NL1020980C2 - Assembly is for presentation of picture of picture forming system and panel, together with method and software program for preparation of panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly (2) is for presentation of a picture forming system (4) and panel (6), together with a method and software program for preparation of the panel. The picture forming system is provided with a space (7) for accommodation of the panel which has a picture with relevant information. The picture forming system is provided with a transparent wall (8) so that the picture can be observed from the outside.

Description

Title: An assembly for displaying an image of an imaging system and a panel; as well as the imaging system and the panel as such and a method and software program for manufacturing the panel.

The invention relates to an assembly of an image-forming system and a panel included in the image-forming system for displaying an image, the image-forming system being provided with a recording space for receiving the panel carrying an image with information of the image wherein the imaging system is provided with a transparent wall for viewing the image from an outside of the imaging system.

The invention also relates to the imaging system 10 and to the panel of the assembly according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the panel of the assembly according to the invention, as well as to a software program for performing the method according to the invention.

The aforementioned assembly for displaying an image is known from practice and is used, for example, as a billboard or as a traffic sign. The image-forming system can for instance consist of a housing with the receiving space in which the panel with the image arranged thereon is accommodated. The image can for example be the image. The housing protects the panel against various weather influences and can be equipped with a lighting system to illuminate the image in the dark. In the advertising world in particular, it is important to alternately display multiple images in order to attract the attention of observers. To achieve this, the panel can, for example, be in 1 7? 2 mutually movable parts can be made, wherein the parts can be placed in a plurality of positions by a drive of the imaging system. In each position, each part can show a part of a particular image, so that several images can be shown to observers 5. When using the assembly as a traffic sign, various images can be displayed in an analogous manner According to another known assembly, the panel comprises a matrix image whose matrix elements are electronically controllable. are displayed.

A drawback of the known assembly is that it is not suitable for displaying multiple images to an observer in a quiet manner. This is due to the fact that the known assembly changes the images to be displayed at fixed, sometimes undesired, times. When an image is changed along a road at fixed and sometimes unfortunate times with an assembly such as a billboard, the result can be that road users are distracted in such a way that traffic is endangered. The latter applies, for example, when relatively long messages must be displayed with traffic signs that require different images belonging to each other.

A drawback of the known assembly that is provided with moving parts for displaying various (advertising) messages is that this assembly is subject to significant wear. An assembly with an electronically controllable matrix image has no moving parts and does not have this disadvantage. However, such an assembly has the disadvantage that it is not possible to display a detailed image with it.

It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly that meets at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages. To this end, the assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the transparent wall is provided with a plurality of transparent elongated macro-prism profiles and that image strips of at least three split images are provided on the panel, the image strips of the images alternating such that the alternating image strips in cooperation with the macro-prism profiles cause that, in use, the first image is observed in a first viewing direction relative to the wall, and the second image is observed in a second viewing direction relative to the wall. In the assembly according to the invention, the image which the observer perceives is therefore dependent on the position of the observer relative to the assembly is not explicitly dependent on the time of observation. Each viewing direction makes a certain aspect angle with the transparent wall. The first viewing direction can be in a first interval with aspect angles and the second viewing direction can be in a second interval with aspect angles. In a first spatial area, an observer can observe the first image at an aspect angle in the first interval and allow it to penetrate. In a second spatial area, the observer can observe the second image at an aspect angle in the second interval and allow it to penetrate.

This means that as the observer moves from the first area to the second area, he can successively observe the first and the second image. It is thus possible with the assembly of the invention to display several images in a quiet manner to an observer in traffic, without an image being exchanged for another image at an unfortunate time. The assembly according to the invention is therefore suitable for use as a billboard. Furthermore, the assembly can be used as a traffic sign for displaying a plurality of associated images with traffic announcements in a predetermined order. In particular, the assembly according to the invention provides a possibility of displaying several images without the necessity of using moving parts. The assembly according to the invention is therefore relatively maintenance-free.

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A preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the macro-prism profiles are vertically oriented. This means that the first and the second spatial area are defined by vertically oriented planes which form predetermined angles with the normal of the transparent wall of the assembly. This embodiment can be used, for example, when the assembly according to the invention is arranged on a side of a truck for displaying two images with advertising messages. It is thus possible for an observer to show two messages one behind the other as the truck passes by, as the aspect angle varies. Because the messages in such a configuration can be offered in a predetermined order, an additional possibility is created for, for example, advertising. The first message may, for example, be a question, the second message formulating an answer to this question.

A preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the macro-prism profiles are oriented horizontally. This embodiment can be used, for example, as a traffic sign arranged above a road. Here it is possible that observers on the road that are at a relatively large distance can observe the first image, and that observers who have come closer (almost under the traffic sign) can observe the second image.

According to an embodiment, it holds that the various macro-prism profiles are substantially identical and that a cross-section of each macro-prism profile is substantially a triangle. The angles of the triangle can for instance each be 60 °, or for instance be 90 °, 45 ° and 45 ° respectively.

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The precise limit values of the intervals of the aspect angle are determined inter alia by the choice of the angles of the said triangle (i.e. of the cross-section of the macro-prism profiles). The elongated macro prism profiles are preferably positioned such that a point of the triangle faces the panel assembly.

Furthermore, it holds that the macro prism profiles are preferably arranged mutually connecting and adjacent to each other. The mutual distances between the macro prism profiles determine the width of the said image strips. These dimensions are determined by, among other things, the dimensions of the sides of the said triangles. The dimensions of these sides are normally in the range 10-60 [mm].

An advanced embodiment of the assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the panel is interchangeable. If the assembly is used as a billboard, it is therefore simply possible to change the panel quickly with the advertising messages. - -

A further embodiment of the assembly according to the invention is characterized in that the assembly is provided with a light source with which the panel can be illuminated with the images via the macro prism profiles. Illuminating the panel via the macro prism profiles appears to provide an extremely efficient use of the light from the light source. Preferably, it holds that the receiving space is substantially gas-tight, the receiving space being filled with an anti-condensation nitrogen filling. Thus, the formation of condensation which has an adverse effect on the visibility of the images of the panel is prevented.

The method for manufacturing a panel according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: • generating two-dimensional image strips of the n (n> 1) images to be applied to the panel in a transverse direction; 'V' c ·· 6 • applying the compressed image strips to the said panel next to each other according to a predetermined regularity and aligned in a transverse direction.

The invention further relates to a software program 5 for carrying out the said method.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:

1A is a schematic perspective view of an assembly of an imaging system and a panel according to the invention included in the imaging system 10;

Figure 1B is an exploded detailed view of the area 1B shown in Figure 1A;

Figure 2A is a schematic top view of the assembly according to the invention; Figure 2B is a schematic front view of the panel in the assembly of Figure 2A;

Figure 3A is a schematic perspective view of a macro prism profile for an assembly according to the invention;

Figure 3B is a schematic representation of a possible cross-section of a macro-prism profile according to Figure 3A;

Figure 3C is a schematic representation of a possible cross section of a macro prism profile according to Figure 3A;

Figures 4A and 4B are respective schematic top views of a truck provided with an assembly according to the invention, wherein one observer has different positions with respect to the assembly, respectively;

Figure 5 is a schematic front view of a panel of the assembly according to the invention provided with image strips of two images; Λ <* · \ <·· - 7

Figure 6A is a schematic representation of the first image of the panel of Figure 5, as this image can be observed by an observer in a first interval of an aspect angle of a viewing direction relative to the assembly; Figure 6B is a schematic representation of the second image of the panel of Figure 5, as this image can be observed by an observer at a second interval of said aspect angle;

Figure 1A shows an assembly 2 of an imaging system 4 and a panel 6 included in the imaging system 4. In Figure 1A the panel 6 is accommodated in a recording space 7 of the imaging system. The area marked 1B in Figure 1A is shown in more detail in Figure 1B. The imaging system 4 is provided with a transparent wall 8 at the front, through which an observer can observe images corresponding to the image applied to the panel 6 with information of the images. - - -

The transparent wall 8 of the imaging system 4 is provided with a plurality of 26 transparent elongated macro-prism profiles 10.1 through 10.26, each of which is arranged between the transparent wall 8 and the panel 6 (see optionally Figure 1B). In the example of Figure 1, the macro-prism profiles 10 are arranged contiguous and next to each other vertically oriented.

