CN101874264A

CN101874264A - Lighted subway signage

Info

Publication number: CN101874264A
Application number: CN200780101462A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·比尔格
Original assignee: INNOVATIVE MEDIA SOLUTIONS
Current assignee: INNOVATIVE MEDIA SOLUTIONS
Priority date: 2007-11-09
Filing date: 2007-11-09
Publication date: 2010-10-27
Also published as: WO2009060253A1

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources of narrow width relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer. The light source can be a series of LEDs or fluorescent or neon tubes, and a vertical slit can be used to reduce the width of their output. The back-lighted images can have the appearance of either a still image or produce the effect of moving images and the transparent images can be displayed on a video display remotely updatable by an update signal which may be wireless or wired generated based upon a preselected criterion such as time or detection of movement and the update signal can cause the transparent images to change to different images so that different viewers moving past the viewing box at different times see different images. Viewing boxes can have multiple images and vertical light sources. Transparent images can be displayed on video displays so they can be individually adjusted remotely vertically and horizontally to make images register, image to image, and the transparent video display image can be adjusted in its width to compensate for changes in speed of viewers moving along the path of travel past the display.

Description

Lighted subway signage

Technical field

The present invention relates to the people of fast moving process, such as the field of the graphic presentation that the passenger watched in subway carriage or the train.

Background technology

Advertisement is the general fact in the world now.It seems to occur everywhere, and information that new mode makes them is understood and attract target audience by the people attention is always sought by advertiser.Certainly, industry is inserted or the like development to some extent around the advertisement of different media and around new advertising, product, and wherein said different media comprise new special media.

People know that for a long time subway and train provide advertising opportunity.Subway or train carry full passenger, and they often pass invisible tunnel, external world.This means that the label (signage) in this tunnel provides fairly individual advertising opportunity.Be in nameplate (sign) in this position the passenger through will having unwilled spectators at that time, and label is positioned at the problem of the same type that other label produced that will can not produce usually about the billboard in open, the public place in this tunnel and be subjected to regulations usually and retrained.Yet, have some difficulties about this label, the needs that for example are used to change the inlet of nameplate, light fixture, size and especially cause their attention with high relatively speed during by the tunnel the passenger.

A kind of idea that has had the quite a while is a speed of utilizing subway train with by utilizing a series of fixing frozen frozen masses to create the idea of the outward appearance of motion picture.The motion picture of digital Age before this can be analogous to when motion picture depends on a series of picture on the film that in extremely rapid succession projects to by film projector on the screen, wherein said a series of picture utilize persistence of vision to produce the effect of moving image.Yet unlike 30 motion pictures, the screen in the subway tunnel is not fixed.The substitute is train and move through a series of pictures fixing on the subway wall,, probably be similar to film projector by quick continuous images is provided to the beholder.

This means that this serial picture must be correctly spaced apart on the subway wall, and be illuminated (lighted), and picture must be created as and considers by the distortion that speed caused of train with respect to still image.This has caused a lot of challenges again, and a large amount of inventor has managed to solve this challenge a very long time.

For example, in the U.S. Patent No. 2299731 of authorizing in nineteen forty-two, described a kind of display system of the motor vehicle that is used to move, its continuous dazzling flash of light by the extremely short duration provides the illumination of series of displays.After general 30 years, the stroboscopic recording geometry of display is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3694062 and No.3951529, and U.S. Patent No. 3704064 discloses the speedlight that is used for the subway signage animation system.One of problem of such system is the cost height, authorizes in the U.S. Patent No. 4393742 of nineteen eighty-three and manages the speed by using the sensor measurement train and begin flash period according to the result of sensor then to reduce such cost.Another problem of such system is used to the trigger mechanism of this series display lighting, is the U.S. Patent No. 5108171 of authorizing in 1992 at an invention of this problem.

