Alternatively, a structure such as a two-sided corner reflector, in which reflective surfaces are formed on the side surfaces of a square hole, as described in Japanese Patent No. 4900618, may be used.

[0020] That is, under certain conditions of incident light, the optical plate 6 retroreflects the incident light in the direction of the panel plane without changing the component of the incident light perpendicular to the panel plane. As a result, the image on the display screen 5 of the tablet computer 4 is formed as a real image 5r at a position symmetrical with respect to the optical plate 6.

[0021] Therefore, the distance between the optical plate 6 and the display screen of the tablet computer 4 is equal to the distance between the optical plate 6 and the real image 5r, and in the illustrated arrangement, the real image 5r is displayed as a floating image outside the window. In this embodiment, because the tablet computer 4 is used, the floating image outside the window can be freely changed and moved.

[0022] The interior of the closed space S covered by the housing 2 is constructed to minimize reflection and scattering of light. For example, the entire interior wall surface may be painted with a black pigment or may be covered with a blackout sheet.

[0023] In this embodiment, the entire inner wall surface of the closed space S covered by the housing 2 is covered with a black sheet 8 having a visible light reflectance of 2% or less, preferably 0.5% or less. Such a black sheet can be made by using a black resin such as lacquer or cashew oil and forming a fine uneven structure on its surface.

[0024] By doing this, almost no light other than the formed aerial image is visible, creating the effect of the image appearing to jump out directly from the blank wall. Preferably, the entire outside of the wall W is also painted black to maximize this effect.

[0025] Furthermore, by incorporating a depth camera sensor 9 equipped with an infrared LED and an infrared camera into the window frame, it becomes possible to manually manipulate the aerial image projected outside the display window. For example, the aerial image can be moved or rotated, which is expected to attract people's attention. For example, Intel's RealSense (registered trademark) can be used as such a depth camera sensor 9.

[0026] In Figure 1, the depth camera sensor 9 is installed at the top of the window frame and is configured to emit infrared rays from above toward the operator's hand, but the depth camera sensor 9 may also be installed at the bottom of the window frame as shown in Figure 2 and be configured to emit infrared rays from below toward the operator's hand.

[0027] Next, a second embodiment of the show window according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 3. In the first embodiment, the aerial image display device is integrally built into the inside of the window. In contrast, in the show window of the second embodiment, the aerial image display device is installed independently of the window, and its position can be freely changed. Therefore, a window used as a show window can be changed into a normal window, or any window can be used as a show window.

[0028] That is, the window of the show window 10 in Example 2 does not have to be specially provided for use as a show window, but may be selected from general windows. A glass plate G is fitted into this window, and the aerial image display device 12 is installed inside the glass plate G. In this example, a table 13 is placed against the wall where the window is located, and the aerial image display device 12 is placed on top of the table 13.

[0029] Aerial image display device 12 has a tablet computer 14 installed inside, and an optical plate 16 installed diagonally facing the window. The angle of optical plate 16 with respect to the horizontal plane is 90 degrees, and tablet computer 14 is placed with its display screen 15 horizontal. As a result, the image on display screen 15 of tablet computer 14 is formed as a real image 15r through the window.

[0030] Since the distance between real image 15r and optical plate 16 is the same as the distance between display screen 15 of tablet computer 14 and optical plate 16, the height of table 13, the installation position of aerial image display device 12, or the position of tablet computer 14 is adjusted so that real image 15r is formed in an appropriate position. If necessary, a height-adjustable pedestal or the like is installed on table 13.

[0031] Increasing the distance between the display screen 15 of the tablet computer 14 and the optical plate 16 increases the distance between the real image 15r and the optical plate 16, but this narrows the viewing angle. Using a larger optical plate makes it possible to widen the viewing angle to some extent, so the distance between the display screen 15 of the tablet computer 14 and the optical plate 16, i.e., the distance between the real image 15r and the optical plate 16, can be increased to some extent.

[0032] Although the illustration of the power supply means for the tablet computer 14 is omitted in the figure, a normal commercial power supply is used. Similarly to the first embodiment, the optical plate 16 is a retro-transmission optical element. According to this embodiment, any window can be easily turned into a show window using a general aerial image display device.

[0033] Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, by incorporating a depth camera sensor 19 at the lower end of the optical plate 16, it becomes possible to manually manipulate the aerial image formed outside the show window. For example, the aerial image can be moved or rotated, which is expected to attract people's attention. Again, for example, Intel's RealSense (registered trademark) can be used as such a depth camera sensor 9.

[0034] Next, a third embodiment of the show window according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 4. Here, application to a drink can vending machine is shown. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a vending machine equipped with a show window according to the third embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the show window of the vending machine shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a partial perspective view for explaining the relative positions of the main components of the aerial image display device that constitutes the show window of the vending machine shown in Figure 4.

