Patent Publication Number: US-2015070586-A1

Title: System and method to view properly oriented closed captioning directly and through reflections

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to systems for viewing of polarized video content, and more specifically to viewing of different display content simultaneously on a single display screen. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Polarized display screen technology is typically used to provide a three-dimensional viewing experience of a video on a flat screen. Two different videos are displayed simultaneously on the screen. Each video consists of polarized light, with the two videos having different directions of polarization. To achieve the 3D effect, typically the videos are similar, with a slight offset. Polarized glasses are provided, where the polarization of one lens matches the polarization of the video intended to be viewed by that eye, and the polarization of the other lens matches the polarization of the video intended to be viewed by the other eye. Thus, each eye views a separate video, producing a 3D effect. 
     Another example of use of polarized display screen technology involves use of polarized videos so that two viewers view different full-screen videos on the same display screen. Each viewer wears polarized glasses where the polarization of both lenses matches the polarization of the viewed video. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a polarized video viewing system wherein at least two polarized videos are superimposed on a video display and played simultaneously, wherein a viewer views only one polarized video when viewed through a polarized optical element. 
     In one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a video display system including means for displaying at least two polarized videos simultaneously, at least two polarized videos, and a first polarized optical element. Each polarized video includes a discrete direction of polarization, and the polarization of the polarized optical element is generally equal to the direction of polarization of one of the polarized videos, so that only one polarized video is viewable when viewed through the first polarized optical element. 
     In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a method for viewing a polarized video through a polarized optical element comprising the steps of: providing a video display screen including means for displaying at least two polarized videos simultaneously; providing at least two polarized videos displayed simultaneously on the display screen, each video including a discrete direction of polarization; providing at least one polarized optical element, wherein the direction of polarization of the polarized optical element is generally equal to the direction of polarization of one of the polarized videos, whereby only one of the polarized videos is viewable when viewed through the polarized optical element; and viewing of the video display screen through the polarized optical element, whereby only the polarized video including the direction of polarization of the polarized optical element is viewable. 
     In yet another embodiment, the method can be characterized as a method for viewing a polarized video through a polarized optical element comprising the steps of: providing a video display screen including means for displaying at least two polarized video channels simultaneously; providing a first polarized video channel; providing a second polarized video channel, whereby the first and second video channels are displayed simultaneously on the video display screen, wherein each polarized video channel includes a discrete direction of polarization; providing a polarized window, wherein the direction of polarization of the polarized window is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the first polarized video channel, whereby only the first polarized video channel is viewable when viewed through the polarized window; providing a polarized mirror, wherein the direction of polarization of the polarized mirror is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the second polarized video channel, whereby only the second polarized video channel is viewable when viewed reflected by the polarized mirror; viewing of the first polarized video channel through the polarized window; and viewing of the second polarized video channel through the polarized mirror. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of several embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of components of a polarized video display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic view of components of the polarized video display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of components of the polarized video display system including a polarized window in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of components of the polarized video display system including a polarized mirror in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the polarized video display system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of components of the polarized video display system including polarized glasses in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a plurality of display components  116  of the polarized video display system  304  (as shown below in  FIG. 3 ) in one embodiment of the present invention are shown. Shown are a polarized video display device  102 , a polarized video player  104 , a polarized video disc  106 , a player-display connection  108 , a polarized video  110 , a first polarized video channel  112 , and a second polarized video channel  114 . 
     The polarized video display device  102  receives and displays the polarized video  110 . The polarized video display device  102  may be any device suitable for receiving and displaying at least two polarized videos simultaneously, for example a polarized 3D television. In the exemplary polarized video display system components  116  shown in  FIG. 1 , the displayed polarized video  110  is encoded onto the video disc  106 , for example a Blu-ray disc, and played using the polarized video player  104 , e.g. a 3D Blu-ray player capable of playing polarized video. The polarized video player  104  is electrically coupled to the polarized video display device  102  by the player-display connection  108 , for example an HDMI cable, or other suitable means for transferring the polarized video  110  from the polarized video player  104  to the polarized video display device  102 . The skilled artisan will appreciate that other suitable methods may be available for receiving and transferring the polarized video  110  to the polarized video display device  102 , e.g. internet protocol video streaming. 
