Viewing environment and recording system

• US 20060268102A1
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Ginther
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Ginther
• Inventors: Ginther, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

A system for recording video comprising a plurality of cameras aligned in a substantially horizontal plane and adapted to capture images in substantially a three-hundred-sixty degree viewing angle; and a first additional camera adapted to capture images at the same time as the plurality of cameras adapted to capture images in the substantially three-hundred-sixty degree view, wherein the first additional camera is adapted to capture images in a direction above or below the horizontal plane. A system for displaying video comprising a side viewing area that provides substantially a three-hundred-sixty degree viewing area and forms at least part of a viewing pod; and at least one of atop viewing area and a bottom viewing area that forms a least a part of the viewing pod.

Claims

1. A system for displaying video comprising:

an enclosure including side walls and at least one of a top and a bottom; and

a plurality of projectors located outside of the enclosure for projecting video onto the side walls and at least one of the top and the bottom.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of projectors comprises nine projectors.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure includes the top, wherein the top is dome shaped.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a movable floor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure includes the bottom, wherein the bottom is dome shaped.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the enclosure is filled with water.

7. A system for recording video comprising:

a plurality of cameras aligned in a substantially horizontal plane and adapted to capture images in substantially a three-hundred-sixty degree viewing angle; and

a first additional camera adapted to capture images at the same time as the plurality of cameras adapted to capture images in the substantially three-hundred-sixty degree view, wherein the first additional camera is adapted to capture images in a direction above or below the substantially horizontal plane in which the plurality of cameras are aligned.

8. The system for recording video of claim 7 further comprising a second additional camera adapted to capture images in approximately the opposite direction as the first additional camera.

9. The system for recording video of claim 7 wherein the plurality of cameras adapted to capture images in the substantially three-hundred-sixty degree viewing angle includes eight cameras.

10. The system for recording video of claim 7 further comprising a recording bank coupled to the plurality of cameras and the first additional camera for recording the images captured by the plurality of cameras and the first additional camera.

11. The system for recording video of claim 10 further comprising:

a drive mechanism for moving the plurality of cameras and the first additional camera; and

a control unit coupled to the drive mechanism, the plurality of cameras and the recording bank.

12. The system for recording video of claim 11 wherein the control unit includes a receiver for receiving control commands from a remote control unit.

19. The system for displaying video of claim 10 wherein the side viewing area and at least one of the top viewing area and the bottom viewing area provide a seamless viewing environment.

20. The system for displaying video of claim 10 wherein the side viewing area comprises a plurality of display screens and the top viewing area comprises a display screen.

21. The system for displaying video of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of projectors for projecting images onto the side viewing area and the at least one of the top viewing area and the bottom viewing area.

13. A method of recording images comprising:

capturing images through a plurality of substantially horizontally aligned cameras; and

capturing images through an additional camera aligned in a direction above or below the horizontal aligned cameras at the same time as the images are captured through the plurality of substantially horizontally aligned cameras.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

recording the images captured through the plurality of substantially horizontally aligned cameras; and

recording the images captured through the additional camera.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising displaying the capture images in a viewing pod.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the captured images are projected onto the viewing pod.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the captured images are shown through display screens of the viewing pod.

18. A system for displaying video comprising:

a side viewing area that provides substantially a three-hundred-sixty degree viewing area and forms at least part of a viewing pod; and

at least one of a top viewing area and a bottom viewing area that forms a least a part of the viewing pod.