Device for augmented reality application

Abstract

A device configured to capture a first image and to project a second image, the device comprising a support; a camera configured to capture, or a first mirror configured to capture and reflect towards a camera, a first image of a work area, the camera or the first mirror being mounted on the support; and a projector configured to project, or a second mirror configured to reflect and project, a second image on the work area, the projector or the second mirror being mounted on the support.

Claims

1. A device configured to support a multimedia device the device comprising: a support configured to support the multimedia device that is configured to capture a first image, a first mirror configured to reflect, towards a camera, a first image of a work area, the first mirror being mounted on the support, and a projector mounted on the support, wherein the projector is configured to project a second image on the work area, or a second mirror mounted on the support, wherein the second mirror is configured to reflect the second image on the work area, wherein the support is configured to receive the multimedia device, equipped with the camera, the first mirror being movable, so as to be arranged in front of the camera of the multimedia device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support has a mounting plane intended to come to bear on a mounting surface, wherein the support is configured to receive the multimedia device so that an optical axis of the camera is inclined relative to the mounting plane and an angle between the optical axis of the camera and the mounting plane is between 45° and 90°, or wherein the first mirror is inclined relative to the mounting plane and an angle between the first mirror and the mounting plane is between 0 and 45°.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support has a mounting plane intended to come to bear on a mounting surface, wherein an optical axis of the projector is inclined relative to the mounting plane and an angle between the optical axis of the projector and the mounting plane is between 50° and 90°, or wherein the second mirror is inclined relative to the mounting plane and an angle between the second mirror and the mounting plane is between 0 and 40°.

4. The device according to claim 1, comprising a processing unit mounted on the support, the processing unit being configured to generate the second image from the first image.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the projector or the second mirror is unitary to the support.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises the second mirror and a secondary projector, and the secondary projector is configured to project the second image to the second mirror.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror is configured to reflect towards the camera the first image having an area between 100 cm.sup.2 and 1,600 cm.sup.2.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror is configured to reflect towards the camera the first image that is arranged at a distance less than or equal to 5 cm from the support.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the projected second image has an area between 225 cm.sup.2 and 3,000 cm.sup.2.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the projected second image is at a distance less than or equal to 20 cm from the support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject matter of this disclosure and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description given below of various embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples. This description refers to the pages of attached figures, on which:

(2) FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show an device according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B show an device according to a second embodiment;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show an device according to a third embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 shows an device according to a fourth embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 shows an device according to a fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIGS. 1A to 1C show an device 11 according to a first embodiment. In this first embodiment, the device comprises a support 13, a primary camera 15 and a primary projector 17, all unitary to the support 13. The support 13 comprises a base 19, defining a mounting plane P. The base 19 is placed on a mounting surface 21. When the base 19 is placed on the mounting surface 21, the mounting plane P and the mounting surface 21 merge.

(8) In front of the device 11, there is a work area 23, in which a user wishes to carry out a registration 25. To choose the registration he wishes to carry out, the user can, for example, have a multimedia tablet or equivalent 27, hereinafter “tablet,” on which several registration models are stored.

(9) The support 13 comprises, here, a processing unit 29 and, for example, wired or wireless communication interfaces (not shown) of the “Bluetooth” type. These communication interfaces allow the processing unit 29 to communicate with the tablet 27, the primary camera 15 and the primary projector 17.

(10) When the user chooses a registration model to be carried out in the work area 23 using the tablet 27, the tablet 27 transmits this model to the processing unit 29. The processing unit 29 then controls the primary camera 15 so that it captures a first image 24a of the working area 23. The primary camera 15 transmits the first image 24a to the processing unit 29. The processing unit 29 then processes this first image in order to readjust the registration model to be produced, thereby creating the second image 24b. The second image 24b is then transmitted to the primary projector 17, which projects it onto the work area 23. The user can then transcribe the registration they wish.

(11) The first image 24a has a width hv between 100 mm (one hundred millimeters) and 400 mm (four hundred millimeters), in examples, the width hv is 250 mm (two hundred and fifty millimeters). The first image 24a has a length Lv of between 100 mm (one hundred millimeters) and 400 mm (four hundred millimeters), in examples, the length Lv is 300 mm (three hundred millimeters). For example, the first image 24a has an area comprised between 100 cm.sup.2 (one hundred square centimeters) and 1,600 cm.sup.2 (one thousand six hundred square centimeters).

(12) The distance dv between the first image 24a and the support 13 is between 0 mm (zero millimeters) and 50 mm (fifty millimeters), in examples, the distance dv is 0 mm (zero millimeters).

