IP Library Granted Patent US 7,138,997
Granted Patent B2
US 7,138,997 · App. 10/188,765 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

System for physical rotation of volumetric display enclosures to facilitate viewing

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,138,997
App. No.
10/188,765
Granted
Nov 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is a system that allows a user to physically rotate a three-dimensional volumetric display enclosure with a corresponding rotation of the display contents. The rotation of the enclosure is sampled with an encoder and the display is virtually rotated by a computer maintaining the scene by an amount corresponding to the physical rotation before being rendered. This allows the user to remain in one position while viewing different parts of the displayed scene corresponding to different viewpoints. The display contents can be rotated in direct correspondence with the display enclosure or with a gain (positive or negative) that accelerates the rotation of the contents with respect to the physical rotation of the enclosure. Any display widgets in the scene, such as a virtual keyboard, can be maintained stationary with respect to the user while scene contents rotate by applying a negative rotational gain to the widgets. The rotation can also be controlled by a time value such that the rotation continues until a specified time is reached or expires.

Claims (16)

1. A method, comprising:

rotating a volume rotational controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs; and

virtually rotating the display contents responsive to rotation of the controller, and

wherein said rotational inputs comprise a physical application of force directly applied by a person to a display portion of said three dimensional volumetric display wherein the rotational inputs comprise a rotational force.

2. A method, comprising:

rotating a volume rotational controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs; and

virtually rotating the display contents responsive to rotation of the controller, and

wherein the display is divided into two or more segments and the segments each virtually rotate with a different gain responsive to the rotational inputs.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the display includes scene objects and widgets and further comprising virtually rotating the widgets differently than the scene objects.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the widgets remain stationary with respect to the user as the scene objects rotate.

5. A method, comprising:

rotating a volume rotational controller for a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs; and

virtually rotating the display contents responsive to rotation of the controller, and wherein said volume rotational controller is contoured to a display portion of said three dimensional volumetric display.

6. A method, comprising:

rotating a volume rotational controller enclosure enclosing a display portion of a three dimensional volumetric display responsive to user rotational inputs comprising a physical application of force directly applied by the user to said volume rotational enclosure; and

virtually rotating the display contents responsive to the rotational inputs.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2006
From: ALIAS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: AUTODESK, INC.
Reel/Frame 018375/0466 →
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT Recorded Nov 18, 2004
From: ALIAS SYSTEMS CORP., A NOVA SCOTIA UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: ALIAS SYSTEMS INC., A NOVA SCOTIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 015370/0578 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONTINUANCE AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 18, 2004
From: ALIAS SYSTEMS INC., A NOVA SCOTIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
To: ALIAS SYSTEMS CORP., A CANADIAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015370/0588 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2004
From: SILICON GRAPHICS, INC.; SILICON GRAPHICS LIMITED; SILICON GRAPHICS WORLD TRADE BV
To: ALIAS SYSTEMS CORP.
Reel/Frame 014934/0523 →