WO2002042809A1

WO2002042809A1 - Tiled electro-optic interactive display & illumination apparatus and method for its assembly and use

Info

Publication number: WO2002042809A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/000838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian C. Lowry
Original assignee: Transvision, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-11-22
Filing date: 2001-01-11
Publication date: 2002-05-30
Also published as: AU2001227820A1

Abstract

The invention is a novel, modular electro-optic video display (1) assembled from inexpensive tiles (2) made from thermoplastic and composite material that are, therefore, durable and able to withstand the abuses of an interactive environment. The tiles (2) employ a plurality of either thermoplastic optical fibers (26) or solid plastic lightguides to convey projected images from a first, or projection surface, to a second, or display surface where the image appears enlarged. The first surfaces are either micro-displays (9) that correspond in an ordered manner with the modular tiles (2) of the second surface, or one or more projection devices which convey information to the second surface through a plurality of ordered optical fiber bundles (26) or light guides. In addition to these imaging fibers or lightguides, each modular tile comprising the second (display) surface is populated with supplementary optical fibers or lightguides which detect electromagnetic energy.

Description

Description of the Invention

Title of Invention

Tiled Electro-Optic Interactive Display & Illumination Apparatus and Method for its Assembly and Use

Technical Field

The field of this invention is large screen displays (dynamic video or static) having interactive capabilities. Not long after the advent of the personal computer, input devices in addition to the traditional keyboard were developed. Such devices include mice, trackballs, light pens, tablets with styli, joysticks, and capacitive, touch-sensitive screens. While such devices are now commonplace and inexpensive for personal computers with relatively small screens, an analogous means of interaction for large screen video displays has not yet been developed. Indeed, given the limitations of most large screen technologies, the need for interaction has not arisen due to the fact that most of these displays are not viewable in a proximity close enough to warrant interactivity with the viewer(s). The large screen display (LSD) industry is today dominated by light emitting diode (LED) and field emission display (FED) technologies which are limited by a minimum viewing distance of at least several meters. Obviously, it is impossible at that distance to physically interact with a display. Moreover, because LED and FED displays can only be viewed from distances greater than several meters, the problem does not exist. However, there is a need in the marketplace for LSD's that are both proximally viewable and possess interactive capabilities. Moreover, such displays must be rugged, have a wide operating temperature range, and be visible in high ambient light. Such video displays would be useful in airports, terminals, amusement parks, simulators, museums, trade shows, exhibits, and the like. With the proliferation of handheld and notebook computers, additional opportunities exist for LSD's to interact - not only with viewers, but also with the viewers' personal computing devices. Interactive opportunities exist particularly in the retail segment. For example, an interactive LSD can display an advertisement and simultaneously offer downloadable "coupons" (or vouchers) to passersby on their personal digital assistants (PDA's) or cellular (wireless) telephones by employing infrared or wireless communication modes (see United States Patent application 09/570,999). A second example is the use of interactive video displays in sports venues, for instance in a hockey arena along the dasher boards. Such a display could "respond" in real time to the proximity, impact, or relative motion of the players, sticks, or puck to the boards, as well as display advertisements. Another example related to sports is the use of such a rugged interactive display as a basketball backboard. In this example, the interactive capabilities could be used to respond when the basketball hits the backboard, as well as to display advertisements and the score.

Another type of application for interactive video displays is the area of interactive gaming, in which participants armed with laser or other light-emitting "weapons" engage in virtual adventures (e.g., combat, exploration, board games, etc.) within a physical area in which the walls, ceiling, and even the floor consist of interactive LSD's, such LSD's operating under the control and management of a computer which, by means of the interactive capabilities of each LSD, "knows" the location and movement of each participant, and adjusts or manages the game parameters and the video content delivered to each LSD accordingly. The LSD's in this case are sensitive not only to the proximity and movement of each participant, but also to the discharge of light-emitting "weapons" carried by the participants, generating visual feedback on the displays in response to the nature (e.g., duration, position, or intensity) of the interaction with the game participants.

