GB2313510A - Entertainment system including spaced image display screens - Google Patents

Abstract

An entertainment system has a viewing station such as a restaurant facility 1 with a spaced array of screens 7. Video projectors 9 are provided one for each screen 7. Moving images from the projectors 9 on the respective screens provide separate, different and distinct parts of a scene which is common to the images on all of the screens. The images provided from the projectors are commensurate with the views expected of the scene. These images are synchronised with each other so that an incident in part of the scene visible on one screen and apparently moving towards the part of the scene on a second screen, becomes visible on the second screen following a time delay commensurate with that expected by the observer by virtue of the spacing between the screens 7 and the characteristics of the incident to provide the observer with a real time view of the incident on the respective screens. A method of providing the entertainment system is also provided whereby scene parts of an actual scene are recorded by cameras A to D and subsequently utilised for forming the moving images on the respective projectors 9A to 9D. The system also provides for recordal of sounds for subsequent reproduction in stereophonic form with the moving images on the screen 7.

Description

TITLE "An entertainment system" TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND ART The present invention relates to an entertainment system and is particularly concerned with such a system having at least two screens on which moving images are displayed. Such systems are known in which two or more screens are disposed adjacent to each other to provide a screen assembly in which the individual screens may show different images which bear no relationship one to another or may show part of an image which is depicted over the whole screen assembly. A system of this kind is frequently employed in entertainment studios by use of television or similar screens. A similar arrangement is also known for the cinema where an array of, say, three screens are disposed adjacent to each other with a separate film projector for each screen and these projectors are synchronised so that the moving image which is presented on the three screens forms a composite picture. Where the moving images on the different screens as aforementioned depict a particular incident or occurrence on one screen which continues onto an adjacent screen, realism is imparted to the observer by ensuring that there is no space between the screens, this is usually achieved by abutting the screens together along a common edge. However, if the screens are separated whilst depicting what is intended to be a unified scene that results from different parts of the scene being depicted on the respective screens, then the overall effect of the moving image to the observer becomes more unrealistic as the spacing between the screens increases. It is an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system which utilises at least two screens that are spaced from each other to provide moving images of different parts of a scene which is common to the images on all of the screens and which system provides realism to an observer of an incident or occurrence on successive screens.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION & ADVANTAGES According to the present invention there is provided an entertainment system comprising a viewing station; at least two screens visible from the viewing station and spaced from each other; at least two image developing means, one for each screen to provide moving images on the respective screens, said moving images on the screens providing different and distinct views of a scene which is common to the images on all of the screens, and wherein the images developed by said means on the respective screens are commensurate with the views expected of the scene by an observer at the viewing station and are synchronised with each other whereby an incident or occurrence in the scene which is visible on one screen to the observer and apparently moves towards the or a second screen becomes visible on the second screen following a time delay which is substantially commensurate with that which is expected by the observer by virtue of the spacing between the screens and from characteristics of the incident or occurrence in the scene so that the observer is provided with a real time view of the incident or occurrence in the scene from said spaced screens.

Simplistically the present invention envisages anentertainment system in which, for example, different parts of a common safari scene are depicted on each of two spaced screens and an animal is shown walking across one screen in a direction towards the other screen; as the animal apparently moves off the edge of the one screen, there will be a time delay, predominantly depending upon the spacing between the screens and the speed and direction of the animal, before the head of the animal appears on the side of the second screen to move across that screen. In real time to the observer, it appears that sight of the animal is lost whilst the animal is walking across the space between the two screens. In comparison, with conventional multi-screen entertainment systems as previously mentioned where it is intended that the screens are adjacent to each other for the optimum visual effect to the observer, if those screens are separated and using the aforementioned example, as the animal moves off the one screen, it immediately appears on the second screen (irrespective of the spacing between the screens or the speed and direction of the animal) so that to the observer there is no realism in real time.

The entertainment system of the present invention may be achieved by use of two or more cameras which simultaneously record moving images from a common scene and which cameras are spaced and directed remotely from each other to record what are separate and distinct parts of the common scene. These recordings are then utilised by the image developing means to provide the moving images on an array of screens which correspond in number to the number of cameras and are sequenced and disposed in a spaced relationship similar to the sequence, spacing and direction of the cameras so that when the moving images are provided on the respective screens, the images are synchronised with each other and an observer of the screens will see the apparent transfer of an incident or occurrence from one screen to another in real time. Accordingly there is further provided by the present invention, a method of providing an entertainment system which comprises simultaneously recording on at least two cameras moving images from a common scene, said cameras being spaced and directed to record separate and distinct parts of the common scene; providing an array of screens corresponding in number to the cameras, said screens being spaced from each other and being disposed substantially to correspond with the spacing and direction of the cameras during said recording; providing moving images on the respective screens as recorded from the cameras with the recordings of the respective cameras being applied to the screens in the same array sequence as that corresponding to the array of cameras, and synchronising the moving images on the respective screens so that an incident or occurrence in a distinct part of the recorded scene as depicted on one screen and apparently moving towards the or a second screen becomes visible on the second screen following a time delay which is substantially commensurate with that of the incident or occurrence moving in real time between the distinct parts of the common scene as recorded by the respective cameras.

By use of the aforementioned method a requisite number of cameras (preferably high quality video recording cameras, although film cameras may be utilised) are mounted to simultaneously and continuously record for, say, two hours separate and distinct parts of a common scene. All occurrences in the separate and distinct parts of the common scene are thus recorded including the movement of objects, humans, animals and the like from one distinct part of the common scene to another. These recordings are then utilised to provide the moving images on the spaced screens (which are disposed in a similar array to the separate and distinct parts of the common scene as recorded by the cameras) and the moving images on the several screens are synchronised to simulate the simultaneous recordals and provide the real time effect in the transfer of incidents or occurrences between the screens.

The entertainment system was primarily developed to provide a scenic background for a restaurant facility in the viewing station and for this background the screens will usually be upstanding and spaced horizontally, conveniently being presented to the observer through an apparent window or door opening in the facility. It will be appreciated however that the system can have many uses, for example the viewing station can be in the form of an auditorium with the screens incorporated in scenery for an event to be observed from the auditorium. The screens are not necessarily upstanding, one or more screens may be disposed substantially horizontally, for example in a ceiling over the viewing station to provide moving images of birds or aircraft in flight following their take-off which may have been observed on one or more upstanding screens. From this it will be appreciated that if one screen is located to extend substantially in a first plane and the or a second screen is located substantially to extend in a second plane, the first and second planes may be parallel or inclined relative to each other and may be vertical or otherwise. A typical arrangement will be for the aforementioned two planes to be vertical and to extend at substantially 900 relative to each other.

One or more of the screens may be provided with a frame through which it is viewed from the viewing station.

This is particularly likely when the viewing station is a restaurant facility, auditorium, health club, office or the like, so that the frame can represent a window or door opening in a wall, floor or ceiling and can conveniently obscure the edges of the screen. The frame will often be provided with a transparent sheet of glass or the like through which the screen is observed, such sheet protecting the screen (and providing realism to a window representation).

The screens may be of the crystal display type but it is preferred that the moving images are projected onto the screen either from a front projector or a rear projector.

Front projection is preferred from a high definition video projector. Although the screens may be flat, it is preferred for high quality images that they are concave and anticlastic to an observer at the viewing station. Where a front projector is provided for the screen and that screen is disposed behind a transparent sheet as aforementioned, it is preferred that the projector is located to direct the moving images onto the screen avoiding transmission through the transparent sheet (thereby alleviating reflection of the images and loss in quality of the projected image).

Simultaneously with the recordal of the moving images by the cameras, sounds which emanate from the distinct parts of the common scene to which those cameras are directed may be recorded. When such sound recordings are available, the entertainment system may be provided with sound reproducing means to provide background sounds which are commensurate with the images on the screens.

Furthermore, the sound reproducing means can be synchronised with the images on the screens to provide stereophonic characteristics commensurate with the scene as depicted by the images on the screen.

The two or more image developing means, typically projectors, will usually be controlled from a common terminal to ensure that synchronism is maintained and preferably such control includes a facility for recycling of the moving images automatically following a predetermined run of, say, two hours as aforementioned.

DRAWING One embodiment of an entertainment system constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows a plan view of the system which includes a restaurant facility, and Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a screen presented through an apparent window to the restaurant facility of the system in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The entertainment system has a restaurant area 1 enclosed by upstanding peripheral side walls 2 and access to which is by way of doors 3. Provided in the side walls 2 are four peripherally spaced rectangular openings 3. It will be noted that the openings 3 are located on side wall parts that are in different vertical planes to each other and which planes, in some cases, are inclined or are at 900 relative to other planes. The four openings 3 are preferably of the same size (but may be of different sizes) and are of similar construction; only one opening 3 need therefore be described, particularly with reference to Figure 2.

Each opening 3 is provided in its wall part 2 with a rectangular frame 4 representative of a window frame which carries a glass sheet 5. On the side of the frame 4 remote from the restaurant area 1 the opening is provided with a sill 5 and upstanding side panels 6 which provide apparent depth or thickness to the wall 2. Carried by the sill 5 and side panels 6 is an upstanding screen 7 which is anticlastic and concave to an observer viewing the screen from within the restaurant station 1; the screen 7 may be, for example, a compound curved screen as marketed by Sigma Design Group under the Trade Mark TORUS. To provide rear access to the array of four screens 7 and to facilitate the mounting of those screens it is likely that the wall parts 2 on which the screens are carried will be artificial within and spaced from real walls (indicated at 8 in Figure 1) of a room in which the entertainment system is located. Associated with each screen 7 is a high definition video projector 9 which is mounted to project moving images onto the front of the screen 7. It will be appreciated that to achieve high definition images the concave screen 7 will not necessarily be vertical and the angular relationship and spacing between the screen 7 and projector 9 will be determined as appropriate to the circumstances. However, it is preferable that the projector 9 is located to be indiscernible to an observer in the station 1 (for example being mounted above the eye line of the frame 3) and also to provide moving images over the whole of the screen 7. The sill 5 and side wall parts 6 provide a convenient means of spacing the screen 7 from the projector 9 and also to present depth to the side walls 2 for aesthetic purposes. The artificial window presented in the opening 3 may be provided with drapes 10 for aesthetic effect and these may conveniently obscure the periphery of the screen 7 and the projector 9 from an observer in the restaurant area 1.

The four projectors 9 associated one with each of the spaced array of screens 7 provide moving images on each screen. These moving images are intended to provide separate, different and discrete views of a scene which is common to the images on all of the screens 7 and in the manner in which such a scene would appear to an observer in the restaurant area 1 looking onto the scene in real life through the window openings 3. To achieve this, and depending upon the nature of the scene which is intended to be displayed on the screens 7 (such scenes typically being an alpine skiing resort, a safari outlook, views of the Nile or other aesthetically pleasing environments) four cameras are taken to an appropriate location for the real life scene which is selected. At that scene the four cameras are mounted in an array to record spaced scene parts in directions corresponding to the arrangement, in plan, of the four screens 7 in Figure 1. Accordingly for the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the four cameras would be set up at the real life scene in positions substantially corresponding to those shown at A, B, C and D in Figure 1 to record moving images in the directions of the arrows from those cameras in Figure 1 (along the respective broken lines). The recordings therefore result from separate and discrete parts of the overall scene. The four cameras are set to record the moving images simultaneously and continuously from their respective scene parts over, say, two hours. During this period it is realised that an incident or occurrence which moves out of the field of view of one camera may eventually be picked up within the field of view of an adjacent camera and after a time delay depending upon the characteristics of the incident.

Furthermore, sound recording apparatus may be associated with the four cameras to pick up sounds emanating from the scene generally and also from a particular part of the scene from which a camera is recording. The cameras are preferably high definition cameras for video recording.

The four video recordings from the cameras are then utilised to provide video tapes or discs for four video players (not shown), one for each of the video projectors 9. The video tapes from cameras A, B, C and D are loaded sequentially into the players for the four projectors 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D respectively as shown in Figure 1.

