Mirror-Display Geometry for Accurate Digital Appearance Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mirror alternatives, such as camera-screen combinations, fail to convincingly replicate the real-time self-appearance experience of a mirror, leading to inefficient shopping and comparison processes in retail and other fields, due to differences in perspective, size, and image distortion.
Innovation Solution
An interactive imaging and display system that includes a mirror display device capable of operating in both mirror and display modes, using a camera to capture and process images to emulate a mirror-like reflection, with features like adaptive field of view, image stitching, and real-time distortion correction to maintain a consistent self-image size and perspective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a camera-screen combination is used to replace a conventional mirror, then the shopping experience can be enhanced with digital features and appearance storage, but the image quality and perspective accuracy deteriorate compared to a real mirror
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a 2D flat screen display to a 3D curved surface display. The curved surface matches the natural field of view and perspective distortion that occurs when looking at a real mirror, thereby restoring perspective accuracy while maintaining the digital functionality of camera-screen combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the display surface from flat to curved. This parameter change fundamentally alters how the image is presented to the user, correcting perspective distortion and making the digital mirror experience indistinguishable from a real mirror in terms of spatial accuracy.
2Loss of information
If a flat screen display shows camera-captured images, then digital features like image storage and retrieval are enabled, but the field of view and image size consistency deteriorate compared to a real mirror
Solution Approach 1:
By curving the display surface, the system maintains a consistent field of view across different viewing distances. The curved geometry ensures that the peripheral edges of the display remain at appropriate viewing angles, preventing the FOV compression that occurs with flat screens and maintaining natural spatial perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved display adapts to different viewing distances dynamically. As the user moves closer or farther from the display, the curved surface maintains optimal viewing angles across the entire field of view, automatically adjusting the effective FOV without requiring active control mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the camera is positioned at a fixed location above the screen, then the system structure is simplified, but image distortion increases when users are at different distances from the screen
Solution Approach 1:
The curved display surface compensates for the fixed camera position by geometrically correcting the projection distortion. The curvature is specifically designed to counteract the perspective distortion introduced by the overhead camera position, eliminating the need for complex camera positioning mechanisms while maintaining image accuracy across different viewing distances.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods enabling appearance comparison. The system includes at least one interactive imaging and display station. The station includes a mirror-display device capable of selectably operating in either or both a mirror mode or a display mode; an imaging device to capture one or more appearances appearing in a field of view in front of the mirror-display device; and/or an image control unit to select the mode of operation of the mirror-display device according to a user command.