Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to variable diffusers in interactive display devices. One embodiment provides an interactive display device comprising a display panel configured to display an image on an interactive surface, an image capture device configured to capture an image of the interactive surface, a variable diffuser disposed optically between the display panel and the image capture device, a logic subsystem comprising one or more logic devices, and memory comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem to operate the display panel, the image capture device, and the variable diffuser.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to hover detection in interactive display devices. One embodiment provides an interactive display device comprising a display panel configured to display an image on an interactive surface, an imaging optical wedge disposed adjacent to the display panel, an image sensor configured to capture an image of an object located in front of the interactive surface and spaced from the interactive surface by capturing the image through the imaging optical wedge, a logic subsystem, and a data-holding subsystem comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem to operate the display panel and the image sensor, and to detect a hover input based upon one or more images received from the image sensor.

Abstract: A user notification system and a computer input device, such as a mouse. The computer input device includes an illumination member that enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a support surface. The illumination member is also used to notify the user if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. The notification information is presented to the user by changing the state of the illumination member. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message. The notification can make the illumination member blink as a function of the number of messages received.

Abstract: A system that facilitates enhancing a game, game play or playability of a game may include an experience component, a game component and an alteration component. The experience component can collect a portion of data related to a game in which the portion of data indicates at least one of a tip or a tactic for the game. The game component can dynamically incorporate the portion of data into the game during game play to enhance playability of such game for a user with assistance provided by at least one of the tip or the tactic. The alteration component may alter the game during game play.

Abstract: Described herein is a multi-view display (based on spatial and/or temporal multiplexing) having an optimization mechanism that dynamically adjust views based upon detected state changes with respect to one or more views. The optimization mechanism determines viewing parameters (e.g., brightness and/or colors) for a view based upon a current position of the view, and/or on the multi-view display's capabilities. The state change may correspond to the view (a viewer's eye) moving towards another viewing zone, in which event new viewing parameters are determined, which may be in anticipation of entering the zone. Another state change corresponds to more views being needed than the display is capable of outputting, whereby one or more existing views are degraded, e.g., from 3D to 2D and/or from a personal video to a non-personal view. Conversely, a state change corresponding to excess capacity becoming available can result in enhancing a view to 3D and/or personal.

Abstract: Described is using a combination of which a multi-view display is provided by a combining spatial multiplexing (e.g., using a parallax barrier or lenslet), and temporal multiplexing (e.g., using a directed backlight). A scheduling algorithm generates different views by determining which light sources are illuminated at a particular time. Via the temporal multiplexing, different views may be in the same spatial viewing angle (spatial zone). Two of the views may correspond to two eyes of a person, with different video data sent to each eye to provide an autostereoscopic display for that person. Eye (head) tracking may be used to move the view or views with a person as that person moves.

Abstract: A proximity network architecture is proposed that enables a device to detect other devices in its proximity and automatically interact with the other devices to share in a user experience. In one example implementation, data and code for the experience is stored in the cloud so that users can participate in the experience from multiple and different types of devices.

Abstract: A method for constructing a 3D representation of a subject comprises capturing, with a camera, a 2D image of the subject. The method further comprises scanning a modulated illumination beam over the subject to illuminate, one at a time, a plurality of target regions of the subject, and measuring a modulation aspect of light from the illumination beam reflected from each of the target regions. A moving-mirror beam scanner is used to scan the illumination beam, and a photodetector is used to measure the modulation aspect. The method further comprises computing a depth aspect based on the modulation aspect measured for each of the target regions, and associating the depth aspect with a corresponding pixel of the 2D image.

Abstract: A method for displaying or capturing an image comprises directing an illumination beam onto a mirror of a highly resonant, mirror-mount system and applying a drive signal to a transducer to deflect the mirror. In this method, the drive signal has a pulse frequency approaching a resonance frequency of the mirror-mount system. The method further comprises reflecting the illumination beam off the mirror so that the illumination beam scans through an area where the image is to be displayed or captured, and, addressing each pixel of the image in synchronicity with the drive signal to display or capture the image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a computing system having virtual keyboard functionality that can be selectively enhanced through use of a tactile keyboard overlay. The tactile keyboard overlay includes a plurality of depressible key portions, and is placed onto an operative surface of a touch interactive display. The computing system configures the virtual keyboard functionality, so that each of the depressible key portions is operable to produce a touch input on the touch interactive display that causes performance of a corresponding input operation. The virtual keyboard functionality is dynamically and automatically located on the touch interactive display based on user placement of the tactile keyboard overlay.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to private video presentation. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system including a display surface, a directional backlight system configured to emit a beam of light from the display surface and to vary a direction in which the beam of light is directed, and a spatial light modulator configured to form an image for display via the directional backlight system. The system further includes a controller configured to control the optical system and the light modulator to display a first video content item at a first viewing angle and a second video content item at a second viewing angle.

Abstract: A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A user notification system and a computer input device, such as a mouse. The computer input device includes an illumination member that enables a user to quickly and accurately position the input device during poor lighting conditions and determine whether the computer is ON. The input device includes a housing and an illumination device that is supported by the housing. Illumination from the illumination device is visible when the input device is placed on a supporting surface. The illumination member is also used to notify the user if one or more of various events have occurred in a computer application being run on the computer. The notification information is presented to the user by changing the state of the illumination member. An example of event for notification includes the receipt of a message in a communications program such as an e-mail message. The notification can make the illumination member blink as a function of the number of messages received.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a presentation of information in a gesture-based system, where gestures are derived from a user's body position or motion in the physical space, may enable a user to use gestures to control the manner in which the information is presented or to otherwise interact with the gesture-based system. A user may present information to an audience to an audience using gestures that control aspects of the system, or multiple users may work together using gestures to control aspects of the system. Thus, in an example embodiment, a single user can control the presentation of information to the audience via gestures. In another example embodiment, multiple participants can share control of the presentation via gestures captured by a capture device or otherwise interact with the system to control aspects of the presentation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for scaling and translating gestures such that the applicable gestures for control may vary depending on the user's distance from a gesture-based system. The techniques for scaling and translation may take the varying distances from which a user interacts with components of the gesture-based system, such as a computing environment or capture device, into consideration with respect to defining and/or recognizing gestures. In an example embodiment, the physical space is divided into virtual zones of interaction, and the system may scale or translate a gesture based on the zones. A set of gesture data may be associated with each virtual zone such that gestures appropriate for controlling aspects of the gesture-based system may vary throughout the physical space.

Abstract: An interactive table has a display surface on which a physical object is disposed. A camera within the interactive table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the physical object enabling a location of the physical object on the display surface to be determined, so that the physical object appear part of a virtual environment displayed thereon. The physical object can be passive or active. An active object performs an active function, e.g., it can be self-propelled to move about on the display surface, or emit light or sound, or vibrate. The active object can be controlled by a user or the processor. The interactive table can project an image through a physical object on the display surface so the image appears part of the object. A virtual entity is preferably displayed at a position (and a size) to avoid visually interference with any physical object on the display surface.

Abstract: A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to scanning the direction of light emitted from optical collimators. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system for scanning collimated light, the system comprising an optical wedge, a light injection system, and a controller. The optical wedge comprises a thin end, a thick end opposite the thin end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the thick end and the thin end, and a back surface opposite the viewing surface. The thick end of the optical wedge further comprises an end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure. The light injection system is configured to inject light into the thin end of the optical wedge, and the controller is configured to control the location along the thin end of the optical wedge at which the light injection system injects light.