WO2003041038A1

WO2003041038A1 - Animation display process and assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2003041038A1
Application number: PCT/CA2002/001246
Authority: WO
Inventors: Russell H. Train; Mark H. Beukers
Original assignee: Train Russell H; Beukers Mark H
Priority date: 2001-11-05
Filing date: 2002-08-15
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: EP1444682A1; AU2002322886B2; CA2504835A1; AU2002322886B8; WO2003041038B1; CA2504835C

Abstract

The invention is a novel animation display system, comprising a process of fracturing a sequence of still images, which are placed upon image display substrate and a method of constructing a plurality of longitudinally aligned, preferably opaque, thin, film, aperture filters placed upon a preferably translucent aperture plate substrate through which the fractured image plates may be viewed. The two elements in combination, allow a viewer in a state of relative motion, to observe appropriate and discrete portions, of the fractured image plate, relative to time and space, through the aperture plate and apply the concepts of persistent vision and to perceive the re-constructed imagery as a traveling singular image or an animation sequence from an unlimited plurality of lines of sight.

Description

ANIMATION DISPLAY PROCESS AND ASSEMBLY

REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

The entire subject matter of U.S. Provisional application serial number 60/371 ,424 filed April 1 1 , 2002 and entitled ANIMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM is incorporated by reference. The entire subject matter of U.S. Provisional application serial number

60/330,962 filed November 5, 2001 and entitled ANIMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM is also incorporated by reference.

The entire subject matter of Canadian patent application serial number 2,298,483 filed February 16, 2000 and entitled A PASSIVE IMAGE STABILIZER AND ANIMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM is also incorporated by reference.

The applicant claims priority benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 1 19(e) of:

- U.S. Provisional application serial number 60/330,962 filed November 5,

2001 and entitled ANIMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM; and - U.S. Provisional application serial number 60/371 ,424 filed April 1 1 ,

2002 and entitled ANIMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for providing a sequence of specifically altered images, and most preferably to providing a sequence of said images as single static images or as an animation sequence when operably viewed in a state of motion under the influence of visual persistence. The apparatus has applicability, among others, as display units, preferably illuminated, for viewing by an observer in moving sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, escalators, subways, vehicular tunnels, elevators, theme attraction rides and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional media format used to display an animation sequence, apply the principles of the concept " persistence of vision", where the viewer is stationary and the images, affixed to a substrate, are in motion. The same principle can also be applied in an inverse relationship, where the images are stationary and the viewer is in motion.

The general concept of having the observer move, while the images remain static has been applied in several prior instances, with varying degrees of success. In order to create a condition where the principles of persistence of vision can be applied, all prior art forms have applied some form of intermittent lighting. Most of the prior efforts to improve image quality have focused primarily on attempts to refine complex and expensive systems of stroboscopic light sources in order to apply these principles.

U.S. Patent Nos. 917,587 (Good - April 1909), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and 4,179,198 (Brachet - Dec 1979), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe an electro-mechanical means of triggering the illumination of each image, involving a mechanical device attached to the train, which periodically closes an electrical circuit, triggering the illumination of the image within the image display panel.

U.S. Patent Nos. 3,951 ,529 (Gandia), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and 4,383,742 (Brachet), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a determination of the vehicle's speed to trigger image illumination. In this case, the vehicle is a train, which is passing a stationary image. In this case, patent '529 contemplates that the train travels at a predetermined speed each time it passes a section of track while the patent 742 measures the train's speed by a radar type speed detector. Many image display panels are triggered to illuminate their images simultaneously. U.S. Patent Nos. 3,694,062 (Koenig), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and 3,704,064 (Sollogoub), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe the light from within a vehicle to trigger image illumination. A light detector associated with each image display panel, monitors the light intensity coming from the passing vehicle. When the light shining on the image display panel is of great enough intensity the image is briefly illuminated. U.S. Patent No. 978,854 (Czerniewski), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a purely mechanical means of triggering the illumination of the image. A "shoe" attached to the moving vehicle lifts an aperture filter attached to the subway wall beside the train and a mechanism then permits light to momentarily illuminate the image within the image display panel mounted on the subway wall. A stationary miniature image is mounted within the image display panel. Light is shone through the miniature image and is magnified through various lenses and directed onto the back of a semi-transparent projection screen by a series of reflectors. The light source is attached to the moving vehicle. All the other patents mentioned above use a large size, back or front lit, image mounted as part of the image display panel.

The mechanical illumination triggering devices, referred to above, have inherent mechanical wear problems because of the high triggering rates and thus do not provide a practical solution to the problem. In addition to issues associated with maintenance and trouble free operation of mechanical parts there is a secondary and more pronounced issue, the requirement of reliable and timely triggering of image illumination. In order that the observer clearly see the image, each successive image must be illuminated at exactly the same position relative to the observer. If this process is not precise, the integration of the images will seem blurred. In these most recent inventions, the use of a stroboscopic light sources appears to have been the predominant approach to satisfying the requirement for an intermittent light source. Earlier inventions however, did provide a simpler solution to the problem. Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau invented the Phenakistiscope (a.k.a.

Fantoscope) in 1832. It is basically a disc fixed at its center so that it can spin freely. Around the edges are regularly spaced slits, and in conjunction with each slit is an image drawn in sequential stages of movement.

The German inventor Stampfer developed the Phenakistiscope separately but at the same time; he dubbed it the Stroboscope. Many other versions and refinements followed, including a model designed by Stampfer with two fixed discs, one with a series of images, and the other with an equal number of slits or apertures centered in front of each image. Both discs rotated about a horizontal axis and a random distance between the two discs separated the image and aperture.

In 1834, William George Horner invented the Zoetrope an adaptation of the Stroboscope where the axis of image rotation was transferred from a horizontal to vertical, thereby providing a substantially horizontal direction of relative image movement, while still viewed in a substantially vertical plane. A distance equal to the random diameter of the cylinder separated the image and apertures.

Unlike the stroboscopic systems, both the Stroboscope and the Zoetrope employed a consistent and constant light source. In order to provide an intermittent view, an opaque plane with a series of equally spaced vertical slits or apertures were placed between the viewer and the constantly illuminated image. To perceive an entire image through the narrow width of the aperture, both devices rely on the principles of a parallax, which in turn applies the geometry and properties of the isosceles triangles. In essence as an image proceeds into view, a longitudinal scan of the image is provided to the viewer which progress across the width of the image. The same properties apply when the device is constructed in a linear context where, the . images and apertures are arranged in a vertical plane similar to the Stroboscope, while advancing the images and apertures along a horizontal plane similarly to a circular Zoetrope. This in itself is not a novel thought but offers a more practical arrangement where the viewer is considered to be the object in a state of relative motion. Use of a linear arrangement of the Stroboscope, to effect persistence of vision, avoids the mechanical triggering issues and is therefore preferable to the use of a stroboscopic light source.

U.S. Patent No. 3,653,753 (Mitchell), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a plurality of aperture filters comprising linear light sources. The vertical line of light appears through the transparency and traverses the width of the image, presenting the image in successive segments as the relative position of observer, image and light change. When there is effective relative movement between the viewer and the transparencies, the light appears to sweep across each transparency, progressively illuminating linear adjacent segments of each image; thus the viewer perceives a motion picture composed of the progressively illuminated image segments. Specifically Mitchell explains that "The relationship between the viewing distance and the width of the perceived image is linear; e.g. at a viewing distance one-half of the expected viewing distance EVD, the width of the perceived image is one-half of the transparency width"

It is possible to control or magnify the perceived image width by controlling or increasing the relative distance between the viewer and the aperture and the distance between the image and the aperture. Similarly it is possible to reduce the distance between the image and the aperture, by proportionally reducing the width of the printed image, which results in an apparatus of minimal depth.

In practical applications of a linear zoetrope or stroboscope as the ratio of the distance between the viewer and the aperture relative to the distance between the image and the aperture increases, the viewer will be provided with an increasing number of apertures, which provide unobstructed lines of sight to the images centered behind the apertures. As a result, when the viewer is positioned (for example) a multiple of 30 times the horizontal distance between the aperture and the actual image the viewer may, depending on the depth of the aperture plate and width of the aperture, be privy to 30 sequential and discreet apertures or discreet image frames, which, depending on the degree of image variance from image to image will lend itself to a degradation, in perceived image clarity or crispness. In effect the viewers peripheral view will be provided with a longitudinal scan of 30 or more discrete sequential sections of 30 or more discrete images in sequential stages of movement. This effect would be similar to projecting 30 sequential images on to a screen simultaneously where in each frame; the main object is in a slightly different position. This inherent loss of image quality is particularly pronounced at slower speeds, where the viewer is afforded more time to identify the disassociation between subsequent incongruent sections of subsequent discrete image frames.

Due to a perceptible depth of the aperture plate utilized in prior art forms, visual applications of the geometry of a parallax (applied in a linear fashion), requires and therefore assumes that the viewer observe intended images or sequences of images in a direction predominantly perpendicular to the relative direction of travel. The viewer is therefore required to either stand at right angles to the direction of travel or rotate ones head at right angles to the direction of travel. Application of the apparatus in environments where the viewer maybe required to maintain an awareness of potential on-coming obstructions located along the path of trajectory; render the apparatus somewhat impractical under these conditions. The apparatus in its prior art form is therefore at best only suited for commercial environments where the viewer is essentially a passenger on a moving vehicle.

Widespread commercial application of a practical animation display system, based on the concepts of linear Stroboscope or Zoetrope, suitable for most environments where the viewer is in motion, would desirably first address a number of issues of commercial importance: the elimination of multiple image frames being revealed simultaneously, the ability of affect the range of possible viewing angles, the ability to adjust inappropriate frame rates particularly under conditions of relatively slow movement and the ability to adjust inappropriate image aspect ratios.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to address at least some of these issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one of its aspects, the invention provides a method of treating a plurality of source image frames, in sequential stages of movement, to produce a resultant plurality of sequential image plates, to be transferred to a display substrate. The resultant image plates, when viewed through a planar or linear zoetrope or stroboscope, permit a viewer, in a state of relative motion, to scan congruent collections of longitudinal arrays located throughout a multiple of the sequential image plates. Each series of image plate longitudinal array subsets, collectively combine to form an original source image frame. The absence of this treatment would otherwise result in a collective combination of vertical image array subsets belonging to a multiple of incongruent source image frames in sequential stages of movement, where each image frame may depict an incongruent stage of movement, as is the result in prior art forms.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides an animation display system that provides formulae for appropriately rearranging a plurality of pixel locations, preferably as many as millions of pixel locations.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method of creating a one to one relationship between source image pixels and dots printed per image (1 pixel = 1 or more printed dots) so as to avoid the possibility of losing pixel information between source image and printed re-digitized image. However, other relationships between source image pixels and dots printed per image are also contemplated. In another of its aspects, the present invention provides an animation display system that provides a method of elongating images through economic computer re-digitization so that when viewed through a parallax filter, by a viewer in a state of relative motion, the images, which become stretched along the x axis, are reconstructed through interpretation by the viewer, resulting in an intended image aspect ratio.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides an animation display system that provides a system that will operate while in a state of relatively slow motion, such that when applied, for example, to a moving walk-way with a velocity of 2 mph or more the system will still meet a minimum objective of 30 frames per second. However, lower speeds are also contemplated, such as a speed of about 1.25 mph, for example.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides an animation display system that does not require electronic or mechanical moving parts and thus eliminates mechanical wear problems and the need for critical timing.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides an animation display system that provides a plurality of longitudinal apertures and associated aperture filters so as to limit the duration of time over which any specific longitudinal section of a constantly illuminated image my be observed, such that the principles of persistence of vision can be applied.

In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method of creating aperture plates for a linear arrangement of the zoetrope or stroboscope, where a range of angles through which the images are revealed to the viewer can be increased and where there exists a plurality of direction focuses to the image substrate, allowing the viewer a range of more practical or comfortable range of angles from which to view the animation sequence. These methods eliminate the restricted angles of view, which can be caused, for example, by perpendicular slits applied to relatively thick aperture plates (in other words plates of a perceptible depth) as in prior art forms. In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method of ι creating a directional aperture plate for a linear arrangement of the zoetrope or stroboscope or a combination thereof, where the range of angles through which the images are revealed to the viewer shall be limited but where the predominant direction of focus maybe altered from that of perpendicular direction to the image substrate to a more practical, desirable or comfortable predominant direction of focus from which the viewer may observe the animation sequence.

The invention in one aspect provides a method a process and apparatus for displaying static or moving images to an observer while in relative motion by providing stabilized, fixed, altered images through a plurality of parallax filters.

The invention in this aspect allows a viewer to observe a stable image even when the device is observed at slow speeds. It uses principles of "slit scan image production" (in other words the viewer's brain assembles an image as the viewer scans the image through a slit) and the quantum characteristics of human conciseness, i.e. persistence of vision. Unlike film images, the system, according to one embodiment, delivers a constant image more akin to television or a flatbed film-editing table and relies on the phenomena of moving light over time.

An illusion of motion depends on two things, namely, persistence of vision and the phi phenomenon. Persistence of vision refers to the length of time the retina retains an image. A light flash every tenth of a second or less is perceived as continuous and in consequence because of this persistence, an observer cannot tell where one flash ends and the next flash begins, and, thus, perceives a continuous light.

If an observer speeds past a series of progressive constantly illuminated images, only a blur is seen and intended motion is lost. The apertures of use in the display unit according to the invention, as hereinafter defined, simulate flashes of light to create stroboscopic effect or the effect of the persistence of vision. Persistence of vision is achieved when there exists relative motion between the apparatus and the viewer and when the viewer is only permitted to see a given longitudinal section of a constantly illuminated image for less than 1/10 of a second.