(13) According to a variant, the processing of the first image 24a so as to generate the second image 24b is carried out by the processing unit of the tablet 27. In this case, it is possible that the device does not include a processing unit.

(14) The second image 24b has a width hp between 150 mm (one hundred and fifty millimeters) and 500 mm (five hundred millimeters), in examples, the width hp is 300 mm (three hundred millimeters). The second image 24b has a length Lp of between 150 mm (one hundred and fifty millimeters) and 600 mm (six hundred millimeters), in examples, the length Lv is 300 mm (three hundred millimeters). For example, the second image 24b has an area between 225 cm.sup.2 (two hundred twenty-five square centimeters) and 3,000 cm.sup.2 (three thousand square centimeters).

(15) The distance dp between the second image 24b and the support 13 is between 0 mm (zero millimeters) and 200 mm (two hundred millimeters), in examples, the distance dp is 20 mm (twenty millimeters).

(16) The primary camera 15 is directed towards the working area 23 and its optical axis is inclined relative to the mounting plane P by an angle a11 of approximately 50° (fifty degrees of angle). The primary projector 17 is directed towards the working area 23 and its optical axis is inclined relative to the mounting plane P by an angle a12 of approximately 69° (sixty-nine degrees of angle). The primary camera 15 is placed at a height d11p of approximately 320 mm (three hundred and twenty millimeters) relative to the mounting plane P. The primary camera 15 is placed at a height d11t of approximately 320 mm (three hundred and twenty millimeters) relative to the working area. The primary projector 17 is arranged at a height d12p of approximately 381 mm (three hundred and eighty-one millimeters) relative to the mounting plane P. The primary projector 17 is arranged at a height d12p of approximately 381 mm (three hundred and eighty-one millimeters) relative to the mounting plane P. Here, the working area 23 and the mounting plane P are included in the same plane. However, it is possible that the working area 23 and the mounting plane P are arranged in different planes and that the height of the primary projector 17 and the primary camera 15 is different if it is measured from the mounting plane P or from the work area 23.

(17) According to a variant, shown in FIG. 1, the camera 15 and the projector 17 are arranged at the same height relative to the mounting plane P.

(18) FIGS. 2A and 2B show a second embodiment of the device according to this disclosure. In the second embodiment, instead of a primary camera, the device 111 comprises a first mirror 131 and a secondary camera 133. The secondary camera 133 is mounted on the support 113 in the same place as the primary camera 15 in the first exemplary embodiment. However, the secondary camera 133 is oriented towards the first mirror 131. The optical axis of the secondary camera 133 is inclined relative to the mounting plane P by an angle a210 of about 10.5° (ten and a half degrees of angle). The first mirror 131 is mounted on the support 113, facing the secondary camera 133. The support 113 comprises a first mounting element 135 of the first mirror 131, via which the first mirror 131 is mounted on the support 113. Here, the first mounting member 135 has a general “V” shape. One of the ends of the first mounting element 135, that is to say, one end of a first bar 135a of the “V”, is fixed to an upper edge 114 of the support 113. The upper edge 114 of the support 113 is defined in a direction DA of the height of the support 113 when the base 119 is placed on the mounting surface 121. In other words, the upper edge 114 of the support 113 is arranged opposite the base 119 in direction DA when it is placed on the mounting surface 121. The first mirror 131 is attached to the second bar 135b of the “V” of the first mounting element 135, inside the “V”. When mounted on the first mounting element 135, the first mirror 131 is inclined relative to the mounting plane P by an angle a21 of approximately 20° (twenty degrees of angle). The first mirror 131 is arranged at a height d21p of approximately 320 mm (three hundred and twenty millimeters) relative to the mounting plane P. The primary projector 17 is arranged at a height d12t of approximately 320 mm (three hundred and twenty millimeters) relative to the working area 123.

(19) Thus, the secondary camera 133 does not directly capture the first image 124a, but captures it via the first mirror 131. The processing unit 129 is therefore configured to communicate with the secondary camera 133.

(20) According to a variant, the secondary camera 133 might not be mounted on the support 113 but instead be separate and arranged opposite the first mirror 131.

(21) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a third embodiment of the device according to this disclosure. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, instead of the primary projector 17, the device comprises a secondary projector 234 and a second mirror 237. The secondary projector 234 is arranged in the same place as the primary projector 17 in the first embodiment. However, the secondary projector 234 is oriented towards the second mirror 237. The optical axis of the secondary projector 235 is inclined relative to the mounting plane P by an angle a320 of approximately 15.5° (fifteen and a half degrees of angle). The second mirror 237 is mounted on the support 213 facing the secondary projector 234. The support 213 comprises a second mounting element 239 of the second mirror 237, via which the second mirror 237 is mounted on the support 213. The second mounting element 239 has the same configuration as the first mounting element 135 of the second embodiment, but is arranged at the level of the secondary projector 234. Thus, when it is mounted on the second mounting element 239, the second mirror 237 is inclined relative to the mounting plane P by an angle a32 of approximately 27° (twenty-seven degrees of angle).

