EP1444682A1 - Procede et ensemble d'affichage d'animations - Google Patents

Procede et ensemble d'affichage d'animations

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Publication number
EP1444682A1
EP1444682A1 EP02754024A EP02754024A EP1444682A1 EP 1444682 A1 EP1444682 A1 EP 1444682A1 EP 02754024 A EP02754024 A EP 02754024A EP 02754024 A EP02754024 A EP 02754024A EP 1444682 A1 EP1444682 A1 EP 1444682A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
plate
frame
plates
substrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02754024A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Russell H. Train
Mark H. Beukers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ZENO CANADA Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1444682A1 publication Critical patent/EP1444682A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/12—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a process and apparatus for providing a sequence of specifically altered images, and most preferably to providing a sequence of said images as single static images or as an animation sequence when operably viewed in a state of motion under the influence of visual persistence.
  • the apparatus has applicability, among others, as display units, preferably illuminated, for viewing by an observer in moving sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, escalators, subways, vehicular tunnels, elevators, theme attraction rides and the like.
  • U.S. Patent Nos. 3,951 ,529 (Gandia), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and 4,383,742 (Brachet), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a determination of the vehicle's speed to trigger image illumination.
  • the vehicle is a train, which is passing a stationary image.
  • patent '529 contemplates that the train travels at a predetermined speed each time it passes a section of track while the patent 742 measures the train's speed by a radar type speed detector. Many image display panels are triggered to illuminate their images simultaneously.
  • 3,694,062 (Koenig), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and 3,704,064 (Sollogoub), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe the light from within a vehicle to trigger image illumination.
  • a light detector associated with each image display panel monitors the light intensity coming from the passing vehicle. When the light shining on the image display panel is of great enough intensity the image is briefly illuminated.
  • U.S. Patent No. 978,854 (Czerniewski), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a purely mechanical means of triggering the illumination of the image.
  • a "shoe” attached to the moving vehicle lifts an aperture filter attached to the subway wall beside the train and a mechanism then permits light to momentarily illuminate the image within the image display panel mounted on the subway wall.
  • a stationary miniature image is mounted within the image display panel. Light is shone through the miniature image and is magnified through various lenses and directed onto the back of a semi-transparent projection screen by a series of reflectors. The light source is attached to the moving vehicle. All the other patents mentioned above use a large size, back or front lit, image mounted as part of the image display panel.
  • Fantoscope in 1832. It is basically a disc fixed at its center so that it can spin freely. Around the edges are regularly spaced slits, and in conjunction with each slit is an image drawn in sequential stages of movement.
  • stampfer developed the Phenakistiscope separately but at the same time; he dubbed it the Stroboscope.
  • both the Stroboscope and the Zoetrope employed a consistent and constant light source.
  • an opaque plane with a series of equally spaced vertical slits or apertures were placed between the viewer and the constantly illuminated image.
  • both devices rely on the principles of a parallax, which in turn applies the geometry and properties of the isosceles triangles.
  • a longitudinal scan of the image is provided to the viewer which progress across the width of the image. The same properties apply when the device is constructed in a linear context where, the .
  • images and apertures are arranged in a vertical plane similar to the Stroboscope, while advancing the images and apertures along a horizontal plane similarly to a circular Zoetrope.
  • This in itself is not a novel thought but offers a more practical arrangement where the viewer is considered to be the object in a state of relative motion.
  • Use of a linear arrangement of the Stroboscope, to effect persistence of vision, avoids the mechanical triggering issues and is therefore preferable to the use of a stroboscopic light source.
  • the viewers peripheral view will be provided with a longitudinal scan of 30 or more discrete sequential sections of 30 or more discrete images in sequential stages of movement.
  • This effect would be similar to projecting 30 sequential images on to a screen simultaneously where in each frame; the main object is in a slightly different position.
  • This inherent loss of image quality is particularly pronounced at slower speeds, where the viewer is afforded more time to identify the disassociation between subsequent incongruent sections of subsequent discrete image frames.
  • the invention provides a method of treating a plurality of source image frames, in sequential stages of movement, to produce a resultant plurality of sequential image plates, to be transferred to a display substrate.
  • the resultant image plates when viewed through a planar or linear zoetrope or stroboscope, permit a viewer, in a state of relative motion, to scan congruent collections of longitudinal arrays located throughout a multiple of the sequential image plates.
  • Each series of image plate longitudinal array subsets collectively combine to form an original source image frame.
  • the absence of this treatment would otherwise result in a collective combination of vertical image array subsets belonging to a multiple of incongruent source image frames in sequential stages of movement, where each image frame may depict an incongruent stage of movement, as is the result in prior art forms.
  • the present invention provides an animation display system that provides formulae for appropriately rearranging a plurality of pixel locations, preferably as many as millions of pixel locations.