Along with the beginning of new millennium, several new patents in the subway signage field, have been authorized.U.S. Patent No. 6169368 disclose train near the time use the sensor activation controller to trigger by computer-controlled electronics indication mechanism.U.S. Patent No. 6353468 discloses the use of flat screen LED monitor in display.U.S. Patent No. 6466183 discloses a kind of video display devices.U.S. Patent No. 6870596 discloses a kind of subway movie/entertainment media, and news report shows that the SidetrackTechnologies Inc. of company that has this patent has installed its system in many subways all over the world.

Therefore, is clear that, has needs and demand, and this is a kind of advertising media that it has attracted considerable attention for many years, comprises attention economically to the subway signage.

Be to authorize in 2003 in people's such as Spodek the U.S. Patent No. 6564486 (" Spodek "), a kind of method of subway signage is disclosed, it is similar to the zoetrope that is used for the subway signage system, attempts overcoming with stroboscopic observation showing relevant problem, such as timing.Spodek uses a kind of display, and in this display, a series of still pictures are viewed by the open plate (slitboard) that is installed between the beholder in image and the train.Details and the mathematics relevant with this display very at large are discussed in the patent of Spodek, will not give unnecessary details here, but are incorporated into simply with the part as background technology of the present invention by reference at this.The licensed company that is called Submedia for a family of the technology of Spodek, and it has ad system, and these ad systems are arranged in some of top media market, the world that comprises New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Mexico City now.

The present invention manages to improve the subway signage field by the instruction of the use improvement Spodek of novel apparatus and method, and described novel apparatus and method improve the efficient and the ease of use of subway signage system widely according to instruction of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates generally to be used to along travel path and moves through the apparatus and method that one or more beholders that watch case (viewing box) show visual information, each watches case to comprise transparent image by the light illumination of perpendicular, the light source of described perpendicular has narrow width with respect to transparent image, and light source is arranged in the described case of watching in the transparent image back.

In the of the present invention first independent prescription face, (backlighted) image that the back side is illuminated can have the outward appearance of static or moving image.Image can be displayed on the video display (such as the LCD video display), described transparent image can upgrade away from the described case of watching by update signal (it can be used as wireless or wire signal is sent), and update signal can produce based on the standard of selecting in advance, such as the time interval or detection of motion, and update signal can cause that the described image modification of watching case is different images and watches the different beholders of case to see different images so that move through in the different time.When providing a plurality of image by video display, transparent video display image can be by remotely vertical and flatly regulate separately so that the mutual registration of image, and transparent video display image can be conditioned aspect width with compensation and follows the change of speed that inbound path moves through the beholder of image.

In another independent prescription face of the present invention, transparent image can be a photographic film, slide (for example, it can be printed on computer printer) or the planar materials thin slice, wherein any or all by from right to left the upset (with the scanning light source of compensating images back), use by registration pin, these transparent images can correctly be arranged, and light source can be a fluorescent light, (it also can comprise diffusing globe for neon tube or light emitting diode row, it is diffusion in vertical direction), when the beholder moves through the effect that described light source when watching display has the vertical row of the transparent image that sequentially throws light on the direct of travel the beholder.When in the view single (site) case, comprising a plurality of transparent image, can between contiguous perpendicular light source, use optional baffle plate.

Therefore, fundamental purpose of the present invention is the image that the beholder of the image that is illuminated through the back side for fast moving provides this improved back side to be illuminated, and the image-dependent that this back side is illuminated provides the line sweep of the transparent image between light source and beholder in perpendicular light source.

For a person skilled in the art, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of setting forth below, this and further purpose of the present invention and advantage will be conspicuous.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 has described a series of casees of watching of in series being arranged in the subway tunnel according to of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is that the top view of case of watching according to the present invention is described, and it illustrates the horizontal zone of the illumination of single perpendicular light source.

Fig. 3 is the front view of watching case that Fig. 2 is shown.

Fig. 4 is that a series of top views of case of watching according to the present invention are described, and watching in the case each all to have can be by separated a plurality of perpendicular light source of optional baffle plate and transparent image (not shown).

Fig. 5 is that this series that Fig. 4 is shown watches case at the front view that does not have under the baffle plate situation.

