Compositing Screen with Transparent Front Layer for Toroidal Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current entertainment venue technologies fail to provide immersive and engaging displays that effectively combine multiple images in a seamless, distortion-free manner, especially in non-traditional shapes like torus or ellipsoid structures, which limits the immersive experience for audiences.

Innovation Solution

A compositing screen system that includes a front screen and a back screen, where the front screen is transparent or semi-transparent to allow simultaneous display of two separate images from different light sources, such as projectors and LEDs, creating a composite image effect by positioning the screens in a toroidal or ellipsoidal configuration, with specialized processing to maintain image quality and prevent distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional single screen is used, then the display structure is simple, but the immersive experience and ability to show multiple images simultaneously is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to display multiple imagesVSAvoidscreen structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a front screen and a back screen into a single compositing screen system, allowing both screens to display images simultaneously. The front screen displays a first image while the back screen displays a second image, creating a composite display that merges multiple visual layers into one unified structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The back screen is positioned behind the front screen, creating a nested configuration where one display structure is embedded within another. This nested arrangement allows the system to maintain a compact form factor while providing multiple simultaneous display surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a transparent front screen is used to show back image, then the composite image effect is achieved, but image quality and distortion control become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomposite image effectVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The front screen is designed with selective transparency properties, being transparent in specific regions to allow the back image to show through while remaining opaque in other regions to display the front image clearly. This local variation in optical properties enables the composite image effect while maintaining overall image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If toroidal or ellipsoidal screen shape is used, then 360° immersive viewing is achieved, but image distortion and alignment precision become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improve360° viewing capabilityVSAvoidimage alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs toroidal or ellipsoidal curvature for the screen structure, replacing traditional flat surfaces with curved geometries that enable 360-degree viewing. This curvature allows images to be projected across a spherical or toroidal surface, providing immersive viewing from all angles around the audience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light sources (projectors and LEDs) are used, then display versatility is improved, but light interference and image clarity are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay formatsVSAvoidimage clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent front screen acts as an intermediary element that selectively transmits light from the back screen while reflecting or blocking light from front projectors. This intermediary function allows multiple light sources to operate simultaneously without their light paths interfering with each other, maintaining image clarity for both layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The compositing screen system enhances the immersive experience by providing a seamless composite image to the audience, maintaining image quality and preventing distortion, while also allowing for 360° views and real-time video processing to support various entertainment formats.

Implementation Method 1

The front screen that is positioned on the inside of the back screen is transparent, seemingly transparent (e.g. glass or plastic), or partially transparent (i.e., perforated material) to the light from the back screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTransparency:

Implementation Method 2

Each screen, or one of the screens, uses light emitting diodes (LEDs), front projection, or another video producing technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 3

a front screen for displaying a front image possibly via a projector (or series of projectors) for creating a front image onto the front screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFront projection:

Data Source

PatentUS9536499B2Compositing screen

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 WILLOWBROOK CAPITAL GROUP LLC

AI summary

A compositing screen includes a partially or fully transparent front screen that displays one image or video and a back screen displaying another image or video. The two images can be seen simultaneously, providing a composite image.