A system and method are disclosed for exhibiting wide-screen motion pictures, including in multiplex-style theaters, with an immersive, virtual reality picture-dominance effect not previously obtainable in such theaters. The invention uses a zero-gain or nominal-gain curved screen to accommodate a wide-screen presentation, and a digital projector capable of delivering fourteen foot-lamberts or more of light to the screen. It can support any theatrical aspect ratio for presentation, including 2.76:1. To eliminate image distortion, the invention uses mapping software to correct the image for the geometry of the auditorium and the shape of the screen. This correction is established for every aspect ratio displayed in the auditorium in which the invention is installed, and aspect ratios can be changed to display content with different aspect ratios during a program. The images delivered to viewers through the invention deliver the full benefit of the native aspect ratio in which they are displayed.

An image projection method for a virtual tour system is disclosed. The virtual tour system receives a panorama image derived from a panorama camera and comprises a local device. The local device comprises a display unit. The method comprises steps of: obtaining a distance factor according to coordinates of the panorama camera and a viewer in real world space; obtaining mapping coordinates of a viewpoint related to the viewer in unit sphere space according to the distance factor and the coordinates of the viewer in real world space; and, forming a view image to be displayed by the display unit according to the mapping coordinates of the viewpoint.

An image projection method for a virtual tour system is disclosed. The virtual tour system receives a panorama image derived from a panorama camera and comprises a local device. The local device comprises a display unit. The method comprises steps of: obtaining a distance factor according to coordinates of the panorama camera and a viewer in real world space; obtaining mapping coordinates of a viewpoint related to the viewer in unit sphere space according to the distance factor and the coordinates of the viewer in real world space; and, forming a view image to be displayed by the display unit according to the mapping coordinates of the viewpoint.

A projector has a body, a rotating device, a projection device, and a supporting device. The body has a lower housing, an upper housing, and an operation chamber. The rotating device is mounted in the operation chamber, is located in the upper housing, and has a driving device, a rotating axle, a power supply circuit board, and a film base. The projection device is mounted in the operation chamber of the body and has a light unit, a Fresnel lens, a film holder, and a lens assembly. The supporting device is mounted on a bottom of the lower housing.

A suspended surface assembly is provided having a trainable surface support element, a spindle component configured for training of the trainable surface support element therearound, a take-up action module configured to drivingly rotate the spindle component to thereby effect winding of the trainable surface support element onto the spindle component or to effect unwinding of the trainable surface support element from a partially or fully wound-up condition, and a lift complex for adjusting the vertical position of the trainable surface support element and the spindle component, the lift complex including a motive power element operable to both drivingly rotate the spindle component and to drivingly raise and lower the trainable surface support element and the spindle component. A method for operating the suspended surface assembly is also provided.

A display apparatus includes an optical image projection system, first optical propagation system, and second optical propagation system. The optical image projection system projects image light to infinity. The first optical propagation system propagates the image light projected from the optical image projection system in the x-direction. The first optical propagation system deflects a portion of the image light. The second optical propagation system includes a second input deflector that deflects the image light deflected by the first output deflector. The second optical propagation system propagates the image light deflected by the second input deflector in the y-direction and deflects a portion of the image light. The light beam width in the y-direction of the image light emitted from the optical image projection system and the length in the y-direction of the first light guide are greater than the length in the y-direction of the second input deflector.

A display apparatus includes an optical image projection system, first optical propagation system, and second optical propagation system. The optical image projection system projects image light to infinity. The first optical propagation system propagates the image light projected from the optical image projection system in the x-direction. The first optical propagation system deflects a portion of the image light. The second optical propagation system includes a second input deflector that deflects the image light deflected by the first output deflector. The second optical propagation system propagates the image light deflected by the second input deflector in the y-direction and deflects a portion of the image light. The light beam width in the y-direction of the image light emitted from the optical image projection system and the length in the y-direction of the first light guide are greater than the length in the y-direction of the second input deflector.

A rotatable stroboscopic animation device with a rotatable base portion and at least one light source. An angular-velocity-dependent flashing system flashes the at least one light source according to a predetermined flash mode dependent on the angular velocity of the base portion to produce coherent, automatic stroboscopic animation of images retained by the base portion. The flashing system can comprise an angular velocity determination system in cooperation with an illumination system. Angular velocity can be determined by an orienting system, such as a compass, in combination with a sampling system, a gyroscope, or a rotational sensor. A flash mode selection mechanism, which can be manual or automatic, permits a selection of a flash mode from among a plurality of flash modes. A manual flash mode selection mechanism can be formed by relatively pivotable upper and lower disks of the base portion. Animation disks can have indications of predetermined flash modes.

A rotatable stroboscopic animation device with a rotatable base portion and at least one light source. An angular-velocity-dependent flashing system flashes the at least one light source according to a predetermined flash mode dependent on the angular velocity of the base portion to produce coherent, automatic stroboscopic animation of images retained by the base portion. The flashing system can comprise an angular velocity determination system in cooperation with an illumination system. Angular velocity can be determined by an orienting system, such as a compass, in combination with a sampling system, a gyroscope, or a rotational sensor. A flash mode selection mechanism, which can be manual or automatic, permits a selection of a flash mode from among a plurality of flash modes. A manual flash mode selection mechanism can be formed by relatively pivotable upper and lower disks of the base portion. Animation disks can have indications of predetermined flash modes.

Disclosed herein are materials and methods used to form a three dimensional (3D) article having a printed layer thereon. The 3D articles are capable of displaying rear projected images, effectively as a 3D screen for displaying an image or a movie. The 3D articles are used as standalone articles or as a portion of an animatronic figure. The articles are made by forming a substantially planar thermoformable laminate including a rear projection screen material, printing and curing a radiation curable ink onto one or both sides of the laminate, and thermoforming to impart a shape to the laminate.