  • the present invention provides an animation display system that provides a method of elongating images through economic computer re-digitization so that when viewed through a parallax filter, by a viewer in a state of relative motion, the images, which become stretched along the x axis, are reconstructed through interpretation by the viewer, resulting in an intended image aspect ratio.
  • the present invention provides an animation display system that provides a system that will operate while in a state of relatively slow motion, such that when applied, for example, to a moving walk-way with a velocity of 2 mph or more the system will still meet a minimum objective of 30 frames per second.
  • lower speeds are also contemplated, such as a speed of about 1.25 mph, for example.
  • the present invention provides an animation display system that does not require electronic or mechanical moving parts and thus eliminates mechanical wear problems and the need for critical timing.
  • the present invention provides an animation display system that provides a plurality of longitudinal apertures and associated aperture filters so as to limit the duration of time over which any specific longitudinal section of a constantly illuminated image my be observed, such that the principles of persistence of vision can be applied.
  • the present invention provides a method of creating aperture plates for a linear arrangement of the zoetrope or stroboscope, where a range of angles through which the images are revealed to the viewer can be increased and where there exists a plurality of direction focuses to the image substrate, allowing the viewer a range of more practical or comfortable range of angles from which to view the animation sequence.
  • These methods eliminate the restricted angles of view, which can be caused, for example, by perpendicular slits applied to relatively thick aperture plates (in other words plates of a perceptible depth) as in prior art forms.
  • the present invention provides a method of ⁇ creating a directional aperture plate for a linear arrangement of the zoetrope or stroboscope or a combination thereof, where the range of angles through which the images are revealed to the viewer shall be limited but where the predominant direction of focus maybe altered from that of perpendicular direction to the image substrate to a more practical, desirable or comfortable predominant direction of focus from which the viewer may observe the animation sequence.
  • the invention in one aspect provides a method a process and apparatus for displaying static or moving images to an observer while in relative motion by providing stabilized, fixed, altered images through a plurality of parallax filters.
  • the invention in this aspect allows a viewer to observe a stable image even when the device is observed at slow speeds. It uses principles of "slit scan image production” (in other words the viewer's brain assembles an image as the viewer scans the image through a slit) and the quantum characteristics of human conciseness, i.e. persistence of vision. Unlike film images, the system, according to one embodiment, delivers a constant image more akin to television or a flatbed film-editing table and relies on the phenomena of moving light over time.
  • Persistence of vision refers to the length of time the retina retains an image. A light flash every tenth of a second or less is perceived as continuous and in consequence because of this persistence, an observer cannot tell where one flash ends and the next flash begins, and, thus, perceives a continuous light.
  • the apertures of use in the display unit according to the invention simulate flashes of light to create stroboscopic effect or the effect of the persistence of vision. Persistence of vision is achieved when there exists relative motion between the apparatus and the viewer and when the viewer is only permitted to see a given longitudinal section of a constantly illuminated image for less than 1/10 of a second.
  • Phi phenomenon is a result of human instinct. Our brains strive to make meaning from what it perceives. When different images are viewed close together in time, a viewer brain quickly creates a relationship between them.
  • video or film sequences are converted / re- digitized and, in one aspect, re-printed to a substrate, such as, for example, preferably sheets or rolls of translucent film, by way of suitable print technology, such as, for example, electrostatic, thermal ink jet, laser, dot matrix and DURA- TRANS (a trade name) printing and the like.
  • a substrate such as, for example, preferably sheets or rolls of translucent film
  • suitable print technology such as, for example, electrostatic, thermal ink jet, laser, dot matrix and DURA- TRANS (a trade name) printing and the like.
  • the width of the print substrate corresponds to the desired image projection height, where as length of the print substrate is determined as a function of the desired time span of the animation and the rate of speed at which the viewer is moving.
  • the printed sheets or rolls of film are positioned between a flat light source and series of parallax scanning filters and associated apertures.
  • Image reprocessing and use of a parallax scanning filters allow for the presentation of a singular image or seemingly animated sequence of images, without the requirement of any moving or mechanical parts or stroboscopic lights.
  • the so-treated sequences may be presented in a non-permanent or transient form, such as on an appropriately sized display screen, such as plasma screen or the like.
  • the invention provides a method and a process of producing a plurality of sequential, digitized substrate image plates for use in providing an animated sequence of said images, said method comprising; (i) providing a plurality of sequential source image frames, where each frame has a sequential ascending frame number, said frames having a first aspect ratio defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis; (ii) providing a plurality of digital image plates, where each image plate has a sequential ascending plate number, said plates having a first aspect ratio, of the same value as the source image frame, defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis; (iii) vertically slicing each of said sequential source image frames along said x-axis to provide X slices of equal width, from each of said source image frames, where each slice has a frame number and a sequential ascending image slice position number; (iv) vertically
  • the invention further provides a method and a process for refining a value for X, wherein the following variables are defined (a) the desired optimum focal plane or viewing distance from the image plate substrate, (b) the desired optimum viewable image width, IW, when viewed from the optimum focal plane, expressed in inches, (c) the display technology, as well as its respective display resolution, preferably defined as dots per inch, DPI, and (d) the pixel resolution of the source image frames, along the x-axis, IPR.