Fig. 6 is the illustrative embodiments of watching case according to of the present invention, and it illustrates watches case to be opened so that film image is installed.

Fig. 7 illustrates the film image or the video screen of watching case to use Fig. 6 according to of the present invention, and does not have its typical diffusing globe backlight and comprehensive.

Fig. 8 is that the illustrative transversal section top view of case of watching according to the present invention is described, and this watches case to use the light source of neon tube as the perpendicular of giving the image I illumination on the film F, and wherein the field of illumination is illustrated by the light LR at outer boundary place.

Fig. 9 is that it also is shown in broken lines opening of hinged frame HF along the illustrative cross-sectional side view of the line 9-9 among Fig. 8.

Figure 10 and 11 and Fig. 8 and 9 similar, except the light source of perpendicular is a microfluorescent lamp and its mfg, and the hinged frame HF that is shown in dotted line of no use is for opening.

Figure 12 and 13 illustrates the alternate embodiment of the embodiment that is described in Figure 10 and 11, and wherein conventional fluorescent light is positioned at the wall back, and this wall has seam S to produce the light source that has the perpendicular of narrow width with respect to the transparent image I on the film F.

Figure 14 and Figure 10 are similar, are light emitting diode (LED) row with vertical diffusing globe D except the light source of perpendicular.

Figure 15 and Figure 11 are similar, based on the embodiment shown in Figure 14, except the part of the structure shown in Figure 16 is removed.

Figure 16 is that the local side of the LED row shown in Figure 14 is described.

The image that the beholder was seen when Figure 17 was the image that is illuminated when a plurality of back sides of train fast moving process according to the present invention.Because the motion of the train of process lamp box, it is fuzzy that vertical edges seems.

Embodiment

The invention provides a kind of lighted subway system, to compare energy efficiency higher with previous lighted subway system for it, so cost is lower.Display simulates of the present invention is just being watched the impression of the train passenger of landscape, mountain range, landscape, trees, buildings of the distant place of outside window scenery of train, process or the like.In this setting, scenery looks like true and natural, and is like this as situation.Even when train may have the bridge that the wood of narrow slit covers through too high fence or the side of passing vertical slats between plate, along with the seam between plate from flying at the moment, train passenger is also still seen this scenery, although dark images, because seam has occupied the sub-fraction of the spacing between plate and the plate.Example: if plate by vertical rotation and be placed in 6 inches in the heart, yet have 1/32 inch wide gap, brightness is reduced to 0.03125/6=0.5%.If train is advanced with suitable speed, the seam of process (perhaps plate) will fog and will can not look like at the volley; Yet, but scenery at a distance will normally present and decay to 0.5% brightness.

Utilize the principle of zoetrope (Zoetrope), watch image by the seam of quick process, can be by the impression that in prospect, provides seam to simulate train passenger, wherein by prospect, the image that is illuminated is shown behind seam.According to simple geometric and ratio, when the degree of depth of lamp box was reduced, the width of image must be reduced in proportion.The width of the image behind the seam is, for example when showing television advertising, from the viewing distance of train passenger, picture traverse is compressed to and makes that the height of the width of perceived image and image is proportional.According to train speed, for suitable width is provided, actual image must flatly be compressed approximate 6: 1 to 10: 1.

When the subway train was advanced fast enough, these seams fogged and because persistence of vision, and a plurality of images of the image that is illuminated from this series appear that self is overlapping.By coming display image with slight change, animation effect is produced according to these passive demonstrations.This has explained by passing seam and has watched traditional idea of the passive lighted subway signage of image.

Yet theme of the present invention changes the foreground/background relation of seam and image, thereby image and the equivalent that stitches, is that narrow perpendicular light source is in background in prospect.Foreground image is viewed to be arrived when beholder's exposed light source when the lamp box passes.

Now the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with several particularly preferred embodiment and when appropriate.

