# US 2014/0192329 A1 · Apparatus for projecting spatial image > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192329 A1 - Document ID: US20140192329A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/104,745 - Filed: 2013-12-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Kwangwoon University Industry-Academic Collaboration Foundation; LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.; Kwangwoon University Industry-Academic Collaboration Foundation - Inventors: Sungchul SHIN; Eunsoo KIM; Seungcheol KIM; Bolam KIM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192329A1 ## CPC - G02B 30/54: the three-dimensional [3D] volume being generated by moving a two-dimensional [2D] surface, e.g. by vibrating or rotating the 2D surface - G02B 30/56: by projecting aerial or floating images - G03B 35/20: using two or more projectors - G03B 37/04: with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view - H04N 9/3197: {using light modulating optical valves} - H04N 13/363: using image projection screens (volumetric display H04N13/388) - H04N 13/388: Volumetric displays, i.e. systems where the image is built up from picture elements distributed through a volume - H04N 13/393: the volume being generated by a moving, e.g. vibrating or rotating, surface - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An apparatus for projecting a spatial image in which the spatial image with a background is projected into a space through a projection unit is discussed. The apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit to receive a spatial image and a background image, a display unit to display the spatial image and the background image and to project light, a control unit to control the display unit to display the spatial image and the background image, and a spatial image projection unit to project the spatial image and the background image by transmitting or reflecting the light. Thus, a spatial image may be viewed from every direction, and the spatial image may be projected to different positions according to images and a background image may be displayed at the same time. In addition, a user may perform interaction such as reaching of hands into the projected image, and the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for projecting a spatial image, the apparatus comprising: a receiving unit to receive a spatial image and a background image; a display unit to display the spatial image and the background image and to project light; a control unit to control the display unit to display the spatial image and the background image; and a spatial image projection unit to project the spatial image and the background image by transmitting or reflecting the light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises: a first monitor arranged at a first side of the spatial image projection unit to display the spatial image; and a second monitor arranged at a second side of the spatial image projection unit to display the background image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first monitor is arranged a first distance from the spatial image projection unit, and the second monitor is arranged a second distance from the spatial image projection unit, the first distance being greater than the second distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spatial image displayed by the first monitor and the background image displayed by the second monitor are simultaneously displayed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second monitor is integrally coupled to the spatial image projection unit to contact each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first monitor, the second monitor, and the spatial image projection unit are arranged parallel to one another in a single row so as to overlap one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an area of the spatial image projection unit is the same as display areas of the first and second monitors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second monitors is linearly movable with respect to the spatial image projection unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the spatial image and the background image at different times. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a shutter unit disposed between first sides of the display unit and the spatial image projection unit; and a screen arranged at a second side of the spatial image projection unit, wherein the shutter unit is opened to pass the spatial image according to a first control signal when the display unit displays the spatial image and is closed to block the background image according to a second control signal when the display unit displays the background unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shutter unit is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC). ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the screen is arranged a first distance from the spatial image projection unit, and the shutter unit is arranged a second distance from the spatial image projection unit, the first distance being greater than the second distance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shutter unit, the screen, and the spatial image projection unit are arranged parallel to one another in a single row so as to overlap one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an area of at least one of the shutter unit and the screen is the same as that of the spatial image projection unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the spatial image having a first polarization and the background image having a second polarization. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a second polarizer disposed between first sides of the display unit and the spatial image projection unit; and a first polarizer arranged at a second side of the spatial image projection unit, wherein the second polarizer passes the spatial image having the first polarization and blocks the background image having the second polarization. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first polarizer and the second polarizer are polarization selective scattering films (PSSFs). ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the first polarizer is arranged a first distance from the spatial image projection unit, and the second polarizer is arranged a second distance from the spatial image projection unit, the first distance being greater than the second distance. ### Claim 19 An apparatus for projecting a spatial image, the apparatus comprising: a screen; a projection optical unit to alternately project, onto the screen, the spatial image at a first time and a background image at a second time; a spatial image projection unit disposed between the screen and the projection optical unit and reflecting the spatial image displayed on the screen to be projected into a predetermined space; and a shutter unit disposed between the projection optical unit and the spatial image projection unit, passing the spatial image projected by the projection optical unit at the first time, and blocking the background image projected by the projection optical unit at the second time. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for projecting a spatial image, the apparatus comprising: a first polarizer to block the spatial image having a first polarization; a second polarizer arranged at a distance from the first polarizer, passing the spatial image having the first polarization, and blocking a background image having a second polarization; a spatial image projection unit disposed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer and reflecting the spatial image blocked by the first polarizer to be projected into a predetermined space; a first projection optical unit to project the spatial image to the first polarizer at a first time; and a second projection optical unit to project the background image to the second polarizer at a second time, wherein the spatial image and the background image are alternately projected.