     In the exemplary display components  116  shown in  FIG. 1 , the polarized video  110  includes two polarized video channels: the first polarized video channel  112  and the second polarized video channel  114 . The two polarized video channels  112   114  are displayed simultaneously on the polarized video display device  102 . Each video channel  112   114  is displayed over the full extent of the polarized video display device  102 . 
     The first polarized video channel  112  and the second polarized video channel  114  are displayed with discrete directions of polarization. The polarization may be circular or linear. For example, the direction of polarization of the first polarized video channel  112  could be clockwise and the direction of the second polarized video channel  114  could be counter-clockwise (using circular polarization). The result of the discrete directions of polarization is that an optical element polarized in the same direction as a polarized video channel will block all other polarized video channels and permit viewing of only the polarized video channel with the direction of the polarized video channel generally equal to the direction of polarization of the optical element. 
     When the polarized video disc  106  is played using the polarized video player  104 , the polarized video  110  encoded on the polarized video disc  106  is transferred to the polarized video display device  102  via the player-display connection  108  and is viewable on the polarized video display device  102 . As the polarized video  110  includes at least two discrete video channels  112   114 , played simultaneously, if different videos are displayed on each channel, this will result in some or all portions of the videos being garbled when viewed as displayed on the polarized video display device  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Viewing of only one of the polarized video channels  112   114  requires viewing through the polarized optical element (referred to below in  FIGS. 3-6 ). 
     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the display component  116  of the polarized video display system  304  (as shown below in  FIG. 3 ) is shown. Shown are the first polarized video channel  112 , the second polarized video channel  114 , the polarized video  110 , the polarized video display device  102 , a plurality of first polarized images  200 , a first title text  202 , a first closed captioning text  204 , a plurality of second polarized images  206 , a second title text  208 , and a second closed captioning text  210 . 
     The polarized video display device  102  is shown with the polarized video  110  displayed on the device  102 . In the present embodiment of the invention, the polarized video  110  includes the two polarized video channels, the first polarized video channel  112  and the second polarized video channel  114 , displayed simultaneously. To illustrate the differences between the exemplary polarized video channels  112   114 , they are shown separately in  FIG. 2 . The first polarized video channel  112  includes the plurality of first polarized images  200 , the first title text  202  and the first closed captioning text  204 . The plurality of first polarized images  200 , the first title text  202  and the first closed captioning text  204  are all displayed normally on the screen, i.e. how images and text would normally be displayed on a video screen without polarization. 
     The second polarized video channel  114  includes the plurality of second polarized images  206 , which in the embodiment shown are identical to the first polarized images  200  displayed in the first polarized video channel  112 . The second title text  208  and the second closed captioning text  210  comprise the same text as the first title text  202  and the first closed captioning text  204 , respectively, but with the text mirrored about a vertical axis, so that the text is readable when viewed in a mirror. 
     As previously described in  FIG. 1 , the video channels  112   114  each have a different direction of polarization. The video channels  112   114  are displayed simultaneously as the polarized video  110  on the video display device  102 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the simultaneous display of the two discrete polarized video channels  112   114  comprising the polarized video  110  allows for separate images and text to be displayed and viewed at the same time. The exemplary display system shown in  FIG. 2  includes the first polarized video channel  112 , where the images and text are displayed as they would be normally viewed on a non-polarized display, and the second polarized video channel  114 , which differs from the first polarized video channel  112  in that the text is mirrored. Thus, when the second polarized video channel  114  is viewed through polarizing means and reflected in a mirror, the text is in a readable orientation. An alternate embodiment could include the plurality of second polarized images  206  also being mirrored about a vertical axis, so that the second polarized video channel  114  viewed through polarizing means that includes a mirror would be identical to the first polarized video channel  112 . Alternately, partially or entirely different images and text may be displayed on the video channels  112   114 . 
     The exemplary mirrored text includes the second title text  208  and the second closed captioning text  210 . The second title text  208  includes graphic text included with video content, such as a title or credits. The second closed captioning text  210  includes the text version of the audio associated with the polarized video channel displayed, and is encoded with the second polarized video channel  114 . The closed captioning is typically viewed when it is desirable to watch video content without listening to the audio. Those skilled in the art will note that any other text or other images appearing in the mirrored second polarized video channel  114  that would be adversely affected by mirroring may be also be mirrored. 
