VARIABLE SCREEN SYSTEM
20170212415 ยท 2017-07-27
Inventors
- In Jae Seong (Seoul, KR)
- No Chan Park (Incheon, KR)
- Young Mi Kim (Seoul, KR)
- Bon Il KOO (Seoul, KR)
- Byoung Jun Song (Incheon, KR)
- Min Jung Kim (Seoul, KR)
- Ok Sun Kim (Seoul, KR)
- Young Wook Choi (Seoul, KR)
- Hae Jeong KOH (Seoul, KR)
Cpc classification
A47C31/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
F16B47/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B1/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16M11/22
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04H3/22
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
F16M11/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04B9/18
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
A47C1/124
HUMAN NECESSITIES
F16M11/18
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
G03B2206/00
PHYSICS
A47C1/024
HUMAN NECESSITIES
F16B2200/83
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04B9/0464
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
G03B37/04
PHYSICS
International classification
H04N9/31
ELECTRICITY
G03B21/00
PHYSICS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a variable screen system for providing audience with more enhanced immersion by having a content image projected on a screen that is in the shape of a curved surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a variable screen system comprising: a support for fixing a frame on which a screen is formed; and a theater server for controlling the support and thereby changing the curvatures of the frame or the screen formed on the frame.
Claims
1. A variable screen system, comprising: a support receiving a support driving command and deforming a shape of a screen by driving a horizontal stand or a vertical stand in response to the support driving command.
2. The variable screen system of claim 1, further comprising a theater server playing back content and sending a support driving command corresponding to the content to the support.
3. The variable screen system of claim 2, further comprising a projector projecting a content image on the screen.
4. The variable screen system of claim 3, further comprising an assistant projector projecting the content image on a projection surface within a theater other than the screen.
5. The variable screen system of claim 4, wherein the assistant projector projects a content image on a surface of a wall, a ceiling or a bottom surface within a theater.
6. A support, comprising: a reception unit which receives a support driving command; a vertical stand which is a support member having a vertical direction to a ground; a horizontal stand which is a support member having a horizontal direction to the ground, the horizontal stand having a length increased or decreased by a control unit; and the control unit which deforms a shape of a screen by controlling the length of the horizontal stand in response to the support driving command.
7. The support of claim 6, wherein the vertical stand has a length increased or decreased by the control unit.
8. The support of claim 6, wherein a tilt of the vertical stand or the horizontal stand is changed by an angle formed by the ground and the vertical stand or the horizontal stand and increased or decreased by the control unit.
9. The support of claim 6, wherein one or more support driving commands correspond to a progress of content being played back.
10. The support of claim 9, wherein the support driving command corresponds to a playback time, frame or scene of the content.
11. The support of claim 6, wherein: a plurality of the vertical stands or the horizontal stands is provided, and the control unit independently controls the lengths of the vertical stands or the horizontal stands.
12. The support of claim 11, wherein the control unit deforms a location and curvature of a screen by controlling a tilt of the vertical stand or the horizontal stand in response to the support driving command.
13. A theater server, comprising: a content playback unit which plays back content; a support control unit which receives or generates a support driving command corresponding to the content and sends the support driving command to a support; and a central control unit which controls the content playback unit and the support control unit.
14. The theater server of claim 13, wherein one or more support driving commands correspond to a progress of content being played back.
15. The theater server of claim 14, wherein the support driving command corresponds to a playback time, frame or scene of the content.
16. The theater server of claim 13, further comprising a projector control unit which controls a projector projecting a content image on a screen whose location or shape is changed in accordance with a driving of the support.
17. The theater server of claim 16, wherein the projector control unit adjusts a projection direction or size of the projected content image by controlling one or more projectors in accordance with the change in the location or shape of the screen.
18. The theater server of claim 13, further comprising an effect device control unit which controls one or more effect devices within a theater in accordance with a driving of the support.
19. The theater server of claim 18, wherein the effect device control unit drives the effect devices in a direction in which the support is driven.
20. The theater server of claim 19, wherein the effect device generates a sound, a wind, smell, fog, a temperature change, a laser, light, water spraying, vibration or soap bubbles.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
[0041]
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0042]
TABLE-US-00001 100 support 110 reception unit 120 horizontal stand 130 vertical stand 140 control unit 200 theater server 210 content playback unit 300 frame 220 support control unit 500 ceiling 230 central control unit 550 surface of wall 600 seat 700 projector 800 effect device S screen
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0043] The details of the objects and technological configurations of the present invention and acting effects thereof will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0044] Embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be interpreted as limiting or used to limit the range of right of the present invention. It is evident to those skilled in the art that a description including the embodiments of this specification has various applications. Accordingly, unless otherwise defined by the claims, some embodiments described are illustrative for better understanding, and the range of right of the present invention is not intended to be restricted by the embodiments.
[0045] Function blocks illustrated in the drawings and described hereunder are only examples of possible implementations. In other implementations, different functional blocks may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the detailed description. Furthermore, one or more functional blocks of the present invention are illustrated as separate blocks, but one or more of the functional blocks of the present invention may be a combination of various hardware and software elements for executing the same function.
[0046] Furthermore, it should be understood that an expression that some elements are included is an expression of an open type and the expression simply denotes that the corresponding elements are present, but does not exclude additional elements.
[0047] Furthermore, when it is said that one element is connected (or coupled) to the other element, it should be understood that one element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but a third element may exist between the two elements.
[0048] A comprehensive configuration of a variable screen system according to the present invention is described below with reference to
[0049] Referring to
[0050] It is based upon the premise that the support 100 refers to a structure basically including a horizontal stand 120 and a vertical stand 130 and the support fixes a frame 300 in which a screen S has been formed.
[0051] The frame 300 means a structure held in or fixed to the support 100. The frame 300 includes a horizontal member or vertical member having curvature and eventually functions to implement a variable screen S by closely attaching the screen to the members. As will be described later, the frame 300 may be deformed to have various types of curvature in accordance with an increase or decrease in the lengths of the horizontal stand 120 and vertical stand 130 provided in the support 100. Accordingly, the frame 300 may be preferably fabricated using an elastic material.
[0052] The screen S refers to a projection surface whose shape can be changed in various manners, and commonly refers to projection surfaces of various materials formed in the frame 300. Preferably, the screen S refers to a screen having curvature of a specific size in the horizontal axis or the vertical axis depending on curvature of the horizontal member or vertical member forming the frame 300. In this case, the materials of the screen S may include textiles, such as mat white, glass beads, ultra beads, a film, fiber glass and diamond, and various kinds in which textiles have been subjected to coating treatment. Furthermore, the screen S may be closely attached to the frame 300 using various methods. For example, various methods, such as a method for additionally attaching a magnetic member to the screen S and frame 300, a method for attaching intake means to the frame 300 so that the screen S is closely attached to the frame 300 and a method for coating an adhesive substance on the frame 300 so that the screen S is closely attached to the frame 300, may be taken into consideration as the method for closely attaching the screen S to the frame 300.
[0053] Meanwhile, the support 100 according to the present invention receives a support driving command from the outside and thus drives the horizontal stand 120 or the vertical stand 130 to change curvature of the variable screen S, more precisely, curvature of the frame 300, eventually changing curvature of the screen S.
[0054] The support driving command commonly refers to data including information necessary to drive the support 100, and may include the identifier number of the horizontal stand 120 or vertical stand 130 to be driven, a length to be increased or decreased, the tilt of the vertical stand 130 to be inclined, a driving start time and end time and so on.
[0055] Meanwhile, the support driving command is received from the outside. For example, the support driving command may be received using a method through an input device of a theater operator, a method through connection with a recording medium such as a USB or a method over a network from an external server.
[0056] Referring back to
[0057] The theater server 200 means a computer device for monitoring and controlling the entire theater. In the present invention, if the support 100 and the theater server 200 are present, the theater server 200 has a major function for playing back content and sending a support driving command, corresponding to the content, to the support 100.
[0058] As will be described later, the variable screen system according to the present invention changes curvature of the screen S depending on a degree of the progress of content. As described above, the theater server 200 functions to generate and send content played back and a support driving command corresponding to the generated content.
[0059] In addition to the support 100 and the theater server 200, an element forming the variable screen system may include other projection surfaces other than the screen, for example, a ceiling 500 and the surface 550 of a wall. The variable screen system may also include seats 600 in which audiences are seated.
[0060] According to the present invention, a content image may be played back in another area within a theater on which the content image can be projected in addition to the screen S. Referring to
[0061] The surface 550 of a wall within a theater may also be used as a projection surface on which a content image can be played back. Like the ceiling 500, the screen S may form a single huge projection surface along with the surfaces 550 of walls on the left and right sides of the screen S, thus being capable of implementing a large-sized screen.
[0062] If the screen S, the ceiling 500 and the surface 550 of a wall are used as projection surfaces, a content image implements a large-sized screen while surrounding the seats 600 in which audiences have been seated. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that audiences can watch an image with a higher sense of immersion and a three-dimensional effect.
[0063] Meanwhile, as may be seen from
[0064] Finally, the variable screen system according to the present invention may also include the seats 600. It is based upon the premise that the seat 600 basically provides the space in which an audience can be seated. The seat 600 in the variable screen system may also function to assist an audience in having an optimum field of vision through a rotation motion or a tilting motion depending on a degree of the progress of content or a change in the curvature of the screen S. In this case, the driving of the seat 600 departs from the scope of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0065] The support 100 according to the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to
[0066] Referring to
[0067] The reception unit 110 is a function unit which receives a support driving command from the outside. As described above, the support 100 may receive the support driving command from the outside in various manners. The reception unit 110 may be differently implemented depending on how the support driving command is received.
[0068] For example, the reception unit 110 may function to receive a support driving command when a theater operator directly inputs the support driving command to an input device. The reception unit 110 may be implemented using a connection unit to which a recording medium, such as a USB, can be connected, or may be implemented using communication means connected to a network, for receiving a support driving command over a wired network or a wireless network.
[0069] The horizontal stand 120 and the vertical stand 130 are members in or to which the frame 300 having the screen S formed therein is held or fixed. As may be seen from
[0070] The lengths of the horizontal stand 120 and the vertical stand 130 in the horizontal direction or vertical direction may be increased or decreased. It is to be understood that all of various methods including a method using a hydraulic cylinder may be included in a method for adjusting the length of the horizontal stand 120 or the vertical stand 130.
[0071] Meanwhile, the tilt of the vertical stand 130 of the support 100 according to the present invention may also be adjusted in addition to the increase or decrease of the length of the vertical stand 130. That is, an angle formed by the vertical stand 130 and the surface 550 of a wall or an angle formed by the vertical stand 130 and the ground may be controlled by the control unit 140, so the vertical stand 130 may be inclined toward the direction of an audience or may be inclined in a direction distant from an audience.
[0072] In particular, a plurality of the horizontal stands 120 and the vertical stands 130 may be identified by respective unique identifiers. That is, a unique identifier may be assigned to each of the horizontal stands 120 or vertical stands 130 fixed to any specific location of the frame 300. The length of each horizontal stand 120 or vertical stand 130 to be increased or decreased is set so that the horizontal stands 120 or the vertical stands 130 may be individually controlled. If the plurality of horizontal stands 120 or vertical stands 130 is individually controlled as described above, there is an advantage in that a theater operator or a content producer can provide a more effective sense of immersion and a more effective three-dimensional effect to an audience because curvature of the screen S can be changed more minutely.
[0073] Furthermore, if the horizontal stands 120 or the vertical stands 130 are individually controlled as described above, there is an advantage in that the curved surface of ovalness (a curved surface including both curvature in the horizontal direction and curvature in the vertical direction) can be implemented because both curvature in the horizontal direction of the screen S and curvature in the vertical direction of the screen S can be generated. Meanwhile, it is evident that various forms in addition to the ovalness can be generated while the horizontal stands 120 or the vertical stands 130 are individually controlled.