  • the resultant display image plate width defined as the quotient of (a) the pixel resolution of a source image frame along the x-axis, IRP and (b) the DPI of the displayer.
  • the value of X can then be expressed as the quotient of (a) the desired optimum viewable image width and (b) the resultant display image plate width. It is preferable to select or adjust a value for X such that the resultant vale of IRP divided b X result in an integer.
  • the invention provides a method and process to increase relative frame rates and reduce the strobing effect which may result when the apparatus is viewed at slow rates of travel, wherein both the width of the image plate and the distance between aperture centers are both reduced by a compression factor, CF representing the size of the compressed source image as a decimal value of its original width.
  • CF representing the size of the compressed source image as a decimal value of its original width.
  • the width of the resultant image plates may be reduced in width, by first reducing the width of the source image frames, wherein the x axis of the source image frame is digitally compressed to occupy a lesser percentage of its original width, allowing for a proportional reduction of the width of aperture centers, thereby reducing filter interference when the animation is viewed at slow rates of travel.
  • the viewers' relative rate of travel and width of the aperture filters determine the relative frame rate of the animation. High rates of travel and narrow aperture filters may result in inappropriately high frame rates, which are in excess of the original animation frame rate, causing the animation sequence to progress at an unintended high rate.
  • the invention therefore provides a method for adjusting inappropriate frame rates, wherein the resultant frame rate approximates the original source frame rate (in other words, the frame rate presenting the original animated image or video footage) by (i) first taking the display width of an image plate, determined by the quotient of the x-axis resolution of the source image frames expressed in pixels, and the x-axis resolution of the selected display technology expressed as number of dots per inch, DPI, (ii) determining the default observed frame rate by taking the quotient of the image plate display width, expressed in inches, and the expected velocity of the viewer relative to the image plate substrate, expressed in inches per second, (iii) determining the frame rate of the original source image frames, expressed as frames per second and (iv) taking a quotient of the default observed frame rate, and the frame rate of the original source image frames, (v) reducing the resultant value to its nearest integer referred to as M the resultant frame multiple and (vi) creating M sequential multiples of each discrete source image frame prior to creating a series of image plates
  • the invention provides a method and a process for determining a value Y by which the image plates are to be elongated; a method wherein Y can be expressed as product of the relative reduction to the width of the original source image frames, represented by the factor CF and expressed as decimal, multiplied by the value of X. Where no compression or magnification is applied to the source image frames along the x-axis to effect effective frame rates and aperture filter widths, the value of CF is 1 and thereby Y assumes the value of X.
  • the plurality of sequential digitized image plates is transferred to a substrate adapted to receive the images by printing methods as hereinbefore stated.
  • the invention in the aforesaid preferred aspect further comprises providing a method and a process of creating an aperture plate having a plurality of parallax scanning filters comprised of pairs of longitudinal apertures and filters, placed in longitudinal alignment, wherein each of the apertures, is so disposed relative to the display substrate as to provide a plurality of lines of sight, through a corresponding plurality of apertures, to discrete and distinct longitudinal subset arrays of sequential image plates so disposed on the display substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision.
  • each subsequent aperture will provide a slightly different angle of view to the display substrate.
  • Each subsequent longitudinal view provided through each series of subsequent longitudinal apertures will therefore reveal a longitudinal scan of subsequently different longitudinal sections of subsequent image plates.
  • the resulting compilation of subset arrays views observed simultaneously through a plurality of subsequent apertures, on a plurality of subsequent image plates, produce by the method described above will return the desired discrete and complete source image frame.
  • the apertures allow the viewer to scan a set of individual slices of the same image frame in a given position along a travel path. If the viewer changes his position along his travel path, so too will the set of individual slices change. As the viewer advances from one position to another sequentially along his travel path, the sets of individual slices will sequentially change. The viewer's persistence of vision will thus present an animation from one singular image frame to the next.
  • the invention provides a display assembly comprising a planar substrate bearing a plurality of sequential, digitized substrate image plates; a planar front member disposed parallel to and at a front distance from said substrate.
  • Said planar front member comprises providing a plurality of parallax scanning filters comprised of pairs of longitudinal apertures and filters, placed in longitudinal alignment, wherein each of the apertures, is so disposed relative to the display substrate as to provide a plurality of lines of sight, through a plurality of apertures, to discrete and distinct longitudinal subset arrays, of sequential, image plates so disposed on the display substrate, as to operably provide an instantaneous transition between said discrete and distinct portions when illuminated and when (a) viewed through said apertures and (b) when masked by said front member as to effect persistence of vision to an observer; and constitute a plurality of parallax scanning filters.
