Abstract:
An intelligent architectural display dividing system includes a foldable, retractable partition including a flexible TOLED display screen, which is used when deployed in an interior space. A controllable motor is used to controllably retract and deploy the transitory side of the foldable, retractable partition to change between a folded state and a taut state. A sensor generates a control signal for actuating the motor in response to detecting at least one of a user gesture and reception of a remote control signal. A processor includes circuitry used to respond to the control signal by actuating the motor to automatically retract or deploy the foldable, retractable partition and display a predetermined image from an image source on the flexible TOLED display screen when the foldable, retractable partition is deployed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application contains subject matter related to co-pending U.S. application entitled “OLED multi-use intelligent curtain and method”, having a common inventorship and a common filing date with the present application, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention. 
         [0003]    Transparent Organic light emitting diode (TOLED) displays are displays that can be used in a variety of consumer electronic devices. TOLEDs are conventionally included in commercial electronics on a relatively small scale, such as a display on a smartphone or tablet computer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An intelligent display dividing system includes a foldable, retractable partition including a flexible TOLED display screen that is used by being deployed in an interior space. A controllable motor is used to controllably retract and deploy the translatory side of the foldable, retractable partition so as to controllably change between a folded state and a taut state, the foldable, retractable TOLED being visible from the interior space, when in the taut state. A sensor used to generate a control signal for actuating the motor in response to detecting at least one of a user gesture and reception of a remote control signal; and a processor having circuitry used to respond to the control signal by actuating the motor to automatically retract or deploy the foldable, retractable partition and display a predetermined image from an image source on the flexible TOLED display screen when the foldable, retractable partition is deployed. 
         [0005]    The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of general introduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a living space that includes both an OLED intelligent display dividing system, and a TOLED (transparent OLED) architectural partition in a household setting; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of an intelligent display dividing system that includes a motor actuated deployment mechanism as well as a catch to make the OLED intelligent display dividing system taut when deployed; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic similar to  FIG. 2  but also includes fabric panels at opposing sides; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an overhead view of a dual intelligent display dividing system that includes two OLED displays facing in opposite directions; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process for determining whether to deploy the intelligent display dividing system as well as detect gestures for operating the intelligent display dividing system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a process used by the intelligent display dividing system for limiting command lists for particular users that were detected by the system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process for implementing a “virtual window” using an intelligent display dividing system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an intelligent display dividing system used to prompt a user and provide a user with instructions based on scheduled events; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of processing circuitry used to implement a controller for the intelligent display dividing system according to the present embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a room  100  that includes an intelligent display dividing system  125  placed against a wall in the room  100 , as well as a TOLED architectural partition  126 , that divides a space within the room  100 . 
         [0017]    The intelligent display dividing system  125  includes a left-hand fabric section  101  and a right-hand fabric section  103 . Between the left-hand fabric section  101  and the right-hand fabric section  103  is a flexible OLED  102  that is attached there between. The intelligent display dividing system  125  may be deployed as occupying only a portion of the wall within the room  100 , or may be displayed when deployed so as to occupy an entirety or a large portion of the wall on which it is deployed in the room  100 . In this way, when the flexible OLED  102  is deployed, it provides an interactive curtain that displays an image of desired decorations or a natural scene for example. These realistic views may be 3D (optionally with the user wearing 3D glasses or a 3D display itself). When the intelligent display dividing system is not in use, the flexibility of the fabric sections  101 ,  103  and the flexible OLED  102  permit the intelligent display dividing system  125  to be drawn closed (manually or through automated motor control). When closed, the intelligent display dividing system  125  may be opened by way of detection of a user performing a gesture or other detectible motion, or by way of an electronic device such as a remote controller  113 , dispatching a “deployment” command. 
         [0018]    The intelligent display dividing system  125  may include on the flexible OLED  102 , as driven by a controller (processing circuitry)  115 , with images (still or video) regarding a user&#39;s favorite selected scenes, TV, multimedia, providing lighting surface or through a telepresence operation (life-size chat sessions, for example). 
         [0019]    However, the intelligent display dividing system  125  may also be used as a “virtual window”, by being provided with an image of an externally pointed camera  104  that captures still or video images from outside of the room  100  such that the images captured on the camera  104  are displayed on the flexible OLED  102 . In this way, a user inside the room  100  may have the visual impression of looking through a window, but in reality will really be viewing the image captured by the external camera  104  as displayed on the flexible OLED  102 . 