The video tape players for the projectors 9 are conveniently controlled from a unit 20 so that the four projectors 9 are operated simultaneously to direct images onto the respective screens 7. These images are sychronised so that they correspond in the timing of their presentation to real time for the parts of the scene as presented on all of the screens 7. Consequently, to an observer in the restaurant area 1, an incident or occurrence which may be presented by the images on one screen and apparently moving towards an adjacent screen 7 may eventually appear in the images on the adjacent screen 7 after a delay in time which occurred naturally during the recordal of the scene parts. To the observer therefore, the events as viewed on the screens 7 provide a real time realistic impression of the incidents or occurrences in the general scene as recorded by the cameras A, B, C and D but as viewed by the observer through what appear to be four window openings 3. Furthermore, during projection of the images of the screens, the sound recordings taken along with the video recordings may be reproduced appropriately synchronised with the video recordings to provide realistic background sound to the visual display. As previously mentioned, this background sound may be stereophonic.

Claims (22)

1. An entertainment system comprising a viewing station; at least two screens visible from the viewing station and spaced from each other; at least two image developing means, one for each screen to provide moving images on the respective screens, said moving images on the screens providing different and distinct views of a scene which is common to the images on all of the screens, and wherein the images developed by said means on the respective screens are commensurate with the views expected of the scene by an observer at the viewing station and are synchronised with each other whereby an incident or occurrence in the scene which is visible on one screen to the observer and apparently moves towards the or a second screen becomes visible on the second screen following a time delay which is substantially commensurate with that which is expected by the observer by virtue of the spacing between the screens and from characteristics of the incident or occurrence in the scene so that the observer is provided with a real time view of the incident or occurrence in the scene from said spaced screens.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which at least two screens are upstanding and spaced horizontally.

3. A system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which at least one screen is disposed substantially horizontally.

4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a first screen is located substantially to extend in a first plane and the or a second screen is located substantially to extend in a second plane and wherein said first and second planes are inclined relative to each other.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 in which the first and second planes are at substantially 90" relative to each other.

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one screen is provided with a frame through which that screen is viewed from the viewing station, said frame representing a window or door opening from the viewing station.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 in which at least one said frame is provided with a transparent sheet through which the screen associated with that frame is observed from the viewing station.

8. A system as claimed in either claim 6 or claim 7 in which at least one frame is carried by a wall, ceiling or floor to the viewing station.

9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one screen is concave to the observer at the viewing station.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 in which at least one said concave screen is substantially anticlastic.

11. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least one image developing means comprises a front projector by which the moving images are directed onto the respective screen.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 when appendant to claim 7 in which the projector is located to direct the moving images onto the respective screen avoiding transmission through said transparent sheet.

13. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising sound reproducing means which provides sounds or noises derived from the scene depicted by the moving images.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 in which the sound reproducing means is synchronised with the scenes depicted on the respective screens to provide stereophonic characteristics commensurate with the scene.

15. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the viewing station is a restaurant facility.

16. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the viewing station is an auditorium and the screens are incorporated in scenery therefor.

17. A method of providing an entertainment system which comprises simultaneously recording on at least two cameras moving images from a common scene, said cameras being spaced and directed to record separate and distinct parts of the common scene; providing an array of screens corresponding in number to the cameras, said screens being spaced from each other and being disposed substantially to correspond with the spacing and direction of the cameras during said recording; providing moving images on the respective screens as recorded from the cameras with the recordings of the respective cameras being applied to the screens in the same array sequence as that corresponding to the array of cameras, and synchronising the moving images on the respective screens so that an incident or occurrence in a distinct part of the recorded scene as depicted on one screen and apparently moving towards the or a second screen becomes visible on the second screen following a time delay which is substantially commensurate with that of the incident or occurrence moving in real time between the distinct parts of the common scene as recorded by the respective cameras.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 which comprises recording sounds simultaneously with said camera recordings and reproducing said sound recordings synchronised with said moving images.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 in which the recordal and reproduction of said sound is stereophonic.

20. An entertainment system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

21. A method of providing an entertainment system as claimed in claim 17 and substantially as herein described.

22. An entertainment system when provided by the method of any one of claims 17 to 19 or claim 21.