The Phi phenomenon is a result of human instinct. Our brains strive to make meaning from what it perceives. When different images are viewed close together in time, a viewer brain quickly creates a relationship between them.

In the practice of this invention, video or film sequences are converted / re- digitized and, in one aspect, re-printed to a substrate, such as, for example, preferably sheets or rolls of translucent film, by way of suitable print technology, such as, for example, electrostatic, thermal ink jet, laser, dot matrix and DURA- TRANS (a trade name) printing and the like. In this case, the width of the print substrate corresponds to the desired image projection height, where as length of the print substrate is determined as a function of the desired time span of the animation and the rate of speed at which the viewer is moving. The printed sheets or rolls of film are positioned between a flat light source and series of parallax scanning filters and associated apertures. Image reprocessing and use of a parallax scanning filters allow for the presentation of a singular image or seemingly animated sequence of images, without the requirement of any moving or mechanical parts or stroboscopic lights. Alternatively, the so-treated sequences may be presented in a non-permanent or transient form, such as on an appropriately sized display screen, such as plasma screen or the like.

Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the invention provides a method and a process of producing a plurality of sequential, digitized substrate image plates for use in providing an animated sequence of said images, said method comprising; (i) providing a plurality of sequential source image frames, where each frame has a sequential ascending frame number, said frames having a first aspect ratio defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis; (ii) providing a plurality of digital image plates, where each image plate has a sequential ascending plate number, said plates having a first aspect ratio, of the same value as the source image frame, defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis; (iii) vertically slicing each of said sequential source image frames along said x-axis to provide X slices of equal width, from each of said source image frames, where each slice has a frame number and a sequential ascending image slice position number; (iv) vertically slicing each of said sequential image plates along said x-axis to provide X digital slices of equal width, within each of said image plates, where each plate slice has an ascending plate number and a sequential ascending plate slice position number; (v) distributing said X image slices of each source image frame over X number of sequential image plates, where the resulting numeric plate destination of each image slice can be determined by the addition of its source image frame number and its relative image frame slice number less one integer and where its' numeric source image frame slice position determines its relative numeric plate slice position within the defined image plate destination; and (vi) increasing said aspect ratio of each of said sequential digital image plate by a pre-selected factor Y to a second aspect ratio to provide a plurality of distorted digital image plates. Preferably, X is an integer selected from 4 - 720, more preferably 15 -60.

The invention further provides a method and a process for refining a value for X, wherein the following variables are defined (a) the desired optimum focal plane or viewing distance from the image plate substrate, (b) the desired optimum viewable image width, IW, when viewed from the optimum focal plane, expressed in inches, (c) the display technology, as well as its respective display resolution, preferably defined as dots per inch, DPI, and (d) the pixel resolution of the source image frames, along the x-axis, IPR. One can then define the resultant display image plate width, defined as the quotient of (a) the pixel resolution of a source image frame along the x-axis, IRP and (b) the DPI of the displayer. The value of X can then be expressed as the quotient of (a) the desired optimum viewable image width and (b) the resultant display image plate width. It is preferable to select or adjust a value for X such that the resultant vale of IRP divided b X result in an integer. The process maybe reduced to the following formula X =IW/{IRP/DPI}.

The invention provides a method and process to increase relative frame rates and reduce the strobing effect which may result when the apparatus is viewed at slow rates of travel, wherein both the width of the image plate and the distance between aperture centers are both reduced by a compression factor, CF representing the size of the compressed source image as a decimal value of its original width. In a linear application of the Zoetrope or Stroboscope, there exists a one to one relationship between the number of image frames or image plates and the number linear apertures. Any reduction in the width of the image plate therefore requires a proportionate reduction in the distance between aperture centers, which can be achieved by a reduction in the width of the aperture filters, which separate the apertures themselves. The width of the resultant image plates may be reduced in width, by first reducing the width of the source image frames, wherein the x axis of the source image frame is digitally compressed to occupy a lesser percentage of its original width, allowing for a proportional reduction of the width of aperture centers, thereby reducing filter interference when the animation is viewed at slow rates of travel. The viewers' relative rate of travel and width of the aperture filters determine the relative frame rate of the animation. High rates of travel and narrow aperture filters may result in inappropriately high frame rates, which are in excess of the original animation frame rate, causing the animation sequence to progress at an unintended high rate. The invention therefore provides a method for adjusting inappropriate frame rates, wherein the resultant frame rate approximates the original source frame rate (in other words, the frame rate presenting the original animated image or video footage) by (i) first taking the display width of an image plate, determined by the quotient of the x-axis resolution of the source image frames expressed in pixels, and the x-axis resolution of the selected display technology expressed as number of dots per inch, DPI, (ii) determining the default observed frame rate by taking the quotient of the image plate display width, expressed in inches, and the expected velocity of the viewer relative to the image plate substrate, expressed in inches per second, (iii) determining the frame rate of the original source image frames, expressed as frames per second and (iv) taking a quotient of the default observed frame rate, and the frame rate of the original source image frames, (v) reducing the resultant value to its nearest integer referred to as M the resultant frame multiple and (vi) creating M sequential multiples of each discrete source image frame prior to creating a series of image plates. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides a method and a process for determining a value Y by which the image plates are to be elongated; a method wherein Y can be expressed as product of the relative reduction to the width of the original source image frames, represented by the factor CF and expressed as decimal, multiplied by the value of X. Where no compression or magnification is applied to the source image frames along the x-axis to effect effective frame rates and aperture filter widths, the value of CF is 1 and thereby Y assumes the value of X.

In a preferred aspect, the plurality of sequential digitized image plates is transferred to a substrate adapted to receive the images by printing methods as hereinbefore stated.

Thus, the invention in the aforesaid preferred aspect further comprises providing a method and a process of creating an aperture plate having a plurality of parallax scanning filters comprised of pairs of longitudinal apertures and filters, placed in longitudinal alignment,, wherein each of the apertures, is so disposed relative to the display substrate as to provide a plurality of lines of sight, through a corresponding plurality of apertures, to discrete and distinct longitudinal subset arrays of sequential image plates so disposed on the display substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision.

In a preferred planar or linear construction, from any given viewpoint, each subsequent aperture will provide a slightly different angle of view to the display substrate. Each subsequent longitudinal view provided through each series of subsequent longitudinal apertures will therefore reveal a longitudinal scan of subsequently different longitudinal sections of subsequent image plates. As a viewer travels a distance equal to the width of an image plate along the path of trajectory, the resulting compilation of subset arrays views observed simultaneously through a plurality of subsequent apertures, on a plurality of subsequent image plates, produce by the method described above, will return the desired discrete and complete source image frame.

In other words, the apertures allow the viewer to scan a set of individual slices of the same image frame in a given position along a travel path. If the viewer changes his position along his travel path, so too will the set of individual slices change. As the viewer advances from one position to another sequentially along his travel path, the sets of individual slices will sequentially change. The viewer's persistence of vision will thus present an animation from one singular image frame to the next.

