4D Cinema Seat Effect Control for Rear-Row User Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 4D cinemas, rear-line seat users cannot easily or safely control the 4D effects, such as water shots or scents, while the seat is in motion, leading to potential injury and a lack of personalized experience due to uniformly applied effects.
Innovation Solution
A system where a first controlling device on the front-line seat transmits control information, including effect type and strength, to a second controlling device via a central control device, allowing rear-line seat users to control effects wirelessly or through a wired network, enabling personalized and safe experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control switches for 4D effects are attached to front-line seats, then rear-line seat users can control effects, but users must move to front-line seats to control effects, creating safety risks during motion operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote control device as an intermediary that allows rear-line seat users to control 4D effects without physically moving to front-line seats. The remote control transmits control signals wirelessly or through existing wiring to the effect control system, eliminating the need for users to relocate during motion operation and thus maintaining safety while preserving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control function is segmented from the physical seat location. Instead of requiring control switches to be physically attached to front-line seats, the control capability is divided into separate control units that can be positioned at rear-line seats or provided as portable remote controls, allowing users to control effects from their original seating positions during motion operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If wiring is connected for each front/rear-line seat to enable independent control, then control flexibility improves, but wiring becomes complicated and prone to troubles during motion operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing wiring system universal by enabling it to support both traditional centralized control and new distributed control modes. The wiring infrastructure is designed to accommodate multiple control configurations without requiring separate dedicated wiring for each seat, thus providing control flexibility while avoiding increased wiring complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating new complex wiring for each control point, the patent uses signal copying techniques where control signals are transmitted through existing communication channels. The control information is copied and relayed through the network to multiple destinations, eliminating the need for additional physical wiring while maintaining control flexibility
3Device complexity
If the same 4D effect is provided to all spectators, then system simplicity is maintained, but some spectators experience displeasure while others may feel decreased immersiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, uniform effect delivery system into a dynamic, customizable system. Users can adjust effect parameters such as intensity, duration, and type according to their personal preferences during the movie experience. The system adapts to individual user needs in real-time, allowing personalized control while maintaining overall system simplicity through standardized control interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different spectators to experience different effect intensities and types tailored to their individual preferences. Each user can customize the 4D effects specific to their seating position and personal taste, creating localized personalized experiences rather than uniform global effects, while the underlying system remains simple through modular control architecture
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system for controlling a seat effect for a facility of showing pictures, and particularly, a user on a rear line may easily and safely control an effect provided to the user himself/herself even while a seat is in motion operation at the time of showing pictures by controlling an effect synchronized with pictures by relaying control information inputted from the user on the rear-line seat by using an effect controlling device of a front-line seat, in the facility of showing pictures, which provides the effect (for example, a water shot, an air shot, or a scent) synchronized with the pictures to the user on the rear-line seat.