GB2523580A

GB2523580A - Activity station system having a curved screen providing a user with an immersive viewing experience

Info

Publication number: GB2523580A
Application number: GB1403541.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Hewitt
Original assignee: RUNNING UNLTD Ltd
Current assignee: RUNNING UNLTD Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-28
Filing date: 2014-02-28
Publication date: 2015-09-02
Also published as: WO2015128340A2; WO2015128340A3; GB201403541D0; WO2015128340A4

Abstract

A cardio-vascular exercise system comprises a cardio-vascular exercise device.Â Associated with the exercise device is a screen 12 onto which a moving image is projected. The screen comprises an inwardly curved screen positioned relative to the exercise device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view the moving image being projected onto the screen. The screen is positioned such that a user exercising on the exercise device can see at least a part or parts of the moving image in their peripheral vision thereby giving the user the perception of viewing a 3D image. The exercise system includes an image projector 28 located adjacent said curved screen and arranged to project an image in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the inwardly curved screen faces and a mirror system 32 defining an image projection pathway for reflecting said projected image along said image projection pathway onto said curvedÂ screen.

Description

Activity Station System Having a Curved Screen Providing a User with an Immersive Viewing Experience.

The invention relates generally to an activity station system and, more particularly, but not exclusively to a cardio-vascular exercise system.

Backzround Dome screens having an inwardly curved image surface onto which a moving image can be projected are known, However, such dome screens, often of a hemispherical configuration, usually have a diameter in the range of three meters or more and are often found in scientific institutions. Given the relatively large dome screen size, there is little or no restriction on accommodating the focal length of the screen's image projection system and consequently there is ample space for accommodating the image projection system near to the screen.

A number of technical problems arise where one wishes to substantially reduce the size of the dome screen for use in a new environment. For example, in the case of a cardio-vascular exercise device or machine such as a treadmill, it is a requirement under EU law that there is at least two meters of free space behind the treadmill in case anyone using it should fall or be thrown off. A consequence of this is that commercial gymnasiums require that such exercise devices do not themselves occupy excessive floor space given the amount of free space mandated by law which must be provided behind the device. In one of the specific implementations of the present invention where it is desired to associate a reduced size dome screen with a cardio-vascular exercise device such as a treadmill, bicycle or rowing machine, many technical challenges have arisen in attempting to provide such an exercise system with a reduced size dome screen without greatly increasing the footprint of the resultant exercise system comprising the exercise device, dome screen and its image projection system, General Preferably the invention mitigates or obviates to some degree one or more problems associated with known dome screen systems, The above may be met by the combination of features of the main claims; the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention, Preferably the invention mitigates or obviates to some degree one or more problems associated with known exercise systems including video disp'ay screens.

Preferably the invention provides an activity station system with an associated dome screen having an image projection system with a reduced space accommodation requirement.

Preferably the invention provides an activity station system with an associated dome screen providing a user with an immersive viewing experience.

Preferably the invention provides a cardio-vascular exercise system with an associated dome screen and image projection system which does not substantially increase the footprint of the resultant exercise system.

One skilled in the art will derive from the following description other objects of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing statements of obj ect are not exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the many objects of the present invention.

Summary.

In a first main aspect, the invention provides an activity station system comprising: an activity device which a user operates or interacts with; an inwardly curved screen onto which an image is projected, said curved screen being positioned relative to the activity device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view the image being projected onto the screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein the image projection means comprises: an image projector located adjacent said curved screen and arranged to project an image in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the inwardly curved screen faces; and a minor system defining an image projection pathway for reflecting said projected image along said image projection pathway onto said curved screen.

In a second main aspect, the invention provides an image projection system comprising: an inwardly curved screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein the image projection means comprises: an image projector located adjacent said curved screen and arranged to project an image in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the inwardly curved screen faces; and a mirror system defining an image projection pathway for reflecting said projected image along said image projection pathway onto said curved screen. n

In a third main aspect, the invention provides an exercise system comprising: an exercise apparatus; an inwardly curved screen onto which an image is projected, said curved screen being positioned relative to the exercise apparatus such that a user operating or interacting with the exercise apparatus can view the image being projected onto the screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein a size of the image proj ection means is not larger than the width and/or depth of the screen.

In a fourth main aspect, the invention provides an exercise system comprising: an exercise apparatus; an inwardly curved screen onto which an image is projected, said curved screen being positioned relative to the exercise apparatus such that a user operating or interacting with the exercise apparatus can view the image being projected onto the screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein the screen is not wider than the exercise apparatus.

In a fifth main aspect, the invention provides a method of providing exercise services comprising the steps of providing an exercise device for a user to operate or interact with; providing an image projection system according to second main aspect of the invention; positioning the image projection system relative to the exercise device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view an image being projected onto the screen; and projecting a moving image onto said screen.

The summary of the invention does not necessarily disclose all the features essential for defining the invention; the invention may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.

Brief Description of the Drawin2s.

The foregoing and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are provided by way of example only in connection with the accompanying figures, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of an image proj ection system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view from behind of the image projection system of Fig, ],but including an associated activity device; Figure 3 is a side view of an activity station system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a front view of the image projection system for the activity station system of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a front view of the screen of the image projection system of Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a side view of the image projection system of Fig. 4 with the image projector housing removed; and Figure 7 is a side view of an exercise system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description.

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.

Reference in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the IS embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.

The present description illustrates the principles of the present invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show respective front and rear views of an image projection system lOin accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The projection system 10 comprises an inwardly curved screen 12 onto which an image 14 (Fig. 1) is projected. A housing 16 is provided below the screen 12 to accommodate image projection means for projecting a moving image onto the curved screen U. The image projection system 10 as shown in Fig. 2 is positioned relative to an activity device 18 such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device 18 can easily view the moving image 14 being projected onto an image surface of the screen 12.

In this embodiment, the projection system 10 is free standing through being mounted on a stand 20, but, as can be seen in other embodiments, the projection system 10 may be wall-mountable, mountable upon an activity device 18 or even free-standing through resting on its own base 19.

Fig. 3 provides a side view of an activity station system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the image projection system 10 differs from that of Figs. I and 2 only in that it is mounted directly to the activity device 18 and therefore does not require a stand. In all other respects, the image projection system 10 of this embodiment and other embodiments is structurally and functionally the same and therefore like numerals are used to denote like parts throughout the description. In this and other embodiments, the activity device 8 may comprise an exercise device 22 (Fig. 7) such as a cardio-vascular exercise apparatus. Such apparatuses include, but are not limited to treadmills, rowing machines, stepping machines and exercise bicycles, but it is envisaged that any exercise apparatus which a user operates or interacts with could have associated with it an image projection system 0 as described herein, In other embodiments, the activity device 18 may not be an exercise related apparatus or device, but may comprise, for example, a video games apparatus or console.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the image projection system 10 for the activity station 100 system of Fig. 3. The screen 12 preferably has an overall width or diameter of 98cms with a width or diameter of an image surface 24 of the screen 12 being not more than 94 cms.

It has been found that this size of image surface 24 satisfies conflicting technical requirements, On the one hand, it is a requirement to make the screen 12 as small as possible in order that it does not substantially increase the footprint of a resultant exercise system comprising an exercise apparatus 22 and the projection system 10. On the other hand, a primary function of the curved screen 12 is that, when positioned correctly relative to an activity device 18 such as an exercise apparatus 22, a user using the exercise apparatus 22 will be positioned such that at least some parts of the moving image 14 projected onto the image surface 24 of the screen 12 will fall within their peripheral vision and provide the user with a perception that they are viewing a 3D moving image. This latter technical requirement requires that the image surface 24 of the screen 12 is not made too small otherwise the 3D visual perception effect provided by the moving image on the curved image surface 24 is compromised or lost. It is also fortuitously the case that a scrccn width or diamcter size of 98cms is such that it is of substantially the same width as many commonly used exercise apparatuses 22 found in commercial gymnasiums.

The image projection system lOis preferably positioned relative to an activity device 18 such as an exercise apparatus 22 such that a top of the exercise apparatus console aligns with a line passing through the image surface 24 a short distance above a bottom edge of the screen 12 as denoted by dotted line 26 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the image projection system 10 of the invention with the image projector housing 16 removed to reveal the image projection means. The projection system includes an image projector 28 having a projection port 29 located adjacent said curved screen 2 and arranged to project an image in a first direction X opposite to a second direction Y in which the inwardly curved screen 12 faces. A mirror system 30a, b is provided for reflecting said projected image along an image projection pathway 32a, b onto the image surface 24 of said curved screen 12.

The mirror system 30a, b comprises a first mirror 30a for reflecting the image projected along a first portion 32a of the image projection pathway in said first direction X back along a part 32b of the image projection pathway extending in said second direction Y. A second mirror 30b is provided for reflecting the image projected along the second part 32b of the image projection pathway in the first direction X again onto the image surface 24 of the curved screen 12. The first mirror 30a preferably comprises a planar first surface type minor, A first surface mirror or front surface mirror (also commonly abbreviated FS mirror or FSM) is a minor with the reflective surface being above a backing, as opposed to the conventional, second surface mirror with the reflective surface behind a transparent substrate such as glass or acrylic. The second mirror 30b preferably comprises a convex first surface type minor, The curvature of the second minor 3Db is selected as one that causes the projected image received at the surface thereof to be reflected onto the whole of the image surface 24 of the curved screen 12. The use of first and second mirrors of the first mirror surface type greatly improves the resolution and clarity of the image projected onto the image surface 24 of the screen 12 compared to the case where other minor types are utilized.

