APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING IMAGES VIA A SEMI TRANSLUCENT MIRROR

Abstract: Apparatus for displaying images, in particular but not exclusively advertisement images, said apparatus being provided with a semi permeable mirror of which the reflecting side is directed towards the spectator, projection means via which an image can be projected onto the rear side of the mirror, a casing executed such that when the projection means are engaged the spectator sees the projected image and when the projection means are not engaged the spectator sees his own mirror image, control means via which the projection means are controlled in order to project a series of images. The apparatus is further provided with a connection to a telecommunications network via which network the control means can receive instructions that can influence the sequence of the exhibited images.

Description: APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING IMAGES VIA A SEMI TRANSLUCENT MIRROR The invention is directed at an apparatus for displaying images, in particular b tnot exclusively advertisement images, said apparatus being provided with - a semi permeable mirror of which the reflecting side is directed towards the spectator, - projection means via which an image can be projected onto the rear side of the mirror, - a casing executed such that when the projection means are engaged the spectator sees the projected image and when the projection means are not engaged the spectator sees his own mirror image, - control means via which the projection means are controlled in order to project a series of images. Such apparatuses are known in various forms. Reference is made to British patent application number GB-2316792, European patent application EP 0303568, the French patent FR-2727232, the German laid open patent application DE-3242409 and the International patent application WO-9523401. In all these cases the apparatus functions as an independent unit, at the most requiring a connection to the electricity network in order to feed the electronic circuits, but otherwise having no connection to the outside world. (If desired the apparatus can also be fed via other means such as a battery, solar cells etc.) An embodiment provided with a sensor, with which a spectator standing before the mirror may be detected is described in US patent 4765076. In this embodiment the apparatus is passive, i.e. no images are displayed as long as nobody is in the vicinity of the mirror. If the sensor provides a signal to the apparatus the apparatus commences displaying images. An embodiment of the apparatus in which the spectator can influence the displayed images is described in French patent FR-2586182. In this known apparatus a control table with a number of buttons or other control elements has been placed in the direct vicinity of the mirror, via which the spectator can influence the displayed images. Such an embodiment however carries the disadvantage that such a control panel is sensitive to vandalism, so that it is to be expected upon placement of such an apparatus in a public space such as a telephone booth, a station building, a library, a bar or restaurant, a theatre and such that the repair costs will rapidly strongly increase. The invention has the objective of indicating in which manner a spectator can influence the displayed images without the apparatus itself being provided with external control means. This objective is met by an apparatus of the type mentioned in the preamble, because the apparatus is further provided with a connection to a telecommunications network, via which network the control means can receive instructions which can exert influence over the displayed images. A first preferred embodiment of the apparatus is characterised by the network being a mobile telephone network and by the control means being linked to a mobile telephone apparatus. In this embodiment any user in possession of a mobile telephone apparatus can call the telephone apparatus linked to the apparatus. The number of the linked telephone apparatus can for example be incorporated in the displayed images and thus be nearly continuously available to the spectator. As soon as the link occurs the spectator can influence the images in a particular way by typing in different numbers. Another embodiment of the apparatus is characterized by the network being a cable bound network and by the control means being linked to a telephone apparatus destined for cable bound network. Also cable bound telephone apparatuses can be reached by a mobile apparatus so that the spectator with a mobile telephone apparatus has the same options as those indicated above. As mentioned the spectator can ring a telephone number that is projected on the mirror via a mobile telephone apparatus and can subsequently by pressing dialling keys or by speaking certain words provide instructions to the control means. In particular for the latter it is presumed that speech recognition circuits are incorporated. The application of such circuits for providing instructions has been known for some length of time in the telephone world. In particular the spectator can receive visual instructions on the display of his/her mobile telephone apparatus, if the apparatus is provided with a database with which a so called sms message can be sent to the display screen of the spectators mobile telephone. In the above in general the spectator can exert influence on the displayed images. More in particular the apparatus can be executed in such a manner that the sequence of the displayed images can be changed by the control means on the basis of the instructions. It is also possible to vary the speed in which images are displayed on the basis of the instructions received by the control means. Besides displaying images in many cases it is desirable that the apparatus is further provided with sound producing means with which sound can be presented either in combination with the displayed images or separately. The invention shall be further elucidated in the following figures. Figure 1 shows a very schematic first embodiment of an apparatus according to the inventioa Figure 2 shows a very schematic second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus 10 is shown in figure 1 very schematically in cross section The apparatus comprises a semi permeable mirror 12 provided on the front side of the casing 14. A projector 16 is present in the casing, such that images can be projected on the rear side of the semi permeable mirror 12 as schematically indicated by the beam trajectory 18. Furthermore the apparatus is preferably provided with means 17 with which sound (music, speech etc) can be presented. It is presumed the projector 16 is capable of displaying one image from a series of images, wherein the projector 16 for example is provided with a memory or some such in which the images are stored. In particular the projector is linked online to a(n external) database programmed for the purpose of displaying a series of images. This database is both the interactive visual and interactive auditive external memory of the mirror. The projector 16 is controlled online via the telephone network via a control unit 18 with which instructions can be provided to control unit 16 such that the sequence in which the images (and in combination therewith optionally the audiomessages or supporting music) are displayed can be changed. In turn the control unit 18 is connected to a mobile telephone apparatus 20, incorporated for sake of ease in the casing. This enables direct communication with the database that is programmed therefor. One can address the mirror and the GSM unit in the mirror will respond as controlled by the external database. The GSM unit passes on SMS messages, has a control function regarding detection of defects that can be observed long distance. In the free running status projector 16 for example will project a predetermined series of images on the rear side of the mirror 12. The spectator 22 located at the front side of the mirror will therefore be able to see himself during a first period and subsequently in a second period be able to observe the image being projected on the rear side of the mirror. If the spectator desires further information concerning a particular image for example by requesting more information concerning the displayed subject or some such he can use his own mobile telephone apparatus 24 to do so. With the help of this apparatus 24 apparatus 20 is contacted. The control unit 18 will subsequently begin to generate questions to which the spectator can respond by pressing one or more keys on the telephone apparatus. Such a method of introducing instructions in a telephone system per se is known for a number of different purposes and requires no further explanatioa Depending on the keys pressed control unit 18 will now ensure projector 16 will generate a different sequence of images. It is also possible to lengthen or shorten the time during which each image remains in this manner. Figure 2 shows a different embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention wherein in fact merely the mobile telephone apparatus has been replaced by a cable bound telephone apparatus. The same reference numbers have been used as in figure 1 with the exception of the cable bound telephone apparatus, that has been given reference number 26. It will be apparent that apparatus 26 in fact merely needs to be provided with the required electronics to transmit and receive the telephone signals and that a telephone receiver and microphone are not necessarily required.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for displaying images, in particular but not exclusively advertisement images, said apparatus being provided with - a semi permeable mirror of which the reflecting side is directed towards the spectator, - projection means via which an image can be projected onto the rear side of the mirror, - a casing executed such that when the projection means are engaged the spectator sees the projected image and when the projection means are not engaged the spectator sees his own mirror image, - control means via which the projection means are controlled in order to project a series of images, characterized in that the apparatus is further provided with a connection to a telephone communications network via which network the control means can receive instructions with which influence can be exerted on displayed images. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the network is a mobile telephone network and the control means are connected to a mobile telephone apparatus. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the network is a cable bound network and that the control means are connected to a telephone apparatus destined for a cable bound network. 4. An apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that the spectator can ring a telephone number projected on the mirror via a mobile telephone apparatus and can subsequently provide instructions to the control means by pressing specific keys or speaking certain words. 5. An apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a database with which a so called SMS message can be sent to the display screen of the spectators mobile telephone. 6. An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the apparatus is further provided with sound producing means with which sound can be presented in combination with the displayed images or separately. 7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the control means can change the sequence of the displayed image on the basis of the instructions. 8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the control means can vary the speed in which the images are displayed on the basis of the received instructions.

Inventors: DE KOSTE FRANK A J, DE KOSTE, FRANK, A., J.
Applicants: KOSTE & DE BAET BV DE, KOSTE FRANK A J DE, DE KOSTE & DE BAET BV, DE KOSTE, FRANK, A., J.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G09F13
IPC codes: G09F13