Multiprojection system

• US 5,988,817 A
• Filed: 12/08/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meiko-Multi Art Inc., RDS Corporation, Tokyo Butai Shomei Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Meiko-Multi Art Inc., RDS Corporation, Tokyo Butai Shomei Company Limited
• Inventors: Mizushima, Nobuyuki, Hamabuti, Shinichi, Hirasawa, Hideki, Ejima, Shinjiro, Usui, Ikunobu, Kitada, Takao, Ito, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWLING, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US08/986,807
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 353/94, 353/46, 353/48, 353/30, 352/133, 352/70, 352/69
• US Class Current: 353/94
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

Disclosed is a multiprojection system in which an image can be freely projected by plural projectors so that projected images of the plural projectors are arranged in lines longitudinally and laterally and all of the projected images become one image; an entirely enlarged image or divided images can be projected; or an individual image can be projected, which comprises each of the plural projectors being provided independently with a pan driving device and a tilt driving device so that the direction of projection can be freely changed; and having at least one of functions of changing the direction of projection, the position of a projected image, the synthesis, shape or arrangement of an image and/or the size of an image and displaying each image in a flying state to constitute a screen image system harmonized with lighting in a representation space.

Claims

1. A multiprojection system comprising:

a plurality of projectors for projecting images arranged in lines longitudinally and laterally such that any of ;

(i) all of the projected images become one image;

(ii) an entirely enlarged image or divided images is projected; and

(iii) an individual image is projected;

wherein;

(i) each of the plurality of projectors is provided independently with a pan driving device and a tilt driving device so that a direction of projection of each of the projectors can be freely changed;

(ii) each of the plurality of projectors has least one of functions of changing the direction of projection, a position of a projected image, a synthesis or arrangement of the projected images, and a size of the projected image, and (iii) each image is displayed in a flying state to form a screen image system harmonized with lighting in a representation space; and

wherein (i) the plural projectors project test charts each having at least one circle touching two opposite sides of an image to be projected and at least two straight lines passing a center of the image and crossing at right angles so that the lines of the images contact with each other, (ii) the projected test charts are comprehensively photographed by a camera, (iii) data of the photographed test charts are inputted to a computer, (iv) gaps of the straight lines crossing at right angles and shapes and sizes of the circles are detected by image processing, (v) a difference from a basic shape memorized in the computer is converted into a correction signal; and

(vi) the correction signal is provided to respective projector-driving controllers to automatically correct gaps and shapes of the images.

2. Multiprojection system comprising:

a plurality of projectors for projecting images arranged in lines longitudinally and laterally such that any of;

(i) all of the projected images become one image, (ii) an enlarged image or divided images is projected, and (iii) an individual image is projected;

wherein;

(i) each of the plurality of projectors is provided independently with a pan driving device and a tilt driving device so that a direction of projection of each of the projectors has least one of functions of changing the direction of projections, a position of a projected image, a synthesis or arrangement of the projected images, and a size of the projected image, and (iii) each image is displayed in a flying state to from a screen image system harmonized with lighting in a representation spaces; and

wherein focusing of an image to be projected is automatically performed accompanied with a change in the direction of projection of the image, by automatically measuring a distance which changes every moment to be a projection target using a distance sensor and by automatically controlling a focus adjuster based on a measured value.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein relative positions of the plurality of projectors can be independently changed to change the sizes of the projected images without causing image distortion.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of projectors is provided with at least one of a blackout shutter for complete dark change, dimming shutters for fade-in and fade-out, a focus adjuster, a field angle adjuster and a size distortion adjuster.

5. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a control system wherein a pan angle-designating signal, a tilt angle-designating signal, a focus poition-designating signal, a field angle position-designating signal, a blackout shutter- opening or closing signal, a dimming shutter position-designating signal, a RGB control signal of a color changer, a GOBO image- outputting signal and a GOBO-rotating signal are outputted from a lighting operation console directly to the plural projectors via a computer, and an image-controlling signal is outputted from the lighting operation console to the plural projectors via a computer, an image-outputting device and an image-enlarging device.

6. A multiprojection system comprising:

a plurality of projectors for projecting images arranged in lines longitudinally and laterally so as to form a screen image in a three-dimensional space in a manner such that any of;

(i) all of the projected images become one image, (ii) an enlarged image or divided images is projected, amd (iii) an individual image is projected;

wherein;

(i) each of the plurality of projectors is provided independently with a pan driving device and a tilt driving device so that a direction of projection of each of the projectors has least one of functions of changing the direction of projection, a position of a projected image, a synthesis or arrangement of the projected images, and a size of the projected image, and (iii) each image is displayed in a flying state to form a screen image system harmonized with lighting in a representation space.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein relative positions of the plurality of projectors can be independently changed to change the sizes of the projected images without causing image distortion.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of projectors is provided with at least one of a blackout shutter for complete dark change, dimming shutters for fade-in and fade-out, a focus adjuster, a field angle adjuster and a size distortion adjuster.

9. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a control system wherein a pan angle-designating signal, a tilt angle-designating signal, a focus poition-designating signal, a field angle position-designating signal, a blackout shutter- opening or closing signal, a dimming shutter position-designating signal, a RGB control signal of a color changer, a GOBO image- outputting signal and a GOBO-rotating signal are outputting from a lighting operation console directly to the plural projectors via a computer, and an image-controlling signal is outputted from the lighting operation console to the plural projectors via a computer, an image-outputting device and an image-enlarging device.

10. A multiprojection system comprising:

plurality of projectors for projecting images arranged in lines longitudinally and laterally so as to form a screen image in a three-dimensional space in a manner such that any of;

(i) all of the projected images become one image, (ii) an enlarged image or divided images is projected, and (iii) an individual image is projected;

wherein;

(i) each of the plurality of projectors is provided independently with a pan driving device and a tilt driving device so that a direction of projection of each of the projectors can be freely changes, (ii) each of the plurality of projectors has least one of functions of changing the direction of projection, apositon of a projected image, a synthesis or arrangement of the projected images, and a size of the projected image, and (iii) each image is displayed in a flying state to form a screen image system harmonized with lighting in a representation space; and

wherein an outer profile of adjacent ones of the projected images are arranged and joined without substantially overlapping each other, thereby creating the screen image to be larger than the individual projected images.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein relative positions of the plurality of projectors can be independently changed to change the sizes of the projected images without causing image distortion.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of projectors is provided with at least one of a blackout shutter for complete dark change, dimming shutters for fade-in and fade-out, a focus adjuster, a field angle adjuster and a size distortion adjuster.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a control system wherein a pan angle-designating signal, a tilt angle-designating signal, a focus position-designating signal, a field angle position-designating signal, a blackot shutter- opening or colsing signal, a dimming shutter position-designating signal, a RGB control signal of a color changer, a GOBO image- outputting signal and a GOBO-rotating signal are outputted from a lighting operation console directly to the plural projectors via a computer, and an image-controlling signal is outputted from the lighting operation console to the plural projectors via a computer, an image-outputting device and an image-enlarging device.