As mentioning in the background technology of the present invention, the present invention is particularly suitable for using in subway tunnel, wherein in subway tunnel, there is not natural light, the beholder rides in the subway carriage with fast relatively speed (for example with walking or run compare), and label has many beholders and advances when passing such tunnel by the ability that they watch.

The case LB that watches according to the present invention can have one or more transparent image I, and particularly preferably is any such image and is all protected by transparent cover TC.Fig. 3 illustrates the case of watching with an image I, and Fig. 5 illustrates the case of watching with a plurality of images.When a plurality of images when travel path is arranged concurrently, along with the beholder moves through these images, these images can produce the effect of moving image.

Watch each transparent image I in the case by the light source LS of its perpendicular illumination according to of the present invention, this light source LS has narrow width with respect to transparent image, and for the beholder, this light source is arranged in watches the back of case at transparent image.When the beholder moves through image, perpendicular light source provides the line sweep of image, its mode and when the disclosed device centre joint in people's such as for example Spodek U.S. Patent No. 6564486 is between beholder and the image that is illuminated seam provide the mode of similar line sweep roughly the same.In Spodek by or (1) be reflected from the opaque printed article that illuminates previously, perhaps (2) are passed diffusing globe and the image that the back side is illuminated by transmission, all decayed widely about 10% efficient of illumination, with the Spodek contrast, the invention provides: the beholder is directly seeing exposed lamp source LS.In order to further specify this point, the brightness of considering to fall the light on the book from reading lamp with seeing reading lamp the hot tungsten filament that exposes of bright bulb the time brightness different.This approximate 10: 1 brightness increases and allows subway signage of the present invention to utilize approximate 10% lamp source LS of energy demand illuminated to the level identical with Spodek.

Employed in the present invention perpendicular light source LS can adopt various ways, and its example is illustrated in Fig. 8-15.Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 illustrate the use of narrow neon tube N.Figure 10 and 11 illustrates the use of microfluorescent lamp and its mfg MFL.Figure 12 and 13 illustrates the use of conventional fluorescent light FL, although it is not used efficiently, because low-cost and available at any time, conventional fluorescent light FL is favourable, its output is subjected to having the restriction of use of the wall of seam S, to produce the light source that has the perpendicular of narrow width with respect to image I.This same principle that is used for limiting the width of light source by making of seam also can be used under the situation of other light source, and particularly preferred mode is to realize the narrow width perpendicular light source of wishing when cost is lower than the cost that the very narrow seamless perpendicular light source of use may need.Figure 14 and 15 illustrates the use of the LED row that are installed on the printing board PCB, and Figure 16 is illustrated in LED such among the particularly preferred embodiment that has increased diffusing globe D row, this diffusing globe D only in vertical direction the diffusion transmitted light so that fill up the impression that gap between each LED produces continuous continual vertical light.In in these light sources each, the width of light source is narrow with respect to image, so that it will produce the perpendicular line scanning of image when the beholder laterally moves through image.

Transparent image can adopt various ways.For example, transparent image can be such as

The photographic film of Duraclear or Endura film, slide (comprising the lantern slide that can on the computer color printer, be printed) or planar materials thin slice (for example the transparent vinyl resin that can obtain by roller or

(mylar)).(transparency) correctly arranged in order to ensure slide such in watching case, slide can comprise one or more marks or registration hole, be used for aiming at (referring to for example Fig. 6 and Fig. 8-15) with one or more registration pin RP, and as describing in Fig. 6 and 9, watch case can have the hinged frame HF that connects by hinge H, be opened so that easily replace any slide that it holds to allow transparent cover.

Replacement scheme as the physics transparent image that when changing image, must be replaced, transparent image can be become by the video display V-arrangement, described video display is such as being to have its typical case's diffusing globe backlight and comprehensive and remove LCD video display typical backlight, the image display that perhaps is equal to any other form of this display in the context of the present invention, display is illuminated from display box inside in the context of the present invention, but can be changed (or being modified) under the situation that does not change actual display physically.