  • Perpendicular slits or slots in relatively "thick" aperture plates of perceptible depth involve two opposing surfaces or planes, an outer, viewer facing plane and an inner, image facing plane, where the slit or slot perforates both inner and outer surfaces of a single planar substrate and where the two surfaces are separated by a perceptible thickness. Slits or slots in aperture plates of perceptible depth, results in a restricted range of angles through which the viewer is provided a limited range longitudinal views to the image contained behind each aperture.
  • the invention provides a method of creating an aperture plate having thin aperture filters, wherein the viewer is provided a significantly broader range of views as a result.
  • the invention provides a display assembly comprising a substrate bearing a plurality of sequential digitized substrate images and a front member disposed parallel and spaced from the substrate.
  • the substrate images are sliced and the slices are distributed along the substrate in a predetermined pattern.
  • the planar front member has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of parallax scanning filters is provided along the longitudinal axis.
  • Each scanning filter has a pair of spaced filter elements to form an elongate aperture.
  • the apertures are positioned relative to the substrate images to provide a plurality of lines of sight to discrete slices of the images so disposed on the display to present, collectively, one of the images.
  • the substrate and the front member are planar and the travel path linear, though other configurations may also be employed in some cases.
  • the front member is substantially transparent with a front surface facing the viewer's travel path and a rear surface facing the images.
  • the parallax scanning filters are formed by applying a film of opaque material on either the front surface, the rear surface or both. Desirably, the film is as thin as practically and economically achievable.
  • the so-formed apertures on the front surface may be positioned relative to the apertures on the rear surface.
  • the apertures on the front surface may be either aligned with or staggered relative to, the apertures on the rear surface. Doing so will control the angle, at which the viewer can view the image slices through the apertures, on either side of an "aperture axis" (or “direction of focus") extending through each aperture.
  • the "aperture axis" will be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the front member.
  • the so-formed apertures on the front surface may be staggered (to the right or left) relative to the apertures on the rear surface, thus shifting the "aperture axis" to a degree corresponding to the stagger (in other words the greater the stagger the steeper the "aperture axis").
  • the invention provides an aperture plate, providing a plurality of directional focuses to the animation sequence and a plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, further comprising a succession substantially opaque filters in longitudinal alignment, wherein each of said opaque filters has a corresponding and adjacent plurality of longitudinal, preferably optically clear, translucent apertures, wherein said opaque filters are applied as a preferably thin film, upon a translucent preferably optically clear support substrate.
  • the substantially opaque filters are thin, more preferably as thin as practically or economically achievable (or both) given the materials being used to prepare the aperture plate.
  • the filter may, for example, have a thickness ranging from about 0.0001 to 0.01 inch, for example, and can include such things as a vinyl applique applied on a LEXAN (a trade name) substrate, a layer of glass frit fired to a film on a glass substrate, or a paint or other thin coating otherwise applied to a transparent substrate such as LEXAN, PLEXIGLASS (both trade names), glass or the like.
  • LEXAN a trade name
  • PLEXIGLASS both trade names
  • a range of other techniques may be devised to provide even thinner layers.
  • the invention provides a method of creating a display assembly with a plurality of directional focuses provided by an aperture apparatus having a single aperture plate providing a range of views, said the apparatus having of a plurality of thin aperture filters, where the aperture filters preferably abut but do not intersect the areas between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminates at the outer limits of the x-axis of the image plates width and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X as defined above and (b) the display width of the image plates, and where the aperture plate separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide a plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of the sequential image plates on the substrate through the apertures to the substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of the image plates.
  • the aperture filters are preferably placed in close proximity to the axis of the intersecting
  • an aperture plate consisting of aperture filters of minimal thickness, and thereby providing the viewer a plurality of predominant focus angles, the viewer is permitted to simultaneously view, by virtue of peripheral sight, animation sequences that were just previously seen in the predemonant direction of focus as well animation sequences that will be momentarily aligned with the predominant direction of focus.
  • the invention provides a method of spacing second order images, wherein the resulting proximity of perceptible observation of adjacent images may be decreased, by appending an opaque vertical bar to both sides of each source image prior to construction of their respective image plates.
  • a vertical black (or other suitable coloured) bar of 0.2 inches added to both sides of each source image frame, prior to creating image plates, whose width is assumed to 1.2 inches, when viewed through the apparatus with a perceived image width of 36, will now appear to have a 12 inch black separation between subsequent animation sequences. ((0.2+0.2)/1.2)x36.
  • the invention provides a method of creating an aperture plate, providing a desired directional focus and a plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, wherein the aperture filters abut both the opening and closing lines of adjacent image frames but do not intersect the area between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminate at the outer limits of an image plate and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X and (b) the display width of the image plate, where the line bisecting the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight and the closing line of sight defines the direction of focus and where the aperture plates separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide a unobstructed and limited plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of said sequential, image plates on said substrate through said apertures to said substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of said image plates.
  • the invention provides a method of creating a display assembly wherein the predominant direction of focus may be controlled by the configuration of the aperture filters and where there exists a plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, said method comprising a plurality of filter configurations, wherein the aperture filters are required to abut both the opening and closing lines of adjacent image frames but not intersect the area between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminate at the outer limits of an image plate and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement, points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X and (b) the display width of the image plate, where the line bisecting the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight and the closing line of sight defines the direction of focus and where the aperture plates separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of the sequential image plates on the substrate through the apertures to the
  • the present invention provides a method of providing animation, comprising:
  • the optimum focal 'line' or 'plane' is the distance from the image-bearing substrate to the location at which an observer sees the normal or intended view of the images having the proper, true and desired aspect ratio. Viewing the images nearer the substrate than at the optimal focal distance provides a compressed image of greater aspect ratio, whereas viewing the images at a greater distance provides an elongated image of reduced aspect ratio: We have found that practical satisfactory viewing of the plurality of sequential, digitized substrate images is possible at distances up to at least +50% of the optimum focal distance when the latter is of the order of 2 - 3 meters, though other distances may also be suitable.
  • aperture includes slits, slots, perforations, openings and the like of a continuous length (height) or a plurality of intermittent, discrete perforations and the like which to the eye of an observer or viewer provides the same visual effect as a continuous slit.
  • a suitable aperture horizontal width from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm may be selected, though other dimensions may also be used.
  • image includes, for example, but is not limited thereto, a design, letter, word, logo, picture, shape, outline, however formed, of any color(s) and the like, or combinations thereof.
  • the image may be disposed on the inner or outer surface or within the body of the substrate, or combinations thereof. Thus, it may be printed, carved or the like on or in the substrate, or combinations thereof.
  • bearing in this specification includes one or more of these dispositions.
  • the device may include a compartment containing the substrate bearing the image.
  • the latter may be illuminated by any lighting means within the compartment or, preferably behind the substrate, which defines the image as to be seen by an observer through the apertures.
  • the system may be self-supporting or received by a retaining wall, framework or like structure.
  • the system may be either stationary or operably movable relative to an observer.
  • the term "sequential" when used is association with the term "image plates” in this specification is defined as meaning the specific order of arranging the image slices, one slice adjacent to another, to effect the production of the resultant desired image as to be viewed by an observer in accordance with the practice of the invention, as herein below defined.
  • the series of progressive image frames numbered sequentially in ascending order starting with the numeral 1 are sliced into X number of vertical subsets of equal width, wherein each slice contained within a source image frame is numbered sequentially in ascending order starting with the numeral 1 , and each slice assumes an image plate position on the basis of the following sequence; wherein the plate position of each original slice is derived by the addition of its image frame number and its slice position within the image frame less the integer one.
  • slice position 6 of image frame 7 would retain the same slice position but located in image plate 12, likewise slice position 4 of image frame 20 would be positioned in image plate 23.
  • Fig. 1 (i) illustrates two sequential source image frames
  • Fig 1 (ii illustrates two sequential image plates
  • Fig 1 (iii) illustrates vertically slicing a source image frame
  • Fig 1(iv) illustrates vertically slicing an image plate
  • Fig 1(v) illustrates the distribution of images slices over a sequence of image plates
  • Fig 1 (vi) illustrates a vertical elongation of two image plates
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a sequence of image plates, which will result from the process of treating a sequence of 8 source image frames;
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the compression of two source frames where the compression factor CF is set to .5 or 50%;
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a method of reducing the effective frame rate of an apparatus
  • Fig. 4a illustrates a number of source image frames in another arrangement
  • Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view indicating the plurality of discrete views afforded an observer by virtue of his specific direction of travel and location along the path of travel as it relates to the construction dimensions of a given display unit according to the invention
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the purpose and benefit of creating image plates from source image frames
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus wherein the aperture plate is comprised of thin aperture filters
  • Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of establishing the location of opening and closing lines of sight relative to a pre-selected predominant directional focus
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of 4 possible aperture filter configurations utilized to create a directional aperture plates.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of a directional aperture plate comprised of thin aperture filters.
  • the invention provides a method of treating a plurality of sequential source image frames, in progressive stages of movement, to produce a resultant plurality of sequential image plates, to be transferred to a display substrate.
  • the resultant image plates when viewed through a. planar or linear zoetrope or stroboscope permit a viewer, in a state of relative motion, to scan congruent collections of longitudinal arrays located throughout a multiple of the sequential image plates. Each series of image plate longitudinal array subsets, collectively combine to form an original source image frame.
  • the invention provides a method of constructing an image display apparatus namely a linear zoetrope or stroboscope with an aperture plate of less restricted angles of view and multiple orientations of the predominant direction of focus.
  • the invention provides a method of constructing an image display apparatus namely a linear zoetrope or stroboscope with an aperture plate of restricted range of angles of view and a specific orientation of directional focus.
  • It preferably provides the viewer with a crisper image than that of a linear stroboscope or zoetrope.
  • Figure 1 (i) depicts a plurality of source image frames, where each frame is assigned a sequential ascending frame number, SIF 1 , SIF 2 etc.
  • the frames have a first aspect ratio defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis of 480 pixels / length of the horizontal or x-axis of 720 pixels, whose result is 480 pixels / 720 pixels or 2/3.
  • Figure 1(ii) depicts a plurality of digital image plates, where each image plate has a sequential ascending plate number 1P1 , IP 2 etc, the plates having a first aspect ratio, of the same value as the source image frames, defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis;
  • Figure 1 (iii) depicts vertically slicing each of the sequential source image frames along the x-axis to provide X slices of equal width, where the value of X is assumed to be set to 4 and, where each slice is assigned a frame number and a sequential ascending image slice position number, where the first integer of each slice represents the frame number and the second integer represents the slice position within the frame.
  • Figure 1 (iv) depicts vertically slicing each of the sequential image plates along the x-axis to provide X digital slices of equal width, within each of the image plates, where each plate slice has an ascending plate number and a sequential ascending plate slice position number;
  • Figure 1 (v) depicts the distribution of the X image slices of each source image frame over X number of sequential image plates, where the resulting numeric plate destination of each image slice can be determined by the addition of its source image frame number and its relative image frame slice number less one integer and where its' numeric source image frame slice position determines its relative numeric plate slice position within the defined image plate destination.
  • Slice 4 of frame 1 is thereby relocated to Image plate 4 and remains in its original slice position 4; and
  • Figure 1(vi) depicts increasing the aspect ratio of each of the sequential digital image plate by a pre-selected factor Y, where Y is assumed to be set to 4, to a second aspect ratio to provide a plurality of distorted digital image plates;
  • Figure 2 depicts the creation of several image plates from a sequential set of 8 source image frames where the value of X and Y are both assumed to be set to 4 and illustrates that number of image plates required to process a certain number of image frames will exceed the number of source image frames by a value equal to X less one integer. Where the number of source image frames is 8 the number of image plates required to process all source image frames where X is set to 4 would therefore be 11.
  • a value for X can be determined by the quotient of (a) the desired optimum viewable image width, herein assumed to be 36 inches and (b) the resultant width of a printed or displayed resultant image plate, where the width of the resultant image plate is further determined by the quotient of the pixel resolution of a source image frame along the x axis, herein assumed to be 720 pixels and, the DPI of the display technology or printer, herein assumed to be 600 Dpi resulting in an image plate width of 720/600 or 1.2 inches.
  • a value for X herein can then be expressed as, 36/1.2 or the integer 30.
  • the anticipated frame rate of the apparatus can be determined by taking the quotient of the image plate display width, herein determined to be 1.2 inches, and the expected velocity of the viewer relative to the image plate substrate, herein assumed to be 2 mph or 35.2 inches per second resulting in an effective frame rate of 29.33 frames per second, 35.2/1 .2. Where the anticipated velocity of the viewer maybe 8 mph or 140.8 inches per second the anticipated frame rate is 140.8/1.2 or 117.336 frames per second.
  • the effective frame rate of the apparatus may not always correspond to the intended or recorded frame rate of the sequential progression of movement depicted in the source image frames.
  • source image frame based on the anticipated frame rate of the apparatus.
  • intended or original source frame rate herein assumed to be 29.33 frames per second, relative to the anticipated frame rate of the apparatus, it is possible to compensate for inappropriate frame rates.
  • Compressing the width of the source image prior to creating image plates will result in a proportional increase in the effective frame rate of the apparatus.
  • the compressing factor herein referred to as CF, represents the size of the compressed source image frame as a decimal value of its original width.
  • the narrower the image plate width the narrower the distance between aperture centers and therefore the less noticeable aperture filters become, when viewing the apparatus at slow speeds.
  • Compressing the source image frames by a factor of 50%, where CF is equal to .5, as depicted in figure 3 will result in a doubling of the effective frame rate of the apparatus. In this example a frame rate of 29.33 will result in an effective frame rate of the apparatus of 58.66.
  • each source image frame is replaced with a multiple thereof, prior to creating the desired image plates.
  • the multiple can be determined by taking a quotient of; the default observed 'frame rate, and the frame rate of the original source image frames and reducing the resultant value to its nearest integer referred to as M the resultant frame multiple. Assuming an anticipated apparatus frame rate of 117.36 frames per second where the frame rate of the original source image frames is assumed to be 29.33, expressed as frames per second it can be determined that each source image frame should be replaced with a multiple of 4 of the same image frame, the integer value of 1 17.36/29.33 or 4.0459862, as depicted in figure 4. The resulting effect will reduce the rate of progressive change in movement from one frame to the next by a factor of 4, closely approximating the original intended source frame rate.