Background Art

United States Patent 5,455,882 discloses an interactive, thin, optically-based display apparatus which is designed for interaction with a remote control device such as an infrared remote control unit. This display is comprised of laminar waveguides that are driven by one or more lasers, modulated by a video signal, which scan each waveguide. The display is not modular in nature, and the nature of the interactive capabilities is not relevant for large screen applications. Scanning and light detection are done remotely on a separate substrate from the display waveguides. This invention does not describe a software component that controls the visual feedback on the display in response to the nature (e.g., duration, or position) of the interactive initiative. United States Patent 5,127,078 discloses an apparatus for the simultaneous viewing and receiving of images, transferred through a system of interconnected fiber optic faceplates. The sending and receiving fibers are integrated and unnoticeable, and the device is designed to simultaneously display and view images. Because of this, it uses a high density of very tightly packed small diameter fibers. This has several undesirable effects for inexpensive outdoor displays, namely high cost, low contrast, and increased weight. Moreover, the display is used in a 1 : 1 configuration such that no enlargement is made of the input image.

United States Patent 5,953,469 discloses an optical display comprised of a matrix of optical waveguides and mechanical light switches. Like fiber optic displays, this invention possesses intrinsic interactive capabilities. However, because the apparatus is constructed from sandwiched layers of glass (or plastic) and various conductive and dielectric layers, the invention is not well suited to the demands of being placed in direct pedestrian contact, nor is it suited to temperature extremes. Since the light switches are operated electrostatically, the display is susceptible to shock. Also, the efficient operation of the display requires that it be hermetically sealed, indicating that it is not a particularly robust technology. Lastly, the device is driven, most efficiently, from LED's. Because of the manner in which the LED's are coupled to the waveguides, sufficient luminous flux levels for high ambient lighting conditions cannot be currently achieved.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is a novel modular electro-optic video display assembled from inexpensive, plastic tiles. The tiles employ either fiber optics or solid plastic lightguides to convey projected images from a plurality of input, or first surfaces, to a display, or second surface, whose area is greater than that of the sum of the first surface areas, such that any image projected on to the first surfaces appears enlarged on the second surface. A light-diffusing thin sheet or film is applied to the front of each tile of the second surface to effectively increase the numerical aperture of each fiber, thus producing a uniform wide-angle distribution of light from each fiber end and enabling viewing from any angle in front of the display.

In addition to these imaging fibers or lightguides, each display tile is populated with supplementary optical circuits (optical fibers or lightguides) which permit the transfer of light and information incident upon the second surface to a plurality of interactive input, or third, surfaces, with the intent of detecting both the proximity and motion (relative to the second surface) of persons or objects relatively close to the second surface, by detecting electromagnetic radiation in the 200 - 1300 nm band, which corresponds to UV, visible, and infrared light. The purpose of this light collection and detection system is to provide a means of interaction with the display, whether personally or through handheld computing devices or cellular ("wireless") telephones. The light detection circuitry at the interactive input surfaces is coupled to the same computer that drives the display, thereby constituting a feedback loop. Because the display tiles are made from thermoplastic and composite materials, they are durable and able to withstand the abuses of an interactive environment. Unlike CRT-based touch sensitive screens, which employ a capacitive film, this invention employs an optically- coupled, computer-controlled sensor array which senses not only position, but also motion (velocity), attack (acceleration), patterns, and timing.

The first surfaces are either micro-displays that correspond in an ordered manner with the tiles of the second surface, or one or more projection devices which convey information to the second surface through a plurality of ordered optical fiber bundles or light guides. The third or interactive surfaces are interfaced, through various opto-electrical transducers, to a computer system which changes, manages, and controls the information displayed on the second surface in response to the third surface inputs.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 depicts an example of a contoured interactive large screen display.

Figure 2 shows five views of a specific embodiment of the invention — front (Fig. 2A); side cross-sections at two locations (cut-away) (Fig. 2B, 2C); and rear perspective view (Fig. 2D). Figure 2E illustrates a second embodiment of the invention employing solid plastic light guides at the display surface.

Figure 3A is a rear perspective view demonstrating how multiple tiles may be joined to form a display driven by a plurality of micro-displays. Figure 3B is a rear perspective view demonstrating how multiple tiles may be joined to form a display driven from a single data or video projector.

Figure 4 is a block diagram identifying the components of the invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of the opto-electrical transducer circuit.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention The invention is a planar or contoured large screen display (1) (LSD) as may be viewed in Figure 1, comprised of a matrix or array of tiles (2). Each display (1) consists of a plurality of (preferably) equal-sized tiles (2) adjoined to each other and to a structural frame (14), in rows and columns, and supported by flexible support rods (16). In the preferred embodiment, as may be viewed in Figure 3A, each tile (2) has its own micro-display (9) and illumination device (11) coupled to the rear of the tile (2) for producing an image on the surface of the tile (2), said image being a partial image of the total displayed image. Alternatively, each tile (2) may be coupled via an ordered imaging bundle of optical fibers (6) to a single data/video projector (31), as may be reviewed in Figure 3B.

