See-Through Display Augmenting Obscured Scene View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surfaces, such as walls and doors, often obscure scenes from view, making it difficult or impractical to visualize what lies behind them without physically manipulating the surface, which may not be feasible or desirable in all situations.
Innovation Solution
A see-through display device acquires image data using outward-facing sensors to recognize surfaces and display a representation of the scene or contextually related scenes behind or beyond the surface, allowing users to visually interpret obscured areas without physical proximity or manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a person physically manipulates the surface to view the scene behind it, then the view of the obscured scene is achieved, but the person must be in close physical proximity to the surface which may not be possible or desirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera and display device as intermediaries between the user and the obscured scene. The camera captures images of the scene behind the surface, and the display device presents these images to the user, eliminating the need for physical proximity to the surface while maintaining view access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the obscured scene through image capture and display. Instead of requiring direct viewing of the actual scene behind the surface, the system generates and presents a replicated visual representation, allowing remote observation without physical manipulation
2Loss of information
If a person opens or manipulates the surface to view the scene behind it, then the obscured scene becomes visible, but this manipulation may not be possible when the surface is out of reach
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a camera positioned to capture the scene behind the surface and a display device to present the captured images. This intermediary setup eliminates the need for direct surface manipulation, allowing users to view obscured scenes even when the surface is inaccessible
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of opening or manipulating the surface with an optical-electronic system. Instead of physically moving the surface to reveal the scene, the system uses image capture and electronic display to achieve the same information-gathering goal without mechanical intervention
3Loss of information
If a see-through display device displays a representation of the scene behind the surface, then the obscured scene is visualized, but the display must process and acquire image data which adds system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The see-through display device integrates multiple functions: it captures images of the obscured scene, processes the image data, and displays both the real-world view and the obscured scene representation simultaneously. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate systems into a single integrated device, managing complexity through functional integration
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to augmenting an appearance of a surface via a see-through display device. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, on a computing device comprising a see-through display device, a method of augmenting an appearance of a surface. The method includes acquiring, via an outward-facing image sensor, image data of a first scene viewable through the display. The method further includes recognizing a surface viewable through the display based on the image data and, in response to recognizing the surface, acquiring a representation of a second scene comprising one or more of a scene located physically behind the surface viewable through the display and a scene located behind a surface contextually related to the surface viewable through the display. The method further includes displaying the representation via the see-through display.