  • the process of creating image plates must be subsequent to any modification of the source image frames, where no distinction is made between a singular, unique and original source image frame or a resultant sequence of image frames also referred to as source image frames for the purpose of creating image plates, , where the widths of singular, unique and original source image frarhes may have been altered from the original, to reduce aperture filter widths, or singular, unique and original source image frame now appear to be separated by multiple copies of each singular, unique and original source image frame, in order to reduce the resultant frame rates, or where singular, unique and original source image frame have been modified with the addition of a black vertical bar(as shown in figure 4a) to result in a separation of sequential animation sequences viewed when see through a multidirectional aperture plate described as having a multidirectional focus and the like.
  • the value of Y the factor by which image plates must be elongated along the y-axis can be determined as a product of the Compression Factor, CF and the value of X. Where source image frames are converted to image plates and no prior modification to source image frame widths has occurred Y is set to the value of X. Once all of the desired source image frames, altered or original as the case may be, have been converted to a sequence of image plates the file is ready to be transferred to a display substrate, preferably a print substrate, for display within a display apparatus appropriately configured to effect persistence of vision, preferably a linear configuration of a zoetrope or stroboscope
  • a sequence of source image frames, SIF1 to 6 are placed in front of a light source - LS and behind a planar aperture plate - AP, having of an opaque substrate, with a series of longitudinal apertures A, formed by slits or slots or perforations and separated by aperture filters - AF, all within a compartment shown in dashed lines at 10 with mounting means 10a, 10b, and 10c for mounting the light source, the substrate 12 carrying the source image frames and the aperture plate AP. Centered behind each aperture - A, there exists a source image frame SIF 1 to 6, where each sequential image is in a progressive stage of motion.
  • Figure 6 illustrates how the depth of the aperture plate AP, and the width of the apertures A, determine the limit or range of angles through which the viewer, traveling along the line of trajectory DT, is permitted lines of sight or a longitudinal scan of the source image frames, SIF 1 through 6.
  • the range of angles is further determined by the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight OLS and the closing line of sight CLS., as shown in figure 7
  • Source image frame 6, SIF6 maybe observed while advancing from the intersection of the opening line of sight - OLS and the trajectory or direction of travel - DT, to the intersection of the closing line of sight - CIS and the trajectory or direction of travel - DT.
  • the line DF In order to minimize our reliance on peripheral eyesight in order to view source image frames in their entirety thorough the apertures A, one would need to direct our focus in a predominantly perpendicular direction to the apparatus as indicated by the line DF.
  • Figure 6 illustrates two versions of a linear zoetrope or stroboscope.
  • the upper section of figure 6 shows the conventional method of presenting a series of images while the lower section illustrates an improved arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the viewer proceeds along the line of trajectory DT the viewer is afforded a multitude of lines of sight through multiple apertures distributed along the aperture plate AP.
  • the adjacent apertures on the left will reveal a longitudinal scan of an incongruent collection of image slices belonging to discrete source image frames, numbered SIF 6 through to SIF 9.
  • Fig 7 illustrates a preferred method of constructing an aperture plate, wherein the range of views and direction of focus are significantly less restrictive.
  • opaque filters AF are applied as a preferably thin film, upon a translucent preferably optically clear support substrate TS, such as glass, LEXAN (a trade name), or other transparent plastic materials, for example, having dimensions ranging from to, for example.
  • the application of thin film aperture filters as indicated in Fig 7 now permits the opening line of sight to optionally shift from OLS 1 (as established by the dimensions of the relatively thick aperture plate AP of figure 5) to OLS2, the closing line of sight to optionally shift from CLS 1 (similarly constrained by the dimensions of the aperture plate AP in figure 5) to CLS 2, allowing the viewer to observe source image frame 6 SIF, or preferably IP 6, in a . more forward direction as opposed to an adjacent direction as indicated by DF 1. In some instances it may be desirable to shift the predominant direction of focus while still limiting the range of views.
  • This objective may be achieved by first establishing a desired and predominant direction or line of focus, as illustrated by the line DF1 in figure 8, where the commencement of DF1 intersects the direction of travel and terminates at the center of an image plate or source image frame.
  • commencement of DF1 intersects the direction of travel and terminates at the center of an image plate or source image frame.
  • CLS and OLS may now be established along the direction of travel DT equidistant from the intersection of direction of focus DF1 along the direction of travel DT and separated by a distance equal to the desired image width, when viewed along the trajectory of travel DT.
  • the opening line of sight and closing line of sight shall terminate at the outer limits of the width of the source image frame SIF or preferably the image plate.