         [0020]    A TOLED (transparent OLED) architectural partition  126  includes a transparent OLED partition  105  that is deployed and retracted by a controllable motor  107 . The TOLED is transparent such that a user in another room (user  120   a ) may be visible to a user in room  100  by way of transparency of the TOLED partition  105 . This image is shown as a transparent image  120   b.    
         [0021]    The TOLED architectural partition  126  also includes a sensor  109 , a camera  111 , and a remote control  113 . The sensor  109  is used to detect different human gestures as well as remote control signals. For example, in response to the sensor  109  detecting a human gesture from a user in the room  100 , the processor circuitry  115  is activated to either deploy or retract the transparent OLED partition  105 . Similarly, the processing circuitry  115  performs predetermined tasks based on different remote control signals as well as different human gestures received. The camera  111  is used to capture an image of a user in the room  100  and cause the processor circuitry  115  to retrieve a command list that is user specific and display it on the transparent OLED partition  105 . In this way, when an older user (e.g. an elderly person) for example, enters the room  100  and is detected by the sensor  109  and the camera  111 , the TOLED architectural partition  126  causes the processing circuitry  115  to cause the controllable motor  107  to deploy the transparent OLED partition  105  to an appropriate distance based on the height of the detected user, and/or enlarge and increase the font size and the volume respectively for that particular person. Persons within the residence may preregister personal profile features so the processing circuitry can configure the image and content presented on the TOLED  105  to match the preferences of the detected person. These features may include screen height, font size, audio volume, content presented etc. 
         [0022]    Transparent OLED architectural partition  126  may be used to divide open spaces with disappearing dynamic lightweight transparent partitions that are dissimilar to fixed heavyweight glass partitions. It may act as an active wall, a foldable TV, or as a display surface of a favorite internal atmosphere by displaying any partition shape, color, and texture. For example, the transparent OLED architectural partition  126  may be used to project an image of a wooden panel or a stone wall. Furthermore, it can also be used as a lighting surface achieving different modes, for example romantic, exciting, or even formal for an office space partition. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of the TOLED section  126  of the intelligent display dividing system shown in  FIG. 1  but in a horizontal orientation. The TOLED section shown in more detail in  FIG. 2  includes a catch  201 . The catch may be a magnetic catch that is used to pull the TOLED section taut once it is deployed, and/or is controlled to provide different display effects (e.g. ripple effect). 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2  as it shows a more detailed schematic of the intelligent display dividing system  125 , including a vertical storage  301  that is used to store the flexible OLED section  102  when not in use. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of an overhead view of the intelligent display dividing system  125  including dual flexible OLED sections  401  and  403 , front and back respectively, facing opposite directions. The front and back flexible OLED sections  401  and  403  respectively, are separated by a separator  402  that prevents interference from whatever is being displayed on either of the front and back flexible OLED sections  401  and  403  respectively. In an exemplary implementation, the intelligent display dividing system  125  is used to divide a space such that both the front flexible OLED section and the back flexible OLED sections  401  and  403  respectively, can be used to display different things at the same time in the same space. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart  500  for an embodiment using the sensor  109  shown previously in  FIG. 1  utilizing the system described herein. At step S 501 , which is a ready state, the system waits for a sensor to detect a human gesture or a remote control signal. At step S 503 , a controller determines whether or not a signal has been detected. If not, then the system returns to the ready state. However, if an output was detected, the controller proceeds to step S 507  to compare the detected signal with a set of predetermined signals saved in memory. Once the controller determines that the signal matches one of the predetermined signals at step S 509 , it proceeds to perform a predetermined associated task with the signal received at step S 511 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart  600  for an embodiment using the imaging device or the camera shown in  FIG. 1 . Step S 601  is a waiting step where the system waits for an input to be received. Once an input has been received, the process proceeds to step S 603  where a controller causes the imaging device to capture an image. At step S 605  the controller is used to match the captured image with one of the multiple predetermined images saved in memory. If the controller fails at matching the images, then it continues looking at step S 607 . However, if it succeeds at finding a match, then the process proceeds to step S 609  where the controller is programmed to retrieve an associated command list that is match specific and display it on the OLED flexible display section  102 . At step S 611  the system waits to receive a selection signal from the user. Once a selection signal has been received, the process proceeds to step S 613  where the controller executes the selected option according to the input received. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the intelligent display dividing system and the TOLED architectural display wherein an external camera may be used to implement a virtual window.  