IL103002A - Method and apparatus for the broadcasting of images - Google Patents

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE BROADCASTING OF IMAGES ΏΏΙΌΏ IITO"? TWDJOI HO'W A. Tally Eitan-Zeev Pearl & Co.

Law Offices P-IO-735-IL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE BROADCASTING OF IMAGES Ffeifl of the faventfrm The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the broadcasting of images, particularly by television.

Background of flie Invention It is well known that many events, which are broadcasted by television and which are watched sometimes by millions of spectators, do not allow the use of advertising material on the grounds on which the events take place. This includes, for instance, high league events, i.e. basketball, football, as well as political or other conventions. It would be highly desirable for the advertising industry if it were possible to advertise by television in the course of such events, in a manner which is compatible with the rules which govern such events. So far, the art has been unable to provide a solution to this problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method which permits to broadcast images of all types, without the images being seen on the site at which the event takes place, and without interfering with the event.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to permit to broadcast advertising material, while such advertisements are not seen by the persons attending the event, but only by television spectators.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the aforesaid purposes.

Summary of the Invention The method for broadcasting images by television according to the invention comprises providing an image projector to project on a surface the image to be broadcasted, the said image projector projecting images at wavelengths outside the range of visible light, and providing one or more detector(s) capable of detecting the image projected at the said wavelengths, the said one or more detector(s) being coupled to one or more television camera(s).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the image which is detected by the detector is further elaborated, by elaborating means, in order to improve its quality, and to change it into a clearer and better image for broadcasting. For instance, different shapes which are detected by a monochromatic detector can be changed into different colors by appropriate image-elaborating means. Furthermore, it is possible to project images at different wavelengths, which would result in different images and shapes being detected by the detector(s). Viz., as said, for those to be elaborated by appropriate image elaborating means, which are within the scale of the engineer of this field, and therefore are not discussed in detail herein for the sake of brevity. Such images detected by the detector can then be combined with the images received by the regular camera, e.g., they can be superimposed, before the image is further transmitted to a unit which passes it on for broadcasting.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the image projector is not limited to projecting a single image, but is coupled to image generating means to change the projected image at the desired time. By doing so, it is possible to generate a plurality of images, different from one another, to project each of them for a predetermined period of time, and therefore to obtain dynamic advertising during the event.

As will be apparent to the person skilled in the art, it may be desirable to have the image projector coupled to the camera which is provided with a detector so that the field of view of the camera and of the detector is such that the entire image projected, which it is desired to broadcast, is viewed by the camera, and to adjust the operation of the plurality of cameras and detectors so that the view and timing of the view of the projected image is optimized.

While the invention is not limited to any particular location, preferred locations where it is carried out is on sports ground. Such sports grounds are selected, e.g., from among basketball, baseball or football grounds, tennis courts, golf links, or the like.

The image can be projected in a variety of different wavelengths, the only limitation being that the detector which must detect the image to be broadcast should be adapted to detect the chosen wavelength. Illustrative examples of such projections include images projected in the infrared or ultraviolet range.

Also encompassed by the invention is an apparatus for broadcasting images by television, which apparatus comprises: - image projecting means adapted to project images at wavelengths outside the range of visible light; - at least one television camera provided with one or more detector(s) capable of detecting the image projected by the said image projecting means; - means for superimposing the image detected by the said detector on the image seen by the said television camera.

All the above and other advantages and purposes of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative description of preferred embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 illustrates the projection of a message on a football field.

Fig. 2 illustrates the coupling of a detector to a television camera, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a system according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Looking now at Fig. 1, a football field, generally indicated by numeral 1, is shown on which image 2 is projected by image projector 3. Image 2 is projected in infrared light, so that the spectators on the ground cannot see the message on the field. Camera 4, on the other hand, is provided with a detector (not shown) which is capable of detecting infrared light outside the range of light visible to the human eye, and therefore the message 2 is viewed by the camera, which transmits it, together with the general scene viewed by the camera, to the broadcasting center and which is therefore broadcasted to the viewers.

In Fig. 2, the camera 4 of Fig. 1 is seen, to which a detector 5 is connected by rigid connection 6, so that whenever camera 4 is focused on the scene, detector 5 also sees the same area, and if a message which is detectable by the said detector is projected on the scene, detector 5 records it. The images recorded by camera 4 are transmitted, via transmission lines 7, to image processing unit 8, which also receives the images seen by detector 5, through line 9. Image processing unit 8 combines the two images and transmits them on, through combined line 10. Alternatively, each image can be transmitted separately to a control center which will process it and combine them together, as desired.

In Fig. 3, a floor 11 is irradiated with IR light 12, carrying an image projected by IR projector 13. The image projected by IR projector 13 is detected by IR camera 14 which, through projection monitor 15, and combiner 16, projects it into TV camera 17., The image therefore appears on the TV image as if it had been painted on the floor with a partially transparent paint.

As will be apparent to the skilled person, there are very many ways of combining detecting means and television cameras, and of processing the different images received from them, so as to provide a combined image on the screen of the TV sets of TV viewers , Accordingly, many different types of cameras and detectors can be used, different types of light invisible to the human eye can be employed, and different image processing and combining methods and apparatus can be exploited, all without exceeding the scope of the invention. 103002/5

Claims (15)

1. A method for broadcasting images by television for advertising during an event, comprising: projecting, on a surface of the place where the event take place a advertising image to be broadcasted at wavelengths outside the range of visible light; detecting said advertising image; and combining said advertising image with the broadcasted image of said event being televised so as to merge the advertising image into the broadcasted image of the event being televised, wherein said advertising image is not being seen on the site at which the event takes place but only by television spectators, and wherein said advertising image does not interfere with the viewing of the event.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the advertising is a dynamic advertising as defined in the specification.

3. A method for broadcasting images by television, according to claim 1 , wherein detector(s) capable of performing said step of detecting the advertising image projected at said wavelengths are coupled to one or more television camera(s).

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising elaborating the images detected by the detector before combining them with the images transmitted by the television camera.

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an image projector performs said projecting, is coupled with image generating means, to change the projected image at the desired time. 8 103002/5

6. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the image projector is coupled to the camera so as to subordinate the image projection to the field of view of the camera.

7. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the projected image comprises an advertisement.

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the event being televised takes place on sports grounds.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sports ground is selected from among basketball, baseball or football grounds, tennis courts, golf links, or the like.

10. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the wavelength employed is in the infrared or ultraviolet range.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the image to be merged into the camera image is elaborated be elaborating means and is combined with the images received from the regular camera before being broadcasted.

12. Apparatus for broadcasting images by television for advertising during an event, comprising: image projecting means adapted to project images at wavelengths outside the range of visible light; at least one television camera provided with one or more detector(s) capable of detecting the image projected by said image projecting means; means for superimposing the image detected by said detector on the image captured by said television camera, whereby a combined image of said event and said projected image is broadcasted, wherein said advertising image is not being seen on the site at which the event takes place but only by television spectators, and wherein said advertising image does not interfere with the viewing of the event. 103002/5 9

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, comprising elaborating means, to elaborate the image to be superimposed with the image captured by said at least one camera before said combined image is broadcasted.

14. A method for broadcasting images by television substantially as claimed in any of claims 1 - 11 and substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings.

15. Apparatus substantially as claimed in any of claims 12 - 13 and substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings. aw ces o A. Tally EKan - Zeev Pearl & Co. C: P-735-IL