The panel 6 is provided with an image with information of at least two images. The image in this example comprises image strips b1, b2 of two split images. The first image B1 is split into 52 image strips b1 and the second image B2 is split into 52 image strips b2.

The image strips b1 and b2 are alternately arranged vertically oriented, contiguous to each other on the panel 6, in a manner corresponding to the placement of the macro prism profiles 10. As shown in Figure 1B, there is both an image strip opposite each macro prism profile 10. b1 is placed as an image strip b2. Here, the

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The separation between the image strips is determined by the point of a triangle of a cross-section of the relevant macro prism profile 10.

Figure 2A schematically shows a top view of an assembly 2 according to the invention, in which an observer W1 or W2 looks in accordance with a viewing direction 14.1 or 14.2 through the transparent wall 8 to the image on the panel 6 (see Fig. 2B for panel with image). The viewing direction 14.1 (14.2) is defined by an aspect angle βι (β2) between the viewing direction 14.1 (14.2) and the transparent wall 8. In a general sense, the aspect angle β is for defining the position or orientation of the observer W relative to a two-dimensional parameter of the transparent wall 8. However, in this example, the transparent wall 8 is vertical to the earth surface on which the observer W is located, and thus only the component of the aspect angle β is in a horizontal plane between the viewing direction 14 and the normal 16 of the transparent wall 8 of importance. For reasons of simplicity, this component is simply referred to below as the aspect angle β in the following.

The macro prism profiles 10 cooperate with the image strips b1 and b2 in such a way that, depending on the aspect angle β, the observer W20 detects in a first interval 18 of the aspect angle β a first image B1 built up from the image strips b1, and that the observer W detects a second image B2 in a second interval 20 of the aspect angle which is composed of the image strips b2. Furthermore, when the aspect angle β is in a third area 22, the observer does not observe a clearly defined image. In the example of Figure 2A it also holds that the observer does not observe a clear picture when the aspect angle β lies in the intervals 24 and 26. The intervals 22, 24 and 26 are sometimes called blind angle intervals. Figure 2A also indicates that the separation is between the interval 26 and the interval 18

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9 with an aspect angle β = α1 and that the transition from the interval 18 to the interval 22 is with an aspect angle β = α2. Because in this specific example, as indicated in Figure 2A, the intervals are symmetrical with respect to the normal 16, the blind spot interval 22 is equal to 2 * a2. The values of the angles a1 and a2 depend on the precise design of the μiacro prism profiles 10. This will be explained in more detail below.

Figure 3A shows a perspective view of a possible macro prism profile 10 that can be used in an assembly 2 according to the invention. The macro-prism profile 10 is elongated and has a triangular cross-section D. The length L of the prism profile 10 corresponds, for example, to a height H of the panel 6 of the assembly 2 according to Figure 1A. The triangular cross-section D of the prism profile 10 according to Figure 3A can have different angles. A first example is given in Figure 3B where the triangle D comprises two angles of 45 ° and an angle of SO0 A second example of the triangle D is given in Figure 3C where the triangle D comprises three angles of 60 ° each. As is apparent from, inter alia, Figures 1B and 2A, a point of the triangle D is preferably turned towards the panel 6. The dimensions of the sides of the triangle D (dimensions P1, P2, P in Figures 3B, 3C) are preferably in the interval 10-60 mm. It is noted that when using macro-prism profiles with a triangular cross-section D with angles of 60 ° and sides of 30 mm, the boundary angle is already approximately 45 ° and the boundary angle a2 is approximately 20 °.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate an application of the assembly 2 according to the invention. Figures 4A and 4B are schematic top views of a truck 28 on which an assembly 2 according to the invention is arranged on a side. The truck 28 has a direction of travel 30 and is located in Fig. 4A with respect to an observer W such that a viewing direction 14 makes an aspect angle β with a normal 16 of the assembly 2. Thus, the observer W is in an interval of the aspect angle β in which the observer W observes a first image BI. After the truck 28 has driven further in the direction of travel 30, the observer is in the interval 22 for a short time (the blind spot, no image). The observer then gets to a position relative to the truck as shown in Figure 4B. In the latter position, the observer observes a second image B2. It is thus possible with the assembly 2 according to the invention to show successively associated different advertising images B1, B2 to observers. Here the images are displayed in a predetermined order and the transition between the two images takes place in a quiet manner.

The structure of the assembly 2 can be designed with the aid of the elongated triangular macro prism profiles 10 such that it can form part of a load-bearing construction of a truck. The construction is herein preferably designed according to a sandwich form (as also appears from Figure 1B).

In the following, a specific example will explain in more detail how the assembly 2 can display two images B1 and B2 with the aid of, inter alia, a panel 6 which is provided with image strips b1 of the image B1 and image strips b2 of the image B2 . The panel 6 according to Figure 5 consists of 6 image strips b1 and 5 image strips b2. The image strips bl belong to an image of a "forbidden to drive" sign. The image strips b2 belong to an image of a "one-way arrow" sign. As can be seen in Figure 5, the image strips of the images are compressed by a factor (of at least approximately) 2 in a transverse direction. This factor 2 is used because the macro-prism profiles 10 increase an image strip b1 or b2 during the first or second interval of the aspect angle in a transverse direction by a factor of about 2. This is apparent, for example, from the geometry as shown in Figure 2A, in which an observer W1 only perceives an image B1 in that the respective prism profiles each scale an associated image strip b1 by a factor of 2 in a transverse direction. When the panel 6 according to Figure 5 is placed in an associated imaging system 4, an observer will observe the first image B1 in a first interval of the aspect angle β as shown in Figure 6A.

When the observer looks in a second interval from the aspect angle β to panel 6 in an associated imaging system 4, then an image B2 will arise as a result of the cooperation of the macro prism profiles 10 with the image strips b1, b2, as shown in Figure 6B. Thus, the assembly can display two different images B1, B2, in this case the "forbidden-to-drive" sign and the "one-way arrow" sign, depending on the position of the observer relative to the assembly 2 of the invention .

The image strips b1 and b2 can, for example, be generated with the aid of a computer program on the basis of the underlying images B1, B2. Here the images B1 and B2 can be fed into the computer program, whereafter the computer program divides the images into strips, compresses or scales the image strips with a factor of 2 in a transverse direction and then alternately the respective image strips of the respective images on the panel next to each other position for forming the panel with the images.

The assembly 2 according to the invention is preferably provided with a light source (not shown in the drawing) with which light can be distributed along the panel 6 via the different macro-prism profiles 10. Thus, the images B1, B2 can also be displayed well in the dark.

The panel 6 can be a transparent information carrier behind which (on a side of the panel facing away from the transparent wall) a retro-reflective foil (for example class III, standard NEN-3381) is arranged. The foil preferably extends over a complete surface of the panel. With the film it is achieved that an observer who illuminates the transparent wall with a light beam can observe an image of the assembly in the dark. After all, the light beam falls through the transparent wall, then partly through the transparent panel onto the retro-reflective film behind the panel and then reflects through the film through the transparent panel and the transparent wall to the observer. Optionally, the retro-reflective film is a transparent film (class III, NEN-3381), a light source or a lighting system for illuminating the transparent panel is provided behind the retro-reflective film. The lighting system may comprise one or more fluorescent tubes of the "warm" or "cool white" type, for example.

It is also possible that the panel is a transparent information carrier behind which a lighting system with for instance fluorescent tubes is arranged, without the use of retro-reflecting foil. In an energy-efficient embodiment, an Optical Light Distribution Film (OLF) is arranged over a surface behind the panel, so that the entire surface of the panel can be illuminated with a relatively small light source.

Preferably, it holds that the assembly 2 according to the invention is arranged such that the panel 6 is easily exchangeable. As a result, for example, advertising messages can be exchanged in a simple manner by removing a panel from the receiving space and providing it with a different image, or by exchanging the panel for another panel with an image. In addition, the imaging system 4 is preferably embodied such that the receiving space forms an at least substantially gas-tight housing for the panel 6. The imaging system can then be filled with an anti-condensation filling such as, for example, nitrogen.

Because the assembly according to the invention does not comprise any moving parts and because the light from light source is optimally utilized via the macro prism profiles, the assembly according to the invention is environmentally friendly. Furthermore, it holds that the assembly according to the invention is preferably constructed from environmentally friendly materials such as, for example, acrylate.

The assembly according to the invention has been described with reference to a few preferred embodiments, but in no way limited to these embodiments. Many variations are possible, including many different forms of the macro prism profiles used. These prism profiles can take many different forms and are thereby provided with different dimensions of the cross sections. The orientation of the prism profiles in the assembly can also be changed in order, for example, to obtain an improved image in certain aspect angles. This and other variation are all understood to fall within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (19)

9 An assembly of an image-forming system and a panel included in the image-forming system for displaying an image, the image-forming system being provided with a recording space for receiving the panel carrying an image with information of the image, the image-forming system being provided with a transparent wall for being able to observe the image from an outside of the imaging system, characterized in that the transparent wall is provided with a plurality of transparent elongated macro-prism profiles and that image strips of at least two split images on the panel are arranged, the image strips of the images alternating each other such that the alternating image strips, in cooperation with the macro prism profiles, cause the first image to be observed in use in a first viewing direction relative to the wall, and in a second viewing direction 15, the second b. Relative to the wall is observed. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the macro prism profiles are vertically oriented. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the macro prism profiles are oriented horizontally. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the various macro prism profiles are at least substantially identical and that a cross section of each macro prism profile is substantially a triangle. 5. Assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that each corner of the triangle is at least substantially 60 °, and that a corner point of the triangle faces the panel accommodated in the image-forming system. An assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the respective angles of the triangle are 90 °, 45 ° and 45 ° respectively, wherein the angular point of the angle of 90 ° faces the panel included in the imaging system. An assembly according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that the dimensions of the sides of said triangle are in the 10-60 mm interval. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel is exchangeable. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image-forming system is provided with a light source for illuminating the panel incorporated in the image-forming system with the image via the macro-prism profiles. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel is a transparent information carrier. _ ~ 11. Assembly as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the assembly is provided with a retro-reflective foil on a side of the panel remote from the transparent wall. 12. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the receiving space is at least substantially gas-tight, wherein the receiving space is filled with an anti-condensation nitrogen filling. 13. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that an aspect angle of the viewing direction directed towards the imaging system with the transparent wall can lie in three different intervals, wherein, in use, in a first interval the first image of the assembly is observed, wherein in a second interval the second image of the assembly is observed, and wherein in a third interval, which is preferably between the first and the second interval, no definable image can be observed. 14. Imaging system of the assembly according to one of the preceding claims. 15. Panel of the assembly according to any of claims 1-13. 16. Method for manufacturing the panel for the assembly according to any of claims 1-13, comprising at least the following steps: • generating two-dimensional image strips of the n (n> 1) to be arranged on the panel in a transverse direction ) images; 10. connecting the compressed image strips to said panel adjacent to each other according to a predetermined regularity and aligned in a transverse direction. The method of claim 16, wherein the method also comprises the following step: 15. generating the compressed two-dimensional image strips by dividing each of the images to be applied to the panel into two-dimensional image strips and then dividing it into a compression factor n scaling the transverse direction transverse to the image strips of each of the 20 image strips. 18. Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method also comprises the following step: • generating the compressed two-dimensional image strips by compressing each of the images in the transverse direction with a compression factor n and subsequently compressing them in compressed two-dimensional image strips divide the n compressed images on this transverse direction. 19. A software program for performing the methods according to any one of claims 16-18, wherein the n images are processed electronically to generate electronic image strips, and wherein the one-r. - electronic image strips compressed in a transverse direction by factor n in a predetermined pattern. S "~ ·". «