In a preferred aspect, the invention provides a display assembly comprising a planar substrate bearing a plurality of sequential, digitized substrate image plates; a planar front member disposed parallel to and at a front distance from said substrate. Said planar front member, comprises providing a plurality of parallax scanning filters comprised of pairs of longitudinal apertures and filters, placed in longitudinal alignment, wherein each of the apertures, is so disposed relative to the display substrate as to provide a plurality of lines of sight, through a plurality of apertures, to discrete and distinct longitudinal subset arrays, of sequential, image plates so disposed on the display substrate, as to operably provide an instantaneous transition between said discrete and distinct portions when illuminated and when (a) viewed through said apertures and (b) when masked by said front member as to effect persistence of vision to an observer; and constitute a plurality of parallax scanning filters.

Perpendicular slits or slots in relatively "thick" aperture plates of perceptible depth as in the prior art involve two opposing surfaces or planes, an outer, viewer facing plane and an inner, image facing plane, where the slit or slot perforates both inner and outer surfaces of a single planar substrate and where the two surfaces are separated by a perceptible thickness. Slits or slots in aperture plates of perceptible depth, results in a restricted range of angles through which the viewer is provided a limited range longitudinal views to the image contained behind each aperture. The invention provides a method of creating an aperture plate having thin aperture filters, wherein the viewer is provided a significantly broader range of views as a result.

In a preferred aspect, the invention provides a display assembly comprising a substrate bearing a plurality of sequential digitized substrate images and a front member disposed parallel and spaced from the substrate. The substrate images are sliced and the slices are distributed along the substrate in a predetermined pattern. The planar front member has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of parallax scanning filters is provided along the longitudinal axis. Each scanning filter has a pair of spaced filter elements to form an elongate aperture. The apertures are positioned relative to the substrate images to provide a plurality of lines of sight to discrete slices of the images so disposed on the display to present, collectively, one of the images. Thus, a viewer walking along a travel path relative to the front member and viewing the substrate images through the parallax scanning filters will be presented with the sequential digitized substrate images.

Preferably, the substrate and the front member are planar and the travel path linear, though other configurations may also be employed in some cases.

Preferably, the front member is substantially transparent with a front surface facing the viewer's travel path and a rear surface facing the images. The parallax scanning filters are formed by applying a film of opaque material on either the front surface, the rear surface or both. Desirably, the film is as thin as practically and economically achievable.

When the film is applied to both the front and rear surfaces, the so-formed apertures on the front surface may be positioned relative to the apertures on the rear surface. For example, the apertures on the front surface may be either aligned with or staggered relative to, the apertures on the rear surface. Doing so will control the angle, at which the viewer can view the image slices through the apertures, on either side of an "aperture axis" (or "direction of focus") extending through each aperture. When the apertures on the front surface as aligned with the apertures on the rear surface, the "aperture axis" will be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the front member.

Alternatively, the so-formed apertures on the front surface may be staggered (to the right or left) relative to the apertures on the rear surface, thus shifting the "aperture axis" to a degree corresponding to the stagger (in other words the greater the stagger the steeper the "aperture axis").

In a preferred aspect the invention provides an aperture plate, providing a plurality of directional focuses to the animation sequence and a plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, further comprising a succession substantially opaque filters in longitudinal alignment, wherein each of said opaque filters has a corresponding and adjacent plurality of longitudinal, preferably optically clear, translucent apertures, wherein said opaque filters are applied as a preferably thin film, upon a translucent preferably optically clear support substrate.

Preferably, the substantially opaque filters are thin, more preferably as thin as practically or economically achievable (or both) given the materials being used to prepare the aperture plate. The filter may, for example, have a thickness ranging from about 0.0001 to 0.01 inch, for example, and can include such things as a vinyl applique applied on a LEXAN (a trade name) substrate, a layer of glass frit fired to a film on a glass substrate, or a paint or other thin coating otherwise applied to a transparent substrate such as LEXAN, PLEXIGLASS (both trade names), glass or the like. However, a range of other techniques may be devised to provide even thinner layers. In a further preferred aspect, the invention provides a method of creating a display assembly with a plurality of directional focuses provided by an aperture apparatus having a single aperture plate providing a range of views, said the apparatus having of a plurality of thin aperture filters, where the aperture filters preferably abut but do not intersect the areas between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminates at the outer limits of the x-axis of the image plates width and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X as defined above and (b) the display width of the image plates, and where the aperture plate separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide a plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of the sequential image plates on the substrate through the apertures to the substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of the image plates. The aperture filters are preferably placed in close proximity to the axis of the intersecting lines of sight, in order to minimize the resulting width of the apertures, thereby improving perceptible clarity of the image.

By providing an aperture plate consisting of aperture filters of minimal thickness, and thereby providing the viewer a plurality of predominant focus angles, the viewer is permitted to simultaneously view, by virtue of peripheral sight, animation sequences that were just previously seen in the predemonant direction of focus as well animation sequences that will be momentarily aligned with the predominant direction of focus.

In the case of a directional aperture plate the viewer is permitted to view essentially only a single animation sequence at a singular direction of focus. The remainder of the apparatus will appear to be blank and dark. In contrast, an aperture plate offering a multidirectional focus will allow the viewer to observe images in all parts of the apparatus simultaneously, where adjacent animation sequences abut one another.

In a further preferred aspect, the invention provides a method of spacing second order images, wherein the resulting proximity of perceptible observation of adjacent images may be decreased, by appending an opaque vertical bar to both sides of each source image prior to construction of their respective image plates. In other words, a vertical black (or other suitable coloured) bar of 0.2 inches added to both sides of each source image frame, prior to creating image plates, whose width is assumed to 1.2 inches, when viewed through the apparatus with a perceived image width of 36, will now appear to have a 12 inch black separation between subsequent animation sequences. ((0.2+0.2)/1.2)x36.

In a further preferred aspect, the invention provides a method of creating an aperture plate, providing a desired directional focus and a plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, wherein the aperture filters abut both the opening and closing lines of adjacent image frames but do not intersect the area between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminate at the outer limits of an image plate and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X and (b) the display width of the image plate, where the line bisecting the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight and the closing line of sight defines the direction of focus and where the aperture plates separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide a unobstructed and limited plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of said sequential, image plates on said substrate through said apertures to said substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of said image plates. In a further preferred aspect, the invention provides a method of creating a display assembly wherein the predominant direction of focus may be controlled by the configuration of the aperture filters and where there exists a plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, said method comprising a plurality of filter configurations, wherein the aperture filters are required to abut both the opening and closing lines of adjacent image frames but not intersect the area between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminate at the outer limits of an image plate and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement, points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X and (b) the display width of the image plate, where the line bisecting the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight and the closing line of sight defines the direction of focus and where the aperture plates separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of the sequential image plates on the substrate through the apertures to the substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of the image plates.