Figures 2A - E are referred to in the following description of the display tiles (2). Each display tile (2) is assembled from parts made of injection-molded thermoplastic, typically ABS, polycarbonate, or some other material appropriate to the environmental conditions in which the display (1) will be deployed. The overall LSD (1) is designed to be either planar or contourable, the size of each tile (2) being sufficiently small to allow the radius of curvature required to contour the display (1) in the desired fashion, with smaller tiles (2) allowing a smaller radius (greater curvature). In the specific embodiment disclosed, each display tile (2) is comprised of two separate parts: a front piece which constitutes the display surface (3) and a rear cowl (18), which are snapped and cemented together after the fibers (26) are inserted into the front piece. The display surface (3) of each tile (2) is perforated by a matrix of concave, conical orifices (4) in which the distal fiber optic ends (5) terminate as may be viewed in Figures 2A and 2B. The half-angle of the cone must correspond to the numerical aperture (NA) of the optical fiber (26) used, such that the cone of light emitted from each distal fiber end (5) is not occluded or limited. The fiber optic strands (26) are collected into an ordered square input bundle (6) (or rectangular, if the tile (2) is rectangular) which terminates at the rear of the tile (2) as shown in Figures 2B and 2C. The surface comprised of all the fiber terminations is then polished and optically coated for optimal image coupling. The tile (2) assembly may be filled with expanding foam that serves both to insulate and protect the fiber optic strands (26) enveloped therein.

On the surface of the display (3), the fiber terminals (5) are located so that they are slightly recessed with respect to the tile surface (3) as illustrated in Figure 2B, and are affixed with optical epoxy (e.g., EpoTek 301). A light-shaping diffusion film, preferably a holographic diffusion film (35) with very high optical transmission and low back-scattering, is applied to the front (or display surface) (3) of each tile (2). The diffusion film (35) is affixed in such a manner as to leave between 30 - 70% of the tile surface exposed, as illustrated in Figure 2A. The percentage of exposed tile surface (3) is related to the contrast of the display (1) and is dictated by the lighting conditions in which the display (1) will be used. Displays (1) for indoor use can be depixelized more than displays (1) to be used outdoors. The base material chosen for the tile (2) is preferably black, with a matte or lenticular stippled surface in order to enhance the contrast of the display by absorbing ambient light. Alternatively, a translucent or light-diffusing material may be used for the base material, in this case, black, light-absorbing material may be attached or silk-screened onto the tile surface (3) to achieve the same effect as illustrated in Figure 2A.

The pitch or spacing between adjacent distal fiber ends (5) is also determined by the application, so that displays (1) to be used for proximal viewing (e.g., indoors) will have a higher fiber density (smaller pitch) than displays (1) used for viewing at a distance. In the specific embodiment disclosed, the display surface (3) is designed with a matrix of orifices (4) spaced 4 mm on center, so that pixel pitches in multiples of 4 mm may be used (e.g., 4 mm, 8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, etc.). The embodiment described here uses a uniform 8-mm center-to- center pitch on both the vertical and horizontal axes. The distal fiber ends (5) on the perimeter of the tile (2) are situated half of the pixel pitch, or 4 mm, from the tile edge, so that when multiple tiles (2) are joined, the 8-mm fiber pitch is preserved.

In an alternative and preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optical fiber assembly is partially replaced by a solid transparent thermoplastic (e.g., polycarbonate, or acrylic) array of optical lightguides (27) to which an array of optical fibers (26) is attached, as illustrated in Figure 2E. These light guides (27) are attached directly to the display tiles (2) and function as both lightguides and lenses, having several advantages over direct termination of the fibers (26) near the display surface (3). First, because the lightguides (27) are manufactured using an injection-molding procedure, the entire lightguide array can be made as a single part and the optical fibers (26) can be held in a fiber carrier (34) which attaches to the lightguide (27) as a single unit, eliminating the time and expense of inserting individual fiber ends (5) into the display tile (2). Second, because of the manufacturing procedure involved, the thermoplastic lightguides (27) can be tapered or molded to any desired shape, thus enhancing the contrast ratio and overall appearance of the display (1). Formation of such tapered ends on optical fibers (26) is a costly process. Each solid lightguide (27) array may have a lens or diffuser (33) formed on each distal end, for the purpose of providing wide-angle viewing of the display (1). These lenses (33) can be formed by molding, embossing, or lithographically etching the material.

