System, method and apparatus for ambient video projection

• US 6,802,614 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert C. Haldiman
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Haldiman
• Inventors: Haldiman, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalakis, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/306,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 353/69, 353/70, 353/94, 353/30
• US Class Current: 353/69
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto

Abstract

A system for front projection of a continuous image onto at least two non-coplanar viewing surfaces includes a light source, an image source and a projection lens assembly. The light source, image source and projection lens assembly are disposed within a housing to project an image on a first viewing surface and at least one other viewing surface. An image continuity component has a first oblique projection compensator, at least one other oblique projection compensator and the oblique projection compensators are coordinated to project complimentary image portions in a continuous image.

Claims

1. A system for front projection of a continuous image onto at least two non-coplanar viewing surfaces comprising:

a light source;

a single image source;

a projection lens assembly;

said light source, single image source and projection lens assembly being disposed within a housing to project an image on a first viewing surface and at least one other viewing surface, said at least one other viewing surface being non-coplanar with said first viewing surface; and

an image continuity component comprising;

a first oblique projection compensator;

at least one other oblique projection compensator;

said oblique projection compensators being coordinated to project complimentary image portions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said image continuity component interpolates additional pixels into an image area for projection onto a viewing surface area that is more distant from the projection lens assembly.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said image continuity component omits pixels into an image area for projection onto a viewing surface area that is more distant from the projection lens assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said image source is selected from the group consisting of a MEM, DLP, OLED, LC on Silicon, GLV or DMD.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said image source projects image data transferred by a method selected from the group consisting of NTSC, PAL, PAL-M, PAL-N, PAL60 and SECAM.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said image source projects image data transferred by a method selected from the group consisting of RGB, XGA, SVGA, VGA UXGA, HDTV-10801 or HD B 15.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said continuous image is panoramic.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said light source is an assembly comprising a light and an intensity controlling component selected from the group consisting of a shaping lens, an homogenizer, a variable homogenizer, a partial homogenizer, a light bar, a light bar with non-parallel sides, a light bar with variable refractive index and a gate.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said light source is an assembly comprising a light and an intensity controlling component selected from the group consisting of an elliptical reflector, a parabaloid reflector, a spherical reflector, an asymmetrical elliptical reflector, an asymmetrical parabaloid reflector and en asymmetrical spherical reflector.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second projector, said second projector projecting an image that Is continuous and coordinated with said continuous image of said first projector.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a projection lens assembly for each viewing surface.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said projection lens assembly projects onto multiple viewing surfaces.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said projection lens assembly includes an amorphic lens.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said projection lens assembly includes an amorphic lens shaped to focus on multiple viewing surfaces.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said image continuity component further comprises a light intensity modulator that increases the amount of light reflected by each of plurality of DMD micromirrors corresponding to image areas to be projected to farther portions of said viewing areas.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said image source is a DMD, said DMD being non-rectangular in array.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said compensation is by quadrants.

18. A system for front projection of a continuous image onto four adjoining walls and an adjoining ceiling comprising:

a first projector and a second projector, each projector comprising;

a light source including a light, a reflector and a collimating element;

an image source, said image source being a digital micromirror device and a processor in operative communication with said micromirror device;

a projection lens assembly, with an amorphic element;

said light source, image source and projection lens assembly being disposed within a housing to project a continuous image on two adjoining walls and a portion of a ceiling;

an image continuity component comprising;

a first oblique projection compensator for compensating oblique projection of a first image area onto one adjoining wall;

a second oblique projection compensator for compensating oblique projection of a second image area onto the other adjoining wall;

a third oblique projection compensator for compensating oblique projection of a third image area onto a portion of the ceiling;

said first projector projecting onto a first wall, a second wall and a first ceiling portion, and said second projector projecting onto a third wall, a fourth wall and a second ceiling portion; and

said oblique projection compensators of said first projector and said oblique projection compensators of said second projector being coordinated to project a continuous image on all four walls and the ceiling.

19. A method of projecting a continuous image onto a plurality of non-coplanar viewing surfaces comprising:

receiving image data into a compensation processor;

compensating the image data for oblique projection onto a first viewing surface

and at least one other non-coplanar viewing surface; and

obliquely projecting the image data on said viewing surfaces from a single lens such that a continuous image is perceptible.