US 9,858,719 to Amazon, Blended reality systems and methods

The abstract of Amazon's '719 patent states:


Systems and methods are provided for generating a blended reality view to a user, the blended reality view combining images reflected by a mirror with images transmitted from a screen behind the mirror. Systems for generating blended reality views can include a display device with a screen positioned behind a mirror. The display device can generate a pattern of illumination and non-illumination on the screen so that the illuminated portions of the screen substantially transmit through the mirror. Projectors can be used to illuminate objects in front of the mirror so that the illuminated objects are reflected by the mirror. In combination, the portions of the screen transmitted through the mirror and the illuminated objects reflected by the mirror can provide a blended reality view to a user viewing the mirror.


The first claim recites:


An apparatus to provide a view of reflected and transmitted light to create a visual effect that combines reflected images and transmitted images, the apparatus comprising: a display configured to display images; a mirror having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the display facing the second side of the mirror, the mirror being partially-reflective and partially-transmissive such that at least a portion of light provided by the display passes through the mirror and is visible from the first side of the mirror; a frame surrounding the mirror; a plurality of projectors positioned on the frame and configured to illuminate a user and object elements facing the first side of the mirror; a camera configured to acquire image data of the user and object elements; and an image blending system communicably coupled to the display, the plurality of projectors, and the camera, the image blending system configured to: in a scanning phase, analyze image data received from the camera to determine locations of the user and object elements; in a tracking phase, analyze the image data received from the camera to determine a location of the user's eyes, the location of the user's eyes including a height and a distance of the user's eyes relative to the mirror; control the plurality of projectors to illuminate at least some of the user and object elements such that light from the illuminated user and object elements is reflected by the mirror to form reflected light, the reflected light visible from the first side of the mirror within a first portion of the first side of the mirror; and control the display to output display light, wherein a first portion of the display light corresponds to an image, wherein the first portion of the display light passes from the second side of the mirror to the first side of the mirror such that the first portion of the display light is visible from the first side of the mirror within a second portion of the first side of the mirror, wherein a second portion of the display light passes from the second side of the mirror to the first side of the mirror at a location corresponding to the first portion of the first side of the mirror, and wherein the second portion of the display light has a light intensity lower than a light intensity of the reflected light such that the reflected light is visible instead of the second portion of the display light; wherein at least a portion of the reflected light and the display light combine to form a composite image.




Some details:

Primary Examiner: Liu; Zhengxi
Assistant Examiner: Vu; Khoa
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP