System for operating one or more suspended laser projectors to project a temporary visible image onto a surface
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible image upon a target surface, comprising:
- at least one laser operative to emit optical energy;
a first projection module optically coupled to said at least one laser, said first projection module being dimensioned and arranged to project optical energy received from said at least one laser downwardly onto the target surface;
and a suspension system for supporting said first projection module at an elevated location above the target surface and for conveying said first projection module in response to user input commands, said suspension system including a position stabilization system adapted to detect and correct angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the first projection module,whereby said first projection module may be conveyed from a first, position-stabilized location from which an image can be projected upon a first region of the target surface to a second, position-stabilized location from which an image can be projected upon a second region of the target surface,wherein said first projection module includes a lens dimensioned and arranged to spread the optical energy received from said at least one laser into a first straight line extending between opposite lateral sides of the target surface, andwherein said at least one laser is operative to emit a sufficient amount of optical energy such that said first projection module projects therefrom an image that is visible during daylight ambient lighting conditions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A temporary visible image, such as a first down reference line, corporate logo, or text is projected onto a target surface by an orientation-stabilized, fiber-fed laser projector. The projector may include at least one cylindrical lens or at least one pair of X-Y scanners. One or more remotely located lasers, supplying optical energy at a single wavelength to the projector, accommodate projection of a monochromatic line pattern. Multi-colored images are accommodated by supplying, to the projector, the output of a plurality of lasers operating at different wavelengths within the visible band. The projector is suspended and conveyed as a unitary assembly by a suspension system adapted to maintain the projectors angular orientation and dynamically stabilize the image. If desired, two or more independently-suspended projection modules or groups of modules adapted to move in unison or independently over the length of the field may be employed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible image upon a target surface, comprising:
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at least one laser operative to emit optical energy; a first projection module optically coupled to said at least one laser, said first projection module being dimensioned and arranged to project optical energy received from said at least one laser downwardly onto the target surface; and a suspension system for supporting said first projection module at an elevated location above the target surface and for conveying said first projection module in response to user input commands, said suspension system including a position stabilization system adapted to detect and correct angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the first projection module, whereby said first projection module may be conveyed from a first, position-stabilized location from which an image can be projected upon a first region of the target surface to a second, position-stabilized location from which an image can be projected upon a second region of the target surface, wherein said first projection module includes a lens dimensioned and arranged to spread the optical energy received from said at least one laser into a first straight line extending between opposite lateral sides of the target surface, and wherein said at least one laser is operative to emit a sufficient amount of optical energy such that said first projection module projects therefrom an image that is visible during daylight ambient lighting conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible image upon a target surface, comprising:
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a plurality of lasers each operative to emit optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 and 750 nm; first and second projection modules optically coupled to said plurality of lasers, said first projection module being adapted to project optical energy received from said plurality of lasers downwardly onto the target surface; a controller responsive to input user commands to operate, in accordance with a first mode of operation, the first projection module and at least one of said plurality of lasers to project a straight, visible reference line upon the target surface and to operate, in accordance with a second mode of operation, the first and second projection modules and said plurality of lasers to project a temporary, visible, multicolored image upon the target surface; and a suspension system for supporting said first projection module at an elevated location above the target surface and for conveying said first projection module in response to user input commands, said suspension system including a position stabilization system adapted to detect and correct angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the first projection module, wherein said plurality of lasers are operative to emit a sufficient amount of optical energy such that the reference line projected by said first projection module is visible during daylight ambient lighting conditions, and wherein each of said first and second projection modules includes a corresponding X-Y scanning assembly operative to project optical energy along selectable paths upon the target surface, whereby said first projection module may be conveyed from a first, position-stabilized location from which the reference line can be projected upon a first region of the target surface to a second, position-stabilized location from which the reference line can be projected upon a second region of the target surface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising the steps of:
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responsive to receiving a command to generate a temporary visible image upon a first selected region of grass-covered athletic field, conveying a projection module suspended above the grass-covered athletic field and optically coupled to at least one laser to a first location; operating the projection module and at least one laser so as to project, during daylight ambient conditions, the visible image upon the first selected region and while performing said operating step, detecting and correcting angular deviations relative to a desired orientation of the projection module to substantially fix the visible image at the first selected region for a desired time interval. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification