US20170273473A1

US20170273473A1 - Theater having provided with screen having curvature, and chair control system for same

Info

Publication number: US20170273473A1
Application number: US15/326,448
Authority: US
Inventors: In Jae SEONG; Byoung Jun SONG; Hae Jeong Koh; Bon Il KOO; Min Jung Kim; Young Mi Kim; Ok Sun Kim; No Chan Park; Young Wook Choi
Original assignee: CJ CGV CO Ltd
Current assignee: CJ CGV CO Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-15
Filing date: 2015-07-15
Publication date: 2017-09-28
Also published as: CN106662801A; KR20160008994A; CN106537249A; KR101756810B1; KR20160008993A; CN106489012A; KR20160008992A; US20170205025A1; US20170204598A1; KR101699051B1; US20170275877A1; US20170226739A1; CN106489013A; CN106537251A; US20170212415A1; US20170205700A1; KR20160008995A; CN106536838A; CN106537250A; KR20160008990A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a theater having provided with a screen having curvature, and a chair control system for same and, more specifically, to a theater comprising: a screen having predetermined curvature in the long axial direction or the short axial direction; and theater chairs provided so as to face the center of the screen, wherein the screen is tilted. Therefore, by providing the angles of theater chairs to vary with respect to the location in a theater having provided with a screen that has curvature in the horizontal axis as well as the vertical axis, the present invention enables securing of an optimal field of vision for audience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a theater on which a screen having curvature has been installed and a system for controlling a theater seat and, more particularly, to a theater including a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction and a theater seat installed to face the center of the screen, wherein the screen has a tilt.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a movie theater has a structure in which a rectangle screen is provided in a building of a rectangular parallelepiped having the vertical surface of a wall, and is fabricated to allow audiences to watch visual media within a specific space.
However, such a rectangle screen has structural problems in that a three-dimensional effect is not present and a sense of immersion is not sufficient because visual media is projected on a plane screen when audiences watch the visual media. Accordingly, various methods are recently suggested in order to solve such problems.
A method for implementing the shape of a screen in a curved surface form is emerging as one of methods for solving the problems.
In this case, the curved surface screen has a problem in that a difference in a provided angle of view is great depending on the location of an audience seat because the curved surface screen has curvature, unlike a plane screen. Accordingly, audiences prefer only seats in a specific area and avoid other areas, making the utilization of seats inefficient.
Accordingly, if a screen having curvature which moves left and right and top and bottom and has curvature in a vertical axis in addition to a horizontal axis is developed, there will be a problem in that it is further difficult to secure a viewing angle according to the location of each seat.
The present invention has been invented based on such a technological background and also has been invented to satisfy the aforementioned technological needs and to provide additional technological elements that may not be easily invented by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optimum field of vision by differently installing each seat at a different angle so that an audience can normally watch a screen at the location of each seat in a theater on which the screen having curvature in a vertical axis in addition to a horizontal axis has been installed.
Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to enable an audience to have an optimum viewing angle and various effects so that a high sense of immersion is transferred to the audience by controlling a movement of a seat depending on a shape of a screen.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, a theater on which a screen having curvature has been installed may include a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction and a theater seat installed to face the center of the screen, wherein the screen may have a tilt. In this case, the theater seat may include a sheet, a support unit supporting the bottom of the sheet, and a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed.
Furthermore, an angle of the sheet of the theater seat may be differently installed depending on a location, an angle of the back of the seat of the theater seat may be differently installed depending on a location or angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seat may be differently installed depending on locations.
Furthermore, the theater seats may be divided into groups depending on locations. Angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seat may be differently installed depending on the location for each group.
According to the present invention, a system for controlling a theater seat in a theater on which a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction has been installed includes a theater seat receiving a seat driving command and moving in response to the seat driving command and a theater server sending the seat driving command to the theater seat.
In this case, the theater seat may include a sheet, a support unit supporting the bottom of the sheet, a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed, and a seat control unit receiving the seat driving command from the theater server and controlling a movement of the sheet, the support unit and the back of the seat.
Furthermore, the theater server may control an angle of the sheet, may control an angle of the back of the seat or may send a different seat driving command to each theater seat.
Furthermore, the theater server may divide the theater seats into groups depending on their locations and send a different seat driving command to each group.
Meanwhile, the system may further include a support receiving a support driving command and changing a shape or tilt of the screen in response to the support driving command, wherein the theater server may send the support driving command to the support.
In this case, the theater server may previously set a seat driving command for each theater seat according to a support driving command for the support and simultaneously send the support driving command and the seat driving command to the support and the theater seat.
Furthermore, the theater server may send a previously set seat driving command corresponding to the playback time of content, a frame or a scene.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with the present invention, an optimum field of vision can be provided by differently installing each seat at a different angle so that an audience can normally watch a screen at the location of each seat in a theater on which the screen having curvature in a vertical axis in addition to a horizontal axis has been installed.
Furthermore, the present invention enable an audience to have an optimum viewing angle and various effects so that a high sense of immersion is transferred to the audience by controlling a movement of a seat according to the running time of a movie.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which the sheets of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location of the seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which the sheets of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location of the seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which the sheets of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location of the seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which the backs of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location of the seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the configuration of a theater seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating the configuration of a system for controlling a theater seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating a configuration in which a theater seat includes a seat control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which the angle of the sheet of a theater seat is controlled in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which the angle of the back of a seat in a theater seat is controlled in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The details of the objects and technological configurations of the present invention and acting effects thereof will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be interpreted as limiting or used to limit the range of right of the present invention. It is evident to those skilled in the art that a description including the embodiments of this specification has various applications. Accordingly, unless otherwise defined by the claims, some embodiments described are illustrative for better understanding, and the range of right of the present invention is not intended to be restricted by the embodiments.
Function blocks illustrated in the drawings and described hereunder are only examples of possible implementations. In other implementations, different functional blocks may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the detailed description. Furthermore, one or more functional blocks of the present invention are illustrated as separate blocks, but one or more of the functional blocks of the present invention may be a combination of various hardware and software elements for executing the same function.
Furthermore, it should be understood that an expression that some elements are included is an expression of an open type and the expression simply denotes that the corresponding elements are present, but does not exclude additional elements.
Furthermore, when it is said that one element is connected or coupled to the other element, it should be understood that one element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but a third element may exist between the two elements.
Furthermore, expressions, such as “the first” and “the second”, are expressions used to only distinguish a plurality of elements from one another, and do not limit the sequence of the elements or other characteristics.
FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams for illustrating the state in which the sheets 110 of theater seats 100 and the backs 130 of the seats have been disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location of the seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
A theater according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a screen 10 having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction and the theater seat 100 installed to face the center of the screen. The screen has a tilt. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the theater seat 100 may include the sheet 110, a support unit 120 supporting the bottom of the sheet 110, and the back 130 of the seat joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended and formed.
In this case, the tilt refers to an angle formed by a straight line that connects the first long-axis member and second long-axis member of a frame to be described later at the shortest distance and the vertical stand of a support to be described later.
The frame refers to a structure joined to the support in order to maintain the shape of the screen 10 having curvature. The frame includes a long-axis member or a short-axis member having curvature, and functions to closely attach the screen to the members, eventually implementing the screen 10 having curvature. In this case, the long-axis member is a member longer than the short-axis member. In view of the characteristics of a screen installed on a theater, it is preferred that the long-axis member is disposed in a horizontal-axis direction and the short-axis member is disposed in a vertical-axis direction. In this case, the long-axis member of the frame includes the first long-axis member and the second long-axis member on which the top and bottom of the screen are respectively mounted.
Furthermore, the support refers to a structure, basically including a vertical stand having a framework fixed to the ground and a horizontal stand joined to the vertical stand and joined to the frame or the screen 10 having curvature. The vertical stand and the horizontal stand are framework materials of a structure installed to support the screen 10 having curvature and the frame of the screen having curvature. It is preferred that the vertical stand and the horizontal stand are fabricated using a solid material. In this case, the connection portion of the support and the frame may be fixed using a connection joint or it is preferred that the support and the frame are joined together using welding.
In this case, there is an advantage in that a sense of immersion is enhanced because the upper part of a screen becomes closer to the visual field of an audience as the tilt increases.
Accordingly, the theater seat 100 of the present invention is installed so that the body or eyes of an audience face the center of the screen when the audience is seated in the theater seat 100. Although an audience is seated in the theater seat 100 at any location, the audience can watch the screen 10 having curvature in the state in which a stabilized field of vision has been secured. In this case, the angle and direction of each theater seat 100 may be different, or the theaters seats 100 may be classified into groups depending on their locations and may have different angles and directions for each group.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, if spaces where the support units 120 of the theater seats 100 disposed in the same column will be installed are to be connected, the spaces may be disposed in a round form to draw an arc of a specific form and the angles of the sheets may be disposed so that they face the center of the screen. As shown in FIG. 2, if spaces where the support units 120 of the theater seats disposed on the surfaces of left and right walls on the basis of stairs for going up and down for the seats of the theater will be installed are to be connected, the spaces may be disposed to draw a diagonal line. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheets of the theater seats 100 disposed on the surfaces of left and right walls on the basis of stairs for going up and down for the seats of the theater may be disposed at different angles by taking into consideration the size of the theater and curvature or tilt of the screen 10. In this case, the sheets of all of the seats installed on the surface of the wall may be installed at almost the same angle. However, the angles of the sheets 110 of the theater seats 100 disposed close to the surfaces of the left and right walls may be twisted toward the center of the screen 10, and the angles of the sheets 110 of the theater seats 100 disposed on the center side of the screen 10 may be installed in a direction almost perpendicular to the surface of a wall on which the screen 10 has been installed.
The shape of the screen 10 according to the present invention is not essentially limited to a plane. For example, the screen 10 may have curvature of a specific size in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction. Alternatively, the screen 10 may have curvature of a specific size both in the long-axis and short-axis directions and may be implemented as a so-called ovalness. In the present invention, a side that belongs to the sides of the screen 10 and that has a relatively longer length is defined as a long axis and a side that belongs to the sides of the screen 10 and that has a relatively shorter length is defined as a short axis. Preferably, the horizontal side of the screen 10 is defined as a long axis, and the vertical side of the screen 10 is defined as a short axis.
As may be seen from FIGS. 1 to 4, the screen 10 according to the present invention may be implemented in an ovalness concaved toward the theater seats 100. If the screen 10 is implemented so that curvature is generated in the long axis or short axis of the screen 10 as described above, there is an advantage in that a higher sense of immersion and a three-dimensional effect can be provided to audiences.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the configuration of the theater seat 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the theater seat 100 may include the sheet 110, the support unit 120 supporting the bottom of the sheet 110, and the back 130 of the seat which is joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended and formed.
The theater seat 100 is described in detail below. The sheet 110 is a portion that comes into contact with a hip portion when an audience is seated. The support unit 120 is formed from the ground and supports the bottom of the sheet 110. The back 130 of the seat is joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended and formed, and supports the back or head portion of an audience. Furthermore, the theater seat 100 may further include an armrest joined to any one of the sheet 110 and the back 130 of the seat. When the theater seat 100 is moved by control of a theater server 200, the armrest supports the body of an audience so that the audience can watch a movie safely.
As described above, the screen 10 has curvature in the short-axis direction in addition to the long-axis direction. Accordingly, when an audience watches the screen 10, a viewing angle secured depending on the location of each theater seat 100 is different depending on the location of the left and right direction in which the theater seat 100 has been disposed, and a viewing angle may also be different depending on the location of the up and down direction in which the theater seat 100 has been disposed. For this reason, according to the present invention, a safer field of vision can be provided to an audience because the theater seat 100 is disposed at a different angle depending on its installation location.
In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the angle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 may be different depending on the location of the sheet. The angle of the sheet 110 means an angle (refer to FIG. 8) generated by rotating the sheet 100 clockwise or counterclockwise based on the direction of the surface of a wall on which the screen 10 has been installed.
The screen 10 of the present invention has curvature in the long-axis direction. Accordingly, although the theater seats 100 are located at the same height, audiences may have different viewing angles when watching the screen 10 depending on the left, right or central location of the screen 10. Accordingly, although the theater seats 100 are located at the same height as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sheets 110 are disposed at different angles toward the center of the screen 10, so audiences can watch a movie played back on the screen 10 having curvature more comfortably. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the back 130 of the theater seat 100 may be disposed at a different angle depending on its location. The angle of the back 130 of the seat means an angle (refer to FIG. 9) formed by the back 130 of the seat and the sheet 110.
Furthermore, the screen 10 of the present invention has curvature in the short-axis direction. Accordingly, although audiences are located in the same direction based on the screen 10, the audiences may have different viewing angles when watching the screen 10 depending on their heights. Accordingly, although audiences are seated in the theater seats 100 located at different heights as shown in FIG. 4, the backs 130 of the theater seats 100 are disposed at different angles so that the bodies and heads of the audiences face the center of the screen 10. Accordingly, the audiences can watch a movie played back on the screen 10 having curvature more comfortably.
More specifically, the back 130 of the seat and the sheet 110 may be disposed at different angles depending on the location of the theater seat 100.
The screen 10 of the present invention may have curvature in the long-axis direction and the short-axis direction. It is preferred that both the sheet 110 and the back 130 of the seat are disposed at different angles depending on the location of each theater seat 100. Accordingly, it is preferred that the angle of the sheet 110 and the angle of the back 130 of the seat are adjusted toward the center of the screen 10 at the location of each theater seat 100 by taking into consideration the size of a theater and curvature of the screen 10. In this case, there is an advantage in that an audience can be provided with a safe field of vision although he or she is location at any place. Accordingly, a conventional problem in that a viewing angle is different depending on an audience seat can be solved.
Furthermore, the theater seats 100 may be classified into groups depending on their locations. The sheets 110 and backs 130 of the theater seats 100 may be disposed at different angles according to the group. In this case, it is preferred that theater seats 100 at places that require a similar angle of the sheet 110 and a similar angle of the back 130 of the seat are classified as one group by taking into consideration the size of a theater and curvature of the screen 10. In this case, there is an advantage in that the angles of the sheet 110 and back 130 of a theater seat 100 can be previously set before the theater seat 100 is installed on a theater and the theater seat 100 can be fabricated and supplied.
As described above, FIGS. 1 to 5 are diagrams for illustrating the configurations in which the sheets 110 or backs 130 of the theater seats 100 are disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field of vision to audiences depending on the locations of the theater seats 100 within a theater. FIGS. 6 to 9 are diagrams for illustrating configurations in which the theater server 200 controls a movement of the theater seat 100 or a support 300. In this case, it should be understood that the angle of the sheet 110 or the angle of the back 130 of the seat in the theater seat 100 is not fixed, but can be controlled by the theater server 200.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating an overall configuration of a system for controlling the theater seat 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, the system for controlling a theater seat according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the theater seat 100 which receives a seat driving command and moves in response to the seat driving command and the theater server 200 which sends the seat driving command to the theater seat 100 in the theater seat of a theater on which the screen 10 having specific curvature in the long-axis direction or short-axis direction has been installed.
In this case, as described above, the screen 10 according to the present invention is not essentially restricted to a plane. For example, the screen 10 may have curvature of a specific size in the long-axis direction or the short-axis direction. Alternatively, the screen 10 may have curvature of a specific size both in the long-axis and short-axis directions and thus may be implemented as a so-called ovalness.
Meanwhile, the seat driving command commonly refers to data including information necessary to drive the theater seat 100, and may include the ID number of a theater seat 100 to be driven, a length to be increased or decreased, an angle to be tilted, a driving start time, a driving end time and so on.
The seat driving command is received from the outside. For example, the seat driving command may be received using a method through an input device of a theater operator, a method through connection with a recording medium such as a USB, or a method over a network from an external server.
The theater seat 100 is a seat installed on a theater in which the screen 10 having curvature is used. The theater seat 100 may be controlled so that it provides an optimum viewing angle and a sense of immersion to an audience at the location of each theater seat 100 when the audience watches the screen 10 having curvature. The screen 10 has curvature in the short-axis direction in addition to the long-axis direction. Accordingly, a viewing angle secured depending on the location of each theater seat 100 when an audience watches the screen 10 may be different depending on the left and right direction in which the theater seat 100 has been disposed, and a viewing angle may also be different depending on the up and down direction in which the theater seat 100 has been disposed. Accordingly, the present invention has an advantage in that an audience can watch the screen 10 having curvature more comfortably by controlling the theater seat 100 through the theater server 200.
In this case, referring to FIG. 7, the theater seat 100 may include the sheet 110, the support unit 120 supporting the bottom of the sheet 110, the back 130 of the seat joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended and formed, and a seat control unit 140 which receives a seat driving command from the theater server 200 and controls a movement of the sheet 110, the support unit 120 and the back 130 of the seat.
The sheet 110 is a portion that comes into contact with a hip portion when an audience is seated. The support unit 120 is formed from the ground and supports the bottom of the sheet 110. The back 130 of the seat is joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended and formed, and supports the back or head portion of an audience. Furthermore, the theater seat 100 may further include an armrest joined to any one of the sheet 110 and the back 130 of the seat. When the theater seat 100 is moved by control of a theater server 200, the armrest supports the body of an audience so that the audience can watch a movie safely.
The seat control unit 140 functions to receive a driving command from the outside as described above or to newly generate a driving command and to send the driving signal to the sheet 110, the support unit 120 or the back 130 of the seat. Furthermore, the theater server 200 may adopt a method for separately controlling the seat control units 140 respectively included in a plurality of the theater seats 100 or a method for dividing the area of the plurality of theater seats 100 into areas and controlling the seat control units 140 for each area. It is preferred that the theater server 200 assigns each unique ID to each of the seat control units 140 of the theater seats 100 and controls the seat control units 140. Accordingly, the seat driving command of each theater seat according to curvature of the screen may be previously set, and the driving command received or generated by the seat control unit 140 may be transmitted to each theater seat depending on a shape or tilt of the screen. Alternatively, a plurality of the driving commands corresponding to a single content image may have been arranged in a series of order. Alternatively, the received or generated driving command may have included a single driving command corresponding to the progress of a content image. Meanwhile, the theater server 200 may be connected to the seat control unit 140 over a network, and may send the driving command over a network.
Meanwhile, the theater server 200 may include the following embodiment as a method for controlling the theater seat 100.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for illustrating the state in which the angle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 is controlled by the theater server in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the angle of the sheet 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be changed clockwise or counterclockwise. That is, the sheet 110 of the seat control unit 140 may be turned in response to a driving command from the theater server 200 so that the angle of the sheet 110 is changed. If the length of the support 300 is changed and thus the screen 10 moves left or right or curvature of the screen 10 is changed in the long-axis direction, the sheet 110 is turned in accordance with a shape or tilt of the screen 10, thereby securing a viewing angle of an audience and providing a sense of immersion.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for illustrating the state in which the angle of the back 130 of the theater seat 100 is changed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the angle of the back 130 of the seat may be changed forward or backward. If the length of the support 300 is changed and thus the screen 10 moves up or down or curvature of the screen 10 is changed in the short-axis direction, the angle of the back 130 of the seat is adjusted so that the back 130 of the seat corresponds to a shape or tilt of the screen 10, thereby securing a viewing angle of an audience and providing a sense of immersion.
Furthermore, the angle of the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100 may be changed clockwise or counterclockwise. That is, the seat control unit 140 may change the angle of the support unit 120 by turning the support unit 120 in response to a driving command from the theater server 200. If the length of the support 300 is changed and thus the screen 10 moves left or right or curvature of the screen 10 is changed in the long-axis direction, the seat control unit 140 may turn the support unit 120 in accordance with a shape or tilt of the screen 10, thereby securing a viewing angle of an audience and providing a sense of immersion.
Furthermore, the length of the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100 may be extended or reduced. That is, the seat control unit 140 may extend or reduce the length of the support unit 120 in response to a driving command from the theater server 200. If the length of the support 300 is changed and thus the screen 10 moves up or down, the seat control unit 140 may increase or decrease the length of the support unit 120 so that the support unit 120 corresponds to a movement of the screen 10, thereby securing a viewing angle of an audience and providing a sense of immersion.
Furthermore, the angle of the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100 may be adjusted. That is, the seat control unit 140 may adjust the angle of the support unit 120 in response to a driving command from the theater server 200 so that the theater seat 100 is inclined left or right or forward or backward, preferably in all directions of 360 degrees.
In a scene in which a user rides on a roller coaster, a spacecraft battle scene or a car chase scene, the angle of the support unit 120 is changed in response to a change in the length of the support 300, thereby being capable of enabling an audience to feel a screening scene as if the audience actually experiences the scene.
In this case, the method for moving the theater seat 100 as described above is only an embodiment. A form in which the theater seat 100 moves in order to obtain an optimum viewing angle for the screen 10 having curvature is not limited to the embodiment, and may include various forms in which the theater seat 100 can be moved.
Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the theater server 200 may differently send a driving command to each theater seat 100. The theater seat 100 has a different angle for obtaining an optimum viewing angle for the screen 10 having curvature depending on its location. Accordingly, it is preferred that a driving command is different at the location of each theater seat 100 so that the screen 10 having curvature is watched at the different location. To this end, the theater server 200 separately controls the seat control units 140 respectively included in the plurality of theater seats 100. It is preferred that the theater server 200 assigns a unique ID to each of the seat control units 140 of the theater seats 100 and separately controls the seat control units 140. Accordingly, the seat driving command of each theater seat according to curvature of the screen may be previously set, and the driving command received or generated by the seat control unit 140 may be transmitted to each theater seat depending on a shape or tilt of the screen. Alternatively, a plurality of the driving commands corresponding to a single content image may have been arranged in a series of order. Alternatively, the received or generated driving command may have included a single driving command corresponding to the progress of a content image.
Furthermore, the theater server 200 may adopt a method for dividing the plurality of theater seats 100 into groups depending on the locations if the theater seats 100 and controlling the seat control units 140 through different seat driving commands for each group. In this case, the plurality of theater seats 100 may be classified into specific groups by the setting of an administrator of the theater server 200. Theater seats 100 located in the same area may have a similar viewing angle in order to obtain a viewing angle for the screen 10 having curvature. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that a manipulation is simple because the same driving commands can be set and managed at once.
Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the theater further includes the support 300 which receives a support driving command and changes a shape or tilt of the screen 10 in response to the support driving command. The theater server 200 sends the support driving command to the support 300.
The support 300 refers to a structure, basically including a vertical stand having a framework fixed to the ground and a horizontal stand joined to the vertical stand and joined to the frame or the screen 10 having curvature. The vertical stand and the horizontal stand are framework materials of a structure installed to support the screen 10 having curvature and the frame of the screen having curvature. It is preferred that the vertical stand and the horizontal stand are fabricated using a solid material. Furthermore, it is preferred that the horizontal stand is fabricated to have a different length because the horizontal stand has a different distance from the vertical stand to each portion of the screen 10 in view of the characteristics of the screen 10 having curvature. The horizontal stand may be fabricated to have a varying length in response to a support driving command from the theater server 200 so that a shape or tilt of the screen 10 is changed.
Furthermore, the support driving command commonly refers to data including information necessary to drive the support 300, and may include the ID number of the horizontal stand or vertical stand of a support 300 to be driven, a length to be increased or decreased, a driving start time, a driving end time and so on.
The support driving command is received from the outside. For example, the support driving command may be received using a method through an input device of a theater operator, a method through connection with a recording medium such as a USB, or a method over a network from an external server.
Accordingly, a shape or tilt of the screen 10 is changed depending on a change in the length of the support 300 controlled by the theater server 200. In response thereto, the theater server 200 controls a movement of the theater seat 100 in accordance with a shape or tilt of the screen 10 that varies depending on a change in the length of the support, thereby securing an optimum viewing angle for an audience.
Meanwhile, the theater server 200 may previously set the seat driving commands of the respective theater seats 100 according to a support driving command for the support 300, and may send the support driving command and the seat driving commands to the support 300 and the theater seats 100 at the same time. The location of the screen 10 may be changed left and right and top and bottom in response to a movement of the support 300. Accordingly, it is necessary for the theater server 200 to send a driving command to each of the theater seats 100 in response to a movement of the screen 10 in order to secure a viewing angle. In this case, the theater server 200 may previously set a command to change the angle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 corresponding to a specific location or specific curvature of the screen 10, a command to turn the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100, to increase or decrease the length of the support unit 120 or to adjust the angle of the support unit 120, and a command to control the angle of the back 130 of the seat of the theater seat 100, thus being capable of controlling each of the theater seats 100 more efficiently.
For example, a seat driving command to change the angle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 toward the center of the screen 10 may have been previously set to be transmitted at the same time when a support driving command to increase curvature of the screen 10 is issued. A seat driving command to change the angle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 so that the theater sheet 110 become vertical to the surface of a wall on which the screen 10 has been installed may have been previously set to be transmitted at the same time when a support driving command to decrease curvature of the screen is issued. Furthermore, a seat driving command to increase the angle of the back 130 of the seat of the theater seat 100 may have been previously set to be transmitted at the same time when a support driving command to move the screen 10 toward the ceiling is issued. A seat driving command to reduce the angle of the back 130 of the seat of the theater seat 100 may have been previously set to be transmitted at the same time when a support driving command to move the screen 10 back to the ground again is issued.
Furthermore, the theater server 200 may send a previously set driving command corresponding to the playback time of content, a frame or a scene. Accordingly, the theater server 200 sets a driving command of the theater seat 100 corresponding to a special effect of a movie, and controls a movement of the theater seat 100 in response to a change in the length of the support 300, in a scene in which a user rides on a roller coaster, a spacecraft battle scene or a car chase scene, thereby being capable of enabling an audience to feel a screening scene as if the audience actually experiences the scene.
As described above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other detailed forms without changing the technological spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the aforementioned embodiments should not be construed as being limitative, but should be construed as being only illustrative from all aspects. The range of right of the present invention is disclosed in the appended claims rather than the detailed description, and it should be understood that all modifications or variations derived from the meanings and scope of the present invention and equivalents thereof are included in the scope of the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention relates to a theater on which a screen having curvature has been installed and a system for controlling a theater seat. More specifically, the theater includes a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction and theater seats installed toward the center of the screen. The screen has a tilt. Accordingly, in a theater on which a screen having curvature in a vertical axis in addition to a horizontal axis has been installed, a theater seat is disposed at a different angle depending on its location, thereby enabling an audience to secure an optimum viewing angle.

Claims

1. A theater on which a screen having curvature has been installed, comprising:

a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction; and

a theater seat installed to face a center of the screen,

wherein the screen has a tilt.

2. The theater of claim 1, wherein the theater seat comprises:

a sheet;

a support unit supporting a bottom of the sheet; and

a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed.

3. The theater of claim 1, wherein an angle of the sheet of the theater seat is differently installed depending on a location.

4. The theater of claim 1, wherein an angle of the back of the seat of the theater seat is differently installed depending on a location.

5. The theater of claim 1, wherein angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seat are differently installed depending on locations.

6. The theater of claim 1, wherein:

the theater seats are divided into groups depending on locations, and

angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seat are differently installed depending on locations for each group.

7. A system for controlling a theater seat in a theater on which a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction has been installed, the system comprising:

a theater seat receiving a seat driving command and moving in response to the seat driving command; and

a theater server sending the seat driving command to the theater seat.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the theater seat comprises:

a sheet;

a support unit supporting a bottom of the sheet;

a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed; and

a seat control unit receiving the seat driving command from the theater server and controlling a movement of the sheet, the support unit and the back of the seat.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the theater server controls an angle of the sheet.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the theater server controls an angle of the back of the seat.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the theater server sends a different seat driving command to each theater seat.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a support receiving a support driving command and changing a shape or tilt of the screen in response to the support driving command, wherein the theater server sends the support driving command to the support.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the theater server previously sets a seat driving command for each theater seat according to a support driving command for the support and simultaneously sends the support driving command and the seat driving command to the support and the theater seat.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the theater server sends a previously set seat driving command corresponding to a playback time of content, a frame or a scene.