     Displaying the first and second polarized video channels  112   114  simultaneously on the polarized video display device  102  allows for a viewer  302  (as shown below in  FIG. 3 ) to view only the first polarized video channel  112  or only the second polarized video channel  114 , when the viewer  302  views the device through polarizing means as shown below in  FIGS. 3-6 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , shown is polarized video display system  304 , the polarized video  110 , the polarized video display device  102 , the first polarized video channel  112 , the plurality of first polarized images  200 , the first title text  202 , the first closed captioning text  204 , a polarized window  300 , the first polarized video channel  112  and the viewer  302 . 
     The polarized video  110  is shown displayed on the polarized video display device  102 . The viewer  302  views the polarized video display device  102  at a distance from and angle to the plane of the polarized video display device  102  that permits viewing of the displayed polarized video  110 . The polarized window  300  is located between the viewer  302  and the polarized video display device  102 . As used in this description and in the appended claims, the word ‘window’ means a pane of transparent material whereby the viewer views objects through the window using both eyes. 
     In the exemplary polarized video display system  304 , the plane of the polarized window  300  is oriented generally parallel to the plane of the polarized video display device  102 . The polarized window  300  may be angled with respect to a horizontal axis, with respect to a vertical axis, or with respect to both axes. 
     The polarized window  300  may be made of glass or any other suitable polarizable transparent material. The planar dimension of the polarized window  300  may be of any dimension suitable for manufacture and installation of the polarized window  300  and suitable for viewing of the polarized video display device  102  through the polarized window  300 . 
     In the exemplary system  304 , the direction of polarization of the polarized window  300  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the first polarized video channel  112 . The polarization may be circular or linear. This permits only light with the direction of polarization of generally equal to the direction of polarization of the first video channel to be viewed through the polarized window  300 . Thus, when viewed through the polarized window  300 , the viewer  302  sees only the display of the first polarized video channel  112 , including the plurality of first polarized images  200 , the first title text  202  and the first closed captioning text  204 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the images and the text in the first polarized video channel  112  are displayed and viewed un-mirrored, i.e. oriented as one would see the images and the text as displayed conventionally on a display screen. 
     Thus, while at least two polarized video channels  112   114  are displayed on the polarized video display device  102  simultaneously, the viewer  302  views only the first polarized video channel  112 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , shown is polarized video display system  304 , the polarized video  110 , the polarized video display device  102 , the polarized mirror  400 , the second polarized video channel  114 , the plurality of second polarized images  206 , the second title text  208 , the second closed captioning text  210 , and the viewer  302 . 
     The polarized video  110  is shown displayed on the polarized video display device  102 . In the present embodiment, the plane of the polarized mirror  400  is oriented generally parallel to the plane of the polarized video display device  102 . The polarized mirror  400  is located at a distance from and angle to the plane of the polarized video display device  102  so that the polarized video  110  is viewable when the viewer  302  views the polarized mirror  400 . 
     The viewer  302  is located at a distance from and angle to the polarized mirror  400  so that the polarized video  110  is viewable by the viewer  302  looking at the polarized mirror  400 . The polarized mirror  400  may be made of mirrored polarized glass, or other material suitable for reflecting and polarizing light. The direction of polarization of the polarized mirror  400  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the second polarized video channel  114 . The polarization may be circular or linear. Alternately, the combination of a non-polarized mirror viewed through a polarized window may be used to achieve the same result. 
     In the exemplary polarized video display system  304 , the vertical plane of the polarized mirror  400  is oriented generally parallel to the vertical plane of the polarized video display device  102 . The horizontal axis of the polarized mirror  400  is generally angled with respect to the horizontal axis of the plane of the display device  102 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , since the direction of polarization of the polarized mirror  400  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the second polarized video channel  114 , only the second polarized video channel  114  is reflected by the polarized mirror  400 . Thus, while at least two polarized video channels  112   114  are displayed on the polarized video display device  102  simultaneously, the viewer  302  views only the second polarized video channel  114 . 