It can be seen that the image projector 28 is located below the screen 12 and ananged with its projection port 29 facing rearwardly of the screen 12 in the first direction X. More specifically, the image projector 28 is located under the screen such that there is no direct image projection path from it to the image surface 24 of the screen.

Furthermore, as the projector 28 is located closely adjacent the screen, there is not sufficient room for the minor system 30a, b to reflect the projected image under the screen and onto the image surface 24 from the front without the aid of an aperture 34 formed in a lower portion of the screen 12. The aperture 34 is located in the second part 32b of the image projection pathway between the first mirror 30a and the second mirror 30b. The aperture 34 is shaped and sized to allow reflection of the projected the image from the first planar minor 30a to the second convex minor 30b and yet is maintained at a relatively small size. The use of the minor system 30a, b and the aperture 34 allows the focal length pathway of the screen 12 to be accommodated within a small space such that the image projection means does not itself extend beyond the width or depth (in first direction X) of the screen 12 despite the reduction in size of the screen 12. Preferably, the image projector 28 is located behind a front edge 12a of the curved screen 12. This provides the advantage that a front housing member 16a of the housing 16 can be utilized as a support member for mounting the second minor 30b as a position adjacent the front edge 12a of the screen 12. Furthermore, as is best seen in Fig. 4, the front housing member 6a extends upwardly over the front edge 12a of the screen 12 such as to obscure from a user's view the projection aperture 34 formed in the lower part of the screen 12.

In preferred embodiment, the screen t2 comprises a dome screen. The dome screen 12 may comprise a spherical dome or spherical cap, but preferably comprises a hemispherical dome.

The image surface 24 of the screen 12 may comprise also comprises a first mirror type surface.

In some embodiments, the image surface 24 of screen 12 may be provided with a protective coating applied thereto such as a human sweat resistant coating. One such coating may comprise a physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating. This may be applied as a coating with a thickness of between 0.2 micrometers and 2 micrometers thereby not compromising the first mirror surface of the image surface 24.

Fig. 7 is a side view of an exercise system 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the exercise device 22 preferably comprises a treadmill. The image projection system lOis mounted relative to the treadmill 22 such that a top of the treadmill's console 36 aligns generally with a bottom part of the screen 12 as hereinbefore described with respect to Fig. 4, Advantageously, as treadmills 22 normally have a sloping front fascia 38 to provide room to accommodate the treadmill motor and the like, the image projection system 10 can be partly accommodated in a space above the sloping fascia 38 of the treadmill 22 such that the overall footprint of the resultant exercise system 200 of Fig. 7 is not greatly increased over the size of the footprint of the treadmill by itself Furthermore, the image projection system 10 can be arranged at the front of the treadmill 22 in the space above the front facia.

The image projection system 10 of the invention greatly enhances the use of exercise equipment such that it enables an improved provision of exercise services, It is envisaged therefore that the present invention includes a method of providing exercise services. Such a method includes the steps of providing an exercise device for a user to operate or interact with; providing an image projection system 10 according to the invention; positioning the image projection system relative to the exercise device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view an image being projected onto the screen; and projecting a moving image onto said screen.

In general, the present invention provides a cardio-vascular exercise system comprising a cardio-vascular exercise device, Associated with the exercise device is a screen onto which a moving image is projected. The screen comprises an inwardly curved screen positioned relative to the exercise device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view the moving image being projected onto the screen, The screen is positioned such that a user exercising on the exercise device can see at least a part or parts of the moving image in their peripheral vision thereby giving the user the perception of viewing a 3D image, The exercise system includes an image projector located adjacent said curved screen and arranged to project an image in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the inwardly curved screen faces and a miror system defining an image projection pathway for reflecting said projected image along said image projection pathway onto said curved screen.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and do not limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It can be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be used with any embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of the illustrative embodiments described above.