Each tile (2) is fitted with tabs (7) along each of its four sides as shown in Figure 2A (edge tiles may have only three tabs, and corner tiles only two tabs). The tabs (7) may be molded as appendages to each tile (2), or may be manufactured as separate items and attached to each tile (2) using hardware or adhesive; in either case they must be somewhat flexible to allow for curvature of the display surface (3).

Each tile (2) is joined to its four (or two or three in the case of corners or edges) neighboring tiles (2) by means of clips (8) which are inserted around and over adjacent tabs (7). Alternatively, several different clip widths can be made which force the adjoining tiles (2) to be disposed at specific angles, although the curvature of the display surface (3) is determined primarily by the tile support and locator rods (16).

Mounted to each tile input surface is a micro-display (9) - a miniature spatial light modulator (SLM), commonly available as a commercial off-the-shelf product, as illustrated in Figure 2B. Each SLM requires a source of illumination (11), low voltage input power to the illuminator (12), and low voltage electrical signal power (13). In addition, a polarizer is generally required between the illumination source (11) and the SLM (9), as well as a diffuser to assure uniform illumination of the SLM. Various options are available for illumination, depending upon the type of SLM used. Ferro-Liquid Crystal Displays (FLCD's, e.g., from Display Tech), are field sequential displays, meaning that red, green, and blue light are sequentially strobed by the display electronics into the SLM. This can be achieved using arrays of high-brightness LED's, which are readily available off-the-shelf. SLM's such as active matrix TFT's (Thin Film Transistors) require collimated white light. This can be achieved with Cold Cathode Fluorescent (CCF) technology, full spectrum LED arrays, arc lamps, etc. For outdoor use, the SLM's must be able to handle large amounts of luminous flux. Thus, transmissive SLM's with large aperture ratios or highly efficient reflective SLM's (e.g., LCoS displays from SpatialLight) are preferable. A refractive microlens array (RMLA) (10) may be used to enhance the optical coupling between the light from the SLM (9) and the optical fiber array (6).

The image signal for each SLM is a segment of the input signal to the display electronics. A computer image or other source image is divided by the number of micro-displays (9) compris- ing the display (1). Standard off-the-shelf video wall processors constitute the electronic circuit (22) for segmenting images among the micro-displays (9). The image source and video splitter (22) are preferably disposed in a separate enclosure.

A structural frame (14) may be used in non-permanent applications as may be viewed in Figure 3A. Such a frame (14) may be constructed of extruded or tubular aluminum, plastic, or other suitable material. Each display tile (2) is fitted with vertical and horizontal locator passages (15) through which flexible locator rods (16) pass. Alternatively, the locator passages can be formed into the clips (8) that are used to attach adjoining tiles (2) as shown in Figures 2B, 2C, and 2D, and 3A. The locator rods (16) can then be attached to the top, bottom, and two sides of the structural frame (14) as illustrated in Figure 3A. Because of the nature of fiber optic LSD's, a significant portion of the display surface area (3) of each tile (2) is not populated by fiber, leaving ample room for optical input fibers (17) as shown in Figure 2A. Optical input fiber (17) materials are selected based on their optical transmission characteristics in the wavelength region that the interactive display system (1) has been designed to collect. For example, if the visible spectrum is being collected inexpensive plastic optic fiber (PMMA) can be used. Quartz or fused silica fibers may be required for use where ultraviolet or infrared radiation is being detected. Solid acrylic and polycarbonate may also be used. The density and pattern of optical input fibers (17) on the display surface (3) is a function of the use of the display (1). Imaging applications using a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) will require a high input density, whereas simple light detection requires a low density.

