WO2011077423A1

WO2011077423A1 - A self-observation system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2011077423A1
Application number: PCT/IL2010/000886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eli Zaken; Kfir Sasson
Original assignee: Eli Zaken; Kfir Sasson
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2010-10-28
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: IL202910A

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a self-observation system, comprising: a semi-transparent mirror (44) disposed in front of a user (48); a display device (46) disposed behind the semi-transparent mirror (44); at least one video camera (12), for providing a video image (52) of the body (62) of the user (48) to the display device (46); and a user interface (58) for (buttons 34, 36, 38) turning the display device (46) to on, for transmitting the video image (52) from the display device through transparency of the semi- transparent mirror to the eyes (60) of the user, and for (button 32) turning the display device (46) off, thereby reflecting the body (62) of the user through reflectance of the semi- transparent mirror to the user's eyes, thereby providing selection of the viewed picture through the semi-transparent mirror.

Description

A SELF-OBSERVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of imaging.

More particularly, the invention relates to a self-observation system and method.

Background of the Invention In a retail fitting room, in the barbershop, or even at home there is a need or desire to view the body at many angles, and to compare such viewings.

One solution to the problem is using opposing mirrors. Another solution to the problem is adding a video camera to a mirror.

However, these solutions may provide certain additional views but do not provide a full view.

All the methods described above have not yet provided satisfactory solutions to the lack of a user-controlled self observation system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for full self-observation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for controlling the self-observation system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above"mentioned and other problems of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect the present invention is directed to a self- observation system comprising (Fig. l):

- a semi-transparent mirror (44) disposed in front of a user (48);

- a display device (46) disposed behind the semi- transparent mirror (44);

- at least one video camera (12), for providing a video image (52) of the body (62) of the user (48) to the display device (46); and

- a user interface (58)

for (buttons 34, 36, 38) turning the display device (46) to on, for transmitting the video image (52) from the display device (46) through transparency of the semi- transparent mirror (44) to the eyes (60) of the user, and for (button 32) turning the display device (46) off, thereby reflecting the body (62) of the user (60) through reflectance of the semi-transparent mirror (44) to the user's eyes (60),

thereby providing selection of the viewed picture (62, 52) through the semi-transparent mirror (44).

The video image (52) of the user may comprise an image of the user's body (62) from an angle that is not viewed by the reflectance,

thereby the selection of the viewed picture may comprise selection between a plurality of views of the user's body (62). The at least one video camera (12) may comprise a plurality of video cameras (12, 8, 6), each disposed at a different side of the user, for capturing a different video image (Figs 3, 4, 5) of a view of the body (62) of the user; the user interface (58) may comprise functions (buttons 32, 34, 36) for selecting the video camera (12 or 8 or 6) for the provision of the video image, thereby the selection of the viewed picture may comprise selection between a plurality of the captured videos of views (Figs 3, 4, 5) and the reflectance (Fig. 2).

The self-observation system may further comprise at least one aligning motor (64) for aligning the video cameras, wherein the user interface (58) may comprise control for the aligning motors (64).

The self-observation system may further comprise a video processing unit (66), for processing the video image (52).

The user interface (58) may comprise control on the video processing unit (66), the control may comprise a member selected from a group including- storage of images, storage of videos, browsing, color processing, hue processing, displaying several views together.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to self-observation method comprising the steps of

- disposing a semi-transparent mirror (44) in front of user (48); - disposing a display device (46) receiving signals from at least a first video camera (12), behind the semi- transparent mirror (44);

- capturing by the first video camera video of a first view of the user!

- turning on the display device (46), for transmitting the video (52) from the display device (46) through transparency of the semi-transparent mirror (44) to the eyes (60) of the user; and

- turning off the display device (46) for reflecting the body (62) of the user (60) through reflectance of the semi- transparent mirror (44) to the user's eyes (60),

The self-observation may further comprise the steps of^:

- capturing by a second video camera a video image of a second view of the user; and

- selecting between the video images of the first and second views of the user to be displayed by the display device (46),

thereby selecting between a plurality of views on the user.

The self-observation method may further comprise the step of

- aligning the first video camera. The self- observation method may further comprise the step of

- processing the video image.

The processing may comprise a step selected from a group including: storing images, storing video images, browsing, color processing, hue processing, displaying several views together.

The foregoing embodiments of the invention are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings^

Fig. 1 illustrates a self-observation system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the observation of the user through reflectance of the semi-transparent mirror.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the observation of the user upon transmittance through semi-transparent mirror 44. Fig. 6 shows the practice of the self-observation system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows the user interface according to one example.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.

Fig. 1 illustrates a self- observation system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The term "semi-transparent mirror" refers to a glass, which is silver-coated to provide 50% transmission and 50% reflection or other values of transmission and reflection.

A semi-transparent mirror functions as a mirror with a dark background, and as a transparent glass upon illumination behind it.

A self- observation system 10 includes a semi- transparent mirror 44 in front of a user 48 and a display device 46 behind, which the user may turn on or off.

Upon turning display device 46 off, semi-transparent mirror 44 functions as a mirror, through which user 48 may observe the front view thereof. For example, an optical ray 50 from the user's leg 62 is reflected through semi-transparent mirror 44 towards the user's eye 60.

The term "video image" refers herein to a still video image or to a capture of a video stream. Upon turning display device 46 to on, display device 46 transfers a displayed video 52 thereof through semi- transparent mirror 44, which functions as a transparent glass, to the user. For example, instead of ray 50, a ray 54 of a leg of displayed video 52 is transmitted to the user's eyes.

Self-observation system 10 includes a manual switch 56 within a user interface 58, for turning display device 46 off or on through an electric circuit 54. Display device 46 displays videos of a video camera 12 capturing user 48 from a view other than the front to provide an additional perspective, which cannot be observed by the reflectance of a mirror.

