Fail-safe projection system

Number: 9645482
Published: 2017-05-09
Filed: 2015-03-10
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Joseph; Daniel
CPC: H04N13/363; G03B21/2033; G03B21/32; G03B21/26; H04N13/156; G03B21/606; G03B21/2053; G03B21/208
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

A fail-safe projection system with a backup mechanism that maintains the projected image on a presentation/display surface if the main projector fails.

Abstract

The technology described hereinrelates generally to a projection system having a fail-safe feature for use in a presentation or display. In one example a projection system having at least one main projector projects a first image onto a main projection area of a projection surface. The projection system may further include a relief projector that when activated projects a second image onto a backup projection area of the projection surface. The projection system may be provided with a sensor capable of sensing at least one characteristic of the at least one main projector, the main projection area, or the projection surface. The projection system may include a control system in communication with the sensor, wherein the control system activates the relief projector in response to the sensor.

Background

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) FIG. 1 is right side elevation view of a presentation system with a fail-safe projection system including a relief projector.(2) FIG.2 is a top plan view of the presentation system of FIG. 1.(3) FIG. 3 is an isometric viewof a presentation surface for the presentation system of FIG. 1.(4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the presentation system according to the present disclosure.(5) FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a relief projector of the presentation system of FIG. 4.(6) FIG. 6A is a simplified diagram of the relief projector of FIG. 5.(7) FIG. 6B is a front elevation view of a lens altering assembly for the relief projector of FIG. 5.(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective viewof the fail-safe projection system of FIG. 1.(9) FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the projection system of FIG. 7.(10) FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the projection system of FIG. 7.(11) FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the projection system of FIG. 7.(12) FIG. 11 is a flow chart for a method for selectively activating auxiliary content using the fail-safe presentation system of FIG. 1.(13) FIG. 12 is a flow chart of another example of a method for selectively activating auxiliary content using the fail-safe presentation system of FIG. 1.(14) FIG. 13 is perspective view of another example of a fail-safe presentation system.SPECIFICATION(15) Overview(16) The present disclosure is generally related to a presentation system having a backup or relief system enabling the presenta

Claims

1. A projection system comprising: at least one main projector that when activated projects a first image onto main projection area of a projection surface; a relief projector that when activated projects asecond image onto a backup projection area of the projection surface, wherein the relief projector comprises: a light source projecting a light beam along an optical axis; at least one optical member for directing light onto the projection surface; and a light-alteringmember configured to alter the light beam to form the second image; a presentation sensorfor sensing at least one characteristic of the at least one main projector or the first image; and a controller in electrical communication with the presentation sensor, wherein the controller activates the relief projector in response to the presentation sensor. 15. Aprojection system comprising: at least one primary projector that when activated projectsa first image along a first optical axis onto a projection surface; a secondary projectorthat when activated projects a second image along a second optical axis onto the projection surface, the second optical axis being substantially aligned with the first optical axis, wherein the secondary projector comprises: a light source projecting a light beam alongthe second optical axis; at least one optical member for directing light onto the projection surface; and a light-altering member configured to alter the light beam to form the second image; a presentation sensor capable of sensing at least one characteristic of the first image or the at least one primary projector; and a control system in communication with the sensor, wherein the control system selectively activates the secondary projector in response to the presentation sensor. 16. A method of controlling a projection system comprising: projecting a main show onto a projection surface using a main projector; monitoringby a first sensing element at least one output characteristic of the main show and/or themain projector; analyzing by a processing element a signal from the first sensing elementto determine if a predetermined fault condition has been reached; and responsive to the predetermined fault condition being reached, selectively activating a relief projector by the processing element, wherein the relief projector projects a backup show having at leastone backup image onto the projection surface. 22. A backup control system, comprising: a presentation device for projecting a presentation onto a presentation area; a presentationsensor that detects at least one characteristic of the presentation device or the presentation; a processing element in electrical communication with the presentation sensor and configured to analyze a signal from the presentation sensor to determine if a predeterminedfault condition has been reached; and an auxiliary projector in electrical communication with the processing element for projecting an auxiliary content onto the presentation area; wherein the processing element activates the auxiliary projector in response to the presentation sensor determining that the predetermined fault condition has been reached.