Modifications and variations of the invention as herein set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Claims.1. An activity station system comprising: an activity device which a user operates or interacts with; an inwardly curved screen onto which an image is projected, said curved screen being positioned relative to the activity device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view the image being projected onto the screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein the image projection means comprises: an image projector located adjacent said curved screen and arranged to project an image in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the inwardly curved screen faces; and a mirror system defining an image projection pathway for reflecting said projected image along said image projection pathway onto said curved screen.
2. The activity station system of claim 1, wherein the mirror system comprises: a first mirror for reflecting the image projected in said first direction back along a part of the image projection pathway extending in said second direction; and a second mirror for reflecting the image projected along the second direction part of the image projection pathway in the first direction onto the curved screen.
3. The activity station system of claim 2, wherein the image projection pathway includes an aperture in a part of the screen, said aperture lying in the second direction part of the image projection pathway between the first mirror and the second mirror.
4. The activity station system of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first minor comprises a planar first surface type minor and the second minor comprises a convex first surface type minor.
5. The activity station system of claim 4, wherein the curvature of the second minor is selected as one that causes the projected image received at the surface thereof to be reflected onto the whole of an image surface of the curved screen. ii
6. The activity station system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the image projector is mounted below the curved screen and/or located behind a front edge of the curved screen.
7. The activity station system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved screen is positioned relative to the activity device such that parts of the image projected on the screen fall within the peripheral vision of a user operating or interacting with the activity device.
8. The activity station system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the activity device comprises a cardio-vascular exercise apparatus.
9. The activity station system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved screen comprises any of a dome; a spherical dome; or a hemispherical dome.IS
10. The activity station system of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein an image surface of the inwardly curved screen comprises a first mirror type surface and said image surface has a protective coating applied thereto.
ii. The activity station system of claim 10, wherein the protective coating is a human sweat resistant coating.
12. The activity station system of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the protective coating is a physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating having a thickness of between 0.2 micrometers and 2 micrometers,
13. The activity station system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an image surface of the curved screen has a width or diameter less than or equal to one meter and preferably has a width or diameter less than or equal to one 94 centimeters.
14. An image projection system comprising: an inwardly curved screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein the image projection means comprises: an image projector located adjacent said curved screen and arranged to project an image in a first direction opposite to a second direction in which the inwardly curved screen faces; and a mirror system defining an image projection pathway for reflecting said projected image along said image projection pathway onto said curved screen.
15, The image projection system of claim 14, wherein the minor system comprises: a first mirror for reflecting the image projected in said first direction back along a part of the image projection pathway extending in said second direction; and a second mirror for reflecting the image projected along the second direction part of the image projection pathway in the first direction onto the curved screen.
16. The image proj ection system of claim 15, wherein the image proj ection pathway includes an aperture in a part of the screen, said aperture lying in the second direction part of the image projection pathway between the first mirror and the second mirror.
17. The image proj ection system of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the first mirror comprises a planar first surface type minor and the second mirror comprises a convex first surface type minor.
18. The image proj ection system of claim 17, wherein the curvature of the second mirror is selected as one that causes the projected image received at the surface thereof to be reflected onto the whole of an image surface of the curved screen.
19. The image projection system of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the image projector is mounted below the curved screen and/or located behind a front edge of the curved screen.
20. The image projection system of any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the curved screen comprises any of: a dome; a spherical dome; or a hemispherical dome. -I -, I.)21 The image projection system of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein an image surface of the inwardly curved screen comprises a first minor type surface and said image surface has a protective coating applied thereto.22. The image proj ection system of claim 21, wherein the protective coating is a physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating having a thickness of between 0.2 micrometers and 2 micrometers.23. The image projection system of any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein an image surface of the curved screen has a width or diameter less than or equal to one meter and preferably has a width or diameter tess than or equal to one 94 centimeters.24 The image projection system of any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein said projection system is any of free-standing; mountable on a stand; mountable on a wall; or mountable onto an activity device.25. An exercise system comprising: an exercise apparatus; an inwardly curved screen onto which an image is projected, said curved screen being positioned relative to the exercise apparatus such that a user operating or interacting with the exercise apparatus can view the image being projected onto the screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; wherein a size of the image projection means is not larger than the width and/or depth of the screen.27. The exercise system of claim 26, wherein the screen is not wider than the exercise apparatus.28. The exercise system of claim 26 or claim 27, wherein an image surface of the curved screen has a width or diameter less than or equal to one meter and preferably has a width or diameter less than or equal to one 94 centimeters.29. An exercise system comprising: an exercise apparatus; an inwardly curved screen onto which an image is projected, said curved screen being positioned relative to the exercise apparatus such that a user operating or interacting with the exercise apparatus can view the image being projected onto the screen; and means for projecting an image onto the inwardly curved screen; whercin thc screen is not wider than the exercise apparatus.30. The exercise system of claim 29, wherein a size of the image projection means is not larger than the width or depth of the screen 31. The exercise system of claim 29 or claim 30, wherein an image surface of the curved screen has a width or diameter less than or equal to one meter and preferably has a width or diameter less than or equal to one 94 centimeters.32. A method of providing exercise services comprising the steps ofT providing an exercise device for a user to operate or interact with; providing an image projection system according to any one of claims 14 to 24; and positioning the image projection system relative to the exercise device such that a user operating or interacting with the activity device can view an image being projected onto the screen; and projecting a moving image onto said screen.