A video-processing unit 66 may process the image of video camera 12 through software and/or hardware processing.

Fig. 2 shows the display device upon turning off display device 46. User 48 observes himself through the mirror.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the observation of the user upon transmittance through semi-transparent mirror 44. In Fig. 3 user 48 observes his/her left-side view captured by video camera 12 disposed on the left.

In Fig. 4 user 48 observes his/her right-side view captured by video camera 6 disposed on the right.

In Fig. 5 user 48 observes his/her rear view captured by video camera 8 disposed behind. Each of video cameras 6, 8 and 12 includes an aligning support, such as rotational and/or elevation motors 64.

Fig. 6 shows the practice of the self-observation system of Fig. 1. Self- observation system 10 may support a store fitting room 14. User interface 58 may select between cameras 12, 8, 6 or choose to turn all off for observing by reflectance of semi- transparent mirror 44. User interface 58 may also rotate, raise or lower the selected camera. Fig. 7 shows the user interface, according to one example.

Button 38 may select the right-side view, turning on right video camera 6; button 36 may select the left-side view, turning on left video camera 12; button 34 may select the rear view, turning on rear video camera 8; and button 32 may select the front view, turning off display device 46, thus not displaying any of the video cameras.

Joystick button 22 may control motors 64 for aligning the selected video camera. Button 30 may store the current display into video processing unit 66; button 16 may browse backwards and button 40 may browse forwards in the stored pictures; button 24 may change color, button 26 may change hue, and button 28 may cancel buttons 24 and 26. Button 18 may be an on-off switch 18, for turning the user interface on or off. User interface 58 may display several views together. The front view, which is observed by the mirror, may also be captured by another video camera for the video processing purposes. In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned^:

numeral 6 denotes a video camera disposed at the right of the user;

^■ numeral 8 denotes a video camera disposed at the rear of the user!

numeral 10 denotes the self-observation system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

- numeral 12 denotes a video camera disposed at the left of the user,^'

- numeral 14 denotes a retail fitting room;

- numeral 16 denotes a backwards browser button;

numeral 18 denotes an on-off switch;

- numeral 22 denotes a joystick button;

^■ numeral 24 denotes a button for changing color;

- numeral 26 denotes a button for changing hue,^'

^■ numeral 28 denotes a canceling button;

- numeral 30 denotes a button for storing a picture;

- numeral 32 denotes a button for selecting the front view, by turning off the display device;

- numerals 34, 36 and 38 denote buttons for selecting the rear, left and right video cameras respectively;

- numeral 40 denotes a forward browser button; numeral 44 denotes a semi-transparent mirror, which may function as a transparent glass or as a mirror,^*

numeral 46 denotes a display device, such as a screen;

numeral 48 denotes the user^'

- numeral 50 denotes an optical ray propagating from the display device^'

- numeral 52 denotes the video capture displayed on the display device^'

- numeral 54 denotes an optical ray propagating from the user's body;

- numeral 56 denotes a manual switch;

- numeral 58 denotes a user interface;

numeral 60 denotes the eye of the user!

- numeral 62 denotes the body of the user!

- numeral 64 denotes a motor for aligning the video camera; and

- numeral 66 denotes a video processing unit.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term of the claims that has been defined above, has to be interpreted according to this definition.

Claims

What is claimed is÷ CLAIMS

1. A self-observation system, comprising-

- a semi-transparent mirror disposed in front of a user,^'

- a display device disposed behind said semi-transparent mirror!

- at least one video camera, for providing a video of the body of said user to said display device! and

- a user interface

for turning said display device to on, for transmitting said video from said display device through transparency of said semi-transparent mirror to the eyes of said user, and

for turning said display device off, thereby reflecting the body of said user through reflectance of said semi- transparent mirror to said user's eyes,

thereby providing selection of the viewed picture through said semi-transparent mirror.

2. A self- observation system according to claim 1, wherein said video of said user comprises an image of said user's body from an angle that is not viewed by said reflectance, thereby said selection of said viewed picture comprises selection between a plurality of views on said user's body.

3. A self- observation system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one video camera comprises a plurality of video cameras, each disposed at a different side of said user, for capturing a different video of a view of said body of said user, and

wherein said user interface comprises functions for selecting the video camera for said provision of said video,

thereby said selection of said viewed picture comprises selection between a plurality of said captured videos of views and said reflectance.

A self- observation system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one aligning motor for aligning said at least one video camera,

wherein said user interface comprises control for said at least one aligning motor.

A self- observation system according to claim 1, further comprising a video processing unit, for processing said video.

A self-observation system according to claim 5, wherein said user interface comprises control on said video processing unit, said control comprising a member selected from a group including- storage of images, storage of videos, browsing, color processing, hue processing, displaying several views together.

A self observation method comprising the steps of- - disposing a semi-transparent mirror in front of a user,^'

- disposing a display device receiving signals from at least a first video camera, behind said semi-transparent mirror,'

- capturing by said first video camera video of a first view of said user;

- turning on said display device, for transmitting said video from said display device through transparency of said semi-transparent mirror to the eyes of said user; and

- turning off said display device for reflecting the body of said user through reflectance of said semi-transparent mirror to said user's eyes,

8. A self- observation method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of

- capturing by a second video camera a video image of a second view of said user; and

selecting between said video images of said first and second view of said user to be displayed by said display device,

thereby selecting between a plurality of views on said user.

9. A self-observation method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of

- aligning said first video camera.

10. A self- observation method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of

- processing said video image.

11. A self- observation method according to claim 10, wherein said processing comprises a step selected from a group including- storing images, storing video captures, browsing, color processing, hue processing, displaying several views together.