Projection screen with virtual compound curvature

• US 20070133089A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RealD Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Real D
• Inventors: Lipton, Lenny, Cowan, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/451
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens

Abstract

A compound curved projection screen having a curvature about at least one region, such as a cylinder cross section curved about an axis or an ellipse about a plurality of axes, is provided. The compound curved screen comprises a plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces oriented to generally provide light energy in a direction of a screen centered axis. Compound curvature exists by the plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces being positioned in a generally curved and stepped manner about a second region different from the first region, such as a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of lenticules forming a compound curved screen, the compound curved screen exhibiting a general overall curvature about a first axis, each of the plurality of lenticules running with the compound curved screen general overall curvature;

wherein compound curvature exists via the plurality of lenticules being positioned in a generally curved and stepped manner about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lenticules are painted with a metallic paint.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compound curved screen is perforated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each lenticule comprises an angled planar surface curved in a direction having the second axis, where the second axis is orthogonal to the first axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the angled planar surface is oriented to provide more reflected light toward a central screen axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the central screen axis substantially coincides with a desired position in a theater.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compound curved screen operates as a Fresnel-stepped reflector surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus may be hung on a traditional theater frame.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces forming a compound curved projection screen having a general first radius of curvature about a first axis;

wherein the angled planar reflective surfaces are positioned in a generally curved and stepped manner about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis to generally provide reflection of light energy in a direction of a collective axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces are painted with a metallic paint.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the compound curved projection screen is perforated.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collective axis substantially coincides with a desired position in a theater.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the compound curved projection screen operates as a Fresnel-stepped reflector surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus may be hung on a traditional theater frame.

15. A compound curved projection screen having a general overall curvature about at least one region, comprising:

a plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces running in a directions of the general overall curvature and oriented to substantially provide enhanced light energy in a direction of a screen centered axis;

wherein compound curvature exists by the plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces being positioned in a generally curved and stepped manner about a second region different from the first region.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces are painted with a metallic paint.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the central screen centered axis substantially coincides with a desired position in a theater.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the compound curved projection screen operates as a Fresnel-stepped reflector surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus may be hung on a traditional theater frame.