In yet another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method of providing animation, comprising:

- providing a plurality of source image frames, where each frame has a sequential ascending frame number;

- slicing the frames into an equal number of frame elements;

- providing a plurality of image receiving zones;

- dividing the zones into an equal number of sectors, wherein the frame elements and sectors are equal;

- locating each frame element into a corresponding sector, so that the frame elements are distributed, in order, in an equal number of sectors, where each frame element occupies a position in the sector corresponding to its position in the image, thereby forming a set of zones containing the successive frame elements; and

- staggering the set of zones for each frame according to its corresponding frame number. The optimum focal 'line' or 'plane' is the distance from the image-bearing substrate to the location at which an observer sees the normal or intended view of the images having the proper, true and desired aspect ratio. Viewing the images nearer the substrate than at the optimal focal distance provides a compressed image of greater aspect ratio, whereas viewing the images at a greater distance provides an elongated image of reduced aspect ratio: We have found that practical satisfactory viewing of the plurality of sequential, digitized substrate images is possible at distances up to at least +50% of the optimum focal distance when the latter is of the order of 2 - 3 meters, though other distances may also be suitable.

The term "aperture" includes slits, slots, perforations, openings and the like of a continuous length (height) or a plurality of intermittent, discrete perforations and the like which to the eye of an observer or viewer provides the same visual effect as a continuous slit. For example, a suitable aperture horizontal width from about 0.2 to about 1.5 mm may be selected, though other dimensions may also be used.

The term "image" includes, for example, but is not limited thereto, a design, letter, word, logo, picture, shape, outline, however formed, of any color(s) and the like, or combinations thereof. The image may be disposed on the inner or outer surface or within the body of the substrate, or combinations thereof. Thus, it may be printed, carved or the like on or in the substrate, or combinations thereof. The term "bearing" in this specification includes one or more of these dispositions.

The device may include a compartment containing the substrate bearing the image. The latter may be illuminated by any lighting means within the compartment or, preferably behind the substrate, which defines the image as to be seen by an observer through the apertures.

The system may be self-supporting or received by a retaining wall, framework or like structure. The system may be either stationary or operably movable relative to an observer. The term "sequential" when used is association with the term "image plates" in this specification is defined as meaning the specific order of arranging the image slices, one slice adjacent to another, to effect the production of the resultant desired image as to be viewed by an observer in accordance with the practice of the invention, as herein below defined.

Thus, the series of progressive image frames numbered sequentially in ascending order starting with the numeral 1 , are sliced into X number of vertical subsets of equal width, wherein each slice contained within a source image frame is numbered sequentially in ascending order starting with the numeral 1 , and each slice assumes an image plate position on the basis of the following sequence; wherein the plate position of each original slice is derived by the addition of its image frame number and its slice position within the image frame less the integer one.

For example, slice position 6 of image frame 7 would retain the same slice position but located in image plate 12, likewise slice position 4 of image frame 20 would be positioned in image plate 23.

In more detail, where x is equal to 6,

Frame 1 , Slice 1 would be positioned in Image Plate 1 Slice 1 Frame 1 , Slice 2 would be positioned in Image Plate 2 Slice 2

Frame 1 , Slice 3 would be positioned in Image Plate 3 Slice 3 Frame 1 , Slice 4 would be positioned in Image Plate 4 Slice 4 Frame 1 , Slice 5 would be positioned in Image Plate 5 Slice 5 Frame 1 , Slice 6 would be positioned in Image Plate 6 Slice 6

Frame 2, Slice 1 would be positioned in Image Plate 2 Slice 1 Frame 2, Slice 2 would be positioned in Image Plate 3 Slice 2 Frame 2, Slice 3 would be positioned in Image Plate 4 Slice 3 Frame 2, Slice 4 would be positioned in Image Plate 5 Slice 4 Frame 2, Slice 5 would be positioned in Image Plate 6 Slice 5 Frame 2, Slice 6 would be positioned in Image Plate 7 Slice 6;

Frame 3, Slice 1 would be positioned in Image Plate 3 Slice 1 Frame 3, Slice 2 would be positioned in Image Plate 4 Slice 2 Frame 3, Slice 3 would be positioned in Image Plate 5 Slice 3

Frame 3, Slice 4 would be positioned in Image Plate 6 Slice 4 Frame 3, Slice 5 would be positioned in Image Plate 7 Slice 5 Frame 3, Slice 6 would be positioned in Image Plate 8 Slice 6

Frame 4, Slice 1 would be positioned in Image Plate 4 Slice 1 etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: -

Fig. 1 (i) illustrates two sequential source image frames;

Fig 1 (ii illustrates two sequential image plates; Fig 1 (iii) illustrates vertically slicing a source image frame;

Fig 1(iv) illustrates vertically slicing an image plate;

Fig 1(v) illustrates the distribution of images slices over a sequence of image plates;

Fig 1 (vi) illustrates a vertical elongation of two image plates; Fig. 2 illustrates a sequence of image plates, which will result from the process of treating a sequence of 8 source image frames;

Fig. 3 illustrates the compression of two source frames where the compression factor CF is set to .5 or 50%;

Fig. 4 illustrates a method of reducing the effective frame rate of an apparatus; Fig. 4a illustrates a number of source image frames in another arrangement; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view indicating the plurality of discrete views afforded an observer by virtue of his specific direction of travel and location along the path of travel as it relates to the construction dimensions of a given display unit according to the invention; Fig. 6 illustrates the purpose and benefit of creating image plates from source image frames;

Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of a display apparatus wherein the aperture plate is comprised of thin aperture filters;

Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of establishing the location of opening and closing lines of sight relative to a pre-selected predominant directional focus;

Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of 4 possible aperture filter configurations utilized to create a directional aperture plates; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of a directional aperture plate comprised of thin aperture filters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Within the geometry of the Stroboscope or parallax, one observes a direct relationship between actual image widths and perceived image widths, relative to aperture distances and viewing distances. In order for the image to be perceived in its original width, the distance between the viewer and the aperture and the distance between aperture and the actual image need to be substantially equal as per the laws of geometry. Observing an actual Stroboscope, one will notice that as the distance from which the Stroboscope is viewed increases, the wider objects appear. A circular object will transform into a wide ball or oval and that the greater the distance between viewer and aperture, the more elongated the oval becomes, along the x-axis. Therefore proportions of the image may require prior alteration in order to appear natural at a specified and desired viewing distance from the aperture, as will be discussed herein below. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a plurality of sequential source image frames, in progressive stages of movement, to produce a resultant plurality of sequential image plates, to be transferred to a display substrate. The resultant image plates when viewed through a. planar or linear zoetrope or stroboscope permit a viewer, in a state of relative motion, to scan congruent collections of longitudinal arrays located throughout a multiple of the sequential image plates. Each series of image plate longitudinal array subsets, collectively combine to form an original source image frame.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of constructing an image display apparatus namely a linear zoetrope or stroboscope with an aperture plate of less restricted angles of view and multiple orientations of the predominant direction of focus.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of constructing an image display apparatus namely a linear zoetrope or stroboscope with an aperture plate of restricted range of angles of view and a specific orientation of directional focus.

There are numerous utilities for one preferred embodiment of the present invention, where an observer is in a state of relative motion with respect to the illumination of a series of images. These applications, include, but are not limited to, the following examples, namely, walkways, moving sidewalks, escalators, subway tunnel walls, railway systems, light rapid transit systems, shuttles systems, vehicular tunnels, personal transport systems, elevator shafts, theme park rides and illuminated displays with content that pertains to, advertising, entertainment or that of an informational basis. One embodiment of the present invention provides one or more of the following technical effects or benefits:

1. It preferably eliminates an inappropriate plurality of sight lines to a collection of incongruent longitudinal arrays positioned throughout a plurality of sequential image frames, where the image frames depict progressive stages of movement. 2. It preferably presents the viewer at an expected distance from the aperture with a clean transition from one given image source frame to its subsequent image source frame.

3. It preferably prevents, or minimizes, any loss of original discreet or quantified image pixel information as a result of compressing the image for eventual magnification.

4. It preferably requires the viewer to process a lesser number of discrete source image frames simultaneously.

5. It preferably provides the viewer with a crisper image than that of a linear stroboscope or zoetrope.

6. It preferably allows the image content to change rapidly from frame to frame even when viewed a slow rate of relative movement.

7. It preferably provides the viewer with crisper imagery at slower speeds than a linear stroboscope or zoetrope.

8. It preferably offers greater control over range of viewing angles while reducing restrictions imposed by material thickness utilized to construct or support aperture filters,

9. It preferably offers a variety of different angles of view 10. lt preferably offers a more comfortable or practical range of viewing angles, resulting from a greater range of predominant directional focus.

11 . lt optionally limits the viewers' sight from viewing beyond an intended image width. A method of treating a plurality of still images to produce a plurality of sequential, image plates for use in providing an animated display is illustrated in

Figs. 1 (i) to 1 (iv). Figure 1 (i) depicts a plurality of source image frames, where each frame is assigned a sequential ascending frame number, SIF 1 , SIF 2 etc.

The frames have a first aspect ratio defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis of 480 pixels / length of the horizontal or x-axis of 720 pixels, whose result is 480 pixels / 720 pixels or 2/3.

Figure 1(ii) depicts a plurality of digital image plates, where each image plate has a sequential ascending plate number 1P1 , IP 2 etc, the plates having a first aspect ratio, of the same value as the source image frames, defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis;

Figure 1 (iii) depicts vertically slicing each of the sequential source image frames along the x-axis to provide X slices of equal width, where the value of X is assumed to be set to 4 and, where each slice is assigned a frame number and a sequential ascending image slice position number, where the first integer of each slice represents the frame number and the second integer represents the slice position within the frame.

Figure 1 (iv) depicts vertically slicing each of the sequential image plates along the x-axis to provide X digital slices of equal width, within each of the image plates, where each plate slice has an ascending plate number and a sequential ascending plate slice position number; and

Figure 1 (v) depicts the distribution of the X image slices of each source image frame over X number of sequential image plates, where the resulting numeric plate destination of each image slice can be determined by the addition of its source image frame number and its relative image frame slice number less one integer and where its' numeric source image frame slice position determines its relative numeric plate slice position within the defined image plate destination.

Slice 4 of frame 1 is thereby relocated to Image plate 4 and remains in its original slice position 4; and Figure 1(vi) depicts increasing the aspect ratio of each of the sequential digital image plate by a pre-selected factor Y, where Y is assumed to be set to 4, to a second aspect ratio to provide a plurality of distorted digital image plates;

Figure 2 depicts the creation of several image plates from a sequential set of 8 source image frames where the value of X and Y are both assumed to be set to 4 and illustrates that number of image plates required to process a certain number of image frames will exceed the number of source image frames by a value equal to X less one integer. Where the number of source image frames is 8 the number of image plates required to process all source image frames where X is set to 4 would therefore be 11. A value for X can be determined by the quotient of (a) the desired optimum viewable image width, herein assumed to be 36 inches and (b) the resultant width of a printed or displayed resultant image plate, where the width of the resultant image plate is further determined by the quotient of the pixel resolution of a source image frame along the x axis, herein assumed to be 720 pixels and, the DPI of the display technology or printer, herein assumed to be 600 Dpi resulting in an image plate width of 720/600 or 1.2 inches. A value for X herein can then be expressed as, 36/1.2 or the integer 30.

It is preferable to select or adjust the value for X, where the division of the pixel resolution of the source image frame, along the X-axis by the value of X, shall result in a slice width of integer pixels. Where the selection of X results in a value other than an integer, original source resolution may be compromised during the process of image plate creation. Where the image plate resolution is defined to be 720 pixels along the x-axis, suitable values for x are as follows:

4 4 4 4//772200 = 180

5 5/720 144

6 6/720 120

8 8/720 90

10 10/720 72 1 122 1 122//772200 = 60

15 15/720 48

20 20/720 36

24 24/720 30

30 30/720 24 4 400 4 400//772200 = 18 60 60/720 = 12

120 120/720 = 6

The anticipated frame rate of the apparatus can be determined by taking the quotient of the image plate display width, herein determined to be 1.2 inches, and the expected velocity of the viewer relative to the image plate substrate, herein assumed to be 2 mph or 35.2 inches per second resulting in an effective frame rate of 29.33 frames per second, 35.2/1 .2. Where the anticipated velocity of the viewer maybe 8 mph or 140.8 inches per second the anticipated frame rate is 140.8/1.2 or 117.336 frames per second. The effective frame rate of the apparatus may not always correspond to the intended or recorded frame rate of the sequential progression of movement depicted in the source image frames.

It is possible to create source image frame based on the anticipated frame rate of the apparatus. Alternatively, by evaluating the intended or original source frame rate, herein assumed to be 29.33 frames per second, relative to the anticipated frame rate of the apparatus, it is possible to compensate for inappropriate frame rates.

Compressing the width of the source image prior to creating image plates will result in a proportional increase in the effective frame rate of the apparatus. The compressing factor, herein referred to as CF, represents the size of the compressed source image frame as a decimal value of its original width. The narrower the image plate width the narrower the distance between aperture centers and therefore the less noticeable aperture filters become, when viewing the apparatus at slow speeds. Compressing the source image frames by a factor of 50%, where CF is equal to .5, as depicted in figure 3 will result in a doubling of the effective frame rate of the apparatus. In this example a frame rate of 29.33 will result in an effective frame rate of the apparatus of 58.66.

Where the effective frame rate of the apparatus is excessive relative to the intended or original source frame rates, it is possible to replace each source image frame with a multiple thereof, prior to creating the desired image plates. The multiple can be determined by taking a quotient of; the default observed 'frame rate, and the frame rate of the original source image frames and reducing the resultant value to its nearest integer referred to as M the resultant frame multiple. Assuming an anticipated apparatus frame rate of 117.36 frames per second where the frame rate of the original source image frames is assumed to be 29.33, expressed as frames per second it can be determined that each source image frame should be replaced with a multiple of 4 of the same image frame, the integer value of 1 17.36/29.33 or 4.0459862, as depicted in figure 4. The resulting effect will reduce the rate of progressive change in movement from one frame to the next by a factor of 4, closely approximating the original intended source frame rate.

It should be noted that the process of creating image plates must be subsequent to any modification of the source image frames, where no distinction is made between a singular, unique and original source image frame or a resultant sequence of image frames also referred to as source image frames for the purpose of creating image plates, , where the widths of singular, unique and original source image frarhes may have been altered from the original, to reduce aperture filter widths, or singular, unique and original source image frame now appear to be separated by multiple copies of each singular, unique and original source image frame, in order to reduce the resultant frame rates, or where singular, unique and original source image frame have been modified with the addition of a black vertical bar(as shown in figure 4a) to result in a separation of sequential animation sequences viewed when see through a multidirectional aperture plate described as having a multidirectional focus and the like. The value of Y, the factor by which image plates must be elongated along the y-axis can be determined as a product of the Compression Factor, CF and the value of X. Where source image frames are converted to image plates and no prior modification to source image frame widths has occurred Y is set to the value of X. Once all of the desired source image frames, altered or original as the case may be, have been converted to a sequence of image plates the file is ready to be transferred to a display substrate, preferably a print substrate, for display within a display apparatus appropriately configured to effect persistence of vision, preferably a linear configuration of a zoetrope or stroboscope

In a linear configuration of a zoetrope or stroboscope, as depicted in plan view by figure 5, a sequence of source image frames, SIF1 to 6, are placed in front of a light source - LS and behind a planar aperture plate - AP, having of an opaque substrate, with a series of longitudinal apertures A, formed by slits or slots or perforations and separated by aperture filters - AF, all within a compartment shown in dashed lines at 10 with mounting means 10a, 10b, and 10c for mounting the light source, the substrate 12 carrying the source image frames and the aperture plate AP. Centered behind each aperture - A, there exists a source image frame SIF 1 to 6, where each sequential image is in a progressive stage of motion. Figure 6 illustrates how the depth of the aperture plate AP, and the width of the apertures A, determine the limit or range of angles through which the viewer, traveling along the line of trajectory DT, is permitted lines of sight or a longitudinal scan of the source image frames, SIF 1 through 6. The range of angles is further determined by the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight OLS and the closing line of sight CLS., as shown in figure 7 Source image frame 6, SIF6, maybe observed while advancing from the intersection of the opening line of sight - OLS and the trajectory or direction of travel - DT, to the intersection of the closing line of sight - CIS and the trajectory or direction of travel - DT. In order to minimize our reliance on peripheral eyesight in order to view source image frames in their entirety thorough the apertures A, one would need to direct our focus in a predominantly perpendicular direction to the apparatus as indicated by the line DF.

Figure 6 illustrates two versions of a linear zoetrope or stroboscope. As will be described, the upper section of figure 6 shows the conventional method of presenting a series of images while the lower section illustrates an improved arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, in the upper section of figure 6, one will note that as the viewer proceeds along the line of trajectory DT the viewer is afforded a multitude of lines of sight through multiple apertures distributed along the aperture plate AP. As the viewer travels from point H to point I, the adjacent apertures on the left will reveal a longitudinal scan of an incongruent collection of image slices belonging to discrete source image frames, numbered SIF 6 through to SIF 9. While the visual information provided allows the viewer to make some sense of the intended sequence of images the organization of the visual information and the timing of its delivery results in a more problematic interpretation of the visual information provided. On the other hand, in the lower section of Figure 6, as the viewer moves from point J to K, the adjacent aperture on the left will reveal a longitudinal scan of congruent collection of image slices belonging to unique and sequential source image frames, dispersed on image plates IP 1 through to IP 4. As a result of reordering source image frame slices onto sequential image plates, the timing of the delivery of image slices ensures that from point J to K the viewer is provided with a longitudinal scan of image slices from a sequential series of unique source image frames. The result is a clear transition from one source image frame to the next.

Fig 7 illustrates a preferred method of constructing an aperture plate, wherein the range of views and direction of focus are significantly less restrictive. In Fig 7, opaque filters AF are applied as a preferably thin film, upon a translucent preferably optically clear support substrate TS, such as glass, LEXAN (a trade name), or other transparent plastic materials, for example, having dimensions ranging from to, for example. The application of thin film aperture filters as indicated in Fig 7 now permits the opening line of sight to optionally shift from OLS 1 (as established by the dimensions of the relatively thick aperture plate AP of figure 5) to OLS2, the closing line of sight to optionally shift from CLS 1 (similarly constrained by the dimensions of the aperture plate AP in figure 5) to CLS 2, allowing the viewer to observe source image frame 6 SIF, or preferably IP 6, in a_. more forward direction as opposed to an adjacent direction as indicated by DF 1. In some instances it may be desirable to shift the predominant direction of focus while still limiting the range of views. This objective may be achieved by first establishing a desired and predominant direction or line of focus, as illustrated by the line DF1 in figure 8, where the commencement of DF1 intersects the direction of travel and terminates at the center of an image plate or source image frame. Commencement of the opening and closing lines of sight, CLS and OLS may now be established along the direction of travel DT equidistant from the intersection of direction of focus DF1 along the direction of travel DT and separated by a distance equal to the desired image width, when viewed along the trajectory of travel DT. The opening line of sight and closing line of sight shall terminate at the outer limits of the width of the source image frame SIF or preferably the image plate. The axis of the parallax is now established at the intersection of both opening and closing lines of sight.

A directional aperture filter of a limited range of views may now be constructed provided the aperture filter makes contact but does not intersect the opening and closing lines of sight of two adjacent image plates or source image frames as illustrated in figure 9. Provided the aperture filter makes contact but does not intersect the opening and closing lines of sight of two adjacent image plates or source image frames, there exist a range of aperture filter configurations, which may or may not use a plurality of thin film aperture filters.

Fig 10 depicts two sets of thin aperture filters mounted on a single, optically clear translucent substrate, where the aperture filters makes contact but do not intersect the opening and closing lines of sight of two adjacent image plates or source image frames. Fig 10 further illustrates that with the direction of focus shifted from a predominantly perpendicular direction of focus, it is no longer possible to view the image plate substrate from a predominantly perpendicular direction of focus.

Thus, the aperture plate may be made using a single thin film substantially opaque layer on one side of a substantially transparent substrate by applying such a single thin film on both sides of the substrate. In the latter case, the resulting slits formed in the thin film layers may be offset from one another to control the direction of focus.

