Conversion of cinema theatre to a super cinema theatre

• US 20050248726A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Inventors: Jacques, George Eric, Read, Steven Charles, Bonnick, Brian John
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 352/40
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/22 Theatres; Concert halls; Studios for broadcasting, cinematography, television or similar purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/32 Details specially adapted for motion-picture projection with film moving continuously through the gate G03B41/02
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/565 Screens allowing free passage of sound G03B21/58 - G03B21/62 take precedence

Abstract

Methods of and equipment for converting existing standard motion picture theatres to one having highly immersive, large fields of view are addressed. Aspects of the methods including moving motion picture screens closer to the audience and employing different projection equipment to avoid or minimize appearance of unrealistic or non-natural image artefacts. Alternative sound systems too are detailed.

Claims

1. A method of converting an existing multiplex theatre hall into a wide screen immersive motion picture theatre including the steps of:

erecting a motion picture screen that stretches substantially from wall to wall and floor to ceiling in a position closer to the projector than the existing screen; and

employing image projection means to increase the fidelity of projected images to compensate for the larger screen size.

2. The method of claim 1 in which employing the image projection means increases the fidelity of projected images such that the image fidelity is greater in the front row seats than the image fidelity was prior to conversion.

3. The method of claim 1 further including selecting an existing theatre hall having stadium rake seating.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the employed image projection means is a 3D projection system.

5. The method of claim 1 further including providing an emergency screen access system.

6. The method of claim 1 further including providing additional vertical height to the screen by any of the following methods:

tilting the screen towards or away from the audience;

curving or increasing curvature of the screen in the vertical direction;

curving or increasing curvature of the screen in the horizontal direction;

or

modifying the ceiling to provide additional effective height to employ a higher screen.

7. The method of claim 1 further including adding a sound barrier behind screen loudspeakers to ensure optimum quality of the sound for the realistic immersive audio experience.

8. A method of converting an existing multiplex theatre hall into a significantly better quality and more realistic and immersive surround sound experience that includes the steps of:

changing the sound system loudspeaker configuration to one using 5 discrete loudspeakers and one sub-bass loudspeaker assembly such that each of the 5 discrete loudspeakers is positioned at left screen, centre screen, right screen, right rear, and left rear, and

all discrete loudspeakers are fed simultaneously by a separate source audio channel with appropriate amplification and equalisation, and

using loudspeakers that use proportional point source technology or have characteristics similar to proportional point source loudspeakers to significantly improve balanced sound from all discrete loudspeakers over all the theatre seats.

9. The method of claim 8 that further including the step of using loudspeakers that use proportional point source technology or have characteristics similar to proportional point source loudspeakers that act as a point source of sound or a virtual point source of sound.

10. The method in claim 8 further including the step of using computer aided design to determine the optimum loudspeaker “

pointing angle”

for each of the 5 loudspeakers and using alignment tools, such as LASER alignment fixtures, to ensure the aim of the loudspeaker matches the predetermined “

pointing angle”

.

11. The method of claim 8 further including using a 5.1 sound track that is mixed differently than the standard cinema 5.1 sound track to enhance the sound image directionality and placement for a more realistic immersive audio experience.

12. The method of claim 8 further including using a digital sound reproducer that provides uncompressed digital sound with a resolution of 16 bits or greater for a minimum of 5 full range channels.