[0035] 4, the vending machine 20 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped main body 22, a display window 24 provided on the entire surface of the main body 22, a product outlet 26 provided below the display window 24, and a cash register 28 provided to the right of the display window 24. Although not shown, the main body 22 is provided with a storage rack for storing drink cans and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing stored drink cans to the product outlet 26.

[0036] 5, the show window 24 comprises a transparent resin plate 32 fitted into the main body 22 to form a window, a housing 34 which is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with an open left side and which is fixed to the inner surface of the main body 22 so as to form a closed space S inside the transparent resin plate 32, a drink can sample 36 placed on the bottom surface of the housing 34, an optical plate 38 placed so as to face both the transparent resin plate 32 and the sample 36 at a 45-degree angle, and an LED light 40 which illuminates the sample 36 from above. As with Example 1, the optical plate 38 is a plate having a structure such as a two-sided orthogonal reflector or two-sided corner reflector capable of retrotransmission.

[0037] When the sample 36 is illuminated by the LED illumination 40, the reflected light is retrotransmitted through the optical plate 38 to form a real image 36r outside the transparent resin plate 32, as in Example 1. An operation button 37 is provided on the left side of the sample 36, and this operation button 37 is also illuminated by the LED illumination 40, and the reflected light forms a real image 37r below the real image 36r of the sample 36.

[0038] Furthermore, a motion sensor 42 consisting of an infrared LED or an infrared camera is provided below the transparent resin plate 32, and is capable of detecting the movement of the user's finger near the real image 37r of the operation button 37. When a gesture by the user pressing the real image 37r of the operation button 37 is detected, the drink can is determined to have been selected, and the product is delivered to the product outlet 26. Therefore, a contactless interface is implemented.

[0039] The sample 36 and its real image 36r are plane-symmetric with respect to the optical plate 38. Therefore, in order for the real image 36r to appear as an image of the drink can, the sample 36 must be placed with its inner concave surface facing upward, as shown in Figure 6. In other words, to project a three-dimensional image, the concave-convex relationship between the visible aerial image and the subject (projection target) is reversed. The image (design) of the outside of the drink can is printed directly on the inner concave surface of the sample 36.

[0040] As in Example 1, the entire interior wall surface of the closed space S enclosed by the housing 34 is covered with a black sheet 37 having a visible light reflectance of 2% or less, preferably 0.5% or less. Such a black sheet can be made, for example, by using a black resin such as lacquer or cashew oil and forming a fine uneven structure on its surface. In this way, almost no light other than the formed aerial image is visible, creating the effect of the image appearing to jump out directly from a blank wall.

[0041] The show window of the present invention can be expected to have the effect of images appearing to jump out directly from the wall. When people pass by the show window, the images floating in the air unexpectedly come into view, drawing their attention. This can be expected to have a sales promotion effect on products.

[0042] The above describes the aerial image display device according to the present invention based on an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and modifications may be made within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, and if possible, the techniques described in each embodiment may be combined, or publicly known techniques may be combined, etc.

[0043] For example, in the first embodiment, a tablet computer is used as an example of the projection target on which the aerial image is generated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a liquid crystal display connected to a regular personal computer may also be used.

[0044] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the drink can sample serving as the projection target is illuminated from above and shines by reflecting the illuminated light, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the drink can sample could be made of a milky white resin that transmits light, with a pattern or the like printed on the surface of this resin, and light could be shone on it from below to make the resin surface shine, and that light could then be projected to form an image.

[0045] 1, 10 Show window 2 Housing 4, 14 Tablet computer 5, 15 Display screen 5r, 15r Real image 6, 16 Optical plate 8 Blackout sheet 9, 19 Depth camera sensor 12 Aerial image display device 13 Table 20 Vending machine 22 Vending machine body 24 Show window 26 Product take-out port 28 Payment machine 32 Transparent resin plate 34 Housing 36 Sample 36r Sample real image 37 Blackout sheet 37 Operation button 37r Operation button real image 38 Optical plate 40 Lighting 42 Motion sensor F Floor G Glass plate W Wall

Claims

1. A show window comprising a window on a wall and an aerial image display device installed inside the window, the aerial image display device projecting an aerial image onto the outside of the window.

2. The show window described in claim 1, characterized in that the aerial image display device comprises a projection object that is the source of the aerial image, and a retro-transparent optical plate interposed at a certain angle between the projection object and the window.

3. A show window as described in claim 2, characterized in that the space inside the window in which the aerial image display device is installed has its inner surface treated to suppress internal light reflection and scattering.

4. The show window according to claim 3, characterized in that a transparent plate is fitted in the window, and the aerial image display device projects an aerial image through this transparent plate.

5. The show window according to claim 4, wherein the projection target is a display device that can freely display images.