Surround vision

• US 8,373,746 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TV Sports Network Limited
• Original Assignee: TV Sports Network Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US11/791,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 348/40, 348/42, 348/51
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A surround vision apparatus comprises at least one screen, at least one loud speaker, a plurality of projectors and a processor, wherein the at least one screen substantially encloses a space, and wherein the plurality of projectors project images onto the said at least one screen such that the said images may be viewed from within the said enclosed space, and wherein the processor synchronizes the projection of images onto the or each screen such that the images are perceived by the viewer as being uninterrupted.

Claims

1. A surround vision apparatus comprising:

at least two screens,

at least one loud speaker,

a plurality of projectors, and

at least one processor, wherein

the at least two screens substantially enclose a space,

the plurality of projectors project images onto the said at least two screens such that the said images may be viewed from within the said substantially enclosed space,

the processor synchronises the projection of images onto each screen such that the images are perceived by the viewer as being uninterrupted,

adjacent screens join at a vertex and wherein the joints are substantially seamless,

each screen is attached to a frame by fastening means that comprises a flexible end portion of each screen, which end portion in use extends over the frame and is attached thereto,

wherein the fastening means includes a clamping member which, in use, clamps the flexible end portion of the screen to an outer part of the frame.

2. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two screens include at least one flat panel display.

3. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said substantially enclosed space is bound by walls, each wall comprising a screen.

4. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the enclosed space is further bound by a ceiling and a floor.

5. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ceiling and/or the floor include a screen.

6. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one loud speaker.

7. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor synchronises sound output with the projection of images onto the or each screen.

8. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said end portion is attached to the frame by hook and claw fasteners, one element of the hook and claw fastener being attached to the frame and one clement to the said end portion.

9. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each screen is a soft screen or a hard screen.

10. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said projectors are mounted on the said walls.

11. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one camera adapted to capture images for projection onto the or each screen of the apparatus by said plurality of projectors.

12. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one camera includes a camera head having a field of view, and wherein the field of view encompasses the area of screen onto which the captured images are to be displayed.

13. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the camera includes a camera head, and the field of view of each camera head is at least 90 degrees.

14. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the field of view of at least one of the cameras is at least 121 degrees.

15. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the said camera is linked to the processor for communication therebetween, and wherein the images captured by the camera are selectively projectable onto at least one of the said at least two screens.

16. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said images are computer generated or video images.

17. A surround vision apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a video image may be overlaid by a computer generated image, or wherein a computer generated image may be overlaid by a video image.