Optics: image projectors – Plural
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-12
2003-12-30
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Optics: image projectors
Plural
C353S122000, C353S015000, C353S070000, C352S069000, C352S070000, C352S034000, C434S040000, C434S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669346
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to large-audience, positionable imaging and display systems for the imaging and displaying of visual-media content. More particularly, it pertains to large-audience imaging and display systems incorporating image-projection, image-processing, and image-displaying, apparatus suitable for the communication, control and exhibition of live and/or pre-recorded visual-media content such as analog or digital video, film, slides, computer-generated panoramic content graphics and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In particular, the large-audience, positionable imaging and display system comprises substantially cylindrical, arced, or dome-shaped, screen-displays that are each configured for display of panoramic imagery and in some embodiments are also configured for networked interactivity, or for the viewing and/or participant interaction with multimedia content featuring a circularity of action (e.g. panoramic games, races, or battles).
In one embodiment the large-audience screen-displays are positioned to be exteriorly viewable, and in another embodiment the large-audience screen-displays provide a dual-perspective viewing such that screen-content is both exteriorly and interiorly viewable from any one of a variety of vantage points beyond an outer diameter of the screen(s). In either embodiment, the large-audience screen-displays of the image delivery and display system can exhibit pre-recorded, computer-generated, and image-processed image content (optionally including synchronous audio). The screen-displays also exhibit live, multi-channel, or multiplexed, panoramic content (such as the video and audio received from a live multi-camera broadcast). The system can be configured having sufficient height and width to facilitate either close proximity viewing or viewing at a distance, and in the latter case, can readily be employed in arenas, stadiums and other large audience venues, including venues in indoor or outdoor settings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since the inception of motion pictures, and with more recent developments in projection systems for live and pre-recorded images, various screen-displays have been utilized to achieve a sense in their respective viewers, of being visually immersed in the moving images before them. The most common method used to achieve an immersive projection quality has been to project motion pictures, and the like, onto a large rectangular screen. Advances in film and projection technologies have since made possible the combination of high image resolution and large screen projection in improved systems such as those made popular by the international “IMAX” theatres. In the 1960's and 1970's Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., featured an attraction having a 360° screen whereon a contiguously-imaged film projection-in-the-round was achieved. This contiguous cylindrical presentation was recorded by a ring of cameras each synchronized to one another and having a field-of-view which, was aligned next to images captured by adjacent cameras in the camera-ring. A similar arrangement of projectors-in-a-ring was utilized to synchronously project the film previously shot by the cameras.
Other innovations and advancements in projection technology for commercial and entertainment purposes, include the screens themselves, such as the refinement in materials comprising rear-projection and front-projection screens which achieve a more efficient luminance of projected images. Somewhat more fanciful seeming, yet nonetheless commercially viable, are the displays (albeit mostly static ones) which can be seen emanating from various lighter-than-air craft including large spherical helium balloons and airships each having a luminous lighting source contained therein to accentuate the messages imprinted on their semi-transparent skins. More recently, a substantial improvement in the quality of video and computer-data projection has been achieved by technology such as Texas Instruments Digital-Light-Processor (‘DLP’) ‘chip’ and newer multiple-chip DLP projection. A joint-venture by Hughes and JVC (General Motors and Matsushita parent companies, respectively) has produced the Image Lamp Amplifier or ILA® Projector.
Prior to the release of these projector technologies, most video and computer-data projected images were deficient for outdoor and large audience venues. They had lumen ratings well under 1000 lumens, which required near or total darkness to be effective, and were rendered almost useless when even small amounts of ambient light entered the projection environment. Moreover, projected video image quality, whether live or pre-recorded, had a notoriously poor reputation, lacking in resolution, contrast, color saturation and brightness, especially when there was a presence of ambient light in the environment in which they were seen.
The new video and computer-data projection technologies mentioned above, have largely overcome these limitations achieving projections which deliver 6000 lumens or better, and contrast ratios in the range of 1000:1, and in addition, have made great strides in removing the pixel-grid appearance of traditional video-display, thus, further improving image-resolution and projection quality in both low and high ambient light environments. Emerging digital broadcast and High Definition Television (‘HDTV’) standards and emerging HDTV projection systems further advance the quality and technological foundation upon which the present invention may now practicably be built.
Such means, as well as advancements in video (or film) image processors, and computer-generated multimedia content, also facilitate the practicability of new image delivery and display systems for exhibiting panoramic imagery, and multimedia content featuring a circularity of action, including systems that are effective in a variety of large-audience indoor and outdoor environments.
Prior to such advancements however, achieving effective, quality projection and display of visual-content required a controlled environment wherein near or total darkness must be achieved and maintained. This was especially true for live or pre-recorded video content projections. Furthermore, participant-viewers were restricted to the confines of such highly controlled environments. For example, the Disney 360° projection and display system required both near or almost total darkness, and its entire audience had to stand and rotate in an almost fixed location within the perimeter of its cylindrical screen in order to see a majority representation of the circular panorama. Thus, the viewing audience was necessarily contained well within, and some distance back from, the inner perimeter of the screen. The Disney system was also subject to the limits of film production, and consequently had no provision for live, or real-time, panoramic representations. The audience's proximity to the visual movement of projected images on the screen was also a problem, which necessitated imposing production restraints to minimize motion sickness. Any attempts to provide a circularity of action—such as racecars continually racing around an oval track—was also curtailed because it caused dizziness, and viewers had to continually rotate in place to keep up with the action.
Similar to the Disney system, other screen-in-the-round schemes have been utilized with a variety of projection approaches, including single-image panoramic projection through a fish-eye type lens onto a hemi-spherical or dome-shaped surface resulting in lower resolution image projection and similar types of viewing-environment limitations.
Such interior-of-screen viewing requirements not only substantially limit the number of viewers for each ‘show’ or presentation, they further limit the opportunities for other engaging and viable commercial applications. For example, arenas, stadiums, and other venues that can accommodate large audiences, do not seat or otherwise position their respective audience facing outward or away from a central point of focus within the venue, i.e. they don&
Adams Russell
Koval Melissa J
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