WO1996013822A1

WO1996013822A1 - Animation method and device

Info

Publication number: WO1996013822A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000724
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew James Stinziani
Original assignee: Andrew James Stinziani
Priority date: 1994-10-28
Filing date: 1995-10-30
Publication date: 1996-05-09
Also published as: AUPM913294A0

Abstract

An apparatus and method for creating an illusion of animation. A plurality of discrete images (1) are provided in spaced apart relationship (2). A person, camera, or other image receiving means (3) travels past the images, by walking, riding in a vehicle, etc. As the person travels, each image is consecutively able to be viewed by the person - either, by a louvre or other physical viewing means, or, by being illuminated by a stroboscopic light or the like. When the images are viewed at a high enough rate, the images are processed by the visual system of the person such that an effect of movement or animation is perceived. The invention is considered particularly useful for advertising - to create the effect of movement using a series of still pictures. The invention may be used in railway tunnels, on billboards, etc., or may be provided about a race track or sports stadium, such that the person, or a motion picture camera may capture the animated effect.

Description

ANIMATION METHOD AND DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an animation method and apparatus, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for creating an illusion of animation, wherein each image receiving means, such as a person or a camera, views discrete, stationary images to perceive an effect of movement or animation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known by persons skilled in the art that an effect of animation is produced in motion pictures and the like by projecting, in an intermittent manner, a plurality of discrete images. In this procedure, a film is moved through an image plane, and, whilst each image on the film is centrally provided in the gate area of a projector, a shutter intermittently operates to project the image on the film onto a screen.

It is known to persons skilled in the art that the speed of the film, and the intermittent operation of the shutter, must be correlated such as to avoid flickering, etc., effects, when viewed. For example, whilst high quality film may utilise 48 frames per second, less expensive films, such as home movies, might be projected at 16 or 18 frames per second.

Also, in the known production of cartoons on film, a plurality of drawings are prepared, each drawing having a small amount of difference from the previous drawing, such that, when each is displayed one after the other, quickly and for a short period of time, the effect of smooth movement is created.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative and novel method and device for creating such an illusion of animation, which differs from the prior art, in that the observer, viewer, camera, or other image receiving means, views said images at a predetermined velocity, and, in that the images are provided at discrete and stationary locations along a viewing movement route. In one broad form, the present invention provides a method of creating an illusio of animation, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of discrete, stationary images in spaced apart relationship and, consecutively rendering said images visible to an image receiving means.

In a preferred embodiment said plurality of discrete images are provided in substantially side-by-side relationship.

Preferably, said image receiving means is the eye of a person, or a television, motion picture camera, or the like.

In a preferred form, said image receiving means is maintained substantially stationary, and whereby said images are consecutively rendered visible to said image receiving means by said image receiving means turning to sequentially scan said images.

In an alternatively preferred form, said image receiving means moves along a movement route in a direction substantially parallel to a placement location of said images.

In this preferred embodiment, said image receiving means is moved along said movement route on a train, car or other vehicle, on an escalator, travelator or the like, by walking, riding on an animal or on an amusement ride.

Preferably, said images are photographs, sketches, slides, bromides or the like.

In a preferred form, said images are rendered visible intermittently, such as by means of a stroboscopic light or the like.

Preferably, said images are rendered visible one at a time, by said image receiving means viewing said images through a mechanism whereby each image is rendered visible for a short duration.

Preferably, said mechanism is a louvre or panel-like arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, said image comprises pictures and/or words.

In a most preferred embodiment said image comprises advertising material.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides an animation apparatus, comprising: a plurality of discrete images positioned in spaced-apart relationship; and, image receiving means to consecutively view said spaced apart images; such that, said image receiving means views said images and perceives an effect of animation.

Preferably, said image receiving means comprises a person travelling past said images at a predetermined rate, by walking, running, riding, or being transported on a vehicle, or the like.

Perhaps most preferably, said images comprise advertising material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates, in schematic form, how an illusion of animation is created utilising a plurality of discrete images provided stationary and in spaced apart relationship, whereby the image receiving means is rotated about a substantially stationary axis;

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment similar to Fig. 1, but wherein the image receiving means is moved substantially parallel to the position of said discrete stationary images;

Fig. 3 illustrates, in schematic form, a simple louvre arrangement;

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative louvre arrangement; Fig. 5 illustrates another louvre arrangement;

Fig. 6 illustrates, in schematic form, a train carrying views travelling along a movement route passed a plurality of discrete images;

Fig. 7 shows the preferred embodiment in more detail, in a plan view thereof;

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 9 shows different methods of projection;

Fig. 10 shows another cross-sectional view of the embodiment;

Fig. 11 shows some alternative methods of projection;

Fig. 12 illustrates how the illusion of animation may be perceived by a person walking;

Fig. 13 illustrates the relationship between image size, velocity of movement/rotation, and the number of images required to be viewed to perceive the illusion of animation;

Fig. 14 illustrates various embodiments of apparatus which may be adapted to a moving escalator or like device;

Fig. 15 illustrates how louvres of different lengths may be utilised;

Fig. 16 illustrates an apparatus having the louvres positioned below the guardrail, for viewing by a person travelling in a car;

Fig. 17 shows the relationship between the various parameters of the louvre system;

Fig. 18 illustrates the apparatus being provided in different locations, to show that as the velocity varies, the spaces varies; and,

Fig. 19 shows how angled louvres may be used to prevent the adjacent image being seen by the image receiving means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be utilised to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate, in simple schematic form, how the illusion of animation is created in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, there are provided a plurality of discrete stationary images, generally designated by the numeral 1, provided in spaced apart relationship. That is, the images, which may comprise pictures, photographs, slides, or any other discrete image, are provided in a substantially side-by-side arrangement. The surface to which the images are applied to need not necessarily be straight, but could be curved.

An image receiving means is adapted to view the images 1 in a consecutive manner. That is, the image receiving means 3, is adapted to successively view each image one after the other. The image receiving means may be a persons visual senses, or, a motion picture or television camera.

Two ways by which the image receiving means may consecutively view the images 1 are shown in the drawings. The first type is illustrated in Fig. 1 , wherein the image receiving means is substantially rotated about an axis 4, for example in the direction of arrow 5. It will be appreciated that by rotating the image receiving means about the axis 4 in the direction of arrow 5, each of the images 1 are consecutively viewed. Alternatively, but also in accordance with the present invention, the image receiving means, as shown in Fig. 2, may travel along a path such as indicated by arrow 6. Once again, when the image receiving means is along path 7, as the image receiving means travels along in the direction of arrow 6, such that each of the images 1 are consecutively viewed. It will be appreciated that the two generalised forms of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, create an illusion of animation when the image receiving means travels in the directions of arrows 5 or 6 at a sufficient velocity. The images 1 , of course, are sequential images such as might be provided on a camera film when a series of photographs are taken whilst photographing a moving person or object. As the image receiving means views each of these "photographs", a person perceives the effect of movement of animation, when the photographs are seen consecutively at a sufficient rate. The particular rate parameters, etc., will become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Similar considerations to those in producing a motion picture film, which of course are also made of a series of discrete images, will be taken into account by a person skilled in the art of creating an animation of high quality or otherwise.

As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the image receiving means should only view one image at a time. As such, it may be desirable to provide louvres 8, such that it is ensured that only one image 1 is perceived by the image receiving means at a time. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate alternative embodiments of louvre systems, whereby each image 1 is rendered visible to the image receiving means 3, one at a time, as the image receiving means travels in the direction of arrow 6.

The description provided hereinbefore, recites in very general terms, how the illusion of animation is created in accordance with the present invention. Hereinafter, various preferred arrangements of apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, will be described, in order to provide the reader with a fuller understanding of the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a train or the like, generally designated by the numeral 10, having a plurality of viewers or observers 12 therein. The train moves at a predetermined velocity indicated by arrow 13. A plurality of images, such as photographs, sketches or other hard or soft form pictures or words 14, are displayed along the movement route of the viewer(s). A viewer 12 moving passed the images 14, looks at the images 14, and perceives an effect of animation created by the visual illusion of seeing a plurality of discrete pictures in a short period of time. To achieve this effect, particularly since the viewer is in motion, it is necessary to intermittently render the images visible at a predetermined rate. This may be achieved in a variety of manners. For example, one typical manner by which the images are rendered visible intermittently is to provide a stroboscopic light, or the like, whereby as each viewer is provided into a substantially central portion of each image, the stroboscopic light goes on and then off very quickly such that the viewer can observe the image. The viewer than moves to a position in front of the next image and again the stroboscopic light illuminates such that the viewer can observe a subsequent image. Such a procedure continues such that over a period of one second, the viewer may observe, for example, 20 or 30 such images, consequently perceiving an effect of animation.

An alternative method of rendering the images visible at a predetermined rate would be to use a louvre system or a series of panels or viewing apparatus, such as shown in the drawings. For example, in Figs. 7 and 8, viewing mechanisms through which the viewers may look, may be provided in the exterior of a window of a train or like, or about each image, such as shown in Fig. 10.

It will be appreciated that the discrete images may be photographs, sketches and/or artform pictures or words, or they may be images which are projected by a projector or like device, optionally utilising mirrors and lenses. Examples of such image projection methods are shown in Figs. 9 and 11, however, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that other image projection methods will also be possible.

The invention makes particular application for the display of advertising material, however, it will be clearly understood that any other form of display is equally appropriate.

In Fig. 12 is shown how a person walking along at two metres per second, when it is desired that the person sees 24 images in that second, views images of size 83.3mm. Thus it will be understood that a person or camera moving at a low velocity is able to fulfil the operational requirements of the invention.

Fig. 13 illustrates a general relationship between the velocity of movement, the number of images and the cell size, that is, velocity is proportional to the cell size.

Fig. 14 illustrates different filtering methods which may be adapted to an escalator. As will be seen in the drawing, louvre arrangements may be provided above the escalator, at the side thereof in a billboard type arrangement, etc.

Fig. 15 illustrates how louvres of different lengths may be desirable, particularly to block adjacent pictures being seen by the observer.

Fig. 16 illustrates the positioning of the apparatus underneath the guard rail along a roadway, such that a passenger within a car may observe the images, whilst not rendering same able to be viewed by the driver. Such an arrangement may be utilised under a guard rail in a variety of situations, other than on a road. For example, the apparatus may be presented under a rail on a horse-racing track, on a football stadium, etc., such that when a person is watching the race/game, either directly or a TV, the effect of animation is conveyed to the person. Whilst it is appreciated that the positioning of the apparatus below the rail is preferable for a variety of reasons, it could also be adapted to a billboard, along a road or railing, etc, or in a stadium or racetrack.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that correlation between the velocity of movement of the viewer(s) and the visibility of the various discrete images along the movement route at the predetermined rate, is important to create a good effect of animation. Whilst any motion or viewing platform, i.e., a car or a train which passes strategically placed images, should provide a fully animated image adjacent the moving platform, for a good perception of animation, predetermined velocities and rates are desirable. By way of example only, at a velocity 30 metres per second, images may be viewed at the rate of 1/30 metres per second to view an image size of 1 metre width. It is possible, by varying the length and therefore the duration of the image, to manipulate the rate at which the eye receives the information. For example, at 30 metres per second, an image size of 1 metre could further be divided into smaller fragments, for example 30 strips of 100th of a second each.

A general relationship between the parameters of the system may be calculated as follows, with reference to Fig. 17.

For screening of images between exposures the critical dimensions are shown in Fig. 1, wherein: d is the height of the screen b is the width of the screen

D is the distance from the viewer to the image a is the width of the image v is the velocity of the viewer.

In order to screen the image from the viewer, we find that from similar triangles

d_ D a a+b/2

however the frequency with which the viewer sees a new image is given by

/- ^v a+b

or

A^>--

/

therefore by substitution

where

k= * f

Thus for any combination of image size, viewer velocity, image distance and desired frequency the correct partition depth can be calculated.

Figure 18 shows how, for different locations, i.e., in the Blackwall tunnel, the London underground and the Chunnel, where the image receiving means is moving at different velocities, and where the distance from the image to the image receiving means differs, then the image spacings must be appropriately selected. To avoid viewing of adjacent images, when viewing a particular image, the louvres are preferably angled, as shown in Figure 19. This ensures that the viewed image will be a sharp image.

The methods hereinbefore described primarily illustrate the louvre type arrangement.

Alternatively, the image could be pulsed, by periodically illuminating the image whilst the viewer is adjacent, the same effect of animated vision is achievable. In this embodiment, the viewer moves in a central position, the image is illuminated for 1/30th of a second and the next sequence occurs. This sequence could be extended for whatever duration is convenient or applicable. A "running time" of the animated image of 10 seconds at 20 metres per second is 200 metres.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that a broad description of the invention has been hereinbefore provided. Numerous variations and modifications to the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as hereinbefore broadly described.

Claims

THE CLAIMS

1. A method of creating an illusion of animation, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of discrete, stationary images in spaced apart relationship; and, consecutively rendering said images visible to an image receiving means.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of discrete images are provided in substantially side-by-side relationship.

3. A method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said image receiving means is the eye of a person, or a television, motion picture camera, or the like.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said image receiving means is maintained substantially stationary, and whereby said images are consecutively rendered visible to said image receiving means by said image receiving means turning to sequentially scan said images.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said image receiving means moves along a movement route in a direction substantially parallel to a placement location of said images.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said image receiving means is moved along said movement route on a train, car or other vehicle, on an escalator, travelator or the like, by walking, riding on an animal or on an amusement ride, or by viewing about a racetrack, football stadium or the like.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said images are photographs, sketches, slides, bromides or the like.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said images are rendered visible intermittently, such as by means of a stroboscopic light or the like.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said images are rendered visible one at a time, by said image receiving means viewing said images through a mechanism whereby each image is rendered visible for a short duration.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said mechanism is louvre or panel-like arrangement.

11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said image comprises pictures and/or words.

12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 1, wherein said image comprises advertising material.

13. An animation apparatus, comprising: a plurality of discrete images positioned in spaced-apart relationship; and, image receiving means to consecutively view said spaced apart images; such that, said image receiving means views said images and perceives an effect of animation.

14. An animation apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said image receiving means comprises a person travelling past said images at a predetermined rate, by walking, running, riding, or being transported on a vehicle, or the like.

15. An animation apparatus as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein said images comprise advertising material.

16. An animation apparatus for perceiving the effect of animation, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of creating an illusion of animation, substantially as herein described.