FIG. 7  is a flowchart that describes an algorithm used to provide the user with the ability of looking outside without a window as described herein. Step S 701  is a waiting state where the system waits for the receipt of an input. If no input was received then the system continues to wait. However if an input was received, the system proceeds to step S 703 , where the controller is used to retrieve image data, which could be an image or a video from an external camera. At step S 705  the controller displays the retrieved image from the external camera on the OLED. The system then proceeds to step S 707  where it awaits the receipt of an input to change the display. If no input is received, then the controller will continue to display the image data provided from the external camera. However, if there was an input for an image change, the system proceeds to step S 709  at which point the controller retrieves and displays another image or content based on the received input. 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is another flowchart that describes another preferred embodiment of the intelligent display dividing system and the TOLED architectural partition. At step S 801  the controller waits for a scheduling input (e.g. time schedule). Once the input is received, the process proceeds to step S 803  at which point the controller retrieves scheduled input data. The process then proceeds to step S 805  to display instructions of the scheduled event data retrieved in step S 803 . The controller then sets audio instructions at step S 807 . At step S 809  the controller waits for the user&#39;s response. Once the response has been received, the process proceeds to step S 811 , where the controller compares if the user&#39;s response indicates compliance with the previously scheduled input data. If not, the process then proceeds to step S 813  where the controller is programmed to report a message to a predetermined third party. However, if the response indicates compliance, the process then proceeds to step S 815  where the controller is programmed to update the schedule. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram for a hardware description of the processing circuitry  115  according to exemplary embodiments. The processing circuitry includes a CPU  900  which performs the processes described above. The process data and instructions may be stored in memory  902 . These processes and instructions may also be stored on a storage medium disk  904  such as a hard drive (HDD) or portable storage medium or may be stored remotely. Further, the claimed advancements are not limited by the form of the computer-readable media on which the instructions of the inventive process are stored. For example, the instructions may be stored on CDs, DVDs, in FLASH memory, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard disk or any other information processing device with which the processing circuitry communicates, such as a server or computer, or a smart phone. 
         [0031]    Further, the claimed advancements may be provided as a utility application, background daemon, or component of an operating system, or combination thereof, executing in conjunction with CPU  900  and an operating system such as Microsoft Windows 7, UNIX, Solaris, LINUX, Apple MAC-OS, Android and other systems known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0032]    CPU  900  may be a Xenon or Core processor from Intel of America or an Opteron processor from AMD of America, or may be other processor types that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the CPU  900  may be implemented on an FPGA, ASIC, PLD or using discrete logic circuits, as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. Further, CPU  900  may be implemented as multiple processors cooperatively working in parallel to perform the instructions of the inventive processes described above. 
         [0033]    The processing circuitry in  FIG. 9  also includes a network controller  906 , such as an Intel Ethernet PRO network interface card from Intel Corporation of America, for interfacing with network  901 . As can be appreciated, the network  901  can be a public network, such as the Internet, or a private network such as an LAN or WAN network, or any combination thereof and can also include PSTN or ISDN sub-networks. The network  901  can also be wired, such as an Ethernet network, or can be wireless such as a cellular network including EDGE, 3G and 4G wireless cellular systems. The wireless network can also be WiFi, Bluetooth, or any other wireless form of communication that is known. 
         [0034]    The processing circuitry further includes a display controller  908 , such as a NVIDIA GeForce GTX or Quadro graphics adaptor from NVIDIA Corporation of America for interfacing with display  910 , such as a Hewlett Packard HPL2445w LCD monitor. A general purpose I/O interface  912  interfaces with a keyboard and/or mouse  914  as well as a touch screen panel  916  on or separate from display  910 . General purpose I/O interface also connects to a variety of peripherals  918  including printers and scanners, such as an OfficeJet or DeskJet from Hewlett Packard. 
         [0035]    A sound controller  920  is also provided in the processing circuitry, such as Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium from Creative, to interface with speakers/microphone  922  thereby providing sounds and/or music. 
         [0036]    The general purpose storage controller  924  connects the storage medium disk  904  with communication bus  926 , which may be an ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, or similar, for interconnecting all of the components of the processing circuitry. A description of the general features and functionality of the display  910 , keyboard and/or mouse  914 , as well as the display controller  908 , storage controller  924 , network controller  906 , sound controller  920 , and general purpose I/O interface  912  is omitted herein for brevity as these features are known. 
         [0037]    Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, define, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.