(22) The second mirror 237 is arranged at a height d32p of approximately 381 mm (three hundred and eighty-one millimeters) relative to the mounting plane P. The second mirror 237 is arranged at a height d32t of approximately 381 mm (three hundred and eighty-one millimeters) relative to the working area 223.

(23) In this embodiment, the processing unit 229 is therefore configured to communicate with the secondary projector 234.

(24) FIG. 4 represents a fourth exemplary embodiment, in which the secondary camera described in the second exemplary embodiment is constituted by the camera 333 of the tablet 327. The tablet 327 is therefore placed on the support 313 so that the camera 333 of the tablet 327 is arranged opposite the first mirror 331.

(25) The tablet 327 includes a front face 339, having a screen 339a, and a rear face opposite the front face 339. The camera 333 of the tablet 327 is adjacent to the screen 339a on the front face 339.

(26) In this exemplary embodiment, the support 313 comprises a support portion 343 which is configured to receive the tablet 327. The support portion 343 is more particularly configured to cooperate with the rear face of the shelf 327, so that the screen 339a is visible.

(27) The support portion 343 extends in a first direction D1 and in a second direction D2 transverse to the first direction D1. The inclination of the support portion 11 relative to a normal to the mounting plane P is less than 20° (twenty degrees of angle). The projection of the support portion on the normal to the mounting plane P has a length of 330 mm (three hundred and thirty millimeters).

(28) The first mirror 331 is movable in the second direction D2. Thus, the device 311 is versatile and can adapt to different sizes and/or configurations of tablet 327. The first mirror 331 is mounted on the support 313 as described for the second embodiment, but in a movable manner. Thus, the first mounting element 335 comprises a third bar 335c, fixed to the first bar 335a of the “V”. The support 313 comprises a slide 345 into which the third bar 335c of the first mounting element 335 can be inserted and slide so as to allow the first mirror 331 to slide in the second direction D2. Thus, it is possible to adjust the position of the first mirror 331 so that it is located in front of the camera 333 of the tablet 327. The angle between the first mirror 331 and the support portion 343 is equal to 59.5° (fifty-nine and a half degrees of angle).

(29) According to a variant, the first mirror 331 can also be movable relative to the support 313 in the first direction D1 or in the direction DA. Thus, the device 311 would be more versatile and could better adapt to different sizes and/or configurations of tablet 327.

(30) The support 313 further comprises a support portion 347, configured to support the shelf 327, on which the shelf 327 is configured to rest. The support portion 347 is movable in the first direction D1. Thus, the device 311 would be more versatile and could better adapt to different sizes and/or configurations of shelf 327. In the embodiment shown, the support portion 347 is movable only in the first direction D1. The support portion 347 extends continuously over a portion of the width of the support portion 343.

(31) As in the first and second embodiment, the device 311 here comprises a primary projector 317. The support 313 comprises a third mounting element 349 making it possible to mount the primary projector 317 on the support 313. The third mounting element 349 is fixed to the upper edge 314 of the support 313.

(32) FIG. 5 represents a fifth exemplary embodiment. The fifth exemplary embodiment corresponds to the fourth embodiment, comprising, in place of the primary projector 317, a secondary projector 434 and a second mirror 437, as is the case in the third exemplary embodiment. The secondary projector 434 is embedded in the upper edge 414 of the support 413. The second mirror 437 is mounted on the upper edge 414 of the support 413, thanks to a second mounting element 439, similar to the second mounting element 239 of the third embodiment.

(33) In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the tablet 427 has dimensions that are greater than the dimensions of the tablet 327 shown in FIG. 4. Thus, thanks to the portion of support portion 347, 447, and to the first movable mirror 331, 431, the device 311, 411 can adapt to different sizes and/or configurations of tablet 327, 427, and is therefore versatile.

(34) According to other embodiments, the device 11 could comprise a user interface, for example, a screen mounted on the support 13 and with which the user could choose the registration which he wishes to carry out, instead of the tablet. In this case, the device could include a communication interface allowing the device to connect to an Internet type network so that the user can download registration templates from this network, and make software updates, but not necessarily. The device can also be completely autonomous (i.e. integrated user interface and processing unit).

(35) Although this invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is obvious that modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the various illustrated/mentioned embodiments can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.