Projecting an animated object and concurrently moving the object's projection area through an animation pattern
First Claim
1. An assembly for projecting or displaying images on a display surface with motion and high resolution, comprising:
- a projector receiving an input image stream and projecting animated images based on the input image stream at a projection rate of at least 24 frames per second;
a mirror assembly with one or more mirrors positionable to reflect the projected images onto a display surface at a plurality of positions, wherein the display surface comprises a rear surface of a rear projection screen; and
a motor controller assembly positioning the one or more mirrors based on a set of position data defining the plurality of positions,wherein the plurality of positions define an animation pattern on the display surface for at least one predefined portion of the input image stream,wherein the positioning is performed to move the projected images through the animation pattern at a rate greater than the projection rate, andwherein the mirror assembly comprises an X-axis mirror and a Y-axis mirror each pivotable about an axis with the mirror axes being offset and orthogonal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A projection assembly and projection method for accurately reproducing animated and live characters, objects, and effects. The projection assembly uses a high precision robotic mirror system to achieve very high levels of image resolution, brightness, and contrast. The assembly includes a projector receiving an input image stream, and a mirror assembly is positioned proximate to the projector outlet. The mirror assembly uses positionable mirrors to reflect the projected images onto a display surface at positions that define an animation pattern on the display surface for the projected image or character. The assembly includes a motor controller assembly positioning the mirrors based on position data defining the animation pattern. The projected images may be provided in a projection area that is a fraction of the size of the display surface, such that the resolution and output light of the projector are concentrated on the display surface within this projection area.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An assembly for projecting or displaying images on a display surface with motion and high resolution, comprising:
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a projector receiving an input image stream and projecting animated images based on the input image stream at a projection rate of at least 24 frames per second; a mirror assembly with one or more mirrors positionable to reflect the projected images onto a display surface at a plurality of positions, wherein the display surface comprises a rear surface of a rear projection screen; and a motor controller assembly positioning the one or more mirrors based on a set of position data defining the plurality of positions, wherein the plurality of positions define an animation pattern on the display surface for at least one predefined portion of the input image stream, wherein the positioning is performed to move the projected images through the animation pattern at a rate greater than the projection rate, and wherein the mirror assembly comprises an X-axis mirror and a Y-axis mirror each pivotable about an axis with the mirror axes being offset and orthogonal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A projection system, comprising:
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a projection screen with a surface for displaying projected images; a projector projecting a stream of images, including a character, at a rate of at least 24 frames per second to provide first animation of the character; a first mirror receiving the stream of images and reflecting the stream of images in a first direction; a second mirror receiving the stream of images reflected from the first mirror and reflecting the stream of images in a second direction toward the projection screen, wherein the first and second mirrors are movable to select the first and second directions to display the stream of images on the surface of the projection screen at a set of positions; and a mirror controller connected to the first and second mirrors that operates to move the mirrors to project the stream of images in the set of positions to provide second animation of the character, the set of positions defining a projection pattern about which one or more characters in the stream of images is caused to travel during the display of the stream of images, wherein the stream of images are projected within a projection area on the surface of the projection screen that is a fraction of an area of the surface of the projection screen, wherein the one or more characters are animated within the stream of images at least partially concurrently with moving of the mirrors, and wherein the animation of the one or more characters within the stream of image corresponds at least in part to movement along the projection pattern and the travel direction corresponds to the first animation of the character. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A projection system, comprising:
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a projection screen with a surface for displaying projected images; a projector projecting a stream of images including a character at a frame rate least 24 frames per second; a first mirror receiving the stream of images and reflecting the stream of images in a first direction; a second mirror receiving the stream of images reflected from the first mirror and reflecting the stream of images in a second direction toward the projection screen, wherein the first and second mirrors are movable to select the first and second directions to display the stream of images on the surface of the projection screen at a set of positions; a mirror controller connected to the first and second mirrors that operates to move the mirrors to project the stream of images in the set of positions, the set of positions defining a projection pattern about which one or more characters in the stream of images is caused to travel during the display of the stream of images and a rate or a direction of the travel corresponding to movement of the character in the stream of images; and an aperture positioned between the projector and the mirrors blocking a portion of light output from the projector to size the projection area to be about a size of the one or more characters in the stream of images, wherein the mirror controller comprises a pair of servo motors each operating to position one of the first and second mirrors and wherein the servo motors are operable at interpolated rates from zero to at least about 1000 frames per second.
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Specification