Video display is that it can carry out remote update by update signal with respect to an advantage of film image.Such signal can be sent by wired connection or by wireless connections (referring to the antenna A of Fig. 1), and update signal can be based on any amount of standard of selecting in advance, such as, the time interval.In a particularly preferred embodiment, update signal can be based on to the detection of motion through the train of casing.Thereby for example, as shown in fig. 1, proximity transducer PS can be installed in and be attached to watching on the case on the tunnel wall TW, is used to detect the motion of train T.

In the embodiment that uses the video display that can upgrade away from lamp box, in fact video display can be programmed so that move through its train or the passenger in the subway carriage can see different images; In other words, the passenger in first compartment in the train can see first image (such as an advertisement), and the passenger in second compartment of train can see second image or advertisement, or the like.Result as this dirigibility, use the advertiser of this system to charged or this advertiser can charged based on the quantity through the compartment of watching case of specific position based on the different expenses of peak period, all these all produce than using the much bigger dirigibility of the obtainable dirigibility of film image, especially because the quantity of the latent image that can be shown and their DISPLAY ORDER and timing all can be controlled electronically rather than artificially control.

Video display is that its image can be by remotely vertical and flatly regulate separately with a plurality of display boxes of box lunch and be used for producing static together or make the mutual registration of image (make images register, image to image) during animated image with respect to another advantage of physics transparent image.This is very important, because if the image in a series of case is not correctly arranged, the image of being watched then appears to beat back and forth.In addition, the width that can regulate transparent image compensates train speed, obviously the something or other that can not utilize the physics transparent image to finish.

About the present invention, normal conditions will be that a plurality of casees of watching will be mounted along the travel path through casing, even the image that will show only is a rest image.Yet a plurality of images can be shown in the view single (site) case, as shown in Fig. 1 and 5, and are shown on video display so that when maximizing the utilizing of this display when image, and this is particularly preferred.When a plurality of images were shown in the view single (site) case, each image all must be illuminated by the light source of its oneself perpendicular.In such embodiments, as shown in Figure 4, may wish between each light source, to comprise baffle plate B.The purpose of this baffle plate is to eliminate the possible distractive edge graph picture (side image) that is produced by the light source for adjacent or contiguous image illumination.When perpendicular light source is series of LED, do not need baffle plate usually, the baffle plate that may use because the supporting structure of supporting printing board PCB, LED and vertical diffusing globe D plays a part under the situation of microfluorescent lamp and its mfg or neon tube.

Persistence of vision makes that image will need continually to prevent to feel flicker through the beholder.Minimum flicker frequency is approximately 18Hz.Preferably, the image that is illuminated need be refreshed with 48Hz or the frequency more than the 48Hz.2.2 the horizontal interval of foot or image pitch IF provide per second 20 images for the train of advancing with 30 miles speed per hour.By more closely placing image than 2.2 feet, obtain higher frame rate, and illumination to appear be continuous.Especially under the situation of more expensive LCD video display, it is important using them efficiently and utilizing available image resolution ratio.By the interval between careful selection image pitch IF and the lamp box LB, can make between a plurality of images of image pitch IF in a lamp box and and become unified, as shown in Figures 4 and 5 to contiguous lamp box from lamp box.This guarantees unified and sufficiently high refresh rate so that can not see the vertical blanking bar by image when train moves scans, and makes image-watching more comfortable pleasant substantially.

Though described the present invention with reference to some preferred embodiment here, these embodiment are provided as just example, do not limit the scope of the invention.Its additional embodiments will be conspicuous for the those skilled in the art that benefit from detailed description.In addition, under the situation that does not break away from the present invention program, in alternate embodiment, also can make amendment.Therefore, will be it is evident that to those skilled in the art, under situation about not breaking away from, can easily carry out the further change and the modification of practical solution described here as the spirit and scope of disclosed invention defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. one kind is used to along travel path and moves through the device that the beholder who watches display shows the image that the back side is illuminated, and comprising:

Watch case;

Be included in the described transparent image of watching in the case; And

With respect to the light source that described transparent image has the perpendicular of narrow width, for described beholder, described light source is arranged in the described case of watching in described transparent image back.

2. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the outward appearance of the image that the described back side is illuminated is a rest image.

3. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described transparent image is made of video display.

4. device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, described video display is made of the LCD video display.

5. device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, described transparent image can upgrade away from the described case of watching by update signal.

6. device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, described update signal is a wireless signal.

7. device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, described update signal is a wire signal.

8. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described transparent image is from selecting by laminar group of photographic film, slide and the planar materials.

9. device as claimed in claim 8, wherein, described transparent image correctly is arranged in described watching in the case by utilizing one or more registration pin.

10. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the light source of described perpendicular is selected from the group of being made up of fluorescent light and neon tube.

11. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the light source of described perpendicular is made of the light emitting diode row.

12. device as claimed in claim 11 further comprises diffusing globe, is used for being listed as diffused light vertically from this light emitting diode.

13. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the light source of described perpendicular produces by the seam between light source and the described transparent image.

14. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when described beholder move through described when watching display, vertical light source on described beholder's direct of travel in the vertical row back of described transparent image sequentially as seen.

15. device as claimed in claim 14, wherein, described transparent image is overturn from right to left with the scanning light source of compensation in described transparent image back.

16. device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: be included in described a plurality of transparent images of watching in the case; And the light source that has a plurality of perpendicular of narrow width with respect to described a plurality of transparent images, for described beholder, the light source of described a plurality of perpendicular is arranged in the described case of watching in described a plurality of transparent images back, and each in described a plurality of transparent images all has one of light source of the described a plurality of perpendicular that are positioned at its back.

17. device as claimed in claim 16 further comprises: at least one baffle plate, between two in the light source of described a plurality of perpendicular.

18. device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises: have a plurality of displays of watching of described a plurality of transparent images, be parallel to that travel path is arranged so that move through described a plurality of effect that produces moving image when watching display described beholder.

19. one kind is used to along travel path and moves through the method that the one or more beholders that watch display show the image that the back side is illuminated, and may further comprise the steps:

The watch case and the described travel path that will have transparent image are settled abreast; And

Utilization has the light source of the perpendicular of narrow width and gives described transparent image illumination with respect to described transparent image, for described beholder, described light source is arranged in the described case of watching in described transparent image back.

20. method as claimed in claim 19, wherein, described transparent image is made of video display.

21. method as claimed in claim 20, wherein, transparent video display image can remotely vertically and flatly be regulated so that the mutual registration of image separately.

22. method as claimed in claim 21, wherein, transparent video display image can be in the change of the speed that is conditioned the one or more beholders that move along described travel path with compensation aspect its width.

23. method as claimed in claim 22, wherein, described transparent image can upgrade away from the described case of watching by update signal.

24. method as claimed in claim 23 comprises further step: change described transparent image based on the standard of selecting in advance.

25. method as claimed in claim 24, wherein, the described standard of selecting in advance is based on the time interval of selecting in advance.

26. one kind is used to image that a plurality of beholders that move through the image that a plurality of back sides are illuminated along travel path show that described a plurality of back side is illuminated so that produce the method for the effect of moving image, comprises following steps:

Watch case to be placed in the described travel path one or more; And

When described beholder moves through described one or more and watches case in travel path, utilize the narrow light illumination of perpendicular to be accommodated in described one or more a plurality of transparent images of watching in the case each; Wherein, for described beholder, each in the narrow light source of described perpendicular is positioned at the back of one of described a plurality of transparent images.

27. method as claimed in claim 26, wherein, each in described a plurality of transparent images all can be carried out remote update by update signal.

28. method as claimed in claim 27 comprises further step: based on the described a plurality of detection of motion of one of case of watching of process are produced described update signal.

29. method as claimed in claim 28, wherein, it is second image from first image modification that described update signal makes the transparent image in the selected set that is comprised in described a plurality of transparent images.

30. method as claimed in claim 29 wherein, is watched first image for first group among described a plurality of beholders, and among described a plurality of beholder second group watched second image.