Imaging prevention method and system

• US 6,793,353 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zushi, Norifumi, Kimura, Katsumi, Kataoka, Shinya, Kudo, Yuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US10/453,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20030206278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 353/122, 353/94, 353/97, 353/28, 353/62, 434/286, 348/586, 348/590, 348/607
• US Class Current: 353/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91392 using means for preventing making copies of projected video images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

As an imaging prevention method for interfering with the unauthorized imaging and recording of a visual image projected on a screen, there is employed a method for projecting infrared light to a viewer/audience direction from at least one or more infrared light projector means disposed at a rear side of the screen. According to the method, an amount of the infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging apparatus attempting to record an image from the screen, increasing a pirating prevention effect.

Claims

1. An imaging prevention method for interfering with unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

detecting brightness at a screen surface with at least one or more light sensors facing said screen surface, and increasing an amount of infrared light projected from an infrared light projector means as the detected brightness of said screen surface decreases,

said at least one or more light sensors being disposed behind said screen as viewed from an viewer/audience side.

2. An imaging prevention method for interfering with unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

detecting brightness at a screen surface with at least one or more light sensors facing said screen surface, and projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means in case that the brightness of said screen surface is equal or less than a predetermined brightness

whereby said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen,

said at least one or more light sensors being disposed behind said screen as viewed from an viewer/audience side.

3. The imaging prevention method according to claim 2, characterized by

projecting infrared light when a predetermined number of detection results are obtained, wherein:

each of said detection results indicates that the brightness of said screen surface is equal or less than said predetermined brightness, and

each of said detection results is obtained from one of said light sensor disposed in adjacent the center of said screen.

4. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

detecting brightness at a screen surface with at least one or more light sensors facing said screen surface, and individually projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means in case that the brightness of said screen surface is equal or less than a predetermined brightness

whereby said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen,

said at least one or more light sensors being disposed behind said screen as viewed from an viewer/audience side, and said infrared light projector means projecting the infrared light being associated with an area corresponding to the light sensor detecting the brightness equal or less than said predetermined brightness.

5. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

reproducing time information, in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value, from a recording medium, and projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means in accordance with the reproduced information

whereby said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen.

6. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

reproducing area and time information, in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value, from a recoding medium, and individually projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means associated with corresponding area on the screen in accordance with the reproduced information

whereby enabling said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen.

7. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

receiving information from a network for time in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value in synchronization with the projection of said visual image, and projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means in accordance with the received information

whereby said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen.

8. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

receiving information from a network for area and time in which brightness at the screen becomes equal or less than a predetermined brightness value in synchronization with the projection of said visual image, and individually projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means associated with corresponding areas on the screen in accordance with the received information

whereby said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen.

9. An imaging prevention method for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by

projecting infrared light from at least one or more infrared light projector means during a period of shielding the projection light with a frame transferring shutter when the visual image is projected from a film type projector means

whereby said infrared light is directed to be incident into an imaging means attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen.

10. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means comprising a plurality of light emitting devices disposed in an array for projecting infrared light; and

an infrared light projection control unit for individually controlling said light emitting device of said infrared light projector means disposed in a rear side of the screen as viewed from a viewer/audience side so as that imaging attempting to record said unauthorized image projected on said screen is forced to record a predetermined information corresponding to an emission pattern of said infrared light.

11. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light; and

at least one or more light sensors disposed in a rear side of the screen as viewed from a viewer/audience side for detecting brightness of the facing screen, wherein

a detection result of said light sensor is outputted to the corresponding infrared light projector means as a light amount adjusting signal for increasing an amount of the infrared light as the detected brightness of the screen surface decreases.

12. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light;

at least one or more light sensors disposed in a rear side of the screen viewed from a viewer/audience side; and

an infrared light projection control unit for accepting output signals from said light sensors and for controlling said at least one or more infrared light projector means to project the infrared light in case that a brightness of the screen surface facing said light sensor is equal or less than a predetermined brightness.

13. The imaging prevention system according to claim 12, wherein

said an infrared light projection control unit contralto project infrared light when a predetermined number of detection results are obtained, wherein:

each of said detection results indicates that the brightness of said screen surface is equal or less than said predetermined brightness, and

each of said detection results is obtained from one of said light sensor disposed in a vicinity of the center of said screen.

14. An imaging prevention system for interfering unauthorized imaging of visual image projected on a screen, characterized by comprising:

at least one or more infrared light projector means for projecting infrared light;

at least one or more light sensors disposed in a rear side of the screen viewing from a viewer/audience side; and

an infrared light projection control unit for accepting output signals from said light sensors and for controlling individually to project infrared light from said at least one or more infrared light projector means in case that a brightness of the screen surface is equal or less than a predetermined brightness;

wherein

said at least one or more infrared light projector means projecting the infrared light being associated with an area corresponding to the light sensor detecting the brightness equal or less than said predetermined brightness.