  • the axis of the parallax is now established at the intersection of both opening and closing lines of sight.
  • a directional aperture filter of a limited range of views may now be constructed provided the aperture filter makes contact but does not intersect the opening and closing lines of sight of two adjacent image plates or source image frames as illustrated in figure 9. Provided the aperture filter makes contact but does not intersect the opening and closing lines of sight of two adjacent image plates or source image frames, there exist a range of aperture filter configurations, which may or may not use a plurality of thin film aperture filters.
  • Fig 10 depicts two sets of thin aperture filters mounted on a single, optically clear translucent substrate, where the aperture filters makes contact but do not intersect the opening and closing lines of sight of two adjacent image plates or source image frames.
  • Fig 10 further illustrates that with the direction of focus shifted from a predominantly perpendicular direction of focus, it is no longer possible to view the image plate substrate from a predominantly perpendicular direction of focus.
  • the aperture plate may be made using a single thin film substantially opaque layer on one side of a substantially transparent substrate by applying such a single thin film on both sides of the substrate.
  • the resulting slits formed in the thin film layers may be offset from one another to control the direction of focus.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un nouveau système d'affichage d'animations. Ledit système comprend un procédé de fractionnement d'une séquence d'images fixes, qui sont placées sur un substrat d'affichage d'images et un procédé de construction de plusieurs filtres à ouvertures de couche mince, de préférence opaques, alignés longitudinalement, placés sur un substrat de plaque à ouvertures translucide à travers lequel les plaques d'images fractionnées peuvent être observées. Les deux éléments combinés permettent à un observateur en mouvement relatif, d'observer des parties appropriées et discrètes, de la plaque d'images fractionnées, relativement au temps et à l'espace, à travers la plaque à ouvertures et d'appliquer les concepts de vision persistante et de percevoir l'imagerie reconstruite en tant qu'image singulière mobile ou séquence d'animation à partir d'une pluralité infinie de lignes de vue.
EP02754024A 2001-11-05 2002-08-15 Procede et ensemble d'affichage d'animations Withdrawn EP1444682A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

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US33096201P 2001-11-05 2001-11-05
US330962P 2001-11-05
US37142402P 2002-04-11 2002-04-11
US371424P 2002-04-11
PCT/CA2002/001246 WO2003041038A1 (fr) 2001-11-05 2002-08-15 Procede et ensemble d'affichage d'animations

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AU (1) AU2002322886B8 (fr)
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US7365746B1 (en) 2003-05-05 2008-04-29 Mirage Motion Media Inc. Signage display system and process
CA2432238C (fr) 2003-06-13 2006-05-23 Carole Moquin Passage a environnement de realite virtuelle
EP1550992A1 (fr) * 2003-12-29 2005-07-06 MAO, Xiaogang Système d'affichage d'images à l'intention d'observateurs en mouvement
EP2225889A4 (fr) 2007-11-26 2013-07-31 Submedia Llc Systèmes et procédés d'affichage d'images à des spectateurs en mouvement ou visionnant à partir de multiples perspectives
DE102008028634A1 (de) * 2008-06-18 2009-12-24 Deutsche Telekom Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Ansteuerung eines digitalen Displays
WO2019048032A1 (fr) * 2017-09-06 2019-03-14 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Communications li-fi pour sélectionner du contenu en vue d'une distribution sur une succession d'affichages le long d'un parcours de véhicule

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US6091482A (en) * 1997-05-22 2000-07-18 Reynolds Metals Company Method of mapping and interlacing images to a lenticular lens

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AUPM913294A0 (en) * 1994-10-28 1994-11-24 Stinziani, Andrew Animation method and device
GB9618855D0 (en) * 1996-09-10 1996-10-23 Cowin Timothy R K A means for and a method of displaying information
JP2000221920A (ja) * 1999-02-01 2000-08-11 Masaomi Yamamoto 連続動作映像表示装置
DE19943812A1 (de) * 1999-09-14 2001-04-12 Wolfgang Schneider System zum Erzeugen eines filmischen Eindrucks
CA2298483A1 (fr) * 2000-02-16 2001-08-16 Mark H. Beukers Stabilisateur d'images passives et systeme d'affichage d'animation

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US6091482A (en) * 1997-05-22 2000-07-18 Reynolds Metals Company Method of mapping and interlacing images to a lenticular lens
WO2000007059A1 (fr) * 1998-07-29 2000-02-10 Spodek Joshua D Affichage d'images fixes a l'intention d'observateurs en mouvement

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CA2504835C (fr) 2012-08-07
WO2003041038A1 (fr) 2003-05-15
WO2003041038B1 (fr) 2003-07-17
AU2002322886B8 (en) 2008-06-19
AU2002322886B2 (en) 2008-02-07
CA2504835A1 (fr) 2003-05-15

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