Devices and methods for providing a distributed manifestation in an environment

• US 10,104,751 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eski Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eski Inc.
• Inventors: Leclerc, Vincent, Keroulas, Patrick, de Belleval, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sultan
• Application Number:
  US15/807,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20180077775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 25/00 Equipment specially adapted for cinemas cinematographic projection means G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 5/02 Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2033 LED or laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/08 Projecting images onto non-planar surfaces, e.g. geodetic screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7458 the modulator being an array of deformable mirrors, e.g. digital micromirror device [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

The present invention concerns a projection system for providing a distributed manifestation within an environment. The projection system includes a data generator for generating a plurality of data sets of associated state data and spatial coordinate data. The projection system also includes a projector in communication with the data generator for receiving the data sets. The projector is provided with a signal generating module for generating a plurality of electromagnetic signals, and a projecting module for projecting each of the electromagnetic signals towards a target location within the environment. The projection system also includes a plurality of receiving units distributed within the environment, each receiving unit having a receiver for receiving one of the electromagnetic signals when the receiving unit is positioned in the corresponding target location, each receiving unit being adapted to perform a change of state in response to the state data.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of receiving units; and

a projector unit configured to project directional electromagnetic signals toward a target location at which the plurality of receiving units are located, the electromagnetic signals comprising data defining state information;

wherein;

the electromagnetic signals comprise a first set of electromagnetic signals and a second set of electromagnetic signals, each one of the first set of electromagnetic signals having a wavelength making the one electromagnetic signal visible, each one of the second set of electromagnetic signals having a wavelength making the one electromagnetic signal non-visible; and

each one of the plurality of receiving units is configured to receive and process the data, the processing comprising the one receiving unit expressing a state in accordance with the state information as a result of being at the target location when the data is received.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit is mobile.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit incorporates a data generating unit configured to generate the data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit incorporates a signal generating unit for generating the electromagnetic signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of electromagnetic signals comprises data defining state information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of electromagnetic signals comprises data defining state information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of electromagnetic signals comprises infrared signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of electromagnetic signals comprises electromagnetic signals having a first wavelength and electromagnetic signals having a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit is configured to employ one or more of a lamp, a laser, and a light emitting diode to project the directional electromagnetic signals toward the target location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is encoded in the electromagnetic signals.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein encoding of the data is accomplished at least in part via modulation of the electromagnetic signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the modulation corresponds to the state information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit comprises one or more optical components to shape, direct, and/or focus the electromagnetic signals.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more optical components comprises a collimator.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more optical components comprises a lens.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more optical components comprises a beam shaper.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit is configured to project the electromagnetic signals as one or more beams.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit is configured to have a modifiable position so that during operation the projector unit can switch between projecting toward a first target location and projecting toward a second target location.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receiving units is configured to express a state selected from a group of states consisting of exhibiting one or more visual characteristics, producing one or more sounds, producing an odor, moving, and exhibiting one or more tactile characteristics.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receiving units comprises a state component for expressing the state, the state component being selected from a group consisting of light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, quantum dots, incandescent lights, neon lights, liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, electronic paper displays, electro-chromic displays, thermo-chromic displays, electromechanically-actuated light filters, electroluminescent elements and phosphorescent elements.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the projector unit is configured to simultaneously project directional electromagnetic signals toward each of a plurality of target locations at which receiving units are located.

22. A method, comprising acts of:

(A) providing a plurality of receiving units; and

(B) causing a projector unit to project directional electromagnetic signals toward a target location at which the plurality of receiving units are located, the electromagnetic signals comprising data defining state information, the electromagnetic signals comprising a first set of electromagnetic signals and a second set of electromagnetic signals, each one of the first set of electromagnetic signals having a wavelength making the one electromagnetic signal visible, each one of the second set of electromagnetic signals having a wavelength making the one electromagnetic signal non-visible;

wherein each one of the plurality of receiving units provided in the act (A) is configured to receive and process the data, the processing comprising the one receiving unit expressing a state in accordance with the state information as a result of being at the target location when the data is received.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (B) comprises causing a mobile projector unit to project directional electromagnetic signals toward the target location.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (B) comprises causing a projector unit which incorporates a data generating unit configured to generate the data to project the directional electromagnetic signals toward the target location.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (B) comprises causing a projector unit which incorporates a signal generating unit configured to generate the electromagnetic signals to project the directional electromagnetic signals toward the target location.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the first set of electromagnetic signals comprises data defining state information.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the second set of electromagnetic signals comprises data defining state information.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the second set of electromagnetic signals comprises infrared signals.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the first set of electromagnetic signals comprises electromagnetic signals having a first wavelength and electromagnetic signals having a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the data is encoded in the electromagnetic signals.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein encoding of the data is accomplished at least in part via modulation of the electromagnetic signals.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the modulation corresponds to the state information.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (B) comprises causing the projector unit to project the electromagnetic signals as one or more beams.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (B) comprises causing the projector unit to switch between projecting toward a first target location and projecting toward a second target location.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (A) comprises providing a plurality of receiving units each configured to express a state selected from a group of states consisting of exhibiting one or more visual characteristics, producing one or more sounds, producing an odor, moving, and exhibiting one or more tactile characteristics.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (A) comprises providing a plurality of receiving units each comprising a state component for expressing the state, the state component being selected from a group consisting of light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, quantum dots, incandescent lights, neon lights, liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, electronic paper displays, electro-chromic displays, thermo-chromic displays, electromechanically-actuated light filters, electroluminescent elements and phosphorescent elements.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the act (B) comprises causing the projector unit to simultaneously project directional electromagnetic signals toward each of a plurality of target locations at which receiving units are located.

38. A method, comprising an act of:

(A) causing a projector unit to project directional electromagnetic signals toward a target location at which a plurality of receiving units are located, the electromagnetic signals comprising data defining state information, the electromagnetic signals comprising a first set of electromagnetic signals and a second set of electromagnetic signals, each one of the first set of electromagnetic signals having a wavelength making the one electromagnetic signal visible, each one of the second set of electromagnetic signals having a wavelength making the one electromagnetic signal non-visible, the data being arranged such that receipt and processing of the data by one of the plurality receiving units at the target location causes the one receiving unit to express a state in accordance with the state information.