     Additionally, the second polarized video channel  114  includes the plurality of second polarized images  206 , the second title text  208  and the second closed captioning text  210 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second title text  208  and the second closed captioning text  210  are mirrored about a vertical axis. As a result, when reflected by the polarized mirror  400  the second title text  208  and the second closed-captioning text  210  are un-mirrored and are readable. In the embodiment shown, the plurality of second polarized images  206  are displayed un-mirrored in the second polarized video channel  114 , and thus appear mirrored when the second polarized video channel  114  is viewed as reflected in the polarized mirror  400 . The skilled artisan will note that the second polarized images  206  may also be mirrored in the second polarized video channel  114 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 5 , viewing of the first and second video channels  112   114  displayed simultaneously on the single polarized video display device  102  is shown. Shown are the polarized video display device  102 , the first and second video channels  112   114 , the polarized video  110 , the polarized window  300 , the polarized mirror  400 , a first viewer  500  and a second viewer  502 . 
     The first viewer  500  is shown viewing the polarized video  110  displayed on the polarized video viewing device  102 . The first viewer  500  views the polarized video  110  through the polarized window  300 , as previously shown in  FIG. 3 . As the direction of polarization of the polarized window  300  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the first polarized video channel  112 , as previously shown in  FIG. 3 , the viewer  302  views only the first polarized video channel  112 . 
     The second viewer  502  is shown viewing the polarized video  110  displayed on the polarized video display device  102 . The second viewer  502  views the polarized video  110  as reflected by the polarized mirror  400 , as previously shown in  FIG. 4 . As the direction of polarization of the polarized mirror  400  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the second polarized video channel  114 , the viewer  302  views only the second polarized video channel  114  as previously shown in  FIG. 4 . In addition, as previously shown in  FIG. 4 , although the second viewer  502  views the polarized video  110  as a mirrored reflection, since the second video channel  114  includes the mirrored second title text  208  and the mirrored second closed captioning text  210 , the second polarized channel is viewed with un-mirrored text when viewed in the mirror. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the polarized video display system components of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are combined to provide an embodiment of the polarized video display system  304  where different video channels are be displayed simultaneously on the same display and be viewable by different viewers depending on the location of the viewer and the polarization of the window or mirror that is used to view the polarized video display. 
     An exemplary use of the present invention is at a gym, where workout equipment is in different orientations and locations in the workout room. Typically workout rooms include one or more video display screens for users of the gym to view while exercising. It is also common for the video displays to be muted so as to not distract gym users who are not watching the video display or so that different video content may be shown on different display screen without also playing the different associated audios. Therefore, the video displays typically display the closed captioning text in lieu of the audio associated with the video. 
     Because of the number and types of equipment in a gym room, it is typical for some equipment to be oriented so that the user is facing a video display device  102 , while other equipment is facing a mirror in which the video display device  102  is viewed. This allows users of various exercise equipment to view videos displayed on the video display device  102 . However, the viewer  302  of the video reflected in the mirror will view the closed captioning text, and any other displayed text, as a mirror image, rendering it unreadable. 
     The present invention allows the viewer  302  of the polarized video  110  reflected in the mirror to view the closed captioning text and other displayed text in a non-mirrored orientation, while still allowing the viewer  302  with a direct line of sight to the polarized video display  102  to view the images and closed captioning in a normal manner. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 6 , an alternate embodiment of the polarized video display system  304  is shown. Shown are the polarized video display device  102 , the polarized video  110 , the first polarized video channel  112 , a pair of polarized glasses  600  and the viewer  302 . 
     As previously shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the polarized video  110  is displayed on the polarized video display device  102 . The exemplary polarized video  110  includes the first and the second polarized video channels  112   114 . The viewer  302  wears the polarized glasses  600 , where the direction of polarization of the glasses  600  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the first polarized video channel  112 . The viewer  302  views the polarized video display device  102  through a direct line of sight. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , since the direction of polarization of the polarized glasses  600  is generally equal to the direction of polarization of the first polarized video channel  112 , only the first polarized video channel  112  is viewed by the viewer  302  wearing the polarized glasses  600 . The polarized glasses  600  may be used in lieu of the polarized window  300  in order to view the first polarized video channel  112 . 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, examples and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.