There are numerous methods for opto-electrical coupling that can be employed, depending upon the specific use of the display (1). Inexpensive cadmium sulfide (CdS) photoresistors can be coupled to the input to detect the amount of light impinging upon the tile (2). This type of coupling is the least expensive as well as the least sensitive, and does not require that the input fibers (17) are formed into an ordered (imaging) array. If greater sensitivity is required, photodiode arrays can be employed, where each photodiode can be individually coupled to a single input fiber (17). If imaging is required, an ordered fiber array can be coupled to a CCD. Commercial off-the-shelf infrared transceivers can be coupled to quartz fibers. These transceivers can be directly connected to the serial inputs of a computer or network interface for sending and receiving infrared signals, for the purpose of control or information exchange (e.g., using the IrDA standard). The specific embodiment disclosed utilizes sixteen optical input fibers (17) per 152 mm (6-inch) square tile (2). These are configured in a 4 x 4 array or matrix as shown in Figure 2A. PMMA (acrylic) optical fiber of 1 mm diameter is utilized. Each row of four fibers is coupled to a single monolithic quad-phototransistor IC (32), and four rows of fibers together comprise an interactive input surface coincident with the surface (3) of the display tile (2). The four outputs are then coupled to an off-the-shelf integrating circuit (36) that effectively superimposes the voltage outputs from the phototransistor IC's. Thus, each tile (2) has a singular time-varying voltage output signal (20) that corresponds to the integrated light output from the surface of the tile (2). This circuitry is housed in an enclosure (19) that is connected to or integrated with the tile's rear cowl (18).

The following discussion refers to Figure 4. The low voltage outputs (20) from the collective matrix of display tiles (2) are connected to a data acquisition card (23) hosted by the computer (21) that is driving the display (1). This data acquisition card (23) is capable of sampling several hundred analog input lines. "Intelligent" data acquisition cards (i.e., cards that are designed with onboard CPU's and RAM for data buffering) are preferable since they permit the host computer (21) to drive the display without the additional overhead of analyzing and responding to the input data stream.

A software application is executed on the processor built into the intelligent data acquisition card (23). This application samples the analog inputs at the desired frequency. The sampling frequency is determined by the display (1) application. For example, to sense human interaction, a frequency of 4 - 20 Hz would generally be sufficient. In order to detect a hockey puck striking the display (1), per our previous example, we would need to sample at 10 - 100 Hz per channel. This per-channel rate is then multiplied by the number of display tiles (2) to arrive at an aggregate sampling frequency. Sampled data need not be saved; again, it is contingent upon the use of the display (1). If only real-time responses are generated, then data storage is not necessary. The interactive signal information from the tiles (2) can be characterized as follows:

1. Position - That is, which tile (2) or tiles (2) have been activated.

2. Light/dark - The circuitry can be designed to detect either the absence of light or the presence of light.

3. Rate - By differentiating the input signal, a measurement of the velocity of an object towards (or away from) the display (1) can be made; and by differentiating the velocity signal the acceleration of an object towards (or away from) the display (1) can be determined. 4. Pattern - The pattern created by the activation/deactivation of specific tiles (2) can be used to determine the size and shape of persons or objects in proximity to the display surface (3).

5. Sequences - The sequence in which tiles (2) are activated/deactivated; this information can also be used to determine the velocity and acceleration of the person or object near the display (1).

Depending upon the display (1) application, one or more of the above characteristics can be extracted from the interactive data. The data acquisition executive software then generates an interrupt to the host computer (21) indicating that some type of event requiring a response has occurred. The host computer (21) then alters or augments the display via a separate software application (25). Typical latencies for this interactive cycle are on the order of 10 to 250 milliseconds. The entire interactive display (1 ) system can be connected to a network (24), (e.g., the public internet) for the purpose of remote or unattended control.

Industrial Applicability

In addition to the examples presented in the description above, other uses for this invention include:

1. Security - A combination of infrared, visible light, and imaging sensors to provide personnel access to secure areas. Entrance would be gained by creating "keys" that are activated by touching or occluding ambient light from certain tiles (2) in a certain pattern, with a prescribed timing sequence. 2. Interactive dance floor - A dance floor comprised of interactive tiles (2) would respond to the position and movement of dancers. Software on the controlling computer would then change the lighting or imagery. This would be useful for dance instruction.

3. Interactive walkway or hallway - In a similar manner the floor, walls, and/or ceilings of walkways or hallways could be assembled from interactive display tiles (2), with software on the controlling computer (21) changing the lighting or imagery in response to the position and movement of users. Alternatively, a user, upon entering the walkway, could choose from a displayed menu of colors, textures, shapes, etc. which the control computer (21) would subsequently execute as the user moves along the walkway.

4. Interactive task-specific lighting - Allows control of lighting parameters (color, luminance, etc.) by simply touching different parts of the display (1) or a single tile (2). Since the light source is remote from the display surface (3) there is no heat at the surface. This would be useful in medical and dental offices, operating rooms, machine shops, and the like. An interactive display and illumination system would also be useful for optometrists and opthamologists, by combining lighting and optical testing (e.g., letter and color charts, depth perception, and peripheral and binocular vision tests). The same type of lighting would be useful in behavioral science laboratories and clinics.

