- Number
- 10025174
- Published
- 2018-07-17
- Filed
- 2017-06-09
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Tait; Thomas Tracey; Smithwick; Quinn Y.; Kosakura; Steven T.; Reichow; Mark A.; Watson; Scott Frazier
- CPC
- H04N13/398; H04N13/337; G03H1/2205; H04N13/334; H04N13/363; H04N9/3161; G03H1/2286; H04N13/332; G03B35/20; G03H1/2294; H04N9/3155; G03B21/206; G03B21/2013; H04N9/3147
- Verdict
- Medium Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Multi-theater projection light source.
Abstract
A multi-theater light source for two or more 3D projectors positioned in differing spaces. The apparatus includes a first light source outputting light to display left eye content, and the apparatus includes a second light source outputting light for use by the projectors to display right eye content. The apparatus includes a switching device that receives the light output from the first and second light sources and switches between first and second operating states to route the left and right eye light. In the first operating state, the switching device directs the light from the first light source toward a first projector and the light output from the second light source toward a second projector. In the second operating state, the switching device directs the light output from the first light source toward the second projector and the light output from the second light source toward the first projectors.
Background
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description(1) The present description relates, in general, to three dimensional (3D) projection and display technology including 3D glasses or stereo glasses worn by viewers to perceive 3D imagery and 3D projectors used to project left and right eye content into spaces and onto theater screens. More particularly, the present description relates to a light source system for providing light to 3D projectors (or projection devices or heads) that each provide 3D content or media and that are each located, typically but not necessarily, in different spaces (such as different theaters, different ride or show spaces in a theme park, cabins of different vehicles in a ride, and so on) and/or are generating separate 3D images/imagery.2. Relevant Background(2) Recently, there has been an increased interest in providing movies and other image-based content to viewers in 3D form, and there has been significant research in the past on technologies to produce 3D imagery. Most 3D technologies require the viewers to wear 3D glasses (or other headgear or other filters, which will be labeled “3D glasses” herein) such that left eye images are received by their left eye and right eye images are received by their right eyes.(3) The combination of these right and left eye images are perceived by the viewers as 3D images or imagery (or stereo images), and 3D projection and display technology is used to create a stereo media environment for viewers including people in theat
Claims
1. An apparatus for use as a light source for two or more projectors positioned in different spaces and operable to project three dimensional (3D) imagery, comprising: a first light source outputting light configured for use by the projectors to display left eye content associated with the 3D imagery; a second light source outputting light, concurrently with the outputting of the light from the first light source, configured for use by the projectors to display right eye content associated with the 3D imagery; and a switching device receiving the light output from the first light source and the light output from the second light sources and, in a first operating state, directing the light output from the first light source toward a first one of the projectors and the light output from the second light source toward a second one of the projectors and, in a second operating state, directing the light output from the first light source toward the second one of the projectors and the light output from the second light source toward the first one of the projectors.
11. A 3D projection system, comprising: in a first space, a first projector switching between projecting left eye content and right eye content for a first 3D projected image; in a second space, a second projector switching between projecting left eye content and right content for a second 3D projected image; and a multi-theater light source comprising: a first laser light source outputting left eye 3D light; a second laser light source outputting right eye 3D light, concurrently with the outputting of the light from the first light source; and a switching device switching between first and second operating states, wherein the switching device receives the left eye 3D light and the right eye 3D light from the first and second laser light sources, wherein, in the first operating state, the switching device routes the left eye 3D light from the first light source toward the first projector and the right eye 3D light from the second light source toward the second projector, and wherein, in the second operating state, the switching device routes the left eye 3D light from the first light source toward the second projector and the right eye 3D light from the second light source toward the first projector.
18. An apparatus for use as a light source for first and second projectors positioned in different spaces and projecting 3D images, comprising: a first laser light source generating first light; a second laser light source generating second light, concurrently with the outputting of the light from the first light source, wherein the first and second laser light sources are run at 100% duty cycle; and a switching device switching between first and second operating states, wherein the switching device, in the first operating state, routes the first light to a first output for use by the first projector to display left eye content for a first 3D image and the second light to a second output for use by the second projector to display right eye content for a second 3D image and wherein the switching device, in a second operating state, routes the first light to the second output for use by the second projector to display left eye content for the second 3D image and the second light to the first output for use by the first projector to display right eye content for the first 3D image.