Immersive display and method of operating immersive display for real-world object alert

Abstract

An immersive display and a method of operating the immersive display to provide information relating to an object. The method includes receiving information from an input device of the immersive display or coupled to the immersive display, detecting an object based on the information received from the input device, and displaying a representation of the object on images displayed on a display of the immersive display such that attributes of the representation distinguish the representation from the images displayed on the display, wherein the representation is displayed at a location on the display that corresponds with a location of the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An immersive display apparatus, comprising:
 an apparatus body;   at least one input device operably connected to the apparatus body for detecting objects in at least one region outside the apparatus body;   a display operably coupled to the apparatus body for displaying at least one image thereon;   a haptic device worn by a user of the immersive display apparatus; and   a processor operably coupled to the at least one input device, the haptic device and to the display to:
 receive information from the at least one input device; 
 determine attributes of a real-world object, including at least a first distance to the real-world object; and 
 in response to determining that the first distance to the real-world object is within a threshold distance, actuating the haptic device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where a virtual guide element is displayed on the display, and the virtual guide element moves in combination with a “tugging” sensation transmitted to the user via the haptic device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where the virtual guide element is a guide dog. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where a connecting element is displayed connecting the virtual guide element to the user. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the haptic device is actuated based on a combination of at least the first distance to the real-world object and the location of a body part on which the haptic device is worn. 
     
     
         6 . An immersive display apparatus, comprising:
 an apparatus body;   at least one input device operably connected to the apparatus body for detecting objects in at least one region outside the apparatus body;   a display coupled to the apparatus body for displaying at least one image thereon; and   a processor coupled to the input device and to the display and operable to:
 receive information from the at least one input device; 
 determine attributes of a real-world object, including at least a first distance from a body part to the real-world object; 
 determine a range of motion of the body part; and 
 in response to determining that the first distance to the real-world object is within a threshold distance of the range of motion of the body part, displaying a visual element on the display. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the visual element comprises a change in color for at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the visual element comprises a change in color saturation for at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the visual element comprises a change in brightness for at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the visual element comprises an image of the real-world object. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the visual element comprises a reduced amount of color saturation for at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , where the reduced amount of color saturation further comprises no color saturation. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , where the image of the real-world object is a different brightness compared to nearby visual elements on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , where the image of the real-world object is a different color compared to nearby visual elements on the display. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the additional visual element comprises a wire frame version of the real-world object. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the additional visual element changes as the distance between the real-world object and the range of motion of the body part changes. 
     
     
         17 . An immersive display apparatus, comprising:
 an apparatus body;   at least one input device operably connected to the apparatus body for imaging at least one region outside the apparatus body;   a display coupled to the apparatus body for displaying at least one image thereon; and   a processor coupled to the input device and to the display and operable to:
 receive imaged information from the at least one input device; and 
 display the imaged information in a defined area of the display. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , where the defined area of the display is in a corner of the display. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , where the defined area of the display is within a virtual heads-up element shown on the display. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , where the defined area of the display is shown on a virtual image of a mirror.