While the present invention has been described for what are presently considered the preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of treating a plurality of still images to produce a plurality of sequential image plates for use in providing an animated display, said method comprising: -

(i) Providing a plurality of source image frames, where each frame has a sequential ascending frame number, said frames having a first aspect ratio defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis;

(ii) Providing a plurality of digital image plates, where each image plate has a sequential ascending plate number, said plates having a first aspect ratio, of the same value, defined as the ratio of the length of the vertical or y-axis / length of the horizontal or x-axis;

(iii) Vertically slicing each of said image frames along said x-axis to provide X slices of equal width, from each of said image frames, where each slice has a frame number and a sequential ascending image slice position number; and (iv) Vertically slicing each of said image plates along said x-axis to provide X digital slices of equal width, within each of said image plates, where each plate slice has an ascending plate number and a sequential ascending plate slice position number; and

(v) Distributing said X image slices of each source image frame over X number of sequential image plates, where the resulting numeric plate destination of each image slice can be determined by the addition of its source image frame number and its relative image frame slice number less one integer and where its' numeric source image frame slice position determines its relative numeric plate slice position within the defined image plate destination; and (vi) Increasing said aspect ratio of each of said sequential digital image plate by a pre-selected factor Y to a second aspect ratio to provide a plurality of distorted digital image plates;

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein X and Y are preferably integers selected from 4 - 720.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 for defining a value for X, wherein the following variables are defined (a) the desired optimum focal plane distance from the image plate substrate, (b) the desired optimum viewable image width, expressed in inches, (c) the display technology, as well as its respective display resolution, preferably defined as dots per inch, DPI, and

(d) the pixel resolution of the source image frames, along the x-axis. One can then define the display image frame width, defined as the quotient of (a) the pixel resolution of a source image frame along the x axis and (b) the DPI of the displayer, The value of X can then be expressed as the quotient of (a) the desired optimum viewable image width and (b) the display image frame width. It is preferable to select a value for X where both the DPI and PPI may also be devisable by the value of X, where both values result in an integer.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the width of the resultant image plates may be substantially reduced by first reducing the width of the source image frames, wherein the x axis of the source image frame is digitally compressed to occupy a lesser percentage of its original width, resulting in less aperture filter interference.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the resulting proximity of perceptible observation of latent images may be decreased, by appending an opaque vertical bar to both sides of each source image prior to construction of their respective image plates.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the resultant frame rate approximates the original source frame rate by A. first taking the display width of an image plate, determined by the quotient of;

I. the x-axis resolution of the source image frames expressed in pixels, and II. the x-axis resolution of the selected display expressed as number of dots per inch, DPI,

B. determining the default observed frame rate by taking the quotient of; l.the image plate display width, expressed in inches, and

II. the expected velocity of the viewer relative to the image plate substrate, expressed in inches per second,

C. determining the frame rate of the original source image frames, expressed as frames per second

D. taking a quotient of;

I. the default observed frame rate, and II. the frame rate of the original source image frames and

III. reducing the resultant value to its nearest integer referred to as M the resultant frame multiple

E. creating M sequential multiples of each discrete source image frame prior to creating a series of image plates

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein Y can be expressed as product of the relative distortion to the width of the original source image frames multiplied by the value of X.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 ; further comprising transferring said plurality of sequential, digitized sequential image plates to a display substrate.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein said transfer comprises a transfer step selected from the group including, but not limited to, laser printing, thermal ink jet printing, dot matrix printing, duratrans printing, continuous tone and electrostatic printing, plasma screen displays, liquid crystal displays, screen displays, or a combination of one or more thereof.

10. A method of creating an aperture plate, providing a plurality of lines of sight, from a viewers line of trajectory to an image plate substrate, comprising a succession of filter elements in longitudinal alignment, wherein each of said filter elements has a corresponding and adjacent plurality of apertures.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said filter elements are applied as a thin film having a thickness ranging from 0.0001 to 0.01 inch, upon a translucent support substrate.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the substrate is optically clear.

13. A method of displaying a plurality of image plates as defined in claim 1 , wherein said image plates are viewed on a display substrate as defined in claim 8, through a single aperture plate, as defined in claim 10, where the aperture filters preferably abut but do not intersect the area between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight commences at the outer limits of an image plate and terminates along the viewers trajectory of travel, provided in claim 3, where the termination points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X as defined in claim 3 and (b) the display width of the image plate, and where the aperture plate separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide a unobstructed and unlimited plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of said sequential, image plates on said substrate through said apertures to said substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of said image plates.

14. A method of creating an aperture plate, providing a directional focus and a limited plurality of lines of sight, from the viewers line of trajectory to the image plate substrate, comprising a multitude of filter configurations, wherein the aperture filters abut both the opening and closing lines of adjacent image frames but do not intersect the area between the opening lines of sight and closing lines of sight, where each diagonal and intersecting line of sight terminate at the outer limits of an image plate and commence along the viewers trajectory of travel, where the commencement points are separated by a distance defined to be the product of the multiple of (a) the variable X as defined in claim 3 and (b) the display width of the image plate, where the line bisecting the angle of intersection of the opening line of sight and the closing line of sight defines the direction of focus and where the aperture plates separates the viewers plane of trajectory, from the image plate substrate, as to provide a unobstructed and limited plurality of lines of sight, to discreet and distinct portions of said sequential, image plates on said substrate through said apertures to said substrate, as to operably effect persistence of vision and provide an animated sequence of said image plates.

15. A method of displaying a plurality of image plates as defined in claim 1 , wherein said image plates are viewed on an image plate substrate as defined in claim 8, through a plurality of aperture plates, as defined in claim 13.

16. A method of displaying a plurality of image plates as defined in claim 1 , wherein said image plates are viewed on an image plate substrate as defined in claim 8, through a plurality of aperture plates, as defined in claim 14.

17. An apparatus comprising a plurality of image plates as defined in claim 1 , wherein said image plates are provided on an image plate substrate as defined in claim 8, behind a single aperture plate, as defined in claim 13.

18. An apparatus comprising a plurality of image plates as defined in claim 1 , wherein said image plates exist on an image plate substrate as defined in claim 8, behind a single aperture plate, as defined in claim 14.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 where the apertures contained in at least one aperture plate may also include slits, slots, perforations or openings.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein at least one aperture plate and an image plate substrate maybe parallel with respect to each other.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein at least one aperture plate and an image plate substrate are each planar.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein at least one aperture plate and an image plate substrate are slanted outward with respect to the viewer's trajectory.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein at least on aperture plate and an image plate substrate profiles are curved.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein at least one aperture plate and an image plate substrate profiles are nonplanar.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein at least one aperture plate and an image plate are nonparallel with respect to each other.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18, wherein at lease one aperture plate and an image plate substrate profile are nonparallel with respect to each other.

27. A display assembly as defined in claim 17 and 18 adapted to be located on a retaining structure.

28. A display as defined in claim 15 wherein said retaining structure is a wall or framework, which is stationary or operatively moveable.

29. A display assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said An apparatus as defined in claim 17 and 18 wherein: said image plates are illuminated.

30. apertures has a width selected from 0.2 - 1.5 mm.

31. A method of providing animation, comprising

- providing a plurality of source image frames, where each frame has a sequential ascending frame number;ι - slicing the frames into an equal number of frame elements;

- providing a plurality of image receiving zones;

- staggering the set of zones for each frame according to its corresponding frame number.