Multi-screen projector setting

• US 9,992,462 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barco NV
• Original Assignee: Barco NV
• Inventors: Bert, Tom, Maximus, Bart, Tydtgat, Claude Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C
• Application Number:
  US14/984,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 353 94, 359449
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 25/00 Equipment specially adapted for cinemas cinematographic projection means G03B
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/22 Theatres; Concert halls; Studios for broadcasting, cinematography, television or similar purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/60 characterised by the nature of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/602 Lenticular screens G03B21/625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A projection assembly comprising at least a first screen (14) and a second screen (10). The first screen (14) is at an angle with the second screen (10). The first screen (14) is adapted to reflect light projected onto it predominantly or exclusively in one or more angular ranges that do not intersect with the second screen (10). The invention also pertains to a method for projecting images with such a projection assembly, comprising projecting a first image with the first projector (16B) on the first screen (14), and projecting a second image with the second projector (16A) on the second screen (10).

Claims

1. A projection assembly comprising at least a first screen and a second screen;

wherein the first screen is at an angle with the second screen; and

wherein the first screen is adapted to reflect light projected onto it predominantly or exclusively in one or more angular ranges that do not intersect with the second screen;

the projection assembly further comprising;

a first projector arranged to project first images on the first screen and a second projector arranged to project second images on the second screen; and

control means configured to control the first projector in such a way that the brightness of the image projected on the first screen is a function of the brightness of the image projected on the second screen;

wherein the control means is configured to receive a copy of the image signal of the second projector via a data communication interface, and to apply a pre-programmed model of a glare distribution to said image signal in order to determine a contribution of the image projected on the second screen to the glare at each pixel of the image projected on the first screen.

2. A projection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first screen is a lenticular screen.

3. A projection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first screen is not constant in at least one direction across the screen.

4. A projection assembly according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the first screen varies in a sawtooth fashion in at least one direction across the screen.

5. A projection assembly according to claim 4, wherein a second plurality of sections of said sawtooth pattern are rotated towards said second screen, said second plurality of sections having a surface with reduced reflectivity.

6. A projection assembly according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the first screen varies periodically.

7. A projection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to control the first projector in such a way that the brightness of at least a part of the image projected on the first screen is a function of the brightness of at least a part of the image projected on the second screen.

8. A projection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to control the first projector in such a way that the brightness of at least one pixel of the image projected on the first screen is a function of the brightness of at least one pixel of the image projected on the second screen.

9. A projection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to control the first projector in such a way that the brightness of at least one pixel of the image projected on the first screen is a function of the brightness of a cluster of pixels of the image projected on the second screen, the cluster of pixels having fewer pixels than the number of pixels projected on the second screen.

10. A projection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to control the first projector in such a way that the brightness of at least one cluster of pixels of the image projected on the first screen is a function of the brightness of a cluster of pixels of the image projected on the second screen, the cluster of pixels on the first screen having fewer pixels than the number of pixels projected on the first screen.

11. A method for projecting images with a projection assembly according to claim 1, the method comprising projecting a first image with the first projector on the first screen, and projecting a second image with the second projector on the second screen, and adjusting the brightness of the first image in function of the brightness of the second image;

further comprising applying a pre-programmed model of a glare distribution to an image signal of the second projector in order to determine a contribution of the image projected on the second screen to the glare at each pixel of the image projected on the first screen.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adjusting the brightness of at least a part of the first image in function of the brightness of at least a part of the second image.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adjusting the brightness of at least one pixel of the first image in function of the brightness of at least one pixel of the second image.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adjusting the brightness of at least one pixel of the first image in function of the brightness of a cluster of pixels of the second image, the cluster of pixels having fewer pixels than the number of pixels in the second image.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising adjusting the brightness of at least one cluster of pixels of the first image in function of the brightness of a cluster of pixels of the second image, the cluster of pixels of the first image having fewer pixels than the number of pixels in the first image.

16. A controller configured for use as the control means of claim 1.

17. A computer program product comprising code means configured to cause a processor to carry out the function of the control means of claim 1.