[0074] Finally, the support 100 includes the control unit 140 for controlling the reception unit 110, the horizontal stand 120 and the vertical stand 130. In this case, the control unit 140 may include at least one operation device. The operation device may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a programmable device (CPLD, fPGA) implemented suitably for a specific purpose, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microcontroller chip.
[0075]
[0076]
[0077] More specifically, assuming that identifiers #1 to #7 are randomly assigned to the plurality of horizontal stands 120 of
[0078] Meanwhile,
[0079] Meanwhile, in the embodiment of
[0080]
[0081]
[0082] As described above, the support 100 according to the present invention may also control the tilt of the vertical stand 130. The tilt of the vertical stand 130 may be adjusted by setting the value of an angle formed by the surface 550 of a wall and the vertical stand 130 or the value of an angle formed by the ground and the vertical stand 130.
[0083] Meanwhile, when the tilt of the vertical stand 130 is changed, the tilt of the horizontal stand 120 connected to the vertical stand 130 may also be changed. The control unit 140 of the support 100 may adjust the tilt of the vertical stand 130 and at the same time, the tilt of the horizontal stand 120 so that the screen S is properly located in the direction of an audience.
[0084]
[0085] The length of the vertical stand 130 may also be adjusted using the same method as the method for adjusting the length of the horizontal stand 120. More specifically, the screen S may be present at various locations of the front part of a theater by adjusting the height of the vertical stand 130 and the lengths of the horizontal stands 120 at the same time.
[0086] Referring to
[0087]
[0088] As described above with reference to
[0089] The theater server 200 forming the variable screen system according to the present invention is described below with reference to
[0090] Referring to
[0091] First, the content playback unit 210 is a function unit for playing back content within a theater including the variable screen S and preferably, plays back content received in a digital cinema package (DCP) form. In this case, the playback of the content means that one or more projectors or assistant projectors within a theater are controlled so that they project an image on a corresponding projection surface.
[0092] Next, the support control unit 220 functions to receive a support driving command from the outside or to receive or newly generate a support driving command and to send the support driving command to the support 100, as described above.
[0093] The support control unit 220 may be connected to the support 100 installed within a theater, more precisely, the reception unit 110 of the support 100 over a network, and may send a support driving command over the network.
[0094] Meanwhile, a plurality of the support driving commands received or generated by the support control unit 220 may be present with respect to a single content image, and may have been arranged in a series of order. Alternatively, a single support driving command may have included a driving command corresponding to the progress of a single content image.
[0095] Next, the central control unit 230 is a function unit for generally controlling the theater server 200. The central control unit 230 may be implemented using at least one operation device, for example, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a programmable device (CPLD, fPGA) implemented suitably for a specific purpose, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microcontroller chip.
[0096] A method for controlling, by the theater server 200, a projector 700 is described below with reference to
[0097] The theater server 200 may further include the projector control unit 240.
[0098] The projector 700 refers to a device for receiving a content image to be projected from the theater server 200 and directly projecting the received content image on the screen S. One or more projectors 700 may be disposed within the variable screen system in such a way as to face the screen S. Meanwhile, as described above, a projection surface on which a content image is projected may include the surface of a wall and the ceiling in addition to the screen S. It is to be understood that a plurality of the projectors 700 may be disposed to face respective projection surfaces.
[0099] Meanwhile, according to the present invention, since the shape of the screen S may continue to be deformed, the projector 700 that projects an image on the screen S having a varying shape also needs to project an image in accordance with a shape of the screen S.
[0100] As described above, in order to project an image suitable for the screen S having a varying shape, the projector control unit 240 functions to adjust i) the direction in which the projector 700 projects an image, ii) the size of an image projected by the projector 700, and iii) the distortion degree of an image (a degree of bending of an image).