5. Another example related to sports is the use of such a rugged interactive display as a basketball backboard. In this example, the interactive capabilities could be used to respond when the basketball hits the backboard, as well as to display advertisements and the score.

6. Another type of application for interactive video displays is the area of interactive gaming, in which participants armed with laser or other light-emitting "weapons" engage in virtual adventures (e.g., combat, exploration, board games, etc.) within a physical area in which the walls, ceiling, and even the floor consist of interactive LSD's, such LSD's operating under the control and management of a computer which, by means of the interactive capabilities of each LSD, "knows" the location and movement of each participant, and adjusts or manages the game parameters and the video content delivered to each LSD accordingly. The LSD's in this case are sensitive not only to the proximity and movement of each participant, but also to the discharge of light-emitting

"weapons" carried by the participants, generating visual feedback on the displays in response to the nature (e.g., duration, position, or intensity) of the interaction with the game participants.

Claims

ClaimsAlthough specific embodiments are disclosed herein, such embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. We claim:

1. A planar or multiply-contoured electro-optical display (1), consisting of a plurality of tiles (2) which form a display surface (3), a plurality of micro-displays (9) providing optical input to said tiles (2), each one cooperating with a single tile (2), a display surface (3), with a means of connection between said micro-displays (9) and said surface (3) comprising optical fibers (26) with fiber optic ends (5) or any other type of optical lightguide (27), a means of illuminating (11) each micro-display (9), an electronic circuit (22) for segmenting images among the micro-displays (9) which may be a standard off- the-shelf video splitter (image segmenter) or alternatively a customized video splitter to segregate a single source image, whether moving or static, into multiple partial images which are then conveyed to each micro-display (9) and subsequently reconstituted as a single image on the display surface (3); a structural frame (14) and matrix of flexible horizontal and vertical locator rods (16) which attach to the tiles (2) to provide stability to the display (1) by joining the display tiles (2), a means of connection between tiles (2) of tabs (7) on the sides of the tiles (2) attached to adjoining tabs (7) by spring clips (8), which enables the formation of a planar or multiply-contoured display (1) of virtually any size and/or shape; optical input fibers (17) originating at display tiles (2) and affixed to opto-electrical transducers (32) producing voltage outputs (20), such that said opto- electrical transducers (32) are capable of sensing variations in luminous flux in proximity to the surface (3) of the display (1), such variations in luminous flux caused by the presence and/or motion of objects or persons in proximity to the display (1) front surface (3) or light impinging upon the display (1), such opto-electrical transducers (32) being interfaced to a control computer (21) which receives inputs from one or a plurality of such opto-electrical transducers (32) and which also controls the content of material delivered to the display (1), said control computer (21) employing software (25) and hardware comprised of a data acquisition card (23) which receives and analyzes data from the opto-electrical transducers (32) and subsequently modifies and controls the content of material delivered to the display (1), for a purpose of providing a direct and immediate interaction between persons or objects in proximity to the display (1) or communicating with the display (1) using light beams, infrared beams, or lasers, and the content of material delivered to the display (1).

2. A planar or multiply-contoured electro-optical display (1), consisting of a plurality of tiles (2) which form a display surface (3), a projector (31) providing optical input to said tiles

(2), and communicating with said tiles (2) by means of optical fibers (26), said optical fibers (26) terminating at said tiles (2) in fiber optic ends (5) or any other type of optical lightguide (27), said optical fibers (26) also gathered into ordered bundles (6) which collectively form an ordered array; a structural frame (14) and matrix of flexible horizontal and vertical locator rods (16) which attach to the tiles (2) to provide stability to the display (1) by joining the display tiles (2), a means of connection between tiles (2) of tabs

(7) on the sides of the tiles (2) attached to adjoining tabs (7) by spring clips (8), which enables the formation of a planar or multiply-contoured display (1) of virtually any size and/or shape; optical input fibers (17) originating at display tiles (2) and affixed to opto- electrical transducers (32) producing voltage outputs (20), such that said opto-electrical transducers (32) are capable of sensing variations in luminous flux in proximity to the surface (3) of the display (1), such variations in luminous flux caused by the presence and/or motion of objects or persons in proximity to the display (1) front surface (3) or light impinging upon the display (1), such opto-electrical transducers (32) being interfaced to a control computer (21) which receives inputs from one or a plurality of such opto- electrical transducers (32) and which also controls the content of material delivered to the display (1), said control computer (21) employing software (25) and hardware comprised of a data acquisition card (23) which receives and analyzes data from the opto-electrical transducers (32) and subsequently modifies and controls the content of material delivered to the display (1), for a purpose of providing a direct and immediate interaction between persons or objects in proximity to the display (1) or communicating with the display (1) using light beams, infrared beams, or lasers, and the content of material delivered to the display (1).

3. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the optical input fibers (17) are comprised of material selected on the basis of optical transmission characteristics in the wavelength region which the display (1) has been designed to collect.

4. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the configuration and density of the optical input fibers (17) are tailored to provide spatial resolution in accordance with the function of the display (1).

5. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the distal fiber optic ends (5) are recessed in orifices (4) or slots in the display surface (3) such that the cone of light emitted from each distal fiber end (5) grows larger as it travels forward and reaches a holographic diffusion film (35) partially or fully covering the display surface (3), said holographic diffusion film (35) further spreading said cone of light from each fiber to provide wide- angle viewing of the display (1).

6. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the distal fiber optic ends (5) alternatively terminate in fiber carriers (34) attached to molded arrays of solid transparent thermoplastic light guides (27), which are, in turn, attached to the display tiles (2), such that the cone of light emitted from each distal fiber end (5) grows larger as it passes through the light guide to the front surface of the display (1).

7. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the optical fibers (26) alternatively are attached 5 to a fiber carrier (34) which is, in turn, attached to a molded thermoplastic light guide array (27), such that a group of optical fibers (26) corresponding to the number of individual light guides in the array is inserted into the light guide array (27) as a unit.

8. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the display tiles (2) are square, rectangular, or in general, polygonal in shape with flexible tabs (7) on each side. ιo

9. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the display tiles (2) are made of injection-molded thermoplastic, typically ABS or polycarbonate to create a rugged durable display (1).

10. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which each display tile (2) has one or more light- shaping diffusers (33) disposed at the ends of lightguides (27) that are coupled to distal fiber ends (5) for the purpose of increasing the effective numerical aperture of said fibers

15 and thus creating a uniform distribution of light irrespective of viewer position (viewing angle).

11. The display (1) of Claim 2 in which the projector (31) may be a data projector, a video projector, or a static image (slide) projector.

12. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which each opto-electrical transducer (32) is a CdS 20 photoresistor, a phototransistor, a photodiode, or an array of such, or a Charge-Coupled

Device (CCD).

13. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the display (1) responds in real-time to an interaction between the display (1) and a person (or persons) or object(s) in proximity to the display surface (3).

25 14. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which the display (1) responds in real time to an interaction between the display (1) and a light beam, infrared beam or laser beam directed and controlled by a person or persons at any distance from the display (1) within the effective range of said light beam, infrared beam, or laser beam.

15. The display (1) of Claim 1 or 2 in which all or only a portion of the display surface (3) has 30 interactive capabilities.

16. A method for assembling and use of an interactive large screen fiber optic display (1), in which a plurality of optical fibers (26) or light guides (27) is used to convey an image generated by micro-displays or spatial light modulators (9) or a projector (31) to a display surface (3) comprised of a plurality of display tiles (2), said display tiles (2) being fitted with additional optical input fibers (17) which do not communicate with said micro- displays or spatial light modulators (9) or said projector (31), said added input fibers (17) being used to convey visible light, ultraviolet, or infrared radiation from the front of the display (1) to a plurality of opto-electrical sensors (32), said sensors (32) receiving said light, ultraviolet, or infrared radiation and generating electrical signals (20) which may be proportional to the intensity of said light or infrared radiation, said sensors (32) also being connected to a data acquisition card (23), said data acquisition card (23) receiving and organizing said electrical signals from said sensors (32), said data acquisition system being controlled by a computer (21), said computer (21) receiving said electrical signals from said data acquisition card (23), said computer (21) also being programmed with software (25) to derive the geometric distribution and relative intensity of light or infrared radiation transmitted through said optical input fibers (17), said computer (21) being further programmed with software (25) to respond in real time to the results of said analysis by modifying the image content which said computer (21) is delivering to the micro-displays or spatial light modulators (9) or projector (31) and hence to the display

(1).