Robotically controlled entertainment elements

• US 10,257,479 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Flessas
• Original Assignee: Andrew Flessas
• Inventors: Flessas, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Luo, David
• Application Number:
  US15/725,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20180124363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 31856811, 3185681, 318567, 318560
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/003 Manipulators for entertainment
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1682 Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/50 Miscellaneous

Abstract

A robotic mount is configured to move an entertainment element such as a video display, a video projector, a video projector screen or a staircase. The robotic mount is movable in multiple degrees of freedom, whereby the associated entertainment element is moveable in three-dimensional space. In one embodiment, a system of entertainment elements are made to move and operate in synchronicity with each other.

Claims

1. A robotically controlled projector screen comprising:

a robotic mount comprising;

a base;

a moveable support connected to said base, said moveable support comprising at least a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, each of said first, second and third portions movable relative to one another and each portion moveable about at least one axis, whereby said moveable support is configured to move about each of an x axis, a y axis and a z axis which are all perpendicular to one another;

at least one motor configured to move said first, second and third portions of said moveable support;

an electronic controller configured to control said at least one motor to move said moveable support; and

a projector screen comprising;

a support structure connected to one of said first, second or third portions of said moveable support; and

a light-reflective material attached to said support structure and arranged to tautly display at least one surface of said material,

wherein said surface is moveable about any of said x axis, y axis and z axis through said mount by translation of motion initiated by said at least one motor configured to move said moveable support, for dynamically positioning said surface to an orientation suited for receiving light projection from a robotically controlled and moveable projector.

2. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light-reflective material is elastic.

3. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 1, further comprising computer coded instructions executable by said electronic controller to cause said at least one motor to move said movable support.

4. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

at least one memory storage device for storing the plurality of computer coded instructions; and

at least one processor for processing said plurality of computer coded instructions; and

wherein said at least one electronic controller is configured to receive said computer coded instructions after processing, and to send a signal to said at least one motor to move said moveable support.

5. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 1, wherein the projector screen comprises the light-reflective elastic material for receiving a video projection from the projector on one side of said material and impressions from objects of various shapes on an opposite side of said material to establish a three-dimensional viewing surface.

6. A robotically controlled projector screen comprising:

a robotic mount comprising;

a base;

a moveable support connected to said base, said moveable support comprising at least a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, each of said first, second and third portions movable relative to one another and each portion moveable about at least one axis, whereby said moveable support is configured to move about each of an x axis, a y axis and a z axis which are all perpendicular to one another;

at least one motor configured to move said first, second and third portions of said moveable support;

an electronic controller configured to control said at least one motor to move said moveable support; and

a projector screen comprising;

a support structure connected to one of said first, second or third portions of said moveable support; and

a light-reflective material attached to said support structure and arranged to tautly display at least one surface of said material,

wherein said surface is moveable about any of said x axis, y axis and z axis through said mount by translation of motion initiated by said at least one motor configured to move said moveable support, for positioning said surface to an orientation suited for receiving light projection from a projector.

7. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 6, wherein said light-reflective material is elastic.

8. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 6, further comprising computer coded instructions executable by said electronic controller to cause said at least one motor to move said movable support.

9. The robotically controlled projector screen in accordance with claim 8, wherein the projector screen comprises the light-reflective elastic material for receiving a video projection from the projector on one side of said material and impressions from objects of various shapes on an opposite side of said material to establish a three-dimensional viewing surface.

10. The system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

at least one memory storage device for storing the plurality of computer coded instructions; and

at least one processor for processing said plurality of computer coded instructions; and

wherein said at least one electronic controller is configured to receive said computer coded instructions after processing, and to send a signal to said at least one motor to move said moveable support.