[0101] In relation to i), one or more projectors 700 disposed within a theater may be basically moved on the basis of an axis capable of front and back/up and down/left and right/rotation motions because the projection direction of the projectors 700 has to be changed in accordance with a change in the shape and/or location of the screen. For example, if the location of the screen S rises to the extent that the screen S may come into contact with the ceiling in accordance with the driving of the support, the projector control unit 240 may move upward the projection direction of an image by controlling the driving shaft of the projector 700.
[0102] In relation to ii), one or more projectors 700 disposed within a theater may adjust the size of an image projected in accordance with a change in the shape of the screen. For example, assuming that an orthogonal projection is formed on a virtual plane at the back of the screen S, if curvature of the screen S is increased, the area of the orthogonal projection is reduced. At this time, the projector 700 may project an image having a reduced size so that the image is properly viewed in accordance with the standard of the reduced area of the screen S. Meanwhile, the projector 700 may adjust the size of a content image by directly performing a correction process on the content image, the size of a content image may be adjusted by moving the location of the projector 700 back and forth, or the size of a content image may be adjusted by adjusting the lens focus of the projector 700.
[0103] In relation to iii), one or more projectors 700 disposed within a theater may also adjust the degree of bending of a projected image in accordance with a change in the shape of the screen. In this case, it is understood that the degree of bending of an image refers to a degree to which on the assumption of a rectangular standard image, the corresponding image has been distorted due to curvature generated in upper and lower sides and left and right sides. For example, if curvature of the screen S is changed in accordance with the driving of the support, the projector 700 may project an image so that the projected image is distorted in accordance with the deformed curvature of the screen S. At this time, the projector 700 may perform the degree of bending of the content image by directly performing a correction process on the content image. The content image may have been properly distorted and edited according to the degree of progress of the content image in response to a producer's intention when the content image is first received by the theater server 200.
[0104] Meanwhile, in addition to the aforementioned examples of i) to iii), the projector control unit 240 may have a content image clearly focused on the screen in accordance with a change in the shape of the screen or a change in the location of the projector 700 by controlling the projector 700. More specifically, the projector control unit 240 may control the projector 700 so that a content image is focused on the screen through zoom-in/zoom-out.
[0105]
[0106] A method for controlling, by the theater server 200, effect devices 800 included in a theater in accordance with a change in the shape or location of the screen S is described below with reference to
[0107] The theater server 200 according to the present invention may further include the effect device control unit 250.
[0108] The effect devices 800 are devices for further generating physical effects in addition to the provision of an image in order to provide a higher sense of immersion to audiences within a theater, and include devices for generating a sound, the wind, smell, fog, a temperature change, a laser, light, water spraying, vibration and soap bubbles.
[0109] The effect device control unit 250 of the theater server 200 controls one or more effect devices 800. More specifically, the effect devices 800 may be controlled in accordance with a change in the shape of the screen S.
[0110] For example, if curvature of the screen S is suddenly increased by the driving of the support, the width of ends on the left and right sides of the screen S is narrowed in the direction of seats in which audiences have been seated. At this time, the audiences can feel the wind simultaneously with an increase of the curvature of the screen S by driving fans provided on the left and right sides of the screen S, thereby being capable of providing a screening environment including the feeling of movement. That is, in the case of an embodiment on the left side of
[0111] For another example, if the screen S suddenly rises by the driving of the support, sound effect devices 800 disposed at specific heights, that is, speakers, may be sequentially driven from bottom to top, so audiences can feel a sound rise effect simultaneously with the rise of the screen. For example, in the case of an embodiment on the right side of
[0112] As described above, the variable screen system according to the present invention may include the plurality of effect devices 800. The theater server 200 includes the effect device control unit 250 capable of controlling the effect devices 800, so the effect devices 800 can operate in accordance with a change in the shape of the screen S.
[0113] Meanwhile, the support 100 according to the present invention is controlled by a support driving command. In this case, the support driving command is generated in accordance with a degree of the progress of content as described above.
[0114]
[0115] Referring to
[0116] Referring to
[0117] Although some embodiments and application examples of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned specific embodiments and application examples and may be deformed in various ways by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention written in the claims. Such deformed embodiments should not be construed as being distinct from the technological spirit or prospect of the present invention.