System and method for displaying layered images

A display system for providing layered images comprising:

• a rear display element;
• a transmissive display element having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface placed a predetermined distance from the rear display element such that at least a portion of each of the rear display element and the transmissive display element lie along a light path viewable by a viewer of the display system;
• a lighting element including a backlight for the rear display element, the backlight providing backlight illumination to the rear display element and the transmissive display element;
• an image generator connected to the rear display element and the transmissive display element;
• the image generator configured to:
• send a background image to the rear display element;
• contemporaneously with the background image, send a foreground image to the transmissive display element;
• a transmissive sheet placed at an angle between the rear surface of the transmissive display element and a front surface of the rear display element;
• a camera having a field of view reflected by the transmissive sheet toward the rear surface of the transmissive display element to capture images, as reflected off of the transmissive sheet, of the viewer located proximal to the front surface of the transmissive display element.

A method in a display system having a rear display element and a transmissive display element with a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface placed a predetermined distance from the rear display element such that at least a portion of each of the rear display element and the transmissive display element lie along a light path viewable by a viewer of the display system, the method comprising:

• providing backlight illumination to the rear display element and the transmissive display element from a lighting element including a backlight for the rear display element;
• at an image generator connected to the rear display element and the transmissive display element:
• sending a background image to the rear display element;
• contemporaneously with the background image, sending a foreground image to the transmissive display element;
• and
• directing a field of view of a camera at a transmissive sheet placed at an angle between the rear surface of the transmissive display element and a front surface of the rear display element, to reflect the field of view toward the rear surface of the transmissive display element;
• at the camera, capturing images of the viewer located proximal to the front surface of the transmissive display element.